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
view details
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
view details
Correlates of Glycemic Status among American Indian Adults With Type 2 Diabetes in Rural Southeastern Oklahoma
Explores correlating factors associated with elevated glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), which is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes complications, in a tribal community in rural southeastern Oklahoma. Discusses the relationship between elevated HbA1c levels and type 2 diabetes. Bases findings on data pulled from electronic health records and breaks down patient data by age, sex, distance to nearest clinic, and number of primary care visits per year, among other factors.
Author(s): Tarah Nelson, Diana J. Wilkie, Yingwei Yao, et al.
Citation: Nursing Research, 75(5), 338-345
Date: 09/2026
view details
Explores correlating factors associated with elevated glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), which is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes complications, in a tribal community in rural southeastern Oklahoma. Discusses the relationship between elevated HbA1c levels and type 2 diabetes. Bases findings on data pulled from electronic health records and breaks down patient data by age, sex, distance to nearest clinic, and number of primary care visits per year, among other factors.
Author(s): Tarah Nelson, Diana J. Wilkie, Yingwei Yao, et al.
Citation: Nursing Research, 75(5), 338-345
Date: 09/2026
view details
Association Between Transportation Access and Self-Rated Health among Older Adults with Disabilities
Analyzes the association between access to transportation and self-rated health for 257 community-dwelling older adults. Offers data on study participant characteristics by consistent and inconsistent transportation access, including a comparison of micropolitan/non-core and metropolitan residence.
Author(s): Jihyeong Jeong, Jason R. Falvey, Amanda J. Lehning
Citation: Journal of Transport & Health, 51
Date: 09/2026
view details
Analyzes the association between access to transportation and self-rated health for 257 community-dwelling older adults. Offers data on study participant characteristics by consistent and inconsistent transportation access, including a comparison of micropolitan/non-core and metropolitan residence.
Author(s): Jihyeong Jeong, Jason R. Falvey, Amanda J. Lehning
Citation: Journal of Transport & Health, 51
Date: 09/2026
view details
Urban Versus Rural Differences in Services Requested, Received, and Interest Expressed among Informal Caregivers of Older U.S. Veterans
Results of a study on differences in access to, utilization of, and interest in home and community-based services (HCBS) for caregivers of older veterans in rural and urban communities. Bases findings on an online survey of caregivers of older veterans. Breaks down data by demographic factors of both veterans and their caregivers, veterans' care complexity, and by caregivers' access to services and interest in services to support the veterans under their care.
Author(s): Elizabeth S. Chamberlin, Steven D. Shirk, Victoria Ngo, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70218
Date: 08/2026
view details
Results of a study on differences in access to, utilization of, and interest in home and community-based services (HCBS) for caregivers of older veterans in rural and urban communities. Bases findings on an online survey of caregivers of older veterans. Breaks down data by demographic factors of both veterans and their caregivers, veterans' care complexity, and by caregivers' access to services and interest in services to support the veterans under their care.
Author(s): Elizabeth S. Chamberlin, Steven D. Shirk, Victoria Ngo, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70218
Date: 08/2026
view details
Rural and Urban Availability of Substance Use Treatment Facilities
Discusses the national availability of and regional variance in substance use disorder treatment facilities for rural and urban residents. Highlights the number of facilities per 100,000 population by rural status and county, as well as the number of facilities offering medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) services.
Author(s): Aaron P. Smith, Tyrone F. Borders
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
view details
Discusses the national availability of and regional variance in substance use disorder treatment facilities for rural and urban residents. Highlights the number of facilities per 100,000 population by rural status and county, as well as the number of facilities offering medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) services.
