Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): 2026 Reporting Options Comparison Resource
Provides an overview of the similarities and differences among the three Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) reporting options: Traditional MIPS, MIPS Value Pathways (MVP), and Alternative Payment Model (APM) Performance Pathway (APP)/APP Plus. Designed to help providers understand which reporting options may be best for their practice. Includes information on reporting flexibilities and scoring for small and rural practices.
Additional links: 2026 Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Reporting Options At-A-Glance for Small Practices
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of the similarities and differences among the three Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) reporting options: Traditional MIPS, MIPS Value Pathways (MVP), and Alternative Payment Model (APM) Performance Pathway (APP)/APP Plus. Designed to help providers understand which reporting options may be best for their practice. Includes information on reporting flexibilities and scoring for small and rural practices.
Additional links: 2026 Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Reporting Options At-A-Glance for Small Practices
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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A Comparative Analysis of Visual Field Test Results Using Tablet-Based and Table-Mounted Devices in a Telemedicine Program Set in Underserved Areas
Describes the reliability and comparative accuracy of a tablet-based visual field (VF) assessment compared to the standard Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer (HFA) among 253 Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) patients in rural Alabama. Discusses the potential implications of the findings on increasing access to eye care in rural primary care settings.
Author(s): Ellen K. Antwi-Adjei, Thomas A. Swain, Christopher A. Girkin, et al.
Citation: Translational Vision Science & Technology, 15(3), 29
Date: 03/2026
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Describes the reliability and comparative accuracy of a tablet-based visual field (VF) assessment compared to the standard Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer (HFA) among 253 Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) patients in rural Alabama. Discusses the potential implications of the findings on increasing access to eye care in rural primary care settings.
Author(s): Ellen K. Antwi-Adjei, Thomas A. Swain, Christopher A. Girkin, et al.
Citation: Translational Vision Science & Technology, 15(3), 29
Date: 03/2026
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Cigarette and Electronic Cigarette Use Among Adults by Urbanization Level: United States, 2024
Offers 2024 data showing the percentage of adults who use cigarettes and electronic cigarettes by 4 levels of urbanization. Includes a break down by age ranges.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Offers 2024 data showing the percentage of adults who use cigarettes and electronic cigarettes by 4 levels of urbanization. Includes a break down by age ranges.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Vaccination Coverage by Age 24 Months Among Children Born in 2021 and 2022 — National Immunization Survey-Child, United States, 2022–2024
Examines vaccination coverage for selected vaccines and doses among children born in 2021-2022. Supplementary Table 2 includes data on vaccine coverage for metropolitan and nonmetro areas.
Additional links: Supplementary Table 2
Author(s): Holly A. Hill, David Yankey, Laurie D. Elam-Evans, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(11), 146-155
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Examines vaccination coverage for selected vaccines and doses among children born in 2021-2022. Supplementary Table 2 includes data on vaccine coverage for metropolitan and nonmetro areas.
Additional links: Supplementary Table 2
Author(s): Holly A. Hill, David Yankey, Laurie D. Elam-Evans, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(11), 146-155
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Dentist Workforce and Dental Care Utilization in the Rural and Urban U.S.
Describes the supply of general and specialist dentists in rural and urban counties in 2022. Explores dental care utilization and outcomes in 2019 by degree of rurality and patient characteristics. Discusses the implication of these findings on policies and interventions related the supply of dentists in rural areas.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, et al.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Describes the supply of general and specialist dentists in rural and urban counties in 2022. Explores dental care utilization and outcomes in 2019 by degree of rurality and patient characteristics. Discusses the implication of these findings on policies and interventions related the supply of dentists in rural areas.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, et al.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Brief Prescribing Support and Buprenorphine Adoption in Rural Primary Care: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial
Explores the efficacy of a brief support program on rural primary care providers willingness to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder (OUD). Breaks down the support program modules aimed at educating providers about buprenorphine-based treatment and prescribing practices. Highlights post-intervention changes in prescribing and treatment outcomes.
Author(s): Berkeley Franz, Lindsay Y. Dhanani, Daniel Brook, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(3), e263050
Date: 03/2026
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Explores the efficacy of a brief support program on rural primary care providers willingness to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder (OUD). Breaks down the support program modules aimed at educating providers about buprenorphine-based treatment and prescribing practices. Highlights post-intervention changes in prescribing and treatment outcomes.
Author(s): Berkeley Franz, Lindsay Y. Dhanani, Daniel Brook, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(3), e263050
Date: 03/2026
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An Early Look at Profitability Before and After Conversion to Rural Emergency Hospital
Examines the impact of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation on profitability of hospitals. Analyzes Medicare Cost Reports (MCRs) from 32 REHs before and after conversion and provides information on REH total and operating margins.
Author(s): Aditya Pillutla, George Pink, Kristie Thompson, Mark Holmes
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Examines the impact of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation on profitability of hospitals. Analyzes Medicare Cost Reports (MCRs) from 32 REHs before and after conversion and provides information on REH total and operating margins.
Author(s): Aditya Pillutla, George Pink, Kristie Thompson, Mark Holmes
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Slow Growth Impacts Nation's Largest Counties Hardest: Diminishing Population Gains in Metro Areas Highlight Nationwide Trend
Discusses how county-level population growth varied between 2023-2024 and 2024-2025, with data breakdowns by level of rurality and for specific metropolitan and micropolitan areas.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Discusses how county-level population growth varied between 2023-2024 and 2024-2025, with data breakdowns by level of rurality and for specific metropolitan and micropolitan areas.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Bridging the Gap: A Scoping Review of Family Caregiver Roles in Rural Health Settings
Presents a literature review exploring how unpaid caregivers contribute to rural healthcare systems by filling gaps in the rural healthcare infrastructure. Highlights the various roles that unpaid caregivers play in the provision of healthcare, such as providing transportation, translating for family members, and telehealth mediation, among other activities.
Author(s): Stephanie Quon, Isabel Truong, Leah Moroz, Katherine Zheng
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 26(1), 10621
Date: 03/2026
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Presents a literature review exploring how unpaid caregivers contribute to rural healthcare systems by filling gaps in the rural healthcare infrastructure. Highlights the various roles that unpaid caregivers play in the provision of healthcare, such as providing transportation, translating for family members, and telehealth mediation, among other activities.
Author(s): Stephanie Quon, Isabel Truong, Leah Moroz, Katherine Zheng
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 26(1), 10621
Date: 03/2026
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A Scoping Review of Certified Nurse-Midwife and Certified Midwife Care in the United States: Assessing Outcomes Across Six Patient Care Domains
Provides a scoping review focused on certified nurse-midwife (CNM) and certified midwife (CM) care and quality measures. Discusses 66 studies focused on safety, effectiveness, patient satisfaction, and more, with 4 studies focused on rural populations.
Author(s): Emma Virginia Clark, Robyn Schafer, Rachel Lane Walden, et al.
Citation: The Milbank Quarterly: A Multidisciplinary Journal of Population and Health Policy, 104(1), 220-291
Date: 03/2026
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Provides a scoping review focused on certified nurse-midwife (CNM) and certified midwife (CM) care and quality measures. Discusses 66 studies focused on safety, effectiveness, patient satisfaction, and more, with 4 studies focused on rural populations.
Author(s): Emma Virginia Clark, Robyn Schafer, Rachel Lane Walden, et al.
Citation: The Milbank Quarterly: A Multidisciplinary Journal of Population and Health Policy, 104(1), 220-291
Date: 03/2026
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