Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health workforce
A Rural-Urban Comparison of Children's Health in the United States, 2018-2023
Examines rural-urban differences in children's health insurance, neighborhood safety, household poverty, food insecurity, household conditions, physical activity, preventive care, dental and vision care, past-year emergency room visits, and mortality among children ages 0-17. Includes county-level maps showing Health Professional Shortage Areas as of 2026, with shadings showing levels of rurality.
Author(s): Emma Boswell, Taryn Farrell, Nicholas Yell, Peiyin Hung, Elizabeth Crouch
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Examines rural-urban differences in children's health insurance, neighborhood safety, household poverty, food insecurity, household conditions, physical activity, preventive care, dental and vision care, past-year emergency room visits, and mortality among children ages 0-17. Includes county-level maps showing Health Professional Shortage Areas as of 2026, with shadings showing levels of rurality.
Author(s): Emma Boswell, Taryn Farrell, Nicholas Yell, Peiyin Hung, Elizabeth Crouch
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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"What is Not Accessible is the Technology Itself": Perspectives on Telehealth Acceptance and Use from Community Health Workers and Community Members in California's San Joaquin Valley
Examines perspectives of community health workers (CHWs) and community members on the effectiveness of telecommunication technologies in California's rural San Joaquin Valley (SJV). Uses focus group feedback to discuss perceived benefits and limitations of telehealth, the digital divide, provider-patient trust, patient health status, access points and service options, security and privacy concerns, training opportunities, and more. Highlights factors that influence telehealth acceptance in SJV and provides actionable steps for other rural communities looking to implement telehealth.
Author(s): Mercedes Peña, Kimberly D. Sánchez, Rosa D. Manzo, Micaela Velasco Sandoval
Citation: Journal of Health Communication, 31(sup1), S58-S67
Date: 11/2026
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Examines perspectives of community health workers (CHWs) and community members on the effectiveness of telecommunication technologies in California's rural San Joaquin Valley (SJV). Uses focus group feedback to discuss perceived benefits and limitations of telehealth, the digital divide, provider-patient trust, patient health status, access points and service options, security and privacy concerns, training opportunities, and more. Highlights factors that influence telehealth acceptance in SJV and provides actionable steps for other rural communities looking to implement telehealth.
Author(s): Mercedes Peña, Kimberly D. Sánchez, Rosa D. Manzo, Micaela Velasco Sandoval
Citation: Journal of Health Communication, 31(sup1), S58-S67
Date: 11/2026
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Keeping Care Close to Home: Rural Maternal Health Case Study - A Comprehensive System of Maternal Care in Mississippi
Profiles the Delta Health System in the rural Mississippi Delta and its role in providing healthcare access. Discusses maternal healthcare workforce challenges and strategies to improve the workforce through collaboration and doula care.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Profiles the Delta Health System in the rural Mississippi Delta and its role in providing healthcare access. Discusses maternal healthcare workforce challenges and strategies to improve the workforce through collaboration and doula care.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Keeping Care Close to Home: Rural Maternal Health Case Study - Caring for Families Across the Arctic
Profiles the Maniilaq Health Center, a Critical Access Hospital that serves rural and tribal communities in Northwest Alaska. Discusses building the maternal health workforce, care coordination, referral processes, sustainability, and more.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Profiles the Maniilaq Health Center, a Critical Access Hospital that serves rural and tribal communities in Northwest Alaska. Discusses building the maternal health workforce, care coordination, referral processes, sustainability, and more.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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The State of Mental Health in America 2026
Report presents data on mental health and substance use for youth and adults across all 50 states. Highlights barriers to mental health wellness, such as lack of mental healthcare coverage, mental health workforce shortages, and cost of treatment, among other factors. Discusses some challenges specific to rural communities.
Author(s): Maddy Reinert
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Mental Health America
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Report presents data on mental health and substance use for youth and adults across all 50 states. Highlights barriers to mental health wellness, such as lack of mental healthcare coverage, mental health workforce shortages, and cost of treatment, among other factors. Discusses some challenges specific to rural communities.
Author(s): Maddy Reinert
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Mental Health America
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November 2026 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) November 2026 meeting. Covers changes to the Medicare physician fee schedule that affect primary care, charge-based coinsurance at Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), an analysis of aberrant patterns of care among hospice and home health providers, findings from MedPAC focus groups, and Medicare eligibility notification and the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) operations and funding.
Additional links: Charge-based Coinsurance at Rural Health Clinics, Findings from MedPAC's Focus Groups with Medicare Beneficiaries and Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and Pharmacists
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) November 2026 meeting. Covers changes to the Medicare physician fee schedule that affect primary care, charge-based coinsurance at Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), an analysis of aberrant patterns of care among hospice and home health providers, findings from MedPAC focus groups, and Medicare eligibility notification and the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) operations and funding.
Additional links: Charge-based Coinsurance at Rural Health Clinics, Findings from MedPAC's Focus Groups with Medicare Beneficiaries and Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and Pharmacists
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Policies Report, Fall 2026
Provides an overview of state telehealth policies as of October 2026. Covers Medicaid reimbursement, private payer laws, professional requirements, and licensing.
Additional links: Infographic, Interstate Licensure Compacts – State Compact Participation Chart, State Summary Chart
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Provides an overview of state telehealth policies as of October 2026. Covers Medicaid reimbursement, private payer laws, professional requirements, and licensing.
Additional links: Infographic, Interstate Licensure Compacts – State Compact Participation Chart, State Summary Chart
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Washington's RHT Funds Are 100% Obligated
Provides an overview of the recipients of Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding for budget period 1 in Washington. Lists organizations by RHTP initiative.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Washington State Health Care Authority
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Provides an overview of the recipients of Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding for budget period 1 in Washington. Lists organizations by RHTP initiative.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Washington State Health Care Authority
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Rural Health Transformation Program State Programmatic Snapshots: 2026 Release - Year 2 Funding
Provides an overview of each state's Rural Health Transformation Program initiatives and focus areas. Describes policy action commitments outlined in states' project narratives and the funding states received related to these commitments for budget period 2. Includes overall funding amounts received by states for budget periods 1 and 2.
Date: 11/2026
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. Describes policy action commitments outlined in states' project narratives and the funding states received related to these commitments for budget period 2. Includes overall funding amounts received by states for budget periods 1 and 2.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Distribution and Accessibility of Board-Certified Pharmacists: A Cross-Sectional Geospatial Study
Examines the composition, accessibility, and geographic distribution of board-certified pharmacists (BCPs) in the United States. Uses 2026 Board of Pharmacy Specialties data to analyze distribution of BCPs by specialty, state, and metropolitan, micropolitan, or small town/rural location. Includes county-level U.S. maps showing distribution of BCPs as well as BCP density per 100,000 residents.
Author(s): Krystal K. Haase, Eric J. MacLaughlin, Amanda N. Charlton
Citation: Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, 9(11), e70318
Date: 11/2026
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Examines the composition, accessibility, and geographic distribution of board-certified pharmacists (BCPs) in the United States. Uses 2026 Board of Pharmacy Specialties data to analyze distribution of BCPs by specialty, state, and metropolitan, micropolitan, or small town/rural location. Includes county-level U.S. maps showing distribution of BCPs as well as BCP density per 100,000 residents.
Author(s): Krystal K. Haase, Eric J. MacLaughlin, Amanda N. Charlton
Citation: Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, 9(11), e70318
Date: 11/2026
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