Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
The Indian Health Service Did Not Ensure That Commissioned Corps Officers' Background Investigations Complied With Federal Requirements
Examines whether Officers of the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service (Commissioned Corps) who are assigned to provide healthcare services to Tribal and IHS-operated health programs received background investigations and reinvestigations in accordance with Federal requirements. Presents findings of a review of background investigation documentation for a sample of 100 Officers assigned to provide healthcare services to IHS and Tribal health facilities in September 2022.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Examines whether Officers of the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service (Commissioned Corps) who are assigned to provide healthcare services to Tribal and IHS-operated health programs received background investigations and reinvestigations in accordance with Federal requirements. Presents findings of a review of background investigation documentation for a sample of 100 Officers assigned to provide healthcare services to IHS and Tribal health facilities in September 2022.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Policy Brief: Access to Mental Health Care for Ohio Children and Youth
Discusses mental healthcare access challenges for youth in Ohio. Provides county-level map showing Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and discusses access issues specific to rural areas.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Health Policy Institute of Ohio
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Discusses mental healthcare access challenges for youth in Ohio. Provides county-level map showing Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and discusses access issues specific to rural areas.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Health Policy Institute of Ohio
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December 2025 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) December 2025 meeting. Covers payment adequacy and updates for physician and other health professional services, hospital inpatient and outpatient services, Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs), post-acute care, skilled nursing facility services, inpatient rehabilitation facility services, home health services, hospice services, and outpatient dialysis services. Includes discussions on improving Medicare payment approaches and mandated reports on the impact of recent changes to the home health prospective payment system and an assessment of the Medicare ground ambulance data collection system.
Additional links: Assessing Payment Adequacy and Updating Payments: Hospital Inpatient and Outpatient Services; Mandated Report on Rural Emergency Hospitals; And Update on Site-neutral Payments - Presentation Slides, Mandated Report: Assessment of the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System - Presentation Slides
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) December 2025 meeting. Covers payment adequacy and updates for physician and other health professional services, hospital inpatient and outpatient services, Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs), post-acute care, skilled nursing facility services, inpatient rehabilitation facility services, home health services, hospice services, and outpatient dialysis services. Includes discussions on improving Medicare payment approaches and mandated reports on the impact of recent changes to the home health prospective payment system and an assessment of the Medicare ground ambulance data collection system.
Additional links: Assessing Payment Adequacy and Updating Payments: Hospital Inpatient and Outpatient Services; Mandated Report on Rural Emergency Hospitals; And Update on Site-neutral Payments - Presentation Slides, Mandated Report: Assessment of the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System - Presentation Slides
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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How USPS Network Changes Threaten Prescription Drug Access for Vulnerable Populations
Discusses the impact of mail processing changes on mail-order medication and asthma and diabetes management for rural communities. Highlights the "triple burden" of limited pharmacy access, high use of mail-order prescriptions, and proximity to postal service restructuring. Includes rural and urban comparisons, Medicare data, and county-level analysis.
Author(s): Elena Patel, Joshua Feng, Matthew Higgins
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: The Brookings Institution
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Discusses the impact of mail processing changes on mail-order medication and asthma and diabetes management for rural communities. Highlights the "triple burden" of limited pharmacy access, high use of mail-order prescriptions, and proximity to postal service restructuring. Includes rural and urban comparisons, Medicare data, and county-level analysis.
Author(s): Elena Patel, Joshua Feng, Matthew Higgins
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: The Brookings Institution
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Advancing Trauma Systems in the United States: Bridging Disparities Through State-Level Legislation and a Health Systems Approach
Discusses disparities in trauma care in rural and urban communities in the United States. Examines weaknesses in the current trauma system and provides associated legislative solutions. Offers policy strategies for rural regions and trauma systems with limited capacity.
Author(s): Bilal Irfan, Zain Hashmi, Tatiana Ramos, Molly Jarman
Citation: Health Services Research, e70073
Date: 12/2025
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Discusses disparities in trauma care in rural and urban communities in the United States. Examines weaknesses in the current trauma system and provides associated legislative solutions. Offers policy strategies for rural regions and trauma systems with limited capacity.
Author(s): Bilal Irfan, Zain Hashmi, Tatiana Ramos, Molly Jarman
Citation: Health Services Research, e70073
Date: 12/2025
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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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SBA's Rural Activities
Describes the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) programs targeting rural small businesses. Discusses how SBA coordinates with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on rural small business issues, the history of the SBA Office of Rural Affairs, and considerations for Congress.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Describes the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) programs targeting rural small businesses. Discusses how SBA coordinates with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on rural small business issues, the history of the SBA Office of Rural Affairs, and considerations for Congress.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Addressing Older Adult Homelessness and Housing Instability in Rural California
Discusses homelessness among older adults in rural California, highlighting their risk factors and infrastructure challenges. Offers policy recommendations covering data collection, resource allocation, service coordination, support services, and legal solutions.
Author(s): Pauline DeLange Martinez, Elizabeth Bogumil, Helen Miltiades, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organizations: The SCAN Foundation, UC Davis Health
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Discusses homelessness among older adults in rural California, highlighting their risk factors and infrastructure challenges. Offers policy recommendations covering data collection, resource allocation, service coordination, support services, and legal solutions.
Author(s): Pauline DeLange Martinez, Elizabeth Bogumil, Helen Miltiades, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organizations: The SCAN Foundation, UC Davis Health
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Closing the Care Gap: Strengthening Long-Term Services and Supports in Rural California
Describes gaps in long-term services and providers for rural older adults in California and offers policy recommendations to address those gaps. Discusses the direct care workforce, aging-related barriers to support, family caregiving support, and workforce education.
Author(s): Pauline DeLange Martinez, Elizabeth Bogumil, Helen Miltiades, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organizations: The SCAN Foundation, UC Davis Health
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Describes gaps in long-term services and providers for rural older adults in California and offers policy recommendations to address those gaps. Discusses the direct care workforce, aging-related barriers to support, family caregiving support, and workforce education.
Author(s): Pauline DeLange Martinez, Elizabeth Bogumil, Helen Miltiades, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organizations: The SCAN Foundation, UC Davis Health
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Rural Health Care Policy Solutions for California's Older Adults
Describes healthcare disparities for rural older adults in California and offers policy recommendations to address those disparities. Discusses the healthcare workforce, workforce training, navigating complex systems, age-friendly care, care coordination, transportation, digital health, and community-based support and resources.
Author(s): Pauline DeLange Martinez, Elizabeth Bogumil, Helen Miltiades, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organizations: The SCAN Foundation, UC Davis Health
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Describes healthcare disparities for rural older adults in California and offers policy recommendations to address those disparities. Discusses the healthcare workforce, workforce training, navigating complex systems, age-friendly care, care coordination, transportation, digital health, and community-based support and resources.
Author(s): Pauline DeLange Martinez, Elizabeth Bogumil, Helen Miltiades, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organizations: The SCAN Foundation, UC Davis Health
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