Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance
Access to and Provision of Child and Youth Behavioral Health Services in the Rural and Urban U.S.
Compiles findings from 9 reports on youth behavioral health in the rural U.S. Describes prevalence of behavioral health conditions, the youth behavioral health workforce, behavioral health licensure and reimbursement policy, and provision of youth behavioral health services. Features statistics with breakdowns by 7 levels of population density.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Lisa A. Garberson, Sara C. Woolcock, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
view details
Compiles findings from 9 reports on youth behavioral health in the rural U.S. Describes prevalence of behavioral health conditions, the youth behavioral health workforce, behavioral health licensure and reimbursement policy, and provision of youth behavioral health services. Features statistics with breakdowns by 7 levels of population density.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Lisa A. Garberson, Sara C. Woolcock, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
view details
Trends in Medicare Advantage Quality for Nonmetropolitan Enrollees, 2019-2023
Examines quality of care in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans by geography, region, and plan type. Analyzes average ratings of 2019-2023 MA plans on a 1-5 star rating scale according to metro, micro, or noncore rural location. Provides additional data on MA enrollments by rural concentration of contracts as well as star ratings by benchmark quartile and quality bonus capping.
Author(s): Abigail Barker, Eliot Jost, Timothy McBride, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
view details
Examines quality of care in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans by geography, region, and plan type. Analyzes average ratings of 2019-2023 MA plans on a 1-5 star rating scale according to metro, micro, or noncore rural location. Provides additional data on MA enrollments by rural concentration of contracts as well as star ratings by benchmark quartile and quality bonus capping.
Author(s): Abigail Barker, Eliot Jost, Timothy McBride, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
view details
State-Level Medicaid Expansion and Hospital, Federally Qualified Health Center, and Rural Health Clinic Availability
Explores the association between state Medicaid expansion and the availability of hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in states that expanded Medicaid between 2014-2016. Examines the presence of hospitals, FQHCs, and RHCs in urban and rural counties between 2010-2019.
Author(s): Elliott Paintsil, Sebastian Linde
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70159
Date: 05/2026
view details
Explores the association between state Medicaid expansion and the availability of hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in states that expanded Medicaid between 2014-2016. Examines the presence of hospitals, FQHCs, and RHCs in urban and rural counties between 2010-2019.
Author(s): Elliott Paintsil, Sebastian Linde
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70159
Date: 05/2026
view details
Primary Care Access and the Role of Telemedicine for Traditional Medicare Beneficiaries
Examines how in-person and telehealth primary care use, access, and continuity of care varied among Medicare beneficiaries between 2017 and 2023, using traditional Medicare claims and administrative data. Includes data comparisons by level of rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Ishani Ganguli, Nicolas E. Daley, Andrew Hicks, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 7(5), e260979
Date: 05/2026
view details
Examines how in-person and telehealth primary care use, access, and continuity of care varied among Medicare beneficiaries between 2017 and 2023, using traditional Medicare claims and administrative data. Includes data comparisons by level of rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Ishani Ganguli, Nicolas E. Daley, Andrew Hicks, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 7(5), e260979
Date: 05/2026
view details
Integrated Care for Kids (InCK) Model: Evaluation Report 3
Presents findings from the first two years of the implementation of the Integrated Care for Kids (InCK) Model, which aims to improve health outcomes for Medicaid-enrolled children with complex physical and behavioral health needs. Provides an overview of the InCK Model and profiles each InCK award recipient's model; the impacts of the InCK Model on navigation and coordination, utilization and expenditures, quality of care, and beneficiary and caregiver experience of care; and the extent to which service changes or disruptions occurred and impacted care delivery. Identifies award recipients serving rural areas.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Abt Associates, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
view details
Presents findings from the first two years of the implementation of the Integrated Care for Kids (InCK) Model, which aims to improve health outcomes for Medicaid-enrolled children with complex physical and behavioral health needs. Provides an overview of the InCK Model and profiles each InCK award recipient's model; the impacts of the InCK Model on navigation and coordination, utilization and expenditures, quality of care, and beneficiary and caregiver experience of care; and the extent to which service changes or disruptions occurred and impacted care delivery. Identifies award recipients serving rural areas.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Abt Associates, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
view details
Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): 2026 MIPS Promoting Interoperability Performance Category Hardship Exception Application Guide
Provides guidance on how clinicians can apply for a MIPS hardship exception. Highlights guidance for having your MIPS Promoting Interoperability performance category reweighted to 0% in cases of insufficient internet connectivity, decertified electronic health record technology, or other circumstances out of the clinicians' control.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
view details
Provides guidance on how clinicians can apply for a MIPS hardship exception. Highlights guidance for having your MIPS Promoting Interoperability performance category reweighted to 0% in cases of insufficient internet connectivity, decertified electronic health record technology, or other circumstances out of the clinicians' control.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
view details
Telehealth Resource Center Skills Matrix
Outlines the technical assistance and subject matter expertise of the 14 federally funded Telehealth Resource Centers in specific telehealth topics, clinical specialties, and areas of telehealth implementation.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers
view details
Outlines the technical assistance and subject matter expertise of the 14 federally funded Telehealth Resource Centers in specific telehealth topics, clinical specialties, and areas of telehealth implementation.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers
view details
Medicare Telehealth Trends Report
Describes the trends of telehealth utilization among Medicare beneficiaries between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2025. Presents data on the percentage of Medicare beneficiaries that used a telehealth service by calendar quarter and by Medicaid eligibility, type of Medicare eligibility, demographic characteristics, and rural/urban residence.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
view details
Describes the trends of telehealth utilization among Medicare beneficiaries between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2025. Presents data on the percentage of Medicare beneficiaries that used a telehealth service by calendar quarter and by Medicaid eligibility, type of Medicare eligibility, demographic characteristics, and rural/urban residence.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
view details
Boosting Oral Health Care in Rural Communities
Provides a brief overview of the state of oral healthcare in rural areas. Highlights state and federal actions taken to improve access to oral healthcare and support and expand the dental health workforce.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
view details
Provides a brief overview of the state of oral healthcare in rural areas. Highlights state and federal actions taken to improve access to oral healthcare and support and expand the dental health workforce.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
view details
CAH Financial Indicators Report: Summary of Indicator Medians by State
Presents state and national median values of 30 financial indicators included in the Critical Access Hospital Measurement and Performance Assessment System (CAHMPAS). Provides an overview of each measurement and reports median values by state. Indicators represent seven areas of financial performance: profitability, liquidity, capital structure, revenue, cost, utilization, and other.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
Presents state and national median values of 30 financial indicators included in the Critical Access Hospital Measurement and Performance Assessment System (CAHMPAS). Provides an overview of each measurement and reports median values by state. Indicators represent seven areas of financial performance: profitability, liquidity, capital structure, revenue, cost, utilization, and other.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details