Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document

Cardiometabolic Outcomes and Program Participation in Prescription for Your Health: A Rural Hospital-Based Wellness Program in Appalachia
Examines the impact of a hospital-based wellness program on participant health in rural West Virginia. Analyzes data from 585 participants related to changes in selected cardiometabolic measures such as weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and more. Discusses how locally developed hospital-based wellness models can address population health in rural Appalachia.
Author(s): Adam Baus, Anthony Yeager, Julie Carr, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 17
Date: 10/2026
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Integration of Behavioral Health by Community Health Workers Into a Lifestyle Intervention That Addresses Reduction of Risk for Cardiovascular Disease in Rural Communities
Discusses the impact of having community health workers (CHWs) integrate behavioral healthcare into a rural lifestyle change intervention focused on reducing cardiovascular disease risk. Analyzes CHW visits with participants in the Colorado Heart Healthy Solutions (CHHS) program from 2019-2023 and provides data on completed behavioral health screening assessments, connections to care, and CHW-delivered health coaching interventions. Discusses sustainability and feasibility of integrating behavioral health into CHW-led programs in rural communities.
Author(s): Stephanie Coronel-Mockler, Nick Flattery, Ashley Ambrose, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 10/2026
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RHTP Obligated Funds Report
Presents information on Rural Health Transformation Program funding states have obligated to state agencies, contractors and vendors, community partners, hospitals, and others as of July 31, 2026. Updated quarterly.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Medicare Advantage Plan Availability Varies Widely by County for 2027
Describes the availability of Medicare Advantage prescription drug (MA-PD) plans in 2027. Presents data on MA-PD plan availability by county in 2026 and 2027, as well as the number of counties 10 MA insurers have entered and exited between 2026 and 2027.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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The Role of the Clubhouse Model in Addressing Health Inequalities in Rural Wyoming: A Qualitative Study
Discusses how the Clubhouse model, focused on community mental health support, can support recovery and improve quality of life for people with mental illness in rural Wyoming. Provides excerpts from interviews with 12 Clubhouse members and 4 staff on factors influencing negative mental health outcomes among rural people, including limited access to services, and the role of the Clubhouse in facilitating access to mental health and housing services and facilitating economic stability.
Author(s): Ruth Korankye, Gloria Oladeji, Lauren Gilbert
Citation: International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 21(1)
Date: 10/2026
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Adult Community Perspectives on Improving Rural Youth Access to Mental Health Services: A Participatory Group Concept Mapping Study
Highlights a study exploring strategies to overcome mental health access barriers for rural youth. Details the participatory research method, Group Concept Mapping, to identify strategies based on developing youth life skills, community-based training, and school-based mental health services, among other categories.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Demetrius A. Abshire, Jessica L. Mackelprang, Kailee Parrott
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70227
Date: 10/2026
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Addressing Behavioral Health Needs in Rural North Carolina: A Community Paramedicine Approach
Profiles a mobile integrated healthcare-community paramedicine (MIH-CP) model in rural western North Carolina that supports rural residents with complex medical, behavioral health, and social needs. Discusses the MIH-CP's behavioral healthcare staffing, funding, and services, providing implementation strategies for rural areas interested in expanding sustainable community paramedicine services.
Author(s): Ashley Jasko
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Leveraging the Community-Based Workforce to Strengthen Behavioral Health Care in Rural Tennessee
Profiles River Valley Health (RVH), a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) that serves rural communities in eastern Tennessee. Discusses how a community-based workforce can provide more accessible and responsive behavioral healthcare in rural areas. Includes staffing models and funding strategies for sustainability.
Author(s): Christopher Menschner
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Survey of the Availability of Neurology Services on Hawaiʻi Island
Examines access to neurology services via a survey of 28 primary care physicians on Hawaii Island, covering topics including the prevalence of neurological complaints or diagnoses among patients, the ability of physicians to manage or refer patients for neurological conditions, and more. Discusses access challenges related to Hawaii's rurality throughout.
Author(s): Jan Augustine E. Aurelio, J. Douglas Miles
Citation: Hawaii Journal of Health and Social Welfare, 85(10), 299-306
Date: 10/2026
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Funded! Now What? A Guide for Newly Funded Health Centers
Provides a step-by-step guide for health centers (Section 330 grantees) who have recently been awarded New Access Point (NAP) funding. Covers compliance, operations, workforce, quality, governance, finance, and reporting. Includes information on tools and technical assistance resources.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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