Rural Veterans and Access to Healthcare – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Veterans and Access to Healthcare.
Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in Rural Versus Urban Veterans Health Administration Facilities
Explores rural veterans' access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) via the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system. Highlights VHA efforts to expand access to MOUD within VHA facilities and aims to identify access levels for rural veterans via the VA's Community Care program. Breaks down data by type of MOUD and by rural or urban location.
Author(s): Jessica J. Wyse, Sarah Shull, Stephan Lindner, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 38(8), 1871-1876
Date: 06/2023
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Explores rural veterans' access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) via the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system. Highlights VHA efforts to expand access to MOUD within VHA facilities and aims to identify access levels for rural veterans via the VA's Community Care program. Breaks down data by type of MOUD and by rural or urban location.
Author(s): Jessica J. Wyse, Sarah Shull, Stephan Lindner, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 38(8), 1871-1876
Date: 06/2023
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Mortality Among US Veterans Admitted to Community vs Veterans Health Administration Hospitals for COVID-19
Reviewed 64,856 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) elderly enrollees between March 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021 to compare COVID-19 health outcomes for those admitted to VHA hospitals to those admitted to community hospitals. Discusses access to VHA hospitals for rural veterans. Makes recommendations for future COVID-19 surges and other pandemics.
Author(s): Michael E. Ohl, Kelly Richardson Miell, Brice F. Beck, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(5)
Date: 05/2023
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Reviewed 64,856 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) elderly enrollees between March 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021 to compare COVID-19 health outcomes for those admitted to VHA hospitals to those admitted to community hospitals. Discusses access to VHA hospitals for rural veterans. Makes recommendations for future COVID-19 surges and other pandemics.
Author(s): Michael E. Ohl, Kelly Richardson Miell, Brice F. Beck, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(5)
Date: 05/2023
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Association of Rural Living With COPD-Related Hospitalizations and Deaths in US Veterans
Highlights a study aiming to identify the cause of higher COPD rates in rural areas. Utilizes VA data to draw conclusions about incidence and access to treatment for COPD for rural veterans. Breaks down data by age, comorbidities, and rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Spyridon Fortis, Yubo Gao, Arianne K. Baldomero, et al.
Citation: Scientific Reports, 13, 7887
Date: 05/2023
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Highlights a study aiming to identify the cause of higher COPD rates in rural areas. Utilizes VA data to draw conclusions about incidence and access to treatment for COPD for rural veterans. Breaks down data by age, comorbidities, and rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Spyridon Fortis, Yubo Gao, Arianne K. Baldomero, et al.
Citation: Scientific Reports, 13, 7887
Date: 05/2023
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VA Health Care: Office of Rural Health Would Benefit from Improved Communication and Developing Performance Goals
Examines the initiatives and research projects the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Rural Health (ORH) funded in fiscal year 2022. Explores how the office communicates funding opportunities and assesses its progress toward achieving its mission. Offers recommendations to the ORH regarding communicating research funding opportunities across the Veterans Administration and developing performance goals reflective of leading practices.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Examines the initiatives and research projects the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Rural Health (ORH) funded in fiscal year 2022. Explores how the office communicates funding opportunities and assesses its progress toward achieving its mission. Offers recommendations to the ORH regarding communicating research funding opportunities across the Veterans Administration and developing performance goals reflective of leading practices.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Challenges and Recommendations for Improving Access to Evidence-Based COPD Management among Rural Veterans: Rural Primary Care Provider Perspectives
Highlights a study on the perspectives of primary care providers serving rural veterans on the challenges of providing evidence-based COPD management care in rural communities. Details key barriers and makes policy recommendations.
Author(s): Talitha Wilson, R. Adams Dudley, Ken M. Kunisaki, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 38, 2843-2845
Date: 04/2023
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Highlights a study on the perspectives of primary care providers serving rural veterans on the challenges of providing evidence-based COPD management care in rural communities. Details key barriers and makes policy recommendations.
