Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
Partners in Progress: Pursuing Medical-Dental Integration in Ohio
Report explores dental health integration into primary care in Ohio and a way to expand oral healthcare access in the state. Discusses access issues in rural area, shortage areas, among Medicaid recipients, and details how integration can help close the gap.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Report explores dental health integration into primary care in Ohio and a way to expand oral healthcare access in the state. Discusses access issues in rural area, shortage areas, among Medicaid recipients, and details how integration can help close the gap.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Rural Hospitals and the Rural Health Transformation Program: What Comes Next
Blog post discussing the rural health transformation program established in the July 2025 budget reconciliation law. Describes potential priorities for states' use of the rural health transformation program funding. Outlines additional steps Congress could take to help rural hospitals serve their communities.
Author(s): Emma Sheffert, Maya Sandalow
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Blog post discussing the rural health transformation program established in the July 2025 budget reconciliation law. Describes potential priorities for states' use of the rural health transformation program funding. Outlines additional steps Congress could take to help rural hospitals serve their communities.
Author(s): Emma Sheffert, Maya Sandalow
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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The Uncertain Future of Medicare's Stand-Alone Prescription Drug Plan Market and Why It Matters
Discusses the Medicare Part D stand-alone prescription drug plan (PDP) market and the Part D premium stabilization demonstration. Describes the impact of PDP market stability on rural Medicare beneficiaries. Explores the potential effects of the continuation of, or changes to, the premium stabilization program.
Author(s): Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Discusses the Medicare Part D stand-alone prescription drug plan (PDP) market and the Part D premium stabilization demonstration. Describes the impact of PDP market stability on rural Medicare beneficiaries. Explores the potential effects of the continuation of, or changes to, the premium stabilization program.
Author(s): Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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MedPAC Data Book: Health Care Spending and the Medicare Program, 2025
Provides an overview of Medicare spending and highlights data on Medicare beneficiary demographics, dual-eligible beneficiaries, quality of care provided through the Medicare program, and other payer liability. Examines settings of care, including rural-specific provider sites, as they relate to spending, access to care, and profit margins. Compares rural and urban beneficiaries and providers throughout. Chart 6-2 addresses rural hospital closures and Rural Emergency Hospital conversions.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Provides an overview of Medicare spending and highlights data on Medicare beneficiary demographics, dual-eligible beneficiaries, quality of care provided through the Medicare program, and other payer liability. Examines settings of care, including rural-specific provider sites, as they relate to spending, access to care, and profit margins. Compares rural and urban beneficiaries and providers throughout. Chart 6-2 addresses rural hospital closures and Rural Emergency Hospital conversions.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Tennessee State Health Plan 2025: An Update to the 2024-2026 State Health Plan
Outlines how the Tennessee Department of Health is utilizing the actions identified in the State Health Plan to promote health in Tennessee. Features sections on nutritional security, maternal and infant health, chronic conditions, older adults, transportation, cancer screenings, and workforce.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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Outlines how the Tennessee Department of Health is utilizing the actions identified in the State Health Plan to promote health in Tennessee. Features sections on nutritional security, maternal and infant health, chronic conditions, older adults, transportation, cancer screenings, and workforce.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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Aroostook Agency on Aging's Specialized Support for Dementia Caregivers and Care Recipients via Health Care Partnership
Case study highlighting a partnership between an Area Agency on Aging in Maine and a local hospital to provide dementia assessments and support services for local residents with dementia and their caregivers.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: USAging
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Case study highlighting a partnership between an Area Agency on Aging in Maine and a local hospital to provide dementia assessments and support services for local residents with dementia and their caregivers.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: USAging
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Most Medicare Advantage Markets are Dominated by One or Two Insurers
Examines the competitiveness of Medicare Advantage (MA) markets at the county level. Explores how often one or two Medicare Advantage insurers enrolled at least half of all enrollees within a county. Compares data on the share of counties in very concentrated MA markets across urban, rural adjacent, and rural non-adjacent counties.
Author(s): Nicole Zhu, Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Nolan Sroczynski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Examines the competitiveness of Medicare Advantage (MA) markets at the county level. Explores how often one or two Medicare Advantage insurers enrolled at least half of all enrollees within a county. Compares data on the share of counties in very concentrated MA markets across urban, rural adjacent, and rural non-adjacent counties.
Author(s): Nicole Zhu, Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Nolan Sroczynski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Confronting the Crisis: Actions to Address Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Among Black Women in Rural Georgia
Discusses the issue of maternal mortality among Black women in rural Georgia. Focuses on policy, proposed solutions and strategies, and community-based collaborations that can provide improved maternal healthcare access to rural areas of Georgia.
Author(s): Jalen Robinson, Jaliyah Screen, Carey Roth Bayer
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 07/2025
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Discusses the issue of maternal mortality among Black women in rural Georgia. Focuses on policy, proposed solutions and strategies, and community-based collaborations that can provide improved maternal healthcare access to rural areas of Georgia.
Author(s): Jalen Robinson, Jaliyah Screen, Carey Roth Bayer
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 07/2025
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Establishing First Age-Friendly Health System Tele-Palliative Care Clinic – Facilitators, Challenges, Lessons Learned to Improve Care for Rural, Older Veterans
Presents a study exploring an age-friendly tele-palliative care clinic for older veterans. Highlights challenges and successes of using telehealth to provide palliative care to older rural veterans in Colorado.
Author(s): Stephanie Hartz, Alexander Garbin, Kathryn Allen Nearing, et al.
Citation: INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 62
Date: 07/2025
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Presents a study exploring an age-friendly tele-palliative care clinic for older veterans. Highlights challenges and successes of using telehealth to provide palliative care to older rural veterans in Colorado.
Author(s): Stephanie Hartz, Alexander Garbin, Kathryn Allen Nearing, et al.
Citation: INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 62
Date: 07/2025
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Diabetic Retinopathy in Rural Communities: A Review of Barriers to Access of Care and Potential Solutions
Narrative review examining diabetic retinopathy (DR) prevalence and barriers to care in rural communities. Identifies factors contributing to poor access to care and suggests potential solutions, covering topics including telehealth use, workforce supply and distribution, healthcare policy, and more.
Author(s): James Burmeister, Madeline N. Pham, Forrest Bohler, Caleb North
Citation: Annals of Medicine, 57, 2522323
Date: 07/2025
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Narrative review examining diabetic retinopathy (DR) prevalence and barriers to care in rural communities. Identifies factors contributing to poor access to care and suggests potential solutions, covering topics including telehealth use, workforce supply and distribution, healthcare policy, and more.
Author(s): James Burmeister, Madeline N. Pham, Forrest Bohler, Caleb North
Citation: Annals of Medicine, 57, 2522323
Date: 07/2025
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