Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
The 340B Drug Discount Program: Litigation Topics and Trends
Provides an overview of the 340B Drug Discount Program. Discusses litigation surrounding the 340B program, including lawsuits against 340B-covered entities over their use of contract pharmacies to distribute 340B drugs to patients and lawsuits against states that have enacted laws to protect contract pharmacies and covered entities inside their state. Describes courts' interpretation of the 340B statute. Offers considerations for the 119th Congress in light of the litigation and describes several legislative changes that Congress could make to the program if it chose to do so.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the 340B Drug Discount Program. Discusses litigation surrounding the 340B program, including lawsuits against 340B-covered entities over their use of contract pharmacies to distribute 340B drugs to patients and lawsuits against states that have enacted laws to protect contract pharmacies and covered entities inside their state. Describes courts' interpretation of the 340B statute. Offers considerations for the 119th Congress in light of the litigation and describes several legislative changes that Congress could make to the program if it chose to do so.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Growth in the 340B Drug Pricing Program
Explores trends in drug purchases through the 340B program between 2010-2021. Discusses drugs purchased through the Prime Vendor Program, factors contributing to growth in the 340B program, and effects of the 340B program on the federal budget. Includes information on the growth of 340B Program participation by hospitals in Medicaid expansion and non-expansion states by Critical Access Hospital designation.
Additional links: Data Underlying Figures
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Budget Office
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Explores trends in drug purchases through the 340B program between 2010-2021. Discusses drugs purchased through the Prime Vendor Program, factors contributing to growth in the 340B program, and effects of the 340B program on the federal budget. Includes information on the growth of 340B Program participation by hospitals in Medicaid expansion and non-expansion states by Critical Access Hospital designation.
Additional links: Data Underlying Figures
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Budget Office
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September 2025 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) September 2024 meeting. Covers Medicare payment operations and improving payment accuracy, a discussion with the Comptroller General of the United States regarding the Government Accountability Office's work related to improper payments in the Medicare program and opportunities to improve program sustainability, Medicare's overall financial situation, access to hospice and services under the Medicare hospice benefit for beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease or cancer, and the relationship between changes in Medicare Advantage enrollment and hospital finances.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) September 2024 meeting. Covers Medicare payment operations and improving payment accuracy, a discussion with the Comptroller General of the United States regarding the Government Accountability Office's work related to improper payments in the Medicare program and opportunities to improve program sustainability, Medicare's overall financial situation, access to hospice and services under the Medicare hospice benefit for beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease or cancer, and the relationship between changes in Medicare Advantage enrollment and hospital finances.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Rural and Tribal Transit: The Federal Transit Administration Should Evaluate Its Efforts to Help Improve Accessibility and Service
Explores the primary federal funding sources for accessible transit for older adults and people with disabilities for rural and tribal communities. Describes the approaches these communities have used to provide accessible transit, and the challenges they have faced. Discusses how the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) have helped communities use funds to improve these transit services.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Explores the primary federal funding sources for accessible transit for older adults and people with disabilities for rural and tribal communities. Describes the approaches these communities have used to provide accessible transit, and the challenges they have faced. Discusses how the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) have helped communities use funds to improve these transit services.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Federally Supported Projects and Programs for Wastewater, Drinking Water, and Water Supply Infrastructure
Provides an overview of federally-funded water infrastructure projects, including those in rural areas, as well as programs that provide community support for these types of projects and related activities. Includes information on the federal cost-share, average amount of assistance, fiscal year 2021 funding level, and fiscal year 2025 appropriations highlights for each program.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of federally-funded water infrastructure projects, including those in rural areas, as well as programs that provide community support for these types of projects and related activities. Includes information on the federal cost-share, average amount of assistance, fiscal year 2021 funding level, and fiscal year 2025 appropriations highlights for each program.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Video and Telephone Telehealth Use and Web-Based Patient Portal Activation Among Rural-Dwelling Patients: Retrospective Medical Record Review and Policy Implications
Analyzes patient characteristics associated with telehealth use among rural California adults, utilizing electronic health record data of 9,359 patients dwelling in rural California ZIP codes. Provides data on patients' telehealth modality, provider type, portal activation, level of rurality, age, primary language, and other clinical and demographic characteristics. Discusses policy approaches to improving telehealth access in rural areas.
Author(s): Meghan Rowe Ferrara, Gina Intinarelli-Shuler, Susan A Chapman
Citation: Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27, e67226
Date: 08/2025
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Analyzes patient characteristics associated with telehealth use among rural California adults, utilizing electronic health record data of 9,359 patients dwelling in rural California ZIP codes. Provides data on patients' telehealth modality, provider type, portal activation, level of rurality, age, primary language, and other clinical and demographic characteristics. Discusses policy approaches to improving telehealth access in rural areas.
Author(s): Meghan Rowe Ferrara, Gina Intinarelli-Shuler, Susan A Chapman
Citation: Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27, e67226
Date: 08/2025
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Analysis of Factors Driving HPV Vaccination Coverage and Associated Cost Savings in the United States
Analyzes a variety of healthcare policy, healthcare access, demographic, and geographic factors to identify those factors impacting human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage. Discusses policy changes to improve uptake and potential cost savings for reduced cancer rates.
Author(s): Shanshan Wang, Sanjana Muthukrishnan, Sabiha Quddus, Susan H. Manning, Heather M. Brandt
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2833
Date: 08/2025
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Analyzes a variety of healthcare policy, healthcare access, demographic, and geographic factors to identify those factors impacting human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage. Discusses policy changes to improve uptake and potential cost savings for reduced cancer rates.
Author(s): Shanshan Wang, Sanjana Muthukrishnan, Sabiha Quddus, Susan H. Manning, Heather M. Brandt
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2833
Date: 08/2025
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Barriers to Accessible and Affordable Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Care for Older Adults
Discusses challenges in accessing healthcare for mental health and substance use disorders for older adults. Challenges discussed include workforce shortages in rural areas, Medicare regulations, stigma, health insurance coverage, and more.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
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Discusses challenges in accessing healthcare for mental health and substance use disorders for older adults. Challenges discussed include workforce shortages in rural areas, Medicare regulations, stigma, health insurance coverage, and more.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
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Rural EMS Regionalization - Opportunities and Policy Considerations
Explores models of emergency medical services (EMS) at the state level. Includes a case study exploring successes in Minnesota and offers policy recommendations to overcome common rural EMS challenges.
Author(s): Eli Steenhoek, Lauren Lavin, Keith Mueller
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Explores models of emergency medical services (EMS) at the state level. Includes a case study exploring successes in Minnesota and offers policy recommendations to overcome common rural EMS challenges.
Author(s): Eli Steenhoek, Lauren Lavin, Keith Mueller
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Health Provisions in P.L. 119-21, the FY2025 Reconciliation Law
Provides an overview of the healthcare-related provisions of the July 2025 reconciliation law (Public Law 119-21). Offers detailed summaries of provisions that impact Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicare, private health insurance, and rural health providers. Discusses the Rural Health Transformation Program.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the healthcare-related provisions of the July 2025 reconciliation law (Public Law 119-21). Offers detailed summaries of provisions that impact Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicare, private health insurance, and rural health providers. Discusses the Rural Health Transformation Program.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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