Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
WIC Participant and Local Agency Staff Perspectives on Increased Cash-Value Benefits for Fruits and Vegetables Within an American Indian Tribal Organization
Explores the perceived impacts of increased cash-value benefits for fruits and vegetables through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program of Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in tribal communities associated with the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona. Bases findings on a survey of participants and staff on their perceptions about the increase and its effect on their ability to access a more nutritious diet.
Author(s): Emily M Melnick, Francesco Acciai, Nicole Vaudrin O'Reilly, et al.
Citation: Maternal & Child Nutrition, 22(1), e70148
Date: 03/2026
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Explores the perceived impacts of increased cash-value benefits for fruits and vegetables through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program of Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in tribal communities associated with the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona. Bases findings on a survey of participants and staff on their perceptions about the increase and its effect on their ability to access a more nutritious diet.
Author(s): Emily M Melnick, Francesco Acciai, Nicole Vaudrin O'Reilly, et al.
Citation: Maternal & Child Nutrition, 22(1), e70148
Date: 03/2026
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Chartis Center for Rural Health Research & Resources for the 2026 National Rural Health Association's Rural Health Policy Institute Conference
Offers research and analysis of the stability of the rural healthcare safety net. Includes 2026 Rural State of the State, and presentation slides on this report from the 2026 National Rural Health Association Policy Institute. Provides links to national and state data tables showing the financial impact of federal policies on rural hospitals.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
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Offers research and analysis of the stability of the rural healthcare safety net. Includes 2026 Rural State of the State, and presentation slides on this report from the 2026 National Rural Health Association Policy Institute. Provides links to national and state data tables showing the financial impact of federal policies on rural hospitals.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
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Rural Healthcare Challenges Deepen as the Rural Health Transformation Program Ramps Up
Examines the impact of the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) program and the ongoing issues of rural hospital closures and financial losses, Medicaid policy, workforce shortages, diminishing access to rural healthcare services, and more. Discusses themes in state RHT applications and how they plan to utilize RHT funding.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
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Examines the impact of the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) program and the ongoing issues of rural hospital closures and financial losses, Medicaid policy, workforce shortages, diminishing access to rural healthcare services, and more. Discusses themes in state RHT applications and how they plan to utilize RHT funding.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
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Meeting the Health Needs of Rural America: A Report of the Aspen Health Strategy Group
Presents a model for addressing rural health disparities and encouraging accessible, sustainable healthcare access through community-centered policy, investment, and healthcare delivery. Discusses topics related to health policy, funding, community development, infrastructure, preventive care, and more.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
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Presents a model for addressing rural health disparities and encouraging accessible, sustainable healthcare access through community-centered policy, investment, and healthcare delivery. Discusses topics related to health policy, funding, community development, infrastructure, preventive care, and more.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
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The Economic Burden of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders: The United States and the Heartland Region
Examines how mental health and substance use disorders (MH/SUDs) affect healthcare spending and lost productivity in the heartland region of the United States, using 2016-2023 AHRQ MEPS data from seven selected states. See page 20 for discussion of rurality as a factor influencing MH/SUD treatment access.
Author(s): Alexandra F. Kritikos, Meg Hefferon, Devi Chelluri, MacKenzie L. Hughes
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: NORC at the University of Chicago
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Examines how mental health and substance use disorders (MH/SUDs) affect healthcare spending and lost productivity in the heartland region of the United States, using 2016-2023 AHRQ MEPS data from seven selected states. See page 20 for discussion of rurality as a factor influencing MH/SUD treatment access.
Author(s): Alexandra F. Kritikos, Meg Hefferon, Devi Chelluri, MacKenzie L. Hughes
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: NORC at the University of Chicago
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Clinical and Demographic Characteristics of Participants in a Hepatitis C Treatment Trial in Rural Kentucky: How Policies Around Treatment Access May Impact Elimination Efforts in the United States
Examines characteristics and drug use patterns of the participants in the Kentucky Viral Hepatitis C Treatment (KeY Treat) trial, which focuses on improving access to direct acting antiviral (DAA) drugs to treat the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Discuses Medicaid policy related to DAA treatment of HCV in a rural, Appalachian community in Kentucky.
Author(s): Jennifer R. Havens, Brittney D. Williams, Takako Schaninger, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70128
Date: 02/2026
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Examines characteristics and drug use patterns of the participants in the Kentucky Viral Hepatitis C Treatment (KeY Treat) trial, which focuses on improving access to direct acting antiviral (DAA) drugs to treat the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Discuses Medicaid policy related to DAA treatment of HCV in a rural, Appalachian community in Kentucky.
Author(s): Jennifer R. Havens, Brittney D. Williams, Takako Schaninger, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70128
Date: 02/2026
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Overcoming Geographic Barriers: Enhancing Pediatric Subspecialty Access for Rural Families
Presents a case study of a rural family facing continued geographic challenges to accessing specialty care for their infant's histiocytic syndrome. Identifies individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and policy-level challenges and suggests policy approaches to address rural access disparities.
Author(s): Preston Simmons, Leah Beck, Eleanor Young, Laura Brower, Meghan Fanta
Citation: Hospital Pediatrics, e2024008150
Date: 02/2026
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Presents a case study of a rural family facing continued geographic challenges to accessing specialty care for their infant's histiocytic syndrome. Identifies individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and policy-level challenges and suggests policy approaches to address rural access disparities.
Author(s): Preston Simmons, Leah Beck, Eleanor Young, Laura Brower, Meghan Fanta
Citation: Hospital Pediatrics, e2024008150
Date: 02/2026
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Associations Between Diet Quality and Psychosocial and Environmental Factors in Rural Adults
Surveys 2,420 rural adults in New York and Texas to identify social and environmental factors impacting diet quality.
Author(s): Rebecca A. Seguin-Fowler, Karla L. Hanson, Galen D. Eldridge, et al.
Citation: Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior: Advancing Research, Practice, & Policy, 58(2), 117-125
Date: 02/2026
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Surveys 2,420 rural adults in New York and Texas to identify social and environmental factors impacting diet quality.
Author(s): Rebecca A. Seguin-Fowler, Karla L. Hanson, Galen D. Eldridge, et al.
Citation: Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior: Advancing Research, Practice, & Policy, 58(2), 117-125
Date: 02/2026
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Plugged in to Public Health: Rural Health Beyond the Mainland; Transportation, Access, and Care in Hawaii
Discusses how transportation influences healthcare access in rural Hawaii. Discusses how geographic isolation and transportation barriers influence access to primary and preventive care and create high demand for emergency medical services, and details policy implications related to public transit, non-emergency medical transportation, and greater access to primary care. Transcript available below audio player.
Author(s): Lauren Lavin, John Desfor
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Iowa College of Public Health
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Discusses how transportation influences healthcare access in rural Hawaii. Discusses how geographic isolation and transportation barriers influence access to primary and preventive care and create high demand for emergency medical services, and details policy implications related to public transit, non-emergency medical transportation, and greater access to primary care. Transcript available below audio player.
Author(s): Lauren Lavin, John Desfor
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Iowa College of Public Health
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From Clinics to Communities: Mobile Health in State Rural Health Transformation Plans
Highlights mobile health models included in state Rural Health Transformation Plan applications. Includes information on the effectiveness of mobile health models in rural healthcare delivery.
Author(s): Julia Burleson, Leila Sullivan
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy
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Highlights mobile health models included in state Rural Health Transformation Plan applications. Includes information on the effectiveness of mobile health models in rural healthcare delivery.
Author(s): Julia Burleson, Leila Sullivan
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy
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