Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Implementation of Mobile Medication Units: Findings from a Qualitative Study
Provides a brief overview of the development of policy regarding the approval of mobile medication units (MMUs) operated by opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Presents findings from an environmental scan and key informant interviews regarding MMU implementation. Discusses barriers to establishing, sustaining, and expanding MMU services. Describes opportunities to increase access to methadone in underserved communities. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Mathematica
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Provides a brief overview of the development of policy regarding the approval of mobile medication units (MMUs) operated by opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Presents findings from an environmental scan and key informant interviews regarding MMU implementation. Discusses barriers to establishing, sustaining, and expanding MMU services. Describes opportunities to increase access to methadone in underserved communities. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Mathematica
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Housing Assistance Council's 2025 Rural Housing Policy Priorities
Provides an overview of the Housing Assistance Council's (HAC's) 2025 policy priorities, such as increasing housing availability in rural areas, increasing access to fair lending practices, preserving federal housing programs in rural areas, and more.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 01/2025
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Provides an overview of the Housing Assistance Council's (HAC's) 2025 policy priorities, such as increasing housing availability in rural areas, increasing access to fair lending practices, preserving federal housing programs in rural areas, and more.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 01/2025
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Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force: Redesigning the Health Care Delivery System to Better Meet the Needs of Youth
Presents policy recommendations from 50 experts and thought leaders regarding how to maximize the potential of the U.S. healthcare system to better serve youth with behavioral health needs. Covers the behavioral health workforce, transparency and compliance with existing screening and treatment requirements, promoting integrated primary care and behavioral health services in pediatric settings, the needs of youth with the highest acuity behavioral health needs, and strengthening crisis and stabilization systems. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Presents policy recommendations from 50 experts and thought leaders regarding how to maximize the potential of the U.S. healthcare system to better serve youth with behavioral health needs. Covers the behavioral health workforce, transparency and compliance with existing screening and treatment requirements, promoting integrated primary care and behavioral health services in pediatric settings, the needs of youth with the highest acuity behavioral health needs, and strengthening crisis and stabilization systems. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Medical Debt and Its Impact on Rural Patients and Providers, with Carrie Henning-Smith
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Carrie Henning-Smith, Co-Director of the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center. Focuses on the prevalence of and difficulties caused by medical debt for both rural patients and providers.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Carrie Henning-Smith, Co-Director of the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center. Focuses on the prevalence of and difficulties caused by medical debt for both rural patients and providers.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Housing Issues in the 118th Congress
Provides an overview of housing-related policy issues considered by the 118th Congress, including rural and Native American housing programs.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of housing-related policy issues considered by the 118th Congress, including rural and Native American housing programs.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Disaster Resiliency and Recovery Resources: A Guide for Rural Communities
Provides an overview of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) programs and services for rural residents, businesses, and communities impacted by disasters, as well as programs that support long-term planning and recovery efforts. Includes information on technical assistance providers to help rural planning and recovery efforts.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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Provides an overview of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) programs and services for rural residents, businesses, and communities impacted by disasters, as well as programs that support long-term planning and recovery efforts. Includes information on technical assistance providers to help rural planning and recovery efforts.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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Navigating the J-1 Visa Waiver Job Search
Offers a basic overview for physicians interested in obtaining a J-1 visa waiver. Includes contact information for agencies offering waivers and timelines for applications and job search processes.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: 3RNET
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Offers a basic overview for physicians interested in obtaining a J-1 visa waiver. Includes contact information for agencies offering waivers and timelines for applications and job search processes.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: 3RNET
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Strategies and Interventions to Strengthen Support for Family Caregivers for Individuals with Serious Illness or Disability: Proceedings of a Workshop - In Brief
Summarizes a workshop discussing issues related to caregiving including successful interventions and strategies addressing burdens placed on caregivers, the needs of specific caregiver populations, how to scale successful programs, and policies for supporting caregivers. Discuses rural specific caregiving challenges.
Additional links: Read Online
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Summarizes a workshop discussing issues related to caregiving including successful interventions and strategies addressing burdens placed on caregivers, the needs of specific caregiver populations, how to scale successful programs, and policies for supporting caregivers. Discuses rural specific caregiving challenges.
Additional links: Read Online
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Safeguarding Children in Agriculture: A National Action Plan
Offers strategies and intended outcomes for 7 goals related to creating safe environments for children in agricultural settings. Goals cover leadership, gathering and using data, policy, creating and using research, and addressing emerging threats. Builds upon the 2012 plan Blueprint for Protecting Children in Agriculture: The 2012 National Action Plan.
Author(s): Andrea Swenson, Bryan Weichelt, Amy Liebman, et al.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety
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Offers strategies and intended outcomes for 7 goals related to creating safe environments for children in agricultural settings. Goals cover leadership, gathering and using data, policy, creating and using research, and addressing emerging threats. Builds upon the 2012 plan Blueprint for Protecting Children in Agriculture: The 2012 National Action Plan.
Author(s): Andrea Swenson, Bryan Weichelt, Amy Liebman, et al.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety
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The University of Arizona Center for Rural Health Annual Report FY 2024-2025
Highlights the Center for Rural Health's past-year accomplishments, and describes challenges and opportunities for improving the health of rural Arizonans in the upcoming year. Discusses the State Office of Rural Health, Arizona Health Improvement Plan (AzHIP), Arizona Rural Hospital Flexibility program (AzFLEX), Arizona Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (AzSHIP), and other programs. Includes a map of rural and safety net health facilities.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Center for Rural Health
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Highlights the Center for Rural Health's past-year accomplishments, and describes challenges and opportunities for improving the health of rural Arizonans in the upcoming year. Discusses the State Office of Rural Health, Arizona Health Improvement Plan (AzHIP), Arizona Rural Hospital Flexibility program (AzFLEX), Arizona Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (AzSHIP), and other programs. Includes a map of rural and safety net health facilities.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Center for Rural Health
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