Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, June 2026
Semi-annual report to Congress from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC). Covers recommendations related to community engagement (CE) requirements in Medicaid, automation in prior authorization, Medicaid managed care accountability, appropriate access to residential treatment services for Medicaid-enrolled youth, transitions to adult Medicaid coverage for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN), the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), and provider enrollment and credentialing in Medicaid. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Semi-annual report to Congress from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC). Covers recommendations related to community engagement (CE) requirements in Medicaid, automation in prior authorization, Medicaid managed care accountability, appropriate access to residential treatment services for Medicaid-enrolled youth, transitions to adult Medicaid coverage for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN), the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), and provider enrollment and credentialing in Medicaid. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Advancing Behavioral Health Integration in Community Health Centers: Policy Pathways to Whole Person Care
Explores how high-performing community health centers (CHCs) implement behavioral health integration as well as the policy and financing factors that influence these efforts. Summarizes interviews with leaders from 10 CHCs and six experts on Medicaid, payment reform, and community-based care. Discusses the state of behavioral health integration in CHCs nationwide and the impact of integration across patient populations. Offers policy recommendations to strengthen and sustain behavioral health integration within CHCs.
Author(s): Erin Prendergast, Amy Flowers, Peter Shin
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Commonwealth Fund, National Association of Community Health Centers
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Explores how high-performing community health centers (CHCs) implement behavioral health integration as well as the policy and financing factors that influence these efforts. Summarizes interviews with leaders from 10 CHCs and six experts on Medicaid, payment reform, and community-based care. Discusses the state of behavioral health integration in CHCs nationwide and the impact of integration across patient populations. Offers policy recommendations to strengthen and sustain behavioral health integration within CHCs.
Author(s): Erin Prendergast, Amy Flowers, Peter Shin
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Commonwealth Fund, National Association of Community Health Centers
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System, June 2026
Evaluates Medicare payment issues and provides recommendations to the U.S. Congress. Covers payment incentives in Medicare, the complexity of Medicare enrollment decisions for beneficiaries, Medicare payment operations and their role in identifying improper payments, the estimated association between Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment and hospitals' and post-acute care providers' finances, and access to hospice and certain complex palliative services for beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease or cancer. Includes a mandated report regarding the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Evaluates Medicare payment issues and provides recommendations to the U.S. Congress. Covers payment incentives in Medicare, the complexity of Medicare enrollment decisions for beneficiaries, Medicare payment operations and their role in identifying improper payments, the estimated association between Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment and hospitals' and post-acute care providers' finances, and access to hospice and certain complex palliative services for beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease or cancer. Includes a mandated report regarding the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Coordinating Federal Strategies to Strengthen Rural Health
Webinar recording discussing federal agencies' priorities, initiatives, and insights from speakers at the Centers from Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Includes discussion of the Rural Health Transformation Program and other opportunities for states and organizations with an interest in rural health to benefit from federal rural health investments, collaboration, and programs. Requires free registration to view.
Author(s): John Auerbach, Diane Hall, Sarah Heppner, Kate Sapra
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: ICF
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Webinar recording discussing federal agencies' priorities, initiatives, and insights from speakers at the Centers from Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Includes discussion of the Rural Health Transformation Program and other opportunities for states and organizations with an interest in rural health to benefit from federal rural health investments, collaboration, and programs. Requires free registration to view.
Author(s): John Auerbach, Diane Hall, Sarah Heppner, Kate Sapra
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: ICF
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Research Brief: Supporting Indian Tribal Organizations To Expand Summer EBT Access
Analyzes Indian Tribal Organization (ITO) participation in the the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) program. Discusses the history of Summer EBT, ITOs and federal nutrition programs, inclusion of culturally relevant foods, and benefits and barriers of ITO participation in Summer EBT. Includes a U.S. map showing area where states and Tribes administer Summer EBT.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Food Research & Action Center
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Analyzes Indian Tribal Organization (ITO) participation in the the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) program. Discusses the history of Summer EBT, ITOs and federal nutrition programs, inclusion of culturally relevant foods, and benefits and barriers of ITO participation in Summer EBT. Includes a U.S. map showing area where states and Tribes administer Summer EBT.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Food Research & Action Center
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2026 Annual Report of the Boards of Trustees of the Federal Hospital Insurance and Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Funds
Report detailing the current state of the Medicare Hospital Insurance (HI) and Supplemental Medical Insurance (SMI) Trust Funds. Discusses Medicare expenditures as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and makes short and long-range sustainability projections based on variable economic, demographic, and healthcare trends. Also explains the actuarial methods used to calculate the estimates. Includes information on Medicare payment policy updates since the 2025 report.
