Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Calendar Year (CY) 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule: Quality Payment Program (QPP) Fact Sheet and Policy Comparison Table
Provides an overview of the 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule, focusing on policy changes impacting the Quality Payment Program (QPP). Describes quality measures that are new, revised, and removed for the 2027 performance period. Compares previous policies with the newly finalized policies by policy area.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of the 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule, focusing on policy changes impacting the Quality Payment Program (QPP). Describes quality measures that are new, revised, and removed for the 2027 performance period. Compares previous policies with the newly finalized policies by policy area.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Updates to Critical Access Hospital Rural and Distance Evaluations
Outlines changes to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) State Operations Manual regarding Critical Access Hospital (CAH) distance and rural evaluation requirements. Includes guidance on Necessary Provider status, the evaluation of CAH location and distance requirements for existing CAHs when there is a newly certified acute care hospital, and the decennial evaluation of rural and distance status beginning in calendar year 2033.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Outlines changes to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) State Operations Manual regarding Critical Access Hospital (CAH) distance and rural evaluation requirements. Includes guidance on Necessary Provider status, the evaluation of CAH location and distance requirements for existing CAHs when there is a newly certified acute care hospital, and the decennial evaluation of rural and distance status beginning in calendar year 2033.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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West Virginia Rural Health Transformation Program (WV RHTP) – Announced Awards
Presents a list of awardees announced as part of West Virginia's Rural Health Transformation Program by initiative. Includes information about award amounts, project summaries, and counties served.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources
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Presents a list of awardees announced as part of West Virginia's Rural Health Transformation Program by initiative. Includes information about award amounts, project summaries, and counties served.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources
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How Do Services Offered Within Opioid Treatment Programs Vary Based on State Methadone Policies?
Examines the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in various states as well as access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) options, psychosocial services, and housing supports. Analyzes 1,501 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their characteristics, including state restrictiveness, services offered, facility type, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Noa Krawczyk, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Jonathan H. Cantor
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 190, 210062
Date: 11/2026
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Examines the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in various states as well as access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) options, psychosocial services, and housing supports. Analyzes 1,501 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their characteristics, including state restrictiveness, services offered, facility type, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Noa Krawczyk, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Jonathan H. Cantor
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 190, 210062
Date: 11/2026
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Policy Pathways to Support NP-Owned Primary Care Practices in Rural Areas
Examines various policy pathways to develop the nurse practitioner (NP) workforce and provide accessible primary care in rural areas. Uses 2024 Medicare claims data to show the concentration of NP-only practices by state and draws on focus groups with NP owners to highlight strengths and challenges of rural NP-owned practices. Discusses state-level policy actions that reduce barriers facing NP-owned primary care practices.
Author(s): Monica O'Reilly-Jacob, Jennifer Perloff
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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Examines various policy pathways to develop the nurse practitioner (NP) workforce and provide accessible primary care in rural areas. Uses 2024 Medicare claims data to show the concentration of NP-only practices by state and draws on focus groups with NP owners to highlight strengths and challenges of rural NP-owned practices. Discusses state-level policy actions that reduce barriers facing NP-owned primary care practices.
Author(s): Monica O'Reilly-Jacob, Jennifer Perloff
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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A Review of the Rural Health Transformation Program Year 1 Obligated Funds
Discusses states' obligation of first-year Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding through July 2026. Describes the degree to which states have committed funding across eight categories: workforce, health system innovation, technology, payment and service delivery models, disease prevention and care, accessible care, population health, and health promotion. Includes data on the percent of RHTP funding obligated by state through July 2026.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Discusses states' obligation of first-year Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding through July 2026. Describes the degree to which states have committed funding across eight categories: workforce, health system innovation, technology, payment and service delivery models, disease prevention and care, accessible care, population health, and health promotion. Includes data on the percent of RHTP funding obligated by state through July 2026.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Disaster Response, Recovery, and Resilience in Rural America: Research Summary of America's Rural Future Symposium | August 6, 2026
Summarizes findings from an August 2026 symposium on federal disaster assistance, response, and preparedness in rural areas. Discusses topics including risk measurement; federal, state, and local roles and capacity to contribute to disaster response; strategies for resilience-oriented investment; and more.
Author(s): Anthony F. Pipa, Brent Orrell, Adam Aley, Madeline Tong
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Brookings-AEI Commission on U.S. Rural Prosperity, The Brookings Institution
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Summarizes findings from an August 2026 symposium on federal disaster assistance, response, and preparedness in rural areas. Discusses topics including risk measurement; federal, state, and local roles and capacity to contribute to disaster response; strategies for resilience-oriented investment; and more.
Author(s): Anthony F. Pipa, Brent Orrell, Adam Aley, Madeline Tong
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Brookings-AEI Commission on U.S. Rural Prosperity, The Brookings Institution
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Paying for Clinical AI: Principles for Policymakers
Provides an overview of clinical applications of artificial intelligence (clinical AI) tools and use cases. Describes payment challenges related to the use of clinical AI. Outlines seven principles that should guide payment policies for clinical AI.
Author(s): Allison Kwon, Maya Sandalow
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Provides an overview of clinical applications of artificial intelligence (clinical AI) tools and use cases. Describes payment challenges related to the use of clinical AI. Outlines seven principles that should guide payment policies for clinical AI.
Author(s): Allison Kwon, Maya Sandalow
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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January 2027 Annual Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Monthly Facility Payment Amount
Presents the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) monthly facility payment amount for Calendar Year 2027.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Presents the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) monthly facility payment amount for Calendar Year 2027.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Rural Health Transformation Program State Programmatic Snapshots: 2026 Release
Provides an overview of each state's Rural Health Transformation Program initiatives and focus areas, as well as policy action commitments outlined in states' applications.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of each state's Rural Health Transformation Program initiatives and focus areas, as well as policy action commitments outlined in states' applications.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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