Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, June 2025
Semi-annual report to Congress from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC). Covers recommendations related to transitions from pediatric to adult care for Medicaid-covered children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). Also discusses appropriate access to residential behavioral health treatment services for children, findings from MACPAC's analytic work on access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in Medicaid, an overview on the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, and self-direction for Medicaid home- and community-based services. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Semi-annual report to Congress from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC). Covers recommendations related to transitions from pediatric to adult care for Medicaid-covered children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). Also discusses appropriate access to residential behavioral health treatment services for children, findings from MACPAC's analytic work on access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in Medicaid, an overview on the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, and self-direction for Medicaid home- and community-based services. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Organizational Factors Associated with Using Telehealth Services: Perspectives from Leaders of Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers
Research and policy brief examining organizational factors influencing telehealth use in Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Summarizes interviews with RHC and FQHC key informants to discuss perceptions of telehealth, implementation challenges, operational challenges, and opportunities for innovation. Provides suggestions for policy and reimbursement approaches to improve telehealth provision and access.
Author(s): Constance van Eeghen, John A. Gale, Erika Ziller, Yvonne Jonk
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Remote Care & Telehealth Research Center
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Research and policy brief examining organizational factors influencing telehealth use in Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Summarizes interviews with RHC and FQHC key informants to discuss perceptions of telehealth, implementation challenges, operational challenges, and opportunities for innovation. Provides suggestions for policy and reimbursement approaches to improve telehealth provision and access.
Author(s): Constance van Eeghen, John A. Gale, Erika Ziller, Yvonne Jonk
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Remote Care & Telehealth Research Center
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Preventing Medical Debt among Rural Residents: Example Programs from Hospitals in Minnesota and Montana
Highlights the ways some rural hospitals are working to reduce medical debt for their patients. Presents a number of strategies from hospitals in Minnesota and Montana that aim to reduce patient medical debts through financial assistance programs and cost-cutting measures. Features case-studies reviewing the structure of each hospital's debt reduction efforts.
Author(s): Katie Rydberg, Sushma Shankar, Mariana Tuttle, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Highlights the ways some rural hospitals are working to reduce medical debt for their patients. Presents a number of strategies from hospitals in Minnesota and Montana that aim to reduce patient medical debts through financial assistance programs and cost-cutting measures. Features case-studies reviewing the structure of each hospital's debt reduction efforts.
Author(s): Katie Rydberg, Sushma Shankar, Mariana Tuttle, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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2018 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
Provides a comprehensive summary and data analysis of healthcare quality and access in the U.S. Includes a discussion of disparities encountered by race/ethnicity and geographic locations along the rural-urban continuum. Addresses access to healthcare, patient safety, person-centered care, care coordination, affordability, healthy living, and effective treatment.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Provides a comprehensive summary and data analysis of healthcare quality and access in the U.S. Includes a discussion of disparities encountered by race/ethnicity and geographic locations along the rural-urban continuum. Addresses access to healthcare, patient safety, person-centered care, care coordination, affordability, healthy living, and effective treatment.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Differences in COVID-19 Testing Perceptions among Caregivers of Children with Medical Complexity by Rurality
Examines how COVID-19 testing access, intent to test, and related perceptions among caregivers of children with one or more complex chronic conditions surveyed between April and June 2022.
Author(s): Kristina Devi Singh-Verdeflor, Michelle M. Kelly, Gregory P. DeMuri, et al.
Citation: PLOS ONE, 20(5), e0323651
Date: 05/2025
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Examines how COVID-19 testing access, intent to test, and related perceptions among caregivers of children with one or more complex chronic conditions surveyed between April and June 2022.
Author(s): Kristina Devi Singh-Verdeflor, Michelle M. Kelly, Gregory P. DeMuri, et al.
Citation: PLOS ONE, 20(5), e0323651
Date: 05/2025
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Care Packages to Promote Universal Suicide Prevention for Remote Alaska Native Communities: What Worked?
Presents a study on the efficacy of a suicide prevention intervention aimed at teens in remote Alaska Native communities. Details the distribution of mental health and safety promotion care packages sent to participants through the mail and highlights the results of a survey of participants on the perceived success of the intervention.
Author(s): Joshua Kennedy, Lisa Wexler, Tara Schmidt, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70032
Date: 05/2025
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Presents a study on the efficacy of a suicide prevention intervention aimed at teens in remote Alaska Native communities. Details the distribution of mental health and safety promotion care packages sent to participants through the mail and highlights the results of a survey of participants on the perceived success of the intervention.
Author(s): Joshua Kennedy, Lisa Wexler, Tara Schmidt, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70032
Date: 05/2025
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Annual Insurance Update 2025: Health Insurance in Kansas
Reports on health insurance coverage across Kansas and nationwide, including 2009-2023 trends in coverage. Presents 2022 county-level data on uninsured rates by age group and urban/rural classification, as well as Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment by county.
Author(s): Angela S. Wu, Kaci Cink, Viktoria Sterkhova, et al.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Health Institute
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Reports on health insurance coverage across Kansas and nationwide, including 2009-2023 trends in coverage. Presents 2022 county-level data on uninsured rates by age group and urban/rural classification, as well as Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment by county.
Author(s): Angela S. Wu, Kaci Cink, Viktoria Sterkhova, et al.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Health Institute
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Geographic and Sociodemographic Factors and Receipt of Metabolic Disease Specialty Care
Examines geographic and sociodemographic factors that impact access to specialty metabolic care in rural areas. Utilizes data from 9,546 adults with chronic health conditions in Pennsylvania and provides data on receipt of endocrinology and cardiology care according to patient demographics, neighborhood characteristics, and location of urban, large rural town, or small rural town. Includes maps showing driving distance to care centers.
Author(s): Margaret F. Zupa, Scott D. Rothenberger, Jessica G. Bauer, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(5)
Date: 05/2025
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Examines geographic and sociodemographic factors that impact access to specialty metabolic care in rural areas. Utilizes data from 9,546 adults with chronic health conditions in Pennsylvania and provides data on receipt of endocrinology and cardiology care according to patient demographics, neighborhood characteristics, and location of urban, large rural town, or small rural town. Includes maps showing driving distance to care centers.
Author(s): Margaret F. Zupa, Scott D. Rothenberger, Jessica G. Bauer, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(5)
Date: 05/2025
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The Relationship Between Low Social/Emotional Support and Health Care Affordability Among Rural and Urban Residents
Highlights a study examining rural and urban differences in the effect social and emotional supports have on the health and financial impacts of healthcare costs. Breaks down data by feelings about medical bills, age, insurance type, and rural versus urban location, among other measures.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Katie Rydberg, Alexis Swendener, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70034
Date: 05/2025
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Highlights a study examining rural and urban differences in the effect social and emotional supports have on the health and financial impacts of healthcare costs. Breaks down data by feelings about medical bills, age, insurance type, and rural versus urban location, among other measures.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Katie Rydberg, Alexis Swendener, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70034
Date: 05/2025
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Adapting Sampling and Incentive Strategies to Improve Survey Response for Rural Latinos - Using the 2024 Community Health Survey
Presentation slides examining the effectiveness of sampling and incentive practices for surveying hard-to-survey, rural Latino populations, with particular focus on Spanish-speaking migrants. Highlights strategies and lessons learned from the 2024 Community Health Survey conducted in rural counties of California and Arizona.
Additional links: Project Overview: Examining Policies Influencing Rural Latino Health Study
Author(s): Hannah Murrow, Barbara Fernandez, Lauren Sedlak, et al.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: NORC at the University of Chicago
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Presentation slides examining the effectiveness of sampling and incentive practices for surveying hard-to-survey, rural Latino populations, with particular focus on Spanish-speaking migrants. Highlights strategies and lessons learned from the 2024 Community Health Survey conducted in rural counties of California and Arizona.
Additional links: Project Overview: Examining Policies Influencing Rural Latino Health Study
Author(s): Hannah Murrow, Barbara Fernandez, Lauren Sedlak, et al.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: NORC at the University of Chicago
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