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
MauiWES Community Report - The Road to Recovery: Strengthening Health, Stability, and Resiliency Three Years After the Maui Wildfires
Reports on recovery and continued challenges in Maui after the August 2023 wildfires in Hawaii, including data from the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study (MauiWES) on physical and emotional health, housing, employment, food security, access to healthcare and other services, and other aspects of wellness among wildfire survivors. Dashboard provides results from the study in interactive form.
Additional links: Dashboard
Author(s): Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea, Chris Knightsbridge, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: UHERO: The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai'i
view details
Reports on recovery and continued challenges in Maui after the August 2023 wildfires in Hawaii, including data from the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study (MauiWES) on physical and emotional health, housing, employment, food security, access to healthcare and other services, and other aspects of wellness among wildfire survivors. Dashboard provides results from the study in interactive form.
Additional links: Dashboard
Author(s): Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea, Chris Knightsbridge, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: UHERO: The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai'i
view details
The Integration of Spirituality Into Domestic Violence Services in Indian Country
Discusses the role of spirituality in supporting domestic violence services for tribal communities, noting challenges related to access to domestic violence services, funding, and incorporating traditional spiritual practices into care for survivors. Offers recommendations for overcoming highlighted challenges.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Indigenous Women's Resource Center
view details
Discusses the role of spirituality in supporting domestic violence services for tribal communities, noting challenges related to access to domestic violence services, funding, and incorporating traditional spiritual practices into care for survivors. Offers recommendations for overcoming highlighted challenges.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Indigenous Women's Resource Center
view details
Association Between the Declining Conversion Factor and Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries
Examines the impact of the inflation-adjusted conversion factor and reduced reimbursement on Medicare beneficiaries' access to care. Utilizes 2005-2023 Medicare fee-for-service data from 4,662,729 unique beneficiaries and provides data breakdowns on conversion factor values and care utilization according to community income, area deprivation index, and urbanicity.
Author(s): Eric W. Christensen, Alexandra R. Drake, Gregory N. Nicola, et al.
Citation: INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 63
Date: 07/2026
view details
Examines the impact of the inflation-adjusted conversion factor and reduced reimbursement on Medicare beneficiaries' access to care. Utilizes 2005-2023 Medicare fee-for-service data from 4,662,729 unique beneficiaries and provides data breakdowns on conversion factor values and care utilization according to community income, area deprivation index, and urbanicity.
Author(s): Eric W. Christensen, Alexandra R. Drake, Gregory N. Nicola, et al.
Citation: INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 63
Date: 07/2026
view details
How Primary Care Medics Can Bring Needed Health Care to Rural Americans
Describes Penn State College of Medicine's Primary Care Medic Project, a certificate-based pathway under development that will train local individuals to deliver primary and preventive care under the supervision of licensed clinicians. Discusses how primary care medics will fill gaps between community-based outreach and licensed primary care providers. Compares the scope of practice of primary care medics with those of community health workers, paramedics, and registered nurses, among others.
Author(s): Mark B. Stephens, Robin W. Weinick
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
view details
Describes Penn State College of Medicine's Primary Care Medic Project, a certificate-based pathway under development that will train local individuals to deliver primary and preventive care under the supervision of licensed clinicians. Discusses how primary care medics will fill gaps between community-based outreach and licensed primary care providers. Compares the scope of practice of primary care medics with those of community health workers, paramedics, and registered nurses, among others.
Author(s): Mark B. Stephens, Robin W. Weinick
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
view details
State Innovations in Improving Access to Care for Adults with Complex Needs in Rural Communities
Discusses Medicaid policy and financing strategies that can help improve rural delivery systems and access to care for rural older adults, people with disabilities, and others with complex health and social needs. Describes effective approaches undertaken in California, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Virginia across three promising strategies. Identifies four factors critical to successful program design and implementation and key considerations for states.
