Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
The State of Rural Primary Care in the United States
Provides information, statistics, interactive maps, example programs, and policy suggestions regarding the rural primary care workforce supply in the United States. Provides data on projections for adequate supply as well as county-level maps on Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), National Health Service Corps (NHSC) clinicians, Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Includes rural versus nonrural respondent survey data related to primary care access, use, availability, and delivery.
Author(s): Celli Horstman, Arnav Shah
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Provides information, statistics, interactive maps, example programs, and policy suggestions regarding the rural primary care workforce supply in the United States. Provides data on projections for adequate supply as well as county-level maps on Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), National Health Service Corps (NHSC) clinicians, Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Includes rural versus nonrural respondent survey data related to primary care access, use, availability, and delivery.
Author(s): Celli Horstman, Arnav Shah
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Rural/Urban Differences among American Indian/Alaska Native Peoples in Health Care Access and Outcomes, 2019–2023
Compares health outcomes and healthcare utilization metrics for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) rural and urban residents using 2019-2023 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data. Discusses the impact of various sociodemographic factors and the Indian Health Service (IHS) on study findings.
Author(s): Katy Backes Kozhimannil, Hailey A. Baker, Julia D. Interrante, Kyle X. Hill, Melissa L. Walls
Citation: Journal of Community Health, 2025
Date: 11/2025
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Compares health outcomes and healthcare utilization metrics for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) rural and urban residents using 2019-2023 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data. Discusses the impact of various sociodemographic factors and the Indian Health Service (IHS) on study findings.
Author(s): Katy Backes Kozhimannil, Hailey A. Baker, Julia D. Interrante, Kyle X. Hill, Melissa L. Walls
Citation: Journal of Community Health, 2025
Date: 11/2025
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Is My Hospital Rural?
An infographic that provides a U.S. map showing state-level rural hospital coverage versus total hospital coverage. Includes information on bed availability, access, and economic impact.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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An infographic that provides a U.S. map showing state-level rural hospital coverage versus total hospital coverage. Includes information on bed availability, access, and economic impact.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Medicare Physician Fee-For-Service Payments: Adjusting for Variation in Geographic Practice Costs and Challenges for Hawaiʻi
Reports on policy approaches to Medicare reimbursement in Hawaii in order to address provider shortages and limited access to care associated with the state's geographic isolation and high cost of living. Discusses how Medicare policy impacts reimbursement and service availability in rural, remote, and frontier areas.
Author(s): Reinie Gerrits-Goh, John Desfor, Diana M.V. Shaw, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Hawaiʻi Rural Health Research & Policy Center
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Reports on policy approaches to Medicare reimbursement in Hawaii in order to address provider shortages and limited access to care associated with the state's geographic isolation and high cost of living. Discusses how Medicare policy impacts reimbursement and service availability in rural, remote, and frontier areas.
Author(s): Reinie Gerrits-Goh, John Desfor, Diana M.V. Shaw, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Hawaiʻi Rural Health Research & Policy Center
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Academic Detailing to Advance Naloxone Prescribing in Rural Primary Care: A 2-Year Pilot Study
Presents a study exploring the feasibility of implementing an intervention to improve primary care providers' (PCPs) knowledge, confidence, and adoption of naloxone-related practices in rural FQHCs. Study involves 30 PCPs in rural Arkansas, with 15 receiving a 30-minute virtual training on naloxone. Breaks down data by PCP profession type as well as HPSA status and score.
Author(s): Leah Tobey-Moore, Meghan N. Breckling, Teresa J. Hudson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 16
Date: 11/2025
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Presents a study exploring the feasibility of implementing an intervention to improve primary care providers' (PCPs) knowledge, confidence, and adoption of naloxone-related practices in rural FQHCs. Study involves 30 PCPs in rural Arkansas, with 15 receiving a 30-minute virtual training on naloxone. Breaks down data by PCP profession type as well as HPSA status and score.
