Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Legislation and regulations
21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (P.L. 119-101)
Text of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (P.L. 119-101). Addresses regulatory barriers to new home construction, updates to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs, and strengthening community banking operations. Outlines changes to existing programs and policies, as well as new and expanded programs, regarding housing supply, manufactured and rural housing, home ownership, veterans housing, and more.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress
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Text of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (P.L. 119-101). Addresses regulatory barriers to new home construction, updates to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs, and strengthening community banking operations. Outlines changes to existing programs and policies, as well as new and expanded programs, regarding housing supply, manufactured and rural housing, home ownership, veterans housing, and more.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress
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MACPAC Comment Letter on Medicaid Managed Care State Directed Payments and Medicaid Fee-for-Service Targeted Medicaid Practitioner Payments
Comments on a May 22, 2026, Federal Register proposed rule regarding Medicaid managed care state directed payments (SDPs) and fee-for-service (FFS) targeted practitioner payments. Discusses state flexibility in payment policy, Medicare as a benchmark for Medicaid, monitoring and compliance, establishing appropriate SDP limits, and more.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Comments on a May 22, 2026, Federal Register proposed rule regarding Medicaid managed care state directed payments (SDPs) and fee-for-service (FFS) targeted practitioner payments. Discusses state flexibility in payment policy, Medicare as a benchmark for Medicaid, monitoring and compliance, establishing appropriate SDP limits, and more.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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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: 07/2026
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: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Mathematica, Rural Health Redesign Center
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Medicaid Opportunities to Strengthen Oral Health Access In Rural Communities
Discusses how workforce innovations, teledentistry, rural workforce pipelines, and the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) can improve oral healthcare access for Medicaid recipients in rural communities.
Author(s): Madeline Steward
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Discusses how workforce innovations, teledentistry, rural workforce pipelines, and the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) can improve oral healthcare access for Medicaid recipients in rural communities.
Author(s): Madeline Steward
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Connection for a Cure: How Broadband Access Supports Telehealth Use
Describes broadband access, the impact it has on telehealth utilization, and the impact of telehealth on health outcomes. Highlights various state and federal policy measures addressing broadband and telehealth access, the Rural Health Transformation Program, reimbursement, cross-state licensure flexibility, teleprescribing, and emergency medical services.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Describes broadband access, the impact it has on telehealth utilization, and the impact of telehealth on health outcomes. Highlights various state and federal policy measures addressing broadband and telehealth access, the Rural Health Transformation Program, reimbursement, cross-state licensure flexibility, teleprescribing, and emergency medical services.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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State-Level Impacts of Key Medicaid Provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Explores the potential impacts of 12 healthcare provisions within the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21) on Medicaid and state budgets. Presents estimated impacts for each state provision-by-provision and overall. Includes analysis related to Medicaid determination, provider taxes, state-directed payments, work requirements, and the Rural Health Transformation Program.
Author(s): Preethi Rao, Lawrence Baker, Federico Girosi, et al.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Explores the potential impacts of 12 healthcare provisions within the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21) on Medicaid and state budgets. Presents estimated impacts for each state provision-by-provision and overall. Includes analysis related to Medicaid determination, provider taxes, state-directed payments, work requirements, and the Rural Health Transformation Program.
Author(s): Preethi Rao, Lawrence Baker, Federico Girosi, et al.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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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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State-Level Medicaid Expansion and Hospital, Federally Qualified Health Center, and Rural Health Clinic Availability
Explores the association between state Medicaid expansion and the availability of hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in states that expanded Medicaid between 2014-2016. Examines the presence of hospitals, FQHCs, and RHCs in urban and rural counties between 2010-2019.
Author(s): Elliott Paintsil, Sebastian Linde
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70159
Date: 05/2026
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Explores the association between state Medicaid expansion and the availability of hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in states that expanded Medicaid between 2014-2016. Examines the presence of hospitals, FQHCs, and RHCs in urban and rural counties between 2010-2019.
Author(s): Elliott Paintsil, Sebastian Linde
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70159
Date: 05/2026
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Understanding Artificial Intelligence and How It Can Be Used in Transit
Discusses the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in transit agencies. Includes the results of a survey among 24 rural, tribal, and other transit agencies about their use of AI, potential uses of AI, regulations, and potential funding sources. Offers a 6-step process for implementation following best practices.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Transit Assistance Program
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Discusses the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in transit agencies. Includes the results of a survey among 24 rural, tribal, and other transit agencies about their use of AI, potential uses of AI, regulations, and potential funding sources. Offers a 6-step process for implementation following best practices.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Transit Assistance Program
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility for FY 2027
Comments on an April 6, 2026, Federal Register proposed rule addressing updates to the prospective payment system for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for fiscal year 2026. Includes comments on the potential creation of an IRF-specific wage index and refinements to the IRF payment system, such as changes to IRF patient clinical classification. Includes rural considerations throughout.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comments on an April 6, 2026, Federal Register proposed rule addressing updates to the prospective payment system for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for fiscal year 2026. Includes comments on the potential creation of an IRF-specific wage index and refinements to the IRF payment system, such as changes to IRF patient clinical classification. Includes rural considerations throughout.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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