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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document

Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): 2025 Improvement Activities Performance Category Quick Start Guide
Provides an overview of Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) requirements, data collection, and data submission for the improvement activities performance category for the 2025 performance year. Includes information about special status scoring for small practices and clinicians located in a rural or Health Professional Shortage Area.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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2025 Minnesota Adolescent Sexual Health Report
Highlights the rates of pregnancies and births among Minnesota adolescents from 1990-2023 and sexually transmitted infections from 2010-2024. Features sections on variations across demographic groups, adolescent sexual health, and geographic disparities between the Twin Cities metro area and greater Minnesota, including a county-level map showing counties with the highest birth, chlamydia, and gonorrhea rates among adolescents.
Author(s): J. Farris, A. Ivers, K. Beckman
Date: 05/2025
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Impact of Alcohol Use Disorder on Inpatient Hospitalizations: A Comparison of Outcomes Between Urban and Rural Veterans Affairs Hospitals
Analyzes Veterans Health Administration hospital admissions data from 2016 to 2020 to determine the burden of alcohol use disorder on 129 rural and urban hospitals. Data shows break down of patient characteristics, hospital characteristics, and admissions characteristics. Discusses mortality and the potential impact of COVID-19.
Author(s): James Willey, Peter Kaboli, Andrea Holcombe, et al.
Citation: Journal of Hospital Medicine, 20(5), 463-470
Date: 05/2025
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Pain in the Nation 2025: The Epidemics of Alcohol, Drug, and Suicide Deaths
Report focuses on alcohol, drug, and mortality statistics and trends, with a special feature on polysubstance use and drug overdose issues. Includes data on substance use and mortality, with U.S. maps showing overdose and suicide rates, breakdowns according to metro versus nonmetro location, and state-by-state statistical trends. Provides policy recommendations to address substance use and offers examples from rural areas.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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Identifying Risk Factors for Adverse Lung Health Outcomes among Rural Appalachian Women
Examines risk factors related to lung function in Appalachian women. Utilizes 2015-2017 patient data from 2 Kentucky counties to analyze normal, restrictive, or obstructive lung function, with further data breakdowns according to demographic/social, behavioral, and health characteristics.
Author(s): Jessica R. Thompson, Courtney J. Walker, John C. Flunker, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 05/2025
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South Dakota 2025 HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report
Provides county level data on the number of HIV/AIDS cases for South Dakota. Addresses co-infections with other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and characteristics of infected residents.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Department of Health
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Catalog of Value-Based Initiatives for Rural Providers
Summarizes rural-relevant, value-based programs currently or recently implemented by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the CMS Innovation Center. Designed to help rural healthcare leaders identify HHS value-based programs that are suitable for rural participation. Contains descriptions of each demonstration and provides direct links to the corresponding agency web page.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Medicare Shared Savings Program: Rule Changes and Implications for Rural Health Care Organizations
Summarizes changes to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Shared Savings Program (SSP) that take effect in January 2023 for current participants, and in January 2024 for organizations applying for a January 1, 2024 start. Discusses the potential impact of these changes on rural health and participation considerations.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Critical Access Hospital Electronic Clinical Quality Measure (eCQM) Resource List
Resource list for electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs), reflecting new materials and updates from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for 2025 reporting.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Quality Improvement Technical Assistance (RQITA) Resource Center
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Rebuilding Maternal Health Access in Western North Carolina: Addressing Critical Gaps Amplified by Hurricane Helene
Discusses the impact of Hurricane Helene on maternal health in rural North Carolina. Focuses on maternal healthcare workforce shortages, access issues in isolated areas, maternal morbidity and mortality, rural health disparities, and more. Offers suggestions to improve rural maternal health in North Carolina, including enhancing data collection, strengthening infrastructure and access, and addressing the social determinants of health.
Author(s): Jennifer Runkle, Maggie Sugg
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 86(1)
Date: 04/2025
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