Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau: Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. Initiative Data Report 2024
Reports on the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program's Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) initiative, which supports expanded programs and services to people who are not receiving regular HIV care or are unaware of their HIV status. Covers program activities, services funded, program administration, and populations served. Discusses providers, programs, and factors influencing access to care in rural areas.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau
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Reports on the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program's Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) initiative, which supports expanded programs and services to people who are not receiving regular HIV care or are unaware of their HIV status. Covers program activities, services funded, program administration, and populations served. Discusses providers, programs, and factors influencing access to care in rural areas.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau
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Bridging Gaps in Acute Care Access for Rural Veterans: The Reach and Impact of VA's Virtual Emergency and Urgent Care Programs
Examines how the Veterans Health Administration's (VA) tele-emergency care (TEC) and virtual care visits (VCV) programs influenced short-term care utilization, mortality and other health outcomes, and costs among rural veterans, using Jan 2022-Sept 2024 national call center data linked with VA administrative and community care records.
Author(s): Anita A. Vashi, Linda Diem Tran, Tracy Urech, Allison Engstrom Buggaveeti, Liam Rose
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70197
Date: 08/2026
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Examines how the Veterans Health Administration's (VA) tele-emergency care (TEC) and virtual care visits (VCV) programs influenced short-term care utilization, mortality and other health outcomes, and costs among rural veterans, using Jan 2022-Sept 2024 national call center data linked with VA administrative and community care records.
Author(s): Anita A. Vashi, Linda Diem Tran, Tracy Urech, Allison Engstrom Buggaveeti, Liam Rose
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70197
Date: 08/2026
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Disparities in Access to Medicare-Approved Medical Specialists in Rural Kentucky
Describes healthcare disparities among rural Kentucky communities by examining the potential distance required to access specialty care. Features statistics with breakdowns by medical specialty and rural, urban, or mixed-designated ZIP codes, and a county-level map with shadings showing county designations based on eligibility for rural healthcare grants through the Department of Health and Human Services.
Author(s): Logan Hurm, Jacob A. Welch, James Adkins
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(2), 1-13
Date: 08/2026
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Describes healthcare disparities among rural Kentucky communities by examining the potential distance required to access specialty care. Features statistics with breakdowns by medical specialty and rural, urban, or mixed-designated ZIP codes, and a county-level map with shadings showing county designations based on eligibility for rural healthcare grants through the Department of Health and Human Services.
Author(s): Logan Hurm, Jacob A. Welch, James Adkins
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(2), 1-13
Date: 08/2026
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Behavioral Health Council Action Plan - Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Examines the current state of Pennsylvania's behavioral healthcare system, highlights areas for improvement, and offers recommendations to improve access to mental health and addiction care services. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Behavioral Health Council
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Examines the current state of Pennsylvania's behavioral healthcare system, highlights areas for improvement, and offers recommendations to improve access to mental health and addiction care services. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Behavioral Health Council
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Beyond Geography: Using a Cluster-Based Analysis to Conceptualize the Rurality of Veterans Health Administration Hospitals
Presents a study exploring non-geographic factors of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals that facilitate or impede access to care for rural veterans. Compares hospital complexity, number of veteran enrollees, and average drive times by percentage of rural veterans served by the 110 VHA hospitals surveyed.
Author(s): Alexandra B. Caloudas, Michihiko Goto, M. Bryant Howren, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70195
Date: 08/2026
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Presents a study exploring non-geographic factors of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals that facilitate or impede access to care for rural veterans. Compares hospital complexity, number of veteran enrollees, and average drive times by percentage of rural veterans served by the 110 VHA hospitals surveyed.
Author(s): Alexandra B. Caloudas, Michihiko Goto, M. Bryant Howren, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70195
Date: 08/2026
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Geographic Access to Low-Dose CT Lung Cancer Screening in Tennessee: Disparities by Socioeconomic Variables, Rurality, and Appalachian Status
Examines access to low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in Tennessee according to rurality and Appalachian status. Analyzes 198 LDCT sites and provides information on travel time and access to sites as well as demographic breakdown of population according to urban, rural, Appalachian, or non-Appalachian location. Discusses access disparities and solutions to improve access to LDCT screening sites in Tennessee.
