Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
How Do Services Offered Within Opioid Treatment Programs Vary Based on State Methadone Policies?
Examines the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in various states as well as access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) options, psychosocial services, and housing supports. Analyzes 1,501 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their characteristics, including state restrictiveness, services offered, facility type, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Noa Krawczyk, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Jonathan H. Cantor
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 190, 210062
Date: 11/2026
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Examines the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in various states as well as access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) options, psychosocial services, and housing supports. Analyzes 1,501 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their characteristics, including state restrictiveness, services offered, facility type, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Noa Krawczyk, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Jonathan H. Cantor
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 190, 210062
Date: 11/2026
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Survival Versus Scale: The Effects of Critical Access Hospital Designation
Explores whether designation-based hospital subsidies, specifically the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) program, preserve meaningful access to care. Describes the effects of CAH designation on hospital finances, capacity, and organizational outcomes between 1995-2010. Discusses the implications of hospital preservation and reduced operational scale on access to care and patient health.
Author(s): Ian M. McCarthy, Katie Leinenbach
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Bureau of Economic Research
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Explores whether designation-based hospital subsidies, specifically the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) program, preserve meaningful access to care. Describes the effects of CAH designation on hospital finances, capacity, and organizational outcomes between 1995-2010. Discusses the implications of hospital preservation and reduced operational scale on access to care and patient health.
Author(s): Ian M. McCarthy, Katie Leinenbach
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Bureau of Economic Research
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Providing Care to the Surprisingly Large Rural Population in the US: A Healthy Dialogue With Julie Donohue and Mark Holmes
Summarizes a podcast episode featuring a discussion with Mark Holmes, director of The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Julie Donohue, professor and chair of health policy and management at the University of Pittsburgh and deputy editor at JAMA Health Forum. Describes challenges facing rural health and the potential impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
Additional links: Providing Rural Health Care Is Really Hard; 60 Million Americans Rely on It, Transcript
Author(s): Derek C. Angus, Matthew B. O'Connor
Citation: JAMA
Date: 10/2026
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Summarizes a podcast episode featuring a discussion with Mark Holmes, director of The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Julie Donohue, professor and chair of health policy and management at the University of Pittsburgh and deputy editor at JAMA Health Forum. Describes challenges facing rural health and the potential impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
Additional links: Providing Rural Health Care Is Really Hard; 60 Million Americans Rely on It, Transcript
Author(s): Derek C. Angus, Matthew B. O'Connor
Citation: JAMA
Date: 10/2026
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Implementing a Telehealth Perinatal Depression Prevention Program: Perspectives of Rural and Urban Clinical Staff
Surveys 24 maternal health clinical staff, including nurses, medical assistants, lactation consultants, and others, on the implementation of a telehealth perinatal depression prevention program. Analyzes rural and urban differences in perceptions of facilitators and barriers of program participation among staff and patients.
Author(s): Tumilara Aderibigbe, Wen Tu, Ryoko Kausler, et al.
Citation: Journal of Nursing Management
Date: 10/2026
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Surveys 24 maternal health clinical staff, including nurses, medical assistants, lactation consultants, and others, on the implementation of a telehealth perinatal depression prevention program. Analyzes rural and urban differences in perceptions of facilitators and barriers of program participation among staff and patients.
Author(s): Tumilara Aderibigbe, Wen Tu, Ryoko Kausler, et al.
Citation: Journal of Nursing Management
Date: 10/2026
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Digital Breast Tomosynthesis Use, Facility Mammography Volume, and Timely Follow-Up After Abnormal Screening Mammograms in Appalachia, United States
Explores the effect of facility-level characteristics, such as rural versus urban location, and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) use on post-screening follow-up times in rural versus urban areas in Appalachia. Breaks down data by facility volume and individual patient characteristics that are associated with follow-up delay.
Author(s): Silas Selorm Daniels-Donkor, Fabian T. Camacho, Gloribel Bonilla, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70229
Date: 10/2026
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Explores the effect of facility-level characteristics, such as rural versus urban location, and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) use on post-screening follow-up times in rural versus urban areas in Appalachia. Breaks down data by facility volume and individual patient characteristics that are associated with follow-up delay.
