Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services
Medicare Payment Basics: Ambulance Services Payment System
Provides an overview of Medicare payments for ambulance services. Discusses rural add-on payment policies, geographic categories determining payment rates, super-rural ZIP codes, and ambulance fee schedules.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Provides an overview of Medicare payments for ambulance services. Discusses rural add-on payment policies, geographic categories determining payment rates, super-rural ZIP codes, and ambulance fee schedules.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services: Reducing Barriers to Participation in Population-Based Total Cost of Care (PB-TCOC) Models and Supporting Primary and Specialty Care Transformation
Summarizes findings from the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee's (PTAC) review of information on reducing barriers to participation in alternative payment models (APMs). Discusses key issues relating to reducing barriers to participation in APMs and value-based care transformation, areas where additional research is needed, and potential next steps.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Summarizes findings from the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee's (PTAC) review of information on reducing barriers to participation in alternative payment models (APMs). Discusses key issues relating to reducing barriers to participation in APMs and value-based care transformation, areas where additional research is needed, and potential next steps.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Gendered Motivations for E-Cigarette Use Among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Youth: A Relational–Cultural Perspective
Explores differing perspectives on e-cigarette use among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander boys and girls, utilizing focus group discussion excerpts of 69 rural public school students on Hawai'i Island. Discusses personal motivations, cultural influences, and strategies for the avoidance of e-cigarette use.
Author(s): Sarah D. Song, Zarek K. Kon, Tea A. Stephens, et al.
Citation: Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, 37(8), 705-711
Date: 10/2025
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Explores differing perspectives on e-cigarette use among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander boys and girls, utilizing focus group discussion excerpts of 69 rural public school students on Hawai'i Island. Discusses personal motivations, cultural influences, and strategies for the avoidance of e-cigarette use.
Author(s): Sarah D. Song, Zarek K. Kon, Tea A. Stephens, et al.
Citation: Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, 37(8), 705-711
Date: 10/2025
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Benzodiazepines and Opioid Co-Use Among Rural People Who Use Drugs: Findings From the Rural Opioid Initiative
Explores the patterns of co-usage of benzodiazepines and opioids in rural areas. Highlights data related to health outcomes, demographic characteristics, interactions with law enforcement, and the co-use of other drugs, among other measures.
Author(s): L. Sarah Mixson, Arvind Venkataraman, Lydia N. Drumright, et al.
Citation: Substance Use & Addiction Journal, 46(4), 847-858
Date: 10/2025
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Explores the patterns of co-usage of benzodiazepines and opioids in rural areas. Highlights data related to health outcomes, demographic characteristics, interactions with law enforcement, and the co-use of other drugs, among other measures.
Author(s): L. Sarah Mixson, Arvind Venkataraman, Lydia N. Drumright, et al.
Citation: Substance Use & Addiction Journal, 46(4), 847-858
Date: 10/2025
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Assessing Family Medicine Obstetrics Training Needs to Strengthen Maternal Health in Underserved and Rural US Communities
Examines the impact of the PROMOTE OB track (PRimary care Obstetrics and Maternal Outcomes Training Enhancement) to improve maternity care access from family medicine obstetricians (FMOBs) in rural and underserved areas. Examines focus group feedback from PROMOTE OB participants regarding training gaps, collaborative care, cultural components, and patient needs.
Author(s): Matthew D Kearney, Caroline S O'Brien, Melissa L Donze, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health
Date: 10/2025
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Examines the impact of the PROMOTE OB track (PRimary care Obstetrics and Maternal Outcomes Training Enhancement) to improve maternity care access from family medicine obstetricians (FMOBs) in rural and underserved areas. Examines focus group feedback from PROMOTE OB participants regarding training gaps, collaborative care, cultural components, and patient needs.
Author(s): Matthew D Kearney, Caroline S O'Brien, Melissa L Donze, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health
Date: 10/2025
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Rural Women Choose Self-Sampling over a Pelvic Exam for Cervical Cancer Screening: A Mixed-Method Study
Examines factors related to cervical cancer screening methods in an underserved, rural population in Michigan. Utilizes mixed methods to analyze demographics, barriers, and perspectives related to self-sampling screenings.
