Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Service delivery models
The Impacts of Transportation and Travel Access on Rural Health in Hawai'i
Reports on transportation and travel access as barriers to healthcare in rural Hawaii, utilizing a literature review and interviews with stakeholders, and provides policy suggestions for improving access to care. Includes a detailed review of the use of telehealth for rural maternal-fetal health.
Additional links: Overview
Author(s): John Desfor, Keilyn Kawakami, Monica Ho, et al.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Hawaiʻi Rural Health Research & Policy Center
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Reports on transportation and travel access as barriers to healthcare in rural Hawaii, utilizing a literature review and interviews with stakeholders, and provides policy suggestions for improving access to care. Includes a detailed review of the use of telehealth for rural maternal-fetal health.
Additional links: Overview
Author(s): John Desfor, Keilyn Kawakami, Monica Ho, et al.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Hawaiʻi Rural Health Research & Policy Center
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The Opioid Epidemic in Rural Communities: Can Telehealth Increase Access to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder and Offset Barriers to Care?
Examines the impact of telehealth on access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and substance and opioid use disorder (SUD/OUD) treatment. Utilizes data from the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program's (RCORP) consortia, the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), and the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) to analyze access to MOUD and rates of telehealth use for rural consortia. Discusses potential barriers and factors impacting telehealth implementation for SUD/OUD care.
Author(s): Kathleen Meyers, Shannon Herman, Heather Schuler, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 271, 112628
Date: 06/2025
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Examines the impact of telehealth on access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and substance and opioid use disorder (SUD/OUD) treatment. Utilizes data from the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program's (RCORP) consortia, the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), and the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) to analyze access to MOUD and rates of telehealth use for rural consortia. Discusses potential barriers and factors impacting telehealth implementation for SUD/OUD care.
Author(s): Kathleen Meyers, Shannon Herman, Heather Schuler, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 271, 112628
Date: 06/2025
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Iowa Community Health Centers and Value-Based Care
Describes how Iowa Primary Care Association (Iowa PCA) and two sister organizations, IowaHealth+ and INConcertCare, pursued value-based care opportunities before joining the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Discusses the network's Medicaid value-based care contract; a partnership with Main Street Health to expand value-based contracting and provide more comprehensive, integrated primary care to patients with Medicare Advantage; data analytics; strategic planning and roadmaps; and next steps.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Describes how Iowa Primary Care Association (Iowa PCA) and two sister organizations, IowaHealth+ and INConcertCare, pursued value-based care opportunities before joining the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Discusses the network's Medicaid value-based care contract; a partnership with Main Street Health to expand value-based contracting and provide more comprehensive, integrated primary care to patients with Medicare Advantage; data analytics; strategic planning and roadmaps; and next steps.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Impact of Telemental Health on Suicide Prevention Care in U.S. Emergency Departments
Describes results of a survey of 977 hospital emergency departments regarding the use of telemental healthcare, and presents data by hospital characteristics, including rural location and Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status. Explores whether access to telemental healthcare affects use of six recommended suicide prevention practices. Compares the use of suicide prevention practices among patients with identified suicide risk by telemental healthcare status and CAH designation.
Author(s): Stephanie K. Doupnik, Cadence F. Bowden, Diana Worsley, et al.
Citation: Academic Emergency Medicine, 32(9), 956-965
Date: 05/2025
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Describes results of a survey of 977 hospital emergency departments regarding the use of telemental healthcare, and presents data by hospital characteristics, including rural location and Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status. Explores whether access to telemental healthcare affects use of six recommended suicide prevention practices. Compares the use of suicide prevention practices among patients with identified suicide risk by telemental healthcare status and CAH designation.
Author(s): Stephanie K. Doupnik, Cadence F. Bowden, Diana Worsley, et al.
