This website is being reviewed for updates. Some information is offline. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

Literature Review on Differences in Care Provided in Urban and Rural Nursing Homes in the United States
Summarizes results of a review of peer-reviewed research on differences in rural and urban nursing home care quality. Covers access to mental health services and supports, hospitalizations and in-hospital deaths, and hospice care utilization. Highlights implications for future research.
Author(s): Denise D. Quigley, Leah V. Estrada, Gregory L. Alexander, Andrew Dick, Patricia W. Stone
Citation: Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 47(12), 48-56
Date: 12/2021
view details
Rural COVID-19 Innovations
Brief summaries of promising practices, lessons learned, and other examples of rural communities addressing COVID-19 healthcare and health-related concerns, collected from March 2020 through December 2021. Includes efforts related to vaccination, health service provision, help for community members, and more.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
Utah Primary Care Needs Assessment 2021
Assesses the primary care needs in the state of Utah. Reviews indicators of healthcare access, health status, social determinants of health, and the primary care workforce shortages in Utah. Includes information and maps on primary care, dental, and mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Utah Office of Primary Care and Rural Health
view details
State Policy Changes Could Increase Access to Opioid Treatment via Telehealth
Issue brief discussing barriers to opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment via telehealth and policy recommendations to support telehealth, including reimbursement and regulatory policies. Discusses issues of broadband access, infrastructure, and data collection in relation to telehealth implementation.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Pew
view details
Trends in Racial, Ethnic, Sex, and Rural-Urban Inequities in Health Care in Medicare Advantage: 2009-2018
Presents an analysis of historical trends in inequities by race and ethnicity, sex, and rural-urban residence among Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans nationwide. Uses patient experience and clinical care measures to examine how inequities in healthcare have changed between 2009 and 2018, how scores for each beneficiary group have changed over time, and which inequities remained in 2018.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RAND Corporation
view details
Reimagining Hunger Responses in Times of Crisis: Insights from Case Examples and a Survey of Native Communities' Food Access During COVID-19
Report examining food insecurity among American Indian and Alaska Native communities during the COVID-19 pandemic based on 504 food access survey responses. Discusses food insecurity rates in relation to respondent characteristics, resiliency of Native producers and food economies, and policy recommendations to address food access issues.
Author(s): Toni Stanger-McLaughlin, Sandy Martini, Geri Henchy, et al.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Food Research & Action Center, Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative, Native American Agriculture Fund
view details
2021 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
Provides a comprehensive summary and data analysis of healthcare quality and access in the U.S. Includes a discussion of disparities encountered by race/ethnicity and geographic locations along the rural-urban continuum. Addresses access to healthcare, patient safety, person-centered care, care coordination, effective treatment, healthy living, and care affordability.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
view details
Variation in Use of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Monoclonal Antibody Therapies by Social Vulnerability and Urbanicity
Examines the variation in the use of the first two monoclonal antibody therapies for COVID-19 from November 2020 through March 2021. Presents data on the demographic characteristics of monoclonal antibody recipients and social vulnerability indices. Includes a discussion of the use of this therapy by urbanicity and density of primary care physicians.
Author(s): Allison Kolbe
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
view details
Quantifying the Food and Physical Activity Environments in Rural, High Obesity Communities
Results of a study to assess the nutrition and physical activity environments in rural South Dakota communities with high rates of obesity, to understand whether there are common strengths and challenges that emerge across communities. Features a comparison of availability of various healthful food options between grocery and convenience stores and pricing for healthful vs. regular food options in grocery stores and convenience stores.
Author(s): Lacey A. McCormack, Jessica R. Meendering, Linda Burdette, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(24), 13344
Date: 12/2021
view details
Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska Legislative Report FY 2020 & 2021
Provides an overview of the demographic and geographic characteristics of the behavioral health workforce in Nebraska. Discusses behavioral health workforce recruitment, education, funding, and retention strategies in the state. Compares the supply of behavioral health providers in Nebraska versus the national average, in addition to rural versus urban areas of Nebraska. Includes maps of provider locations, training locations, and integrated primary care/behavioral health care clinics across the state.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska
view details