Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
Introducing Public Health Vending Machines in Rural Communities: Protocol for a Study Using a Community-Based Participatory Approach
Provides a study protocol focused on creating a community-engaged approach to implementing public health vending machines (PHVMs) that distribute naloxone in rural North Carolina. Discusses the need to engage people who have experienced substance use when developing public health interventions to prevent drug overdose.
Author(s): Meghan Guter, Lauren Harrell, Kathleen L Egan, Reese Hiatt, Lori Ann Eldridge
Citation: JMIR Research Protocols, 14
Date: 09/2025
view details
Provides a study protocol focused on creating a community-engaged approach to implementing public health vending machines (PHVMs) that distribute naloxone in rural North Carolina. Discusses the need to engage people who have experienced substance use when developing public health interventions to prevent drug overdose.
Author(s): Meghan Guter, Lauren Harrell, Kathleen L Egan, Reese Hiatt, Lori Ann Eldridge
Citation: JMIR Research Protocols, 14
Date: 09/2025
view details
Disparities in Multi-Modal Spatial Access to Primary and Specialty Care in U.S. Neighborhoods: A Cross-Sectional and Temporal Analysis of Health Services
Provides a multi-modal spatial access measure to examine disparities in access to primary and specialty care across variable geographies. Includes data on spatial access to providers according to metro, micro, small town, or rural location as well as an example of a car-transit-walking composite spatial access map in micropolitan areas of Maine.
Author(s): R. Blake Buchalter, Paul R. Gunsalus, Madeleine M. Blazel, Michael W. Kenyhercz, Jarrod E. Dalton
Citation: PL0S One, 20(9), e0330427
Date: 09/2025
view details
Provides a multi-modal spatial access measure to examine disparities in access to primary and specialty care across variable geographies. Includes data on spatial access to providers according to metro, micro, small town, or rural location as well as an example of a car-transit-walking composite spatial access map in micropolitan areas of Maine.
Author(s): R. Blake Buchalter, Paul R. Gunsalus, Madeleine M. Blazel, Michael W. Kenyhercz, Jarrod E. Dalton
Citation: PL0S One, 20(9), e0330427
Date: 09/2025
view details
Health Panel Comment Letter – Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems Proposed Rule
Comments offered in response to a July 17, 2025, proposed rule revising the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems for calendar year 2026. Discusses proposals for the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR), Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Program (REHQR), and Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR) Programs.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
view details
Comments offered in response to a July 17, 2025, proposed rule revising the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems for calendar year 2026. Discusses proposals for the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR), Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Program (REHQR), and Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR) Programs.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
view details
"You Can't Do Anything by Yourself": Recruiting and Retaining Mental Health Professionals in Rural America
Discusses the challenges in recruiting and retaining mental health professionals in rural areas, as well as strategies and approaches to address the need. Features a Michigan mental health center CEO and state behavioral health organizations in Nebraska and South Carolina. Also includes insights from 3RNET, which focuses nationally on rural health recruitment and retention.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
Discusses the challenges in recruiting and retaining mental health professionals in rural areas, as well as strategies and approaches to address the need. Features a Michigan mental health center CEO and state behavioral health organizations in Nebraska and South Carolina. Also includes insights from 3RNET, which focuses nationally on rural health recruitment and retention.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
Sun Protection Behavior Beliefs Among Adults Living in Rural United States: A Qualitative Study in Minnesota
Presents a study on perceptions and beliefs about sun-protective behavior among rural Minnesotans. Breaks down data by demographic characteristics, such as age, education, and whether participants had an outdoor job, among other measures. Looks at time spent outside and discusses participants' perceptions about protective behaviors.
Author(s): Patricia Jewett, Matia Solomon, Katherine Brown, et al.
Citation: PLOS One 20(9)
Date: 09/2025
view details
Presents a study on perceptions and beliefs about sun-protective behavior among rural Minnesotans. Breaks down data by demographic characteristics, such as age, education, and whether participants had an outdoor job, among other measures. Looks at time spent outside and discusses participants' perceptions about protective behaviors.
