Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
Use of Telebehavioral Health Services by Critical Access Hospitals in the United States: A Qualitative Study of the Impacts of Medicare Flexibilities and Future Opportunities
Analyzes interviews with 22 Critical Access Hospital (CAH) administrators and providers to identify how telebehavioral health is used in CAHs, the impact of Medicare billing flexibility, and opportunities and challenges for telebehavioral healthcare moving forward.
Author(s): Christopher M. Shea, Sharita Thomas, Marah Maaita, Heidi O'Connor, Yvonne Jonk
Citation: Digital Health, 11
Date: 07/2025
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Analyzes interviews with 22 Critical Access Hospital (CAH) administrators and providers to identify how telebehavioral health is used in CAHs, the impact of Medicare billing flexibility, and opportunities and challenges for telebehavioral healthcare moving forward.
Author(s): Christopher M. Shea, Sharita Thomas, Marah Maaita, Heidi O'Connor, Yvonne Jonk
Citation: Digital Health, 11
Date: 07/2025
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Ground Transportation for People with Mobility Disabilities 2025: Challenges and Progress
Discusses transportation barriers for people with disabilities that require wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs). Highlights accessibility of common transportation methods, federal policies and regulations, and recommendations to policymakers and businesses for increased accessibility. Discusses rural throughout.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Council on Disability
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Discusses transportation barriers for people with disabilities that require wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs). Highlights accessibility of common transportation methods, federal policies and regulations, and recommendations to policymakers and businesses for increased accessibility. Discusses rural throughout.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Council on Disability
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Trends and Differences in Infant Mortality Rates in Rural and Metropolitan Counties in the United States, 2021-2023
Data brief offering mortality rates for infants for 3 levels of urbanization. Includes trends between 2014 and 2023 as well as analysis of data from 2021 to 2023 by various demographic factors.
Author(s): Danielle M. Ely
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Data brief offering mortality rates for infants for 3 levels of urbanization. Includes trends between 2014 and 2023 as well as analysis of data from 2021 to 2023 by various demographic factors.
Author(s): Danielle M. Ely
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Implementing a Chatbot to Promote Hereditary Breast & Ovarian Cancer Genetic Screening in Women's Health: Identifying Barriers and Facilitators to Screening Adoption
Analyzes perceived facilitators and barriers to a chatbot-based hereditary breast and ovarian cancer screening among 17 women in rural northern region of Florida. Discusses the importance of increasing access to cancer screening in rural areas.
Author(s): Easton N. Wollney, Shireen Madani Sims, Luisel J. Ricks-Santi, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2516
Date: 07/2025
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Analyzes perceived facilitators and barriers to a chatbot-based hereditary breast and ovarian cancer screening among 17 women in rural northern region of Florida. Discusses the importance of increasing access to cancer screening in rural areas.
Author(s): Easton N. Wollney, Shireen Madani Sims, Luisel J. Ricks-Santi, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2516
Date: 07/2025
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Interstate Occupational Licensure Arrangements to Expand Access to Behavioral Health Services
Policy brief describing state-based provisions to expand behavioral health services through interstate licensure arrangements for providers. Discusses potential impact on provision of behavioral health services, including telehealth, with a focus on how expanded services might enhance access for rural residents. Features state-level maps showing where legislation has been enacted or introduced, as of November 2024.
Author(s): Natalia V. Oster, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Davis G. Patterson, Lisa A. Garberson, Janessa M. Graves
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Policy brief describing state-based provisions to expand behavioral health services through interstate licensure arrangements for providers. Discusses potential impact on provision of behavioral health services, including telehealth, with a focus on how expanded services might enhance access for rural residents. Features state-level maps showing where legislation has been enacted or introduced, as of November 2024.
Author(s): Natalia V. Oster, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Davis G. Patterson, Lisa A. Garberson, Janessa M. Graves
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Understanding Rural Schools' Capacity to Learn About Evidence-Based Practices That Promote Youth Mental Health: A Comparative Case Study
Examines the capacity of rural middle schools to learn about mental health evidence-based practices (EBPs). Utilizes survey and interview data from 11 middle school staff to discuss barriers and facilitators related to school implementation of mental health EBPs as well as the role of intermediary support and expert collaboration.
Author(s): Savannah Hobbs, Elaine S. Belansky, Nick Cutforth, Cynthia Hazel
Citation: The Rural Educator, 46(3), 6-23
Date: 07/2025
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Examines the capacity of rural middle schools to learn about mental health evidence-based practices (EBPs). Utilizes survey and interview data from 11 middle school staff to discuss barriers and facilitators related to school implementation of mental health EBPs as well as the role of intermediary support and expert collaboration.
Author(s): Savannah Hobbs, Elaine S. Belansky, Nick Cutforth, Cynthia Hazel
Citation: The Rural Educator, 46(3), 6-23
Date: 07/2025
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Partners in Progress: Pursuing Medical-Dental Integration in Ohio
Report explores dental health integration into primary care in Ohio and a way to expand oral healthcare access in the state. Discusses access issues in rural area, shortage areas, among Medicaid recipients, and details how integration can help close the gap.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Report explores dental health integration into primary care in Ohio and a way to expand oral healthcare access in the state. Discusses access issues in rural area, shortage areas, among Medicaid recipients, and details how integration can help close the gap.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): 2025 MIPS Group Participation Guide - Traditional MIPS and MVPs
Provides an overview of traditional Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and MIPS Value Pathways (MVP) group participation options for the 2025 performance year. Discusses eligibility; special status designations; the quality, cost, and promoting interoperability performance categories; scoring and payment adjustments; and more. Includes information on group reporting requirements and considerations for small practices and clinicians in a rural or Health Professional Shortage Area.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of traditional Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and MIPS Value Pathways (MVP) group participation options for the 2025 performance year. Discusses eligibility; special status designations; the quality, cost, and promoting interoperability performance categories; scoring and payment adjustments; and more. Includes information on group reporting requirements and considerations for small practices and clinicians in a rural or Health Professional Shortage Area.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Rural Hospitals and the Rural Health Transformation Program: What Comes Next
Blog post discussing the rural health transformation program established in the July 2025 budget reconciliation law. Describes potential priorities for states' use of the rural health transformation program funding. Outlines additional steps Congress could take to help rural hospitals serve their communities.
Author(s): Emma Sheffert, Maya Sandalow
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Blog post discussing the rural health transformation program established in the July 2025 budget reconciliation law. Describes potential priorities for states' use of the rural health transformation program funding. Outlines additional steps Congress could take to help rural hospitals serve their communities.
Author(s): Emma Sheffert, Maya Sandalow
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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The Rapid Growth Of Medicare Advantage Poses Challenges To Rural Hospitals
Commentary describing key features of Medicare Advantage (MA) and how they may interact with the unique limitations of rural hospitals. Offers policy recommendations to align MA expansion with rural hospital sustainability.
Author(s): James D. Lee, Cody L. Mullens, Adam A. Markovitz, Janice Probst
Citation: Health Affairs Forefront
Date: 07/2025
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Commentary describing key features of Medicare Advantage (MA) and how they may interact with the unique limitations of rural hospitals. Offers policy recommendations to align MA expansion with rural hospital sustainability.
Author(s): James D. Lee, Cody L. Mullens, Adam A. Markovitz, Janice Probst
Citation: Health Affairs Forefront
Date: 07/2025
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