Rural Health Policy – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Health Policy.
Who Lives in Rural America? How Data Shapes (and Misshapes) Conceptions of Diversity in Rural America (Part I)
Shares maps and other visualizations that illustrate rural diversity and shows how this diversity varies by region and over time. Part I discusses the importance of understanding the diversity of rural populations and identifies policy and resource allocation inequities that may result when the racial and ethnic diversity of rural communities is not apparent. Part II includes detailed sections with data focused on the rural Black, Hispanic and Latino, Native, Asian, and White populations.
Additional links: Who Lives in Rural America? The Geography of Rural Race and Ethnicity (Part II)
Date: 01/2023
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Center on Rural Innovation
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Shares maps and other visualizations that illustrate rural diversity and shows how this diversity varies by region and over time. Part I discusses the importance of understanding the diversity of rural populations and identifies policy and resource allocation inequities that may result when the racial and ethnic diversity of rural communities is not apparent. Part II includes detailed sections with data focused on the rural Black, Hispanic and Latino, Native, Asian, and White populations.
Additional links: Who Lives in Rural America? The Geography of Rural Race and Ethnicity (Part II)
Date: 01/2023
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Center on Rural Innovation
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The Health Equity & Access for Rural Dually Eligible Individuals (HEARD) Toolkit: Raising Rural Voices from New Mexico, North Dakota, and Tennessee to Create Action
Provides an overview on the access barriers and health disparities of Medicaid and Medicare dually eligible individuals residing in rural areas. Presents research and stakeholder feedback from New Mexico, North Dakota, and Tennessee to provide information to policymakers. Discusses topics such as community planning related to equity and infrastructure, workforce capacity and community health workers (CHWs), and social determinants of health.
Author(s): Ellen Breslin, Samantha Di Paola, Susan McGeehan, Rebecca Kellenberg, Andrea Maresca
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health Management Associates
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Provides an overview on the access barriers and health disparities of Medicaid and Medicare dually eligible individuals residing in rural areas. Presents research and stakeholder feedback from New Mexico, North Dakota, and Tennessee to provide information to policymakers. Discusses topics such as community planning related to equity and infrastructure, workforce capacity and community health workers (CHWs), and social determinants of health.
Author(s): Ellen Breslin, Samantha Di Paola, Susan McGeehan, Rebecca Kellenberg, Andrea Maresca
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health Management Associates
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Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Strategic Plan FY 2024
Identifies four Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) goals and related objectives to address healthcare access and service delivery issues, including HRSA's work on rural health.
Date: 2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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Identifies four Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) goals and related objectives to address healthcare access and service delivery issues, including HRSA's work on rural health.
Date: 2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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The Evolution of Hospital Designations and Payment in the U.S.: Implications for Rural Hospitals
Provides a history and overview of Medicare hospital payment polices as well as alternative payment models and their impact on rural facilities. Discusses the context in which rural hospitals serve patients, rural hospital payment provisions and designations, and current federal payment models that impact rural hospitals.
Author(s): Onyinye Oyeka, Clinton MacKinney, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 12/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Provides a history and overview of Medicare hospital payment polices as well as alternative payment models and their impact on rural facilities. Discusses the context in which rural hospitals serve patients, rural hospital payment provisions and designations, and current federal payment models that impact rural hospitals.
Author(s): Onyinye Oyeka, Clinton MacKinney, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 12/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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OIG's Top Unimplemented Recommendations: Solutions To Reduce Fraud, Waste, and Abuse in HHS Programs: December 2022
Annual report identifying the top 25 unimplemented recommendations from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) that, in OIG's view, would have the most substantial positive impact on Health and Human Services (HHS) programs. Positive impact may refer to cost savings, program efficacy and efficiency, and/or quality improvement. Primary areas of interest in the December 2022 edition include: ensuring that incidents of potential abuse or neglect of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries are identified and reported; addressing inappropriate nursing home discharges; reforming the hospital wage index system; increasing access to treatments for opioid use disorder; ensuring that Medicaid managed care enrollees have timely access to behavioral health services; and developing and implementing a staffing program for recruiting, retaining, and transitioning staff and leadership to remote Indian Health Service hospitals.
