Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Telehealth
Final CY 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule: Fact Sheet
Fact sheet covering the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) telehealth policy changes for 2026 as outlined in the final calendar year (CY) 2026 Physician Fee Schedule. Covers the process for determining which services can be delivered by telehealth; frequency limitations for inpatient visits, nursing facilities, and critical care consults; direct supervision through the use of live video; payment to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs); and more.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Fact sheet covering the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) telehealth policy changes for 2026 as outlined in the final calendar year (CY) 2026 Physician Fee Schedule. Covers the process for determining which services can be delivered by telehealth; frequency limitations for inpatient visits, nursing facilities, and critical care consults; direct supervision through the use of live video; payment to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs); and more.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Rural Perspectives on Digital Health in Cardiovascular Care: Qualitative Study of Interviews With Rural and Rural-Serving Primary Care Providers and Cardiologists
Explores the perspectives of 17 rural and rural-serving healthcare providers in Alaska, Idaho, and Washington, on the use of digital health to deliver rural cardiovascular care. Discusses five factors that influence adoption outlined by the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory: relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. Identifies themes that emerged from semi-structured interviews with these providers, including advantages and disadvantages of using digital health in their practice.
Author(s): Signe Burchim, Susan Miller, Kristin Beima-Sofie, et al.
Citation: Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27, e77234
Date: 11/2025
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Explores the perspectives of 17 rural and rural-serving healthcare providers in Alaska, Idaho, and Washington, on the use of digital health to deliver rural cardiovascular care. Discusses five factors that influence adoption outlined by the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory: relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. Identifies themes that emerged from semi-structured interviews with these providers, including advantages and disadvantages of using digital health in their practice.
Author(s): Signe Burchim, Susan Miller, Kristin Beima-Sofie, et al.
Citation: Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27, e77234
Date: 11/2025
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Targeted Nursing Interventions for Improving Stroke Care and Outcomes in the Rural Setting: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Discusses opportunities and continuing challenges in the use of service delivery models and technological innovations to support accessible and high-quality nurse-delivered stroke care in rural settings. Covers topics including telemedicine, artificial intelligence, nursing workforce education, data use, and more.
Author(s): Renee Colsch, Wendy Dusenbury, Michelle Camicia, et al.
Citation: Stroke, 57(1), e45-e57
Date: 10/2025
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Discusses opportunities and continuing challenges in the use of service delivery models and technological innovations to support accessible and high-quality nurse-delivered stroke care in rural settings. Covers topics including telemedicine, artificial intelligence, nursing workforce education, data use, and more.
Author(s): Renee Colsch, Wendy Dusenbury, Michelle Camicia, et al.
Citation: Stroke, 57(1), e45-e57
Date: 10/2025
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Advancing Diagnostic Excellence in Rural Areas: A Workshop
Recording of a workshop exploring potential improvements in diagnosis in rural areas of the United States. Topics discussed include the state of diagnosis in rural areas, access to diagnosis and diagnosis-related health disparities, applications of new technologies and innovations, healthcare workforce training, education, and support, and other aspects of service delivery innovation in rural areas. A video transcript is accessible through video control bar. Meeting materials are available for download below the video player, including workshop agenda, presentation slides, and public briefing materials.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Recording of a workshop exploring potential improvements in diagnosis in rural areas of the United States. Topics discussed include the state of diagnosis in rural areas, access to diagnosis and diagnosis-related health disparities, applications of new technologies and innovations, healthcare workforce training, education, and support, and other aspects of service delivery innovation in rural areas. A video transcript is accessible through video control bar. Meeting materials are available for download below the video player, including workshop agenda, presentation slides, and public briefing materials.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Policies Report, Fall 2025
Provides an overview of state telehealth policies as of early September 2025. Covers Medicaid reimbursement, private payer laws, and professional requirements.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Infographic, State Summary Chart
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Provides an overview of state telehealth policies as of early September 2025. Covers Medicaid reimbursement, private payer laws, and professional requirements.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Infographic, State Summary Chart
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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How States Can Boost Behavioral Health Services in Rural Communities
Explores ways state officials can utilize federal funds to increase mental health and substance use treatment for rural communities. Highlights strategies for increasing access to behavioral health services in rural communities that can be funded through the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program.
Author(s): Alexandra Duncan, Kristen Mizzi Angelone
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Pew Research Center
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Explores ways state officials can utilize federal funds to increase mental health and substance use treatment for rural communities. Highlights strategies for increasing access to behavioral health services in rural communities that can be funded through the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program.
Author(s): Alexandra Duncan, Kristen Mizzi Angelone
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Pew Research Center
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Technological Innovation in Rural Health and Human Services Spaces, with Dan Shane
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Dan Shane, Associate Professor with the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis. Focuses on opportunities for applying technological advances in rural health and human services, potential challenges, and future avenues of development.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Dan Shane, Associate Professor with the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis. Focuses on opportunities for applying technological advances in rural health and human services, potential challenges, and future avenues of development.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Tenecteplase in Practice: A Rural Tele-Stroke Network's Experience
Compares care outcomes of Alteplase and Tenecteplase as thrombolytic agents for acute ischemic stroke in rural populations. Utilizes data of 1,644 patients who received treatment through the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Telestroke Network.
Author(s): Alexander Vorobyev, Marina Buciuc, Kevin Jacks, et al.
Citation: Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases, 34(10), 108416
Date: 10/2025
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Compares care outcomes of Alteplase and Tenecteplase as thrombolytic agents for acute ischemic stroke in rural populations. Utilizes data of 1,644 patients who received treatment through the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Telestroke Network.
Author(s): Alexander Vorobyev, Marina Buciuc, Kevin Jacks, et al.
Citation: Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases, 34(10), 108416
Date: 10/2025
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Impact of Ostomy Self-Management Telehealth Training for Rural Cancer Survivors on Health Care Utilization and Economic Outcomes in the United States
Examines the impact of the Ostomy Self-Management Telehealth (OSMT) treatment and education program versus usual care on healthcare utilization, cost, and employment status among rural cancer survivors. Discusses telehealth-delivered self-management education as an accessible and effective care model for rural populations.
Author(s): Daniel Maeng, Virginia Sun, Matthew E. Nielsen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70096
Date: 09/2025
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Examines the impact of the Ostomy Self-Management Telehealth (OSMT) treatment and education program versus usual care on healthcare utilization, cost, and employment status among rural cancer survivors. Discusses telehealth-delivered self-management education as an accessible and effective care model for rural populations.
Author(s): Daniel Maeng, Virginia Sun, Matthew E. Nielsen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70096
Date: 09/2025
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Telehealth: 2026 National Patient Safety Goals
Identifies National Patient Safety Goals for the Joint Commission's Telehealth Accreditation Program. Covers patient and resident identification, caregiver communication, medication safety, suicide prevention, and more. Effective January 1, 2026.
Additional links: Simplified Version
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Joint Commission
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Identifies National Patient Safety Goals for the Joint Commission's Telehealth Accreditation Program. Covers patient and resident identification, caregiver communication, medication safety, suicide prevention, and more. Effective January 1, 2026.
Additional links: Simplified Version
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Joint Commission
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