Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare facilities
Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities (FRCAs): Health-Related Programs
Provides an overview of congressionally authorized federal regional commissions and authorities (FRCAs), state-federal partnerships that use federal funds for economic development grants and related activities. Discusses the relationship between health and economic development. Describes examples of FRCA health-related grant programs and activities, such as healthcare facility development and equipment, workforce development, business technical assistance, and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Summarizes recent legislation and policy proposals regarding FRCAs and health, as well as considerations for Congress.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of congressionally authorized federal regional commissions and authorities (FRCAs), state-federal partnerships that use federal funds for economic development grants and related activities. Discusses the relationship between health and economic development. Describes examples of FRCA health-related grant programs and activities, such as healthcare facility development and equipment, workforce development, business technical assistance, and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Summarizes recent legislation and policy proposals regarding FRCAs and health, as well as considerations for Congress.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Tailoring the Relational Playbook for Cardiology Teams to the Rural Hospital Medicine Setting: A Multi-Method Pre-Implementation Evaluation
Examines the process of making the Relational Playbook for Cardiology Teams leadership program within the Veterans Health Administration (VA) acceptable, appropriate, and feasible for rural healthcare settings. Utilizes data from site visits with 3 VA hospitals serving rural veterans and discusses perspectives from clinical leaders regarding barriers and strategies to implementing the program.
Author(s): Heather M. Gilmartin, Paige Perry, Brigid Connelly, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70165
Date: 06/2026
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Examines the process of making the Relational Playbook for Cardiology Teams leadership program within the Veterans Health Administration (VA) acceptable, appropriate, and feasible for rural healthcare settings. Utilizes data from site visits with 3 VA hospitals serving rural veterans and discusses perspectives from clinical leaders regarding barriers and strategies to implementing the program.
Author(s): Heather M. Gilmartin, Paige Perry, Brigid Connelly, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70165
Date: 06/2026
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Hospital Closures Increase Emergency Care Travel Time: Rural-Urban Disparities
Examines the relationship between travel time to emergency care and hospital closures. Utilizes data from 2012-2023 hospital closures in Texas and analyzes 6,883 census tracts according to travel time to the nearest and second nearest emergency department (ED), with additional breakdowns by population characteristics and geographic categories of metro, micro, small town, or rural.
Author(s): Huiwen Zheng, Scott Horel, Christine Crudo Blackburn
Citation: INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 63
Date: 06/2026
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Examines the relationship between travel time to emergency care and hospital closures. Utilizes data from 2012-2023 hospital closures in Texas and analyzes 6,883 census tracts according to travel time to the nearest and second nearest emergency department (ED), with additional breakdowns by population characteristics and geographic categories of metro, micro, small town, or rural.
Author(s): Huiwen Zheng, Scott Horel, Christine Crudo Blackburn
Citation: INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 63
Date: 06/2026
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Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, June 2026
Semi-annual report to Congress from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC). Covers recommendations related to community engagement (CE) requirements in Medicaid, automation in prior authorization, Medicaid managed care accountability, appropriate access to residential treatment services for Medicaid-enrolled youth, transitions to adult Medicaid coverage for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN), the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), and provider enrollment and credentialing in Medicaid. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Semi-annual report to Congress from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC). Covers recommendations related to community engagement (CE) requirements in Medicaid, automation in prior authorization, Medicaid managed care accountability, appropriate access to residential treatment services for Medicaid-enrolled youth, transitions to adult Medicaid coverage for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN), the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), and provider enrollment and credentialing in Medicaid. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Advancing Behavioral Health Integration in Community Health Centers: Policy Pathways to Whole Person Care
Explores how high-performing community health centers (CHCs) implement behavioral health integration as well as the policy and financing factors that influence these efforts. Summarizes interviews with leaders from 10 CHCs and six experts on Medicaid, payment reform, and community-based care. Discusses the state of behavioral health integration in CHCs nationwide and the impact of integration across patient populations. Offers policy recommendations to strengthen and sustain behavioral health integration within CHCs.