Additional links: Tables and Figures
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Board of Trustees, Federal Hospital Insurance and Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Funds
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Report detailing the current state of the Medicare Hospital Insurance (HI) and Supplemental Medical Insurance (SMI) Trust Funds. Discusses Medicare expenditures as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and makes short and long-range sustainability projections based on variable economic, demographic, and healthcare trends. Also explains the actuarial methods used to calculate the estimates. Includes information on Medicare payment policy updates since the 2025 report.
Additional links: Tables and Figures
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Board of Trustees, Federal Hospital Insurance and Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Funds
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Marriage and Family Therapist and Mental Health Counselor Workforces in Rural America Under New Medicare Reimbursement Policy
Describes how Medicare reimbursement expanded to cover marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and mental health counselors (MHCs) in January 2024. Examines the change in Medicare-enrolled MFTs and MHCs between the third quarter (Q3) of 2023 and fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024. Presents findings from semi-structured interviews with rural health system and mental health organization leaders regarding practice arrangements, the perceived impacts of MFT and MHC reimbursement, barriers to serving rural Medicare beneficiaries, and considerations for future policies.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Natalia V. Oster, Lisa A. Garberson, Davis G. Patterson, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Describes how Medicare reimbursement expanded to cover marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and mental health counselors (MHCs) in January 2024. Examines the change in Medicare-enrolled MFTs and MHCs between the third quarter (Q3) of 2023 and fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024. Presents findings from semi-structured interviews with rural health system and mental health organization leaders regarding practice arrangements, the perceived impacts of MFT and MHC reimbursement, barriers to serving rural Medicare beneficiaries, and considerations for future policies.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Natalia V. Oster, Lisa A. Garberson, Davis G. Patterson, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Pain in the Nation 2026: The Epidemics of Alcohol, Drug, and Suicide Deaths
Report focuses on alcohol, drug, and mortality statistics and trends, with a special feature on suicide and well-being in the United States. Includes data on substance use and mortality, with U.S. maps showing overdose and suicide rates, breakdowns according to metro versus nonmetro location, and state-by-state statistical trends. Provides policy recommendations to address substance use and offers examples from rural areas.
Author(s): Molly Warren, Lauren Battle
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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Report focuses on alcohol, drug, and mortality statistics and trends, with a special feature on suicide and well-being in the United States. Includes data on substance use and mortality, with U.S. maps showing overdose and suicide rates, breakdowns according to metro versus nonmetro location, and state-by-state statistical trends. Provides policy recommendations to address substance use and offers examples from rural areas.
Author(s): Molly Warren, Lauren Battle
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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Rural Housing: Weaknesses in Data Quality and Use Limit HUD's Ability to Assess Effectiveness of Service Coordinators
Provides an overview of service coordinators in rural federally assisted housing that link residents to healthcare, transportation, and other supportive services. Describes the availability and quality of data on these service coordinators and evidence of their effects on residents' well-being. Offers recommendations for collecting data on service coordinators and analyzing performance.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Provides an overview of service coordinators in rural federally assisted housing that link residents to healthcare, transportation, and other supportive services. Describes the availability and quality of data on these service coordinators and evidence of their effects on residents' well-being. Offers recommendations for collecting data on service coordinators and analyzing performance.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Uneven Ground: Local Public Funding Gaps Between Rural and Nonrural America
Reports on differences in public investment via local government in rural and urban communities, discussing factors including revenue gaps, people-based and place-based spending, persistent poverty, federal and state intergovernmental funding availability, and more. Details health and quality of life implications throughout. Free to download with contact information.
Additional links: Download Report
Author(s): Amanda Weinstein, Olivia Galloway, Adam Dewbury, et al.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center on Rural Innovation
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Reports on differences in public investment via local government in rural and urban communities, discussing factors including revenue gaps, people-based and place-based spending, persistent poverty, federal and state intergovernmental funding availability, and more. Details health and quality of life implications throughout. Free to download with contact information.
Additional links: Download Report
Author(s): Amanda Weinstein, Olivia Galloway, Adam Dewbury, et al.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center on Rural Innovation
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