Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
U.S. Obesity Rate Changes Differ for Rural and Urban Areas, as Well as Across Regions
Reports on rural versus urban and regional differences in obesity prevalence among U.S. adults between 2019 and 2024. Identifies changes in obesity prevalence over time and discusses the geographic factors influencing obesity prevalence.
Author(s): Mariah Ehmke, Brandon J. Restrepo
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Reports on rural versus urban and regional differences in obesity prevalence among U.S. adults between 2019 and 2024. Identifies changes in obesity prevalence over time and discusses the geographic factors influencing obesity prevalence.
Author(s): Mariah Ehmke, Brandon J. Restrepo
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): Traditional MIPS Scoring Guide for the 2025 Performance Year
Provides details on how scores are calculated for the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), one of two tracks under the Medicare Quality Payment Program. Explains the four performance categories that affect Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payments: quality, cost, improvement activities, and promoting interoperability. Includes information for small practices.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides details on how scores are calculated for the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), one of two tracks under the Medicare Quality Payment Program. Explains the four performance categories that affect Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payments: quality, cost, improvement activities, and promoting interoperability. Includes information for small practices.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): 2025 Merit-Based Incentive Payment (MIPS) Value Pathways (MVPs) Implementation Guide
Provides an overview of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Value Pathways (MVPs), a voluntary reporting option that can be used to meet MIPS reporting requirements for the 2025 performance year. Describes subgroup reporting, reporting requirements, scoring, performance feedback and public reporting, and how to register to report an MVP. Includes information on considerations and exceptions for small practices and clinicians in a rural or Health Professional Shortage Area.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Value Pathways (MVPs), a voluntary reporting option that can be used to meet MIPS reporting requirements for the 2025 performance year. Describes subgroup reporting, reporting requirements, scoring, performance feedback and public reporting, and how to register to report an MVP. Includes information on considerations and exceptions for small practices and clinicians in a rural or Health Professional Shortage Area.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Impact of the Health Center Program
Brief overview of the Health Center Program, focusing on the goals of preserving access to affordable primary care, addressing emergent public health needs, and driving quality improvement.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bureau of Primary Health Care
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Brief overview of the Health Center Program, focusing on the goals of preserving access to affordable primary care, addressing emergent public health needs, and driving quality improvement.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bureau of Primary Health Care
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Adult Ratings of Neighborhood Medical Care Availability in Nonmetropolitan and Metropolitan Areas, United States 2021
Statistical brief examining perceptions of medical care availability and quality in nonmetropolitan and metropolitan areas, utilizing 2021 AHRQ Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPS-HC) data. Includes data breakdowns by level of rurality and age group, insurance status, physical health status, and more.
Author(s): Sandra L. Decker, Xue Wu
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Statistical brief examining perceptions of medical care availability and quality in nonmetropolitan and metropolitan areas, utilizing 2021 AHRQ Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPS-HC) data. Includes data breakdowns by level of rurality and age group, insurance status, physical health status, and more.
Author(s): Sandra L. Decker, Xue Wu
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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FY 2026 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System (LTCH PPS) Final Rule — CMS-1833-F
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) fiscal year 2026 hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) and long-term care hospital prospective payment system (LTCH PPS) final rule. Includes information about the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program and the discontinuation of the low-wage index hospital policy for FY 2026 and subsequent years.
Date: 07/2025
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) fiscal year 2026 hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) and long-term care hospital prospective payment system (LTCH PPS) final rule. Includes information about the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program and the discontinuation of the low-wage index hospital policy for FY 2026 and subsequent years.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Solar Panel Installation Workers Exposed to Pesticides During Two Agricultural Applications — Michigan, August 2023 and May 2024
Reports on two instances of nonagricultural workers operating on or adjacent to farmland who were exposed to farm-related pesticides. Describes each event and the exposure response and discusses ways to reduce the risk of these types of exposures.
Author(s): Hailey TenHarmsel, Laurel Harduar Morano, Kenneth D. Rosenman
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(28), 450-454
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports on two instances of nonagricultural workers operating on or adjacent to farmland who were exposed to farm-related pesticides. Describes each event and the exposure response and discusses ways to reduce the risk of these types of exposures.
Author(s): Hailey TenHarmsel, Laurel Harduar Morano, Kenneth D. Rosenman
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(28), 450-454
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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New Design Opens the Door to Improved Patient Care at Midwest Medical Center
Profiles the Midwest Medical Center, a hospital in rural Illinois. Discusses the building's remodel and collaboration with the USDA Rural Development Community Facilities program.
Author(s): Andrea Imel
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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Profiles the Midwest Medical Center, a hospital in rural Illinois. Discusses the building's remodel and collaboration with the USDA Rural Development Community Facilities program.
Author(s): Andrea Imel
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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Traffic Safety Facts, 2023 Data: Bicyclists and Other Cyclists
National data on fatal and non-fatal traffic crashes involving bicyclists and other cyclists, including riders of two-wheel vehicles, tricycles, and unicycles powered by pedals and/or motors. Features statistics from 2014-2023 with breakdowns including fatality and injury rates, age group, sex, time of day and day of the week, alcohol involvement, blood alcohol concentrations of riders, vehicle type and impact point, fatality rates by state, and rural or urban location.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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National data on fatal and non-fatal traffic crashes involving bicyclists and other cyclists, including riders of two-wheel vehicles, tricycles, and unicycles powered by pedals and/or motors. Features statistics from 2014-2023 with breakdowns including fatality and injury rates, age group, sex, time of day and day of the week, alcohol involvement, blood alcohol concentrations of riders, vehicle type and impact point, fatality rates by state, and rural or urban location.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Traffic Safety Facts, 2023 Data: Motorcycles
National data on fatal and nonfatal traffic crashes involving two- and three-wheeled motorcycles, off-road motorcycles, mopeds, motor scooters, mini bikes, and pocket bikes. Features statistics from 2014-2023 with breakdowns including fatality and injury rates, age group and day of the week, engine size, speeding involvement, previous driving record of driver, alcohol-impaired driver fatality rate, blood alcohol concentrations of riders, helmet use and state, and rural or urban location.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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National data on fatal and nonfatal traffic crashes involving two- and three-wheeled motorcycles, off-road motorcycles, mopeds, motor scooters, mini bikes, and pocket bikes. Features statistics from 2014-2023 with breakdowns including fatality and injury rates, age group and day of the week, engine size, speeding involvement, previous driving record of driver, alcohol-impaired driver fatality rate, blood alcohol concentrations of riders, helmet use and state, and rural or urban location.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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