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Rural Health Information Hub

Healthcare Access in Rural Communities – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Healthcare Access in Rural Communities.

The Most Rural Counties Have the Fewest Health Care Services Available
Examines healthcare resources in metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas, with information on availability of healthcare facilities, bed-to-population ratios, provider-to-population ratios, and Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Author(s): Elizabeth A. Dobis, Jessica E. Todd
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Availability of Medical Doctors Favors Metropolitan Areas with Low Rates of Self-Employment
Line chart tracking the number of Medical Doctors (MDs) per 10,000 residents between 1960 and 2017, comparing metro and nonmetro areas of high self-employment and low self-employment. Uses data from the HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce, 2018-19 Area Health Resources File and American Community Survey 2018 5-year data.
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Self-Employed Workers Are Less Likely To Have Health Insurance Than Those Employed by Private Firms, Governments
Examines nonmetropolitan health insurance coverage in 2018 among working age adults (26-64 years old) who are self-employed, otherwise employed, unemployed, and those not in the labor force. Includes a bar chart showing metro compared to nonmetro coverage by employment status for the following types of health insurance: none, employer-based, direct-purchase, and public.
Author(s): Elizabeth A. Dobis, Jessica E. Todd
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Adolescent Access to Federally Funded Clinics Providing Confidential Family Planning Following Changes to Title X Funding Regulations
Examines access to reproductive care across U.S. Census tracts for female minors aged 15 to 17 following 2019 changes in Title X funding. Identifies clinic access within a 30-minute drive in August 2018 before Title X changes and access in August 2020 after Title X changes. Includes demographic data on the impacted minors such as rural versus urban geography, census region, social vulnerability index (SVI), race/ethnicity, age, birth rate, and state minor confidentiality laws.
Author(s): Polina Krass, Vicky Tam, Jungwon Min, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(6)
Date: 06/2022
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Evaluation of the Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies Program: 2019 Cohort - Second Annual Report
Reports on the Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) program 2019 cohort's first implementation year, 2020-2021. Describes the program, the need for increased access to maternal and obstetric care in rural areas, and the program's strategic goals. Provides an overview of the 3 RMOMS awardees in Missouri, New Mexico, and Texas, including network characteristics, model and goals, health equity efforts, sustainability, and maternal health outcomes.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 05/2022
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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Health Care Access Among Self-Employed Workers in Nonmetropolitan Counties
Report examining access to healthcare for self-employed workers, their families, and their households in rural areas, focusing on availability and affordability. Covers health insurance coverage and affordability, availability of healthcare services, and changes in work, income, health status, and healthcare access in 2020.
Author(s): Elizabeth A. Dobis, Jessica E. Todd
Date: 05/2022
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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State Medicaid Managed Care and Access to Rural Behavioral Health Services
Details how states with Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) are using MCO contract language to increase access to behavioral healthcare through service access requirements, provider network requirements, and telehealth utilization policies. Includes links to available MCO contracts and requests for applications.
Author(s): Eliza Mette, Jodi Manz
Date: 05/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Rural Patient Experiences of Accessing Care for Chronic Conditions: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Studies
Investigates rural patient experiences related to accessing healthcare for the purpose of chronic disease management. Analyzes 62 studies from 2010-2019 with a total of 1,354 participants experiencing chronic health issues. Discusses themes of navigating the rural environment and its cultural expectations, navigating the healthcare system, and financing healthcare.
Author(s): Elizabeth H. Golembiewski, Derek L. Gravholt, Victor D. Torres Roldan, et al.
Citation: The Annals of Family Medicine, 20(3), 266-272
Date: 05/2022
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The Justice Gap: The Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-Income Americans
Reports on civil legal needs experienced by low-income Americans who do not seek professional legal help and the paths they take when facing civil legal problems. Includes information on legal needs related to healthcare access and other issues that impact health, such as housing and COVID-19. Provides details for specific groups, including rural residents, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, parents of children under 18, and domestic violence survivors.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Full Report, Special Focus Rural
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Legal Services Corporation
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Health Panel Comment Letter – Access to Coverage and Care in Medicaid & CHIP
Offers comments in response to the Access to Coverage and Care in Medicaid and CHIP Request for Information. Discusses ways the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) can support states in addressing barriers to enrollment and retention, minimum access standards, and monitoring care availability and access to care.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Last Updated: 8/30/2024