Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
Shifting Care Patterns: How Medicaid Policies Shape Family and Formal Care Use
Analyzes the impacts of Medicaid 1915(c) waivers on likelihood of receiving formal versus family care among adults aged 70 years and older with functional limitations, utilizing 2011-2019 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) data. Highlights the significance of waiver payments for family caregiving for population subgroups including Medicaid beneficiaries, rural residents, and people living with dementia.
Author(s): Johanna Thunell, Elise M. Parrish, Katherine E.M. Miller
Citation: Alzheimer's & Dementia, 21(9), e70715
Date: 09/2025
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Analyzes the impacts of Medicaid 1915(c) waivers on likelihood of receiving formal versus family care among adults aged 70 years and older with functional limitations, utilizing 2011-2019 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) data. Highlights the significance of waiver payments for family caregiving for population subgroups including Medicaid beneficiaries, rural residents, and people living with dementia.
Author(s): Johanna Thunell, Elise M. Parrish, Katherine E.M. Miller
Citation: Alzheimer's & Dementia, 21(9), e70715
Date: 09/2025
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Supporting Rural Health Facilities
Discusses strategies pursued by states to strengthen the financial stability of rural hospitals and expand access to primary care, behavioral healthcare, and emergency care. Describes state policies related to technical assistance, financial stabilization grants, payment models, Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), health centers, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), and free-standing emergency departments.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Discusses strategies pursued by states to strengthen the financial stability of rural hospitals and expand access to primary care, behavioral healthcare, and emergency care. Describes state policies related to technical assistance, financial stabilization grants, payment models, Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), health centers, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), and free-standing emergency departments.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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State Strategies for Strengthening Rural Health: Insights from NASHP's 2025 Annual Conference
Summarizes a session from the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) 2025 Annual Conference regarding state strategies to improve access to care in rural communities. Highlights policies from North Dakota, Washington, and West Virginia related to workforce and capacity challenges, broadband and telehealth, behavioral health access points, and linking health and social care.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Summarizes a session from the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) 2025 Annual Conference regarding state strategies to improve access to care in rural communities. Highlights policies from North Dakota, Washington, and West Virginia related to workforce and capacity challenges, broadband and telehealth, behavioral health access points, and linking health and social care.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Disparities in Multi-Modal Spatial Access to Primary and Specialty Care in U.S. Neighborhoods: A Cross-Sectional and Temporal Analysis of Health Services
Provides a multi-modal spatial access measure to examine disparities in access to primary and specialty care across variable geographies. Includes data on spatial access to providers according to metro, micro, small town, or rural location as well as an example of a car-transit-walking composite spatial access map in micropolitan areas of Maine.
Author(s): R. Blake Buchalter, Paul R. Gunsalus, Madeleine M. Blazel, Michael W. Kenyhercz, Jarrod E. Dalton
Citation: PL0S One, 20(9), e0330427
Date: 09/2025
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Provides a multi-modal spatial access measure to examine disparities in access to primary and specialty care across variable geographies. Includes data on spatial access to providers according to metro, micro, small town, or rural location as well as an example of a car-transit-walking composite spatial access map in micropolitan areas of Maine.
Author(s): R. Blake Buchalter, Paul R. Gunsalus, Madeleine M. Blazel, Michael W. Kenyhercz, Jarrod E. Dalton
Citation: PL0S One, 20(9), e0330427
Date: 09/2025
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Oregon Areas of Unmet Health Care Need Report, 2025
Covers nine variables that describe areas of unmet healthcare need in Oregon and measure access to primary care, mental, and oral healthcare services. Areas of unmet need are scored based on variables within the following categories: availability of providers, ability to afford care, and utilization. Includes statistics and county-level information by service areas.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Oregon Office of Rural Health
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Covers nine variables that describe areas of unmet healthcare need in Oregon and measure access to primary care, mental, and oral healthcare services. Areas of unmet need are scored based on variables within the following categories: availability of providers, ability to afford care, and utilization. Includes statistics and county-level information by service areas.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Oregon Office of Rural Health
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Boosting Maternity Care in Rural America
Provides a brief overview of the state of maternal healthcare in rural areas. Highlights state and federal actions taken to improve access to quality maternal care and improve birth outcomes.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Provides a brief overview of the state of maternal healthcare in rural areas. Highlights state and federal actions taken to improve access to quality maternal care and improve birth outcomes.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Addressing HPV Vaccination in Southwest GA: The Emory Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network
Discusses the HPV Vaccine Mini-Grant Program, which funded a multi-level human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination intervention by four county health departments in rural, Southwest Georgia. Highlights strategies used by participating sites and includes data on program outcomes.
