Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
Many Medicare Advantage and Medicaid Managed Care Plans Have Limited Behavioral Health Provider Networks and Inactive Providers
Examines the availability of behavioral health providers in selected Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicaid managed care networks in 2023. Analyzes provider network lists and MA and Medicaid encounter data for four MA and two Medicaid managed care plans from 10 selected urban and rural counties across five states. Describes the proportion of the behavioral health workforce in each county included in the plans' networks. Discusses the extent to which managed care plans had inactive providers in their network and why these providers did not deliver services to enrollees. Includes data on the percentage of inactive providers in rural and urban counties. Offers recommendations to monitor and improve the accuracy of provider networks.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Examines the availability of behavioral health providers in selected Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicaid managed care networks in 2023. Analyzes provider network lists and MA and Medicaid encounter data for four MA and two Medicaid managed care plans from 10 selected urban and rural counties across five states. Describes the proportion of the behavioral health workforce in each county included in the plans' networks. Discusses the extent to which managed care plans had inactive providers in their network and why these providers did not deliver services to enrollees. Includes data on the percentage of inactive providers in rural and urban counties. Offers recommendations to monitor and improve the accuracy of provider networks.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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On the Road to Early Detection: Woman's Hospital's Mobile Mammography
A podcast episode discussing a mobile mammography unit in Louisiana. Discusses differences in rural and urban breast cancer incidence and how a mobile unit increases access to preventive care.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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A podcast episode discussing a mobile mammography unit in Louisiana. Discusses differences in rural and urban breast cancer incidence and how a mobile unit increases access to preventive care.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Drone-Based Medication Delivery for Rural, Flood-Prone Coastal Communities
Discusses access to essential medical services and healthcare for rural communities in Virginia's flood-prone Eastern Shore. Utilizes geospatial data to examine the impact of drone-based medication delivery to overcome transportation barriers in these communities.
Author(s): Yin-Hsuen Chen, Amro M. El-Adle, Kevin J. O'Brien, Taylor Wentworth, Heather G. Richter
Citation: PLoS One, 20(10), e0333696
Date: 10/2025
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Discusses access to essential medical services and healthcare for rural communities in Virginia's flood-prone Eastern Shore. Utilizes geospatial data to examine the impact of drone-based medication delivery to overcome transportation barriers in these communities.
Author(s): Yin-Hsuen Chen, Amro M. El-Adle, Kevin J. O'Brien, Taylor Wentworth, Heather G. Richter
Citation: PLoS One, 20(10), e0333696
Date: 10/2025
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Transforming Rural Health Care Through Medicaid Innovation: Tip Sheet Series
Informational tip sheets discussing the use of Medicaid innovations to assist states in creating their Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program applications. Covers issues such as behavioral health, school-based services, integrated care access, community health workers, community paramedicine, specialty care, and healthcare technology. Provides examples, strategies, Medicaid policy information, and resources.
Additional links: Improving Access to Integrated Care for Dually Eligible Individuals in Rural Areas, Leveraging Community Health Workers to Address Rural Health Care Needs, Leveraging Community Paramedicine to Address Rural Health Needs, Leveraging Peers and Lay Counselors to Address Behavioral Health Care Workforce Shortages in Rural Areas, Using Project ECHO to Deliver Specialty Care in Rural Areas, Using School-Based Services to Improve Access to Preventive Health Care for Children in Rural Areas, Using Tech-Enabled Solutions to Improve Care Quality and Access in Rural Areas
Author(s): Molly Knowles, Nancy Archibald, Karla Silverman, Lauren Scannelli Jacobs
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Informational tip sheets discussing the use of Medicaid innovations to assist states in creating their Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program applications. Covers issues such as behavioral health, school-based services, integrated care access, community health workers, community paramedicine, specialty care, and healthcare technology. Provides examples, strategies, Medicaid policy information, and resources.
Additional links: Improving Access to Integrated Care for Dually Eligible Individuals in Rural Areas, Leveraging Community Health Workers to Address Rural Health Care Needs, Leveraging Community Paramedicine to Address Rural Health Needs, Leveraging Peers and Lay Counselors to Address Behavioral Health Care Workforce Shortages in Rural Areas, Using Project ECHO to Deliver Specialty Care in Rural Areas, Using School-Based Services to Improve Access to Preventive Health Care for Children in Rural Areas, Using Tech-Enabled Solutions to Improve Care Quality and Access in Rural Areas
Author(s): Molly Knowles, Nancy Archibald, Karla Silverman, Lauren Scannelli Jacobs
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Geographic and Socioeconomic Landscape of Veterans With Head and Neck Cancer
Explores the geographic and socioeconomic factors that correlate with the higher rates and worse outcomes for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas among veterans compared to civilians. Breaks down data by socioeconomic factors, such as marital status, unemployment, and service connection, among other factors, as well as rurality, travel distance, and drive time.
Author(s): Kristen L. Zayan, Jennifer L. McCoy, Monique Y. Boudreaux-Kelly, et al.
