Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Technology for health and human services
September 2026 MACPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) September 2026 meeting. Covers community engagement requirements in Medicaid, state directed payments and healthcare-related taxes, a comparison of an updated inpatient hospital payment index across states, utilization management for medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in Medicaid, and Medicaid coverage of assistive technology for adults, among other things. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Medicaid Coverage of Assistive Technology for Adults: Data Analysis and Stakeholder Interviews
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Transcript from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) September 2026 meeting. Covers community engagement requirements in Medicaid, state directed payments and healthcare-related taxes, a comparison of an updated inpatient hospital payment index across states, utilization management for medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in Medicaid, and Medicaid coverage of assistive technology for adults, among other things. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Medicaid Coverage of Assistive Technology for Adults: Data Analysis and Stakeholder Interviews
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Technology and Caregiver Navigation: Key Insights for Aging Network Professionals
Describes technology use in caregiver navigation services across the aging network. Discusses benefits, challenges, and the emerging use of artificial intelligence. Notes rural concerns related to broadband access and evaluating access and outcomes.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USAging
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Describes technology use in caregiver navigation services across the aging network. Discusses benefits, challenges, and the emerging use of artificial intelligence. Notes rural concerns related to broadband access and evaluating access and outcomes.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USAging
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Availability of Real-Time Prescription Benefit Information Among U.S. Hospitals
Describes the availability of real-time prescription benefit (RTPB) information across U.S. hospitals in 2025. Presents data and analysis on RTPB information availability by hospital type, including Critical Access Hospital (CAH) designation, rural location, system affiliation, Accountable Care Organization (ACO) participation, ownership status, and more.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Describes the availability of real-time prescription benefit (RTPB) information across U.S. hospitals in 2025. Presents data and analysis on RTPB information availability by hospital type, including Critical Access Hospital (CAH) designation, rural location, system affiliation, Accountable Care Organization (ACO) participation, ownership status, and more.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025: Section-by-Section Summary
Provides a section-by-section description of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act (P.L. 119-44). Includes background information and a summary of each provision. Table 1 presents expired authorizations and appropriations in the SUPPORT Act of 2018, related annual appropriations, and whether the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act reauthorized each provision.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides a section-by-section description of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act (P.L. 119-44). Includes background information and a summary of each provision. Table 1 presents expired authorizations and appropriations in the SUPPORT Act of 2018, related annual appropriations, and whether the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act reauthorized each provision.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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AI in Rural Health: Data, Insights, and Discussion on AI's Growing Role in Rural Hospital Operations
Webinar discussing recent research on how artificial intelligence (AI) adoption has varied by rurality and other facility characteristics. Includes discussion from webinar participants on implementation strategies, experiences, and expectations in Oklahoma hospitals.
Author(s): Brian Whitacre
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Oklahoma State University Center for Rural Health
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Webinar discussing recent research on how artificial intelligence (AI) adoption has varied by rurality and other facility characteristics. Includes discussion from webinar participants on implementation strategies, experiences, and expectations in Oklahoma hospitals.
Author(s): Brian Whitacre
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Oklahoma State University Center for Rural Health
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Geographic Disparities in Access to Broadband, Ambulance Services, and Health Care and Implications for Telehealth
Explores the degree to which populated areas, including rural areas, lack the sufficient broadband infrastructure needed to support telehealth services, referred to as broadband deserts. Presents data on the number and percentage of rural residents who live in broadband deserts. Describes the intersection of broadband deserts with areas with limited access to prehospital ambulance services (ambulance deserts) and hospitals and clinics (healthcare deserts) by state.
Author(s): Celia Jewell, Heidi O'Connor, Thomas E. Griffin, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 7(9), e263290
Date: 09/2026
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Explores the degree to which populated areas, including rural areas, lack the sufficient broadband infrastructure needed to support telehealth services, referred to as broadband deserts. Presents data on the number and percentage of rural residents who live in broadband deserts. Describes the intersection of broadband deserts with areas with limited access to prehospital ambulance services (ambulance deserts) and hospitals and clinics (healthcare deserts) by state.
Author(s): Celia Jewell, Heidi O'Connor, Thomas E. Griffin, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 7(9), e263290
Date: 09/2026
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Digital Health Readiness and Medicare Primary Care Spending: Nationwide County-Level Observational Analysis
Analyzes associations between county-level digitalization and Medicare primary care spending for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in 2,993 counties between 2017 and 2023 using the Digital Health Index. Discusses the differences when comparing within a county over time and between counties, as well as the impact on healthcare access and socioeconomic factors.
Author(s): Zhaoqiang Zhou, John Geracitano, Baiming Zou, Saif Khairat
Citation: Journal of Medical Internet Research, 28
Date: 09/2026
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Analyzes associations between county-level digitalization and Medicare primary care spending for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in 2,993 counties between 2017 and 2023 using the Digital Health Index. Discusses the differences when comparing within a county over time and between counties, as well as the impact on healthcare access and socioeconomic factors.
Author(s): Zhaoqiang Zhou, John Geracitano, Baiming Zou, Saif Khairat
Citation: Journal of Medical Internet Research, 28
Date: 09/2026
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Rural Hospitals: Policy and Infrastructure Opportunities in the Rural Health Transformation Program
Describes state Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) initiatives and investments intended to support rural hospital stability. Covers policies to stabilize rural hospitals through operational modernization, shared services, and targeted technical assistance; regionalization and hub-and-spoke care models; care delivery transformation; maternal and perinatal healthcare access; health information technology advances and interoperability; and more.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Describes state Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) initiatives and investments intended to support rural hospital stability. Covers policies to stabilize rural hospitals through operational modernization, shared services, and targeted technical assistance; regionalization and hub-and-spoke care models; care delivery transformation; maternal and perinatal healthcare access; health information technology advances and interoperability; and more.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Investigating the Role of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in Reducing Sideswipe Collisions in Rural Ohio
Examines the efficacy of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in preventing severe sideswipe crashes on rural roads. Utilizes 2017-2023 data from 49 rural Ohio counties to analyze sideswipe crashes according to severity, driver demographics, ADAS operations, and driving conditions. Discusses the impact of ADAS in variable driving situations to prevent sideswipe crashes and related injuries and fatalities in rural communities.
Author(s): Abdul Ngereza, Boniphace Kutela, Ibrahim Ibrahim, et al.
Citation: Journal of Safety Research, 98, 599-611
Date: 09/2026
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Examines the efficacy of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in preventing severe sideswipe crashes on rural roads. Utilizes 2017-2023 data from 49 rural Ohio counties to analyze sideswipe crashes according to severity, driver demographics, ADAS operations, and driving conditions. Discusses the impact of ADAS in variable driving situations to prevent sideswipe crashes and related injuries and fatalities in rural communities.
Author(s): Abdul Ngereza, Boniphace Kutela, Ibrahim Ibrahim, et al.
Citation: Journal of Safety Research, 98, 599-611
Date: 09/2026
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Rural Health Value Virtual Summit: Rural Healthcare Information Technology
Summarizes an April 2026 summit of rural value-based care thought leaders regarding the implementation of health information technology (HIT) to support value-based care. Identifies five themes that emerged from discussion and recommendations for healthcare leaders who want to invest in technology to support value-based care and value-based payment.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Summarizes an April 2026 summit of rural value-based care thought leaders regarding the implementation of health information technology (HIT) to support value-based care. Identifies five themes that emerged from discussion and recommendations for healthcare leaders who want to invest in technology to support value-based care and value-based payment.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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