Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
Analysis of the Rural Health Transformation Program
Examines the Rural Health Transportation Program's (RHTP) impacts on rural health funding by state characteristics. Includes data on factors including funding provided per rural inhabitant by state-level rural mortality rate, rural population, estimated loss of funding resulting from Medicaid spending reductions, and more.
Author(s): Paula Chatterjee, Rachel M. Werner
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics
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Examines the Rural Health Transportation Program's (RHTP) impacts on rural health funding by state characteristics. Includes data on factors including funding provided per rural inhabitant by state-level rural mortality rate, rural population, estimated loss of funding resulting from Medicaid spending reductions, and more.
Author(s): Paula Chatterjee, Rachel M. Werner
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics
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Appalachian Regional Commission Performance & Accountability Report: Fiscal Year 2025
Provides an overview of the Appalachian Regional Commission's (ARC) projects from 2025 that develop economy, promote education and healthy living, invest in infrastructure, strengthen natural and cultural heritage, and build capacity in the Appalachian region. Includes healthcare-focused discussions about substance use, healthcare grants, healthcare workforce, and more.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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Provides an overview of the Appalachian Regional Commission's (ARC) projects from 2025 that develop economy, promote education and healthy living, invest in infrastructure, strengthen natural and cultural heritage, and build capacity in the Appalachian region. Includes healthcare-focused discussions about substance use, healthcare grants, healthcare workforce, and more.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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Community Healers: How Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority Leads in Health and Wellness
Discusses how the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) addresses the health needs of its community, by integrating Cherokee culture and Western medical care as a way to improve community health. Documents CIHA's work in promoting relationships between federal and state entities and Native Nations.
Author(s): Hailey A. Baker, Mariana Tuttle, Katy Backes Kozhimannil
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Discusses how the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) addresses the health needs of its community, by integrating Cherokee culture and Western medical care as a way to improve community health. Documents CIHA's work in promoting relationships between federal and state entities and Native Nations.
Author(s): Hailey A. Baker, Mariana Tuttle, Katy Backes Kozhimannil
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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The Indian Health Service Did Not Ensure That Commissioned Corps Officers' Background Investigations Complied With Federal Requirements
Examines whether Officers of the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service (Commissioned Corps) who are assigned to provide healthcare services to Tribal and IHS-operated health programs received background investigations and reinvestigations in accordance with Federal requirements. Presents findings of a review of background investigation documentation for a sample of 100 Officers assigned to provide healthcare services to IHS and Tribal health facilities in September 2022.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Examines whether Officers of the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service (Commissioned Corps) who are assigned to provide healthcare services to Tribal and IHS-operated health programs received background investigations and reinvestigations in accordance with Federal requirements. Presents findings of a review of background investigation documentation for a sample of 100 Officers assigned to provide healthcare services to IHS and Tribal health facilities in September 2022.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Policy Brief: Access to Mental Health Care for Ohio Children and Youth
Discusses mental healthcare access challenges for youth in Ohio. Provides county-level map showing Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and discusses access issues specific to rural areas.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Health Policy Institute of Ohio
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Discusses mental healthcare access challenges for youth in Ohio. Provides county-level map showing Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and discusses access issues specific to rural areas.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Health Policy Institute of Ohio
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Medicare Advantage 2026 Spotlight: A First Look at Plan Offerings
Offers an overview of Medicare Advantage plan availability across the country for 2026. Discusses how many plans are available, who is offering plans, and costs. Offers data for rural and urban areas and county-level data.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Offers an overview of Medicare Advantage plan availability across the country for 2026. Discusses how many plans are available, who is offering plans, and costs. Offers data for rural and urban areas and county-level data.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Revisiting the Rural and Urban Divide in Hospital Health Information Technology Adoption: Evidence From 2023
Presents a study assessing the adoption of telehealth, patient engagement, and health information exchange functionalities in rural and urban hospitals in 2023. Bases findings on American Hospital Association Annual Survey and Information Technology Survey data. Breaks down data by metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural hospital settings.
Author(s): Alice S. Yan, Teagan K. Maguire, Jie Chen
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70100
Date: 12/2025
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Presents a study assessing the adoption of telehealth, patient engagement, and health information exchange functionalities in rural and urban hospitals in 2023. Bases findings on American Hospital Association Annual Survey and Information Technology Survey data. Breaks down data by metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural hospital settings.
Author(s): Alice S. Yan, Teagan K. Maguire, Jie Chen
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70100
Date: 12/2025
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In Rural Communities, Where Child Care Is Often Scarce, Healthcare Organizations Are Finding Creative Ways to Help
Features rural healthcare organizations in Indiana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin that have partnered with childcare providers, schools, and other organizations to support affordable child care in their communities.
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Features rural healthcare organizations in Indiana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin that have partnered with childcare providers, schools, and other organizations to support affordable child care in their communities.
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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December 2025 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) December 2025 meeting. Covers payment adequacy and updates for physician and other health professional services, hospital inpatient and outpatient services, Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs), post-acute care, skilled nursing facility services, inpatient rehabilitation facility services, home health services, hospice services, and outpatient dialysis services. Includes discussions on improving Medicare payment approaches and mandated reports on the impact of recent changes to the home health prospective payment system and an assessment of the Medicare ground ambulance data collection system.
Additional links: Assessing Payment Adequacy and Updating Payments: Hospital Inpatient and Outpatient Services; Mandated Report on Rural Emergency Hospitals; And Update on Site-neutral Payments - Presentation Slides, Mandated Report: Assessment of the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System - Presentation Slides
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) December 2025 meeting. Covers payment adequacy and updates for physician and other health professional services, hospital inpatient and outpatient services, Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs), post-acute care, skilled nursing facility services, inpatient rehabilitation facility services, home health services, hospice services, and outpatient dialysis services. Includes discussions on improving Medicare payment approaches and mandated reports on the impact of recent changes to the home health prospective payment system and an assessment of the Medicare ground ambulance data collection system.
Additional links: Assessing Payment Adequacy and Updating Payments: Hospital Inpatient and Outpatient Services; Mandated Report on Rural Emergency Hospitals; And Update on Site-neutral Payments - Presentation Slides, Mandated Report: Assessment of the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System - Presentation Slides
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Availability of Higher-Level Neonatal Care Services in Rural US Counties, 2010-2022
Policy brief showing changes in availability of higher-level neonatal care in rural counties from 2010 to 2022, and how this availability differs by rural county type. Features statistics with breakdowns by all rural, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Author(s): Katy Backes Kozhimannil, Emily C. Sheffield, Julia D. Interrante, et al.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Policy brief showing changes in availability of higher-level neonatal care in rural counties from 2010 to 2022, and how this availability differs by rural county type. Features statistics with breakdowns by all rural, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Author(s): Katy Backes Kozhimannil, Emily C. Sheffield, Julia D. Interrante, et al.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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