Author(s): Leah Tobey-Moore, Meghan N. Breckling, Teresa J. Hudson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 16
Date: 11/2025
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Closing the Distance in Rural Primary Care: Evidence, Stories and Solutions
Explores the state of rural primary care in the United States. Describes recent federal legislation that may impact rural primary care, healthcare access, and health outcomes. Discusses trends in rural primary care, including comparisons between rural and urban primary care spending relative to all total spending, primary care workforce availability, and comprehensiveness of primary care. Presents five case studies highlighting rural primary care practices and practice models.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Primary Care Collaborative, Robert Graham Center
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Explores the state of rural primary care in the United States. Describes recent federal legislation that may impact rural primary care, healthcare access, and health outcomes. Discusses trends in rural primary care, including comparisons between rural and urban primary care spending relative to all total spending, primary care workforce availability, and comprehensiveness of primary care. Presents five case studies highlighting rural primary care practices and practice models.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Primary Care Collaborative, Robert Graham Center
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Rural Perspectives on Digital Health in Cardiovascular Care: Qualitative Study of Interviews With Rural and Rural-Serving Primary Care Providers and Cardiologists
Explores the perspectives of 17 rural and rural-serving healthcare providers in Alaska, Idaho, and Washington, on the use of digital health to deliver rural cardiovascular care. Discusses five factors that influence adoption outlined by the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory: relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. Identifies themes that emerged from semi-structured interviews with these providers, including advantages and disadvantages of using digital health in their practice.
Author(s): Signe Burchim, Susan Miller, Kristin Beima-Sofie, et al.
Citation: Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27, e77234
Date: 11/2025
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Explores the perspectives of 17 rural and rural-serving healthcare providers in Alaska, Idaho, and Washington, on the use of digital health to deliver rural cardiovascular care. Discusses five factors that influence adoption outlined by the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory: relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. Identifies themes that emerged from semi-structured interviews with these providers, including advantages and disadvantages of using digital health in their practice.
Author(s): Signe Burchim, Susan Miller, Kristin Beima-Sofie, et al.
Citation: Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27, e77234
Date: 11/2025
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County-Level Vulnerability Is Associated With Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment Among Rural Suicide Decedents: A National Multi-Year Cross-Sectional Study
Presents a study on the relationship between individual- and county-level factors that correlate with rural suicide decedents who receive mental health and substance use dependence treatment. Breaks down data by county-level factors, such as number of mental health providers, number of primary care providers, and rate of social associations, among others, as well as individual characteristics, such as age, sex, education, and marital status, among others.
Author(s): J. Priyanka Vakkalanka, Victor A. Soupene, Jennifer Van Tiem, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70094
Date: 11/2025
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Presents a study on the relationship between individual- and county-level factors that correlate with rural suicide decedents who receive mental health and substance use dependence treatment. Breaks down data by county-level factors, such as number of mental health providers, number of primary care providers, and rate of social associations, among others, as well as individual characteristics, such as age, sex, education, and marital status, among others.
Author(s): J. Priyanka Vakkalanka, Victor A. Soupene, Jennifer Van Tiem, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70094
Date: 11/2025
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Communities That Care: The Power of Giving with Sanford Health
A conversation with Sanford Health's president and CE0, Bill Gassen, and chief philanthropy officer, Deb Koski, about philanthropy to support healthcare access in rural Midwestern communities. Focuses on community engagement and collaboration.
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Bill Gassen, Sue Ellen Wagner, Deb Koski
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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A conversation with Sanford Health's president and CE0, Bill Gassen, and chief philanthropy officer, Deb Koski, about philanthropy to support healthcare access in rural Midwestern communities. Focuses on community engagement and collaboration.
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Bill Gassen, Sue Ellen Wagner, Deb Koski
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Missed Opportunities for Tobacco Dependence Treatment among U.S. Veterans Referred for Lung Cancer Screening: An Observational Cohort Study
Analyzes rates at which tobacco dependence treatment (TDT) is provided to veterans who use tobacco and were referred for lung cancer screening (LCS) at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and associated clinics in the upper Midwest between September 2022 and September 2023. Breaks down clinical and demographic factors associated with TDT use, including rurality.
Author(s): Anne C. Melzer, Adam Kaplan, Megan Campbell, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine Reports, 59, 103263
Date: 11/2025
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Analyzes rates at which tobacco dependence treatment (TDT) is provided to veterans who use tobacco and were referred for lung cancer screening (LCS) at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and associated clinics in the upper Midwest between September 2022 and September 2023. Breaks down clinical and demographic factors associated with TDT use, including rurality.
Author(s): Anne C. Melzer, Adam Kaplan, Megan Campbell, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine Reports, 59, 103263
Date: 11/2025
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