Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance
Association of a State-Wide Alternative Payment Model for Rural Hospitals with Bypass for Elective Surgeries
Examines the impact of the payment model, Pennsylvania Rural Health Model (PARHM), on rural hospital bypass for elective surgeries. Utilizes 2016-2022 all-payer visit-level inpatient discharge data to measure 175,138 surgeries in Pennsylvania, with data on risk level of elective surgery, hospital type, payer type, and more.
Author(s): Donald S. Bourne, Zhaojun Sun, Bruce L. Jacobs, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 60(3), e14442
Date: 06/2025
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Examines the impact of the payment model, Pennsylvania Rural Health Model (PARHM), on rural hospital bypass for elective surgeries. Utilizes 2016-2022 all-payer visit-level inpatient discharge data to measure 175,138 surgeries in Pennsylvania, with data on risk level of elective surgery, hospital type, payer type, and more.
Author(s): Donald S. Bourne, Zhaojun Sun, Bruce L. Jacobs, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 60(3), e14442
Date: 06/2025
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Pharmacy Deserts in Rural Pennsylvania
Describes the landscape of pharmacies and pharmacists in Pennsylvania as of May 2025 and examines the projected impact of Rite Aid pharmacy closures. Features statistics on numbers of pharmacies and pharmacists, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and county-level maps showing areas within a 5-mile radius of all pharmacies and all non-Rite Aid pharmacies, with shadings showing urban and rural areas.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Describes the landscape of pharmacies and pharmacists in Pennsylvania as of May 2025 and examines the projected impact of Rite Aid pharmacy closures. Features statistics on numbers of pharmacies and pharmacists, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and county-level maps showing areas within a 5-mile radius of all pharmacies and all non-Rite Aid pharmacies, with shadings showing urban and rural areas.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Bridging the Gap: Examples of Medicaid Innovation Enhancing Health Care Access in Rural America
Describes ways state Medicaid programs can improve access to rural healthcare. Highlights policies implemented in Tennessee, Missouri, and Georgia to fund projects related to improving rural healthcare needs, address social determinants of health, and support rural hospitals that serve large Medicaid and uninsured populations.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Medicaid Directors
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Describes ways state Medicaid programs can improve access to rural healthcare. Highlights policies implemented in Tennessee, Missouri, and Georgia to fund projects related to improving rural healthcare needs, address social determinants of health, and support rural hospitals that serve large Medicaid and uninsured populations.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Medicaid Directors
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LTSS Users by State, County, and Setting
Interactive dashboard presenting data on the number of Medicaid enrollees that use long-term services and supports (LTSS) at the national, state, and county-levels in 2022. Includes data on LTSS users, Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) users, and institutional LTSS users by age, dual-enrollment status, and sex.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organizations: ATI Advisory, The SCAN Foundation
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Interactive dashboard presenting data on the number of Medicaid enrollees that use long-term services and supports (LTSS) at the national, state, and county-levels in 2022. Includes data on LTSS users, Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) users, and institutional LTSS users by age, dual-enrollment status, and sex.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organizations: ATI Advisory, The SCAN Foundation
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Tobacco Treatment Billing and Tobacco Use Disorder Diagnosis in Healthcare Settings in the United States: An Analysis of South Carolina Medicaid Claims
Examines demographic differences in tobacco use disorder diagnosis and receipt of counseling among Medicaid beneficiaries in South Carolina, utilizing 2019-2022 South Carolina Medicaid administrative claims data. Includes data breakdowns by rural or urban dwelling, among other factors.
Author(s): Kinsey Pebley, Joni D. Nelson, Julie L. Marshall, Alana M. Rojewski
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 20, 24
Date: 06/2025
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Examines demographic differences in tobacco use disorder diagnosis and receipt of counseling among Medicaid beneficiaries in South Carolina, utilizing 2019-2022 South Carolina Medicaid administrative claims data. Includes data breakdowns by rural or urban dwelling, among other factors.
