Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services
Addendum to HCUP Statistical Brief #309: Racial and Ethnic Differences in Inpatient Stays Involving Sepsis, 2016–2021, Addition of 2022 Data
Offers national statistics on inpatient hospital stays involving sepsis by race and ethnicity. Discusses trends over time, comorbidities, mortality, and more. Table 1 includes data by rural or urban residence, among other measures. Updates an August 2024 report to include data for 2022.
Author(s): Melissa A. Miller, Kimberly Martin, Molly Hensche, Carrie Goetsch
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Offers national statistics on inpatient hospital stays involving sepsis by race and ethnicity. Discusses trends over time, comorbidities, mortality, and more. Table 1 includes data by rural or urban residence, among other measures. Updates an August 2024 report to include data for 2022.
Author(s): Melissa A. Miller, Kimberly Martin, Molly Hensche, Carrie Goetsch
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, June 2025
Semi-annual report to Congress from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC). Covers recommendations related to transitions from pediatric to adult care for Medicaid-covered children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). Also discusses appropriate access to residential behavioral health treatment services for children, findings from MACPAC's analytic work on access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in Medicaid, an overview on the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, and self-direction for Medicaid home- and community-based services. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 06/2025
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 transitions from pediatric to adult care for Medicaid-covered children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). Also discusses appropriate access to residential behavioral health treatment services for children, findings from MACPAC's analytic work on access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in Medicaid, an overview on the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, and self-direction for Medicaid home- and community-based services. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility PPS for FY 2026
Comments on an April 30, 2025, Federal Register proposed rule addressing updates to the prospective payment system for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for fiscal year 2026. Includes comments on the potential impact of replacing payment weights on small and rural IRFs.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comments on an April 30, 2025, Federal Register proposed rule addressing updates to the prospective payment system for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for fiscal year 2026. Includes comments on the potential impact of replacing payment weights on small and rural IRFs.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Preventing Medical Debt among Rural Residents: Example Programs from Hospitals in Minnesota and Montana
Highlights the ways some rural hospitals are working to reduce medical debt for their patients. Presents a number of strategies from hospitals in Minnesota and Montana that aim to reduce patient medical debts through financial assistance programs and cost-cutting measures. Features case-studies reviewing the structure of each hospital's debt reduction efforts.
Author(s): Katie Rydberg, Sushma Shankar, Mariana Tuttle, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Highlights the ways some rural hospitals are working to reduce medical debt for their patients. Presents a number of strategies from hospitals in Minnesota and Montana that aim to reduce patient medical debts through financial assistance programs and cost-cutting measures. Features case-studies reviewing the structure of each hospital's debt reduction efforts.
Author(s): Katie Rydberg, Sushma Shankar, Mariana Tuttle, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Public Health Preparedness: HHS Needs a Coordinated National Approach for Diagnostic Testing for Pandemic Threats
Describes a roundtable of 19 experts the Government Accountability Office (GAO) convened to discuss actions the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) should take to improve diagnostic testing for infectious diseases with pandemic potential. Identifies actions suggested by the experts, including two areas commonly repeated by experts. Offers four recommendations to HHS related to developing a national diagnostic testing strategy and establishing a national testing forum. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Describes a roundtable of 19 experts the Government Accountability Office (GAO) convened to discuss actions the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) should take to improve diagnostic testing for infectious diseases with pandemic potential. Identifies actions suggested by the experts, including two areas commonly repeated by experts. Offers four recommendations to HHS related to developing a national diagnostic testing strategy and establishing a national testing forum. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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North Carolina Primary Care - Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA)
County-level map of Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in North Carolina, with shadings showing ranges of HPSA scores.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Office of Rural Health
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County-level map of Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in North Carolina, with shadings showing ranges of HPSA scores.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Office of Rural Health
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Iowa Community Health Centers and Value-Based Care
Describes how Iowa Primary Care Association (Iowa PCA) and two sister organizations, IowaHealth+ and INConcertCare, pursued value-based care opportunities before joining the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Discusses the network's Medicaid value-based care contract; a partnership with Main Street Health to expand value-based contracting and provide more comprehensive, integrated primary care to patients with Medicare Advantage; data analytics; strategic planning and roadmaps; and next steps.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Describes how Iowa Primary Care Association (Iowa PCA) and two sister organizations, IowaHealth+ and INConcertCare, pursued value-based care opportunities before joining the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Discusses the network's Medicaid value-based care contract; a partnership with Main Street Health to expand value-based contracting and provide more comprehensive, integrated primary care to patients with Medicare Advantage; data analytics; strategic planning and roadmaps; and next steps.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Health Care Vacancies and Turnover in Kansas
Provides data and trends of the Kansas healthcare workforce, including information on vacancies and turnover, data on nursing supply, hospital financial trends, projected job openings, and primary care physician Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) by county.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Hospital Association
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Provides data and trends of the Kansas healthcare workforce, including information on vacancies and turnover, data on nursing supply, hospital financial trends, projected job openings, and primary care physician Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) by county.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Hospital Association
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2025 National Shortage Designation Update Informational Session (NSDU): Introducing New Data to Existing HPSAs
Webinar highlighting updates to the Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSAs) and Maternity Care Target Area (MCTAs) source data, eligibility criteria, and other aspects of the the shortage designation process. Includes discussion of Rural Health Clinics, tribally-run clinics, and other aspects of rural healthcare. See video description for transcript.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Matt Patterson
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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Webinar highlighting updates to the Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSAs) and Maternity Care Target Area (MCTAs) source data, eligibility criteria, and other aspects of the the shortage designation process. Includes discussion of Rural Health Clinics, tribally-run clinics, and other aspects of rural healthcare. See video description for transcript.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Matt Patterson
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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Traffic Safety Facts, 2023 Data: Passenger Vehicles
National data on traffic crashes involving passenger vehicles. Features statistics from 2020-2023 with breakdowns by vehicle type, time of day, fatalities, state, and rural or urban locations.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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National data on traffic crashes involving passenger vehicles. Features statistics from 2020-2023 with breakdowns by vehicle type, time of day, fatalities, state, and rural or urban locations.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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