Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Evaluation of Compliance with the Rural and Distance Requirements
Provides guidance regarding the evaluation of Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status and location requirements for current CAHs and initial CAH determinations. Covers the circumstances that trigger a CAH eligibility review, the evaluation of whether a proposed provider-based location will impact a CAH's status, and procedures for decennial reviews of existing CAHs.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Provides guidance regarding the evaluation of Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status and location requirements for current CAHs and initial CAH determinations. Covers the circumstances that trigger a CAH eligibility review, the evaluation of whether a proposed provider-based location will impact a CAH's status, and procedures for decennial reviews of existing CAHs.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Measuring the Association of Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations on Total Cost of Care Across the Perinatal Period
Evaluates the impact of Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) on the cost of healthcare in prenatal, delivery, and postpartum periods. Compares 150,879 Medicaid-covered live deliveries in Massachusetts practices that both did and did not participate in an ACO implementation between January 2016 and March 2023. Includes the rural ZIP code residence percentage for deliveries included in the study.
Author(s): Kathleen Carey, Megan B. Cole
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(8)
Date: 08/2026
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Evaluates the impact of Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) on the cost of healthcare in prenatal, delivery, and postpartum periods. Compares 150,879 Medicaid-covered live deliveries in Massachusetts practices that both did and did not participate in an ACO implementation between January 2016 and March 2023. Includes the rural ZIP code residence percentage for deliveries included in the study.
Author(s): Kathleen Carey, Megan B. Cole
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(8)
Date: 08/2026
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Spatial and Temporal Trends of Access to Birthing Hospitals in Illinois, 2016–2021
Explores changes in travel time to obstetric care between 2016 and 2021 in Illinois at the census tract level, using Illinois Department of Public Health and American Community Survey data. Provides data on access to care by rural or urban dwelling, among other demographic comparisons.
Author(s): Mechelle D. Claridy, Barbara Chebet Keino, Lauren M. Ramsey, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 08/2026
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Explores changes in travel time to obstetric care between 2016 and 2021 in Illinois at the census tract level, using Illinois Department of Public Health and American Community Survey data. Provides data on access to care by rural or urban dwelling, among other demographic comparisons.
Author(s): Mechelle D. Claridy, Barbara Chebet Keino, Lauren M. Ramsey, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 08/2026
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Five Milestones to Addressing Rural Veteran Care Coordination, Care Management, and Case Management Needs: An Integrated Case Management Practice Framework
Explores the implementation of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Care Coordination and Integrated Case Management (CCICM) program into rural facilities. Highlights the goals of the CCICM program and outlines the challenges of implementing it in rural areas. Breaks down the implementation process into five milestones – leadership awareness, facility readiness, preparing to implement, systems and clinical integration, and establishment of a governance structure.
Author(s): Christine Melillo, Heidi Sjoberg, Marcie Lee, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70190
Date: 08/2026
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Explores the implementation of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Care Coordination and Integrated Case Management (CCICM) program into rural facilities. Highlights the goals of the CCICM program and outlines the challenges of implementing it in rural areas. Breaks down the implementation process into five milestones – leadership awareness, facility readiness, preparing to implement, systems and clinical integration, and establishment of a governance structure.
Author(s): Christine Melillo, Heidi Sjoberg, Marcie Lee, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70190
Date: 08/2026
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Underground Power Lines in Pennsylvania
Reviews the structure of the electrical grid and the reliability of electric service in Pennsylvania. Discusses common causes of outages, financial and health impacts associated with outages, and the impact of severe weather on the electric grid. Mentions rural throughout.
Additional links: Summary
Author(s): Bryan W. DeWalt, Jae Wan Ahn, Karen Maynard, Richard Hoey, Wendy L. Baker
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Joint State Government Commission, General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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Reviews the structure of the electrical grid and the reliability of electric service in Pennsylvania. Discusses common causes of outages, financial and health impacts associated with outages, and the impact of severe weather on the electric grid. Mentions rural throughout.
Additional links: Summary
Author(s): Bryan W. DeWalt, Jae Wan Ahn, Karen Maynard, Richard Hoey, Wendy L. Baker
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Joint State Government Commission, General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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Delta Regional Authority - 25 Years of Impact, 2000-2025
Discusses the Delta Regional Authority's strategic investments, programming, and initiatives from 2000-2025. Focuses on critical and human infrastructure, public works, capacity building, workforce opportunities and health system improvements in rural areas, and more.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Delta Regional Authority
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Discusses the Delta Regional Authority's strategic investments, programming, and initiatives from 2000-2025. Focuses on critical and human infrastructure, public works, capacity building, workforce opportunities and health system improvements in rural areas, and more.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Delta Regional Authority
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Vermont 2024 Physician Census: Statistical Report
Presents detailed profiles of physicians who renewed their licenses as of late 2024 and were providing patient care in Vermont. Features demographics and county-level statistics including primary care physician to population ratios.
Additional links: Methodology Change to Physician Reporting, Summary
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Vermont Department of Health
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Presents detailed profiles of physicians who renewed their licenses as of late 2024 and were providing patient care in Vermont. Features demographics and county-level statistics including primary care physician to population ratios.
Additional links: Methodology Change to Physician Reporting, Summary
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Vermont Department of Health
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Rural West Virginia Health Center Helps Patients Access Prescriptions
Features Mountain Laurel Integrated Healthcare (MLIH), which started its own onsite pharmacy to help patients fill prescriptions the same day they see their provider. MLIH offers medication management, compliance packaging, and assistance addressing access barriers.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Features Mountain Laurel Integrated Healthcare (MLIH), which started its own onsite pharmacy to help patients fill prescriptions the same day they see their provider. MLIH offers medication management, compliance packaging, and assistance addressing access barriers.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Visualizing the Impact of OBBBA Provisions on State Medicaid Funds
Presents data on the projected impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21) on state Medicaid and Rural Health Transformation Program funds between 2025 and 2034.
Additional links: Blog Post
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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Presents data on the projected impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21) on state Medicaid and Rural Health Transformation Program funds between 2025 and 2034.
Additional links: Blog Post
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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Mapping Rural–Urban Disparities in Otolaryngology Access: A Statewide Analysis of Georgia's ENT Workforce
Examines how the supply, distribution, and training characteristics of otolaryngologists in Georgia vary by rural or urban county using Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Georgia Composite Medical Board, and American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery data. Includes data on rural and urban travel burden, subspecialty availability, and more.
Author(s): Shervin Eskandari, William E. Long, Benjamin Aderinwale, et al.
Citation: OTO Open, 10(3), e70286
Date: 08/2026
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Examines how the supply, distribution, and training characteristics of otolaryngologists in Georgia vary by rural or urban county using Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Georgia Composite Medical Board, and American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery data. Includes data on rural and urban travel burden, subspecialty availability, and more.
Author(s): Shervin Eskandari, William E. Long, Benjamin Aderinwale, et al.
Citation: OTO Open, 10(3), e70286
Date: 08/2026
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