Healthcare Access in Rural Communities – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Healthcare Access in Rural Communities.
The Problem Of The Color Line: Spatial Access To Hospital Services For Minoritized Racial And Ethnic Groups
Study examining inequities in access to healthcare by race and geography, covering distances to hospital services for minoritized ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZTCAs). Discusses factors that lead to disparities in access for rural minority communities, including policy, rural hospital closures, and safety-net program issues.
Additional links: Story Map: The Problem Of The Color Line
Author(s): Jan M. Eberth, Peiyin Hung, Gabriel A. Benavidez, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs, 41(2), 237-246
Date: 02/2022
Type: Document
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Study examining inequities in access to healthcare by race and geography, covering distances to hospital services for minoritized ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZTCAs). Discusses factors that lead to disparities in access for rural minority communities, including policy, rural hospital closures, and safety-net program issues.
Additional links: Story Map: The Problem Of The Color Line
Author(s): Jan M. Eberth, Peiyin Hung, Gabriel A. Benavidez, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs, 41(2), 237-246
Date: 02/2022
Type: Document
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Findings from the National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS) 2019–2020: A Demographic and Employment Profile of United States Farmworkers
Reports on demographic and employment characteristics of hired agricultural workers in the United States. Includes data on health insurance and healthcare access, as well as information on social determinants of health such as income, education level, language skills, and housing. Based on data collected from face-to-face interviews with 2,586 crop farmworkers conducted between October 1, 2018, and September 30, 2020.
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Labor
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Reports on demographic and employment characteristics of hired agricultural workers in the United States. Includes data on health insurance and healthcare access, as well as information on social determinants of health such as income, education level, language skills, and housing. Based on data collected from face-to-face interviews with 2,586 crop farmworkers conducted between October 1, 2018, and September 30, 2020.
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Labor
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High-Performing Rural Health System
Update to the September 2011 RUPRI Health Panel document "The High Performance Rural Health Care System of the Future." Describes affordable and accessible healthcare for all rural residents through a sustainable system delivering high quality, high value services. Defines pillars of accessibility, affordability, community health, and quality.
Author(s): Andrew Coburn, Alva O. Ferdinand, Alana Knudson, et al.
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Update to the September 2011 RUPRI Health Panel document "The High Performance Rural Health Care System of the Future." Describes affordable and accessible healthcare for all rural residents through a sustainable system delivering high quality, high value services. Defines pillars of accessibility, affordability, community health, and quality.
Author(s): Andrew Coburn, Alva O. Ferdinand, Alana Knudson, et al.
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Does Primary Care Availability Mediate the Relationship Between Rurality and Lower Life Expectancy in the United States?
Analyzes if the availability of primary care providers (PCPs) is a factor in life expectancy outcomes in rural areas. Utilizes county-level statistics for the years 2010, 2015, and 2017 to see if rural counties with higher PCP density trended toward higher life expectancy. Includes descriptive statistics that show rural versus urban comparisons for life expectancy, race/ethnicity, education level, income, insurance and employment status, rate of elderly residents, and access to/cost of medical care.
Author(s): Arjun Sharma, Sanjay Basu
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 13
Date: 2022
Type: Document
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Analyzes if the availability of primary care providers (PCPs) is a factor in life expectancy outcomes in rural areas. Utilizes county-level statistics for the years 2010, 2015, and 2017 to see if rural counties with higher PCP density trended toward higher life expectancy. Includes descriptive statistics that show rural versus urban comparisons for life expectancy, race/ethnicity, education level, income, insurance and employment status, rate of elderly residents, and access to/cost of medical care.
Author(s): Arjun Sharma, Sanjay Basu
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 13
Date: 2022
Type: Document
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Trends in Racial, Ethnic, Sex, and Rural-Urban Inequities in Health Care in Medicare Advantage: 2009-2018
Presents an analysis of historical trends in inequities by race and ethnicity, sex, and rural-urban residence among Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans nationwide. Uses patient experience and clinical care measures to examine how inequities in healthcare have changed between 2009 and 2018, how scores for each beneficiary group have changed over time, and which inequities remained in 2018.
