Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Early Adoption of Telehealth/Remote Patient Monitoring and Hospital Revenue Changes During COVID-19
Evaluates telehealth and remote patient monitoring use between 2019 and 2020 among 1,742 rural and urban hospitals to determine the impact of COVID-19 on utilization and revenue. Discusses potential policy measures given study findings.
Author(s): Claudia A. Rhoades, Brian E. Whitacre, Alison F. Davis
Citation: Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 31(10)
Date: 12/2025
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Evaluates telehealth and remote patient monitoring use between 2019 and 2020 among 1,742 rural and urban hospitals to determine the impact of COVID-19 on utilization and revenue. Discusses potential policy measures given study findings.
Author(s): Claudia A. Rhoades, Brian E. Whitacre, Alison F. Davis
Citation: Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 31(10)
Date: 12/2025
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Studying the Current and Future Needs of a Statewide Health Care System: Summary of Responses to a Request for Information and Recommendations for a Future Comprehensive Study - Minnesota
Assesses health system capacity in Minnesota and proposes investments in infrastructure, healthcare workforce, data collection, and emerging care delivery. Offers recommendations to the Legislature with considerations for rural communities included.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
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Assesses health system capacity in Minnesota and proposes investments in infrastructure, healthcare workforce, data collection, and emerging care delivery. Offers recommendations to the Legislature with considerations for rural communities included.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
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PACE in Rural Communities: Emerging Evidence on Integrated Care for Older Adults
An interview conversation with Carrie Henning-Smith of the the University of Minnesota School of Public Health (UMN) Rural Health Research Center about All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Covers how PACE supports older adults, the impact of PACE in rural communities as well as potential barriers, and policy and partnership needs.
Author(s): Megan Lisch
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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An interview conversation with Carrie Henning-Smith of the the University of Minnesota School of Public Health (UMN) Rural Health Research Center about All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Covers how PACE supports older adults, the impact of PACE in rural communities as well as potential barriers, and policy and partnership needs.
Author(s): Megan Lisch
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Food Security, Access, and Health Outcomes in Rural America: Challenges and Policy Pathways
A recorded webinar focused on access to nutritious and affordable food options in rural areas and the relationship between food security and health outcomes. Discusses policy and collaborative efforts to improve rural food security. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Slides
Author(s): Krystal Hodge, Bhagyashree Katare
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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A recorded webinar focused on access to nutritious and affordable food options in rural areas and the relationship between food security and health outcomes. Discusses policy and collaborative efforts to improve rural food security. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Slides
Author(s): Krystal Hodge, Bhagyashree Katare
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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Fiscal Year 2025 Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Investments: Fact Sheet
Provides an overview of Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) grant programs in Fiscal Year 2025. Summarizes and briefly describes funding awarded to address rural behavioral health, expand the rural health workforce, increase access to care, advance maternal health, support rural health research and information dissemination, and support rural hospitals.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
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Provides an overview of Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) grant programs in Fiscal Year 2025. Summarizes and briefly describes funding awarded to address rural behavioral health, expand the rural health workforce, increase access to care, advance maternal health, support rural health research and information dissemination, and support rural hospitals.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
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Funding Rural Health: The Role and Reach of Federal Support
A series of briefs and spotlights focused on how the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) supports population health in rural Kansas and the rural United States. Focuses on FORHP funding processes and organizational structure, distribution of funds, the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program, the Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program, and Rural Communities Opioid Response Program.
Author(s): Shelby C. Rowell, Wyatt J. Beckman, Viktoria Sterkhova
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Health Institute
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A series of briefs and spotlights focused on how the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) supports population health in rural Kansas and the rural United States. Focuses on FORHP funding processes and organizational structure, distribution of funds, the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program, the Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program, and Rural Communities Opioid Response Program.
Author(s): Shelby C. Rowell, Wyatt J. Beckman, Viktoria Sterkhova
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Health Institute
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Recovery Through a Disability Lens: Impacts of the 2023 Maui Wildfires on Disability Equity and Shared Prosperity
Reports on the impacts of the August 2023 Hawaii wildfires on the housing, employment and income, health, and life satisfaction of West Maui or Kula residents with disabilities. Details how disaster preparedness and recovery policy influence health and quality-of-life disparities for people with disabilities.
Additional links: Plain Language Version
Author(s): Daniela Bond-Smith, Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai'i
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Reports on the impacts of the August 2023 Hawaii wildfires on the housing, employment and income, health, and life satisfaction of West Maui or Kula residents with disabilities. Details how disaster preparedness and recovery policy influence health and quality-of-life disparities for people with disabilities.
Additional links: Plain Language Version
Author(s): Daniela Bond-Smith, Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai'i
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The State of Rural Primary Care in the United States
Provides information, statistics, interactive maps, example programs, and policy suggestions regarding the rural primary care workforce supply in the United States. Provides data on projections for adequate supply as well as county-level maps on Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), National Health Service Corps (NHSC) clinicians, Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Includes rural versus nonrural respondent survey data related to primary care access, use, availability, and delivery.
Author(s): Celli Horstman, Arnav Shah
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Provides information, statistics, interactive maps, example programs, and policy suggestions regarding the rural primary care workforce supply in the United States. Provides data on projections for adequate supply as well as county-level maps on Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), National Health Service Corps (NHSC) clinicians, Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Includes rural versus nonrural respondent survey data related to primary care access, use, availability, and delivery.
Author(s): Celli Horstman, Arnav Shah
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Medicare Physician Fee-For-Service Payments: Adjusting for Variation in Geographic Practice Costs and Challenges for Hawaiʻi
Reports on policy approaches to Medicare reimbursement in Hawaii in order to address provider shortages and limited access to care associated with the state's geographic isolation and high cost of living. Discusses how Medicare policy impacts reimbursement and service availability in rural, remote, and frontier areas.
Author(s): Reinie Gerrits-Goh, John Desfor, Diana M.V. Shaw, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Hawaiʻi Rural Health Research & Policy Center
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Reports on policy approaches to Medicare reimbursement in Hawaii in order to address provider shortages and limited access to care associated with the state's geographic isolation and high cost of living. Discusses how Medicare policy impacts reimbursement and service availability in rural, remote, and frontier areas.
Author(s): Reinie Gerrits-Goh, John Desfor, Diana M.V. Shaw, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Hawaiʻi Rural Health Research & Policy Center
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A View of Medicaid Today and a Look Ahead: Balancing Access, Budgets and Upcoming Changes: Results from an Annual Medicaid Budget Survey for State Fiscal Years 2025 and 2026
Examines changes taking place in Medicaid programs in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Features sections on delivery systems, provider rates and taxes, benefits, and pharmacy and prescription drugs. Highlights challenges and priorities related to implementing federal priorities, systems issues, state budget limitations, and more.
Author(s): Elizabeth Hinton, Elizabeth Williams, Jada Raphael, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Examines changes taking place in Medicaid programs in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Features sections on delivery systems, provider rates and taxes, benefits, and pharmacy and prescription drugs. Highlights challenges and priorities related to implementing federal priorities, systems issues, state budget limitations, and more.
Author(s): Elizabeth Hinton, Elizabeth Williams, Jada Raphael, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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