Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Service delivery models
Advancing Value-Based Payment Policies Relevant to Rural Areas – Continued Challenges and New Opportunities
Discusses lessons from the recent public health emergency, rising health care costs, improved quality measurement, and innovative technologies on the transition from volume-based payment to value-based payment. Outlines potential policy opportunities for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center model design and CMS program inclusion to expand rural-appropriate opportunities to participate in the transition to value-based care. Builds on the 2020 publication How to Design Value‐based Care Models for Rural Participant Success: A Summit Findings Report.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Discusses lessons from the recent public health emergency, rising health care costs, improved quality measurement, and innovative technologies on the transition from volume-based payment to value-based payment. Outlines potential policy opportunities for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center model design and CMS program inclusion to expand rural-appropriate opportunities to participate in the transition to value-based care. Builds on the 2020 publication How to Design Value‐based Care Models for Rural Participant Success: A Summit Findings Report.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Missouri Rural Health Clinic Provider Manual
Provider manual identifying the conditions of participation providing services in Missouri state-funded healthcare programs, including MO HealthNet, Missouri's Medicaid program. Addresses enrollment, eligibility, claim filing, and billing requirements for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in Missouri. Includes information on covered telehealth services.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Missouri Department of Social Services
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Provider manual identifying the conditions of participation providing services in Missouri state-funded healthcare programs, including MO HealthNet, Missouri's Medicaid program. Addresses enrollment, eligibility, claim filing, and billing requirements for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in Missouri. Includes information on covered telehealth services.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Missouri Department of Social Services
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FH Healthcare Indicators and FH Medical Price Index 2025: An Annual View of Place of Service Trends and Medical Pricing
White paper exploring changes in healthcare utilization, demographic and geographic factors, diagnoses, costs, and procedures. Features statistics including usage of retail clinics and telehealth from 2018-2023; and urgent care, ambulatory surgery centers, and emergency rooms from 2014-2024. Includes comparisons of utilization of each service type by urban and rural location.
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: FAIR Health
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White paper exploring changes in healthcare utilization, demographic and geographic factors, diagnoses, costs, and procedures. Features statistics including usage of retail clinics and telehealth from 2018-2023; and urgent care, ambulatory surgery centers, and emergency rooms from 2014-2024. Includes comparisons of utilization of each service type by urban and rural location.
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: FAIR Health
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Comparative Effectiveness of Buprenorphine Adherence with Telemedicine Versus In-Person for Rural and Urban Patients
Compares adherence to buprenorphine for opioid use disorder in telemedicine versus in-person healthcare in rural and urban populations. Utilizes 2017–2022 data from 511 adults and compares 3,302 in-person and 519 telemedicine visits, with breakdowns according to patient characteristics, adherence, gaps in treatment, and rural versus urban location. Discusses changing legislative requirements related to buprenorphine treatment and the potential impact on rural populations.
Author(s): Thomas J. Reese, Nana Addo Padi-Adjirackor, Kevin N. Griffith, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 65(2), 102318
Date: 03/2025
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Compares adherence to buprenorphine for opioid use disorder in telemedicine versus in-person healthcare in rural and urban populations. Utilizes 2017–2022 data from 511 adults and compares 3,302 in-person and 519 telemedicine visits, with breakdowns according to patient characteristics, adherence, gaps in treatment, and rural versus urban location. Discusses changing legislative requirements related to buprenorphine treatment and the potential impact on rural populations.
Author(s): Thomas J. Reese, Nana Addo Padi-Adjirackor, Kevin N. Griffith, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 65(2), 102318
Date: 03/2025
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Millions in US Live in Places Where Doctors Don't Practice and Telehealth Doesn't Reach
Discusses U.S. regions that experience healthcare workforce shortages and lack access to telehealth. Includes interactive county-level map showing behavioral healthcare deserts, primary care deserts, broadband deserts, dead zones, life expectancy, household income, and percentage of rural residents. Provides comparisons of chronic disease for those with and without digital access and showcases county-level dead zones in Alabama.
