Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
Thriving Communities Transportation Toolkit
A transportation toolkit that provides resources, guidance, and success stories related to transportation and infrastructure projects in rural and tribal communities. Focuses on finding opportunities, building teams, developing a project, financing, and maintaining infrastructure.
Author(s): Shane Hampton
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Main Street America
view details
A transportation toolkit that provides resources, guidance, and success stories related to transportation and infrastructure projects in rural and tribal communities. Focuses on finding opportunities, building teams, developing a project, financing, and maintaining infrastructure.
Author(s): Shane Hampton
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Main Street America
view details
2025 West Virginia Health Sciences and Rural Health Report
Review of medical school enrollment, licensing rates, student debt ratios, residency training, and retention rates in West Virginia, with special focus on the Rural Health Initiative Program. Includes dental and pharmacy program profiles, and describes the Medical Student Loan Program and the Health Sciences Service Program, providing financial awards to health professionals who agree to practice in underserved areas of West Virginia.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
view details
Review of medical school enrollment, licensing rates, student debt ratios, residency training, and retention rates in West Virginia, with special focus on the Rural Health Initiative Program. Includes dental and pharmacy program profiles, and describes the Medical Student Loan Program and the Health Sciences Service Program, providing financial awards to health professionals who agree to practice in underserved areas of West Virginia.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
view details
Changes in Bed-Based Measures of Surge Capacity from 2018 to 2022 among Rural and Urban Hospitals
Policy brief describing how hospitals' inpatient capacity changed from 2018-2022 and examining trade-offs between cost-saving reductions and emergency preparedness. Features statistics on hospitals' average daily census (ADC) and number and percentage of unoccupied beds, with breakdowns by year and urban or rural location.
Author(s): Emma Kerr, Tyler Malone, Mark Holmes
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
view details
Policy brief describing how hospitals' inpatient capacity changed from 2018-2022 and examining trade-offs between cost-saving reductions and emergency preparedness. Features statistics on hospitals' average daily census (ADC) and number and percentage of unoccupied beds, with breakdowns by year and urban or rural location.
Author(s): Emma Kerr, Tyler Malone, Mark Holmes
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
view details
Do Changes in Hospital Ownership Affect Staffing?
Findings brief examining whether transition from government or nonprofit to for-profit hospital ownership is associated with changes in staffing levels in rural hospitals. Utilizes 2011-2023 CMS Healthcare Cost Reporting Information System (HCRIS) data.
Author(s): Ayush Manandhar
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
view details
Findings brief examining whether transition from government or nonprofit to for-profit hospital ownership is associated with changes in staffing levels in rural hospitals. Utilizes 2011-2023 CMS Healthcare Cost Reporting Information System (HCRIS) data.
Author(s): Ayush Manandhar
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
view details
Analysis of the Rural Health Transformation Program
Examines the Rural Health Transportation Program's (RHTP) impacts on rural health funding by state characteristics. Includes data on factors including funding provided per rural inhabitant by state-level rural mortality rate, rural population, estimated loss of funding resulting from Medicaid spending reductions, and more.
Author(s): Paula Chatterjee, Rachel M. Werner
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics
view details
Examines the Rural Health Transportation Program's (RHTP) impacts on rural health funding by state characteristics. Includes data on factors including funding provided per rural inhabitant by state-level rural mortality rate, rural population, estimated loss of funding resulting from Medicaid spending reductions, and more.
Author(s): Paula Chatterjee, Rachel M. Werner
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics
view details
Appalachian Regional Commission Performance & Accountability Report: Fiscal Year 2025
Provides an overview of the Appalachian Regional Commission's (ARC) projects from 2025 that develop economy, promote education and healthy living, invest in infrastructure, strengthen natural and cultural heritage, and build capacity in the Appalachian region. Includes healthcare-focused discussions about substance use, healthcare grants, healthcare workforce, and more.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
view details
Provides an overview of the Appalachian Regional Commission's (ARC) projects from 2025 that develop economy, promote education and healthy living, invest in infrastructure, strengthen natural and cultural heritage, and build capacity in the Appalachian region. Includes healthcare-focused discussions about substance use, healthcare grants, healthcare workforce, and more.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
view details
Community Healers: How Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority Leads in Health and Wellness
Discusses how the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) addresses the health needs of its community, by integrating Cherokee culture and Western medical care as a way to improve community health. Documents CIHA's work in promoting relationships between federal and state entities and Native Nations.
Author(s): Hailey A. Baker, Mariana Tuttle, Katy Backes Kozhimannil
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
Discusses how the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) addresses the health needs of its community, by integrating Cherokee culture and Western medical care as a way to improve community health. Documents CIHA's work in promoting relationships between federal and state entities and Native Nations.
Author(s): Hailey A. Baker, Mariana Tuttle, Katy Backes Kozhimannil
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
The Indian Health Service Did Not Ensure That Commissioned Corps Officers' Background Investigations Complied With Federal Requirements
Examines whether Officers of the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service (Commissioned Corps) who are assigned to provide healthcare services to Tribal and IHS-operated health programs received background investigations and reinvestigations in accordance with Federal requirements. Presents findings of a review of background investigation documentation for a sample of 100 Officers assigned to provide healthcare services to IHS and Tribal health facilities in September 2022.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
view details
Examines whether Officers of the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service (Commissioned Corps) who are assigned to provide healthcare services to Tribal and IHS-operated health programs received background investigations and reinvestigations in accordance with Federal requirements. Presents findings of a review of background investigation documentation for a sample of 100 Officers assigned to provide healthcare services to IHS and Tribal health facilities in September 2022.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
view details
Policy Brief: Access to Mental Health Care for Ohio Children and Youth
Discusses mental healthcare access challenges for youth in Ohio. Provides county-level map showing Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and discusses access issues specific to rural areas.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Health Policy Institute of Ohio
view details
Discusses mental healthcare access challenges for youth in Ohio. Provides county-level map showing Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and discusses access issues specific to rural areas.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Health Policy Institute of Ohio
view details
Medicare Advantage 2026 Spotlight: A First Look at Plan Offerings
Offers an overview of Medicare Advantage plan availability across the country for 2026. Discusses how many plans are available, who is offering plans, and costs. Offers data for rural and urban areas and county-level data.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
view details
Offers an overview of Medicare Advantage plan availability across the country for 2026. Discusses how many plans are available, who is offering plans, and costs. Offers data for rural and urban areas and county-level data.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
view details