Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
WIC Participant and Local Agency Staff Perspectives on Increased Cash-Value Benefits for Fruits and Vegetables Within an American Indian Tribal Organization
Explores the perceived impacts of increased cash-value benefits for fruits and vegetables through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program of Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in tribal communities associated with the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona. Bases findings on a survey of participants and staff on their perceptions about the increase and its effect on their ability to access a more nutritious diet.
Author(s): Emily M Melnick, Francesco Acciai, Nicole Vaudrin O'Reilly, et al.
Citation: Maternal & Child Nutrition, 22(1), e70148
Date: 03/2026
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Explores the perceived impacts of increased cash-value benefits for fruits and vegetables through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program of Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in tribal communities associated with the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona. Bases findings on a survey of participants and staff on their perceptions about the increase and its effect on their ability to access a more nutritious diet.
Author(s): Emily M Melnick, Francesco Acciai, Nicole Vaudrin O'Reilly, et al.
Citation: Maternal & Child Nutrition, 22(1), e70148
Date: 03/2026
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Roadblocks to Rural Health: State Transportation Policies' Impact on Health Care Access in Virginia's Rural Communities: 2021–2022
Examines transportation barriers that impact healthcare access and provides actionable strategies to remove barriers. Discusses collaboration with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to change signage policy and install directional signs to a rural Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Analyzes the subsequent impacts on access and cancer screening rates, as well as the importance of collaborating across community agencies.
Author(s): Katherine Y. Tossas, Bianca D. Owens, Michael O'Grady, Jinlei Zhao, Robert A. Winn
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 116(2), 175-179
Date: 02/2026
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Examines transportation barriers that impact healthcare access and provides actionable strategies to remove barriers. Discusses collaboration with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to change signage policy and install directional signs to a rural Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Analyzes the subsequent impacts on access and cancer screening rates, as well as the importance of collaborating across community agencies.
Author(s): Katherine Y. Tossas, Bianca D. Owens, Michael O'Grady, Jinlei Zhao, Robert A. Winn
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 116(2), 175-179
Date: 02/2026
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Utilizing a Steering Committee to Implement Health in All Policies in a Rural, Micro-Urban Community
Examines the impact of a Health in All Policies (HiAP) steering committee in a rural and micro-urban area of Montana. Discusses the focus areas of the committee, such as a rural perspective on public health, policy, transportation, social services, development, preservation, education, and more. Reflects on the benefits of a multi-sector steering committee and an HiAP approach to impact rural communities.
Author(s): Danika Lee Comey, Bridget L. Hanson, Morgan E. Neavill, et al.
Citation: Health Promotion International, 41(1)
Date: 02/2026
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Examines the impact of a Health in All Policies (HiAP) steering committee in a rural and micro-urban area of Montana. Discusses the focus areas of the committee, such as a rural perspective on public health, policy, transportation, social services, development, preservation, education, and more. Reflects on the benefits of a multi-sector steering committee and an HiAP approach to impact rural communities.
Author(s): Danika Lee Comey, Bridget L. Hanson, Morgan E. Neavill, et al.
Citation: Health Promotion International, 41(1)
Date: 02/2026
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Reimagining Rural Health and Well-Being
Details effective practices for promoting rural health, addresses community needs, and improves access to care among organizations focused on rural funding, service delivery, and research. Discusses funding strategies, collaborations, and other rural-specific concerns relevant to philanthropic organizations, government funders, health providers, and more. Project findings are discussed in depth via a landscape analysis and summary of listening sessions conducted throughout 2025.
Additional links: Landscape Analysis, Listening Sessions Summary
Author(s): Tanisu Adimu, John Butts, Amy Elizondo, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Georgia Health Policy Center, Grantmakers in Health, National Rural Health Association
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Details effective practices for promoting rural health, addresses community needs, and improves access to care among organizations focused on rural funding, service delivery, and research. Discusses funding strategies, collaborations, and other rural-specific concerns relevant to philanthropic organizations, government funders, health providers, and more. Project findings are discussed in depth via a landscape analysis and summary of listening sessions conducted throughout 2025.
