Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
Complementary and Integrative Health Therapies and Pain: Delivery Through Veterans Affairs and Community Care
Compares the effectiveness of the delivery of acupuncture, chiropractic, and medical massage therapy services between Department of Veterans Affairs providers and community care providers at relieving chronic pain for veterans. Includes a patient characteristics break down by rurality and more. Discusses the importance of continued research on access to healthcare for rural veterans.
Author(s): Collin Calvert, Stephanie L. Taylor, Juli Olson, et al.
Citation: Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health, 14
Date: 07/2025
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Compares the effectiveness of the delivery of acupuncture, chiropractic, and medical massage therapy services between Department of Veterans Affairs providers and community care providers at relieving chronic pain for veterans. Includes a patient characteristics break down by rurality and more. Discusses the importance of continued research on access to healthcare for rural veterans.
Author(s): Collin Calvert, Stephanie L. Taylor, Juli Olson, et al.
Citation: Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health, 14
Date: 07/2025
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Oral Health Screening Survey of Third Grade Schoolchildren in Ohio, 2023-2024
Provides information on the dental health of third-grade children in Ohio. Includes data on oral health conditions, access to dental care, and county-level information on prevalence of untreated tooth decay and locations of Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and safety net clinics.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Ohio Department of Health
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Provides information on the dental health of third-grade children in Ohio. Includes data on oral health conditions, access to dental care, and county-level information on prevalence of untreated tooth decay and locations of Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and safety net clinics.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Ohio Department of Health
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Spatial Accessibility of Substance Use Disorder Treatment Programs, Compared with Other Health Care Facilities, in New York State, 2024
Examines spatial accessibility to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in New York State. Analyzes one-way travel time as well as the difference in travel between the closest and fifth closest facility. Includes maps comparing travel time to SUD treatment to other healthcare facilities in rural and urban areas of New York State.
Author(s): Marcus A. Bachhuber, Chinazo O. Cunningham, Pat Lincourt, Ashly E. Jordan
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 20, 60
Date: 07/2025
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Examines spatial accessibility to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in New York State. Analyzes one-way travel time as well as the difference in travel between the closest and fifth closest facility. Includes maps comparing travel time to SUD treatment to other healthcare facilities in rural and urban areas of New York State.
Author(s): Marcus A. Bachhuber, Chinazo O. Cunningham, Pat Lincourt, Ashly E. Jordan
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 20, 60
Date: 07/2025
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New Design Opens the Door to Improved Patient Care at Midwest Medical Center
Profiles the Midwest Medical Center, a hospital in rural Illinois. Discusses the building's remodel and collaboration with the USDA Rural Development Community Facilities program.
Author(s): Andrea Imel
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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Profiles the Midwest Medical Center, a hospital in rural Illinois. Discusses the building's remodel and collaboration with the USDA Rural Development Community Facilities program.
Author(s): Andrea Imel
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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Interstate Occupational Licensure Arrangements to Expand Access to Behavioral Health Services
Policy brief describing state-based provisions to expand behavioral health services through interstate licensure arrangements for providers. Discusses potential impact on provision of behavioral health services, including telehealth, with a focus on how expanded services might enhance access for rural residents. Features state-level maps showing where legislation has been enacted or introduced, as of November 2024.
Author(s): Natalia V. Oster, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Davis G. Patterson, Lisa A. Garberson, Janessa M. Graves
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Policy brief describing state-based provisions to expand behavioral health services through interstate licensure arrangements for providers. Discusses potential impact on provision of behavioral health services, including telehealth, with a focus on how expanded services might enhance access for rural residents. Features state-level maps showing where legislation has been enacted or introduced, as of November 2024.
Author(s): Natalia V. Oster, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Davis G. Patterson, Lisa A. Garberson, Janessa M. Graves
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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2010-2022 County-Level Hospital-Based Obstetric Care Status
County-level dataset containing the county Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, state, and indicator of whether each county had hospital-based obstetrics care in years 2010-2022. Available for download as an XLS file.
Author(s): J.D. Interrante, E.C. Sheffield, K.B. Kozhimannil
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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County-level dataset containing the county Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, state, and indicator of whether each county had hospital-based obstetrics care in years 2010-2022. Available for download as an XLS file.
Author(s): J.D. Interrante, E.C. Sheffield, K.B. Kozhimannil
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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MedPAC Data Book: Health Care Spending and the Medicare Program, 2025
Provides an overview of Medicare spending and highlights data on Medicare beneficiary demographics, dual-eligible beneficiaries, quality of care provided through the Medicare program, and other payer liability. Examines settings of care, including rural-specific provider sites, as they relate to spending, access to care, and profit margins. Compares rural and urban beneficiaries and providers throughout. Chart 6-2 addresses rural hospital closures and Rural Emergency Hospital conversions.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Provides an overview of Medicare spending and highlights data on Medicare beneficiary demographics, dual-eligible beneficiaries, quality of care provided through the Medicare program, and other payer liability. Examines settings of care, including rural-specific provider sites, as they relate to spending, access to care, and profit margins. Compares rural and urban beneficiaries and providers throughout. Chart 6-2 addresses rural hospital closures and Rural Emergency Hospital conversions.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Confronting the Crisis: Actions to Address Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Among Black Women in Rural Georgia
Discusses the issue of maternal mortality among Black women in rural Georgia. Focuses on policy, proposed solutions and strategies, and community-based collaborations that can provide improved maternal healthcare access to rural areas of Georgia.
Author(s): Jalen Robinson, Jaliyah Screen, Carey Roth Bayer
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 07/2025
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Discusses the issue of maternal mortality among Black women in rural Georgia. Focuses on policy, proposed solutions and strategies, and community-based collaborations that can provide improved maternal healthcare access to rural areas of Georgia.
Author(s): Jalen Robinson, Jaliyah Screen, Carey Roth Bayer
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 07/2025
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Disparities in Timely Access to Certified Stroke Care Among US Census Tracts, by Prevalence of Health Risk Factors
Examines census tract-level demographic and health characteristics associated with drive times of greater than 60 minutes from certified stroke care or advanced stroke care in the contiguous United States. Highlights rural access disparities and discusses implications for health practice to improve stroke care access in underserved areas.
Author(s): Linda Schieb, Joshua Tootoo, Melissa Fiffer, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22, 240429
Date: 07/2025
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Examines census tract-level demographic and health characteristics associated with drive times of greater than 60 minutes from certified stroke care or advanced stroke care in the contiguous United States. Highlights rural access disparities and discusses implications for health practice to improve stroke care access in underserved areas.
Author(s): Linda Schieb, Joshua Tootoo, Melissa Fiffer, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22, 240429
Date: 07/2025
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Empowering Patients to Participate in Clinical Trials
Discusses the importance of clinical trials as well as the barriers that impact participant enrollment and retention. Provides strategies and policy suggestions to improve participation in clinical trials for various populations, including those in rural and remote areas.
Author(s): Allison Kolbe, Agata Bodie
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Discusses the importance of clinical trials as well as the barriers that impact participant enrollment and retention. Provides strategies and policy suggestions to improve participation in clinical trials for various populations, including those in rural and remote areas.
Author(s): Allison Kolbe, Agata Bodie
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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