Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Telehealth
Primary Care Access and the Role of Telemedicine for Traditional Medicare Beneficiaries
Examines how in-person and telehealth primary care use, access, and continuity of care varied among Medicare beneficiaries between 2017 and 2023, using traditional Medicare claims and administrative data. Includes data comparisons by level of rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Ishani Ganguli, Nicolas E. Daley, Andrew Hicks, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 7(5), e260979
Date: 05/2026
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Examines how in-person and telehealth primary care use, access, and continuity of care varied among Medicare beneficiaries between 2017 and 2023, using traditional Medicare claims and administrative data. Includes data comparisons by level of rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Ishani Ganguli, Nicolas E. Daley, Andrew Hicks, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 7(5), e260979
Date: 05/2026
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National Association of Rural Health Clinics 2026 Policy Survey Report
Summarizes results of a 2026 national survey of Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Presents data on the average payer mix, telehealth use and management trends, Medicare Advantage (MA) contracts and reimbursement rates compared to traditional Medicare rates, value-based care participation, challenges, and more.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Summarizes results of a 2026 national survey of Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Presents data on the average payer mix, telehealth use and management trends, Medicare Advantage (MA) contracts and reimbursement rates compared to traditional Medicare rates, value-based care participation, challenges, and more.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Strategies for Critical Access Hospital Financial and Operational Performance Improvement: A Systematic Review
Summarizes findings from a systematic review of peer-reviewed and grey literature published since 2000 regarding financial and operational performance improvement interventions implemented by Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and rural hospitals in the United States and in other developed countries. Identifies key intervention areas, including service line optimization, revenue and cost management, and technology adoption, among others. Describes how State Flex Programs and hospital administrators can use these findings to inform decision-making and resource allocation.
Author(s): Angelina Budko, Laura Bozovich McFadyen, Carrie Baldwin-SoRelle, et al.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Summarizes findings from a systematic review of peer-reviewed and grey literature published since 2000 regarding financial and operational performance improvement interventions implemented by Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and rural hospitals in the United States and in other developed countries. Identifies key intervention areas, including service line optimization, revenue and cost management, and technology adoption, among others. Describes how State Flex Programs and hospital administrators can use these findings to inform decision-making and resource allocation.
Author(s): Angelina Budko, Laura Bozovich McFadyen, Carrie Baldwin-SoRelle, et al.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Reported Receipt of Mental Health Services by Adolescents Aged 12 to 17 in the Rural and Urban U.S., 2021
Describes the mental health services received by adolescents in rural and urban counties nationwide in 2021. Presents data on the percentage of adolescents that received mental health services by rurality. Includes data on rural and urban adolescents' receipt of inpatient and outpatient mental health services across Census regions; services provided in specialty mental health settings; and services provided by a therapist or counselor, in a general medical setting, or via telehealth.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Gina A. Keppel, Lisa A. Garberson, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Describes the mental health services received by adolescents in rural and urban counties nationwide in 2021. Presents data on the percentage of adolescents that received mental health services by rurality. Includes data on rural and urban adolescents' receipt of inpatient and outpatient mental health services across Census regions; services provided in specialty mental health settings; and services provided by a therapist or counselor, in a general medical setting, or via telehealth.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Gina A. Keppel, Lisa A. Garberson, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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A Chartbook on the Characteristics and Needs of Frontier Critical Access Hospitals
Summarizes findings from a 2025 national survey of executives from 117 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in frontier counties. Includes data on the distribution and characteristics of frontier CAHs. Identifies themes related to financial and operational challenges, service availability, and access to care in frontier settings.
Author(s): John A. Gale, Rebecca Stearns, Zachariah Croll, Jayne Foley
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Summarizes findings from a 2025 national survey of executives from 117 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in frontier counties. Includes data on the distribution and characteristics of frontier CAHs. Identifies themes related to financial and operational challenges, service availability, and access to care in frontier settings.
