Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
Pharmacy Deserts in Rural Pennsylvania
Describes the landscape of pharmacies and pharmacists in Pennsylvania as of May 2025 and examines the projected impact of Rite Aid pharmacy closures. Features statistics on numbers of pharmacies and pharmacists, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and county-level maps showing areas within a 5-mile radius of all pharmacies and all non-Rite Aid pharmacies, with shadings showing urban and rural areas.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Describes the landscape of pharmacies and pharmacists in Pennsylvania as of May 2025 and examines the projected impact of Rite Aid pharmacy closures. Features statistics on numbers of pharmacies and pharmacists, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and county-level maps showing areas within a 5-mile radius of all pharmacies and all non-Rite Aid pharmacies, with shadings showing urban and rural areas.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Caregiving in Rural Areas: A Qualitative Study of Challenges and Resilience
Examines rural-specific challenges and strengths in caregiving, utilizing interview data of 18 rural-dwelling caregivers in Vermont. Discusses community-based factors influencing care, access to services, and rural identity, among other topics.
Author(s): Hyojin Choi, Christine Vatovec, Maija Reblin
Citation: PLOS One, 20(6), e0325536
Date: 06/2025
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Examines rural-specific challenges and strengths in caregiving, utilizing interview data of 18 rural-dwelling caregivers in Vermont. Discusses community-based factors influencing care, access to services, and rural identity, among other topics.
Author(s): Hyojin Choi, Christine Vatovec, Maija Reblin
Citation: PLOS One, 20(6), e0325536
Date: 06/2025
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Bridging the Gap: Examples of Medicaid Innovation Enhancing Health Care Access in Rural America
Describes ways state Medicaid programs can improve access to rural healthcare. Highlights policies implemented in Tennessee, Missouri, and Georgia to fund projects related to improving rural healthcare needs, address social determinants of health, and support rural hospitals that serve large Medicaid and uninsured populations.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Medicaid Directors
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Describes ways state Medicaid programs can improve access to rural healthcare. Highlights policies implemented in Tennessee, Missouri, and Georgia to fund projects related to improving rural healthcare needs, address social determinants of health, and support rural hospitals that serve large Medicaid and uninsured populations.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Medicaid Directors
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The Impacts of Transportation and Travel Access on Rural Health in Hawai'i
Reports on transportation and travel access as barriers to healthcare in rural Hawaii, utilizing a literature review and interviews with stakeholders, and provides policy suggestions for improving access to care. Includes a detailed review of the use of telehealth for rural maternal-fetal health.
Additional links: Overview
Author(s): John Desfor, Keilyn Kawakami, Monica Ho, et al.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Hawaiʻi Rural Health Research & Policy Center
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Reports on transportation and travel access as barriers to healthcare in rural Hawaii, utilizing a literature review and interviews with stakeholders, and provides policy suggestions for improving access to care. Includes a detailed review of the use of telehealth for rural maternal-fetal health.
Additional links: Overview
Author(s): John Desfor, Keilyn Kawakami, Monica Ho, et al.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Hawaiʻi Rural Health Research & Policy Center
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Accelerating Better Health Outcomes in Rural America with Mindy Cook and Kallie Provost
Podcast episode discussing the American Heart Association's Rural Health Care Outcomes Accelerator Program and cardiovascular healthcare in rural hospitals. Profiles Cox Monett Hospital, a Critical Access Hospital in southwest Missouri, and its adoption and implementation of two initiatives as part of the Rural Health Care Outcomes Accelerator Program.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Impact! Communications, Inc.
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Podcast episode discussing the American Heart Association's Rural Health Care Outcomes Accelerator Program and cardiovascular healthcare in rural hospitals. Profiles Cox Monett Hospital, a Critical Access Hospital in southwest Missouri, and its adoption and implementation of two initiatives as part of the Rural Health Care Outcomes Accelerator Program.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Impact! Communications, Inc.