Citation: Academic Emergency Medicine, 32(9), 956-965
Date: 05/2025
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Environmental Scan on Reducing Barriers to Participation in Population-Based Total Cost of Care (PB-TCOC) Models and Supporting Primary and Specialty Care Transformation
Presents results of an environmental scan on reducing barriers to participation in population-based total cost of care (PB-TCOC) models and supporting primary and specialty care transformation. Discusses identifying pathways for maximizing participation of different kinds of organizations in PB-TCOC models; an assessment of and approaches to reducing organization-level barriers; approaches to support primary and specialty care transformation; an assessment of factors that influence the ability of PB-TCOC models to be competitive; and a summary of relevant features in previously submitted Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) proposals. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Presents results of an environmental scan on reducing barriers to participation in population-based total cost of care (PB-TCOC) models and supporting primary and specialty care transformation. Discusses identifying pathways for maximizing participation of different kinds of organizations in PB-TCOC models; an assessment of and approaches to reducing organization-level barriers; approaches to support primary and specialty care transformation; an assessment of factors that influence the ability of PB-TCOC models to be competitive; and a summary of relevant features in previously submitted Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) proposals. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Montana AHEC Scholars - HRSA: Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
Highlights the Montana AHEC Scholars Program, which provides interdisciplinary training in behavioral health integration, telehealth, and social determinants of health, among other topics, to improve the quality and access to care in rural communities.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Montana Area Health Education Center, Montana Office of Rural Health
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Highlights the Montana AHEC Scholars Program, which provides interdisciplinary training in behavioral health integration, telehealth, and social determinants of health, among other topics, to improve the quality and access to care in rural communities.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Montana Area Health Education Center, Montana Office of Rural Health
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Relevance and Acceptability of a Technology-Delivered Childhood Obesity Intervention for Hispanic/Latino Families in Rural Nebraska: A Qualitative Approach
Examines program strengths and challenges, implementation concerns, and cultural relevance of Hispanic Family Connections, a Spanish-language childhood obesity intervention for Latino families in rural Nebraska, via focus group interviews with 26 participants.
Author(s): Thais F. Alves, Natalia Santos, Camila Squarcini, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 16
Date: 05/2025
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Examines program strengths and challenges, implementation concerns, and cultural relevance of Hispanic Family Connections, a Spanish-language childhood obesity intervention for Latino families in rural Nebraska, via focus group interviews with 26 participants.
Author(s): Thais F. Alves, Natalia Santos, Camila Squarcini, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 16
Date: 05/2025
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Stories of Impact: Lee County Health Department
Profiles the Lee County Health Department in Iowa and their work to support community health worker certification, continuing education for public health workers, mobile resource clinics, and health and human services referral processes.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Health Policy Center
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Profiles the Lee County Health Department in Iowa and their work to support community health worker certification, continuing education for public health workers, mobile resource clinics, and health and human services referral processes.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Health Policy Center
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Bringing Virtual Behavioral Health Care Access to Rural Youth in West Virginia
Podcast episode that discusses a virtual collaborative behavioral healthcare model for children in rural West Virginia. Focuses on early behavioral health interventions, access, and improved health outcomes.
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Adrienne Coopey, Jordan Steiger
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Podcast episode that discusses a virtual collaborative behavioral healthcare model for children in rural West Virginia. Focuses on early behavioral health interventions, access, and improved health outcomes.
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Adrienne Coopey, Jordan Steiger
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Discreet but Accessible: A Qualitative Study with People Who Use Drugs and Service Staff about the Optimal Design of a Harm Reduction Vending Machine in Rural Kentucky
Analyzes perspectives on harm reduction vending machine (HRVM) access and suitability via interviews with people who use drugs as well as health department and syringe service program (SSP) staff in rural Appalachian Kentucky. Discusses factors influencing the usefulness of HRVMs and their ability to address public health needs such as infectious disease prevention, overdose reduction, and other community benefits.
Author(s): Rachel M. Marschke, April M. Young, Hannah K. Knudsen, Chelsi N. Cheatom, Hannah L. F. Cooper
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 22, 88
Date: 05/2025
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Analyzes perspectives on harm reduction vending machine (HRVM) access and suitability via interviews with people who use drugs as well as health department and syringe service program (SSP) staff in rural Appalachian Kentucky. Discusses factors influencing the usefulness of HRVMs and their ability to address public health needs such as infectious disease prevention, overdose reduction, and other community benefits.
Author(s): Rachel M. Marschke, April M. Young, Hannah K. Knudsen, Chelsi N. Cheatom, Hannah L. F. Cooper
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 22, 88
Date: 05/2025
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