Author(s): Cam Escoffery
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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Discusses the HPV Vaccine Mini-Grant Program, which funded a multi-level human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination intervention by four county health departments in rural, Southwest Georgia. Highlights strategies used by participating sites and includes data on program outcomes.
Author(s): Cam Escoffery
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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Navigating Hepatitis C Care: Knowledge Gaps and Access Barriers Among Young Women Who Inject Drugs in Rural Appalachia
Presents a study on the barriers to hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing and treatment for young women who inject drugs (YWID) in rural areas. Aims to identify the factors influencing the accessibility of HCV testing and treatment for YWID in rural Appalachian, Ohio. Bases findings on interviews with 30 YWID aged 18-35 and discusses interpersonal and community barriers to care.
Author(s): Cheyenne R. Wagi, Renee McDowell, Anyssa Wright, et al.
Citation: PLOS ONE
Date: 09/2025
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Presents a study on the barriers to hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing and treatment for young women who inject drugs (YWID) in rural areas. Aims to identify the factors influencing the accessibility of HCV testing and treatment for YWID in rural Appalachian, Ohio. Bases findings on interviews with 30 YWID aged 18-35 and discusses interpersonal and community barriers to care.
Author(s): Cheyenne R. Wagi, Renee McDowell, Anyssa Wright, et al.
Citation: PLOS ONE
Date: 09/2025
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September 2025 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) September 2024 meeting. Covers Medicare payment operations and improving payment accuracy, a discussion with the Comptroller General of the United States regarding the Government Accountability Office's work related to improper payments in the Medicare program and opportunities to improve program sustainability, Medicare's overall financial situation, access to hospice and services under the Medicare hospice benefit for beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease or cancer, and the relationship between changes in Medicare Advantage enrollment and hospital finances.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) September 2024 meeting. Covers Medicare payment operations and improving payment accuracy, a discussion with the Comptroller General of the United States regarding the Government Accountability Office's work related to improper payments in the Medicare program and opportunities to improve program sustainability, Medicare's overall financial situation, access to hospice and services under the Medicare hospice benefit for beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease or cancer, and the relationship between changes in Medicare Advantage enrollment and hospital finances.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Pregnancy-Care Intentions and Practice among Family Medicine Physicians: Residents, Obstetric Fellows, and Fellowship Alumni
Examines the intentions of family medicine residents, family medicine obstetrics (FMOB) fellows, and FMOB alumni related to providing pregnancy care in rural areas. Utilizes survey data from 76 respondents and provides data breakdowns on their demographics, practice characteristics, and type of pregnancy care. Discusses issues of pregnancy care access in rural areas and the associated role of FMOB professionals.
Author(s): Robert William Owens, Mimi Dahlin, Emmanuel Adediran, et al.
Citation: Family Practice, 42(5)
Date: 09/2025
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Examines the intentions of family medicine residents, family medicine obstetrics (FMOB) fellows, and FMOB alumni related to providing pregnancy care in rural areas. Utilizes survey data from 76 respondents and provides data breakdowns on their demographics, practice characteristics, and type of pregnancy care. Discusses issues of pregnancy care access in rural areas and the associated role of FMOB professionals.
Author(s): Robert William Owens, Mimi Dahlin, Emmanuel Adediran, et al.
Citation: Family Practice, 42(5)
Date: 09/2025
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