Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
The Uncertain Future of Medicare's Stand-Alone Prescription Drug Plan Market and Why It Matters
Discusses the Medicare Part D stand-alone prescription drug plan (PDP) market and the Part D premium stabilization demonstration. Describes the impact of PDP market stability on rural Medicare beneficiaries. Explores the potential effects of the continuation of, or changes to, the premium stabilization program.
Author(s): Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Discusses the Medicare Part D stand-alone prescription drug plan (PDP) market and the Part D premium stabilization demonstration. Describes the impact of PDP market stability on rural Medicare beneficiaries. Explores the potential effects of the continuation of, or changes to, the premium stabilization program.
Author(s): Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Midwesterners' Beliefs about Genetic Testing: Variability Across Ethnic Groups and Metro Vs. Nonmetro Residents
Examines perceptions about genetic testing among Midwesterners. Provides metro versus nonmetro types of and reasons for genetic testing. Includes demographic breakdowns about beliefs surrounding genetic testing confidentiality and ethics.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Examines perceptions about genetic testing among Midwesterners. Provides metro versus nonmetro types of and reasons for genetic testing. Includes demographic breakdowns about beliefs surrounding genetic testing confidentiality and ethics.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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The Rapid Growth Of Medicare Advantage Poses Challenges To Rural Hospitals
Commentary describing key features of Medicare Advantage (MA) and how they may interact with the unique limitations of rural hospitals. Offers policy recommendations to align MA expansion with rural hospital sustainability.
Author(s): James D. Lee, Cody L. Mullens, Adam A. Markovitz, Janice Probst
Citation: Health Affairs Forefront
Date: 07/2025
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Commentary describing key features of Medicare Advantage (MA) and how they may interact with the unique limitations of rural hospitals. Offers policy recommendations to align MA expansion with rural hospital sustainability.
Author(s): James D. Lee, Cody L. Mullens, Adam A. Markovitz, Janice Probst
Citation: Health Affairs Forefront
Date: 07/2025
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Rural Hospitals and the Rural Health Transformation Program: What Comes Next
Blog post discussing the rural health transformation program established in the July 2025 budget reconciliation law. Describes potential priorities for states' use of the rural health transformation program funding. Outlines additional steps Congress could take to help rural hospitals serve their communities.
Author(s): Emma Sheffert, Maya Sandalow
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Blog post discussing the rural health transformation program established in the July 2025 budget reconciliation law. Describes potential priorities for states' use of the rural health transformation program funding. Outlines additional steps Congress could take to help rural hospitals serve their communities.
Author(s): Emma Sheffert, Maya Sandalow
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Diabetic Retinopathy in Rural Communities: A Review of Barriers to Access of Care and Potential Solutions
Narrative review examining diabetic retinopathy (DR) prevalence and barriers to care in rural communities. Identifies factors contributing to poor access to care and suggests potential solutions, covering topics including telehealth use, workforce supply and distribution, healthcare policy, and more.
Author(s): James Burmeister, Madeline N. Pham, Forrest Bohler, Caleb North
Citation: Annals of Medicine, 57, 2522323
Date: 07/2025
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Narrative review examining diabetic retinopathy (DR) prevalence and barriers to care in rural communities. Identifies factors contributing to poor access to care and suggests potential solutions, covering topics including telehealth use, workforce supply and distribution, healthcare policy, and more.
Author(s): James Burmeister, Madeline N. Pham, Forrest Bohler, Caleb North
Citation: Annals of Medicine, 57, 2522323
Date: 07/2025
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Disappearing Doctors: The Reshaping of Rural Healthcare and Its Impact on Rural Physician Recruitment
Blog post examining the shift in the number of independent physicians and practices in rural areas, and the decline in overall number of physicians practicing in these areas. Describes the rise in corporate and hospital employment and offers suggestions for recruitment strategies.
