Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Medicaid
The Association of Hospital Characteristics With Medicaid Managed Care Hospital Prices
Examines the relationship between hospital characteristics and Medicaid facility prices for routine procedures. Utilizes 2021-2023 facility claims data from Elevance Health-affiliated Medicaid plans, alongside American Hospital Directory data, to compare prices by Critical Access Hospital (CAH) and children's hospital status, ownership (for-profit, religiously affiliated, or government), teaching status, system affiliation, rurality, and size.
Author(s): Brett Alfrey, Benjamin Ukert, Aliza S. Gordon
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(6), e70178
Date: 12/2026
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Examines the relationship between hospital characteristics and Medicaid facility prices for routine procedures. Utilizes 2021-2023 facility claims data from Elevance Health-affiliated Medicaid plans, alongside American Hospital Directory data, to compare prices by Critical Access Hospital (CAH) and children's hospital status, ownership (for-profit, religiously affiliated, or government), teaching status, system affiliation, rurality, and size.
Author(s): Brett Alfrey, Benjamin Ukert, Aliza S. Gordon
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(6), e70178
Date: 12/2026
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State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Policies Report, Fall 2026
Provides an overview of state telehealth policies as of October 2026. Covers Medicaid reimbursement, private payer laws, professional requirements, and licensing.
Additional links: Infographic, Interstate Licensure Compacts – State Compact Participation Chart, State Summary Chart
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Provides an overview of state telehealth policies as of October 2026. Covers Medicaid reimbursement, private payer laws, professional requirements, and licensing.
Additional links: Infographic, Interstate Licensure Compacts – State Compact Participation Chart, State Summary Chart
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Association of Medicaid Unwinding With Hospital Financial Outcomes Among General Acute Care and Critical Access Hospitals
Explores the impacts of Medicaid unwinding, the 18-month period during which states reassessed enrollees' eligibility and disenrolled those who no longer qualified for Medicaid coverage at the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, on general acute care and Critical Access Hospital (CAH) finances. Describes the trends regarding uncompensated care costs and Medicaid revenue between 2021-2024, and compares data from the pre-unwinding (2021-2022) and post-unwinding (2023-2024) periods.
Author(s): Nima Khodakarami, Joel E. Segel
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(6), e70182
Date: 11/2026
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Explores the impacts of Medicaid unwinding, the 18-month period during which states reassessed enrollees' eligibility and disenrolled those who no longer qualified for Medicaid coverage at the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, on general acute care and Critical Access Hospital (CAH) finances. Describes the trends regarding uncompensated care costs and Medicaid revenue between 2021-2024, and compares data from the pre-unwinding (2021-2022) and post-unwinding (2023-2024) periods.
Author(s): Nima Khodakarami, Joel E. Segel
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(6), e70182
Date: 11/2026
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Molecular Testing Among Patients With Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer in the Rural US
Explores factors associated with molecular testing among older adults with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), such as age, dual Medicaid and Medicare enrollment, Part D coverage, and visits with specialists. Analyzes data from a cohort of 8,259 NSCLC patients in rural areas between 2014-2019.
Author(s): Dena P. Rhinehart, Evelien van Gelderen, Josephine Feliciano, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(11), e2642270
Date: 11/2026
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Explores factors associated with molecular testing among older adults with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), such as age, dual Medicaid and Medicare enrollment, Part D coverage, and visits with specialists. Analyzes data from a cohort of 8,259 NSCLC patients in rural areas between 2014-2019.
