Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
How USPS Network Changes Threaten Prescription Drug Access for Vulnerable Populations
Discusses the impact of mail processing changes on mail-order medication and asthma and diabetes management for rural communities. Highlights the "triple burden" of limited pharmacy access, high use of mail-order prescriptions, and proximity to postal service restructuring. Includes rural and urban comparisons, Medicare data, and county-level analysis.
Author(s): Elena Patel, Joshua Feng, Matthew Higgins
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: The Brookings Institution
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Discusses the impact of mail processing changes on mail-order medication and asthma and diabetes management for rural communities. Highlights the "triple burden" of limited pharmacy access, high use of mail-order prescriptions, and proximity to postal service restructuring. Includes rural and urban comparisons, Medicare data, and county-level analysis.
Author(s): Elena Patel, Joshua Feng, Matthew Higgins
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: The Brookings Institution
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Characterizing Rurality Using the All of Us Research Program Data
Provides a definition of rurality utilizing a 3-digit ZIP code-level scale. Applies definition to the All of Us Research Program to analyze rural healthcare issues such as access, delayed care, and affordability. Includes the definition's methodology and a U.S. map showcasing distribution of 3-digit ZIP codes according to rurality.
Author(s): Michael Bradfield, Toluwanimi Olorunnisola, Vignesh Subbian
Citation: PLoS One, 20(12), e0328958
Date: 12/2025
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Provides a definition of rurality utilizing a 3-digit ZIP code-level scale. Applies definition to the All of Us Research Program to analyze rural healthcare issues such as access, delayed care, and affordability. Includes the definition's methodology and a U.S. map showcasing distribution of 3-digit ZIP codes according to rurality.
Author(s): Michael Bradfield, Toluwanimi Olorunnisola, Vignesh Subbian
Citation: PLoS One, 20(12), e0328958
Date: 12/2025
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Community Perceptions of the Health Equity Navigators Program: A Cross-Sectional Study in Rural and Medically Underserved Areas of Georgia, USA
Examines the Health Equity Navigators Program (HENP) and its perceived impact on healthcare access in rural and underserved areas of Georgia. Utilizes survey data from 269 adults participating in HENP and analyzes their perceptions regarding HENP's effectiveness.
Author(s): Ransome Eke, Jones Aneesa, Shermeeka Hogans-Mathews, Joedrecka Brown Speights
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 4212
Date: 12/2025
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Examines the Health Equity Navigators Program (HENP) and its perceived impact on healthcare access in rural and underserved areas of Georgia. Utilizes survey data from 269 adults participating in HENP and analyzes their perceptions regarding HENP's effectiveness.
Author(s): Ransome Eke, Jones Aneesa, Shermeeka Hogans-Mathews, Joedrecka Brown Speights
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 4212
Date: 12/2025
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Travel Time to Treating Facility and Mortality in Men With Prostate Cancer
Examines the association between longer travel time to treatment and survival among prostate cancer patients. Uses data from a survey of 159,943 patients from Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Utah, and Washington. Features statistics with breakdowns by two levels of population density.
Author(s): Stephan M. Korn, Filippo Dagnino, Danesha Daniels, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(12), e2546812
Date: 12/2025
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Examines the association between longer travel time to treatment and survival among prostate cancer patients. Uses data from a survey of 159,943 patients from Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Utah, and Washington. Features statistics with breakdowns by two levels of population density.
Author(s): Stephan M. Korn, Filippo Dagnino, Danesha Daniels, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(12), e2546812
Date: 12/2025
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All Texas Access Report for Fiscal Year 2025
Reports on access to mental health services for rural Texans. Includes information on service availability, objectives and strategies, and challenges and strengths in each region in Texas.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health and Human Services
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Reports on access to mental health services for rural Texans. Includes information on service availability, objectives and strategies, and challenges and strengths in each region in Texas.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health and Human Services
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When the Hospital CEO Becomes the Patient: Rural Maternal Care Up Close
A conversation with Eilidh Pederson, CEO of Western Wisconsin Health, focused on her experience giving birth at a rural Critical Access Hospital. Discusses high-quality maternal healthcare access in rural communities.
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Julia Resnick, Eilidh Pederson
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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A conversation with Eilidh Pederson, CEO of Western Wisconsin Health, focused on her experience giving birth at a rural Critical Access Hospital. Discusses high-quality maternal healthcare access in rural communities.
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Julia Resnick, Eilidh Pederson
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Closing the Care Gap: Strengthening Long-Term Services and Supports in Rural California
Describes gaps in long-term services and providers for rural older adults in California and offers policy recommendations to address those gaps. Discusses the direct care workforce, aging-related barriers to support, family caregiving support, and workforce education.
Author(s): Pauline DeLange Martinez, Elizabeth Bogumil, Helen Miltiades, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organizations: The SCAN Foundation, UC Davis Health
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Describes gaps in long-term services and providers for rural older adults in California and offers policy recommendations to address those gaps. Discusses the direct care workforce, aging-related barriers to support, family caregiving support, and workforce education.
Author(s): Pauline DeLange Martinez, Elizabeth Bogumil, Helen Miltiades, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organizations: The SCAN Foundation, UC Davis Health
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A Mixed Methods Study of Perceptions of a Rideshare Intervention to Address Transportation Vulnerability among People Living with HIV in South Carolina
Examines perceptions of using rideshare services to access HIV care among 160 people living with HIV in South Carolina, which . Provides discussion and interview excerpts on topics including safety, privacy, convenience, cost, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Diamonde C. McCollum, Sarah J. Miller, Cheuk Chi Tam, et al.
Citation: Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care, 24
Date: 11/2025
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Examines perceptions of using rideshare services to access HIV care among 160 people living with HIV in South Carolina, which . Provides discussion and interview excerpts on topics including safety, privacy, convenience, cost, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Diamonde C. McCollum, Sarah J. Miller, Cheuk Chi Tam, et al.
Citation: Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care, 24
Date: 11/2025
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Rural Health Care Policy Solutions for California's Older Adults
Describes healthcare disparities for rural older adults in California and offers policy recommendations to address those disparities. Discusses the healthcare workforce, workforce training, navigating complex systems, age-friendly care, care coordination, transportation, digital health, and community-based support and resources.
Author(s): Pauline DeLange Martinez, Elizabeth Bogumil, Helen Miltiades, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organizations: The SCAN Foundation, UC Davis Health
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Describes healthcare disparities for rural older adults in California and offers policy recommendations to address those disparities. Discusses the healthcare workforce, workforce training, navigating complex systems, age-friendly care, care coordination, transportation, digital health, and community-based support and resources.
Author(s): Pauline DeLange Martinez, Elizabeth Bogumil, Helen Miltiades, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organizations: The SCAN Foundation, UC Davis Health
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Current and Maximum Acceptable Travel Times to Primary Care Among US Older Adults
Explores the threshold of travel time at which it becomes a barrier to primary care access and for which groups. Uses data from a study conducted in February 2025 of adults age 50 and older. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by urban, suburban, and rural or other areas.
Author(s): Tabasa Ozawa, Ying Liu, Soeren Mattke
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(11), e2545280
Date: 11/2025
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Explores the threshold of travel time at which it becomes a barrier to primary care access and for which groups. Uses data from a study conducted in February 2025 of adults age 50 and older. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by urban, suburban, and rural or other areas.
Author(s): Tabasa Ozawa, Ying Liu, Soeren Mattke
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(11), e2545280
Date: 11/2025
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