Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
Comparing Trends in Telemedicine Use and Geographic Disparities in Utilization among Patients with Cancer in the United States
Analyzes how telemedicine use varied by rurality among patients with lung or colon cancer during the early COVID-19 pandemic, using 2020-2021 Medicare fee-for-service claims data. Includes data on the use of telehealth, in-person, and emergency department services.
Author(s): Matthew Mackwood, Qianfei Wang, Tor D. Tosteson, et al.
Citation: JCO Oncology Practice, 22(7), 1331-1340
Date: 10/2025
view details
Analyzes how telemedicine use varied by rurality among patients with lung or colon cancer during the early COVID-19 pandemic, using 2020-2021 Medicare fee-for-service claims data. Includes data on the use of telehealth, in-person, and emergency department services.
Author(s): Matthew Mackwood, Qianfei Wang, Tor D. Tosteson, et al.
Citation: JCO Oncology Practice, 22(7), 1331-1340
Date: 10/2025
view details
ASCO State of Cancer Care in America Special Report 2025: Access to Cancer Clinical Trials in the United States
Reports on the value of clinical trials for cancer treatment, barriers to cancer clinical trial access, and state of federally funded cancer research infrastructure in 2025. Includes discussion of rural communities, among other demographic groups.
Author(s): Erin P. Balogh, Laura A. Levit, Joseph M. Unger, et al.
Citation: JCO Oncology Practice, 21, 1746-1758
Date: 10/2025
view details
Reports on the value of clinical trials for cancer treatment, barriers to cancer clinical trial access, and state of federally funded cancer research infrastructure in 2025. Includes discussion of rural communities, among other demographic groups.
Author(s): Erin P. Balogh, Laura A. Levit, Joseph M. Unger, et al.
Citation: JCO Oncology Practice, 21, 1746-1758
Date: 10/2025
view details
New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services Roadmap 2025-2027
Describes the Department of Health & Human Services' strategic priorities and initiatives, focusing on investing in people and culture, promoting thriving communities, and improving customer services. Includes a section on the Rural Health Transformation Plan.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
view details
Describes the Department of Health & Human Services' strategic priorities and initiatives, focusing on investing in people and culture, promoting thriving communities, and improving customer services. Includes a section on the Rural Health Transformation Plan.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
view details
Unpacking the Primary Care Clinician Index: Understanding How Changes in Population and Workforce Supply Affect Access to Primary Care in North Carolina
Analyzes the primary care clinician supply between 2017 and 2024 to identify how it has changed with regard to physician, population, and geographic characteristics including rurality. Discusses how the studied characteristics indicate access to care. Discusses the role of the nurse practitioner workforce in increasing access to care.
Author(s): Evan Galloway, Brianna Lombardi, Erin Fraher
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 86(3)
Date: 10/2025
view details
Analyzes the primary care clinician supply between 2017 and 2024 to identify how it has changed with regard to physician, population, and geographic characteristics including rurality. Discusses how the studied characteristics indicate access to care. Discusses the role of the nurse practitioner workforce in increasing access to care.
Author(s): Evan Galloway, Brianna Lombardi, Erin Fraher
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 86(3)
Date: 10/2025
view details
The Unspoken Struggles from Mental Health Stigma in a Rural Community: A Qualitative Exploration of Clubhouse Members' Lived Experiences
Explores the efficacy of the clubhouse model at overcoming stigma around mental health conditions and receiving mental healthcare in rural communities. Bases findings on semi-structured interviews with participants and staff of the Clubhouse in Wyoming. Details the Clubhouse's efforts to address stigma and overcome mental health prejudices.
Author(s): Ruth Korankye, Gloria Oladeji, Lauren Gilbert
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(11), 1626
Date: 10/2025
view details
Explores the efficacy of the clubhouse model at overcoming stigma around mental health conditions and receiving mental healthcare in rural communities. Bases findings on semi-structured interviews with participants and staff of the Clubhouse in Wyoming. Details the Clubhouse's efforts to address stigma and overcome mental health prejudices.
