Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
Nicotine and Tobacco Product Use among US Youth in 10th and 12th Grade, 2023–2025: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study
Examines trends in youth nicotine, tobacco, and multi-product co-use. Utilizes 2023-2025 survey data from 10th and 12th graders and analyzes lifetime use and past 30-day use of various nicotine and tobacco products according to grade, demographics, parent education, and school location of urban, suburban/town, or rural.
Author(s): Dayoung Bae, Junhan Cho, Alyssa F. Harlow, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 65, 101673
Date: 01/2027
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Examines trends in youth nicotine, tobacco, and multi-product co-use. Utilizes 2023-2025 survey data from 10th and 12th graders and analyzes lifetime use and past 30-day use of various nicotine and tobacco products according to grade, demographics, parent education, and school location of urban, suburban/town, or rural.
Author(s): Dayoung Bae, Junhan Cho, Alyssa F. Harlow, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 65, 101673
Date: 01/2027
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The Association of Hospital Characteristics With Medicaid Managed Care Hospital Prices
Examines the relationship between hospital characteristics and Medicaid facility prices for routine procedures. Utilizes 2021-2023 facility claims data from Elevance Health-affiliated Medicaid plans, alongside American Hospital Directory data, to compare prices by Critical Access Hospital (CAH) and children's hospital status, ownership (for-profit, religiously affiliated, or government), teaching status, system affiliation, rurality, and size.
Author(s): Brett Alfrey, Benjamin Ukert, Aliza S. Gordon
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(6), e70178
Date: 12/2026
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Examines the relationship between hospital characteristics and Medicaid facility prices for routine procedures. Utilizes 2021-2023 facility claims data from Elevance Health-affiliated Medicaid plans, alongside American Hospital Directory data, to compare prices by Critical Access Hospital (CAH) and children's hospital status, ownership (for-profit, religiously affiliated, or government), teaching status, system affiliation, rurality, and size.
Author(s): Brett Alfrey, Benjamin Ukert, Aliza S. Gordon
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(6), e70178
Date: 12/2026
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Policy Impact of the Rural Emergency Hospital Designation: A Mixed Methods Study of Leaders' Conversion Experiences and Motivations
Presents a study on the financial profile and other factors affecting the decision to convert rural hospitals to a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Explores financial factors like days of cash on hand, total unreimbursed costs, and total capital purchases, among others, and discusses the challenges of converting to an REH.
Author(s): Christopher Wiggs, Dunc Williams Jr., Kevin Wiley
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70240
Date: 11/2026
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Presents a study on the financial profile and other factors affecting the decision to convert rural hospitals to a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Explores financial factors like days of cash on hand, total unreimbursed costs, and total capital purchases, among others, and discusses the challenges of converting to an REH.
Author(s): Christopher Wiggs, Dunc Williams Jr., Kevin Wiley
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70240
Date: 11/2026
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Personal Networks and Cognitive Health Across Rural–Urban Contexts
Analyzes the role of social bridging in aging-related cognitive decline among adults in rural versus urban areas, using interview data of 509 Indiana adults aged 55 and older interviewed between November 2023 and March 2024 as part of the Social Environment and Cognitive Health in Urban and Rural Areas study.
Author(s): Siyun Peng, Brea L. Perry, Adam R. Roth
Citation: The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 81(Suppl 3), S265-S274
Date: 11/2026
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Analyzes the role of social bridging in aging-related cognitive decline among adults in rural versus urban areas, using interview data of 509 Indiana adults aged 55 and older interviewed between November 2023 and March 2024 as part of the Social Environment and Cognitive Health in Urban and Rural Areas study.
Author(s): Siyun Peng, Brea L. Perry, Adam R. Roth
Citation: The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 81(Suppl 3), S265-S274
Date: 11/2026
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Molecular Testing Among Patients With Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer in the Rural US
Explores factors associated with molecular testing among older adults with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), such as age, dual Medicaid and Medicare enrollment, Part D coverage, and visits with specialists. Analyzes data from a cohort of 8,259 NSCLC patients in rural areas between 2014-2019.
Author(s): Dena P. Rhinehart, Evelien van Gelderen, Josephine Feliciano, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(11), e2642270
Date: 11/2026
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Explores factors associated with molecular testing among older adults with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), such as age, dual Medicaid and Medicare enrollment, Part D coverage, and visits with specialists. Analyzes data from a cohort of 8,259 NSCLC patients in rural areas between 2014-2019.
Author(s): Dena P. Rhinehart, Evelien van Gelderen, Josephine Feliciano, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(11), e2642270
Date: 11/2026
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Intentional Rural GME: A Study of Competency Needs for Rural Family Medicine
Results of a study identifying 7 competency domains suggested to be important for successful rural practice and strategies to support their development during residency. Uses data from focus groups with 11 family medicine program directors, faculty, and residents and interviews with 11 early-career rural family physicians in 2023.
Author(s): David Schmitz, Annie Koempel, Andrew Bazemore
Citation: Family Medicine, 58(10), 767-775
Date: 11/2026
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Results of a study identifying 7 competency domains suggested to be important for successful rural practice and strategies to support their development during residency. Uses data from focus groups with 11 family medicine program directors, faculty, and residents and interviews with 11 early-career rural family physicians in 2023.
Author(s): David Schmitz, Annie Koempel, Andrew Bazemore
Citation: Family Medicine, 58(10), 767-775
Date: 11/2026
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Medicare Advantage Enrollment Update, 2026
Reports on the percentage of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan location and plan type, from 2016-2026. Discusses how policy changes may have influenced MA enrollment dynamics.
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Reports on the percentage of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan location and plan type, from 2016-2026. Discusses how policy changes may have influenced MA enrollment dynamics.
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Calendar Year (CY) 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule (CMS-1848-F) — Medicare Shared Savings Program
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare Shared Savings Program for calendar year 2027. Covers modifications to the Shared Savings Program financial methodology, quality measurement and reporting, advance investment payments to encourage rural participation in Accountable Care Organizations, and more.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare Shared Savings Program for calendar year 2027. Covers modifications to the Shared Savings Program financial methodology, quality measurement and reporting, advance investment payments to encourage rural participation in Accountable Care Organizations, and more.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Calendar Year (CY) 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues for calendar year 2027. Summarizes provisions related to remote monitoring, improving care for chronic illness and behavioral health needs, Rural Health Clinic (RHC) Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT) and Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) services, RHC and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) mental health and telecommunication visits, the Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program, and more.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues for calendar year 2027. Summarizes provisions related to remote monitoring, improving care for chronic illness and behavioral health needs, Rural Health Clinic (RHC) Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT) and Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) services, RHC and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) mental health and telecommunication visits, the Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program, and more.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Calendar Year 2027 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Final Rule (CMS-1850-F)
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments for hospital outpatient and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) services for calendar year 2027. Summarizes provisions regarding changes to the inpatient only (IPO) list, Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) rate setting, updates to the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR) and Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR) programs, a cost-of-living adjustment to the nonlabor share of outpatient hospital service payments provided in Alaska and Hawaii, and more.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments for hospital outpatient and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) services for calendar year 2027. Summarizes provisions regarding changes to the inpatient only (IPO) list, Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) rate setting, updates to the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR) and Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR) programs, a cost-of-living adjustment to the nonlabor share of outpatient hospital service payments provided in Alaska and Hawaii, and more.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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