Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
Mental Health Stressors and Barriers to Support Among Rural Farmers: A Qualitative Study of Agricultural Communities in the East South-Central United States
Explores how farmers experience mental health stressors, coping strategies, and barriers to seeking help via thematic analysis of interviews with 14 rural Kentucky farmers. Discusses farming-specific stressors, stigma, self-reliance, and lessons for suicide prevention.
Author(s): Jeanne M. Ward, Melissa Perkins, John R. Blosnich
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(8), 983
Date: 07/2026
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Explores how farmers experience mental health stressors, coping strategies, and barriers to seeking help via thematic analysis of interviews with 14 rural Kentucky farmers. Discusses farming-specific stressors, stigma, self-reliance, and lessons for suicide prevention.
Author(s): Jeanne M. Ward, Melissa Perkins, John R. Blosnich
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(8), 983
Date: 07/2026
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Geographical Access to Preferred Pharmacies in Medicare Part D
Analyzes access to preferred pharmacies in Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) and Medicare Advantage PDPs (MAPDs). Utilizes multiple data sources to examine the nearest preferred pharmacy in MAPDs and stand-alone PDPs across rural and urban ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs). Discusses geographic disparities related to PDP and MAPD access.
Author(s): Pinka Chatterji, Yiran Han, Chun-Yu Ho
Citation: The American Journal of Managed Care, 32, 7
Date: 07/2026
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Analyzes access to preferred pharmacies in Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) and Medicare Advantage PDPs (MAPDs). Utilizes multiple data sources to examine the nearest preferred pharmacy in MAPDs and stand-alone PDPs across rural and urban ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs). Discusses geographic disparities related to PDP and MAPD access.
Author(s): Pinka Chatterji, Yiran Han, Chun-Yu Ho
Citation: The American Journal of Managed Care, 32, 7
Date: 07/2026
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Strategies to Address the Rural Access Gap in Substance Use Services
Describes how community paramedicine and mobile substance use care units can address barriers to substance use treatment in rural areas, and how these programs can be supported at the state level via Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding.
Author(s): Rebekah Falkner
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Describes how community paramedicine and mobile substance use care units can address barriers to substance use treatment in rural areas, and how these programs can be supported at the state level via Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding.
Author(s): Rebekah Falkner
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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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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Teledentistry in Health Centers: Promising Practices for Increasing Access to Oral Health Care
Highlights several promising practices using teledentistry to increase oral health access. Explores how five different programs in urban areas, and one in rural South Dakota, are using teledentistry via health centers to address workforce shortages and expand oral health access.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Network for Oral Health Access
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Highlights several promising practices using teledentistry to increase oral health access. Explores how five different programs in urban areas, and one in rural South Dakota, are using teledentistry via health centers to address workforce shortages and expand oral health access.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Network for Oral Health Access
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Bridging the Gaps in School-Based Telehealth: A Scoping Review and Evaluation Framework
Provides a scoping review of telehealth interventions in K-12 schools between 2019 and 2026. Analyzes 22 studies related to school-based telehealth (SBTH) and discusses SBTH evaluation practices as well as utilization, satisfaction, and outcomes. Includes discussion of SBTH outcomes in rural locations.
Author(s): Sara Al-Ajlouny, Zhaoqiang Zhou, Suguna Kotte, et al.
Citation: Telemedicine Reports, 7
Date: 07/2026
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Provides a scoping review of telehealth interventions in K-12 schools between 2019 and 2026. Analyzes 22 studies related to school-based telehealth (SBTH) and discusses SBTH evaluation practices as well as utilization, satisfaction, and outcomes. Includes discussion of SBTH outcomes in rural locations.
Author(s): Sara Al-Ajlouny, Zhaoqiang Zhou, Suguna Kotte, et al.
Citation: Telemedicine Reports, 7
Date: 07/2026
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A Guide to GME Development in Rural and Underserved Areas
Offers a roadmap for establishing, expanding, or strengthening Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs in communities with limited access to healthcare. Highlights resources, tools, and best practices to align GME programs with workforce needs, strengthen physician pipelines, and improve access to care. Requires free account registration to access document.
Author(s): Laney McDougal, James Clardy, Deborah Clements, Alan Douglass, Lori Rodefeld
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, Rural Residency Planning and Development Program, Teaching Health Center Technical Assistance Center
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Offers a roadmap for establishing, expanding, or strengthening Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs in communities with limited access to healthcare. Highlights resources, tools, and best practices to align GME programs with workforce needs, strengthen physician pipelines, and improve access to care. Requires free account registration to access document.
Author(s): Laney McDougal, James Clardy, Deborah Clements, Alan Douglass, Lori Rodefeld
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, Rural Residency Planning and Development Program, Teaching Health Center Technical Assistance Center
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Telehealth for Community-Engaged Cardiovascular Care in Rural Populations
Discusses how telehealth can support better cardiovascular care for rural patients. Details rural barriers to cardiovascular healthcare and describes telehealth implementation strategies via community partnerships.
Author(s): Tiffany M. Powell-Wiley, Madyson Williams, Esa M. Davis
Citation: Circulation, 154(4)
Date: 07/2026
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Discusses how telehealth can support better cardiovascular care for rural patients. Details rural barriers to cardiovascular healthcare and describes telehealth implementation strategies via community partnerships.
Author(s): Tiffany M. Powell-Wiley, Madyson Williams, Esa M. Davis
Citation: Circulation, 154(4)
Date: 07/2026
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MauiWES Community Report - The Road to Recovery: Strengthening Health, Stability, and Resiliency Three Years After the Maui Wildfires
Reports on recovery and continued challenges in Maui after the August 2023 wildfires in Hawaii, including data from the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study (MauiWES) on physical and emotional health, housing, employment, food security, access to healthcare and other services, and other aspects of wellness among wildfire survivors. Dashboard provides results from the study in interactive form.
Additional links: Dashboard
Author(s): Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea, Chris Knightsbridge, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: UHERO: The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai'i
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Reports on recovery and continued challenges in Maui after the August 2023 wildfires in Hawaii, including data from the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study (MauiWES) on physical and emotional health, housing, employment, food security, access to healthcare and other services, and other aspects of wellness among wildfire survivors. Dashboard provides results from the study in interactive form.
Additional links: Dashboard
Author(s): Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea, Chris Knightsbridge, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: UHERO: The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai'i
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