Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Providing Accountable Care Organizations the Ability to Expand the Use of Telehealth: Report to Congress
Analyzes the telehealth use and spending among fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare beneficiaries assigned to accountable care organizations (ACOs). Compares the rate of telehealth use across ACO and non-ACO providers between 2020 and 2023, as well as across provider types, dual eligibility, HPSA-status of patient residence, and more.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Analyzes the telehealth use and spending among fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare beneficiaries assigned to accountable care organizations (ACOs). Compares the rate of telehealth use across ACO and non-ACO providers between 2020 and 2023, as well as across provider types, dual eligibility, HPSA-status of patient residence, and more.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Rural Health Transformation Program: Funding Amounts and State Policy Actions
Presents an analysis of Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) first-year funding across three components of the award: baseline, rural facility and population, and workload. Summarizes which states addressed certain current or proposed state policies intended to enhance the impact of the program in their RHTP applications.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
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Presents an analysis of Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) first-year funding across three components of the award: baseline, rural facility and population, and workload. Summarizes which states addressed certain current or proposed state policies intended to enhance the impact of the program in their RHTP applications.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
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First-Year Rural Health Fund Awards Range From Less Than $100 Per Rural Resident in Ten States to More Than $500 in Eight
Describes the amounts awarded to each state for the first year of the Rural Health Transformation Program. Presents state-by-state data on award amount per rural resident.
Author(s): Zachary Levinson, Scott Hulver, Tricia Neuman
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Describes the amounts awarded to each state for the first year of the Rural Health Transformation Program. Presents state-by-state data on award amount per rural resident.
Author(s): Zachary Levinson, Scott Hulver, Tricia Neuman
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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The Universal Service Fund and Related FCC Broadband Programs: Overview and Considerations for Congress
Provides an overview of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF) and its four programs: the High Cost Program, Lifeline Program, Schools and Libraries Program, and Rural Health Care Program. Outlines considerations for Congress for each program. Describes legislation introduced in the 119th Congress that would impact the USF programs.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF) and its four programs: the High Cost Program, Lifeline Program, Schools and Libraries Program, and Rural Health Care Program. Outlines considerations for Congress for each program. Describes legislation introduced in the 119th Congress that would impact the USF programs.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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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: 01/2026
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: 01/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Mathematica, Rural Health Redesign Center
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The 2026 Summer Nutrition Summit - Digital Agenda
Provides the agenda and slide decks from the No Kid Hungry 2026 Summer Nutrition Summit. Focuses on topics such as summer non-congregate meals in rural areas, creation of sustainable summer food programs, outreach and communication about meal availability, and case studies describing rural summer food programs.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Provides the agenda and slide decks from the No Kid Hungry 2026 Summer Nutrition Summit. Focuses on topics such as summer non-congregate meals in rural areas, creation of sustainable summer food programs, outreach and communication about meal availability, and case studies describing rural summer food programs.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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2025 Idaho Medical Education (UME) Plan
Outlines policy recommendations from the Idaho Undergraduate Medical Education Plan Working Group to address physician shortages across the state. Recommendations discuss existing and new partnerships, moving Idaho residents into and through the physician workforce pipeline, incentives for retention, and funding needs. Discusses rural throughout.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Idaho State Board of Education Undergraduate Medical Education Plan Working Group
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Outlines policy recommendations from the Idaho Undergraduate Medical Education Plan Working Group to address physician shortages across the state. Recommendations discuss existing and new partnerships, moving Idaho residents into and through the physician workforce pipeline, incentives for retention, and funding needs. Discusses rural throughout.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Idaho State Board of Education Undergraduate Medical Education Plan Working Group
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Access to Capital for Rural Hospitals
Policy brief discussing the importance of rural hospitals having access to capital funding. Discusses previous federal efforts to improve access to capital and common types of capital used for healthcare projects. Offers policy recommendations for improving rural hospitals' access to capital for facility improvements.
Author(s): Britton Herbert, Lauren LaPine-Ray, Mat Slaybaugh
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Policy brief discussing the importance of rural hospitals having access to capital funding. Discusses previous federal efforts to improve access to capital and common types of capital used for healthcare projects. Offers policy recommendations for improving rural hospitals' access to capital for facility improvements.
Author(s): Britton Herbert, Lauren LaPine-Ray, Mat Slaybaugh
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Policy Trends Shaping Access to Care in 2026
Discusses policy efforts designed to support access to care, focusing on issues such as a community-based health workforce, mid-life women's healthcare, telehealth, and more. Examines policy enacted to stabilize and improve rural healthcare access.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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Discusses policy efforts designed to support access to care, focusing on issues such as a community-based health workforce, mid-life women's healthcare, telehealth, and more. Examines policy enacted to stabilize and improve rural healthcare access.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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Understanding Supervision in Indiana's Behavioral Health Workforce: Supply Data and Recent Policy Changes
Examines the availability of behavioral health and human services (BHHS) clinical supervisors for student field and clinical experiences. Provides data on BHHS supervisor supply by license type and county-level geographic distribution. Discusses supervisor shortages in rural areas and related policy considerations.
Author(s): Mykayla Moore, Madison Bott, Brittany Daulton, Hannah Maxey
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy
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Examines the availability of behavioral health and human services (BHHS) clinical supervisors for student field and clinical experiences. Provides data on BHHS supervisor supply by license type and county-level geographic distribution. Discusses supervisor shortages in rural areas and related policy considerations.
Author(s): Mykayla Moore, Madison Bott, Brittany Daulton, Hannah Maxey
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy
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