Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
Chronic Health Conditions and Health Care Affordability Issues among U.S. Rural and Urban Adults
Analyzes associations between chronic health conditions and likelihood of experiencing healthcare affordability issues among rural and urban populations, utilizing 2022 National Health Interview Survey data. Examines rural and urban prevalence of individual chronic conditions, chronic condition multimorbidity, problems paying medical bills, and inability to pay medical bills.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Alexis Swendener, Hannah MacDougall, Carrie Henning-Smith
Citation: Journal of Multimorbidity and Comorbidity, 15
Date: 11/2025
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Analyzes associations between chronic health conditions and likelihood of experiencing healthcare affordability issues among rural and urban populations, utilizing 2022 National Health Interview Survey data. Examines rural and urban prevalence of individual chronic conditions, chronic condition multimorbidity, problems paying medical bills, and inability to pay medical bills.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Alexis Swendener, Hannah MacDougall, Carrie Henning-Smith
Citation: Journal of Multimorbidity and Comorbidity, 15
Date: 11/2025
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A Lifeline for Rural Communities: Sutter Health's Bold Behavioral Health Access Expansion
A conversation with Dan Peterson of Sutter Health's Behavioral Health Services and Matthew White of the Behavioral Health Service Line that focuses on behavioral health access in rural areas of northern California. Discusses utilization of crisis stabilization units, clinic investments, and virtual psychiatry.
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Rebecca Chickey, Dan Peterson, Matthew White
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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A conversation with Dan Peterson of Sutter Health's Behavioral Health Services and Matthew White of the Behavioral Health Service Line that focuses on behavioral health access in rural areas of northern California. Discusses utilization of crisis stabilization units, clinic investments, and virtual psychiatry.
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Rebecca Chickey, Dan Peterson, Matthew White
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Associations of Social Deprivation and Oncology Physician Network Vulnerability With Acute Care Utilization in the SEER-Medicare Population
Discusses the socioeconomic factors that correlate with acute care utilization among cancer patients, as well as the effect of regional specialist scarcity. Draws from Medicare data on patients with breast, lung, or colorectal cancer who have visited emergency departments or had non-elective hospitalizations and explores correlating social and regional factors, such as sex, rurality, social deprivation index score, and proximity to an oncology physician, among others.
Author(s): Ashlee A. Korsberg, Gabriel A. Brooks, A. James O'Malley, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, e70070
Date: 11/2025
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Discusses the socioeconomic factors that correlate with acute care utilization among cancer patients, as well as the effect of regional specialist scarcity. Draws from Medicare data on patients with breast, lung, or colorectal cancer who have visited emergency departments or had non-elective hospitalizations and explores correlating social and regional factors, such as sex, rurality, social deprivation index score, and proximity to an oncology physician, among others.
Author(s): Ashlee A. Korsberg, Gabriel A. Brooks, A. James O'Malley, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, e70070
Date: 11/2025
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Evaluating the Relationship Between Primary Care Provider Access and High Blood Pressure among Hispanic Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study
Examines the relationship between having a primary care physician (PCP) and managing chronic disease in rural Yakima County, Washington State. Utilizes data from 218 participants at the Fiesta de Salud community health fair to analyze demographics, PCP access, and controlled versus uncontrolled blood pressure.
Author(s): Catalina Yepez, Kimberly McKeirnan, Megan Undeberg, Ryan G. Pett
Citation: Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 44, 402
Date: 11/2025
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Examines the relationship between having a primary care physician (PCP) and managing chronic disease in rural Yakima County, Washington State. Utilizes data from 218 participants at the Fiesta de Salud community health fair to analyze demographics, PCP access, and controlled versus uncontrolled blood pressure.
Author(s): Catalina Yepez, Kimberly McKeirnan, Megan Undeberg, Ryan G. Pett
Citation: Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 44, 402
Date: 11/2025
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Recovery Through a Disability Lens: Impacts of the 2023 Maui Wildfires on Disability Equity and Shared Prosperity
Reports on the impacts of the August 2023 Hawaii wildfires on the housing, employment and income, health, and life satisfaction of West Maui or Kula residents with disabilities. Details how disaster preparedness and recovery policy influence health and quality-of-life disparities for people with disabilities.
