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 & Medicaid Services
view details
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 & Medicaid Services
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
Evidence Matters: Transforming Knowledge into Housing and Community Development Policy - Rural Housing
Examines housing challenges in rural areas such as affordability, structural inadequacy, homelessness, aging in place, and disaster response and recovery. Discusses the importance of defining rural as well as local, state, and federal policy and initiatives that address rural housing issues.
Author(s): Gretchen Armstrong, Amanda Gold, Sage Computing
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
view details
Examines housing challenges in rural areas such as affordability, structural inadequacy, homelessness, aging in place, and disaster response and recovery. Discusses the importance of defining rural as well as local, state, and federal policy and initiatives that address rural housing issues.
Author(s): Gretchen Armstrong, Amanda Gold, Sage Computing
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
view details
Reducing Behavioral Health Licensure Barriers Through Supervision Incentives
Examines the impact of the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska's American Rescue Plan Act supervision incentive program to promote school clinical supervision of behavioral health professionals. Provides information on organizational characteristics and supervision barriers of 19 Nebraska organizations who received funding assistance to supervise provisionally licensed behavioral health providers. Discusses the importance of supporting supervisory capacity in rural areas.
Author(s): Jessica Buche, Caitlyn Wayment, Sydney Buckland, Marley Doyle, Melissa Tibbits
Citation: Journal of Rural Mental Health
Date: 2026
view details
Examines the impact of the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska's American Rescue Plan Act supervision incentive program to promote school clinical supervision of behavioral health professionals. Provides information on organizational characteristics and supervision barriers of 19 Nebraska organizations who received funding assistance to supervise provisionally licensed behavioral health providers. Discusses the importance of supporting supervisory capacity in rural areas.
Author(s): Jessica Buche, Caitlyn Wayment, Sydney Buckland, Marley Doyle, Melissa Tibbits
Citation: Journal of Rural Mental Health
Date: 2026
view details
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
view details
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
view details
The State of Health in Tennessee 2025: Annual Report to the 114th Tennessee General Assembly
Assesses the health status of Tennesseans across the four areas of the State Health Plan Framework: A Healthy Start, A Healthy Life, a Healthy Environment, and a Healthy System of Care. Includes a section on social determinants of health and features statistics on various populations and aspects of healthcare, including rural hospital closures.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
view details
Assesses the health status of Tennesseans across the four areas of the State Health Plan Framework: A Healthy Start, A Healthy Life, a Healthy Environment, and a Healthy System of Care. Includes a section on social determinants of health and features statistics on various populations and aspects of healthcare, including rural hospital closures.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
view details
Trends in Non-Emergency Medical Transportation During Medicaid Transformation in North Carolina
Examines the impact of Medicaid transformation on non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) services in North Carolina in the shift from fee-for-service (FFS) to Managed Care. Utilizes 2019-2023 Medicaid claims data to analyze NEMT service provision trends according to cost, travel mode, public versus private provider, and urban versus rural geography.
Author(s): Evan Iacobucci, Noreen McDonald
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 86(4)
Date: 12/2025
view details
Examines the impact of Medicaid transformation on non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) services in North Carolina in the shift from fee-for-service (FFS) to Managed Care. Utilizes 2019-2023 Medicaid claims data to analyze NEMT service provision trends according to cost, travel mode, public versus private provider, and urban versus rural geography.
Author(s): Evan Iacobucci, Noreen McDonald
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 86(4)
Date: 12/2025
view details