Author(s): Silas Selorm Daniels-Donkor, Fabian T. Camacho, Gloribel Bonilla, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70229
Date: 10/2026
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Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Facility Access and Clinical Outcomes Among Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction
Analyzes how openings of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) facilities were associated with PCI access and mortality between 2011 and 2022 using California HCAI patient discharge, emergency department, and ambulatory surgery datasets. See Table for a comparison of rural and non-rural communities' access to PCI within 30 minutes at baseline.
Author(s): Yu-Chu Shen, Renee Y. Hsia
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(10), e2638687
Date: 10/2026
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Analyzes how openings of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) facilities were associated with PCI access and mortality between 2011 and 2022 using California HCAI patient discharge, emergency department, and ambulatory surgery datasets. See Table for a comparison of rural and non-rural communities' access to PCI within 30 minutes at baseline.
Author(s): Yu-Chu Shen, Renee Y. Hsia
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(10), e2638687
Date: 10/2026
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Rural Patients' Transitional Care Experiences: A Qualitative Analysis of Provider Notes
Examines experiences of older, veteran patients discharged from a hospital to their home. Utilizes electronic health record clinical notes and Veterans Affairs (VA) Corporate Data Warehouse data from 200 veterans who died within 30 days of discharge. Analyzes rural versus urban differences in patient demographics, patient health conditions, geographic distance to care settings, willingness to utilize home health services, caregiver burden, and more. Discusses unique challenges experienced by rural veterans and their caregivers in transitional care.
Author(s): Samantha B. Randolph, Nicholas A. Rattray, Claire E. Donnelly, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70225
Date: 10/2026
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Examines experiences of older, veteran patients discharged from a hospital to their home. Utilizes electronic health record clinical notes and Veterans Affairs (VA) Corporate Data Warehouse data from 200 veterans who died within 30 days of discharge. Analyzes rural versus urban differences in patient demographics, patient health conditions, geographic distance to care settings, willingness to utilize home health services, caregiver burden, and more. Discusses unique challenges experienced by rural veterans and their caregivers in transitional care.
Author(s): Samantha B. Randolph, Nicholas A. Rattray, Claire E. Donnelly, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70225
Date: 10/2026
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Medicare Advantage Plan Availability Varies Widely by County for 2027
Describes the availability of Medicare Advantage prescription drug (MA-PD) plans in 2027. Presents data on MA-PD plan availability by county in 2026 and 2027, as well as the number of counties 10 MA insurers have entered and exited between 2026 and 2027.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Describes the availability of Medicare Advantage prescription drug (MA-PD) plans in 2027. Presents data on MA-PD plan availability by county in 2026 and 2027, as well as the number of counties 10 MA insurers have entered and exited between 2026 and 2027.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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The Role of the Clubhouse Model in Addressing Health Inequalities in Rural Wyoming: A Qualitative Study
Discusses how the Clubhouse model, focused on community mental health support, can support recovery and improve quality of life for people with mental illness in rural Wyoming. Provides excerpts from interviews with 12 Clubhouse members and 4 staff on factors influencing negative mental health outcomes among rural people, including limited access to services, and the role of the Clubhouse in facilitating access to mental health and housing services and facilitating economic stability.
Author(s): Ruth Korankye, Gloria Oladeji, Lauren Gilbert
Citation: International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 21(1)
Date: 10/2026
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Discusses how the Clubhouse model, focused on community mental health support, can support recovery and improve quality of life for people with mental illness in rural Wyoming. Provides excerpts from interviews with 12 Clubhouse members and 4 staff on factors influencing negative mental health outcomes among rural people, including limited access to services, and the role of the Clubhouse in facilitating access to mental health and housing services and facilitating economic stability.
Author(s): Ruth Korankye, Gloria Oladeji, Lauren Gilbert
Citation: International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 21(1)
Date: 10/2026
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Leveraging the Community-Based Workforce to Strengthen Behavioral Health Care in Rural Tennessee
Profiles River Valley Health (RVH), a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) that serves rural communities in eastern Tennessee. Discusses how a community-based workforce can provide more accessible and responsive behavioral healthcare in rural areas. Includes staffing models and funding strategies for sustainability.
Author(s): Christopher Menschner
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Profiles River Valley Health (RVH), a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) that serves rural communities in eastern Tennessee. Discusses how a community-based workforce can provide more accessible and responsive behavioral healthcare in rural areas. Includes staffing models and funding strategies for sustainability.
Author(s): Christopher Menschner
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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