Healthcare Access in Rural Communities – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Healthcare Access in Rural Communities.
How Does Cost Affect Access to Healthcare?
Explores trends in how costs affect access to healthcare using data from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Covers the percentage of adults who delayed or went without care due to cost. Presents data by income level, health status, race and ethnicity, insurance status, and urban/rural residence. Also discusses insulin users who rationed insulin due to costs and the impact of medical debt on accessing care.
Author(s): Shameek Rakshit, Krutika Amin, Cynthia Cox
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organizations: KFF, Peterson Center on Healthcare
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Explores trends in how costs affect access to healthcare using data from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Covers the percentage of adults who delayed or went without care due to cost. Presents data by income level, health status, race and ethnicity, insurance status, and urban/rural residence. Also discusses insulin users who rationed insulin due to costs and the impact of medical debt on accessing care.
Author(s): Shameek Rakshit, Krutika Amin, Cynthia Cox
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organizations: KFF, Peterson Center on Healthcare
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The Rural Library and Health Cooperative Agreement Program: A New Chapter in Rural Healthcare Access
Video featuring a program that places health liaisons in libraries throughout South Carolina to provide residents with services that include health information, telehealth, reproductive and behavioral health, assistance with social needs, and connections with providers.
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Video featuring a program that places health liaisons in libraries throughout South Carolina to provide residents with services that include health information, telehealth, reproductive and behavioral health, assistance with social needs, and connections with providers.
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Nursing Home Closures and Access to Post-Acute Care and Long-Term Care Services in Rural Areas
Examines distance to care for residents needing post-acute care (PAC) and long-term care (LTC) services. Analyzes nursing home closures from 2008 to 2018 and identifies closest PAC and LTC services in rural versus urban areas, with data broken down by population demographics, nursing home characteristics, and distance to providers.
Author(s): Hari Sharma, Redwan Bin Abdul Baten, Fred Ullrich, A. Clint MacKinney, Keith J. Mueller
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(3), 557-564
Date: 01/2024
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Examines distance to care for residents needing post-acute care (PAC) and long-term care (LTC) services. Analyzes nursing home closures from 2008 to 2018 and identifies closest PAC and LTC services in rural versus urban areas, with data broken down by population demographics, nursing home characteristics, and distance to providers.
Author(s): Hari Sharma, Redwan Bin Abdul Baten, Fred Ullrich, A. Clint MacKinney, Keith J. Mueller
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(3), 557-564
Date: 01/2024
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End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices (ETC) Model: Second Annual Evaluation Report
Evaluation of the End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices (ETC) Model, incorporating analyses of home dialysis use, transplantation, acute care hospitalizations, outpatient ED visits, and hospital readmissions. Features results from interviews and surveys involving model participants and beneficiaries, and examines impacts of the ETC Model during calendar years 2021 and 2022. Includes facility-level statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Author(s): Brighita Negrusa, Jennifer Wiens, Darin Ullman, et al.
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, The Lewin Group
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Evaluation of the End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices (ETC) Model, incorporating analyses of home dialysis use, transplantation, acute care hospitalizations, outpatient ED visits, and hospital readmissions. Features results from interviews and surveys involving model participants and beneficiaries, and examines impacts of the ETC Model during calendar years 2021 and 2022. Includes facility-level statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Author(s): Brighita Negrusa, Jennifer Wiens, Darin Ullman, et al.
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, The Lewin Group
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Implementation of a Mobile Health Clinic Framework for Hepatitis C Virus Screening and Treatment: A Descriptive Study
Examines the effectiveness of utilizing mobile health clinics (MHC) for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) treatment in underserved areas. Analyzes HCV screening and treatment rates of an MHC program initiated by Clemson Rural Health in South Carolina and discusses the impact of MHCs to provide healthcare access in rural and underserved areas.
Author(s): Lior Rennert, Kerry A. Howard, Caitlin M. Kickham, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 29
Date: 01/2024
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Examines the effectiveness of utilizing mobile health clinics (MHC) for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) treatment in underserved areas. Analyzes HCV screening and treatment rates of an MHC program initiated by Clemson Rural Health in South Carolina and discusses the impact of MHCs to provide healthcare access in rural and underserved areas.