Author(s): Sarah Jane Tribble, Holly K. Hacker Data, Lydia Zuraw
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Discusses U.S. regions that experience healthcare workforce shortages and lack access to telehealth. Includes interactive county-level map showing behavioral healthcare deserts, primary care deserts, broadband deserts, dead zones, life expectancy, household income, and percentage of rural residents. Provides comparisons of chronic disease for those with and without digital access and showcases county-level dead zones in Alabama.
Author(s): Sarah Jane Tribble, Holly K. Hacker Data, Lydia Zuraw
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Enhancing Access to Nephrology Care: Telenephrology Dashboard Optimization via Human-Centered Design
Examines how the development of the Telenephrology Dashboard for veterans served by the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System (ICVAHCS) provides improved access to nephrology care and kidney specialists. Describes the methodology used to create and evaluate the dashboard as well as how telehealth tools can serve veterans in predominately rural areas.
Author(s): Melissa Swee, Bharat Kumar, M. Lee Sanders, et al.
Citation: BMC Nephrology, 26, 164
Date: 03/2025
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Examines how the development of the Telenephrology Dashboard for veterans served by the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System (ICVAHCS) provides improved access to nephrology care and kidney specialists. Describes the methodology used to create and evaluate the dashboard as well as how telehealth tools can serve veterans in predominately rural areas.
Author(s): Melissa Swee, Bharat Kumar, M. Lee Sanders, et al.
Citation: BMC Nephrology, 26, 164
Date: 03/2025
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Medicare Advantage Reimbursement Remains Top Challenge for RHCs
Summarizes results of a 2025 national survey of over 1,200 Rural Health Clinics. Presents data on the average payer mix, Medicare Advantage (MA) reimbursement relative to traditional Medicare reimbursement, MA contract structures, use and attitude toward telehealth services, and more.
Additional links: NARHC 2025 Policy Survey Results
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Summarizes results of a 2025 national survey of over 1,200 Rural Health Clinics. Presents data on the average payer mix, Medicare Advantage (MA) reimbursement relative to traditional Medicare reimbursement, MA contract structures, use and attitude toward telehealth services, and more.
Additional links: NARHC 2025 Policy Survey Results
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Social Workers Bridge Critical Care Gaps and Improve Health Outcomes for Rural Veterans
Discusses the role of social workers in primary care teams for rural veterans. Explores the impacts of incorporating social workers into primary care on hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and closing gaps in rural service delivery.
Author(s): James Rudolph
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: VA Health Systems Research, Office of Research & Development
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Discusses the role of social workers in primary care teams for rural veterans. Explores the impacts of incorporating social workers into primary care on hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and closing gaps in rural service delivery.
Author(s): James Rudolph
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: VA Health Systems Research, Office of Research & Development
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Pilot Implementation of a Telehealth Safety Planning Group Intervention for Suicidal Rural Veterans Enhanced by Lived Experience Veteran Peer Participation
Describes a pilot virtual suicide intervention program utilizing lived-experience rural peers offered to rural Arkansas veterans. Discusses successful implementation of peer recovery leaders and program impacts on firearm storage practices. Offers lessons learned and recommendations to those considering a similar program.
Author(s): Marianne Goodman, Madison Strouse, Caroline Boucher, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16
Date: 03/2025
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Describes a pilot virtual suicide intervention program utilizing lived-experience rural peers offered to rural Arkansas veterans. Discusses successful implementation of peer recovery leaders and program impacts on firearm storage practices. Offers lessons learned and recommendations to those considering a similar program.
Author(s): Marianne Goodman, Madison Strouse, Caroline Boucher, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16
Date: 03/2025
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Building Trust Through Integrated Outreach and Mobile Clinics for People Experiencing Homelessness: Tips for Providers
Discusses the process of utilizing a mobile health clinic approach to provide services to people experiencing homelessness in rural Tuolumne county in Northern California. Discusses issues related to mobile clinics, such as understanding client, staff, and care team benefits of a mobile health model as well as strategies for outreach.
Author(s): Katie League
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Discusses the process of utilizing a mobile health clinic approach to provide services to people experiencing homelessness in rural Tuolumne county in Northern California. Discusses issues related to mobile clinics, such as understanding client, staff, and care team benefits of a mobile health model as well as strategies for outreach.
Author(s): Katie League
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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