Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

The Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022 (Division FF, Title I of P.L. 117-328, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023): Section-by-Section Summary
Provides a section-by-section summary of the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act, which was enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328) and reauthorized or amended specific federal programs related to mental health and substance use. Includes information on programs targeted to, or extending eligibility to, tribes and tribal organizations.
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
view details
Data in the North Central Region: The Nebraska Rural Poll, the Ohio Farm Poll, and the NCR-Stat
A recorded webinar that provides an overview of data derived from three polls covering the North Central Region (NCR): Nebraska Rural Poll, Ohio Farm Poll, and NCR-Stat. The polls provide NCR-focused information on community well-being and economic development, employment, policy, agriculture and farm households, population health status, and migration.
Author(s): L.J. McElravy, Douglas Jackson-Smith, Zuzana Bednarik
Date: 01/2024
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
view details
What States Can Learn from Maryland's Experience with Hospital Global Budgeting
Podcast episode exploring lessons learned from Maryland's hospital global budgeting model. Includes a discussion on small and rural hospitals' financial sustainability and their involvement in the model, as well as comparisons to the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model and the Vermont All-Payer Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Model.
Date: 01/2024
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Mathematica
view details
Hospital Financing: Volume Limits and Reporting Could Help Manage Risks of Expanding FHA's Mortgage Insurance Program
Describes the Federal Housing Administration's (FHA) Hospital Mortgage Insurance Program, which insures loans for capital improvements at hospitals; loans insured through the program between 2000 and 2022. Explores characteristics of hospitals ineligible for the program that may impact their financing options. Examines the potential effects and risks of extending Hospital Mortgage Insurance Program eligibility to currently ineligible hospital types on program participation risks. Offers recommendations to Congress if it decides to expand program eligibility to hospitals that primarily provide non-acute care services.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Investing in North Carolina's Caregiving Workforce: Recommendations to Strengthen North Carolina's Nursing, Direct Care, and Behavioral Health Workforce
Reports on North Carolina's caregiving workforce, with focus areas in nursing, behavioral health, and direct care. Provides context, describes existing solutions, and makes recommendations for addressing challenges and shortages in each focus area. Highlights state health investment, and lists current caregiving workforce initiatives. Mentions rural communities throughout.
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
view details
Overdose Prevention Policy Considerations: A Policy Playbook for State and Territorial Health Officials and Agencies
Provides an overview of policy considerations related to overdose prevention, with a focus on health equity and stigma reduction, community distribution, drug checking equipment, syringe service programs, and substance use support peer programs. Includes case examples, strategies for overdose prevention interventions, and considerations for rural and frontier areas.
Author(s): Victoria Pless, Kaela Hurd, Kayley Humm, Arieana Love
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
view details
Michigan's Roadmap to Rural Prosperity
Describes the characteristics, challenges, and significance of Michigan's rural communities, and identifies strategies for building rural prosperity. Presents data on rural and urban demographics and living conditions. Discusses rural health and well-being, workforce, service delivery, housing, infrastructure, economic development, and natural environment.
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Michigan Office of Rural Prosperity
view details
Housing Issues in the 118th Congress
Provides an overview of housing-related policy issues considered by the 118th Congress, including rural and Native American housing programs.
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
view details
A Comparison of 2017-19 Uncompensated Care of Rural and Urban Hospitals by Net Patient Revenue, System Affiliation, and Ownership
Examines the association between uncompensated care and three factors - net patient revenue, system affiliation, and ownership - using Medicare Cost Report data from 2017-2019. Compares rates of uncompensated care as a percentage of operating expenses across Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), rural prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals, and urban PPS hospitals.
Author(s): Emmaline Keesee, Susie Gurzenda, Kristie Thompson, George Pink
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
view details
Child Support Engagement in Rural and Non-Rural Counties: More Engagement and Lower Amount Owed in Rural Areas
Explores differences in engagement in child support for custodial parents living in rural and nonrural areas. Compares the percentage of different types of child support agreements, expected child support payments, and actual child support payments received by custodial parents between 2010 and 2018. Identifies opportunities for federal, state, and tribal agencies to better serve custodial parents and their children through the Title IV-D program and other services.
Author(s): Maretta McDonald, Robin Ghertner
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
view details