Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services
Effect of Medicaid Audio-Only Telehealth Coverage Policy on Mental Health Visits in Federally Qualified Health Centers
Examines the impact of Medicaid audio-only coverage (MAOC) and telehealth policy on mental health usage at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Utilizes 2016-2022 FQHC-level Uniform Data Systems (UDS) data to analyze mental health visit rates and MAOC policy implementation according to rural versus urban location as well as presence or absence of a primary telemental health service.
Author(s): Khyathi Gadag, Kanika Arora, Brian Kaskie, Whitney E. Zahnd
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(2), e70107
Date: 03/2026
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Examines the impact of Medicaid audio-only coverage (MAOC) and telehealth policy on mental health usage at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Utilizes 2016-2022 FQHC-level Uniform Data Systems (UDS) data to analyze mental health visit rates and MAOC policy implementation according to rural versus urban location as well as presence or absence of a primary telemental health service.
Author(s): Khyathi Gadag, Kanika Arora, Brian Kaskie, Whitney E. Zahnd
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(2), e70107
Date: 03/2026
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Vaccination Coverage by Age 24 Months Among Children Born in 2021 and 2022 — National Immunization Survey-Child, United States, 2022–2024
Examines vaccination coverage for selected vaccines and doses among children born in 2021-2022. Supplementary Table 2 includes data on vaccine coverage for metropolitan and nonmetro areas.
Additional links: Supplementary Table 2
Author(s): Holly A. Hill, David Yankey, Laurie D. Elam-Evans, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(11), 146-155
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Examines vaccination coverage for selected vaccines and doses among children born in 2021-2022. Supplementary Table 2 includes data on vaccine coverage for metropolitan and nonmetro areas.
Additional links: Supplementary Table 2
Author(s): Holly A. Hill, David Yankey, Laurie D. Elam-Evans, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(11), 146-155
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Brief Prescribing Support and Buprenorphine Adoption in Rural Primary Care: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial
Explores the efficacy of a brief support program on rural primary care providers willingness to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder (OUD). Breaks down the support program modules aimed at educating providers about buprenorphine-based treatment and prescribing practices. Highlights post-intervention changes in prescribing and treatment outcomes.
Author(s): Berkeley Franz, Lindsay Y. Dhanani, Daniel Brook, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(3), e263050
Date: 03/2026
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Explores the efficacy of a brief support program on rural primary care providers willingness to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder (OUD). Breaks down the support program modules aimed at educating providers about buprenorphine-based treatment and prescribing practices. Highlights post-intervention changes in prescribing and treatment outcomes.
Author(s): Berkeley Franz, Lindsay Y. Dhanani, Daniel Brook, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(3), e263050
Date: 03/2026
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Cigarette and Electronic Cigarette Use Among Adults by Urbanization Level: United States, 2024
Offers 2024 data showing the percentage of adults who use cigarettes and electronic cigarettes by 4 levels of urbanization. Includes a break down by age ranges.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Offers 2024 data showing the percentage of adults who use cigarettes and electronic cigarettes by 4 levels of urbanization. Includes a break down by age ranges.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Unapologetically Built Backwards: ONU HealthWise, Pharmacist-Driven Healthcare Access in Rural Ohio
Features a university pharmacy department in rural Ohio that prepares pharmacy students for rural practice while also providing mobile services in nearby rural counties. Describes how the program has expanded to offer interprofessional education experiences and serve a larger region.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Features a university pharmacy department in rural Ohio that prepares pharmacy students for rural practice while also providing mobile services in nearby rural counties. Describes how the program has expanded to offer interprofessional education experiences and serve a larger region.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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A Scoping Review of Certified Nurse-Midwife and Certified Midwife Care in the United States: Assessing Outcomes Across Six Patient Care Domains
Provides a scoping review focused on certified nurse-midwife (CNM) and certified midwife (CM) care and quality measures. Discusses 66 studies focused on safety, effectiveness, patient satisfaction, and more, with 4 studies focused on rural populations.
