Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Federally Supported Projects and Programs for Wastewater, Drinking Water, and Water Supply Infrastructure
Provides an overview of federally-funded water infrastructure projects, including those in rural areas, as well as programs that provide community support for these types of projects and related activities. Includes information on the federal cost-share, average amount of assistance, fiscal year 2021 funding level, and fiscal year 2026 appropriations highlights for each program.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of federally-funded water infrastructure projects, including those in rural areas, as well as programs that provide community support for these types of projects and related activities. Includes information on the federal cost-share, average amount of assistance, fiscal year 2021 funding level, and fiscal year 2026 appropriations highlights for each program.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services: Improving Multi-Payer Alignment in Value-Based Care
Summarizes findings from the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee's (PTAC) review of information on improving multi-payer alignment in value-based care. Describes key issues and characteristics related to improving multi-payer alignment in value-based care from proposals that have previously been submitted to PTAC. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Summarizes findings from the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee's (PTAC) review of information on improving multi-payer alignment in value-based care. Describes key issues and characteristics related to improving multi-payer alignment in value-based care from proposals that have previously been submitted to PTAC. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Collaboration to Contracting: A Guide to Rural Clinically Integrated Networks
Identifies 5 pillars of successful rural clinically integrated network (CIN) development. Covers legal matters, governance, care delivery, data infrastructure, and financial sustainability. Includes action steps for administrators of CINs.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Identifies 5 pillars of successful rural clinically integrated network (CIN) development. Covers legal matters, governance, care delivery, data infrastructure, and financial sustainability. Includes action steps for administrators of CINs.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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FY 2027 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System Final Rule (CMS-1849-F)
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) fiscal year 2027 hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) and long-term care hospital prospective payment system (LTCH PPS) final rule. Includes information about the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program, the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program, the Long-Term Care Hospital Quality Reporting Program, and more.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) fiscal year 2027 hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) and long-term care hospital prospective payment system (LTCH PPS) final rule. Includes information about the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program, the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program, the Long-Term Care Hospital Quality Reporting Program, and more.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (P.L. 119-101)
Text of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (P.L. 119-101). Addresses regulatory barriers to new home construction, updates to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs, and strengthening community banking operations. Outlines changes to existing programs and policies, as well as new and expanded programs, regarding housing supply, manufactured and rural housing, homeownership, veterans housing, and more.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress
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Text of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (P.L. 119-101). Addresses regulatory barriers to new home construction, updates to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs, and strengthening community banking operations. Outlines changes to existing programs and policies, as well as new and expanded programs, regarding housing supply, manufactured and rural housing, homeownership, veterans housing, and more.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress
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Association Between the Declining Conversion Factor and Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries
Examines the impact of the inflation-adjusted conversion factor and reduced reimbursement on Medicare beneficiaries' access to care. Utilizes 2005-2023 Medicare fee-for-service data from 4,662,729 unique beneficiaries and provides data breakdowns on conversion factor values and care utilization according to community income, area deprivation index, and urbanicity.
Author(s): Eric W. Christensen, Alexandra R. Drake, Gregory N. Nicola, et al.
Citation: INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 63
Date: 07/2026
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Examines the impact of the inflation-adjusted conversion factor and reduced reimbursement on Medicare beneficiaries' access to care. Utilizes 2005-2023 Medicare fee-for-service data from 4,662,729 unique beneficiaries and provides data breakdowns on conversion factor values and care utilization according to community income, area deprivation index, and urbanicity.
Author(s): Eric W. Christensen, Alexandra R. Drake, Gregory N. Nicola, et al.
Citation: INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 63
Date: 07/2026
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Rural America's Funding Gap: Why Place-Based Investment Matters | Uneven Ground Webinar
Webinar presenting and discussing findings from Uneven Ground: Local Public Funding Gaps Between Rural and Nonrural America, a report on gaps in rural public investment. Discusses the impacts of public funding systems and policy on rural community development and highlights effective approaches to targeted public investment. Transcript available via video description.
Author(s): Amanda Weinstein, Matt Dunne, Tony Pipa, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center on Rural Innovation
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Webinar presenting and discussing findings from Uneven Ground: Local Public Funding Gaps Between Rural and Nonrural America, a report on gaps in rural public investment. Discusses the impacts of public funding systems and policy on rural community development and highlights effective approaches to targeted public investment. Transcript available via video description.
Author(s): Amanda Weinstein, Matt Dunne, Tony Pipa, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center on Rural Innovation
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State Innovations in Improving Access to Care for Adults with Complex Needs in Rural Communities
Discusses Medicaid policy and financing strategies that can help improve rural delivery systems and access to care for rural older adults, people with disabilities, and others with complex health and social needs. Describes effective approaches undertaken in California, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Virginia across three promising strategies. Identifies four factors critical to successful program design and implementation and key considerations for states.
Author(s): Molly Knowles, Nida Enehizena, Gretchen Bell, Ellen Breslin
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Discusses Medicaid policy and financing strategies that can help improve rural delivery systems and access to care for rural older adults, people with disabilities, and others with complex health and social needs. Describes effective approaches undertaken in California, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Virginia across three promising strategies. Identifies four factors critical to successful program design and implementation and key considerations for states.
Author(s): Molly Knowles, Nida Enehizena, Gretchen Bell, Ellen Breslin
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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MACPAC Comment Letter on Medicaid Managed Care State Directed Payments and Medicaid Fee-for-Service Targeted Medicaid Practitioner Payments
Comments on a May 22, 2026, Federal Register proposed rule regarding Medicaid managed care state directed payments (SDPs) and fee-for-service (FFS) targeted practitioner payments. Discusses state flexibility in payment policy, Medicare as a benchmark for Medicaid, monitoring and compliance, establishing appropriate SDP limits, and more.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Comments on a May 22, 2026, Federal Register proposed rule regarding Medicaid managed care state directed payments (SDPs) and fee-for-service (FFS) targeted practitioner payments. Discusses state flexibility in payment policy, Medicare as a benchmark for Medicaid, monitoring and compliance, establishing appropriate SDP limits, and more.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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MedPAC Data Book: Health Care Spending and the Medicare Program, 2026
Provides an overview of Medicare spending and highlights data on Medicare beneficiary demographics, dual-eligible beneficiaries, quality of care provided through the Medicare program, and other payer liability. Examines settings of care, including rural-specific provider sites, as they relate to spending, access to care, and Medicare and operating margins. Compares rural and urban beneficiaries and providers throughout. Chart 6-2 addresses rural hospital closures and Rural Emergency Hospital conversions.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Provides an overview of Medicare spending and highlights data on Medicare beneficiary demographics, dual-eligible beneficiaries, quality of care provided through the Medicare program, and other payer liability. Examines settings of care, including rural-specific provider sites, as they relate to spending, access to care, and Medicare and operating margins. Compares rural and urban beneficiaries and providers throughout. Chart 6-2 addresses rural hospital closures and Rural Emergency Hospital conversions.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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