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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Uninsured and underinsured

Understanding the Impact of Medical Debt in Rural Communities: Perspectives from Rural Hospital Administrators
Presents findings from key informant interviews with rural hospital administrators across seven states regarding the impact of medical debt on hospitals and patients in rural communities. Describes themes related to causes and consequences of medical debt across three domains: hospital, patient/community, and policy.
Author(s): Mariana Tuttle, Ingrid Jacobson, Katie Rydberg, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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"American Indian 101": Understanding the History And Contemporary Experiences of Native People in a United States Health Policy Context
Provides information about the history of American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) in the U.S. healthcare system, AI/AN data collection, and healthcare delivery in the Indian Health Service (IHS). Provides data on insured versus uninsured AI/ANs, insurance type, insurance via Medicaid expansion, and more.
Author(s): Quin Mudry Nelson
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: State Health Access Data Assistance Center
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State and Local Estimates of the Uninsured Population in the U.S. Using the Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey
Uses data from the 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) to present state, county, and local estimates of the number of U.S. residents without health insurance and their demographic characteristics. Analyzes the population of uninsured individuals ages 0-64 by family income levels.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Database
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Access to Health Care in Rural America: Current Trends and Key Challenges
Highlights patterns in insurance coverage and uninsurance rates in rural and urban areas, explores non-financial challenges in accessing care faced by rural residents, and describes disparities in health outcomes between urban and rural areas. Features statistics on number of uninsured rural non-elderly adults by state, in 2010 and 2023.
Author(s): Gina Turrini, Eden Volkov, Christie Peters, Nancy De Lew, Thomas Buchmueller
Date: 10/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Health Care Affordability and Medical Debt: Differences by Rurality, Region, and Socio-Demographic Characteristics
Policy brief examining rural/urban differences in health care affordability and medical debt concerns. Features statistics including rates of affordability issues with breakdowns by rural and urban location, and among rural residents with breakdowns by socio-demographic characteristics.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Katie Rydberg, Mariana Tuttle, et al.
Date: 09/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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The State of Health in Tennessee: 2024 Annual Report to the 113th Tennessee General Assembly
Assesses the health status of Tennesseans across the four areas of the State Health Plan Framework: A Healthy Start, A Healthy Life, a Healthy Environment, and a Healthy System of Care. Includes a section on social determinants of health and features statistics on various populations and aspects of healthcare, including rural hospital closures.
Additional links: A Healthy Environment: Housing, A Healthy Life: Income and Poverty, A Healthy Start: Poverty & Food Insecurity, A Healthy System of Care: Access
Date: 08/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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Identifying Challenges and Solutions for Improving Access to Mental Health Services for Rural Youth: Insights from Adult Community Members
Presents a study on the barriers to accessing mental healthcare for rural youth in Washington State. Bases finding on interviews with community members, parents, teachers, and healthcare providers and discusses ways to overcome perceived barriers.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Demetrius A. Abshire, Elissa Koontz, Jessica L. Mackelprang
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(6), 725
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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Information Hub: Health Insurance Coverage in Kansas
An insurance coverage dashboard that provides county-level information on health insurance coverage in Kansas, including sources of health insurance coverage and characteristics of the uninsured population. Includes definitions to explain data descriptors presented in the dashboard.
Author(s): Angela S Wu, Kaci Cink, Alex Ferguson, Wen-Chieh Lin
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Health Institute
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Improving Access to Affordable and Equitable Health Coverage: A Review from 2010 to 2024
An issue brief that provides commentary and data on how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has impacted access to health insurance coverage. Provides uninsurance rates by demographic groups and discusses the effect of the ACA on rural areas.
Author(s): Thomas Buchmueller, Amelia Whitman, Christie Peters, Nancy De Lew
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Effects of Affordable Care Act on Uninsured Hospitalization: Evidence from Texas
Examines the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in Texas and its relationship to uninsured patient discharges. Analyzes 2011-2019 ACA Marketplace data with breakdowns according to patient race/ethnicity, age, gender, major diagnostic categories (MDC), type of admission, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Nima Khodakarami, Benjamin Ukert
Citation: Health Services Research
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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