Rural Health Policy – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Health Policy.
Rural Health Transformation Program Planned State Initiatives: Budget Period 1
Presents an overview of initiatives planned by states as part of the Rural Health Transformation Program organized across eight categories: population health, workforce, payment and service models, health system innovation, accessible care, technology, disease prevention and care, and health promotion.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Presents an overview of initiatives planned by states as part of the Rural Health Transformation Program organized across eight categories: population health, workforce, payment and service models, health system innovation, accessible care, technology, disease prevention and care, and health promotion.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Rural Health Transformation Program State Programmatic Snapshots: 2026 Release
Provides an overview of each state's Rural Health Transformation Program initiatives and focus areas, as well as policy action commitments outlined in states' applications.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of each state's Rural Health Transformation Program initiatives and focus areas, as well as policy action commitments outlined in states' applications.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Rural Health Transformation Program: Early Implementation Actions and Monitoring Plans
Provides an overview of actions taken by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program, including how state applications were reviewed and scored; how CMS plans to determine future funding allotments; and the circumstances under which CMS may withhold, reduce, or recover a state's funding. Describes how CMS plans to monitor state RHT Program activities.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Provides an overview of actions taken by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program, including how state applications were reviewed and scored; how CMS plans to determine future funding allotments; and the circumstances under which CMS may withhold, reduce, or recover a state's funding. Describes how CMS plans to monitor state RHT Program activities.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Historical State Actions Aligned with Approved RHTP Uses
Describes state legislation enacted to address rural health topics that coincide with priorities of the Rural Health Transformation Program, including chronic disease management, the healthcare workforce, emergency medical services, health technology, behavioral health, and healthcare payment.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Describes state legislation enacted to address rural health topics that coincide with priorities of the Rural Health Transformation Program, including chronic disease management, the healthcare workforce, emergency medical services, health technology, behavioral health, and healthcare payment.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Rural Hospitals: Policy and Infrastructure Opportunities in the Rural Health Transformation Program
Describes state Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) initiatives and investments intended to support rural hospital stability. Covers policies to stabilize rural hospitals through operational modernization, shared services, and targeted technical assistance; regionalization and hub-and-spoke care models; care delivery transformation; maternal and perinatal healthcare access; health information technology advances and interoperability; and more.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Describes state Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) initiatives and investments intended to support rural hospital stability. Covers policies to stabilize rural hospitals through operational modernization, shared services, and targeted technical assistance; regionalization and hub-and-spoke care models; care delivery transformation; maternal and perinatal healthcare access; health information technology advances and interoperability; and more.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Rural Health Transformation Program 101
Provides a broad overview of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). Highlights legislation enacted by states that fulfill policy commitments outlined in state RHTP applications, support RHTP initiatives, establish advisory and oversight mechanisms, and more.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Provides a broad overview of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). Highlights legislation enacted by states that fulfill policy commitments outlined in state RHTP applications, support RHTP initiatives, establish advisory and oversight mechanisms, and more.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Federal Policy Priorities to Strengthen Rural Health and Maximize Rural Health Transformation Program Investments
Presents policy recommendations for Congressional and CMS actions to bolster rural health and ensure Rural Health Transformation Program investments are transparent, durable, and effective. Covers recommendations related to telehealth and health information technology investments, the rural healthcare workforce, and rural hospital programs and eligibility.
Author(s): Daisy Kim, Maya Sandalow
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Presents policy recommendations for Congressional and CMS actions to bolster rural health and ensure Rural Health Transformation Program investments are transparent, durable, and effective. Covers recommendations related to telehealth and health information technology investments, the rural healthcare workforce, and rural hospital programs and eligibility.
Author(s): Daisy Kim, Maya Sandalow
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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State Innovations in Improving Access to Care for Adults with Complex Needs in Rural Communities
Discusses Medicaid policy and financing strategies that can help improve rural delivery systems and access to care for rural older adults, people with disabilities, and others with complex health and social needs. Describes effective approaches undertaken in California, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Virginia across three promising strategies. Identifies four factors critical to successful program design and implementation and key considerations for states.
Author(s): Molly Knowles, Nida Enehizena, Gretchen Bell, Ellen Breslin
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Discusses Medicaid policy and financing strategies that can help improve rural delivery systems and access to care for rural older adults, people with disabilities, and others with complex health and social needs. Describes effective approaches undertaken in California, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Virginia across three promising strategies. Identifies four factors critical to successful program design and implementation and key considerations for states.
Author(s): Molly Knowles, Nida Enehizena, Gretchen Bell, Ellen Breslin
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities (FRCAs): Health-Related Programs
Provides an overview of congressionally authorized federal regional commissions and authorities (FRCAs), state-federal partnerships that use federal funds for economic development grants and related activities. Discusses the relationship between health and economic development. Describes examples of FRCA health-related grant programs and activities, such as healthcare facility development and equipment, workforce development, business technical assistance, and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Summarizes recent legislation and policy proposals regarding FRCAs and health, as well as considerations for Congress.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of congressionally authorized federal regional commissions and authorities (FRCAs), state-federal partnerships that use federal funds for economic development grants and related activities. Discusses the relationship between health and economic development. Describes examples of FRCA health-related grant programs and activities, such as healthcare facility development and equipment, workforce development, business technical assistance, and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Summarizes recent legislation and policy proposals regarding FRCAs and health, as well as considerations for Congress.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Rural Health Care Infrastructure: Trends and Considerations for the Future - Research Summary of America's Rural Future Symposium
Presents findings from a rural health symposium hosted by the Brookings-AEI Commission on U.S. Rural Prosperity in March 2026 examining the state of rural healthcare infrastructure, identifying rural healthcare policy challenges and opportunities, and strategies for service delivery innovations and strengthening the financial viability of rural healthcare systems.
Author(s): Anthony F. Pipa, Brent Orrell, Adam Aley, Raphaël Colard
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Brookings-AEI Commission on U.S. Rural Prosperity, The Brookings Institution
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Presents findings from a rural health symposium hosted by the Brookings-AEI Commission on U.S. Rural Prosperity in March 2026 examining the state of rural healthcare infrastructure, identifying rural healthcare policy challenges and opportunities, and strategies for service delivery innovations and strengthening the financial viability of rural healthcare systems.
Author(s): Anthony F. Pipa, Brent Orrell, Adam Aley, Raphaël Colard
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Brookings-AEI Commission on U.S. Rural Prosperity, The Brookings Institution
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Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for: