Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
Many Medicare Advantage and Medicaid Managed Care Plans Have Limited Behavioral Health Provider Networks and Inactive Providers
Examines the availability of behavioral health providers in selected Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicaid managed care networks in 2023. Analyzes provider network lists and MA and Medicaid encounter data for four MA and two Medicaid managed care plans from 10 selected urban and rural counties across five states. Describes the proportion of the behavioral health workforce in each county included in the plans' networks. Discusses the extent to which managed care plans had inactive providers in their network and why these providers did not deliver services to enrollees. Includes data on the percentage of inactive providers in rural and urban counties. Offers recommendations to monitor and improve the accuracy of provider networks.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Examines the availability of behavioral health providers in selected Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicaid managed care networks in 2023. Analyzes provider network lists and MA and Medicaid encounter data for four MA and two Medicaid managed care plans from 10 selected urban and rural counties across five states. Describes the proportion of the behavioral health workforce in each county included in the plans' networks. Discusses the extent to which managed care plans had inactive providers in their network and why these providers did not deliver services to enrollees. Includes data on the percentage of inactive providers in rural and urban counties. Offers recommendations to monitor and improve the accuracy of provider networks.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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On the Road to Early Detection: Woman's Hospital's Mobile Mammography
A podcast episode discussing a mobile mammography unit in Louisiana. Discusses differences in rural and urban breast cancer incidence and how a mobile unit increases access to preventive care.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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A podcast episode discussing a mobile mammography unit in Louisiana. Discusses differences in rural and urban breast cancer incidence and how a mobile unit increases access to preventive care.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Transforming Rural Health Care Through Medicaid Innovation: Tip Sheet Series
Informational tip sheets discussing the use of Medicaid innovations to assist states in creating their Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program applications. Covers issues such as behavioral health, school-based services, integrated care access, community health workers, community paramedicine, specialty care, and healthcare technology. Provides examples, strategies, Medicaid policy information, and resources.
Additional links: Improving Access to Integrated Care for Dually Eligible Individuals in Rural Areas, Leveraging Community Health Workers to Address Rural Health Care Needs, Leveraging Community Paramedicine to Address Rural Health Needs, Leveraging Peers and Lay Counselors to Address Behavioral Health Care Workforce Shortages in Rural Areas, Using Project ECHO to Deliver Specialty Care in Rural Areas, Using School-Based Services to Improve Access to Preventive Health Care for Children in Rural Areas, Using Tech-Enabled Solutions to Improve Care Quality and Access in Rural Areas
Author(s): Molly Knowles, Nancy Archibald, Karla Silverman, Lauren Scannelli Jacobs
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Informational tip sheets discussing the use of Medicaid innovations to assist states in creating their Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program applications. Covers issues such as behavioral health, school-based services, integrated care access, community health workers, community paramedicine, specialty care, and healthcare technology. Provides examples, strategies, Medicaid policy information, and resources.
Additional links: Improving Access to Integrated Care for Dually Eligible Individuals in Rural Areas, Leveraging Community Health Workers to Address Rural Health Care Needs, Leveraging Community Paramedicine to Address Rural Health Needs, Leveraging Peers and Lay Counselors to Address Behavioral Health Care Workforce Shortages in Rural Areas, Using Project ECHO to Deliver Specialty Care in Rural Areas, Using School-Based Services to Improve Access to Preventive Health Care for Children in Rural Areas, Using Tech-Enabled Solutions to Improve Care Quality and Access in Rural Areas
Author(s): Molly Knowles, Nancy Archibald, Karla Silverman, Lauren Scannelli Jacobs
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Geographic and Socioeconomic Landscape of Veterans With Head and Neck Cancer
Explores the geographic and socioeconomic factors that correlate with the higher rates and worse outcomes for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas among veterans compared to civilians. Breaks down data by socioeconomic factors, such as marital status, unemployment, and service connection, among other factors, as well as rurality, travel distance, and drive time.
Author(s): Kristen L. Zayan, Jennifer L. McCoy, Monique Y. Boudreaux-Kelly, et al.
Citation: Head & Neck, 47(10), 2845-2855
Date: 10/2025
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Explores the geographic and socioeconomic factors that correlate with the higher rates and worse outcomes for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas among veterans compared to civilians. Breaks down data by socioeconomic factors, such as marital status, unemployment, and service connection, among other factors, as well as rurality, travel distance, and drive time.
Author(s): Kristen L. Zayan, Jennifer L. McCoy, Monique Y. Boudreaux-Kelly, et al.
Citation: Head & Neck, 47(10), 2845-2855
Date: 10/2025
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Implementing a Mobile Clinic for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in an Urban and Rural Context
Highlights a study on the efficacy of the mobile clinic model at providing opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment in rural and urban areas. Compares and evaluates mobile OUD treatment programs in Pittsburgh, PA and rural Robeson County, NC. Evaluates programs on the basis of community engagement, cost, and partnerships with local pharmacies, among other measures.
Author(s): Orrin D. Ware, Divya Venkat, Robyn Jordan, et al.
Citation: Substance Use & Addiction Journal, 46(4), 799–805
Date: 10/2025
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Highlights a study on the efficacy of the mobile clinic model at providing opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment in rural and urban areas. Compares and evaluates mobile OUD treatment programs in Pittsburgh, PA and rural Robeson County, NC. Evaluates programs on the basis of community engagement, cost, and partnerships with local pharmacies, among other measures.
Author(s): Orrin D. Ware, Divya Venkat, Robyn Jordan, et al.
Citation: Substance Use & Addiction Journal, 46(4), 799–805
Date: 10/2025
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The Roles of COVID‐19 Pandemic Exposure and Telehealth in Prenatal Care Access for Rural and Racial Minority Communities in the United States: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Examines how timely receipt of prenatal care differed by geography, race, and ethnicity before and during COVID-19 public health emergency and with and without telehealth use. Utilizes National Clinical Cohort Collaborative (N3C) data from June 2018 through May 2022.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Jiani Yu, Adiba B. Promiti, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70077
Date: 09/2025
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Examines how timely receipt of prenatal care differed by geography, race, and ethnicity before and during COVID-19 public health emergency and with and without telehealth use. Utilizes National Clinical Cohort Collaborative (N3C) data from June 2018 through May 2022.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Jiani Yu, Adiba B. Promiti, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70077
Date: 09/2025
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Disparities in Breast Cancer Detection Modalities and Outcomes among Geriatric Female Cancer Patients
Analyzes racial and geographic disparities in breast cancer screening modality and 5-year breast cancer survival among older women using 2010-2019 Texas Cancer Registry data. Discusses implications for improving cancer outcomes in rural populations.
Author(s): Zhaoli Liu, Mathilda Nicot-Cartsonis, Biai D.E. Digbeu
Citation: Geriatric Nursing, 65, 103514
Date: 09/2025
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Analyzes racial and geographic disparities in breast cancer screening modality and 5-year breast cancer survival among older women using 2010-2019 Texas Cancer Registry data. Discusses implications for improving cancer outcomes in rural populations.
Author(s): Zhaoli Liu, Mathilda Nicot-Cartsonis, Biai D.E. Digbeu
Citation: Geriatric Nursing, 65, 103514
Date: 09/2025
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Transforming Access to Hearing Care: Community Perspectives on School-Based Telehealth in Rural Appalachia
Examines community perspectives on school-based hearing screenings completed via telemedicine as an adaptation to provide auditory healthcare access to rural communities. Provides feedback from 21 semi-structured interviews from parents, school staff, and care providers in Appalachian counties regarding childhood hearing loss, screening and follow-up processes, integration of telemedicine, and more.
Author(s): Mary Katherine Oberman, Marissa Schuh Gebert, Olivia Henderson, et al.
Citation: Ear & Hearing - The Official Journal of the American Auditory Society, 47(2), 378-388
Date: 09/2025
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Examines community perspectives on school-based hearing screenings completed via telemedicine as an adaptation to provide auditory healthcare access to rural communities. Provides feedback from 21 semi-structured interviews from parents, school staff, and care providers in Appalachian counties regarding childhood hearing loss, screening and follow-up processes, integration of telemedicine, and more.
Author(s): Mary Katherine Oberman, Marissa Schuh Gebert, Olivia Henderson, et al.
Citation: Ear & Hearing - The Official Journal of the American Auditory Society, 47(2), 378-388
Date: 09/2025
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Impact of Ostomy Self-Management Telehealth Training for Rural Cancer Survivors on Health Care Utilization and Economic Outcomes in the United States
Examines the impact of the Ostomy Self-Management Telehealth (OSMT) treatment and education program versus usual care on healthcare utilization, cost, and employment status among rural cancer survivors. Discusses telehealth-delivered self-management education as an accessible and effective care model for rural populations.
Author(s): Daniel Maeng, Virginia Sun, Matthew E. Nielsen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70096
Date: 09/2025
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Examines the impact of the Ostomy Self-Management Telehealth (OSMT) treatment and education program versus usual care on healthcare utilization, cost, and employment status among rural cancer survivors. Discusses telehealth-delivered self-management education as an accessible and effective care model for rural populations.
Author(s): Daniel Maeng, Virginia Sun, Matthew E. Nielsen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70096
Date: 09/2025
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Progress Towards Vitality: A 10-Year Retrospective Analysis of Systems Focused Efforts to Improve Maternal Health in Georgia
Assesses the state of Georgia's accomplishments and challenges in improving maternal health in Georgia in accordance with recommendations from Georgia Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) and the Georgia House Study Committee on Maternal Mortality. Discusses rural maternal care resources and access.
Author(s): Tabitha Pyatt, Nia Stewart, Juliana Lewis, Meredith Gonsahn
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Georgia Health Initiative, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Assesses the state of Georgia's accomplishments and challenges in improving maternal health in Georgia in accordance with recommendations from Georgia Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) and the Georgia House Study Committee on Maternal Mortality. Discusses rural maternal care resources and access.
Author(s): Tabitha Pyatt, Nia Stewart, Juliana Lewis, Meredith Gonsahn
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Georgia Health Initiative, NORC at the University of Chicago
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