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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

International Medical Graduates Assistance Program: 2024 Report to the Minnesota Legislature
Examines Minnesota's International Medical Graduates Assistance Program and pathways to integrate immigrant international medical graduates (IMGs) into the healthcare system. Focuses on the role of IMGs in supporting healthcare access in rural areas of Minnesota, IMG workforce education programs and pathways, and establishing policy that allows IMGs to enter residency programs.
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
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Rural Health Disparities and Differences in Definitions of Rurality
Examines health disparities and differences in healthcare characteristics between rural and nonrural counties using data from the 2023 County Health Rankings and 2021-2022 Area Health Resources Files. Compares community health and healthcare characteristics by two county-level urban-rural classification systems: Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC) and Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs). Explores the degree to which four county-level classification systems - RUCC, CBSA, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Urban-Rural Classification Scheme for Counties, and Urban Influence Codes (UIC) - agree regarding which counties are designated as rural.
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, NORC at the University of Chicago
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RTTC - Utilizing Telementoring to Bolster the Rural Workforce
Webinar recording discussing the value of telementoring in supporting the rural workforce and addressing rural healthcare shortages. Details the role of the Rural Telementoring Training Center (RTTC) in providing resources and assistance for telementoring, and highlights program examples representing a variety of models and communities.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Suyen Schneegans, Laura Potter, Trisha Melhado
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Heartland Telehealth Resource Center
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Social Network Barriers to Extended-Release Naltrexone Within Rural Appalachia: Perspectives from Justice-Involved Clients and Clinicians
Presents a study on the role of family, friends, and clinicians can play in influencing naltrexone treatment uptake of people with opioid use disorder (POUD) who are incarcerated in Appalachia. Bases findings on interviews with clinicians and breaks down data by sociodemographic characteristics, substance use, and social network composition, among other measures.
Author(s): Amanda M. Bunting, Carrie B. Oser, Marisa Booty, et al.
Citation: Substance Use & Misuse, 60(5), 758-765
Date: 01/2025
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Prevalence and Correlates of Forgone Care among Older Rural and Urban Medicare Beneficiaries during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Results of a study assessing rural-urban differences in forgone care among Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older, using data from June and July 2020. Also examines what types of care were most often forgone and what access barriers were most common. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Yvonne Jonk, Heidi O'Connor, Jean Talbot, Erica C. Ziller
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Rural-Urban Differences and Trends in Children's Health Insurance Coverage
Examines differences in urban and rural children's insurance coverage from 2012-2019, and socioeconomic characteristics of uninsured children in 2016 and 2019. Features demographics and statistics by year, with breakdowns by urban and rural residence.
Author(s): Erica C. Ziller. Catherine Gelsinger, Brianna Holston
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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High Prescription Drug Out-of-Pocket Spending Burden among Privately Insured Rural and Urban Adults Age 18-64
Analyzes prescription drug out-of-pocket spending among privately-insured rural and urban adults, utilizing 2017-2020 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data. Compares average spending and high prescription out-of-pocket burden in rural and urban populations, and details implications for rural medication adherence and associated health outcomes.
Author(s): Jean A. Talbot, Elora Way, Yvonne Jonk, Erica C. Ziller
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Genetic Services in Appalachia Conference Series
Identifies facilitators and barriers to genetics care provision and access in rural and underserved Appalachian communities, utilizing survey and feedback data of 137 participants in the Genetic Services in Appalachia webinar series. Discusses rural service delivery models, effects of genetic counseling access on rural health disparities, and more.
Author(s): Kimberly M. Kelly, Trupti Dhumal, Virginia G. Scott, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Medical Genetics - Part A, 197(5), e63990
Date: 01/2025
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Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Prenatal Care Utilization in Arkansas, United States
Examines demographic factors associated with number of prenatal care visits, including data on late prenatal care and no prenatal care, in Arkansas. Utilizes 2014-2022 National Center for Health Statistics birth record data. Includes rural versus urban comparisons for select demographic indicators.
Author(s): Pearl A. McElfish, Aaron Caldwell, Donya Watson, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine Reports, 51, 102983
Date: 01/2025
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Telehealth Evolution in California: Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities
Reports on trends in telehealth policy, financing, implementation, and use in California, and provides recommendations to increase telehealth access. Discusses rural barriers to telehealth access.
Author(s): Natasha Arora, Maggie Jones
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: California Health Care Foundation
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