Author(s): Ruth Korankye, Gloria Oladeji, Lauren Gilbert
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(11), 1626
Date: 10/2025
view details
Maternity Deserts: The Equality State's Growing Crisis
Highlights maternity healthcare deserts in Wyoming and nationally. Discusses the impact of labor and delivery department closures, maternal mortality and morbidity, and more on access to care. Notes opportunities to improve outcomes including increasing access to care, additional workforce training and facility protocols to improve healthcare quality, and promote networking opportunities to share knowledge. Offers policy recommendations based on report findings. Discusses rural throughout.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Wyoming Women's Action Network
view details
Highlights maternity healthcare deserts in Wyoming and nationally. Discusses the impact of labor and delivery department closures, maternal mortality and morbidity, and more on access to care. Notes opportunities to improve outcomes including increasing access to care, additional workforce training and facility protocols to improve healthcare quality, and promote networking opportunities to share knowledge. Offers policy recommendations based on report findings. Discusses rural throughout.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Wyoming Women's Action Network
view details
Advancing Diagnostic Excellence in Rural Areas: A Workshop
Recording of a workshop exploring potential improvements in diagnosis in rural areas of the United States. Topics discussed include the state of diagnosis in rural areas, access to diagnosis and diagnosis-related health disparities, applications of new technologies and innovations, healthcare workforce training, education, and support, and other aspects of service delivery innovation in rural areas. A video transcript is accessible through video control bar. Meeting materials are available for download below the video player, including workshop agenda, presentation slides, and public briefing materials.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
view details
Recording of a workshop exploring potential improvements in diagnosis in rural areas of the United States. Topics discussed include the state of diagnosis in rural areas, access to diagnosis and diagnosis-related health disparities, applications of new technologies and innovations, healthcare workforce training, education, and support, and other aspects of service delivery innovation in rural areas. A video transcript is accessible through video control bar. Meeting materials are available for download below the video player, including workshop agenda, presentation slides, and public briefing materials.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
view details
Advocating for Incorporating Public Veterinary Health Care Into Human Health Systems
Explores the human health impacts of a public veterinary health program in rural tribal communities in Alaska. Highlights the health concerns from stray dog populations in tribal communities and remote areas that lack veterinarian services. Details impact on rates of dog bites, rabies, and other zoonotic pathogens.
Author(s): Laurie Meythaler-Mullins, Cheryl Eia, Allyce H. Lobdell, Danielle M. Frey
Citation: Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 12
Date: 10/2025
view details
Explores the human health impacts of a public veterinary health program in rural tribal communities in Alaska. Highlights the health concerns from stray dog populations in tribal communities and remote areas that lack veterinarian services. Details impact on rates of dog bites, rabies, and other zoonotic pathogens.
Author(s): Laurie Meythaler-Mullins, Cheryl Eia, Allyce H. Lobdell, Danielle M. Frey
Citation: Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 12
Date: 10/2025
view details
Positive Outliers: How Some Rural Communities Maintain Access to Labor and Delivery Services
Explores healthcare providers' approaches to ensuring maternal care access in rural Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Mississippi. Provides case studies on the role of rural hospitals and clinics in providing labor and delivery services, discusses financial and logistical challenges faced by providers, and details funding, policy, and service delivery strategies supporting continued access.
Author(s): Sarah Klein, Molly Castle Work
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Bassett Research Institute, Commonwealth Fund
view details
Explores healthcare providers' approaches to ensuring maternal care access in rural Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Mississippi. Provides case studies on the role of rural hospitals and clinics in providing labor and delivery services, discusses financial and logistical challenges faced by providers, and details funding, policy, and service delivery strategies supporting continued access.
Author(s): Sarah Klein, Molly Castle Work
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Bassett Research Institute, Commonwealth Fund
view details
Medicare Advantage Enrollees Have Access to About Half of the Physicians Available to Traditional Medicare Beneficiaries
Explores how provider networks vary across Medicare Advantage plans and when compared to traditional Medicare. Examines the share of physicians available to Medicare Advantage enrollees as a share of physicians available to traditional Medicare beneficiaries by analyzing Medicare Advantage provider directories for 2022. Includes information on the availability of physicians to Medicare Advantage enrollees and traditional Medicare beneficiaries in rural counties.
Author(s): Matthew Rae, Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Tricia Neuman, Karen Pollitz
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
view details
Explores how provider networks vary across Medicare Advantage plans and when compared to traditional Medicare. Examines the share of physicians available to Medicare Advantage enrollees as a share of physicians available to traditional Medicare beneficiaries by analyzing Medicare Advantage provider directories for 2022. Includes information on the availability of physicians to Medicare Advantage enrollees and traditional Medicare beneficiaries in rural counties.
Author(s): Matthew Rae, Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Tricia Neuman, Karen Pollitz
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
view details