Author(s): Emma Virginia Clark, Robyn Schafer, Rachel Lane Walden, et al.
Citation: The Milbank Quarterly: A Multidisciplinary Journal of Population and Health Policy, 104(1), 220-291
Date: 03/2026
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Provides a scoping review focused on certified nurse-midwife (CNM) and certified midwife (CM) care and quality measures. Discusses 66 studies focused on safety, effectiveness, patient satisfaction, and more, with 4 studies focused on rural populations.
Author(s): Emma Virginia Clark, Robyn Schafer, Rachel Lane Walden, et al.
Citation: The Milbank Quarterly: A Multidisciplinary Journal of Population and Health Policy, 104(1), 220-291
Date: 03/2026
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Rural Health Transformation Program: State Focus on Maternal and Child Health
Describes maternal and child healthcare initiatives addressed in state Rural Health Transformation Program applications. Covers access to maternity care, the maternal health workforce, community-based behavioral health programs, technology-enabled strategies for maternal health, and more.
Author(s): Anoosha Hasan, Elliot Hill, Zack Gould
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Describes maternal and child healthcare initiatives addressed in state Rural Health Transformation Program applications. Covers access to maternity care, the maternal health workforce, community-based behavioral health programs, technology-enabled strategies for maternal health, and more.
Author(s): Anoosha Hasan, Elliot Hill, Zack Gould
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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The Importance of Long-Term Services and Supports to a High-Performance Rural Health System: Demographic, Policy and Economic Challenges
Explores the potential impact of The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (HR 1) on sustaining long-term services and supports (LTSS) in rural areas as an important element of a high performing rural health system. Describes how the policy landscape affecting LTSS in rural America is undergoing changes in population characteristics, healthcare resources, and financing. Discusses the potential impact of federal policy changes on rural LTSS.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Explores the potential impact of The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (HR 1) on sustaining long-term services and supports (LTSS) in rural areas as an important element of a high performing rural health system. Describes how the policy landscape affecting LTSS in rural America is undergoing changes in population characteristics, healthcare resources, and financing. Discusses the potential impact of federal policy changes on rural LTSS.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Health Insurance Coverage and Rural–Urban Differences in Maternal Health Care Among Postpartum Women—National Health Interview Survey
Examines rural versus urban differences in health insurance coverage and postpartum healthcare. Utilizes 2013-2018 National Health Interview Survey data from 2,664 women and analyzes rural versus urban differences according to demographics, insurance type, sleep problems, acute care utilization, dissatisfaction with care, and delayed or forgone care.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Alyssa H. Fritz, Sara C. Handley, Clara E. Busse, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: Birth Issues in Perinatal Care
Date: 03/2026
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Examines rural versus urban differences in health insurance coverage and postpartum healthcare. Utilizes 2013-2018 National Health Interview Survey data from 2,664 women and analyzes rural versus urban differences according to demographics, insurance type, sleep problems, acute care utilization, dissatisfaction with care, and delayed or forgone care.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Alyssa H. Fritz, Sara C. Handley, Clara E. Busse, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: Birth Issues in Perinatal Care
Date: 03/2026
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Examining Rural Population Characteristics and Access to Care in 2022: A Study of Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs)
Chartbook examines the characteristics of populations living within Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) across the U.S. Explores geographic, population, and facility-based HPSAs in Primary Care and Dental and Mental Health. Highlights population-to-provider ratios, travel time and distance, and several other category-specific measurements for each HPSA.
Author(s): Craig Holden, Shena Popat, Rachel Van Vleet, et al.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
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Chartbook examines the characteristics of populations living within Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) across the U.S. Explores geographic, population, and facility-based HPSAs in Primary Care and Dental and Mental Health. Highlights population-to-provider ratios, travel time and distance, and several other category-specific measurements for each HPSA.
Author(s): Craig Holden, Shena Popat, Rachel Van Vleet, et al.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
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