Date: 12/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RAND Corporation
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Presents an analysis of historical trends in inequities by race and ethnicity, sex, and rural-urban residence among Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans nationwide. Uses patient experience and clinical care measures to examine how inequities in healthcare have changed between 2009 and 2018, how scores for each beneficiary group have changed over time, and which inequities remained in 2018.
Date: 12/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RAND Corporation
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Trans*Forming Access and Care in Rural Areas: A Community-Engaged Approach
Article exploring the healthcare experiences and barriers to accessing services for rural transgender and gender diverse (TGD) populations based on qualitative data gathered in Appalachia. Describes the limited research on TGD populations and health and barriers to care including transportation, gender-affirming care access, provider knowledge and inclusivity, and avoidance of care.
Author(s): Megan E. Gandy, Kacie M. Kidd, James Weiss, Judith Leitch, Xavier Hersom
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(23), 12700
Date: 12/2021
Type: Document
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Article exploring the healthcare experiences and barriers to accessing services for rural transgender and gender diverse (TGD) populations based on qualitative data gathered in Appalachia. Describes the limited research on TGD populations and health and barriers to care including transportation, gender-affirming care access, provider knowledge and inclusivity, and avoidance of care.
Author(s): Megan E. Gandy, Kacie M. Kidd, James Weiss, Judith Leitch, Xavier Hersom
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(23), 12700
Date: 12/2021
Type: Document
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Health Disparities in Rural Women
Discusses the health disparities that exist for rural women in all categories of women's health, including obstetric and gynecologic outcomes and access to care. Covers programs to improve healthcare services for rural women and recommendations to reduce health disparities.
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
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Discusses the health disparities that exist for rural women in all categories of women's health, including obstetric and gynecologic outcomes and access to care. Covers programs to improve healthcare services for rural women and recommendations to reduce health disparities.
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
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Health Care in Rural America: Use, Affordability, and Access
Report on rural access to healthcare and the overall health of rural adults age 40 and older based on a survey from November 20 to December 18, 2020. Addresses disparities in health, income, and access to health insurance. Presents data on household income, mental health status, chronic conditions, concerns related to visiting healthcare facilities due to COVID-19, and more.
Additional links: Annotated Questionnaire
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: AARP
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Report on rural access to healthcare and the overall health of rural adults age 40 and older based on a survey from November 20 to December 18, 2020. Addresses disparities in health, income, and access to health insurance. Presents data on household income, mental health status, chronic conditions, concerns related to visiting healthcare facilities due to COVID-19, and more.
Additional links: Annotated Questionnaire
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: AARP
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Delivery of Healthcare In Rural America
Presentation slides discussing rural healthcare delivery in the United States and challenges to creating high-performing rural healthcare systems such as the COVID-19 pandemic, caring for high-risk populations, behavioral health needs, access issues, and more. Includes recommendations from the Bipartisan Policy Center Rural Health task force on developing current and long-term financial stability for hospitals and other healthcare providers, infrastructure supports, and more to address rural population health.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller
Date: 09/2021
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Presentation slides discussing rural healthcare delivery in the United States and challenges to creating high-performing rural healthcare systems such as the COVID-19 pandemic, caring for high-risk populations, behavioral health needs, access issues, and more. Includes recommendations from the Bipartisan Policy Center Rural Health task force on developing current and long-term financial stability for hospitals and other healthcare providers, infrastructure supports, and more to address rural population health.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller
Date: 09/2021
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Restoring Access to Maternity Care in Rural America
Examines regional partnerships to build rural access to maternity care through hub-and-spoke models of education and support from urban healthcare organizations to rural maternity providers, investments in telehealth, and remote monitoring systems. Discusses barriers to maternity care access in rural areas and highlights local examples of maternal health provider networks, investments in the rural maternity workforce, and policy implications of developing rural maternity care.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Examines regional partnerships to build rural access to maternity care through hub-and-spoke models of education and support from urban healthcare organizations to rural maternity providers, investments in telehealth, and remote monitoring systems. Discusses barriers to maternity care access in rural areas and highlights local examples of maternal health provider networks, investments in the rural maternity workforce, and policy implications of developing rural maternity care.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Last Updated: 6/26/2024