Author(s): Lior Rennert, Kerry A. Howard, Caitlin M. Kickham, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 29
Date: 01/2024
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Health Care Access Barriers Among Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Populations of Eight Geographically Diverse States, 2018
Reports on healthcare access and demographic differences in metro and nonmetro populations. Utilizes Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data to observe differences in noncore, micropolitan, and metropolitan sociodemographics and access barriers such as insurance, cost, non-financial delays in care, and more.
Author(s): Whitney E. Zahnd, Peiyin Hung, Elizabeth L. Crouch, Radhika Ranganathan, Jan M. Eberth
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1)
Date: 2024
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Reports on healthcare access and demographic differences in metro and nonmetro populations. Utilizes Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data to observe differences in noncore, micropolitan, and metropolitan sociodemographics and access barriers such as insurance, cost, non-financial delays in care, and more.
Author(s): Whitney E. Zahnd, Peiyin Hung, Elizabeth L. Crouch, Radhika Ranganathan, Jan M. Eberth
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1)
Date: 2024
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Medicaid and CHIP Renewal and Transition Resources for Partners
Offers resources for states, beneficiary and provider organizations, and other partners to better assist people with Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage to renew their healthcare coverage or transition to insurance options that better suit their needs. Includes outreach materials for different population categories, including racial and ethnic populations, people with disabilities and older adults, and rural populations.
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Offers resources for states, beneficiary and provider organizations, and other partners to better assist people with Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage to renew their healthcare coverage or transition to insurance options that better suit their needs. Includes outreach materials for different population categories, including racial and ethnic populations, people with disabilities and older adults, and rural populations.
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Effects of Rurality and Distance to Care on Perinatal Outcomes over a 1-Year Period During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines how rurality and/or distance to care impacts perinatal outcomes such as pre-eclampsia, preterm labor, neonatal intensive care, birth weight, and more. Analyzes outcomes from 2,497 patients during the COVID-19 pandemic period of May 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021, with results broken down by distance to care and metropolitan, micropolitan, or rural location.
Author(s): Pratyusha V. Bujimalla, Kimberly A. Kenne, Haley A. Steffen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(3), 520-530
Date: 2024
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Examines how rurality and/or distance to care impacts perinatal outcomes such as pre-eclampsia, preterm labor, neonatal intensive care, birth weight, and more. Analyzes outcomes from 2,497 patients during the COVID-19 pandemic period of May 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021, with results broken down by distance to care and metropolitan, micropolitan, or rural location.
Author(s): Pratyusha V. Bujimalla, Kimberly A. Kenne, Haley A. Steffen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(3), 520-530
Date: 2024
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Uninsured Population in Nonmetropolitan Counties
Printable map that shows percent of population without health insurance nationwide by county. Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE)
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Printable map that shows percent of population without health insurance nationwide by county. Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE)
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Impacts of Transit on Health in Rural and Small Urban Areas
Overview of how public transportation affects health in rural and small urban areas. Summarizes findings from a literature review that looked at public transportation as it relates to the social determinants of health, healthcare access, physical activity, social isolation, and mental health. Also reports results from a survey of rural older adults supplemented by data analysis looking at travel for healthcare, challenges related to public transportation, and the impacts of missed or delayed healthcare trips.
Author(s): Jeremy Mattson, Bright Quayson
Date: 12/2023
Sponsoring organization: Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute
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Overview of how public transportation affects health in rural and small urban areas. Summarizes findings from a literature review that looked at public transportation as it relates to the social determinants of health, healthcare access, physical activity, social isolation, and mental health. Also reports results from a survey of rural older adults supplemented by data analysis looking at travel for healthcare, challenges related to public transportation, and the impacts of missed or delayed healthcare trips.
Author(s): Jeremy Mattson, Bright Quayson
Date: 12/2023
Sponsoring organization: Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute
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Last Updated: 1/24/2025