Author(s): Molly Knowles, Nida Enehizena, Gretchen Bell, Ellen Breslin
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
view details
Discusses Medicaid policy and financing strategies that can help improve rural delivery systems and access to care for rural older adults, people with disabilities, and others with complex health and social needs. Describes effective approaches undertaken in California, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Virginia across three promising strategies. Identifies four factors critical to successful program design and implementation and key considerations for states.
Author(s): Molly Knowles, Nida Enehizena, Gretchen Bell, Ellen Breslin
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
view details
MedPAC Data Book: Health Care Spending and the Medicare Program, 2026
Provides an overview of Medicare spending and highlights data on Medicare beneficiary demographics, dual-eligible beneficiaries, quality of care provided through the Medicare program, and other payer liability. Examines settings of care, including rural-specific provider sites, as they relate to spending, access to care, and Medicare and operating margins. Compares rural and urban beneficiaries and providers throughout. Chart 6-2 addresses rural hospital closures and Rural Emergency Hospital conversions.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
view details
Provides an overview of Medicare spending and highlights data on Medicare beneficiary demographics, dual-eligible beneficiaries, quality of care provided through the Medicare program, and other payer liability. Examines settings of care, including rural-specific provider sites, as they relate to spending, access to care, and Medicare and operating margins. Compares rural and urban beneficiaries and providers throughout. Chart 6-2 addresses rural hospital closures and Rural Emergency Hospital conversions.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
view details
Improving Access to Medicare Home Health Care: Key Policy Considerations
Highlights themes from interviews with 20 policy experts on home health agencies to identify factors contributing to declines in use of Medicare home health services. Discusses payment models, Medicare Advantage, workforce shortages, and family caregivers. Offers policy measures that may increase home health utilization.
Author(s): Barbara Lyons, Jane Andrews
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
view details
Highlights themes from interviews with 20 policy experts on home health agencies to identify factors contributing to declines in use of Medicare home health services. Discusses payment models, Medicare Advantage, workforce shortages, and family caregivers. Offers policy measures that may increase home health utilization.
Author(s): Barbara Lyons, Jane Andrews
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
view details
Geographic Variation in Blood Transfusion among TRICARE Beneficiaries
Explores the geographic variations in blood distribution and transfusion practices using the U.S. Military Health System's TRICARE insurance database. Breaks down data by age, sex, and whether beneficiaries received care in rural or urban areas, among other measures.
Author(s): Avery A. Thompson, Mahima Jain, Tanujit Dey, et al.
Citation: Transfusion, 66(7), 1326-1335
Date: 07/2026
view details
Explores the geographic variations in blood distribution and transfusion practices using the U.S. Military Health System's TRICARE insurance database. Breaks down data by age, sex, and whether beneficiaries received care in rural or urban areas, among other measures.
Author(s): Avery A. Thompson, Mahima Jain, Tanujit Dey, et al.
Citation: Transfusion, 66(7), 1326-1335
Date: 07/2026
view details
Defining Veteran Rurality: An Analysis of the U.S. Veterans Health Administration Rural–Urban Taxonomy
Examines the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) "Categorization B" rural–urban taxonomies and changes to drive time estimates to VHA care as determined by these taxonomies. Analyzes drive time across RUCA codes, Categorization B designation, and VHA designation. Discusses VHA rural and highly rural designations and the importance of aligning rural definitions to the VHA's access-to-care priorities.
Author(s): Diana J. Govier, Travis I. Lovejoy, Sarah S. Ono, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70182
Date: 07/2026
view details
Examines the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) "Categorization B" rural–urban taxonomies and changes to drive time estimates to VHA care as determined by these taxonomies. Analyzes drive time across RUCA codes, Categorization B designation, and VHA designation. Discusses VHA rural and highly rural designations and the importance of aligning rural definitions to the VHA's access-to-care priorities.
Author(s): Diana J. Govier, Travis I. Lovejoy, Sarah S. Ono, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70182
Date: 07/2026
view details