Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
REH: Key Staffing Considerations
Describes key considerations to developing staffing plans for Rural Emergency Hospitals that balance operational needs and workforce stability.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Describes key considerations to developing staffing plans for Rural Emergency Hospitals that balance operational needs and workforce stability.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Governors' Policy Actions in Rural Health Workforce
Describes policy actions taken by governors to advance healthcare career pathways, education and training, and recruitment and retention, as well as policies related to licensure and scope of practice. Includes examples from state Rural Health Transformation Program project narratives.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Governors Association
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Describes policy actions taken by governors to advance healthcare career pathways, education and training, and recruitment and retention, as well as policies related to licensure and scope of practice. Includes examples from state Rural Health Transformation Program project narratives.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Governors Association
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The Economic Impact of North Carolina's Hospitals
Reports on the statewide and regional economic contributions of 113 hospitals across North Carolina. Features statistics including number of hospitals by county designation and number of beds, with breakdowns by nonmetropolitan, micropolitan, and metropolitan areas.
Additional links: Infographic, Technical Documentation
Author(s): Sara Nienow, Carly Dotson
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Healthcare Association
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Reports on the statewide and regional economic contributions of 113 hospitals across North Carolina. Features statistics including number of hospitals by county designation and number of beds, with breakdowns by nonmetropolitan, micropolitan, and metropolitan areas.
Additional links: Infographic, Technical Documentation
Author(s): Sara Nienow, Carly Dotson
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Healthcare Association
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Environmental Supports, Expectations, and Barriers to Leisure-Time Physical Activity During Pregnancy: A Rural–Urban Comparison
Discusses leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) during pregnancy among rural and urban populations. Utilizes data from 374 pregnant women regarding their LTPA and related environmental support for LTPA in the first trimester with data broken down according to demographics as well as urban, micropolitan, or small town rural location.
Author(s): Carly Williamson Rogers, Alex Crisp, Katrina Wilhite, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70166
Date: 05/2026
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Discusses leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) during pregnancy among rural and urban populations. Utilizes data from 374 pregnant women regarding their LTPA and related environmental support for LTPA in the first trimester with data broken down according to demographics as well as urban, micropolitan, or small town rural location.
Author(s): Carly Williamson Rogers, Alex Crisp, Katrina Wilhite, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70166
Date: 05/2026
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A Look at New or Expanded Medicaid and Public Health Partnerships from 2025: Findings from A Survey of State Medicaid Programs
Identifies themes from a survey of state Medicaid directors regarding new or expanded public health initiatives that were implemented in fiscal year (FY) 2025 or planned for FY 2026. Summarizes initiatives related to maternal and child health, child and youth mental health, opioid use disorder (OUD), lead screening, infectious disease, and workforce. Describes rural-related initiatives and examples throughout.
Author(s): Alisha Rao, Anna Mudumala, Elizabeth Hinton, Cory Caldwell
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Identifies themes from a survey of state Medicaid directors regarding new or expanded public health initiatives that were implemented in fiscal year (FY) 2025 or planned for FY 2026. Summarizes initiatives related to maternal and child health, child and youth mental health, opioid use disorder (OUD), lead screening, infectious disease, and workforce. Describes rural-related initiatives and examples throughout.
Author(s): Alisha Rao, Anna Mudumala, Elizabeth Hinton, Cory Caldwell
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Transforming Rural Health: Strategies from the Field - Rural Telehealth
A brief that discusses telehealth access, policy considerations, and barriers for rural communities, such as lack of digital infrastructure. Provides strategies for integrating telehealth into healthcare delivery models, initiating collaborative opportunities, and building digital access points in rural communities.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Health Policy Center
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A brief that discusses telehealth access, policy considerations, and barriers for rural communities, such as lack of digital infrastructure. Provides strategies for integrating telehealth into healthcare delivery models, initiating collaborative opportunities, and building digital access points in rural communities.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Health Policy Center
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Access to and Provision of Child and Youth Behavioral Health Services in the Rural and Urban U.S.
Compiles findings from 9 reports on youth behavioral health in the rural U.S. Describes prevalence of behavioral health conditions, the youth behavioral health workforce, behavioral health licensure and reimbursement policy, and provision of youth behavioral health services. Features statistics with breakdowns by 7 levels of population density.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Lisa A. Garberson, Sara C. Woolcock, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 05/2026
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Compiles findings from 9 reports on youth behavioral health in the rural U.S. Describes prevalence of behavioral health conditions, the youth behavioral health workforce, behavioral health licensure and reimbursement policy, and provision of youth behavioral health services. Features statistics with breakdowns by 7 levels of population density.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Lisa A. Garberson, Sara C. Woolcock, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 05/2026
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Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Avian Influenza Among Owners of Backyard Flocks — United States, July–December 2025
Reports findings from a survey of 638 backyard bird flock owners regarding their knowledge of signs and symptoms of avian influenza in humans and birds and intentions to use personal protective equipment if in contact with potentially infected birds. Includes data on the characteristics of the flock owners and flocks by urban, suburban, and rural setting.
Author(s): Melissa A. Rolfes, Leah Bauck, Beth A. Lipton, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(18), 234-239
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports findings from a survey of 638 backyard bird flock owners regarding their knowledge of signs and symptoms of avian influenza in humans and birds and intentions to use personal protective equipment if in contact with potentially infected birds. Includes data on the characteristics of the flock owners and flocks by urban, suburban, and rural setting.
Author(s): Melissa A. Rolfes, Leah Bauck, Beth A. Lipton, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(18), 234-239
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Trends in Medicare Advantage Quality for Nonmetropolitan Enrollees, 2019-2023
Examines quality of care in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans by geography, region, and plan type. Analyzes average ratings of 2019-2023 MA plans on a 1-5 star rating scale according to metro, micro, or noncore rural location. Provides additional data on MA enrollments by rural concentration of contracts as well as star ratings by benchmark quartile and quality bonus capping.
Author(s): Abigail Barker, Eliot Jost, Timothy McBride, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Examines quality of care in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans by geography, region, and plan type. Analyzes average ratings of 2019-2023 MA plans on a 1-5 star rating scale according to metro, micro, or noncore rural location. Provides additional data on MA enrollments by rural concentration of contracts as well as star ratings by benchmark quartile and quality bonus capping.
Author(s): Abigail Barker, Eliot Jost, Timothy McBride, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Where Primary Care and Clinical Pharmacy Services 'Intersect': Louisiana Program Helps Patients Understand and Manage Medications
Features a program at Arbor Family Health in Louisiana that connects chronic disease patients with nurse health coaches and clinical pharmacists. Shares how pharmacy faculty and students from the Xavier University of Louisiana's College of Pharmacy conduct annual comprehensive medication reviews by phone.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Features a program at Arbor Family Health in Louisiana that connects chronic disease patients with nurse health coaches and clinical pharmacists. Shares how pharmacy faculty and students from the Xavier University of Louisiana's College of Pharmacy conduct annual comprehensive medication reviews by phone.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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