Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare facilities

Medicaid and Rural Health
Provides an overview of rural residents, including socioeconomic characteristics, insurance status, and health status. Explores the availability of healthcare providers in rural areas, with a focus on primary care providers and hospitals. Discusses the role of Medicaid in rural health, as well as Medicaid policies and services that are important for providing healthcare in rural communities.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
view details
Supporting and Sustaining Rural Hospitals
Describes state and federal actions to support and safeguard rural hospitals. Discusses appropriated funding opportunities for struggling hospitals, Medicaid coverage and eligibility, alternative payment models, and technical assistance programs.
Author(s): Noah Cruz
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
view details
Place and Population Matter in General Surgeon Location and Practice Structure
Examines ways in which population changes over time in different geographical regions of the United States have affected the availability of general surgeons and quality of care. Explores the implications of hospital mergers on the viability of rural hospitals.
Author(s): Thomas C. Ricketts
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(4)
Date: 04/2021
view details
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2): Private Health Insurance, Medicaid, CHIP, and Medicare Provisions
Provides an overview of the provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that relate to private health insurance, Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Medicare. Includes information on provisions specific to rural providers.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
view details
Making It Plain: Rural Hospitals and the Healthcare Delivery System
Recording of an April 21, 2021, town hall discussing COVID-19 epidemiological trends, compliance with public health guidance, and vaccine rates in rural communities. Explores barriers and solutions regarding vaccine administration and acceptance in rural areas, and describes federal plans to promote vaccine acceptance in rural communities. Features speakers from the Black Coalition Against COVID-19 (BCAC), the American Hospital Association, and the White House COVID-19 response team, among others.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: BlackDoctor.org
view details
Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act & Related Legislation and Administrative Action Impacting Rural Health
Provides an overview of legislation passed by Congress regarding COVID-19. Identifies provisions relevant to rural healthcare providers, including the Paycheck Protection Program, funding for public health and rural workforce programs, telehealth flexibilities, and more.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
Changes in Provision of Selected Services by Rural and Urban Hospitals between 2009 and 2017
Examines the increase in number of rural hospitals that have closed or converted to a model eliminating inpatient care, as well as rural hospitals that have reduced or terminated historically essential services including obstetrics, surgery, long-term care, home health, and oncology. Features statistics on the number of hospitals offering various types of healthcare services in 2009 and in 2017, with breakdowns by urban and rural location.
Author(s): Kathleen Knocke, George H. Pink, Kristie W. Thompson, Randy K. Randolph, Mark Holmes
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
view details
Promising Flex Program Initiatives to Support Critical Access Hospitals during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Reports on promising State Flex Program (SFP) strategies to support Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and address priority needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights initiatives implemented by SFPs in seven states: Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Kentucky, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming. Discusses strategies regarding support for frontline staff, staff communication, communication to rural communities, clinical and service improvement, and CAH and Rural Health Clinic financial performance. Discusses ongoing considerations and concerns.
Author(s): Celia Jewell, Sara Kahn-Troster, John Gale
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
The Hospital as a Convener in Rural Communities
Examines the traditional and non-traditional role of rural hospitals as conveners that support community health initiatives and population health. Discusses examples of approaches used by rural and urban serving hospitals from Michigan and Virginia. Offers steps for hospitals on becoming a convener, and suggests community stakeholders for forming partnerships to improve health and well-being in their communities.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
view details
Rural and Urban Hospital Characteristics by Obstetric Service Provision Status, 2010-2018
Illustrates the differences between urban and rural hospitals providing obstetric (OB) services. Compares them by size, capacity, location, and community characteristics, and compares these factors between rural hospitals with OB units and those that had discontinued services during the study period. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural location.
Additional links: Characteristics of Rural and Urban U.S. Hospitals Based on Obstetric Services
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Lindsay K. Admon, Mariana S. Tuttle, Bridget Basile Ibrahim, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details