Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance
A Descriptive Analysis of a Rural Telehospital Medicine Program in the Veterans Health Administration: A Multi‐Facility, Mixed-Methods Evaluation
Evaluates the adoption and expansion of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Telehospital Medicine Program, a program to support understaffed rural VHA Medical Centers with hospitalist coverage. The study investigated 6 hospitals using the RE-AIM framework, highlighting cost savings, impact on quality metrics, staff perception, and more.
Author(s): Octavia K. Goodman, Jacqueline A. Benson, Robert E. Burke, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3)
Date: 09/2026
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Evaluates the adoption and expansion of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Telehospital Medicine Program, a program to support understaffed rural VHA Medical Centers with hospitalist coverage. The study investigated 6 hospitals using the RE-AIM framework, highlighting cost savings, impact on quality metrics, staff perception, and more.
Author(s): Octavia K. Goodman, Jacqueline A. Benson, Robert E. Burke, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3)
Date: 09/2026
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Beneficiary and Clinician Perspectives on Medicare and Other Issues: Findings from 2026 Focus Groups in Select States, and 2021–2026 Rural Focus Groups
Summarizes findings from 21 focus groups of Medicare beneficiaries, Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligible) beneficiaries, and clinicians conducted between May and June 2026, including one virtual focus group of rural Medicare beneficiaries. Compiles findings from 14 focus groups of rural Medicare beneficiaries between 2021 and 2026. Highlights themes that emerged across the focus groups covering Medicare coverage options, access to care, telehealth, and prescription drugs.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Summarizes findings from 21 focus groups of Medicare beneficiaries, Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligible) beneficiaries, and clinicians conducted between May and June 2026, including one virtual focus group of rural Medicare beneficiaries. Compiles findings from 14 focus groups of rural Medicare beneficiaries between 2021 and 2026. Highlights themes that emerged across the focus groups covering Medicare coverage options, access to care, telehealth, and prescription drugs.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Community Characteristics Associated With Health System Penetration
Examines the relationship between community-level characteristics and health system penetration. Analyzes the geographic healthcare market using 2020 Commuting Zones (CZs) and provides 2016-2023 data on health system penetration according to solo-hospital zones, multi-hospital zones, community sociodemographics, rurality, and region. Includes U.S. maps showing distribution of health system penetration by CZ in 2016 and 2023.
Author(s): Haoyu Bi, Mark Louie Ramos, Jeannette A. Rogowski, Charleen Hsuan
Citation: Medical Care Research and Review, 83(6)
Date: 09/2026
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Examines the relationship between community-level characteristics and health system penetration. Analyzes the geographic healthcare market using 2020 Commuting Zones (CZs) and provides 2016-2023 data on health system penetration according to solo-hospital zones, multi-hospital zones, community sociodemographics, rurality, and region. Includes U.S. maps showing distribution of health system penetration by CZ in 2016 and 2023.
Author(s): Haoyu Bi, Mark Louie Ramos, Jeannette A. Rogowski, Charleen Hsuan
Citation: Medical Care Research and Review, 83(6)
Date: 09/2026
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Pharmacists' Perspectives on Current Issues in Pharmacy and Medicare: Findings from 2026 Virtual Focus Groups
Summarizes findings from three focus groups of pharmacists who serve Medicare beneficiaries in outpatient settings in 2026. Covers topics related to pharmacist workload and patient access to pharmacy care, including pharmacists' daily responsibilities, reimbursement rates, drug stocking and shortages, pharmacy closures, labor market conditions, pharmacist well-being, and more. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Summarizes findings from three focus groups of pharmacists who serve Medicare beneficiaries in outpatient settings in 2026. Covers topics related to pharmacist workload and patient access to pharmacy care, including pharmacists' daily responsibilities, reimbursement rates, drug stocking and shortages, pharmacy closures, labor market conditions, pharmacist well-being, and more. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Rural Communities at Greater Risk of Harmful Impacts from New Medicaid Work Reporting Requirements
Examines how new federal Medicaid work reporting requirements will affect people living in rural areas. Provides data on rural Medicaid enrollment, disability prevalence, and health status, and details rural-specific barriers to meeting and documenting compliance with work requirements.
Author(s): Adam Searing, Joan Alker
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Children and Families, Georgetown University
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Examines how new federal Medicaid work reporting requirements will affect people living in rural areas. Provides data on rural Medicaid enrollment, disability prevalence, and health status, and details rural-specific barriers to meeting and documenting compliance with work requirements.
Author(s): Adam Searing, Joan Alker
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Children and Families, Georgetown University
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Dashboard: Arkansas Medicare Advantage Enrollment by Organization
Provides data on Medicare Advantage enrollment totals in Arkansas by organization, county, and year.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
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Provides data on Medicare Advantage enrollment totals in Arkansas by organization, county, and year.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
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September 2026 MACPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) September 2026 meeting. Covers community engagement requirements in Medicaid, state directed payments and healthcare-related taxes, a comparison of an updated inpatient hospital payment index across states, utilization management for medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in Medicaid, and Medicaid coverage of assistive technology for adults, among other things. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Medicaid Coverage of Assistive Technology for Adults: Data Analysis and Stakeholder Interviews
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Transcript from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) September 2026 meeting. Covers community engagement requirements in Medicaid, state directed payments and healthcare-related taxes, a comparison of an updated inpatient hospital payment index across states, utilization management for medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in Medicaid, and Medicaid coverage of assistive technology for adults, among other things. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Medicaid Coverage of Assistive Technology for Adults: Data Analysis and Stakeholder Interviews
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Power of Partnerships Between Health Centers & Rural Hospitals
Provides a brief overview of the rural healthcare landscape. Presents case studies describing partnerships between health centers and rural hospitals in New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania that aim to strengthen access, improve outcomes, and build long-term sustainability. Identifies key themes and actionable strategies that can be adapted across rural communities.
Additional links: Case Studies at a Glance, July 2026
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Impact! Communications, Inc., National Association of Community Health Centers
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Provides a brief overview of the rural healthcare landscape. Presents case studies describing partnerships between health centers and rural hospitals in New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania that aim to strengthen access, improve outcomes, and build long-term sustainability. Identifies key themes and actionable strategies that can be adapted across rural communities.
Additional links: Case Studies at a Glance, July 2026
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Impact! Communications, Inc., National Association of Community Health Centers
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Telehealth and Federally Qualified Health Centers
Provides an overview of state policies relating to Medicaid fee-for-service coverage and reimbursement of telehealth services at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) as of May 2026. Includes state-by-state information on FQHC eligibility for reimbursement for being originating and distant sites, store-and-forward services, audio-only services, remote patient monitoring, and more.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Provides an overview of state policies relating to Medicaid fee-for-service coverage and reimbursement of telehealth services at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) as of May 2026. Includes state-by-state information on FQHC eligibility for reimbursement for being originating and distant sites, store-and-forward services, audio-only services, remote patient monitoring, and more.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Scaling Food Is Medicine Through Primary Care: Three Strategies for States
Examines strategies to connect Medicaid recipients to Food is Medicine (FIM) interventions through primary care providers. Discusses how strategies, such as investing in care coordination and partnering with community-based organizations, may be valuable in rural communities.
Author(s): Amanda Bank
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Examines strategies to connect Medicaid recipients to Food is Medicine (FIM) interventions through primary care providers. Discusses how strategies, such as investing in care coordination and partnering with community-based organizations, may be valuable in rural communities.
Author(s): Amanda Bank
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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