Additional links: Landscape Analysis, Listening Sessions Summary
Author(s): Tanisu Adimu, John Butts, Amy Elizondo, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Georgia Health Policy Center, Grantmakers in Health, National Rural Health Association
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Health Panel Comment Letter - Contract Year 2027 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs
Offers comments in response to a November 28, 2025, proposed rule regarding policy and technical changes to the Medicare Advantage, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit, and Medicare Cost Plan programs for contract year 2027. Includes data on trends in chronic condition special need plans (C-SNPs) and institutional special needs plans (I-SNPs) between 2016 and 2025 and MA plan offerings by county metropolitan status.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Offers comments in response to a November 28, 2025, proposed rule regarding policy and technical changes to the Medicare Advantage, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit, and Medicare Cost Plan programs for contract year 2027. Includes data on trends in chronic condition special need plans (C-SNPs) and institutional special needs plans (I-SNPs) between 2016 and 2025 and MA plan offerings by county metropolitan status.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Bridging the Gap: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of a New Rural Maternity Care Center Amid Nationwide Closures
Examines healthcare quality and access following the reopening of a maternity care center at a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in a rural community that experienced a maternity unit closure. Includes data comparisons of rural maternity care center (MCC) versus suburban tertiary care center patient demographics, delivery outcomes, and patient experiences. Discusses policy efforts to improve access to rural maternal health.
Author(s): Kathryn Wouk, Ellen Chetwynd, Emily C. Sheffield, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(1),102
Date: 01/2026
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Examines healthcare quality and access following the reopening of a maternity care center at a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in a rural community that experienced a maternity unit closure. Includes data comparisons of rural maternity care center (MCC) versus suburban tertiary care center patient demographics, delivery outcomes, and patient experiences. Discusses policy efforts to improve access to rural maternal health.
Author(s): Kathryn Wouk, Ellen Chetwynd, Emily C. Sheffield, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(1),102
Date: 01/2026
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Financial Assistance Policy, Hospital Charity Care, and Medical Debt in Collections
Explores whether Oregon's state-level financial assistance policy (FAP) was associated with a lower percentage of the population with medical debt in collections, increase in hospital charity care, and decrease in bad debt in the first 3 years after implementation. Compares county- and hospital-level data from Oregon with data from a sample of hospitals that expanded Medicaid in 2014 but had not implemented a state-level FAP by 2022. Supplemental content includes data by metropolitan and non-metropolitan status.
Author(s): Tatiane Santos, Richard C. Lindrooth, Gary J. Young, Shoou-Yih Lee
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(1), e2555698
Date: 01/2026
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Explores whether Oregon's state-level financial assistance policy (FAP) was associated with a lower percentage of the population with medical debt in collections, increase in hospital charity care, and decrease in bad debt in the first 3 years after implementation. Compares county- and hospital-level data from Oregon with data from a sample of hospitals that expanded Medicaid in 2014 but had not implemented a state-level FAP by 2022. Supplemental content includes data by metropolitan and non-metropolitan status.
Author(s): Tatiane Santos, Richard C. Lindrooth, Gary J. Young, Shoou-Yih Lee
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(1), e2555698
Date: 01/2026
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Ensuring a Strong Future for America's Cancer Workforce: A Report from the President's Cancer Panel to the President of the United States
Identifies priorities and provides recommendations to support the cancer workforce, improve access to clinical trials, and promote high-quality research in the United States. Discusses the rural cancer care workforce and other factors influencing rural access to care throughout.
Author(s): Mitchel S. Berger, Carol L. Brown
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: President's Cancer Panel
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Identifies priorities and provides recommendations to support the cancer workforce, improve access to clinical trials, and promote high-quality research in the United States. Discusses the rural cancer care workforce and other factors influencing rural access to care throughout.
Author(s): Mitchel S. Berger, Carol L. Brown
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: President's Cancer Panel
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Rural Emergency Hospital Educational Webinar and Fireside Chat
Recording of a January 8, 2026, webinar for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and other small rural hospitals exploring the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Describes the REH designation, policy and regulatory requirements, and REH Technical Assistance Center (TAC) services and resources. Features a discussion with two hospital executives that led their facilities through the conversion to REH status. Transcript available in the video description.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Recording of a January 8, 2026, webinar for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and other small rural hospitals exploring the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Describes the REH designation, policy and regulatory requirements, and REH Technical Assistance Center (TAC) services and resources. Features a discussion with two hospital executives that led their facilities through the conversion to REH status. Transcript available in the video description.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Medicare Fee-for-Service Health Care Expenditures among Rural and Urban Beneficiaries During 2009-2019
Examines trends in Medicare Fee-for-Service spending among rural noncore, rural micropolitan, and urban beneficiaries, utilizing 2009-2019 CMS Medicare Geographic Variation Public Use files data. Details rural-urban differences in spending over time on per-patient hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, physician services, and post-acute care, among other categories. Discusses implications for healthcare access and quality.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Theodoros Giannouchos, Xuanzi Qin, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Examines trends in Medicare Fee-for-Service spending among rural noncore, rural micropolitan, and urban beneficiaries, utilizing 2009-2019 CMS Medicare Geographic Variation Public Use files data. Details rural-urban differences in spending over time on per-patient hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, physician services, and post-acute care, among other categories. Discusses implications for healthcare access and quality.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Theodoros Giannouchos, Xuanzi Qin, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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