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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

Rural Implications of Medicaid Expansion under the Affordable Care Act
Report discusses how ACA Medicaid expansion will meet the distinctive needs of rural residents. Using 2007-2011 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data and data from state Medicaid policies and primary care providers, this report examines rural-urban differences in patient populations, reviews previous public health insurance programs affecting rural populations, and considers the availability of healthcare access in rural areas.
Author(s): Erika Ziller, Jennifer Lenardson, Andrew Coburn
Date: 02/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: State Health Access Reform Evaluation
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Rural Veterans: A Special Concern for Rural Health Advocates
Policy brief describing the special healthcare needs of rural veterans. Offers policy recommendations to address these issues. Covers access to primary care, specialty care, physical therapy, women's health services, and mental health services focusing on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Author(s): J. Alison Alfers, Hilda R. Heady
Date: 02/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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The Uninsured: An Analysis by Age, Income, and Geography
Analyzes 2010 health insurance data showing the proportion of the rural population that is uninsured and living below 138% of federal poverty level in comparison with that of the urban population.
Author(s): Abigail R. Barker, Jessica K. Londeree, Timothy D. McBride, Leah M. Kemper, Keith Mueller
Date: 02/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Do Rural Patients with Early-Stage Prostate Cancer Gain Access to All Treatment Choices?
Compares prostate cancer treatment options and treatment rates for early-stage prostate cancer patients living in rural and urban areas in 10 states. Includes 4 levels of rurality in the analysis, along with patient demographics, cancer characteristics, and provider access.
Additional links: Policy Brief
Author(s): Laura-Mae Baldwin, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Michael P. Porter, et al.
Date: 02/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Expanding the Dental Team: Studies of Two Private Practices
Analyzes two dental practices: Main Street Dental Care in Montevideo, MN, and Battlefords Dental Group in Saskatchewan, Canada. Also highlights dental therapists in Alaska. Discusses dentists being able to serve more privately insured and underserved patients, the increase in children and families who are able to get dental care who often go without, and how dental therapists help address critical problems surrounding access to dental care.
Date: 02/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Pew Charitable Trusts
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Ecology of Health Care: The Need to Address Low Utilization in American Indians/Alaska Natives
Compares the self-reported health of the American Indian/Alaska Native population and their use of healthcare services to the rest of the U.S. population. Discusses potential reasons for disparities.
Author(s): Elise A.G. Duwe, Stephen Petterson, Claire Gibbons, Andrew Bazemore
Citation: American Family Physician, 89(3), 217-218
Date: 02/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Robert Graham Center
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Technology Widens Care Options for Rural Hospitals
Highlights how advancements in healthcare technology help rural providers improve both access and quality of care for patients, in addition to strengthening the financial bottom line for hospitals.
Author(s): Candi Helseth
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 02/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Advancing Health Equity in Minnesota: Report to the Legislature
Summarizes methods and findings used to identify sources of long-standing health disparities in Minnesota. Discusses populations experiencing health inequities and provides data on health disparities and inequities. Covers policy recommendations to address health disparities and inequities in Minnesota.
Date: 02/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
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Clinical, Sociodemographic and Service Provider Determinants of Guideline Concordant Colorectal Cancer Care for Appalachian Residents
Presents a study of Appalachian colorectal cancer patients diagnosed between 2006-2008 regarding their adherence to treatment guidelines by measuring rates of chemotherapy, lymph node assessment, and radiation treatments. Breaks down results by participants' age, race, and type and severity of comorbidity, as well as several treatment facility factors, such as bed size and surgical volume, among others.
Author(s): Steven T. Fleming, Heath B. Mackley, Fabian Camacho, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 30(1), 27-39
Date: 01/2014
Type: Document
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Health Care Avoidance Among Rural Populations: Results From a Nationally Representative Survey
Presents secondary analysis of questions from the 2008 Health Information Trends Study (HINTS) relating to healthcare avoidance that breaks down socio-demographic and economic data to better understand factors leading to avoidant behaviors. Compares data from metropolitan, urban/suburban, and rural populations.
Author(s): Angela M. Spleen, Eugene J. Lengerich, Fabian T. Camacho, Robin C. Vanderpool
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 30(1), 79-88
Date: 01/2014
Type: Document
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