Author(s): Patricia Jewett, Matia Solomon, Katherine Brown, et al.
Citation: PLOS One 20(9)
Date: 09/2025
view details
2024-2025 Alabama AHEC Annual Report
Reports on activities in 2024-2025, with sections on the Alabama AHEC Scholars Program, pathway programs, webinars, community health workers, community events, tax incentives, community-based training, and continuing education. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Alabama AHEC Network
view details
Reports on activities in 2024-2025, with sections on the Alabama AHEC Scholars Program, pathway programs, webinars, community health workers, community events, tax incentives, community-based training, and continuing education. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Alabama AHEC Network
view details
Diabetes in Pennsylvania: Prevention and Maintenance Programs
Present data and describes government and non-government programs working to help people prevent and manage diabetes in Pennsylvania. Includes information about possible new treatments and summaries of other new research on diabetes including the effects of social determinants of health. Mentions special needs of rural and underserved populations.
Author(s): Allison Kobzowicz, Lydia K. Ring, Wendy L. Baker
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Joint State Government Commission, General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
view details
Present data and describes government and non-government programs working to help people prevent and manage diabetes in Pennsylvania. Includes information about possible new treatments and summaries of other new research on diabetes including the effects of social determinants of health. Mentions special needs of rural and underserved populations.
Author(s): Allison Kobzowicz, Lydia K. Ring, Wendy L. Baker
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Joint State Government Commission, General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
view details
MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on CY 2026 Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B for Payment Policies
Comment on a July 16, 2025, Federal Register proposed rule revising the physician fee schedule to improve payment systems for physicians and other Medicare Part B revisions. Includes a discussion of a proposal to allow Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to provide and bill for medical visits via telehealth and be paid at Physician Fee Schedule (PFS)-equivalent rates through December 2026.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
view details
Comment on a July 16, 2025, Federal Register proposed rule revising the physician fee schedule to improve payment systems for physicians and other Medicare Part B revisions. Includes a discussion of a proposal to allow Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to provide and bill for medical visits via telehealth and be paid at Physician Fee Schedule (PFS)-equivalent rates through December 2026.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
view details
Tornadoes: Agencies Promote Resilience but Actions Needed to Improve Access to FEMA Assistance
Report investigating accessibility of FEMA assistance funding for tribal and rural communities. Discusses grant writing, cost share, benefit-cost analyses, infrastructure, emergency management staffing, and more.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Report investigating accessibility of FEMA assistance funding for tribal and rural communities. Discusses grant writing, cost share, benefit-cost analyses, infrastructure, emergency management staffing, and more.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Electronic Data Capture of Patient-Report Questionnaire in Patient Management in a Rural Population
Explores the feasibility and acceptability of electronic patient-reported outcomes among metabolic and bariatric surgery patients at an academic medical center in rural West Virginia. Describes results of a patient questionnaire regarding the experience of using a tablet to complete psychosocial evaluations before seeing a behavioral health provider and their preference for using a tablet or traditional paper-and-pencil forms.
Author(s): Hayley Harman, Ashleigh A. Pona, Lawrence Tabone, et al.
Citation: JSLS: Journal of the Society of Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgeons, 29(3), e2025.00068
Date: 09/2025
view details
Explores the feasibility and acceptability of electronic patient-reported outcomes among metabolic and bariatric surgery patients at an academic medical center in rural West Virginia. Describes results of a patient questionnaire regarding the experience of using a tablet to complete psychosocial evaluations before seeing a behavioral health provider and their preference for using a tablet or traditional paper-and-pencil forms.
Author(s): Hayley Harman, Ashleigh A. Pona, Lawrence Tabone, et al.
Citation: JSLS: Journal of the Society of Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgeons, 29(3), e2025.00068
Date: 09/2025
view details