Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance
Missouri Rural Health Clinic Provider Manual
Provider manual identifying the conditions of participation providing services in Missouri state-funded healthcare programs, including MO HealthNet, Missouri's Medicaid program. Addresses enrollment, eligibility, claim filing, and billing requirements for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in Missouri. Includes information on covered telehealth services.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Missouri Department of Social Services
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Provider manual identifying the conditions of participation providing services in Missouri state-funded healthcare programs, including MO HealthNet, Missouri's Medicaid program. Addresses enrollment, eligibility, claim filing, and billing requirements for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in Missouri. Includes information on covered telehealth services.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Missouri Department of Social Services
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A Study Pursuant to (Pennsylvania) Senate Resolution 27: Feasibility of a No-Fault Catastrophic Loss Fund for Birth-Related Neurological Injuries
Results of a study on the possibility of establishing a fund for claims brought due to birth-related neurological injuries in Pennsylvania. Discusses the disparity between obstetric care in urban and rural areas and the decreased access to maternity care due to closures of labor and delivery (L&D) units. Contains various statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and county-level maps showing availability of L&D units and travel times to birthing hospitals.
Author(s): Stevi Sprenkle, Stephen Kramer, Shanika Mitchell-Saint Jean, Amy Hockenberry, James Wynne
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Legislative Budget and Finance Committee of the Pennsylvania General Assembly
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Results of a study on the possibility of establishing a fund for claims brought due to birth-related neurological injuries in Pennsylvania. Discusses the disparity between obstetric care in urban and rural areas and the decreased access to maternity care due to closures of labor and delivery (L&D) units. Contains various statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and county-level maps showing availability of L&D units and travel times to birthing hospitals.
Author(s): Stevi Sprenkle, Stephen Kramer, Shanika Mitchell-Saint Jean, Amy Hockenberry, James Wynne
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Legislative Budget and Finance Committee of the Pennsylvania General Assembly
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Primary Care in Texas: A System at a Crossroads
Discusses the state of primary care in Texas and details challenges and opportunities for primary care improvement. Highlights the disproportionate impact of limited access to care and workforce shortages on rural communities.
Author(s): Sue Bornstein, Ankit Sanghavi, Dana Minney, et al.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Texas Health Institute, Texas Primary Care Consortium
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Discusses the state of primary care in Texas and details challenges and opportunities for primary care improvement. Highlights the disproportionate impact of limited access to care and workforce shortages on rural communities.
Author(s): Sue Bornstein, Ankit Sanghavi, Dana Minney, et al.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Texas Health Institute, Texas Primary Care Consortium
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Why Are Rural Hospitals Closing in the U.S.? Predictors Identified Using Explainable Machine Learning
Examines rural hospital closures in the U.S. from 2011 to 2022. Utilizes national longitudinal data and explainable machine learning (XML) to analyze 2,683 rural hospitals according to financial, operational, and demographic characteristics as well as closure risks. Discusses the utility of longitudinal data integrated into XML to observe hospital trends and create early warning systems.
Author(s): Kiruthika Balakrishnan, Tesfamariam M. Abuhay, Hana E. Hinkle
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 26, 1049
Date: 05/2026
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Examines rural hospital closures in the U.S. from 2011 to 2022. Utilizes national longitudinal data and explainable machine learning (XML) to analyze 2,683 rural hospitals according to financial, operational, and demographic characteristics as well as closure risks. Discusses the utility of longitudinal data integrated into XML to observe hospital trends and create early warning systems.
Author(s): Kiruthika Balakrishnan, Tesfamariam M. Abuhay, Hana E. Hinkle
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 26, 1049
Date: 05/2026
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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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Tribal Health, Medicaid, and Child Welfare: Supporting Behavioral Health and Traditional Healing
A 3-part series that discusses the collaboration of tribal health, Medicaid, and child welfare systems and the subsequent benefits for Native American and Alaska Native children and families. Includes examples on how to integrate traditional healing practices into behavioral health services.
Author(s): Anne Smithey, Jahira Sterling, Ruby Goyal-Carkeek
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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A 3-part series that discusses the collaboration of tribal health, Medicaid, and child welfare systems and the subsequent benefits for Native American and Alaska Native children and families. Includes examples on how to integrate traditional healing practices into behavioral health services.
Author(s): Anne Smithey, Jahira Sterling, Ruby Goyal-Carkeek
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Community Health Workers: An Overview
Discusses the roles of community health workers (CHWs) and provides evidence of their effectiveness. Focuses on Arkansas's plans for a CHW certification process and reimbursement pathway, and other policy considerations. Features state-level maps showing state approaches to funding mechanisms for CHWs.
Author(s): Elizabeth Montgomery, Jennifer Wessel
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
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Discusses the roles of community health workers (CHWs) and provides evidence of their effectiveness. Focuses on Arkansas's plans for a CHW certification process and reimbursement pathway, and other policy considerations. Features state-level maps showing state approaches to funding mechanisms for CHWs.
Author(s): Elizabeth Montgomery, Jennifer Wessel
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
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The Costs of Cancer in Rural Communities
Explores the health and financial impacts cancer has on individuals in rural communities. Includes information and data related to health insurance, income levels, and how cost is connected to healthcare access and deferred treatment.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
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Explores the health and financial impacts cancer has on individuals in rural communities. Includes information and data related to health insurance, income levels, and how cost is connected to healthcare access and deferred treatment.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
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Medicare Advantage Enrollment Update 2025
Reports on the percentage of rural Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan location and plan type, from 2015-2025.
Author(s): Edmer Lazaro, Fred Ullrich, Dan M. Shane, Keith Mueller
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Reports on the percentage of rural Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan location and plan type, from 2015-2025.
Author(s): Edmer Lazaro, Fred Ullrich, Dan M. Shane, Keith Mueller
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Sustaining Rural Labor & Delivery Programs: Strategies & Considerations Webinar
A recorded webinar that discusses strategies to improve financial sustainability of rural hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Focuses on financial performance, reimbursement opportunities, and operational models identified in the Sustaining Rural Labor & Delivery Programs report. Transcript available below transcription.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Eric Shell, Kristin L. Reiter, Madeleine Pick
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Stroudwater Associates
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A recorded webinar that discusses strategies to improve financial sustainability of rural hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Focuses on financial performance, reimbursement opportunities, and operational models identified in the Sustaining Rural Labor & Delivery Programs report. Transcript available below transcription.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Eric Shell, Kristin L. Reiter, Madeleine Pick
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Stroudwater Associates
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