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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

Health Care in Rural America: Use, Affordability, and Access
Report on rural access to healthcare and the overall health of rural adults age 40 and older based on a survey from November 20 to December 18, 2020. Addresses disparities in health, income, and access to health insurance. Presents data on household income, mental health status, chronic conditions, concerns related to visiting healthcare facilities due to COVID-19, and more.
Additional links: Annotated Questionnaire
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: AARP
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The Impact of COVID-19 on People with Disabilities
Examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with disabilities. Covers access to healthcare and direct care workers, congregate care settings and transition, education, employment, effective communication, and mental health and suicide prevention services. Identifies challenges to rural residents throughout, including access to broadband in rural areas. Offers policy recommendations to federal and state policymakers and other relevant stakeholders.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Council on Disability
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The Effect of National Health Service Corps Clinician Staffing on Medical and Behavioral Health Care Costs in Community Health Centers
Examines the contribution of National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and non-NHSC clinicians to medical and behavioral health costs per visit, using 2013-2017 data from 1,022 Federally Qualified Health Centers merged with the NHSC participant data. Features statistics on average costs per visit for medical or behavioral healthcare, with breakdowns including rural facility location.
Author(s): Xinxin Han, Patricia Pittman, Leighton Ku
Citation: Medical Care, 59(10), S428-S433
Date: 10/2021
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Mapping the Location of Health Centers in Relation to "Maternity Care Deserts": Associations With Utilization of Women's Health Providers and Services
Explores the association between community health centers' (CHC) distance to a maternity care desert (MCD) and use of maternity-related healthcare services. Discusses the effects of rural hospital closures and provider shortages on patients' access to maternity care. Includes a county-level MCD map and county-level and CHC-level statistics related to MCDs.
Author(s): Anne R. Markus, Drishti Pillai
Citation: Medical Care, 59(10), S434-S440
Date: 10/2021
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How North Dakota Uses 1915(i) to Provide Supportive Services to People with Behavioral Health Conditions in Rural Areas
Describes how the North Dakota Department of Human Services utilizes the Medicaid 1915(i) state plan authority to fill gaps in community-based services for beneficiaries with behavioral health conditions. Highlights how the program addresses challenges to delivering services in rural areas.
Author(s): Emily Brostek, Neva Kaye
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Capturing Shared Impacts of the Partners for Rural Transformation: Advancing Rural Prosperity
Research report detailing how the 6 member institutions of the Partners for Rural Transformation are working to make progress toward and meet their shared goals, and lays out a framework for measuring future shared impacts and an agenda for action to build on successes. Includes a section on progress toward economic mobility, racial justice, and health equity.
Author(s): Corianne Payton Scally, Brett Theodos, Yipeng Su, et al.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
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Rural–Urban Health Disparities among US Adults Ages 50 and Older
Report examining health disparities for Americans ages 50 and older by rural/urban location and by race/ethnicity. Analyzes rates of healthcare access, health behaviors, and chronic health conditions based on 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data.
Author(s): Beth Carter, Olivia Dean
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
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Following Labor and Delivery Unit Closures in Rural New Hampshire, Driving Time to the Nearest Unit Doubled
Examines the impact of the closure of 9 labor and delivery units in rural New Hampshire on the driving time to open units between 2000 and 2018. Explores the association between proximity to an open labor and delivery unit and women's health and socioeconomic characteristics.
Author(s): Stacey McMorrow, Sarah Benatar, Timothy J. Fisher
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
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The Veterans Community Care Program: Background and Early Effects
Provides an overview of the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP), and discusses the impact of the program on veterans' access to care and the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) spending on community care. Explores other effects of VCCP, including care coordination, healthcare quality, and utilization of VHA facilities.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Budget Office
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Ensuring Equity in Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery
Video of testimony presented to the House Committee on Homeland Security on Oct. 27, 2021. Discusses disaster-related disparities and inequities in tribal, minority, underserved, and rural communities, and offers recommendations for improvement. Includes links for transcripts.
Additional links: Testimony by Chauncia Willis, Institute for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management, Testimony by Christopher Currie, Government Accountability Office, Testimony by James Joseph, Tidal Basin Government Consulting, Testimony by Lori Peek, Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado Boulder
Author(s): Lori Peek, Chauncia Willis, Christopher Currie, James Joseph
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Homeland Security
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