Author(s): John A. Gale, Rebecca Stearns, Zachariah Croll, Jayne Foley
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Access to Acute Stroke Capabilities in California: Association with Rurality and Telestroke Access
Examines disparities in presentation to emergency departments (EDs) with or without acute stroke capability among patients with acute stroke by race and ethnicity, and variations in these associations by patient rurality and ED telestroke status, using 2021 NEDI-California and NEDI-USA survey data.
Author(s): Kori S. Zachrison, Renee Y. Hsia, Krislyn M. Boggs, et al.
Citation: Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases, 35(4), 108607
Date: 04/2026
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Examines disparities in presentation to emergency departments (EDs) with or without acute stroke capability among patients with acute stroke by race and ethnicity, and variations in these associations by patient rurality and ED telestroke status, using 2021 NEDI-California and NEDI-USA survey data.
Author(s): Kori S. Zachrison, Renee Y. Hsia, Krislyn M. Boggs, et al.
Citation: Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases, 35(4), 108607
Date: 04/2026
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Telehealth Resource Center Skills Matrix
Outlines the technical assistance and subject matter expertise of the 14 federally funded Telehealth Resource Centers in specific telehealth topics, clinical specialties, and areas of telehealth implementation.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers
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Outlines the technical assistance and subject matter expertise of the 14 federally funded Telehealth Resource Centers in specific telehealth topics, clinical specialties, and areas of telehealth implementation.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers
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What to Know About Medicare Coverage of Telehealth
Discusses telehealth use by Medicare patients before, during, and after declaration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Notes temporary telehealth provisions set to expire December 31, 2027, telehealth provisions made permanent, and trends in use since 2020. Includes rural and urban comparisons of telehealth use since 2020. Discusses payment models for Medicare and Medicare Advantage, current policies related to telehealth, program integrity, and the cost of coverage through Medicare.
Author(s): Alex Cottrill, Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Discusses telehealth use by Medicare patients before, during, and after declaration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Notes temporary telehealth provisions set to expire December 31, 2027, telehealth provisions made permanent, and trends in use since 2020. Includes rural and urban comparisons of telehealth use since 2020. Discusses payment models for Medicare and Medicare Advantage, current policies related to telehealth, program integrity, and the cost of coverage through Medicare.
Author(s): Alex Cottrill, Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Expanding Oral Health Access and Equity: The Impact of Federally Qualified Health Centers
Presents a literature review aiming to understand the role of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in providing access to oral healthcare. Highlights different delivery methods, such as telehealth, oral health integration, and school-based and mobile health center programs. Discusses access barriers, such as rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Irene Hilton, Candace L. H. Owen, Rachel Johnston, et al.
Citation: Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 86(S1), 48-53
Date: 03/2026
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Presents a literature review aiming to understand the role of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in providing access to oral healthcare. Highlights different delivery methods, such as telehealth, oral health integration, and school-based and mobile health center programs. Discusses access barriers, such as rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Irene Hilton, Candace L. H. Owen, Rachel Johnston, et al.
Citation: Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 86(S1), 48-53
Date: 03/2026
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Telehealth Uptake and Rural-Urban and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Postpartum Care Access Among Medicaid Beneficiaries in South Carolina, 2018–2022
Compares how postpartum care attendance and timeliness varied by race and ethnicity, rural or urban dwelling, and exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how these associations varied by level of telehealth uptake, using 2019-2022 South Carolina Medicaid claims and enrollment data.
Author(s): Anirban Chatterjee, Xuzhuo Zhao, Jihong Liu, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(5), 298-309
Date: 03/2026
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Compares how postpartum care attendance and timeliness varied by race and ethnicity, rural or urban dwelling, and exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how these associations varied by level of telehealth uptake, using 2019-2022 South Carolina Medicaid claims and enrollment data.
Author(s): Anirban Chatterjee, Xuzhuo Zhao, Jihong Liu, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(5), 298-309
Date: 03/2026
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