Author(s): Talitha Wilson, R. Adams Dudley, Ken M. Kunisaki, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 38, 2843-2845
Date: 04/2023
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Whole Health Coaching to Rural Veterans through Telehealth: Advantages, Gaps, and Opportunities
Discusses the Whole Health (WH) initiative – a proactive practice using coaches to engage patients in their health and well-being, and its applicability through telehealth to offer support to rural Veterans in achieving their health goals. Analyzes the findings from data collected through interviews, national surveys and focus groups of WH coaches working with rural veterans to determine the advantages of using telehealth, gaps in telehealth usage, and opportunities for WH coaching for rural veterans.
Author(s): Kelsea LeBeau, Deepthi S. Varma, Consuelo M. Kreider, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 11
Date: 03/2023
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Discusses the Whole Health (WH) initiative – a proactive practice using coaches to engage patients in their health and well-being, and its applicability through telehealth to offer support to rural Veterans in achieving their health goals. Analyzes the findings from data collected through interviews, national surveys and focus groups of WH coaches working with rural veterans to determine the advantages of using telehealth, gaps in telehealth usage, and opportunities for WH coaching for rural veterans.
Author(s): Kelsea LeBeau, Deepthi S. Varma, Consuelo M. Kreider, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 11
Date: 03/2023
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Financial Burden of Medical Care Among Veterans Aged 25–64, by Health Insurance Coverage: United States, 2019–2021
Examines financial burden for medical care among veterans aged 25–64 for those with VA health care alone and combined with different types of health insurance coverage. Table 1 includes data on VA health care and health insurance coverage for those in metropolitan and nonmetro areas.
Author(s): Robin A. Cohen, Peter Boersma
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Examines financial burden for medical care among veterans aged 25–64 for those with VA health care alone and combined with different types of health insurance coverage. Table 1 includes data on VA health care and health insurance coverage for those in metropolitan and nonmetro areas.
Author(s): Robin A. Cohen, Peter Boersma
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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VA Health Care: Improved Data, Planning, and Communication Needed for Infrastructure Modernization and Realignment
Describes the Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recommendations to modernize and realign its infrastructure. Examines the data that the VA used to inform its recommendations, any plans that VA has to improve such data, and the extent of the VA's planning to modernize and realign its infrastructure. Discusses rural-specific recommendations and compares data on facility closure and service line change recommendations by rurality.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Describes the Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recommendations to modernize and realign its infrastructure. Examines the data that the VA used to inform its recommendations, any plans that VA has to improve such data, and the extent of the VA's planning to modernize and realign its infrastructure. Discusses rural-specific recommendations and compares data on facility closure and service line change recommendations by rurality.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Rates of Primary Care and Integrated Mental Health Telemedicine Visits Between Rural and Urban Veterans Affairs Beneficiaries Before and After the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Shares the results of a study examining changes over time in rural-urban differences in telemedicine use for primary care and mental health integration services among Veterans Affairs (VA) beneficiaries. Uses data from 138 VA healthcare systems from March 2019 to December 2021. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by visit type and rural or urban area.
Author(s): Lucinda B. Leung, Caroline Yoo, Karen Chu, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(3)
Date: 03/2023
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Shares the results of a study examining changes over time in rural-urban differences in telemedicine use for primary care and mental health integration services among Veterans Affairs (VA) beneficiaries. Uses data from 138 VA healthcare systems from March 2019 to December 2021. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by visit type and rural or urban area.
Author(s): Lucinda B. Leung, Caroline Yoo, Karen Chu, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(3)
Date: 03/2023
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Achieving Whole Health: A New Approach for Veterans and the Nation
Report offers guidance for providers both inside and outside of the VA for filling gaps in veterans healthcare. Discusses a team-based interprofessional care structure for preventing disease and promoting well-being. Highlights some considerations for providing a whole health approach for rural veterans as well.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Health Care Services
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Report offers guidance for providers both inside and outside of the VA for filling gaps in veterans healthcare. Discusses a team-based interprofessional care structure for preventing disease and promoting well-being. Highlights some considerations for providing a whole health approach for rural veterans as well.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Health Care Services
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Last Updated: 4/10/2025