Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Legislation and regulations
Student Loan Programs Authorized by the Public Health Service Act: An Overview
Provides an overview of student loan programs for health profession students authorized by the Public Health Service Act and administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Describes borrower eligibility requirements, loan terms and conditions, and administrative rules. Includes a table comparing the programs by borrower type, repayment terms, the number of participating schools, and the number and financial amount of outstanding loans.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of student loan programs for health profession students authorized by the Public Health Service Act and administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Describes borrower eligibility requirements, loan terms and conditions, and administrative rules. Includes a table comparing the programs by borrower type, repayment terms, the number of participating schools, and the number and financial amount of outstanding loans.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Medicare Shared Savings Program: Rule Changes and Implications for Rural Health Care Organizations
Summarizes changes to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Shared Savings Program (SSP) that take effect in January 2023 for current participants, and in January 2024 for organizations applying for a January 1, 2024 start. Discusses the potential impact of these changes on rural health and participation considerations.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Summarizes changes to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Shared Savings Program (SSP) that take effect in January 2023 for current participants, and in January 2024 for organizations applying for a January 1, 2024 start. Discusses the potential impact of these changes on rural health and participation considerations.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Critical Access Hospital Electronic Clinical Quality Measure (eCQM) Resource List
Resource list for electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs), reflecting new materials and updates from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for 2025 reporting.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Quality Improvement Technical Assistance (RQITA) Resource Center
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Resource list for electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs), reflecting new materials and updates from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for 2025 reporting.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Quality Improvement Technical Assistance (RQITA) Resource Center
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10 Things to Know About Rural Hospitals
Presents information and data on rural hospitals and rural hospital finances. Compares insurance coverage of discharges and births, margins, and the impact of Medicaid expansion by hospitals' rural and urban location. Includes information on rural hospital closures and Medicare special payment designations for rural hospitals. Discusses the potential impacts of recent federal spending proposals on rural hospitals.
Author(s): Scott Hulver, Zachary Levinson, Jamie Godwin, Tricia Neuman
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Presents information and data on rural hospitals and rural hospital finances. Compares insurance coverage of discharges and births, margins, and the impact of Medicaid expansion by hospitals' rural and urban location. Includes information on rural hospital closures and Medicare special payment designations for rural hospitals. Discusses the potential impacts of recent federal spending proposals on rural hospitals.
Author(s): Scott Hulver, Zachary Levinson, Jamie Godwin, Tricia Neuman
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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The Impacts of New York's Balance Billing Regulation on Ground Ambulance Pricing
Examines the impact of surprise out-of-network (OON) billing regulations on New York emergency ground ambulances. Analyzes 2012-2019 commercial claims data and discusses the impacts of billing regulations on costs of care, with considerations related to transports from rural, super-rural, and urban locations.
Author(s): Wendy Y. Xu, Christopher Garmon, Sheldon M. Retchin, Yiting Li
Citation: Health Services Research, 60(2)
Date: 04/2025
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Examines the impact of surprise out-of-network (OON) billing regulations on New York emergency ground ambulances. Analyzes 2012-2019 commercial claims data and discusses the impacts of billing regulations on costs of care, with considerations related to transports from rural, super-rural, and urban locations.
Author(s): Wendy Y. Xu, Christopher Garmon, Sheldon M. Retchin, Yiting Li
Citation: Health Services Research, 60(2)
Date: 04/2025
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Farm Bill Primer: Rural Development Title
Provides an overview of the rural development provisions of the 2018 Farm Bill, including provisions related to rural broadband, water and waste disposal, and business creation and economic development. Offers considerations Congress may consider in the 2025 reauthorization of the Farm Bill related to the ReConnect Program and rural health challenges.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the rural development provisions of the 2018 Farm Bill, including provisions related to rural broadband, water and waste disposal, and business creation and economic development. Offers considerations Congress may consider in the 2025 reauthorization of the Farm Bill related to the ReConnect Program and rural health challenges.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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340B Benefits Patients and Communities: Examples from the Frontlines
Provides an overview of the 340B Drug Pricing Program and its impact on hospitals. Offers program examples, information, and statistics, with rural community examples included.
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Provides an overview of the 340B Drug Pricing Program and its impact on hospitals. Offers program examples, information, and statistics, with rural community examples included.
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Expanding Your Reach: Planning Your Rural Non-Congregate Summer Meal Service
A recorded webinar that discusses strategies to maximize the impact of non-congregate meal service in rural areas. Includes information on regulations, tools to locate suitable rural areas, operational considerations, program models, and more. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Slide Deck
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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A recorded webinar that discusses strategies to maximize the impact of non-congregate meal service in rural areas. Includes information on regulations, tools to locate suitable rural areas, operational considerations, program models, and more. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Slide Deck
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Policy Considerations: The Future of Group VIII (expansion) Medicaid Coverage in Ohio
Provides information on the impact of Medicaid Expansion legislation in Ohio. Includes county-level data on percentage of population enrolled in Medicaid Group VIII as of January 2025 as well as enrollee county type by metropolitan, suburban, Appalachian, or rural. Discusses access issues and potential policy considerations.
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Health Policy Institute of Ohio
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Provides information on the impact of Medicaid Expansion legislation in Ohio. Includes county-level data on percentage of population enrolled in Medicaid Group VIII as of January 2025 as well as enrollee county type by metropolitan, suburban, Appalachian, or rural. Discusses access issues and potential policy considerations.
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Health Policy Institute of Ohio
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Comparative Effectiveness of Buprenorphine Adherence with Telemedicine Versus In-Person for Rural and Urban Patients
Compares adherence to buprenorphine for opioid use disorder in telemedicine versus in-person healthcare in rural and urban populations. Utilizes 2017–2022 data from 511 adults and compares 3,302 in-person and 519 telemedicine visits, with breakdowns according to patient characteristics, adherence, gaps in treatment, and rural versus urban location. Discusses changing legislative requirements related to buprenorphine treatment and the potential impact on rural populations.
Author(s): Thomas J. Reese, Nana Addo Padi-Adjirackor, Kevin N. Griffith, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 65(2), 102318
Date: 03/2025
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Compares adherence to buprenorphine for opioid use disorder in telemedicine versus in-person healthcare in rural and urban populations. Utilizes 2017–2022 data from 511 adults and compares 3,302 in-person and 519 telemedicine visits, with breakdowns according to patient characteristics, adherence, gaps in treatment, and rural versus urban location. Discusses changing legislative requirements related to buprenorphine treatment and the potential impact on rural populations.
Author(s): Thomas J. Reese, Nana Addo Padi-Adjirackor, Kevin N. Griffith, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 65(2), 102318
Date: 03/2025
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