Author(s): Helen Falkner
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Jackson Physician Search
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Blog post examining the shift in the number of independent physicians and practices in rural areas, and the decline in overall number of physicians practicing in these areas. Describes the rise in corporate and hospital employment and offers suggestions for recruitment strategies.
Author(s): Helen Falkner
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Jackson Physician Search
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Understanding Rural Schools' Capacity to Learn About Evidence-Based Practices That Promote Youth Mental Health: A Comparative Case Study
Examines the capacity of rural middle schools to learn about mental health evidence-based practices (EBPs). Utilizes survey and interview data from 11 middle school staff to discuss barriers and facilitators related to school implementation of mental health EBPs as well as the role of intermediary support and expert collaboration.
Author(s): Savannah Hobbs, Elaine S. Belansky, Nick Cutforth, Cynthia Hazel
Citation: The Rural Educator, 46(3), 6-23
Date: 07/2025
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Examines the capacity of rural middle schools to learn about mental health evidence-based practices (EBPs). Utilizes survey and interview data from 11 middle school staff to discuss barriers and facilitators related to school implementation of mental health EBPs as well as the role of intermediary support and expert collaboration.
Author(s): Savannah Hobbs, Elaine S. Belansky, Nick Cutforth, Cynthia Hazel
Citation: The Rural Educator, 46(3), 6-23
Date: 07/2025
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Using Implementation Strategies to Promote the Maintenance Of Kids SIPsmartER In Rural Appalachian Middle Schools: A Process Evaluation
Examines implementation data from the Kids SIPsmartER nutrition behavioral intervention, which was implemented in 12 rural Appalachian middle schools. Utilizes data from 24 teachers and 11 principals to examine intervention fidelity, delivery, perceptions, and student impact. Discusses the importance of implementation evaluation and the scalability of evidence-based behavioral interventions (EBBIs) in schools.
Author(s): Kathleen J. Porter, Annie L. Reid, Theresa Markwalter, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2324
Date: 07/2025
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Examines implementation data from the Kids SIPsmartER nutrition behavioral intervention, which was implemented in 12 rural Appalachian middle schools. Utilizes data from 24 teachers and 11 principals to examine intervention fidelity, delivery, perceptions, and student impact. Discusses the importance of implementation evaluation and the scalability of evidence-based behavioral interventions (EBBIs) in schools.
Author(s): Kathleen J. Porter, Annie L. Reid, Theresa Markwalter, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2324
Date: 07/2025
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2024 Forces of Change Survey
Presents results from a 2024 survey of 667 local health departments (LHDs). Provides data on LHD staffing and budgets, governance, fellowship and training programs, public health nursing, evaluation capacity, and harm reduction activities. Includes data comparisons between rural and urban LHDs, and LHDs serving small, medium, and large populations.
Author(s): Krishna Patel, Gwen Davis, Kellie Perkins, Timothy C. McCall
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Presents results from a 2024 survey of 667 local health departments (LHDs). Provides data on LHD staffing and budgets, governance, fellowship and training programs, public health nursing, evaluation capacity, and harm reduction activities. Includes data comparisons between rural and urban LHDs, and LHDs serving small, medium, and large populations.
Author(s): Krishna Patel, Gwen Davis, Kellie Perkins, Timothy C. McCall
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Obstetric Care Access Declined in Rural and Urban Hospitals Across US States, 2010–22
Examines the number and proportion of hospitals located in rural and urban counties in each state that lost hospital-based obstetric services between 2010 and 2022. Describes the proportion of hospitals without obstetric services for any reason by 2022.
Author(s): Katy Backes Kozhimannil, Julia D. Interrante, Caitlin Carroll, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs, 44(7), 806-811
Date: 07/2025
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Examines the number and proportion of hospitals located in rural and urban counties in each state that lost hospital-based obstetric services between 2010 and 2022. Describes the proportion of hospitals without obstetric services for any reason by 2022.
Author(s): Katy Backes Kozhimannil, Julia D. Interrante, Caitlin Carroll, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs, 44(7), 806-811
Date: 07/2025
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