Author(s): Dena P. Rhinehart, Evelien van Gelderen, Josephine Feliciano, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(11), e2642270
Date: 11/2026
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October 2026 MACPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) October 2026 meeting. Covers hospital cost drivers, drug price negotiation in the Medicaid program, utilization management for medications for opioid use disorder in Medicaid, access to behavioral health services for adult Medicaid enrollees with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and more. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Transcript from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) October 2026 meeting. Covers hospital cost drivers, drug price negotiation in the Medicaid program, utilization management for medications for opioid use disorder in Medicaid, access to behavioral health services for adult Medicaid enrollees with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and more. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Providing Care to the Surprisingly Large Rural Population in the US: A Healthy Dialogue With Julie Donohue and Mark Holmes
Summarizes a podcast episode featuring a discussion with Mark Holmes, director of The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Julie Donohue, professor and chair of health policy and management at the University of Pittsburgh and deputy editor at JAMA Health Forum. Describes challenges facing rural health and the potential impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
Additional links: Providing Rural Health Care Is Really Hard; 60 Million Americans Rely on It, Transcript
Author(s): Derek C. Angus, Matthew B. O'Connor
Citation: JAMA
Date: 10/2026
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Summarizes a podcast episode featuring a discussion with Mark Holmes, director of The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Julie Donohue, professor and chair of health policy and management at the University of Pittsburgh and deputy editor at JAMA Health Forum. Describes challenges facing rural health and the potential impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
Additional links: Providing Rural Health Care Is Really Hard; 60 Million Americans Rely on It, Transcript
Author(s): Derek C. Angus, Matthew B. O'Connor
Citation: JAMA
Date: 10/2026
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Rural and Urban Health Center Patients and Financing
Reports on rural and urban community health centers' revenue sources, patient demographics, and patient health insurance coverage using 2025 Uniform Data System (UDS) data. Includes an interactive map showing shares of child and adult rural health center patients covered by Medicaid by state.
Author(s): Akash Pillai, Jennifer Tolbert
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Reports on rural and urban community health centers' revenue sources, patient demographics, and patient health insurance coverage using 2025 Uniform Data System (UDS) data. Includes an interactive map showing shares of child and adult rural health center patients covered by Medicaid by state.
Author(s): Akash Pillai, Jennifer Tolbert
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Beneficiary and Clinician Perspectives on Medicare and Other Issues: Findings from 2026 Focus Groups in Select States, and 2021–2026 Rural Focus Groups
Summarizes findings from 21 focus groups of Medicare beneficiaries, Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligible) beneficiaries, and clinicians conducted between May and June 2026, including one virtual focus group of rural Medicare beneficiaries. Compiles findings from 14 focus groups of rural Medicare beneficiaries between 2021 and 2026. Highlights themes that emerged across the focus groups covering Medicare coverage options, access to care, telehealth, and prescription drugs.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Summarizes findings from 21 focus groups of Medicare beneficiaries, Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligible) beneficiaries, and clinicians conducted between May and June 2026, including one virtual focus group of rural Medicare beneficiaries. Compiles findings from 14 focus groups of rural Medicare beneficiaries between 2021 and 2026. Highlights themes that emerged across the focus groups covering Medicare coverage options, access to care, telehealth, and prescription drugs.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Rural Communities at Greater Risk of Harmful Impacts from New Medicaid Work Reporting Requirements
Examines how new federal Medicaid work reporting requirements will affect people living in rural areas. Provides data on rural Medicaid enrollment, disability prevalence, and health status, and details rural-specific barriers to meeting and documenting compliance with work requirements.
Author(s): Adam Searing, Joan Alker
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Children and Families, Georgetown University
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Examines how new federal Medicaid work reporting requirements will affect people living in rural areas. Provides data on rural Medicaid enrollment, disability prevalence, and health status, and details rural-specific barriers to meeting and documenting compliance with work requirements.
Author(s): Adam Searing, Joan Alker
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Children and Families, Georgetown University
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September 2026 MACPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) September 2026 meeting. Covers community engagement requirements in Medicaid, state directed payments and healthcare-related taxes, a comparison of an updated inpatient hospital payment index across states, utilization management for medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in Medicaid, and Medicaid coverage of assistive technology for adults, among other things. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Medicaid Coverage of Assistive Technology for Adults: Data Analysis and Stakeholder Interviews
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Transcript from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) September 2026 meeting. Covers community engagement requirements in Medicaid, state directed payments and healthcare-related taxes, a comparison of an updated inpatient hospital payment index across states, utilization management for medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in Medicaid, and Medicaid coverage of assistive technology for adults, among other things. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Medicaid Coverage of Assistive Technology for Adults: Data Analysis and Stakeholder Interviews
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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