Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
How Do Services Offered Within Opioid Treatment Programs Vary Based on State Methadone Policies?
Examines the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in various states as well as access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) options, psychosocial services, and housing supports. Analyzes 1,501 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their characteristics, including state restrictiveness, services offered, facility type, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Noa Krawczyk, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Jonathan H. Cantor
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 190, 210062
Date: 11/2026
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Examines the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in various states as well as access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) options, psychosocial services, and housing supports. Analyzes 1,501 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their characteristics, including state restrictiveness, services offered, facility type, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Noa Krawczyk, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Jonathan H. Cantor
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 190, 210062
Date: 11/2026
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Leveraging the Community-Based Workforce to Strengthen Behavioral Health Care in Rural Tennessee
Profiles River Valley Health (RVH), a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) that serves rural communities in eastern Tennessee. Discusses how a community-based workforce can provide more accessible and responsive behavioral healthcare in rural areas. Includes staffing models and funding strategies for sustainability.
Author(s): Christopher Menschner
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Profiles River Valley Health (RVH), a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) that serves rural communities in eastern Tennessee. Discusses how a community-based workforce can provide more accessible and responsive behavioral healthcare in rural areas. Includes staffing models and funding strategies for sustainability.
Author(s): Christopher Menschner
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Medicare Advantage Plan Availability Varies Widely by County for 2027
Describes the availability of Medicare Advantage prescription drug (MA-PD) plans in 2027. Presents data on MA-PD plan availability by county in 2026 and 2027, as well as the number of counties 10 MA insurers have entered and exited between 2026 and 2027.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Describes the availability of Medicare Advantage prescription drug (MA-PD) plans in 2027. Presents data on MA-PD plan availability by county in 2026 and 2027, as well as the number of counties 10 MA insurers have entered and exited between 2026 and 2027.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Adult Community Perspectives on Improving Rural Youth Access to Mental Health Services: A Participatory Group Concept Mapping Study
Highlights a study exploring strategies to overcome mental health access barriers for rural youth. Details the participatory research method, Group Concept Mapping, to identify strategies based on developing youth life skills, community-based training, and school-based mental health services, among other categories.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Demetrius A. Abshire, Jessica L. Mackelprang, Kailee Parrott
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70227
Date: 10/2026
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Highlights a study exploring strategies to overcome mental health access barriers for rural youth. Details the participatory research method, Group Concept Mapping, to identify strategies based on developing youth life skills, community-based training, and school-based mental health services, among other categories.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Demetrius A. Abshire, Jessica L. Mackelprang, Kailee Parrott
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70227
Date: 10/2026
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The Role of the Clubhouse Model in Addressing Health Inequalities in Rural Wyoming: A Qualitative Study
Discusses how the Clubhouse model, focused on community mental health support, can support recovery and improve quality of life for people with mental illness in rural Wyoming. Provides excerpts from interviews with 12 Clubhouse members and 4 staff on factors influencing negative mental health outcomes among rural people, including limited access to services, and the role of the Clubhouse in facilitating access to mental health and housing services and facilitating economic stability.
Author(s): Ruth Korankye, Gloria Oladeji, Lauren Gilbert
Citation: International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 21(1)
Date: 10/2026
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Discusses how the Clubhouse model, focused on community mental health support, can support recovery and improve quality of life for people with mental illness in rural Wyoming. Provides excerpts from interviews with 12 Clubhouse members and 4 staff on factors influencing negative mental health outcomes among rural people, including limited access to services, and the role of the Clubhouse in facilitating access to mental health and housing services and facilitating economic stability.
Author(s): Ruth Korankye, Gloria Oladeji, Lauren Gilbert
Citation: International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 21(1)
Date: 10/2026
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South Dakota Department of Health - Maternal and Infant Health Task Force Strategic Plan
Report provides an overview of maternal and infant health outcomes and needs in South Dakota. Discusses access challenges in rural counties, particularly in counties with hospitals that lack obstetric units, and compares obstetric services in rural and urban hospitals. Details maternal and infant health initiatives throughout the state.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Department of Health
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Report provides an overview of maternal and infant health outcomes and needs in South Dakota. Discusses access challenges in rural counties, particularly in counties with hospitals that lack obstetric units, and compares obstetric services in rural and urban hospitals. Details maternal and infant health initiatives throughout the state.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Department of Health
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Beyond the Clinic: Why Primary Care Matters to Texas Communities
Webinar presenting case studies on the role of primary care in supporting health, well-being, and economic stability in Texas communities, discussing rural areas throughout. Transcript available via video description.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Adrian Billings, Dale Carruthers, Ankit Sanghavi
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Texas Primary Care Consortium
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Webinar presenting case studies on the role of primary care in supporting health, well-being, and economic stability in Texas communities, discussing rural areas throughout. Transcript available via video description.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Adrian Billings, Dale Carruthers, Ankit Sanghavi
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Texas Primary Care Consortium
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Survey of the Availability of Neurology Services on Hawaiʻi Island
Examines access to neurology services via a survey of 28 primary care physicians on Hawaii Island, covering topics including the prevalence of neurological complaints or diagnoses among patients, the ability of physicians to manage or refer patients for neurological conditions, and more. Discusses access challenges related to Hawaii's rurality throughout.
Author(s): Jan Augustine E. Aurelio, J. Douglas Miles
Citation: Hawaii Journal of Health and Social Welfare, 85(10), 299-306
Date: 10/2026
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Examines access to neurology services via a survey of 28 primary care physicians on Hawaii Island, covering topics including the prevalence of neurological complaints or diagnoses among patients, the ability of physicians to manage or refer patients for neurological conditions, and more. Discusses access challenges related to Hawaii's rurality throughout.
Author(s): Jan Augustine E. Aurelio, J. Douglas Miles
Citation: Hawaii Journal of Health and Social Welfare, 85(10), 299-306
Date: 10/2026
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America's Health Rankings 2026 Health of Women and Children Report
Provides a national and state-by-state overview of the health of infants, children, and women of reproductive age. Compares rural-urban differences in maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, healthcare access, substance use, mental health conditions, and more among reproductive-age women and children at the national level. Includes maps that show concentrated disadvantage by county within each state.
Additional links: Concentrated Disadvantage by County, State Summaries
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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Provides a national and state-by-state overview of the health of infants, children, and women of reproductive age. Compares rural-urban differences in maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, healthcare access, substance use, mental health conditions, and more among reproductive-age women and children at the national level. Includes maps that show concentrated disadvantage by county within each state.
Additional links: Concentrated Disadvantage by County, State Summaries
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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Behavioral Health's Place in the Alaskan Health Aide Workforce, with Xiomara Owens and Tonya Horn
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Xiomara Owens, PhD, of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and Tonya Horn, PhD, of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. Focuses on how Alaska's Behavioral Health Aide program meets behavioral health needs in rural communities.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Xiomara Owens, PhD, of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and Tonya Horn, PhD, of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. Focuses on how Alaska's Behavioral Health Aide program meets behavioral health needs in rural communities.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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