Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Legislation and regulations
A View of Medicaid Today and a Look Ahead: Balancing Access, Budgets and Upcoming Changes: Results from an Annual Medicaid Budget Survey for State Fiscal Years 2025 and 2026
Examines changes taking place in Medicaid programs in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Features sections on delivery systems, provider rates and taxes, benefits, and pharmacy and prescription drugs. Highlights challenges and priorities related to implementing federal priorities, systems issues, state budget limitations, and more.
Author(s): Elizabeth Hinton, Elizabeth Williams, Jada Raphael, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Examines changes taking place in Medicaid programs in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Features sections on delivery systems, provider rates and taxes, benefits, and pharmacy and prescription drugs. Highlights challenges and priorities related to implementing federal priorities, systems issues, state budget limitations, and more.
Author(s): Elizabeth Hinton, Elizabeth Williams, Jada Raphael, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Closing the Distance in Rural Primary Care: Evidence, Stories and Solutions
Explores the state of rural primary care in the United States. Describes recent federal legislation that may impact rural primary care, healthcare access, and health outcomes. Discusses trends in rural primary care, including comparisons between rural and urban primary care spending relative to all total spending, primary care workforce availability, and comprehensiveness of primary care. Presents five case studies highlighting rural primary care practices and practice models.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Primary Care Collaborative, Robert Graham Center
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Explores the state of rural primary care in the United States. Describes recent federal legislation that may impact rural primary care, healthcare access, and health outcomes. Discusses trends in rural primary care, including comparisons between rural and urban primary care spending relative to all total spending, primary care workforce availability, and comprehensiveness of primary care. Presents five case studies highlighting rural primary care practices and practice models.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Primary Care Collaborative, Robert Graham Center
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Final CY 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule: Fact Sheet
Fact sheet covering the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) telehealth policy changes for 2026 as outlined in the final calendar year (CY) 2026 Physician Fee Schedule. Covers the process for determining which services can be delivered by telehealth; frequency limitations for inpatient visits, nursing facilities, and critical care consults; direct supervision through the use of live video; payment to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs); and more.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Fact sheet covering the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) telehealth policy changes for 2026 as outlined in the final calendar year (CY) 2026 Physician Fee Schedule. Covers the process for determining which services can be delivered by telehealth; frequency limitations for inpatient visits, nursing facilities, and critical care consults; direct supervision through the use of live video; payment to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs); and more.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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State Awards From Most of the Rural Health Funds Could Vary Only Modestly Despite Large Differences in Rural Needs
Describes the estimated Rural Health Transformation Program funding distribution among the 50 states. Includes information on the potential allocation criteria for funding distributed based on state need. Notes plans for distributing funding in years 2 through 5 of the award.
Author(s): Zachary Levinson, Scott Hulver, Tricia Neuman
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Describes the estimated Rural Health Transformation Program funding distribution among the 50 states. Includes information on the potential allocation criteria for funding distributed based on state need. Notes plans for distributing funding in years 2 through 5 of the award.
Author(s): Zachary Levinson, Scott Hulver, Tricia Neuman
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Medicare Waiver Expiration & Telehealth FAQs
Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding the expiration of Medicare telehealth waivers on September 30, 2025. Covers in-person visit requirements, billing procedures, and the applicability of policies across different care settings, including Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
Additional links: Chart: Telehealth Medicare Post-September 30, 2025
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding the expiration of Medicare telehealth waivers on September 30, 2025. Covers in-person visit requirements, billing procedures, and the applicability of policies across different care settings, including Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
Additional links: Chart: Telehealth Medicare Post-September 30, 2025
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule (CMS-1832-F)
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues for calendar year 2026. Summarizes provisions related to telehealth services; improving care for chronic illness and behavioral health needs; Rural Health Clinic (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) care coordination services, services requiring direct supervision, and telecommunication services; and more.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues for calendar year 2026. Summarizes provisions related to telehealth services; improving care for chronic illness and behavioral health needs; Rural Health Clinic (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) care coordination services, services requiring direct supervision, and telecommunication services; and more.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Policies Report, Fall 2025
Provides an overview of state telehealth policies as of early September 2025. Covers Medicaid reimbursement, private payer laws, and professional requirements.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Infographic, State Summary Chart
Date: 10/2025
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 early September 2025. Covers Medicaid reimbursement, private payer laws, and professional requirements.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Infographic, State Summary Chart
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Impact of Scope of Practice Laws for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists on the Utilization of Anesthesia Services
Examines scope of practice laws (SOPLs) for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SOPLs. Utilizes 2018-2022 national administrative claims data to examine anesthesia providers by rurality, utilization rate of anesthesia procedures, and utilization of anesthesia procedures by SOPL changes and county underserved status, defined by density of available anesthesia providers. Discusses the impact of SOPLs on access to anesthesia services.
Author(s): Projesh P. Ghosh, Wafa W. Tarazi, Nwanneamaka Ume, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research
Date: 10/2025
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Examines scope of practice laws (SOPLs) for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SOPLs. Utilizes 2018-2022 national administrative claims data to examine anesthesia providers by rurality, utilization rate of anesthesia procedures, and utilization of anesthesia procedures by SOPL changes and county underserved status, defined by density of available anesthesia providers. Discusses the impact of SOPLs on access to anesthesia services.
Author(s): Projesh P. Ghosh, Wafa W. Tarazi, Nwanneamaka Ume, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research
Date: 10/2025
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Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Model Frequently Asked Questions
Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Covers general information, Conditions of Participation, and REH payment policies.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Mathematica, Rural Health Redesign Center
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Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Covers general information, Conditions of Participation, and REH payment policies.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Mathematica, Rural Health Redesign Center
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Does Caregiver Well-Being Differ by Rurality and State Policy Environment? Identifying a Well-Being Typology for Rural, Suburban, and Urban Caregivers
Results of a study of informal caregiver well-being, exploring ways in which geographic location, individual circumstances, and state-level policies can impact a caregiver's health, comfort, and happiness. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by rural, suburban, and urban areas.
Author(s): Elena Maria Pojman, Florence Becot, Zuzana Bednarik, Carrie Henning-Smith
Citation: Rural Sociology, 90(3), e70015
Date: 09/2025
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Results of a study of informal caregiver well-being, exploring ways in which geographic location, individual circumstances, and state-level policies can impact a caregiver's health, comfort, and happiness. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by rural, suburban, and urban areas.
Author(s): Elena Maria Pojman, Florence Becot, Zuzana Bednarik, Carrie Henning-Smith
Citation: Rural Sociology, 90(3), e70015
Date: 09/2025
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