Author(s): Aaron P. Smith, Tyrone F. Borders
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
view details
Broadband Deployment: Agencies Should Take Steps to Better Target Underserved Areas and Consider Sustainability
Examines selected federal agencies' progress in broadband deployment. Describes the agencies' approaches to targeting broadband deployment funding to underserved areas while avoiding duplication, and how they address challenges that program participants face in sustaining broadband service and obtaining permits and reviews.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Examines selected federal agencies' progress in broadband deployment. Describes the agencies' approaches to targeting broadband deployment funding to underserved areas while avoiding duplication, and how they address challenges that program participants face in sustaining broadband service and obtaining permits and reviews.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
2026 Annual Insurance Update: Health Insurance in Kansas
Reports on health insurance coverage across Kansas and nationwide, presenting 2009-2024 trends in coverage. Includes 2023 county-level data on uninsured rates by age group as well as Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment. Compares uninsurance rates across frontier, rural, densely-settled rural, semi-urban, and urban county location.
Author(s): Kaci Cink, Viktoria Sterkhova, Cynthia Snyder, Wen-Chieh Lin
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Health Institute
view details
Reports on health insurance coverage across Kansas and nationwide, presenting 2009-2024 trends in coverage. Includes 2023 county-level data on uninsured rates by age group as well as Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment. Compares uninsurance rates across frontier, rural, densely-settled rural, semi-urban, and urban county location.
Author(s): Kaci Cink, Viktoria Sterkhova, Cynthia Snyder, Wen-Chieh Lin
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Health Institute
view details
Buprenorphine Dispensed by Pharmacies and Administered in Emergency Departments in Urban and Rural Areas — United States, 2019–2025
Reports on how the provision of buprenorphine in pharmacies and emergency departments varied by rural or urban area between 2019 and 2025. Includes rural and urban data comparisons on the frequency of dispensing or administering buprenorphine, dosing, prescribing, availability, and more, including year-by-year comparisons.
Author(s): Gery P. Guy Jr., Yijie Chen, Kun Zhang, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(33), 522-528
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details
Reports on how the provision of buprenorphine in pharmacies and emergency departments varied by rural or urban area between 2019 and 2025. Includes rural and urban data comparisons on the frequency of dispensing or administering buprenorphine, dosing, prescribing, availability, and more, including year-by-year comparisons.
Author(s): Gery P. Guy Jr., Yijie Chen, Kun Zhang, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(33), 522-528
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details
Availability of Rural Hospitals Providing Inpatient Maternity Care in Medicaid
Examines the availability of hospitals offering inpatient maternity care in rural areas to Medicaid enrollees. Describes the median drive time between rural hospitals and the next closest in-state hospital that provides inpatient maternity care to Medicaid enrollees by state. Includes data on the number of urban and rural hospitals providing these services in each state in 2023.
Author(s): Rhiannon Euhus, Brittni Frederiksen, Alice Burns
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
view details
Examines the availability of hospitals offering inpatient maternity care in rural areas to Medicaid enrollees. Describes the median drive time between rural hospitals and the next closest in-state hospital that provides inpatient maternity care to Medicaid enrollees by state. Includes data on the number of urban and rural hospitals providing these services in each state in 2023.
Author(s): Rhiannon Euhus, Brittni Frederiksen, Alice Burns
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
view details
ADDIE-Guided Development and Pilot Feasibility Evaluation of a Prototype VR Training Simulation for Suicide Prevention among Rural U.S. Veterans
Explores the feasibility of using virtual reality (VR) workforce training modules to address the lack of specialty-trained mental health professionals serving rural veterans and to improve suicide prevention efforts. Evaluates participants' engagement in the VR environment, realism of VR scenarios, and perception of usability across different workforce groups, among other measures.
Author(s): Donna L. Schuman , Micki Washburn, Regina T. Praetorius, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 21(8), e0345819
Date: 08/2026
view details
Explores the feasibility of using virtual reality (VR) workforce training modules to address the lack of specialty-trained mental health professionals serving rural veterans and to improve suicide prevention efforts. Evaluates participants' engagement in the VR environment, realism of VR scenarios, and perception of usability across different workforce groups, among other measures.
Author(s): Donna L. Schuman , Micki Washburn, Regina T. Praetorius, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 21(8), e0345819
Date: 08/2026
view details