Stroudwater Associates Enhances Rural Healthcare Dashboard with New Data to Support State Rural Transformation Grant Applications

PORTLAND, Maine - Sept. 22, 2025 - PRLog -- Stroudwater Associates, the nation's leading source for strategic, operational, financial, quality, and clinical expertise for rural and community healthcare, today announced significant updates to its State & Congressional District Profiles Dashboard, a first-of-its-kind tool designed to help rural healthcare leaders, policymakers, and state agencies access critical insights to guide decision-making.

The dashboard, originally launched in partnership with the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) and National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH), now incorporates the most current data sources available. Key new features include:

• Updated workforce shortage area designations
• CDC-identified opioid overprescribing counties
• Medicaid coverage data, alongside refreshed infrastructure, outcome, and equity indicators

"As states prepare applications for the Rural Transformation Fund, they are under extraordinary pressure to secure resources that will make a lasting impact in their rural communities," said Jeff Sommer, MPP, Managing Partner of Stroudwater Associates. "Because so much of that work depends on understanding community needs, this dashboard provides a county-by-county view of the factors that matter most, helping leaders see where investments could make the biggest difference in rural healthcare."

"The Rural Transformation Fund application includes components that address areas like workforce recruitment and retention and substance use disorders," said Keith Bubblo, Senior Analyst at Stroudwater Associates. "That's why we expanded the dashboard to include updated workforce shortage areas, opioid overprescribing counties, and Medicaid coverage. These additions allow states to align their applications more directly with the realities their rural communities face."

The Profiles dashboard was originally inspired by a presentation at NRHA's CAH Conference on the power of grassroots advocacy in shaping rural healthcare policy. Since its launch, it has become a vital resource for answering legislative inquiries, designing grant applications, and building a shared understanding of healthcare infrastructure and outcomes across states and districts.

The State & Congressional District Profiles Dashboard is publicly available on Stroudwater's website and continues to expand with new metrics and capabilities.

To visit, please go here: https://www.stroudwater.com/services/rural-health-insight...

About Stroudwater Associates
Founded in 1985, Stroudwater Associates is a leading national healthcare consulting firm devoted to rural healthcare nationwide. With offices in Portland, Maine, and Nashville, Tennessee, and experience in all 50 states, Stroudwater focuses on strategic, operational, clinical, quality, and financial areas where its expertise delivers the highest value for rural hospitals, community hospitals, healthcare systems, and large physician groups.