Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
Patient, Facility, and Community Determinants of Timely Follow up after Abnormal Screening Mammograms in Appalachia: A Multilevel Analysis
Examines the impact of community, patient, and facility characteristics on mammogram screening access, mammogram recall, and biopsy rates in 5 Appalachian states. Utilizes 2016-2018 Medicare claims data from breast imaging organizations to analyze characteristics of mammogram care, providing sociodemographic breakdowns and metro versus rural comparisons.
Author(s): Roger T. Anderson, Marianne M. Hillemeier, Jennifer A. Harvey, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70104
Date: 01/2026
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Examines the impact of community, patient, and facility characteristics on mammogram screening access, mammogram recall, and biopsy rates in 5 Appalachian states. Utilizes 2016-2018 Medicare claims data from breast imaging organizations to analyze characteristics of mammogram care, providing sociodemographic breakdowns and metro versus rural comparisons.
Author(s): Roger T. Anderson, Marianne M. Hillemeier, Jennifer A. Harvey, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70104
Date: 01/2026
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Availability of Hospital-Based Obstetric Services in the United States by County, 2010–2023: A State-by-State Report
Provides national, state, and county-specific information on changes in obstetric care access from 2010-2023. Displays county-level maps of changes in hospital-based services availability between 2010-2023, highlighting changes from 2022 to 2023. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural counties.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Kevan O'Hanlon, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Provides national, state, and county-specific information on changes in obstetric care access from 2010-2023. Displays county-level maps of changes in hospital-based services availability between 2010-2023, highlighting changes from 2022 to 2023. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural counties.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Kevan O'Hanlon, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Health Concerns of Women in Agriculture in the Midwestern United States
Presents a study exploring the health and safety needs of women working as agricultural producers. Bases findings on a survey of 120 agricultural women in Nebraska. Explores concerns about zoonotic diseases, reproductive health concerns, musculoskeletal disorders, and mental health challenges, among other issues common to agricultural work.
Author(s): Cheryl L. Beseler, Megan Lutt, Alex Egbuchiem, Ellen G. Duysen
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 31, 11-19
Date: 01/2026
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Presents a study exploring the health and safety needs of women working as agricultural producers. Bases findings on a survey of 120 agricultural women in Nebraska. Explores concerns about zoonotic diseases, reproductive health concerns, musculoskeletal disorders, and mental health challenges, among other issues common to agricultural work.
Author(s): Cheryl L. Beseler, Megan Lutt, Alex Egbuchiem, Ellen G. Duysen
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 31, 11-19
Date: 01/2026
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Development and Implementation of the Indian Health Service Expanded Function Dental Assistant-1 (EFDA-1) Occupation
Report describing the Expanded Function Dental Assistant-1 (EFDA-1) role within the Indian Health Service. Includes information about its implementation, its importance in rural and underserved areas, and its place in Washington's dental workforce and related career pathways.
Author(s): Natalia V. Oster, Grace A. Guenther, Paula M. Kett, Samantha W. Pollack, Susan M. Skillman
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Report describing the Expanded Function Dental Assistant-1 (EFDA-1) role within the Indian Health Service. Includes information about its implementation, its importance in rural and underserved areas, and its place in Washington's dental workforce and related career pathways.
Author(s): Natalia V. Oster, Grace A. Guenther, Paula M. Kett, Samantha W. Pollack, Susan M. Skillman
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Report on the Mental Health Program for Veterans for Fiscal Year 2025
Reports on the Texas Health and Human Service Commission (HHSC) and Texas Veterans Commission's (TVC) programs to ensure access to behavioral health services for service members, veterans, and their family members (SMVF) during fiscal year 2025 in Texas. Highlights the needs of rural SMVF throughout, and discusses services provided by the Rural Veteran Counselor (RVC) program.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health and Human Services
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Reports on the Texas Health and Human Service Commission (HHSC) and Texas Veterans Commission's (TVC) programs to ensure access to behavioral health services for service members, veterans, and their family members (SMVF) during fiscal year 2025 in Texas. Highlights the needs of rural SMVF throughout, and discusses services provided by the Rural Veteran Counselor (RVC) program.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health and Human Services
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Policy Trends Shaping Access to Care in 2026
Discusses policy efforts designed to support access to care, focusing on issues such as a community-based health workforce, mid-life women's healthcare, telehealth, and more. Examines policy enacted to stabilize and improve rural healthcare access.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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Discusses policy efforts designed to support access to care, focusing on issues such as a community-based health workforce, mid-life women's healthcare, telehealth, and more. Examines policy enacted to stabilize and improve rural healthcare access.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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Public Health Ethics and Stakeholder Engagement: Considerations and Practices for Local Health Departments
Toolkit providing strategies and resources on the use of stakeholder engagement to support public health ethics in local health departments. Includes action steps and case studies, and highlights ethical considerations related to community engagement and collaboration. See PDF pages 12-14 for a case study on access to care in rural areas.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Toolkit providing strategies and resources on the use of stakeholder engagement to support public health ethics in local health departments. Includes action steps and case studies, and highlights ethical considerations related to community engagement and collaboration. See PDF pages 12-14 for a case study on access to care in rural areas.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Access To Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners In Kentucky
Report assessing access to sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) and SANE-ready hospitals in 2025 in Kentucky. Offers 10 recommendations to increase access through hospital certifications, training, resource and workforce sharing, compliance, and more. Discusses rural-specific concerns throughout.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Legislative Research Commission
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Report assessing access to sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) and SANE-ready hospitals in 2025 in Kentucky. Offers 10 recommendations to increase access through hospital certifications, training, resource and workforce sharing, compliance, and more. Discusses rural-specific concerns throughout.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Legislative Research Commission
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Engagement and Retention in HIV Care in Rural Southern U.S. Using an All-Payer Claims Database
Analyzes HIV care engagement and retention among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Arkansas, utilizing 2013-2017 Arkansas All-Payer Claims Database data. Includes data and discussion of HIV access disparities in Arkansas by rurality, sex, and other demographic variables.
Author(s): Jun Tao, Mofan Gu, S. Alexandra Marshall, et al.
Citation: PLOS ONE, 20(12), e0339520
Date: 12/2025
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Analyzes HIV care engagement and retention among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Arkansas, utilizing 2013-2017 Arkansas All-Payer Claims Database data. Includes data and discussion of HIV access disparities in Arkansas by rurality, sex, and other demographic variables.
Author(s): Jun Tao, Mofan Gu, S. Alexandra Marshall, et al.
Citation: PLOS ONE, 20(12), e0339520
Date: 12/2025
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Use of Telehealth in Nonmetropolitan and Metropolitan Areas, United States 2021-2023
Statistical brief on differences in telehealth use in nonmetropolitan and metropolitan areas, utilizing 2021-2023 AHRQ Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPS-HC) data. Breaks down rural and urban frequency of telehealth use by specialty, primary source of payment, and more.
Author(s): Sandra Decker
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Statistical brief on differences in telehealth use in nonmetropolitan and metropolitan areas, utilizing 2021-2023 AHRQ Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPS-HC) data. Breaks down rural and urban frequency of telehealth use by specialty, primary source of payment, and more.
Author(s): Sandra Decker
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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