Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
Evaluation of the ACO REACH Model: Evaluation Report 3
Presents key findings from an evaluation of the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) REACH Model's first performance year, as well as the two years of the preceding Global and Professional Direct Contracting (GPDC) Model. Examines model participants' implementation experiences and the model's impact on cost, utilization, and quality outcomes. Includes information on the participation of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in the model.
Additional links: Appendices, CMS Perspective Report, Executive Summary, Findings at a Glance
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Presents key findings from an evaluation of the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) REACH Model's first performance year, as well as the two years of the preceding Global and Professional Direct Contracting (GPDC) Model. Examines model participants' implementation experiences and the model's impact on cost, utilization, and quality outcomes. Includes information on the participation of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in the model.
Additional links: Appendices, CMS Perspective Report, Executive Summary, Findings at a Glance
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Rural Lending and the Need for Expanded Access to Credit: Evaluating and Expanded Threshold for Defining Rurality
Explores how access to credit differs by level of rurality, and discusses how federal rural definitions influence rural lending and finance. Includes data on housing supply, distance to maternal care, access to rural school districts, and other housing and financial metrics.
Author(s): Ani Katchova, Alexander Ryan, Micah Mensing
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: The Ohio State University
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Explores how access to credit differs by level of rurality, and discusses how federal rural definitions influence rural lending and finance. Includes data on housing supply, distance to maternal care, access to rural school districts, and other housing and financial metrics.
Author(s): Ani Katchova, Alexander Ryan, Micah Mensing
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: The Ohio State University
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Virtual Roads to Real Recovery, with Amanda Kennedy
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Amanda Kennedy, manager of the Mercy Virtual Substance Use Recovery Program. Focuses on strategies the program uses to build trust and provide patients a seamless bridge into substance use treatment. Part 2 in a 3-part series featuring the 2026 Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) Innovation Tank finalists, with Mercy vSURP's work winning third place.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Amanda Kennedy, manager of the Mercy Virtual Substance Use Recovery Program. Focuses on strategies the program uses to build trust and provide patients a seamless bridge into substance use treatment. Part 2 in a 3-part series featuring the 2026 Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) Innovation Tank finalists, with Mercy vSURP's work winning third place.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Early Evidence of Geographic Variation in Medicare Participation among Newly Eligible Mental Health Providers Following the 2024 Coverage Expansion
Explores the effect that Medicare's expansion of coverage to marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and mental health counselors (MHCs) has had on the rural mental health workforce. Highlights the rate of participation among rural MFTs and MHCs in Medicare from 2022 to 2024 and compares rates to metro counties.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Natalia V. Oster, Lisa A. Garberson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70180
Date: 07/2026
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Explores the effect that Medicare's expansion of coverage to marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and mental health counselors (MHCs) has had on the rural mental health workforce. Highlights the rate of participation among rural MFTs and MHCs in Medicare from 2022 to 2024 and compares rates to metro counties.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Natalia V. Oster, Lisa A. Garberson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70180
Date: 07/2026
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Improving Childhood Immunization Access in Rural Washington Through School-Based Partnerships
Discusses Washington State's Northeast Tri County Health District (NETCHD) efforts to address low rates of childhood immunization within Ferry, Stevens, and Pend Oreille counties via partnerships with schools, public communication, immunization clinics, and other forms of outreach.
Author(s): Rae Lamp
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Discusses Washington State's Northeast Tri County Health District (NETCHD) efforts to address low rates of childhood immunization within Ferry, Stevens, and Pend Oreille counties via partnerships with schools, public communication, immunization clinics, and other forms of outreach.
Author(s): Rae Lamp
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Access to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) at the State and Substate Levels: Meaning and Measurement
Estimates how eligibility and access to USDA's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) vary by age and county within Arizona using 2019-2021 program administrative data. Discusses the WIC program's reach, demography, and statistical reliability.
Author(s): Kegan O'Connor, Mark Prell, Linden McBride, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Estimates how eligibility and access to USDA's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) vary by age and county within Arizona using 2019-2021 program administrative data. Discusses the WIC program's reach, demography, and statistical reliability.
Author(s): Kegan O'Connor, Mark Prell, Linden McBride, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Rural Pediatric Readiness: Improving Emergency Care for Kids
Features rural providers in Texas and Wyoming working to improve their ability to provide quality emergency care to pediatric patients, as well as a pediatric readiness training program in Georgia.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Features rural providers in Texas and Wyoming working to improve their ability to provide quality emergency care to pediatric patients, as well as a pediatric readiness training program in Georgia.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Strengthening Rural Health Centers: Challenges, Innovations, and Opportunities
Provides an overview of how health centers serve rural residents. Describes workforce and geographic challenges rural health centers face. Includes data on states where rural health centers serve over half of all health center patients in the state. Discusses areas for key investments to strengthen the ability of health centers to serve their patients and communities.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Provides an overview of how health centers serve rural residents. Describes workforce and geographic challenges rural health centers face. Includes data on states where rural health centers serve over half of all health center patients in the state. Discusses areas for key investments to strengthen the ability of health centers to serve their patients and communities.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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A Multiregional Decentralized Clinical Trial Program to Improve Access
Assesses geographic and demographic trends in clinical trial participation at Mayo Clinic during the implementation of a decentralized clinical trials (DCT) program between January 2024 and March 2025.
Author(s): Tufia C. Haddad, Lydia A. Mercado, Jennifer G. Le-Rademacher, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(6), e2617204
Date: 06/2026
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Assesses geographic and demographic trends in clinical trial participation at Mayo Clinic during the implementation of a decentralized clinical trials (DCT) program between January 2024 and March 2025.
Author(s): Tufia C. Haddad, Lydia A. Mercado, Jennifer G. Le-Rademacher, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(6), e2617204
Date: 06/2026
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Michigan - Improving Diabetic Eye Exam Rates: A Practical Guide for Rural Health Clinics
A guidebook for Rural Health Centers (RHCs) in Michigan to screen and provide quality care for diabetic retinopathy (DR). Provides recommendations for DR screening, workflow, referral to eye care providers, and reducing barriers in rural areas.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Michigan Center for Rural Health
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A guidebook for Rural Health Centers (RHCs) in Michigan to screen and provide quality care for diabetic retinopathy (DR). Provides recommendations for DR screening, workflow, referral to eye care providers, and reducing barriers in rural areas.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Michigan Center for Rural Health
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