This website is being reviewed for updates. Some information is offline. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

A Holistic Definition of Healthy Traditional Harvest Practices for Rural Indigenous Communities in Interior Alaska
Explores the ways in which sharing of wild resources is important for food security, wellness, and cultural identity in Indigenous Alaska communities. Discusses how environmental changes are affecting Alaskans' way of life and challenging access to foods needed for nutrition and cultural preservation.
Author(s): Krista M. Heeringa, Orville Huntington, Brooke Woods, et al.
Citation: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 9(2, Suppl. 2), 115–129.
Date: 2019
view details
Rural Focus and Representation in State Maternal Mortality Review Committees: Review of Policy and Legislation
An assessment of the extent of rural representation in state policy efforts related to improving maternal health through the development of maternal mortality and morbidity review committees (MMRCs). Analysis included whether or not states established an MMRC, had passed legislation requiring an MMRC, identified rural populations in the legislation, and if they required rural representation within the MMRC.
Author(s): Katy B. Kozhimannil, Julia D. Interrante, Amanda Corbet, et al.
Citation: Women's Health Issues 299(5) 357-363
Date: 2019
view details
An Implementation and Impact Evaluation of From Coverage to Care
Analysis of the use in rural and urban areas of Coverage to Care (C2C) online and print resources, developed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH), for healthcare professionals and consumers. C2C resources offer tools for providers to promote and improve access to care and support consumer engagement. C2C also helps consumers understand the value of health insurance coverage and of working with a provider to prevent and achieve health. Data is derived from CMS, Census Bureau Zip Code Tabulation Area (USCB-ZCTA), American Community Survey (ACS), Kaiser Health, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), and Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Emergency Department Databases (HCUP-SEDD).
Author(s): Thomas W. Concannon, Laurie T. Martin, Kathryn E. Bouskill, et al.
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
view details
Health, United States, 2018
Presents an annual overview of national trends in health statistics. Covers health status and determinants, healthcare utilization, access, and expenditures. Includes rural data - see the Trend Tables Data Finder and select "Metropolitan and nonmetropolitan" under Population Subgroups.
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
view details
Shaping Summertime Experiences: Opportunities to Promote Healthy Development and Well-Being for Children and Youth
Examines the impact of summertime experiences on school-age children and youth related to academic learning, social and emotional development, physical and mental health, and health-promoting and safety behaviors. Includes discussion of rural residence and its impact on children's access to supportive services, including food programs, during the summer.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Committee on Summertime Experiences and Child and Adolescent Education, Health, and Safety
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
view details
Aging in Appalachia
Episodes of the radio program "Inside Appalachia," exploring challenges faced by elderly people in Appalachia, and the resources available to them. Topics include caregiver shortages, Alzheimer's disease, dying with dignity, and isolation and loneliness.
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organization: West Virginia Public Broadcasting
view details
The Relationship Between Rural Setting and Health: Factors that Influence Individuals With or at Risk of CVD - A Summary of the Literature
Describes current literature on rural challenges and opportunities, including cardiovascular risk due to obesity, lack of access to healthcare, workforce shortages, importance of paramedics and community health workers, telehealth and broadband, and impact of the substance use disorder epidemic. Intended to help stakeholders understand the causes of health disparities and to support action to improve the health of rural communities.
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organization: American Heart Association
view details
2018 National Survey of Health Attitudes: Description and Top-Line Summary Data
Results of a survey designed to provide insight into how people in the U.S. think about, value, and prioritize health and issues of health equity. Appendix A shows survey results comparing populations by city size, with breakdowns by rural areas, small towns, midsized cities, and large cities, and Appendix B features statistics comparing urban and rural areas.
Additional links: Appendix A: Survey Results Comparing Populations by City Size, Appendix B: Survey Results Comparing Urban and Rural Populations
Author(s): Katherine Grace Carman, Anita Chandra, Sarah Weilant, Carolyn Miller, Margaret Tait
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organizations: RAND Corporation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
view details
Experiences of Medicaid Programs and Health Centers in Implementing Telehealth
Examines the experiences of 19 rural and urban Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and 7 state Medicaid programs with supporting and delivering telehealth. Addresses state Medicaid policies, telehealth models and types, barriers and facilitators for telehealth, and future plans. Identifies considerations for payers, policymakers, and FQHCs interested in telehealth implementation.
Author(s): Lori Uscher-Pines, Kathryn Bouskill, Jessica Sousa, Mimi Shen, Shira H. Fischer
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, RAND Corporation
view details
Achieving Behavioral Health Equity for Children, Families, and Communities: Proceedings of a Workshop
Summarizes findings from a November 2017 workshop focused on exploring health equity in children and families. Chapter 4 includes discussion on healthcare quality and access for behavioral health services in rural communities. Offers suggestions for initiatives, policies, and programs to support behavioral health promotion, access behavioral health services, and improve the social determinants of health.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Sarah Tracey, Erin Kellogg, Clarissa Sanchez, Wendy Keenan
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organizations: Board on Children, Youth, and Families, Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
view details