COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted rural communities and healthcare facilities, and repercussions of the pandemic continue. Here are targeted resources to address ongoing concerns:

• For current guidance to communities, see COVID.gov, which provides information about vaccinations, testing, treatment, and more.
• The 2023 Rural Monitor article, Perspectives on the Long of COVID: From Doomscrolling to Rural Management Strategies, provides insights on how Long COVID is impacting rural areas. For more information, see COVID.gov: Long COVID.
• See COVID-19 Vaccination in Rural Areas for resources and information focused on rural vaccination outreach strategies.
• For information on how to support health insurance coverage, see Communicating about the Medicaid/CHIP Continuous Enrollment Unwinding in Rural Areas.
• For guidance to providers on regulatory changes, see Fact Sheet: COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Transition Roadmap and Frequently Asked Questions: CMS Waivers, Flexibilities, and the End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.
• Telehealth Policy Changes after the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency identifies permanent Medicare changes as well as changes in telehealth policy that go through 2024.
• For additional insights, research, and other rural COVID-19 information from a wide variety of sources, see the Resources section of this guide. Many of our other Topic Guides also provide information on the impacts the pandemic has had on specific rural issues.