Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Wellness, health promotion, and disease prevention
Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule (CMS-1832-F)
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues for calendar year 2026. Summarizes provisions related to telehealth services; improving care for chronic illness and behavioral health needs; Rural Health Clinic (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) care coordination services, services requiring direct supervision, and telecommunication services; and more.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues for calendar year 2026. Summarizes provisions related to telehealth services; improving care for chronic illness and behavioral health needs; Rural Health Clinic (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) care coordination services, services requiring direct supervision, and telecommunication services; and more.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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National Outcomes of Increasing Cervical Cancer Screening in Federally Qualified Health Centers
Analyzes the population served by Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in 2023 to determine the number of adults underscreened for cervical cancer and how improving screenings in FQHCs would impact meeting a Healthy People 2030 goal. Includes rural and urban comparisons in addition to other sociodemographic factors.
Author(s): Trisha L. Amboree, Prajakta Adsul, Haluk Damgacioglu, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(10)
Date: 10/2025
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Analyzes the population served by Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in 2023 to determine the number of adults underscreened for cervical cancer and how improving screenings in FQHCs would impact meeting a Healthy People 2030 goal. Includes rural and urban comparisons in addition to other sociodemographic factors.
Author(s): Trisha L. Amboree, Prajakta Adsul, Haluk Damgacioglu, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(10)
Date: 10/2025
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"Gives Us Peace of Mind for Keeping Our Hands Clean": Targeted Handwashing Intervention Increases Water Use and Hand Hygiene in Rural Alaska
Highlights a study on the hygiene outcomes of an intervention that installed Miniature Portable Alternative Sanitation System (Mini-PASS) handwashing stations in 14 rural Alaska Native communities. Details the lack of in-home water service in rural Alaska and the related health consequences. Evaluates the Mini-PASS intervention's outcomes in terms of handwashing station utilization and household water use.
Author(s): Amanda Hansen, Gretchen Day, Marla Wehrli, Laura Eichelberger
Citation: International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 84(1), 2569761
Date: 10/2025
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Highlights a study on the hygiene outcomes of an intervention that installed Miniature Portable Alternative Sanitation System (Mini-PASS) handwashing stations in 14 rural Alaska Native communities. Details the lack of in-home water service in rural Alaska and the related health consequences. Evaluates the Mini-PASS intervention's outcomes in terms of handwashing station utilization and household water use.
Author(s): Amanda Hansen, Gretchen Day, Marla Wehrli, Laura Eichelberger
Citation: International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 84(1), 2569761
Date: 10/2025
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Meditation and Wellbeing: A National Survey of Metro / Nonmetro Adults, Quinquagenarian to Nonagenarian
Examines the practice of meditation in metro versus nonmetro populations aged 50 and older. Utilizes data from a national 2023 AARP Meditation Survey to track meditation practices, beliefs, awareness, and more, according to respondent demographic information and geographic location.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Examines the practice of meditation in metro versus nonmetro populations aged 50 and older. Utilizes data from a national 2023 AARP Meditation Survey to track meditation practices, beliefs, awareness, and more, according to respondent demographic information and geographic location.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Health Behaviors and Injury among New Mexican Adults: Results from the 2023 New Mexico Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Reports on health behaviors and injuries in New Mexico using New Mexico Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (NM BRFSS) data, covering topics including alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis use, physical activity, firearm safety, seatbelt use, suicidal ideation, sexual violence, and fall injuries. Provides data breakdowns for each topic by level of rurality and other demographics.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Reports on health behaviors and injuries in New Mexico using New Mexico Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (NM BRFSS) data, covering topics including alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis use, physical activity, firearm safety, seatbelt use, suicidal ideation, sexual violence, and fall injuries. Provides data breakdowns for each topic by level of rurality and other demographics.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Seat Belt Use in 2024 – Overall Results (Revised)
Examines rates of seat belt use and occupant fatalities from 2011-2024. Includes data on seat belt use for 2023 and 2024 in rural and urban areas.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Examines rates of seat belt use and occupant fatalities from 2011-2024. Includes data on seat belt use for 2023 and 2024 in rural and urban areas.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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South Carolina 2025-2030 State Health Improvement Plan
Describes a plan for public health improvement in South Carolina. Identifies priorities, strategies, and metrics for topics including health outcomes, maternal and infant health, and behavioral health. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: South Carolina Department of Public Health
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Describes a plan for public health improvement in South Carolina. Identifies priorities, strategies, and metrics for topics including health outcomes, maternal and infant health, and behavioral health. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: South Carolina Department of Public Health
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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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Supporting Individuals With Cognitive Impairment and Family Members in Rural Communities: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Digital Health Study
Study protocol for the Northern Arizona Memory Study (NAZMS), which will support dementia risk identification and promote understanding of cognitive health needs and supports via surveys and interviews of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) caregiver and care-receiver dyads in rural Northern Arizona. Details study design and implementation, and highlights the importance of culturally-tailored, accessible, and practical ADRD care supports and interventions for rural and tribal families in Arizona.
Author(s): Eric S. Cerino, Megan C. McCoy, Margarita Martinez, et al.
Citation: JMIR Research Protocols, 14, e77958
Date: 10/2025
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Study protocol for the Northern Arizona Memory Study (NAZMS), which will support dementia risk identification and promote understanding of cognitive health needs and supports via surveys and interviews of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) caregiver and care-receiver dyads in rural Northern Arizona. Details study design and implementation, and highlights the importance of culturally-tailored, accessible, and practical ADRD care supports and interventions for rural and tribal families in Arizona.
Author(s): Eric S. Cerino, Megan C. McCoy, Margarita Martinez, et al.
Citation: JMIR Research Protocols, 14, e77958
Date: 10/2025
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On the Road to Early Detection: Woman's Hospital's Mobile Mammography
A podcast episode discussing a mobile mammography unit in Louisiana. Discusses differences in rural and urban breast cancer incidence and how a mobile unit increases access to preventive care.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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A podcast episode discussing a mobile mammography unit in Louisiana. Discusses differences in rural and urban breast cancer incidence and how a mobile unit increases access to preventive care.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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