Additional links: Plain Language Version
Author(s): Daniela Bond-Smith, Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai'i
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Reports on the impacts of the August 2023 Hawaii wildfires on the housing, employment and income, health, and life satisfaction of West Maui or Kula residents with disabilities. Details how disaster preparedness and recovery policy influence health and quality-of-life disparities for people with disabilities.
Additional links: Plain Language Version
Author(s): Daniela Bond-Smith, Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai'i
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The State of Rural Primary Care in the United States
Provides information, statistics, interactive maps, example programs, and policy suggestions regarding the rural primary care workforce supply in the United States. Provides data on projections for adequate supply as well as county-level maps on Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), National Health Service Corps (NHSC) clinicians, Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Includes rural versus nonrural respondent survey data related to primary care access, use, availability, and delivery.
Author(s): Celli Horstman, Arnav Shah
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Provides information, statistics, interactive maps, example programs, and policy suggestions regarding the rural primary care workforce supply in the United States. Provides data on projections for adequate supply as well as county-level maps on Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), National Health Service Corps (NHSC) clinicians, Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Includes rural versus nonrural respondent survey data related to primary care access, use, availability, and delivery.
Author(s): Celli Horstman, Arnav Shah
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Rural/Urban Differences among American Indian/Alaska Native Peoples in Health Care Access and Outcomes, 2019–2023
Compares health outcomes and healthcare utilization metrics for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) rural and urban residents using 2019-2023 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data. Discusses the impact of various sociodemographic factors and the Indian Health Service (IHS) on study findings.
Author(s): Katy Backes Kozhimannil, Hailey A. Baker, Julia D. Interrante, Kyle X. Hill, Melissa L. Walls
Citation: Journal of Community Health, 2025
Date: 11/2025
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Compares health outcomes and healthcare utilization metrics for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) rural and urban residents using 2019-2023 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data. Discusses the impact of various sociodemographic factors and the Indian Health Service (IHS) on study findings.
Author(s): Katy Backes Kozhimannil, Hailey A. Baker, Julia D. Interrante, Kyle X. Hill, Melissa L. Walls
Citation: Journal of Community Health, 2025
Date: 11/2025
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Is My Hospital Rural?
An infographic that provides a U.S. map showing state-level rural hospital coverage versus total hospital coverage. Includes information on bed availability, access, and economic impact.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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An infographic that provides a U.S. map showing state-level rural hospital coverage versus total hospital coverage. Includes information on bed availability, access, and economic impact.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Medicare Physician Fee-For-Service Payments: Adjusting for Variation in Geographic Practice Costs and Challenges for Hawaiʻi
Reports on policy approaches to Medicare reimbursement in Hawaii in order to address provider shortages and limited access to care associated with the state's geographic isolation and high cost of living. Discusses how Medicare policy impacts reimbursement and service availability in rural, remote, and frontier areas.
Author(s): Reinie Gerrits-Goh, John Desfor, Diana M.V. Shaw, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Hawaiʻi Rural Health Research & Policy Center
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Reports on policy approaches to Medicare reimbursement in Hawaii in order to address provider shortages and limited access to care associated with the state's geographic isolation and high cost of living. Discusses how Medicare policy impacts reimbursement and service availability in rural, remote, and frontier areas.
Author(s): Reinie Gerrits-Goh, John Desfor, Diana M.V. Shaw, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Hawaiʻi Rural Health Research & Policy Center
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Academic Detailing to Advance Naloxone Prescribing in Rural Primary Care: A 2-Year Pilot Study
Presents a study exploring the feasibility of implementing an intervention to improve primary care providers' (PCPs) knowledge, confidence, and adoption of naloxone-related practices in rural FQHCs. Study involves 30 PCPs in rural Arkansas, with 15 receiving a 30-minute virtual training on naloxone. Breaks down data by PCP profession type as well as HPSA status and score.
Author(s): Leah Tobey-Moore, Meghan N. Breckling, Teresa J. Hudson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 16
Date: 11/2025
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Presents a study exploring the feasibility of implementing an intervention to improve primary care providers' (PCPs) knowledge, confidence, and adoption of naloxone-related practices in rural FQHCs. Study involves 30 PCPs in rural Arkansas, with 15 receiving a 30-minute virtual training on naloxone. Breaks down data by PCP profession type as well as HPSA status and score.
Author(s): Leah Tobey-Moore, Meghan N. Breckling, Teresa J. Hudson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 16
Date: 11/2025
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