Rural Challenges, Strategies, and Recommendations to Advance Value-Based Payment and Care During and Beyond the COVID-19 Crisis

COVID-19 has dramatically altered the way primary care and behavioral health services are delivered in the ambulatory safety net, including in rural areas, which have long faced unique challenges. The purpose of this brief is to summarize the key challenges faced by the rural ambulatory safety net in delivering primary care and behavioral health services since COVID-19 and the policy changes that have been implemented in response to those challenges. It also offers state-level policy recommendations to improve rural-specific primary care and behavioral health care through sustaining and supporting the movement towards telehealth, addressing social needs, and advancing value-based payment and care (VBP/C).