Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
Rural Health Transformation Program 101
Provides a broad overview of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). Highlights legislation enacted by states that fulfill policy commitments outlined in state RHTP applications, support RHTP initiatives, establish advisory and oversight mechanisms, and more.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Provides a broad overview of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). Highlights legislation enacted by states that fulfill policy commitments outlined in state RHTP applications, support RHTP initiatives, establish advisory and oversight mechanisms, and more.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Opportunities for a Healthier Rural America: Perspectives from the Rural Health Research Centers
Several Rural Health Research Center directors share insights on the challenges rural communities face and opportunities to improve access and outcomes.
Author(s): Jessica Rosencrans
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Several Rural Health Research Center directors share insights on the challenges rural communities face and opportunities to improve access and outcomes.
Author(s): Jessica Rosencrans
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Public Agency Health Center Monograph
Describes the programmatic requirements related to public agency health centers operating within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program. Covers key HRSA requirements, governance expectations, co-applicant board responsibilities, fiscal and personnel considerations, and common compliance challenges.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Describes the programmatic requirements related to public agency health centers operating within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program. Covers key HRSA requirements, governance expectations, co-applicant board responsibilities, fiscal and personnel considerations, and common compliance challenges.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Cancer Survival Differences Between Rural and Urban Populations During the Opioid Epidemic: A SEER Analysis
Explores how rural and urban cancer survival changed over time during the U.S. opioid epidemic, and how rural cancer survival disparities were associated with increasing drug mortality during the same period. Utilizes 2000-2016 SEER and CDC WONDER data.
Author(s): Martin G. Bouldo, Daniel J. Becker
Citation: Anticancer Research, 46(9), 4973-4984
Date: 09/2026
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Explores how rural and urban cancer survival changed over time during the U.S. opioid epidemic, and how rural cancer survival disparities were associated with increasing drug mortality during the same period. Utilizes 2000-2016 SEER and CDC WONDER data.
Author(s): Martin G. Bouldo, Daniel J. Becker
Citation: Anticancer Research, 46(9), 4973-4984
Date: 09/2026
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Cooperative Extension in Transition: Trends Through 2024
Reports on funding and program areas of Cooperative Extension programs from 1915 through 2024. Details how Cooperative Extension programs support agricultural education, nutrition, community development, and other topics relevant to rural populations.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Tatiana Borisova, Keith Fuglie, Benjamin Garber, Sun Ling Wang
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Reports on funding and program areas of Cooperative Extension programs from 1915 through 2024. Details how Cooperative Extension programs support agricultural education, nutrition, community development, and other topics relevant to rural populations.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Tatiana Borisova, Keith Fuglie, Benjamin Garber, Sun Ling Wang
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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The Quiet Driver of Rural Minnesota's Population Trends: It's Not Just Migration
Examines factors impacting population changes in Minnesota such as births, deaths, and migration trends. Provides comparisons of population changes from 2001 to 2025 across entirely urban, urban/town/rural mix, town/rural mix, and entirely rural locations.
Author(s): Kelly Asche
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
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Examines factors impacting population changes in Minnesota such as births, deaths, and migration trends. Provides comparisons of population changes from 2001 to 2025 across entirely urban, urban/town/rural mix, town/rural mix, and entirely rural locations.
Author(s): Kelly Asche
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
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The IHS Navajo Area Office's Internal Controls for Awarding, Monitoring, and Reporting Sanitation Facilities Construction Projects Could Be Improved
Examines how the Navajo Area Indian Health Service (NAIHS) administered funds it received under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for 187 IHS Sanitation Facilities Construction (SFC) Program projects between fiscal years 2022 and 2024. Describes the NAIHS internal controls for awarding, monitoring, and reporting SFC Program projects, and whether NAIHS followed these controls.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Examines how the Navajo Area Indian Health Service (NAIHS) administered funds it received under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for 187 IHS Sanitation Facilities Construction (SFC) Program projects between fiscal years 2022 and 2024. Describes the NAIHS internal controls for awarding, monitoring, and reporting SFC Program projects, and whether NAIHS followed these controls.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Outpatient Care Fragmentation and Patient Satisfaction With Care
Examines the relationship between outpatient care fragmentation and Medicare patient satisfaction. Utilizes 2020-2022 survey data from 2,294 Medicare beneficiaries to analyze physician and practice-level fragmentation alongside patient satisfaction, measured by perceived accessibility, communication, coordination, and quality as experienced by rural, suburban, and urban Medicare populations.
Author(s): Isabella Ratto, Neelam Ahmed, Mengyuan Chen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70220
Date: 09/2026
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Examines the relationship between outpatient care fragmentation and Medicare patient satisfaction. Utilizes 2020-2022 survey data from 2,294 Medicare beneficiaries to analyze physician and practice-level fragmentation alongside patient satisfaction, measured by perceived accessibility, communication, coordination, and quality as experienced by rural, suburban, and urban Medicare populations.
Author(s): Isabella Ratto, Neelam Ahmed, Mengyuan Chen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70220
Date: 09/2026
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Risk Factors for Loss of Hospital-Based Obstetric Care in Rural and Urban Hospitals
Examines factors associated with loss of obstetric services in hospitals. Analyzes 3,108 rural and urban hospitals in 2010 and then again in 2023 to observe rates of unit or hospital closure. Includes breakdown of hospital characteristics such as distance to nearest obstetric hospital, birth volume, hospital ownership, county unemployment, and more.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Caitlin Carroll, Kevan O'Hanlon, Emily C. Sheffield, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 7(9), e263122
Date: 09/2026
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Examines factors associated with loss of obstetric services in hospitals. Analyzes 3,108 rural and urban hospitals in 2010 and then again in 2023 to observe rates of unit or hospital closure. Includes breakdown of hospital characteristics such as distance to nearest obstetric hospital, birth volume, hospital ownership, county unemployment, and more.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Caitlin Carroll, Kevan O'Hanlon, Emily C. Sheffield, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 7(9), e263122
Date: 09/2026
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Association Between Rural Attitudes in Family Medicine Residency and Rural Employment
Explores rural family medicine residents' attitudes at residency completion and how they are associated with subsequent rural employment. Based on data from a study conducted from 2021-2025 survey of residents in two Mountain Area Health Education Center programs.
Author(s): Bryan Hodge, Julianne M. Power, Gwyneth DeHart, et al.
Citation: Family Medicine, 58
Date: 09/2026
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Explores rural family medicine residents' attitudes at residency completion and how they are associated with subsequent rural employment. Based on data from a study conducted from 2021-2025 survey of residents in two Mountain Area Health Education Center programs.
Author(s): Bryan Hodge, Julianne M. Power, Gwyneth DeHart, et al.
Citation: Family Medicine, 58
Date: 09/2026
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