Date: 12/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Annual report identifying the top 25 unimplemented recommendations from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) that, in OIG's view, would have the most substantial positive impact on Health and Human Services (HHS) programs. Positive impact may refer to cost savings, program efficacy and efficiency, and/or quality improvement. Primary areas of interest in the December 2022 edition include: ensuring that incidents of potential abuse or neglect of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries are identified and reported; addressing inappropriate nursing home discharges; reforming the hospital wage index system; increasing access to treatments for opioid use disorder; ensuring that Medicaid managed care enrollees have timely access to behavioral health services; and developing and implementing a staffing program for recruiting, retaining, and transitioning staff and leadership to remote Indian Health Service hospitals.
Date: 12/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Health Care Access in the Heartland: How to Improve Services in Rural America
Outlines strategies policymakers and community leaders in rural America can use to improve healthcare access and services. Combines data analysis of county demographics and health data with focus groups in Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Provides expert interviews to better understand healthcare access in rural communities.
Author(s): Darren Chapman, Angie Cooper, Elizabeth Dombowsky, et al.
Date: 12/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Heartland Forward
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Outlines strategies policymakers and community leaders in rural America can use to improve healthcare access and services. Combines data analysis of county demographics and health data with focus groups in Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Provides expert interviews to better understand healthcare access in rural communities.
Author(s): Darren Chapman, Angie Cooper, Elizabeth Dombowsky, et al.
Date: 12/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Heartland Forward
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USDA's ReConnect Program: Expanding Rural Broadband
Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's ReConnect program, which provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to build and enhance broadband infrastructure in eligible rural service areas. Summarizes program details, funding allocations, the three rounds of awards, and funding awards by state. Compares the ReConnect program with other USDA broadband programs. Identifies issues that may impact the program's effectiveness, related legislation introduced in the 117th Congress, and potential policy options.
Date: 12/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's ReConnect program, which provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to build and enhance broadband infrastructure in eligible rural service areas. Summarizes program details, funding allocations, the three rounds of awards, and funding awards by state. Compares the ReConnect program with other USDA broadband programs. Identifies issues that may impact the program's effectiveness, related legislation introduced in the 117th Congress, and potential policy options.
Date: 12/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Access to Emergency Medical Services in Rural Communities: Policy Brief and Recommendations to the Secretary
Provides an overview of issues related to the provision of emergency medical services (EMS) in rural areas. Discusses rural EMS access, financing, and workforce challenges, as well as promising telehealth innovations. Outlines federal programs and resources that support EMS programs. Offers policy recommendations related to access to EMS, workforce, and reimbursement.
Date: 11/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Provides an overview of issues related to the provision of emergency medical services (EMS) in rural areas. Discusses rural EMS access, financing, and workforce challenges, as well as promising telehealth innovations. Outlines federal programs and resources that support EMS programs. Offers policy recommendations related to access to EMS, workforce, and reimbursement.
Date: 11/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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National Rural Health Day Webinar: CMS Framework for Advancing Health Care
Recording of a November 15, 2022, webinar providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) Framework for Advancing Health Care in Rural, Tribal and Geographically Isolated Communities. Discusses the CMS Framework for Health Equity and identifies other rural health resources, including other recent CMS rural health reports.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 11/2022
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Recording of a November 15, 2022, webinar providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) Framework for Advancing Health Care in Rural, Tribal and Geographically Isolated Communities. Discusses the CMS Framework for Health Equity and identifies other rural health resources, including other recent CMS rural health reports.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 11/2022
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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CMS Framework for Advancing Health Care in Rural, Tribal, and Geographically Isolated Communities
Report outlines the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plan for improving health equity and health outcomes across the U.S. for rural, tribal, and geographically isolated communities. Details a 6 priority framework emphasizing the application of a community-informed geographic lens; the collection and use of standardized data; support for healthcare professionals; the optimization of medical and communication technology; the expansion of access to comprehensive healthcare coverage, benefits, and services and supports; and innovation and value-based care. Highlights examples of activities CMS is undertaking in support of each priority and recent CMS efforts that align with each priority.
Date: 11/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Report outlines the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plan for improving health equity and health outcomes across the U.S. for rural, tribal, and geographically isolated communities. Details a 6 priority framework emphasizing the application of a community-informed geographic lens; the collection and use of standardized data; support for healthcare professionals; the optimization of medical and communication technology; the expansion of access to comprehensive healthcare coverage, benefits, and services and supports; and innovation and value-based care. Highlights examples of activities CMS is undertaking in support of each priority and recent CMS efforts that align with each priority.
Date: 11/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for:
Last Updated: 2/16/2024