Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
Mapping Healthcare Deserts: Over 80% of the Country Still Lacks Adequate Access to Healthcare
Provides information on healthcare and pharmacy deserts in the United States. Includes an interactive county-level U.S. map that shows healthcare deserts in the following categories: pharmacy, primary care, hospital, hospital beds, trauma center, and health center.
Author(s): Amanda Nguyen
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: GoodRx
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Provides information on healthcare and pharmacy deserts in the United States. Includes an interactive county-level U.S. map that shows healthcare deserts in the following categories: pharmacy, primary care, hospital, hospital beds, trauma center, and health center.
Author(s): Amanda Nguyen
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: GoodRx
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Pennsylvania Rural Health Plan, 2025-2030
Highlights healthcare challenges in rural Pennsylvania, acknowledges strengths, and promotes recommendations to address disparities. Features demographics and sections on social determinants of health, agricultural safety and farmworker health, aging, disabilities, homelessness, veterans, Pennsylvania's healthcare delivery system, broadband access, and telehealth.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Rural Health Association
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Highlights healthcare challenges in rural Pennsylvania, acknowledges strengths, and promotes recommendations to address disparities. Features demographics and sections on social determinants of health, agricultural safety and farmworker health, aging, disabilities, homelessness, veterans, Pennsylvania's healthcare delivery system, broadband access, and telehealth.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Rural Health Association
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Ground Transportation for People with Mobility Disabilities 2025: Challenges and Progress
Discusses transportation barriers for people with disabilities that require wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs). Highlights accessibility of common transportation methods, federal policies and regulations, and recommendations to policymakers and businesses for increased accessibility. Discusses rural throughout.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Council on Disability
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Discusses transportation barriers for people with disabilities that require wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs). Highlights accessibility of common transportation methods, federal policies and regulations, and recommendations to policymakers and businesses for increased accessibility. Discusses rural throughout.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Council on Disability
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Implementing a Chatbot to Promote Hereditary Breast & Ovarian Cancer Genetic Screening in Women's Health: Identifying Barriers and Facilitators to Screening Adoption
Analyzes perceived facilitators and barriers to a chatbot-based hereditary breast and ovarian cancer screening among 17 women in rural northern region of Florida. Discusses the importance of increasing access to cancer screening in rural areas.
Author(s): Easton N. Wollney, Shireen Madani Sims, Luisel J. Ricks-Santi, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2516
Date: 07/2025
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Analyzes perceived facilitators and barriers to a chatbot-based hereditary breast and ovarian cancer screening among 17 women in rural northern region of Florida. Discusses the importance of increasing access to cancer screening in rural areas.
Author(s): Easton N. Wollney, Shireen Madani Sims, Luisel J. Ricks-Santi, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2516
Date: 07/2025
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Interstate Occupational Licensure Arrangements to Expand Access to Behavioral Health Services
Policy brief describing state-based provisions to expand behavioral health services through interstate licensure arrangements for providers. Discusses potential impact on provision of behavioral health services, including telehealth, with a focus on how expanded services might enhance access for rural residents. Features state-level maps showing where legislation has been enacted or introduced, as of November 2024.
Author(s): Natalia V. Oster, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Davis G. Patterson, Lisa A. Garberson, Janessa M. Graves
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Policy brief describing state-based provisions to expand behavioral health services through interstate licensure arrangements for providers. Discusses potential impact on provision of behavioral health services, including telehealth, with a focus on how expanded services might enhance access for rural residents. Features state-level maps showing where legislation has been enacted or introduced, as of November 2024.
Author(s): Natalia V. Oster, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Davis G. Patterson, Lisa A. Garberson, Janessa M. Graves
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Partners in Progress: Pursuing Medical-Dental Integration in Ohio
Report explores dental health integration into primary care in Ohio and a way to expand oral healthcare access in the state. Discusses access issues in rural area, shortage areas, among Medicaid recipients, and details how integration can help close the gap.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Report explores dental health integration into primary care in Ohio and a way to expand oral healthcare access in the state. Discusses access issues in rural area, shortage areas, among Medicaid recipients, and details how integration can help close the gap.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Rural Hospitals and the Rural Health Transformation Program: What Comes Next
Blog post discussing the rural health transformation program established in the July 2025 budget reconciliation law. Describes potential priorities for states' use of the rural health transformation program funding. Outlines additional steps Congress could take to help rural hospitals serve their communities.
Author(s): Emma Sheffert, Maya Sandalow
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Blog post discussing the rural health transformation program established in the July 2025 budget reconciliation law. Describes potential priorities for states' use of the rural health transformation program funding. Outlines additional steps Congress could take to help rural hospitals serve their communities.
Author(s): Emma Sheffert, Maya Sandalow
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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The Uncertain Future of Medicare's Stand-Alone Prescription Drug Plan Market and Why It Matters
Discusses the Medicare Part D stand-alone prescription drug plan (PDP) market and the Part D premium stabilization demonstration. Describes the impact of PDP market stability on rural Medicare beneficiaries. Explores the potential effects of the continuation of, or changes to, the premium stabilization program.
Author(s): Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Discusses the Medicare Part D stand-alone prescription drug plan (PDP) market and the Part D premium stabilization demonstration. Describes the impact of PDP market stability on rural Medicare beneficiaries. Explores the potential effects of the continuation of, or changes to, the premium stabilization program.
Author(s): Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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MedPAC Data Book: Health Care Spending and the Medicare Program, 2025
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 profit margins. Compares rural and urban beneficiaries and providers throughout. Chart 6-2 addresses rural hospital closures and Rural Emergency Hospital conversions.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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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 profit margins. Compares rural and urban beneficiaries and providers throughout. Chart 6-2 addresses rural hospital closures and Rural Emergency Hospital conversions.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Tennessee State Health Plan 2025: An Update to the 2024-2026 State Health Plan
Outlines how the Tennessee Department of Health is utilizing the actions identified in the State Health Plan to promote health in Tennessee. Features sections on nutritional security, maternal and infant health, chronic conditions, older adults, transportation, cancer screenings, and workforce.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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Outlines how the Tennessee Department of Health is utilizing the actions identified in the State Health Plan to promote health in Tennessee. Features sections on nutritional security, maternal and infant health, chronic conditions, older adults, transportation, cancer screenings, and workforce.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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