Author(s): Timothy C Guetterman, Alexandra Vinson, Matthew Stack, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes Control, 36(12), 2023-2037
Date: 10/2025
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Examines factors related to cervical cancer screening methods in an underserved, rural population in Michigan. Utilizes mixed methods to analyze demographics, barriers, and perspectives related to self-sampling screenings.
Author(s): Timothy C Guetterman, Alexandra Vinson, Matthew Stack, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes Control, 36(12), 2023-2037
Date: 10/2025
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Introduction to Rural Public Health
Training module focused on providing an overview of rural public in the U.S. Includes discussion on rural public health systems and structures; leveraging existing strengths and attributes of rural communities to address the challenges they face; and the importance of developing partnerships and collaboration to support rural public health systems and care delivery. Continuing education credits for this course are available through October 15, 2027, via CDC TRAIN.
Additional links: CDC TRAIN
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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Training module focused on providing an overview of rural public in the U.S. Includes discussion on rural public health systems and structures; leveraging existing strengths and attributes of rural communities to address the challenges they face; and the importance of developing partnerships and collaboration to support rural public health systems and care delivery. Continuing education credits for this course are available through October 15, 2027, via CDC TRAIN.
Additional links: CDC TRAIN
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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Assessing Measurement Invariance in Neighborhood Socioeconomic Environment Across Levels of Urbanicity
Examines neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) variables by census tract and their relationship to public health. Provides data on poverty, use of public assistance, employment characteristics, transportation insecurity, education, and more, by higher density urban, lower density urban, suburban/small town, and rural location.
Author(s): S. S. A. De Silva, Melissa A. Meeker, Tara P. McAlexander, et al.
Citation: Journal of Urban Health, 102, 1094-1103
Date: 10/2025
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Examines neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) variables by census tract and their relationship to public health. Provides data on poverty, use of public assistance, employment characteristics, transportation insecurity, education, and more, by higher density urban, lower density urban, suburban/small town, and rural location.
Author(s): S. S. A. De Silva, Melissa A. Meeker, Tara P. McAlexander, et al.
Citation: Journal of Urban Health, 102, 1094-1103
Date: 10/2025
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The Unspoken Struggles from Mental Health Stigma in a Rural Community: A Qualitative Exploration of Clubhouse Members' Lived Experiences
Explores the efficacy of the clubhouse model at overcoming stigma around mental health conditions and receiving mental healthcare in rural communities. Bases findings on semi-structured interviews with participants and staff of the Clubhouse in Wyoming. Details the Clubhouse's efforts to address stigma and overcome mental health prejudices.
Author(s): Ruth Korankye, Gloria Oladeji, Lauren Gilbert
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(11), 1626
Date: 10/2025
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Explores the efficacy of the clubhouse model at overcoming stigma around mental health conditions and receiving mental healthcare in rural communities. Bases findings on semi-structured interviews with participants and staff of the Clubhouse in Wyoming. Details the Clubhouse's efforts to address stigma and overcome mental health prejudices.
Author(s): Ruth Korankye, Gloria Oladeji, Lauren Gilbert
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(11), 1626
Date: 10/2025
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Benzodiazepine Use Among Older Adults: Any Use and Concurrent Use With Opioids
Statistical brief examining rates of prescription benzodiazepine use by demographic group, insurance type, and health status, using 2021-2022 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPS-HC) data. See Figure 6 for metro-nonmetro comparison data on benzodiazepine use and concurrent benzodiazepine-opioid use.
Author(s): Salam Abdus, G. Edward Miller
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Statistical brief examining rates of prescription benzodiazepine use by demographic group, insurance type, and health status, using 2021-2022 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPS-HC) data. See Figure 6 for metro-nonmetro comparison data on benzodiazepine use and concurrent benzodiazepine-opioid use.
Author(s): Salam Abdus, G. Edward Miller
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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