Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
Providing Accountable Care Organizations the Ability to Expand the Use of Telehealth: Report to Congress
Analyzes the telehealth use and spending among fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare beneficiaries assigned to accountable care organizations (ACOs). Compares the rate of telehealth use across ACO and non-ACO providers between 2020 and 2023, as well as across provider types, dual eligibility, HPSA-status of patient residence, and more.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Analyzes the telehealth use and spending among fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare beneficiaries assigned to accountable care organizations (ACOs). Compares the rate of telehealth use across ACO and non-ACO providers between 2020 and 2023, as well as across provider types, dual eligibility, HPSA-status of patient residence, and more.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Evaluating Rural Healthcare Workforce Programs: Applying Modified Whole-of-Person Retention Improvement Framework in VHA Programs
Examines gaps in recruitment and retention programs in addressing workforce shortages in rural areas. Uses the Veterans Health Administration's 2023 Rural Recruitment and Hiring Plan and aims to identify gaps by applying a modified whole-of-person retention improvement framework.
Author(s): Meghan R. Longacre, Linda M. Kinney, Kathleen L. Carluzzo, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70115
Date: 01/2026
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Examines gaps in recruitment and retention programs in addressing workforce shortages in rural areas. Uses the Veterans Health Administration's 2023 Rural Recruitment and Hiring Plan and aims to identify gaps by applying a modified whole-of-person retention improvement framework.
Author(s): Meghan R. Longacre, Linda M. Kinney, Kathleen L. Carluzzo, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70115
Date: 01/2026
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Rural Emergency Hospitals: Emerging Patterns of Adaptation and Community Perception
Examines characteristics of Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) and their impact on the community. Utilizes Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services cost report data to compare hospitals that converted to REHs to hospitals that did not convert. Analyzes issues such as hospital finances, local healthcare access, economic stabilization, REH reputation and use, community perceptions of quality, and more.
Author(s): Anders Van Sandt, Kaitlyn Line, Anja Gruber, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70112
Date: 01/2026
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Examines characteristics of Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) and their impact on the community. Utilizes Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services cost report data to compare hospitals that converted to REHs to hospitals that did not convert. Analyzes issues such as hospital finances, local healthcare access, economic stabilization, REH reputation and use, community perceptions of quality, and more.
Author(s): Anders Van Sandt, Kaitlyn Line, Anja Gruber, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70112
Date: 01/2026
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"It's a Last Straw Situation"; Overdose Response and Preferences for Seeking Support from Emergency Services During Overdose in Rural Ohio
Explores the perceptions and preferences of people in rural Ohio affected by the opioid epidemic about contacting first responders during an overdose. Bases findings on a survey of 43 rural people who have experienced or witnessed an overdose on the factors they considered when deciding whether or not to call 911.
Author(s): David C. Colston, Vivian F. Go, Clare Barrington, et al.
Citation: PLOS One, 21(1), e0338689
Date: 01/2026
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Explores the perceptions and preferences of people in rural Ohio affected by the opioid epidemic about contacting first responders during an overdose. Bases findings on a survey of 43 rural people who have experienced or witnessed an overdose on the factors they considered when deciding whether or not to call 911.
Author(s): David C. Colston, Vivian F. Go, Clare Barrington, et al.
Citation: PLOS One, 21(1), e0338689
Date: 01/2026
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Persistent Poverty and Breast Cancer Incidence by Tumor Subtype: Intersections of Rural/Urban Residence and Race Within USA Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results Registries, 2017 to 2021
Examines the relationship between breast cancer types and persistent poverty across rurality and demographic variables. Utilizes county-level 2017-2021 (excluding 2020) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data to analyze breast cancer subtype rates, with breakdowns according to counties defined as persistent poverty or non-persistent poverty and by rural versus urban. Discusses the impact of sociodemographics on cancer disparities.
Author(s): Heather R. Sherr, Amr S. Soliman, Kimberly A. Bertrand, Kelly A. Hirko
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37(26)
Date: 01/2026
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Examines the relationship between breast cancer types and persistent poverty across rurality and demographic variables. Utilizes county-level 2017-2021 (excluding 2020) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data to analyze breast cancer subtype rates, with breakdowns according to counties defined as persistent poverty or non-persistent poverty and by rural versus urban. Discusses the impact of sociodemographics on cancer disparities.
Author(s): Heather R. Sherr, Amr S. Soliman, Kimberly A. Bertrand, Kelly A. Hirko
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37(26)
Date: 01/2026
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The Power of Familiar Voices: Building HPV Vaccine Trust in Rural Communities
Discusses the role of trust among rural community members, healthcare professionals, and other community leaders in promoting HPV vaccination. Discusses churches, other faith-based settings, and other trusted institutions as sites for collaborations to increase vaccine uptake and address rural cancer disparities.
Author(s): Gabriel Benavidez
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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Discusses the role of trust among rural community members, healthcare professionals, and other community leaders in promoting HPV vaccination. Discusses churches, other faith-based settings, and other trusted institutions as sites for collaborations to increase vaccine uptake and address rural cancer disparities.
Author(s): Gabriel Benavidez
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2026 Small Practice Eligibility and Participation Frequently Asked Questions
Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding small practice participation and eligibility for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) for the 2026 performance year. Covers individual and group eligibility, the low-volume threshold, changes to group composition during the performance year, and more.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding small practice participation and eligibility for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) for the 2026 performance year. Covers individual and group eligibility, the low-volume threshold, changes to group composition during the performance year, and more.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Supporting Rural Primary Care Practices in Delivering Care for Chronic Pain
Provides guidance on chronic pain care in rural primary care practices. Discusses best practices for delivering high-quality care in rural areas, including discussion of substance use disorder treatment and prevention, barriers to care delivery in rural practices, and more.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Rochester Medicine Recovery Center of Excellence
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Provides guidance on chronic pain care in rural primary care practices. Discusses best practices for delivering high-quality care in rural areas, including discussion of substance use disorder treatment and prevention, barriers to care delivery in rural practices, and more.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Rochester Medicine Recovery Center of Excellence
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Indian Health Service and Health Care Affordability Issues Among American Indian/ Alaska Native People by Rurality
Report explores healthcare affordability and Indian Health Services (IHS) utilization among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) in rural and urban communities. Highlights rates of patients receiving care at IHS, privately insured, and uninsured in rural and urban communities, among other measures.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Katie Rydberg, Alexis Swendener, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Report explores healthcare affordability and Indian Health Services (IHS) utilization among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) in rural and urban communities. Highlights rates of patients receiving care at IHS, privately insured, and uninsured in rural and urban communities, among other measures.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Katie Rydberg, Alexis Swendener, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Exploring the Use of Telemedicine to Expand Addiction and Recovery Resources in Great Plains Tribal Communities
Explores the use of telemedicine to provide medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) to patients in tribal communities. Explores the barriers and facilitators to implementing telemedicine-based MOUD services across the Great Plains Area of the Indian Health Service.
Author(s): Michael C. Harding, Anna C. Kihlstrom, Allison Kelliher, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70113
Date: 01/2026
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Explores the use of telemedicine to provide medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) to patients in tribal communities. Explores the barriers and facilitators to implementing telemedicine-based MOUD services across the Great Plains Area of the Indian Health Service.
Author(s): Michael C. Harding, Anna C. Kihlstrom, Allison Kelliher, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70113
Date: 01/2026
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