Author(s): Sima Namin, Martin Whiteside, R. Eric Heidel, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70202
Date: 08/2026
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Examines access to low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in Tennessee according to rurality and Appalachian status. Analyzes 198 LDCT sites and provides information on travel time and access to sites as well as demographic breakdown of population according to urban, rural, Appalachian, or non-Appalachian location. Discusses access disparities and solutions to improve access to LDCT screening sites in Tennessee.
Author(s): Sima Namin, Martin Whiteside, R. Eric Heidel, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70202
Date: 08/2026
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2026 CCBHC Impact Report
Discusses the impact certified community behavioral health clinics (CCBHCs) have had on expanding access to mental and substance use healthcare, supporting the well-being of children and families, and coordinating with primary care providers, among other measures. Explores national CCBHC implementation status, utilization of services, collaboration with other providers, and workforce support. Includes a breakdown of clientele expansions in rural CCBHCs.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Council for Mental Wellbeing
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Discusses the impact certified community behavioral health clinics (CCBHCs) have had on expanding access to mental and substance use healthcare, supporting the well-being of children and families, and coordinating with primary care providers, among other measures. Explores national CCBHC implementation status, utilization of services, collaboration with other providers, and workforce support. Includes a breakdown of clientele expansions in rural CCBHCs.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Council for Mental Wellbeing
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Aligning Initiatives to End the HIV Epidemic in the United States
Discusses the alignment of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) and the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States (EHE) initiative to provide healthcare to low-income people living with HIV (PLWH) and prevent new infections. Includes commentary on how the programs work in rural areas and the 2019-2026 EHE funding information for Health Centers with rural technical assistance.
Author(s): Jesse P. Anderson, Agata Bodie, Kaushik Ghosh, Sara Te
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Discusses the alignment of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) and the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States (EHE) initiative to provide healthcare to low-income people living with HIV (PLWH) and prevent new infections. Includes commentary on how the programs work in rural areas and the 2019-2026 EHE funding information for Health Centers with rural technical assistance.
Author(s): Jesse P. Anderson, Agata Bodie, Kaushik Ghosh, Sara Te
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Impact of Rurality on Inpatient Outcomes in Neurofibromatosis: A National Inpatient Sample Study
Analyzes how rural versus urban dwelling and hospital setting influence interhospital transfer, mortality, length of stay, and other aspects related to access to and quality of neurosurgical care. Uses 2016-2021 National Inpatient Sample data for patients with neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2.
Author(s): Jacob Fredman, Theodore Kapogiannis, Dhanya Mahesh, Jennifer Hong
Citation: Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery, 270, 109596
Date: 07/2026
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Analyzes how rural versus urban dwelling and hospital setting influence interhospital transfer, mortality, length of stay, and other aspects related to access to and quality of neurosurgical care. Uses 2016-2021 National Inpatient Sample data for patients with neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2.
Author(s): Jacob Fredman, Theodore Kapogiannis, Dhanya Mahesh, Jennifer Hong
Citation: Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery, 270, 109596
Date: 07/2026
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Health Care Access, Preventive Care, and Affordability Among Rural Adults With Cardiometabolic Conditions: Medicare Advantage Versus Traditional Medicare
Examines the differences in healthcare experiences for rural adults with cardiometabolic conditions who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) versus traditional Medicare. Utilizes 2021-2022 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data from 4,274 rural beneficiaries and analyzes MA versus traditional Medicare coverage related to issues such as healthcare access, preventive care, and affordability.
Author(s): Nicholas Chiu, Andrew Oseran, Archana P. Tale, Rishi K. Wadhera
Citation: Journal of the American Heart Association, 15, 15
Date: 07/2026
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Examines the differences in healthcare experiences for rural adults with cardiometabolic conditions who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) versus traditional Medicare. Utilizes 2021-2022 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data from 4,274 rural beneficiaries and analyzes MA versus traditional Medicare coverage related to issues such as healthcare access, preventive care, and affordability.
Author(s): Nicholas Chiu, Andrew Oseran, Archana P. Tale, Rishi K. Wadhera
Citation: Journal of the American Heart Association, 15, 15
Date: 07/2026
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