Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
Can a Participant-Referred "Study Buddy" Increase Retention of Rural People Who Use Drugs in Research? A Multi-Site, Randomized Trial
Presents a study exploring the efficacy of an intervention aiming to increase retention of rural people who use drugs (PWUD) participating in randomized trials. Highlights an intervention involving participant recruitment of a support person, or "study buddy", to aid in the their continued participation in the study. Compares the efficacy of this intervention with standard retention practices.
Author(s): April M. Young, Kathryn E. Lancaster, Miriam R. Elman, et al.
Citation: Addiction, 121(4), 894-907
Date: 04/2026
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Presents a study exploring the efficacy of an intervention aiming to increase retention of rural people who use drugs (PWUD) participating in randomized trials. Highlights an intervention involving participant recruitment of a support person, or "study buddy", to aid in the their continued participation in the study. Compares the efficacy of this intervention with standard retention practices.
Author(s): April M. Young, Kathryn E. Lancaster, Miriam R. Elman, et al.
Citation: Addiction, 121(4), 894-907
Date: 04/2026
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Mapping Spatial and Social Inequities of Long COVID Across the United States: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Examines spatiotemporal variables and social determinants as correlated with the Omicron variant and long COVID health risk. Analyzes 5,652,474 COVID-19 cases and 41,694 long COVID cases according to year, location, U.S. region, risk level of county, and social determinants, including rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Zhetao Chen, Bingnan Lib, Yewen Chen, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 56, 101401
Date: 04/2026
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Examines spatiotemporal variables and social determinants as correlated with the Omicron variant and long COVID health risk. Analyzes 5,652,474 COVID-19 cases and 41,694 long COVID cases according to year, location, U.S. region, risk level of county, and social determinants, including rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Zhetao Chen, Bingnan Lib, Yewen Chen, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 56, 101401
Date: 04/2026
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The Weight of Our Children: New Mexico Childhood Obesity 2025 Update
Provides an overview of childhood obesity in New Mexico in 2025, including demographic breakdowns, and highlights state programs addressing obesity in low-income, rural, and tribal communities. Provides strategies to promote healthy lifestyles and includes a state map of Healthy Kids Healthy Communities (HKHC) counties.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Provides an overview of childhood obesity in New Mexico in 2025, including demographic breakdowns, and highlights state programs addressing obesity in low-income, rural, and tribal communities. Provides strategies to promote healthy lifestyles and includes a state map of Healthy Kids Healthy Communities (HKHC) counties.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Telehealth Uptake and Rural-Urban and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Postpartum Care Access Among Medicaid Beneficiaries in South Carolina, 2018–2022
Compares how postpartum care attendence and timeliness varied by race and ethnicity, rural or urban dwelling, and exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how these associations varied by level of telehealth uptake, using 2019-2022 South Carolina Medicaid claims and enrollment data.
Author(s): Anirban Chatterjee, Xuzhuo Zhao, Jihong Liu, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(5), 298-309
Date: 03/2026
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Compares how postpartum care attendence and timeliness varied by race and ethnicity, rural or urban dwelling, and exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how these associations varied by level of telehealth uptake, using 2019-2022 South Carolina Medicaid claims and enrollment data.
Author(s): Anirban Chatterjee, Xuzhuo Zhao, Jihong Liu, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(5), 298-309
Date: 03/2026
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Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): Traditional MIPS Scoring Guide for the 2026 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: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & 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: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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An Assessment of the Long-Term Care Workforce Services in the State of Washington Part 1: A Quantitative Analysis
Report to the Washington State legislature on the workforce challenges facing long-term care in the state. Explores long-term care quality measures and nurse turnover throughout the state. Provides a breakdown of rural facility data. Report is split into 2 parts.
Additional links: Part 2
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Report to the Washington State legislature on the workforce challenges facing long-term care in the state. Explores long-term care quality measures and nurse turnover throughout the state. Provides a breakdown of rural facility data. Report is split into 2 parts.
Additional links: Part 2
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Workforce Studies
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South Carolina Health Professions Data Book
Provides information about the health status of South Carolina residents and the number of healthcare providers practicing in the state as of 2024, including a section with statistics for rural areas.
Author(s): Bo Fu, Ashlyn Chastain-Brown, Cate Campbell, et al.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium
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Provides information about the health status of South Carolina residents and the number of healthcare providers practicing in the state as of 2024, including a section with statistics for rural areas.
Author(s): Bo Fu, Ashlyn Chastain-Brown, Cate Campbell, et al.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium
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Sharing Resources and Working Together: The Rural Collaborative
Provides an overview of the Rural Collaborative, a network of 31 rural public hospitals across Washington state. Describes how the network helps participating hospitals maintain their independence by sharing resources and working together on shared services, peer learning, operational support, and preferred pricing. Discusses the network's history and members, network operations and priorities, and future plans.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Provides an overview of the Rural Collaborative, a network of 31 rural public hospitals across Washington state. Describes how the network helps participating hospitals maintain their independence by sharing resources and working together on shared services, peer learning, operational support, and preferred pricing. Discusses the network's history and members, network operations and priorities, and future plans.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Assessing Access to Cardiologists and Endocrinologists in the Texas ACA Market
Uses secret shopper surveys to assess patient access to cardiologists and endocrinologists in the Texas Affordable Care Act marketplace. Includes breakdown of data by rurality of both patient and provider. Discusses appointment wait times and distance to care for rural patients.
Author(s): Simon F. Haeder, Yuqin Lou, Wendy Xu
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(4)
Date: 03/2026
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Uses secret shopper surveys to assess patient access to cardiologists and endocrinologists in the Texas Affordable Care Act marketplace. Includes breakdown of data by rurality of both patient and provider. Discusses appointment wait times and distance to care for rural patients.
Author(s): Simon F. Haeder, Yuqin Lou, Wendy Xu
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(4)
Date: 03/2026
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Hunger Doesn't Take a Vacation: The Reach of Summer Meals
Examines utilization of federal summer nutrition programs for children in 2024. Provides statistics on summer meals and information on the impact of the Rural Non-Congregate Option legislation implemented in Summer 2024.
Author(s): K. Boone, C. Hayes
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Food Research & Action Center
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Examines utilization of federal summer nutrition programs for children in 2024. Provides statistics on summer meals and information on the impact of the Rural Non-Congregate Option legislation implemented in Summer 2024.
Author(s): K. Boone, C. Hayes
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Food Research & Action Center
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