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Healthcare Access in Rural Communities – Resources

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

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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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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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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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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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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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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Geographic Access to Health Care for Rural Medicare Beneficiaries: A National Study
Policy brief exploring rural and urban healthcare, geographic access to providers, and types of providers seen by Medicare beneficiaries based on Medicare administrative data from 2014. Charts offer rural and urban comparisons of characteristics of beneficiaries, number of visits by region, number of visits by race/ethnicity, visits by provider type, and travel distance and time.
Author(s): Eric H. Larson, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Lisa A. Garberson, David V. Evans
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Rural-Urban Variations in Travel Burdens for Care: Findings from the 2017 National Household Travel Survey
Provides estimates of the distance traveled and time spent on one-way trips for medical and dental care, examines how rural residents' travel behaviors vary by sociodemographic and geographic characteristics, and evaluates factors associated with a high travel burden for medical and dental care among rural residents. Features statistics with breakdowns by time and distance traveled, age, sex, race/ethnicity, household income, and rural or urban residence.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Marvellous Akinlotan, Kristin Primm, Nima Khodakarami, Jane Bolin, Alva O. Ferdinand
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Access to Affordable Care in Rural America: Current Trends and Key Challenges
Describes geographic and demographic challenges that contribute to healthcare access and health disparities in rural areas. Covers patterns of insurance coverage between rural and urban areas, healthcare provider shortages, and rural hospital vulnerability and closures. Discusses programs and services supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reduce barriers to care in rural communities, including telehealth, healthcare workforce programs, and Rural Health Clinics and Community Health Centers.
Author(s): Gina Turrini, D.Keith Branham, Lucy Chen, et al.
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Small Area Health Insurance Estimates: 2019
Reports on health insurance coverage in the U.S. in 2018 and changes between 2018 and 2019, as well as changes between 2013 and 2019. Includes maps showing county-level uninsured rates.
Author(s): Sara Robinson, Katherine Ann Willyard
Date: 06/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Last Updated: 11/15/2024