Author(s): Kinsey Pebley, Joni D. Nelson, Julie L. Marshall, Alana M. Rojewski
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 20, 24
Date: 06/2025
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Navigating Natural Disasters: Lessons from North Carolina's Medicaid Response to Hurricane Recovery
Discusses disaster relief in North Carolina with North Carolina's Medicaid Chief Medical Officer, Janelle White. Focuses on preparedness, protecting various populations, problem solving, coordinating relationships, rural providers and agencies, and more.
Author(s): Emily Eelman
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Health Care Strategies, Juniper Peak Consulting
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Discusses disaster relief in North Carolina with North Carolina's Medicaid Chief Medical Officer, Janelle White. Focuses on preparedness, protecting various populations, problem solving, coordinating relationships, rural providers and agencies, and more.
Author(s): Emily Eelman
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Health Care Strategies, Juniper Peak Consulting
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Payment Source Shift for Surgical Care Among Veterans Enrolled in Medicare Advantage Plans
Examines the likelihood of veterans enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to shift payments for inpatient surgical care from MA to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Analyzes 54,754 inpatient surgeries of VHA enrollees to observe payment trends, with data broken down by demographics, insurance characteristics, region, and rurality.
Author(s): Winta T. Mehtsun, Yanlei Ma, Ellen Latsko, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 6(6)
Date: 06/2025
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Examines the likelihood of veterans enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to shift payments for inpatient surgical care from MA to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Analyzes 54,754 inpatient surgeries of VHA enrollees to observe payment trends, with data broken down by demographics, insurance characteristics, region, and rurality.
Author(s): Winta T. Mehtsun, Yanlei Ma, Ellen Latsko, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 6(6)
Date: 06/2025
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Affordable Care Act Enrollment in Texas after Rating Area Adjustments
Provides a brief overview of how Texas changed its approach to Affordable Care Act (ACA) rating areas for rural counties in 2023. Examines the association between the ACA rating area change and health plan enrollment, plan selection, and premiums from 2022 to 2024. Compares findings by urban and rural county status.
Author(s): Elena Andreyeva, Daniel Marthey, Simon F. Haeder, Benjamin Ukert
Citation: The American Journal of Managed Care, 31(6), e147-e152
Date: 06/2025
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Provides a brief overview of how Texas changed its approach to Affordable Care Act (ACA) rating areas for rural counties in 2023. Examines the association between the ACA rating area change and health plan enrollment, plan selection, and premiums from 2022 to 2024. Compares findings by urban and rural county status.
Author(s): Elena Andreyeva, Daniel Marthey, Simon F. Haeder, Benjamin Ukert
Citation: The American Journal of Managed Care, 31(6), e147-e152
Date: 06/2025
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The Rural Health Center Landscape: Data, Challenges, & Insights
Recording of a June 10, 2025, webinar discussing unique financial and operational challenges that rural health centers face. Covers health center growth and expansion, patient and payer mix, financial performance, staffing mix, and more. Compares data on rural FQHCs to urban and national FQHC data 2020-2023. Features a discussion with William Edwards, chief financial officer of G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center in Canton, Mississippi.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Capital Link
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Recording of a June 10, 2025, webinar discussing unique financial and operational challenges that rural health centers face. Covers health center growth and expansion, patient and payer mix, financial performance, staffing mix, and more. Compares data on rural FQHCs to urban and national FQHC data 2020-2023. Features a discussion with William Edwards, chief financial officer of G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center in Canton, Mississippi.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Capital Link
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Key Facts About Medicare Beneficiaries in Rural Areas
Presents information and data about rural Medicare beneficiaries, including demographic and health characteristics, access to healthcare, and satisfaction with care. Compares data on beneficiaries living in urban areas, rural areas adjacent to an urban area, and rural areas not adjacent to an urban area.
Author(s): Nancy Ochieng, Alex Cottrill, Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Presents information and data about rural Medicare beneficiaries, including demographic and health characteristics, access to healthcare, and satisfaction with care. Compares data on beneficiaries living in urban areas, rural areas adjacent to an urban area, and rural areas not adjacent to an urban area.
Author(s): Nancy Ochieng, Alex Cottrill, Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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