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The Rural Health Center Landscape: Data, Challenges, & Insights
Recording of a June 10, 2025, webinar discussing unique financial and operational challenges that rural health centers face. Covers health center growth and expansion, patient and payer mix, financial performance, staffing mix, and more. Compares data on rural FQHCs to urban and national FQHC data 2020-2023. Features a discussion with William Edwards, chief financial officer of G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center in Canton, Mississippi.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Capital Link
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Recording of a June 10, 2025, webinar discussing unique financial and operational challenges that rural health centers face. Covers health center growth and expansion, patient and payer mix, financial performance, staffing mix, and more. Compares data on rural FQHCs to urban and national FQHC data 2020-2023. Features a discussion with William Edwards, chief financial officer of G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center in Canton, Mississippi.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Capital Link
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Affordable Care Act Enrollment in Texas after Rating Area Adjustments
Provides a brief overview of how Texas changed its approach to Affordable Care Act (ACA) rating areas for rural counties in 2023. Examines the association between the ACA rating area change and health plan enrollment, plan selection, and premiums from 2022 to 2024. Compares findings by urban and rural county status.
Author(s): Elena Andreyeva, Daniel Marthey, Simon F. Haeder, Benjamin Ukert
Citation: The American Journal of Managed Care, 31(6), e147-e152
Date: 06/2025
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Provides a brief overview of how Texas changed its approach to Affordable Care Act (ACA) rating areas for rural counties in 2023. Examines the association between the ACA rating area change and health plan enrollment, plan selection, and premiums from 2022 to 2024. Compares findings by urban and rural county status.
Author(s): Elena Andreyeva, Daniel Marthey, Simon F. Haeder, Benjamin Ukert
Citation: The American Journal of Managed Care, 31(6), e147-e152
Date: 06/2025
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Expanding a Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Fellowship to Support Rural and Underserved Pediatric Patients in the US
Discusses the structure and impacts of a Delaware nurse practitioner fellowship training program focused on providing mental health and primary care services in rural and underserved areas. Identifies challenges and lessons learned, and highlights the value of rural-specific training and education.
Author(s): Aaron Carpenter, Catherine Haut, Sarah E. Wawrzynski, Stacey Bachman, Lisa Kelly
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 25, 9650
Date: 06/2025
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Discusses the structure and impacts of a Delaware nurse practitioner fellowship training program focused on providing mental health and primary care services in rural and underserved areas. Identifies challenges and lessons learned, and highlights the value of rural-specific training and education.
Author(s): Aaron Carpenter, Catherine Haut, Sarah E. Wawrzynski, Stacey Bachman, Lisa Kelly
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 25, 9650
Date: 06/2025
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AI in Health Care Administration: A Conversation with Experts
Blog post summarizing major themes raised in a conversation among researchers, practitioners, payers, policy experts, and congressional staff regarding how AI can improve administrative efficiency in healthcare. Includes a discussion of access to AI tools in rural and underserved areas.
Additional links: Fact Sheet
Author(s): Emma Sheffert
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Blog post summarizing major themes raised in a conversation among researchers, practitioners, payers, policy experts, and congressional staff regarding how AI can improve administrative efficiency in healthcare. Includes a discussion of access to AI tools in rural and underserved areas.
Additional links: Fact Sheet
Author(s): Emma Sheffert
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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The Role of Rurality, Travel Time, and Neighborhood Socioeconomics on Patterns of Adjuvant Therapy Receipt among Patients with Endometrial Cancer
Analyzes associations between rurality, distance to care, and community socioeconomics on receipt of any adjuvant therapy, including vaginal brachytherapy, external beam radiation, and chemotherapy, for the treatment for endometrial cancer. Utilizes SEER data of patients diagnosed between 2006 and 2017.
Author(s): Victoria M. Petermann, Stephanie B. Wheeler, Jennifer L. Lund, et al.
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 34(8), 1277-1285
Date: 06/2025
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Analyzes associations between rurality, distance to care, and community socioeconomics on receipt of any adjuvant therapy, including vaginal brachytherapy, external beam radiation, and chemotherapy, for the treatment for endometrial cancer. Utilizes SEER data of patients diagnosed between 2006 and 2017.
Author(s): Victoria M. Petermann, Stephanie B. Wheeler, Jennifer L. Lund, et al.
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 34(8), 1277-1285
Date: 06/2025
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