Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Technology for health and human services
Reimagining Rural Maternal and Child Health
Describes Rural Health Transformation Program efforts in 6 states addressing maternal and child health through workforce recruitment and retention, technology and regional hubs, and integrated care models.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Governors Association
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Describes Rural Health Transformation Program efforts in 6 states addressing maternal and child health through workforce recruitment and retention, technology and regional hubs, and integrated care models.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Governors Association
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Federal Policy Priorities to Strengthen Rural Health and Maximize Rural Health Transformation Program Investments
Presents policy recommendations for Congressional and CMS actions to bolster rural health and ensure Rural Health Transformation Program investments are transparent, durable, and effective. Covers recommendations related to telehealth and health information technology investments, the rural healthcare workforce, and rural hospital programs and eligibility.
Author(s): Daisy Kim, Maya Sandalow
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Presents policy recommendations for Congressional and CMS actions to bolster rural health and ensure Rural Health Transformation Program investments are transparent, durable, and effective. Covers recommendations related to telehealth and health information technology investments, the rural healthcare workforce, and rural hospital programs and eligibility.
Author(s): Daisy Kim, Maya Sandalow
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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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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Robotics and Technologies for the Safety and Health of Farmers: A Scoping Review
Reports on the findings of a scoping review regarding the use of robotics and autonomous technology to improve agricultural health and safety. The review includes 26 studies published in English since 2015. Highlights types of technology being used and the scope of health and safety being studied.
Author(s): Aidan Moriarty, Kerri-Lynn Peachey, Tony Lower, Carlos Mesa-Castrillon
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 2026
Date: 07/2026
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Reports on the findings of a scoping review regarding the use of robotics and autonomous technology to improve agricultural health and safety. The review includes 26 studies published in English since 2015. Highlights types of technology being used and the scope of health and safety being studied.
Author(s): Aidan Moriarty, Kerri-Lynn Peachey, Tony Lower, Carlos Mesa-Castrillon
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 2026
Date: 07/2026
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Recruiting Rural Patients for Clinical Research: Lessons From a Colorectal Cancer Screening Trial
Examines the effectiveness of the Colonoscopy Outreach for Rural Communities (CORC) trial in recruiting rural patients via its remotely-delivered patient navigation program. Analyzes location of primary care organizations (PCOs) participating in CORC and their success in recruiting rural patients in clinical research.
Author(s): Gina A. Keppel, Brooke Ike, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Allison M. Cole
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70189
Date: 07/2026
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Examines the effectiveness of the Colonoscopy Outreach for Rural Communities (CORC) trial in recruiting rural patients via its remotely-delivered patient navigation program. Analyzes location of primary care organizations (PCOs) participating in CORC and their success in recruiting rural patients in clinical research.
Author(s): Gina A. Keppel, Brooke Ike, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Allison M. Cole
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70189
Date: 07/2026
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Access to WIC-Authorized Vendors and High-Speed Internet Services in Urban and Rural Areas
Examines the availability internet services across geographies that enable Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) eligible families to access online WIC shopping options. Utilizes data from 38,279 WIC-authorized vendors during fiscal years 2020-2022 and provides U.S. maps showing census tract-level access to WIC-authorized vendors, access to WIC-authorized vendors and fixed high-speed internet, and access to WIC-authorized vendors and 5G mobile high-speed internet. Includes rural versus urban census tract comparisons of adequate internet access and distance to nearest WIC-authorized vendor.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Leslie Hodges, John Pender, David Marquardt, Anna Shetler, Joanne Guthrie
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Examines the availability internet services across geographies that enable Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) eligible families to access online WIC shopping options. Utilizes data from 38,279 WIC-authorized vendors during fiscal years 2020-2022 and provides U.S. maps showing census tract-level access to WIC-authorized vendors, access to WIC-authorized vendors and fixed high-speed internet, and access to WIC-authorized vendors and 5G mobile high-speed internet. Includes rural versus urban census tract comparisons of adequate internet access and distance to nearest WIC-authorized vendor.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Leslie Hodges, John Pender, David Marquardt, Anna Shetler, Joanne Guthrie
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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The Digital Divide in Adoption and Advanced Use of Electronic Health Records among U.S. Hospitals: Rural Versus Urban Disparities from 2008 to 2023
Examines differences in electronic health record (EHR) technology adoption in rural versus urban hospitals. Utilizes 2008-2023 American Hospital Association Annual Survey Information Technology Supplement data to analyze rural versus urban differences in hospital EHR use, with breakdowns according to EHR adoption, level of EHR technology, advanced EHR use and capabilities, and more. Includes U.S. map showing rural versus urban gap in EHR adoption.
Author(s): A. Jerrod Anzalone, Yinting Liu, Elizabeth Reisher, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 33(7), 1354-1369
Date: 07/2026
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Examines differences in electronic health record (EHR) technology adoption in rural versus urban hospitals. Utilizes 2008-2023 American Hospital Association Annual Survey Information Technology Supplement data to analyze rural versus urban differences in hospital EHR use, with breakdowns according to EHR adoption, level of EHR technology, advanced EHR use and capabilities, and more. Includes U.S. map showing rural versus urban gap in EHR adoption.
Author(s): A. Jerrod Anzalone, Yinting Liu, Elizabeth Reisher, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 33(7), 1354-1369
Date: 07/2026
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Strengthening Rural Health Centers: Challenges, Innovations, and Opportunities
Provides an overview of how health centers serve rural residents. Describes workforce and geographic challenges rural health centers face. Includes data on states where rural health centers serve over half of all health center patients in the state. Discusses areas for key investments to strengthen the ability of health centers to serve their patients and communities.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Provides an overview of how health centers serve rural residents. Describes workforce and geographic challenges rural health centers face. Includes data on states where rural health centers serve over half of all health center patients in the state. Discusses areas for key investments to strengthen the ability of health centers to serve their patients and communities.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Veterans Affairs Clinical Resource Hub Improve Access to Mental Health Services for Rural Veterans
Evaluates 627,436 telemental health service encounters over 5 years with rural veterans to determine the impact of 18 Clinical Resource Hubs on access to mental healthcare. Discusses how utilization of telemental health services increased over the 5 years, trends in modality types, and mental health diagnoses, in addition to other demographic characteristics.
Author(s): Erin Jaske, Chelle L. Wheat, Bradford Felker, et al.
Citation: Telemedicine and e-Health, 2026
Date: 06/2026
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Evaluates 627,436 telemental health service encounters over 5 years with rural veterans to determine the impact of 18 Clinical Resource Hubs on access to mental healthcare. Discusses how utilization of telemental health services increased over the 5 years, trends in modality types, and mental health diagnoses, in addition to other demographic characteristics.
Author(s): Erin Jaske, Chelle L. Wheat, Bradford Felker, et al.
Citation: Telemedicine and e-Health, 2026
Date: 06/2026
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How Wearables and Other Digital Tools Are Driving Innovation in Behavioral Health
Explores the use of wearable devices, applications, telehealth platforms, and AI-enabled screening tools to support prevention, treatment, and recovery for mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Discusses how these tools can be used to collect data that can inform care strategies and policy. Highlights how digital tools can broaden access to rural communities.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Explores the use of wearable devices, applications, telehealth platforms, and AI-enabled screening tools to support prevention, treatment, and recovery for mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Discusses how these tools can be used to collect data that can inform care strategies and policy. Highlights how digital tools can broaden access to rural communities.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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