Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
Availability of Higher-Level Neonatal Care Services in Rural US Counties, 2010-2022
Policy brief showing changes in availability of higher-level neonatal care in rural counties from 2010 to 2022, and how this availability differs by rural county type. Features statistics with breakdowns by all rural, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Author(s): Katy Backes Kozhimannil, Emily C. Sheffield, Julia D. Interrante, et al.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Policy brief showing changes in availability of higher-level neonatal care in rural counties from 2010 to 2022, and how this availability differs by rural county type. Features statistics with breakdowns by all rural, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Author(s): Katy Backes Kozhimannil, Emily C. Sheffield, Julia D. Interrante, et al.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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How USPS Network Changes Threaten Prescription Drug Access for Vulnerable Populations
Discusses the impact of mail processing changes on mail-order medication and asthma and diabetes management for rural communities. Highlights the "triple burden" of limited pharmacy access, high use of mail-order prescriptions, and proximity to postal service restructuring. Includes rural and urban comparisons, Medicare data, and county-level analysis.
Author(s): Elena Patel, Joshua Feng, Matthew Higgins
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: The Brookings Institution
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Discusses the impact of mail processing changes on mail-order medication and asthma and diabetes management for rural communities. Highlights the "triple burden" of limited pharmacy access, high use of mail-order prescriptions, and proximity to postal service restructuring. Includes rural and urban comparisons, Medicare data, and county-level analysis.
Author(s): Elena Patel, Joshua Feng, Matthew Higgins
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: The Brookings Institution
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Characterizing Rurality Using the All of Us Research Program Data
Provides a definition of rurality utilizing a 3-digit ZIP code-level scale. Applies definition to the All of Us Research Program to analyze rural healthcare issues such as access, delayed care, and affordability. Includes the definition's methodology and a U.S. map showcasing distribution of 3-digit ZIP codes according to rurality.
Author(s): Michael Bradfield, Toluwanimi Olorunnisola, Vignesh Subbian
Citation: PLoS One, 20(12), e0328958
Date: 12/2025
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Provides a definition of rurality utilizing a 3-digit ZIP code-level scale. Applies definition to the All of Us Research Program to analyze rural healthcare issues such as access, delayed care, and affordability. Includes the definition's methodology and a U.S. map showcasing distribution of 3-digit ZIP codes according to rurality.
Author(s): Michael Bradfield, Toluwanimi Olorunnisola, Vignesh Subbian
Citation: PLoS One, 20(12), e0328958
Date: 12/2025
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Community Perceptions of the Health Equity Navigators Program: A Cross-Sectional Study in Rural and Medically Underserved Areas of Georgia, USA
Examines the Health Equity Navigators Program (HENP) and its perceived impact on healthcare access in rural and underserved areas of Georgia. Utilizes survey data from 269 adults participating in HENP and analyzes their perceptions regarding HENP's effectiveness.
Author(s): Ransome Eke, Jones Aneesa, Shermeeka Hogans-Mathews, Joedrecka Brown Speights
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 4212
Date: 12/2025
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Examines the Health Equity Navigators Program (HENP) and its perceived impact on healthcare access in rural and underserved areas of Georgia. Utilizes survey data from 269 adults participating in HENP and analyzes their perceptions regarding HENP's effectiveness.
Author(s): Ransome Eke, Jones Aneesa, Shermeeka Hogans-Mathews, Joedrecka Brown Speights
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 4212
Date: 12/2025
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Travel Time to Treating Facility and Mortality in Men With Prostate Cancer
Examines the association between longer travel time to treatment and survival among prostate cancer patients. Uses data from a survey of 159,943 patients from Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Utah, and Washington. Features statistics with breakdowns by two levels of population density.
Author(s): Stephan M. Korn, Filippo Dagnino, Danesha Daniels, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(12), e2546812
Date: 12/2025
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Examines the association between longer travel time to treatment and survival among prostate cancer patients. Uses data from a survey of 159,943 patients from Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Utah, and Washington. Features statistics with breakdowns by two levels of population density.
Author(s): Stephan M. Korn, Filippo Dagnino, Danesha Daniels, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(12), e2546812
Date: 12/2025
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All Texas Access Report for Fiscal Year 2025
Reports on access to mental health services for rural Texans. Includes information on service availability, objectives and strategies, and challenges and strengths in each region in Texas.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health and Human Services
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Reports on access to mental health services for rural Texans. Includes information on service availability, objectives and strategies, and challenges and strengths in each region in Texas.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health and Human Services
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When the Hospital CEO Becomes the Patient: Rural Maternal Care Up Close
A conversation with Eilidh Pederson, CEO of Western Wisconsin Health, focused on her experience giving birth at a rural Critical Access Hospital. Discusses high-quality maternal healthcare access in rural communities.
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Julia Resnick, Eilidh Pederson
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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A conversation with Eilidh Pederson, CEO of Western Wisconsin Health, focused on her experience giving birth at a rural Critical Access Hospital. Discusses high-quality maternal healthcare access in rural communities.
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Julia Resnick, Eilidh Pederson
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Maternal and Child Health Services Title V Block Grant - Hawaii: FY 2026 Application/FY 2024 Annual Report
Describes Hawaii's maternal and child health programs, which include initiatives related to access to care, family violence and neglect, sleep environment, developmental screening, preventive care, mental health supports, and more. Includes discussion of rural topics including healthcare access, activities of the Office of Primary Care and Rural Health, and more.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Hawaii State Department of Health
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Describes Hawaii's maternal and child health programs, which include initiatives related to access to care, family violence and neglect, sleep environment, developmental screening, preventive care, mental health supports, and more. Includes discussion of rural topics including healthcare access, activities of the Office of Primary Care and Rural Health, and more.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Hawaii State Department of Health
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Reshaping Access: Community-Led Action for Contraceptive Access in Rural Appalachian Kentucky
Examines the All Access Eastern Kentucky (AAEKY) program that provides contraception to patients via the mailing system. Discusses contraception access issues due to geographic isolation, transportation issues, and stigma. Provides clinic and participation feedback on the AAEKY program.
Author(s): Alecia Fields, Kelsie Williams, Dustin Miracle, Joanne Brown, Kyla Preece
Citation: Contraception, 155, 111278
Date: 11/2025
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Examines the All Access Eastern Kentucky (AAEKY) program that provides contraception to patients via the mailing system. Discusses contraception access issues due to geographic isolation, transportation issues, and stigma. Provides clinic and participation feedback on the AAEKY program.
Author(s): Alecia Fields, Kelsie Williams, Dustin Miracle, Joanne Brown, Kyla Preece
Citation: Contraception, 155, 111278
Date: 11/2025
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Development of a Cocurricular Program to Prepare New Graduate Midwives for Rural Practice
Examines the Colorado Rural Midwifery Workforce Expansion Program which provides cocurricular programming for midwife trainees wishing to practice in rural areas. Discusses the impact of rural-focused maternal healthcare programs on the rural maternal health workforce supply and patient healthcare access.
Author(s): Shannon Pirrie, E. Brie Thumm, Katherine J. Kissler, et al.
Citation: Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 70(6), 897-903
Date: 11/2025
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Examines the Colorado Rural Midwifery Workforce Expansion Program which provides cocurricular programming for midwife trainees wishing to practice in rural areas. Discusses the impact of rural-focused maternal healthcare programs on the rural maternal health workforce supply and patient healthcare access.
Author(s): Shannon Pirrie, E. Brie Thumm, Katherine J. Kissler, et al.
Citation: Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 70(6), 897-903
Date: 11/2025
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