Rural Health
Resources by State: California
From "Rural Bypass" to Regional Capacity: Building CA Hub-and-Spoke Specialty Care
Details how the state of California is implementing a telehealth-based hub-and-spoke model connecting rural hospitals as specialty care providers with local clinics. Discusses implications for providers, including suggestions for Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and other rural facilities.
Author(s): Sylvia Trujillo, Emilia Ochoa-Ruiz
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: California Telehealth Resource Center
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Details how the state of California is implementing a telehealth-based hub-and-spoke model connecting rural hospitals as specialty care providers with local clinics. Discusses implications for providers, including suggestions for Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and other rural facilities.
Author(s): Sylvia Trujillo, Emilia Ochoa-Ruiz
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: California Telehealth Resource Center
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Policy Brief: Teen Mental Health and School-Based Services in California
Presents data on rural and urban teen mental health and the availability of mental health services in schools in California, and provides recommendations for facilitating mental health service availability and use in schools. See Figure 12 within Full Report for additional data on health expenditures per student by level of rurality.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Public Policy Institute of California
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Presents data on rural and urban teen mental health and the availability of mental health services in schools in California, and provides recommendations for facilitating mental health service availability and use in schools. See Figure 12 within Full Report for additional data on health expenditures per student by level of rurality.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Public Policy Institute of California
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Caregiver Perceptions of USDA Rural Non-Congregate Summer Meals for Children in California
Presents results of survey on the benefits, accessibility, and practicality of SUN Meals To-Go, a USDA rural non-congregate summer meal program, in California among caregivers of children who received services in the summer of 2024. Provides data and interview excerpts highlighting caregiver perspectives.
Author(s): Emily Patten, J. Mitchell Vaterlaus, Lori A. Spruance, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 18(2), 270
Date: 01/2026
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Presents results of survey on the benefits, accessibility, and practicality of SUN Meals To-Go, a USDA rural non-congregate summer meal program, in California among caregivers of children who received services in the summer of 2024. Provides data and interview excerpts highlighting caregiver perspectives.
Author(s): Emily Patten, J. Mitchell Vaterlaus, Lori A. Spruance, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 18(2), 270
Date: 01/2026
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Chain Reaction: Homegrown Programs Encourage Safe Biking in Rural Areas
Discusses the challenges rural areas may face in taking advantage of the health and other benefits of biking. Features a coalition that sponsors bike safety events in rural California, an Ohio library program for checking out bicycles, and bicycle advocacy work in rural Wisconsin.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Discusses the challenges rural areas may face in taking advantage of the health and other benefits of biking. Features a coalition that sponsors bike safety events in rural California, an Ohio library program for checking out bicycles, and bicycle advocacy work in rural Wisconsin.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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California Rural Obstetrical Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the obstetricians and advanced practice midwives workforce distribution in California in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the obstetricians and advanced practice midwives workforce distribution in California in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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An Exploration of Access to Tobacco Cessation Services Through Pharmacies in a Medically Underserved Area in California: Accuracy of Telephone Information Regarding Pharmacist-Furnished NRT
Examines the reliability of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) phone consultations with pharmacy staff in rural, underresourced areas of California's San Joaquin Valley (SJV). Discusses discrepancies in NRT information when comparing in-person NRT visits and telephone services.
Author(s): Sara Schneider, Deanna M. Halliday, Arturo Durazo, Anna V. Song, Dorie E. Apollonio
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 16
Date: 12/2025
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Examines the reliability of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) phone consultations with pharmacy staff in rural, underresourced areas of California's San Joaquin Valley (SJV). Discusses discrepancies in NRT information when comparing in-person NRT visits and telephone services.
Author(s): Sara Schneider, Deanna M. Halliday, Arturo Durazo, Anna V. Song, Dorie E. Apollonio
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 16
Date: 12/2025
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California Rural Behavioral Health Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in California in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in California in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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California Rural Primary Care Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the primary care workforce distribution in California in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the primary care workforce distribution in California in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Addressing Older Adult Homelessness and Housing Instability in Rural California
Discusses homelessness among older adults in rural California, highlighting their risk factors and infrastructure challenges. Offers policy recommendations covering data collection, resource allocation, service coordination, support services, and legal solutions.
Author(s): Pauline DeLange Martinez, Elizabeth Bogumil, Helen Miltiades, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organizations: The SCAN Foundation, UC Davis Health
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Discusses homelessness among older adults in rural California, highlighting their risk factors and infrastructure challenges. Offers policy recommendations covering data collection, resource allocation, service coordination, support services, and legal solutions.
Author(s): Pauline DeLange Martinez, Elizabeth Bogumil, Helen Miltiades, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organizations: The SCAN Foundation, UC Davis Health
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Rural Health Care Policy Solutions for California's Older Adults
Describes healthcare disparities for rural older adults in California and offers policy recommendations to address those disparities. Discusses the healthcare workforce, workforce training, navigating complex systems, age-friendly care, care coordination, transportation, digital health, and community-based support and resources.
Author(s): Pauline DeLange Martinez, Elizabeth Bogumil, Helen Miltiades, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organizations: The SCAN Foundation, UC Davis Health
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Describes healthcare disparities for rural older adults in California and offers policy recommendations to address those disparities. Discusses the healthcare workforce, workforce training, navigating complex systems, age-friendly care, care coordination, transportation, digital health, and community-based support and resources.
Author(s): Pauline DeLange Martinez, Elizabeth Bogumil, Helen Miltiades, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organizations: The SCAN Foundation, UC Davis Health
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