Author(s): Erin Prendergast, Amy Flowers, Peter Shin
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Commonwealth Fund, National Association of Community Health Centers
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Explores how high-performing community health centers (CHCs) implement behavioral health integration as well as the policy and financing factors that influence these efforts. Summarizes interviews with leaders from 10 CHCs and six experts on Medicaid, payment reform, and community-based care. Discusses the state of behavioral health integration in CHCs nationwide and the impact of integration across patient populations. Offers policy recommendations to strengthen and sustain behavioral health integration within CHCs.
Author(s): Erin Prendergast, Amy Flowers, Peter Shin
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Commonwealth Fund, National Association of Community Health Centers
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Timely Adjuvant Therapy in Head and Neck Cancer: Barriers and Facilitators in Rural Care
Examines initiation delays of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) following surgery in rural patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Utilizes qualitative data from patients, caregivers, and staff at 2 rural New England cancer center clinics and discusses barriers and facilitators of PORT, such as communication, caregiver support, healthcare access, leveraging rural resources and culture, and more.
Author(s): Garrett T. Wasp, Shahed Khudaier, Olivia Siroonian, et al.
Citation: JAMA Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, 152(6), 569-577
Date: 06/2026
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Examines initiation delays of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) following surgery in rural patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Utilizes qualitative data from patients, caregivers, and staff at 2 rural New England cancer center clinics and discusses barriers and facilitators of PORT, such as communication, caregiver support, healthcare access, leveraging rural resources and culture, and more.
Author(s): Garrett T. Wasp, Shahed Khudaier, Olivia Siroonian, et al.
Citation: JAMA Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, 152(6), 569-577
Date: 06/2026
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Factors Influencing Rural Hospitals to Participate and Remain in Accountable Care Organizations
Examines factors that impact rural hospital participation in Medicare and accountable care organization (ACO) models. Utilizes interview feedback from rural hospital executives regarding ACO participation and discusses themes such as financial incentives, value-based reimbursement, population health, healthcare quality, and more.
Author(s): Emily J. Lawton, Jenah McCarty, Thomas E. Vaughn, Fred Ullrich, Keith J. Mueller
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70179
Date: 06/2026
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Examines factors that impact rural hospital participation in Medicare and accountable care organization (ACO) models. Utilizes interview feedback from rural hospital executives regarding ACO participation and discusses themes such as financial incentives, value-based reimbursement, population health, healthcare quality, and more.
Author(s): Emily J. Lawton, Jenah McCarty, Thomas E. Vaughn, Fred Ullrich, Keith J. Mueller
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70179
Date: 06/2026
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'Good Stewards': Rural Healthcare Experts Discuss Governance Board Best Practices
Provides an overview of hospital and health center boards, with insights from rural CEOs and board members in Colorado, Missouri, North Dakota, and Oklahoma and experts from national organizations. Discusses board orientation and ongoing education, as well as ways to improve board governance.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Provides an overview of hospital and health center boards, with insights from rural CEOs and board members in Colorado, Missouri, North Dakota, and Oklahoma and experts from national organizations. Discusses board orientation and ongoing education, as well as ways to improve board governance.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Impact and Opportunities for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics in Rural Communities
Examines ways in which Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) are improving access to and quality of care in rural areas. Highlights opportunities and strategies for CCBHCs to fill service gaps in rural areas and to meet or exceed program requirements.
Author(s): Renee Boak
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Examines ways in which Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) are improving access to and quality of care in rural areas. Highlights opportunities and strategies for CCBHCs to fill service gaps in rural areas and to meet or exceed program requirements.
Author(s): Renee Boak
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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MBQIP Quality Measures National Annual Report - 2024
Summarizes quality measure reporting rates and performance among Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in 2024. Presents data on the five Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) domains: global measures, patient safety, patient engagement, care coordination, and emergency department.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Summarizes quality measure reporting rates and performance among Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in 2024. Presents data on the five Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) domains: global measures, patient safety, patient engagement, care coordination, and emergency department.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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