Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Trends in Opioid Prescribing by Oncologists for Medicare Beneficiaries from 2014 to 2022
Examines trends in opioid prescribing among oncologists before and after the FDA's 2018 Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy for opioids revision, utilizing 2014-2022 Medicare Part D Prescriber Public Use Files data. Breaks down data by opioid type, oncologist subspecialty, geographic region, and rurality.
Author(s): Shaimaa Elshafie, Lorenzo Villa Zapata
Citation: Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, 31(10), 991-996
Date: 10/2025
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Examines trends in opioid prescribing among oncologists before and after the FDA's 2018 Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy for opioids revision, utilizing 2014-2022 Medicare Part D Prescriber Public Use Files data. Breaks down data by opioid type, oncologist subspecialty, geographic region, and rurality.
Author(s): Shaimaa Elshafie, Lorenzo Villa Zapata
Citation: Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, 31(10), 991-996
Date: 10/2025
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How States Can Boost Behavioral Health Services in Rural Communities
Explores ways state officials can utilize federal funds to increase mental health and substance use treatment for rural communities. Highlights strategies for increasing access to behavioral health services in rural communities that can be funded through the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program.
Author(s): Alexandra Duncan, Kristen Mizzi Angelone
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Pew Research Center
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Explores ways state officials can utilize federal funds to increase mental health and substance use treatment for rural communities. Highlights strategies for increasing access to behavioral health services in rural communities that can be funded through the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program.
Author(s): Alexandra Duncan, Kristen Mizzi Angelone
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Pew Research Center
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A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Tobacco 21 Policies and Youth Tobacco Use: Implications for Future Policy Research
Examines the impact of Tobacco 21 (T21) policies that raise the sales age of tobacco to 21 on youth smoking. Utilizes 24 completed studies to analyze T21 regulations on smoking behaviors of respondents aged 11 to 20. Discusses T21 impacts in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Danyi Li, Shiyou Wu, Steve Sussman, Mary Ann Pentz
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 50, 101208
Date: 10/2025
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Examines the impact of Tobacco 21 (T21) policies that raise the sales age of tobacco to 21 on youth smoking. Utilizes 24 completed studies to analyze T21 regulations on smoking behaviors of respondents aged 11 to 20. Discusses T21 impacts in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Danyi Li, Shiyou Wu, Steve Sussman, Mary Ann Pentz
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 50, 101208
Date: 10/2025
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Progress Towards Vitality: A 10-Year Retrospective Analysis of Systems Focused Efforts to Improve Maternal Health in Georgia
Assesses the state of Georgia's accomplishments and challenges in improving maternal health in Georgia in accordance with recommendations from Georgia Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) and the Georgia House Study Committee on Maternal Mortality. Discusses rural maternal care resources and access.
Author(s): Tabitha Pyatt, Nia Stewart, Juliana Lewis, Meredith Gonsahn
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Georgia Health Initiative, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Assesses the state of Georgia's accomplishments and challenges in improving maternal health in Georgia in accordance with recommendations from Georgia Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) and the Georgia House Study Committee on Maternal Mortality. Discusses rural maternal care resources and access.
Author(s): Tabitha Pyatt, Nia Stewart, Juliana Lewis, Meredith Gonsahn
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Georgia Health Initiative, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Transforming Care: The Impact of COVID-19 on Telehealth Adoption in U.S. Home Health Care Agencies
Surveys 474 home health agencies between November 2022 and March 2024 to identify telehealth use and the perceived impact of COVID-19 policies on telehealth adoption. Includes rural and urban comparisons of telehealth modalities utilized to discuss targeted policies to support rural adoption.
Author(s): U. Gayani E. Perera, Ashley M. Chastain, Andrew W. Dick, et al.
Citation: Telemedicine and e-Health, 31(12), 1503-1507
Date: 09/2025
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Surveys 474 home health agencies between November 2022 and March 2024 to identify telehealth use and the perceived impact of COVID-19 policies on telehealth adoption. Includes rural and urban comparisons of telehealth modalities utilized to discuss targeted policies to support rural adoption.
Author(s): U. Gayani E. Perera, Ashley M. Chastain, Andrew W. Dick, et al.
Citation: Telemedicine and e-Health, 31(12), 1503-1507
Date: 09/2025
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New Mexico Department of Health: FY25-27 Strategic Plan Update
Reports on the New Mexico Department of Health's priorities, initiatives, and services provided under the FY 25-27 Strategic Plan as of September 2025. Discusses topics including access to care, data collection and use, public health, and tribal partnerships.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Reports on the New Mexico Department of Health's priorities, initiatives, and services provided under the FY 25-27 Strategic Plan as of September 2025. Discusses topics including access to care, data collection and use, public health, and tribal partnerships.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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New York State's Paid Family Leave Improved Postpartum Health Care among Women with Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy
Assesses the impact of a state paid family leave law on postpartum healthcare utilization among 312,470 women with hypertensive disorders. Includes rural and urban break down by hypertension status of study participants, among other demographic and health characteristics.
Author(s): Donglan Zhang, Jun Soo Lee, Elena V. Kuklina, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 3(10)
Date: 09/2025
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Assesses the impact of a state paid family leave law on postpartum healthcare utilization among 312,470 women with hypertensive disorders. Includes rural and urban break down by hypertension status of study participants, among other demographic and health characteristics.
Author(s): Donglan Zhang, Jun Soo Lee, Elena V. Kuklina, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 3(10)
Date: 09/2025
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State Youth Peer Support Policy Toolkit
Toolkit presents resources and guidance for developing and supporting state-level policy for peer support to address youth mental health needs. Highlights models, funding mechanisms, and training, among other aspects integral to youth peer support programs.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Mental Health America
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Toolkit presents resources and guidance for developing and supporting state-level policy for peer support to address youth mental health needs. Highlights models, funding mechanisms, and training, among other aspects integral to youth peer support programs.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Mental Health America
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Does Caregiver Well-Being Differ by Rurality and State Policy Environment? Identifying a Well-Being Typology for Rural, Suburban, and Urban Caregivers
Results of a study of informal caregiver well-being, exploring ways in which geographic location, individual circumstances, and state-level policies can impact a caregiver's health, comfort, and happiness. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by rural, suburban, and urban areas.
Author(s): Elena Maria Pojman, Florence Becot, Zuzana Bednarik, Carrie Henning-Smith
Citation: Rural Sociology, 90(3), e70015
Date: 09/2025
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Results of a study of informal caregiver well-being, exploring ways in which geographic location, individual circumstances, and state-level policies can impact a caregiver's health, comfort, and happiness. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by rural, suburban, and urban areas.
Author(s): Elena Maria Pojman, Florence Becot, Zuzana Bednarik, Carrie Henning-Smith
Citation: Rural Sociology, 90(3), e70015
Date: 09/2025
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Building a Sustainable Oral Health Workforce in Pennsylvania: Strategies for Reinvigorating Dental Careers and Strengthening the Pipeline
Features recommendations to guide efforts to build a strong and sustainable dental workforce pipeline for Pennsylvania, by increasing supply of providers and improving retention rates. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Department of Health
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Features recommendations to guide efforts to build a strong and sustainable dental workforce pipeline for Pennsylvania, by increasing supply of providers and improving retention rates. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Department of Health
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