Citation: Head & Neck, 47(10), 2845-2855
Date: 10/2025
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Explores the geographic and socioeconomic factors that correlate with the higher rates and worse outcomes for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas among veterans compared to civilians. Breaks down data by socioeconomic factors, such as marital status, unemployment, and service connection, among other factors, as well as rurality, travel distance, and drive time.
Author(s): Kristen L. Zayan, Jennifer L. McCoy, Monique Y. Boudreaux-Kelly, et al.
Citation: Head & Neck, 47(10), 2845-2855
Date: 10/2025
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Implementing a Mobile Clinic for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in an Urban and Rural Context
Highlights a study on the efficacy of the mobile clinic model at providing opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment in rural and urban areas. Compares and evaluates mobile OUD treatment programs in Pittsburgh, PA and rural Robeson County, NC. Evaluates programs on the basis of community engagement, cost, and partnerships with local pharmacies, among other measures.
Author(s): Orrin D. Ware, Divya Venkat, Robyn Jordan, et al.
Citation: Substance Use & Addiction Journal, 46(4), 799–805
Date: 10/2025
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Highlights a study on the efficacy of the mobile clinic model at providing opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment in rural and urban areas. Compares and evaluates mobile OUD treatment programs in Pittsburgh, PA and rural Robeson County, NC. Evaluates programs on the basis of community engagement, cost, and partnerships with local pharmacies, among other measures.
Author(s): Orrin D. Ware, Divya Venkat, Robyn Jordan, et al.
Citation: Substance Use & Addiction Journal, 46(4), 799–805
Date: 10/2025
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Unfairness Toward Rural Beneficiaries in Medicare's Hierarchical Conditions Categories Score
Evaluates the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) to determine its usefulness in accurately predicting risk for rural and urban patients. Assesses rural and urban risk by mortality rates and compares findings with HCC's measure of spending to identify risk. Discusses implications of findings related to reimbursement rates, healthcare access, social determinants of health, and Medicare Advantage enrollment. Offers potential solutions to address study findings.
Author(s): Ravi B. Parikh, Kristin A. Linn, Junning Liang, et al
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 3(9)
Date: 09/2025
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Evaluates the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) to determine its usefulness in accurately predicting risk for rural and urban patients. Assesses rural and urban risk by mortality rates and compares findings with HCC's measure of spending to identify risk. Discusses implications of findings related to reimbursement rates, healthcare access, social determinants of health, and Medicare Advantage enrollment. Offers potential solutions to address study findings.
Author(s): Ravi B. Parikh, Kristin A. Linn, Junning Liang, et al
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 3(9)
Date: 09/2025
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Beyond the Clinic Walls: Exploring the Potential of Mobile Health
Explores the use mobile health services to increase access to care and highlights opportunities to close evidence gaps. Summarizes the research on mobile health delivery in primary, specialty, and emergency care. Discusses rural concerns including for breast cancer screening, dentistry, acute stroke response, behavioral crisis interventions, and community paramedicine.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Maanasa Kona, Julia Burleson, Leila Sullivan
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Center on Health Insurance Reforms, Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy
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Explores the use mobile health services to increase access to care and highlights opportunities to close evidence gaps. Summarizes the research on mobile health delivery in primary, specialty, and emergency care. Discusses rural concerns including for breast cancer screening, dentistry, acute stroke response, behavioral crisis interventions, and community paramedicine.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Maanasa Kona, Julia Burleson, Leila Sullivan
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Center on Health Insurance Reforms, Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy
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Assessing Populations with Access to National Cancer Institute-Funded Sites Using Local Distance-Based Service Areas
Examines variations in travel distance to sites funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) demographic group. Includes data on access to NCI-funded cancer care and participation in clinical trials by rurality, income level, region, and more.
Author(s): Sharon P. Shriver, Liora Sahar, Vanhvilai L. Douangchai Wills, Devon V. Adams, Mark E. Fleury
Citation: Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 9(1), e218
Date: 09/2025
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Examines variations in travel distance to sites funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) demographic group. Includes data on access to NCI-funded cancer care and participation in clinical trials by rurality, income level, region, and more.
Author(s): Sharon P. Shriver, Liora Sahar, Vanhvilai L. Douangchai Wills, Devon V. Adams, Mark E. Fleury
Citation: Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 9(1), e218
Date: 09/2025
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Georgia Counties Offering CON-Authorized Obstetrical (OB) Services
County-level map showing the location of obstetrical (OB) services authorized by Georgia's Certificate of Need (CON) program. Features shadings showing rural and urban counties with OB facilities, and counties containing Critical Access Hospitals with OB facilities.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Georgia State Office of Rural Health
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County-level map showing the location of obstetrical (OB) services authorized by Georgia's Certificate of Need (CON) program. Features shadings showing rural and urban counties with OB facilities, and counties containing Critical Access Hospitals with OB facilities.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Georgia State Office of Rural Health
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