Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
Medicare Enrollees and the Part D Drug Benefit: Improving Financial Protection through the Low- Income Subsidy
Provides an overview of the Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) program, which covers some or all Part D drug costs. Presents estimates of number of Medicare Part D enrollees who received LIS in 2020 and their characteristics, as well as Medicare beneficiaries who did and did not have prescription drug coverage but who appear to be eligible for LIS based on income and resources. Compares Medicare enrollees demographic, financial, health status, and healthcare utilization characteristics, including rurality.
Author(s): Yevgeniy Feyman, Joel Ruhter, Kenneth Finegold, et al.
Date: 02/2024
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Provides an overview of the Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) program, which covers some or all Part D drug costs. Presents estimates of number of Medicare Part D enrollees who received LIS in 2020 and their characteristics, as well as Medicare beneficiaries who did and did not have prescription drug coverage but who appear to be eligible for LIS based on income and resources. Compares Medicare enrollees demographic, financial, health status, and healthcare utilization characteristics, including rurality.
Author(s): Yevgeniy Feyman, Joel Ruhter, Kenneth Finegold, et al.
Date: 02/2024
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Critical Access Hospital Telehealth Guide
Provides practical guidance on implementing and sustaining telehealth in Critical Access Hospitals, to optimize healthcare delivery, expand access, and enhance care coordination. Focuses on Medicare outpatient telehealth services, but also includes information on Medicaid coverage and remote services that may not strictly be considered telehealth.
Date: 02/2024
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Health Resource Center, Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center
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Provides practical guidance on implementing and sustaining telehealth in Critical Access Hospitals, to optimize healthcare delivery, expand access, and enhance care coordination. Focuses on Medicare outpatient telehealth services, but also includes information on Medicaid coverage and remote services that may not strictly be considered telehealth.
Date: 02/2024
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Health Resource Center, Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center
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Quantifying Arizona's Mental Health Workforce Shortage Using Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) Data, Updated: January 2025
Report describing the shortages of psychiatrist physicians in Arizona. Data include shortages in both tribal nations and at a county-level.
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Center for Rural Health
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Report describing the shortages of psychiatrist physicians in Arizona. Data include shortages in both tribal nations and at a county-level.
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Center for Rural Health
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Evaluating the Connection Between Rural Travel Time and Health: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Older Adults Living in the Northeast United States
Presents a study that explores the travel time to receive healthcare, use of preventive care, and overall health outcomes for rural adults over 50 in the Northeastern U.S. Bases findings on a survey rural adults living in 7 states in the Northeast and breaks down data by age and household income, among other measures.
Author(s): Madison Hearn, Casey Pinto, Jennifer L. Moss
Citation: Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, 15, 21501319241266114
Date: 01/2024
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Presents a study that explores the travel time to receive healthcare, use of preventive care, and overall health outcomes for rural adults over 50 in the Northeastern U.S. Bases findings on a survey rural adults living in 7 states in the Northeast and breaks down data by age and household income, among other measures.
Author(s): Madison Hearn, Casey Pinto, Jennifer L. Moss
Citation: Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, 15, 21501319241266114
Date: 01/2024
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Stakeholder Perspectives on a Telemedicine Referral and Coordination Model To Expand Medication Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Rural Primary Care Clinics
Examines acceptability of utilizing an external telemedicine (TM) vendor to improve access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in rural areas. Analyzes interview data from 7 rural primary care clinics and a TM-MOUD vendor to explore themes such as logistical barriers, stigma, privacy, and access. Includes demographic data on survey respondents as well as acceptability ratings.
Author(s): Allison J. Ober, Alex R. Dopp, Sarah E. Clingan, et al.
Citation: Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment, 156, 209194
Date: 01/2024
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Examines acceptability of utilizing an external telemedicine (TM) vendor to improve access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in rural areas. Analyzes interview data from 7 rural primary care clinics and a TM-MOUD vendor to explore themes such as logistical barriers, stigma, privacy, and access. Includes demographic data on survey respondents as well as acceptability ratings.
Author(s): Allison J. Ober, Alex R. Dopp, Sarah E. Clingan, et al.
Citation: Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment, 156, 209194
Date: 01/2024
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Geographic Variation and Racial Disparities in Adoption of Newer Glucose-Lowering Drugs with Cardiovascular Benefits among US Medicare Beneficiaries with Type 2 Diabetes
Analyzes the use of glucose-lowering drugs (GLDs) among people with type 2 diabetes, utilizing 2017-2018 Medicare Part D beneficiary claims data. Identifies rural-urban and racial disparities in GLD initiation rates, and discusses factors influencing equitable access to cardiovascular treatment.
Author(s): Wei-Han Chen, Yujia Li, Lanting Yang, et al.
Citation: Plos ONE, 19(1), e0297208
Date: 01/2024
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Analyzes the use of glucose-lowering drugs (GLDs) among people with type 2 diabetes, utilizing 2017-2018 Medicare Part D beneficiary claims data. Identifies rural-urban and racial disparities in GLD initiation rates, and discusses factors influencing equitable access to cardiovascular treatment.
Author(s): Wei-Han Chen, Yujia Li, Lanting Yang, et al.
Citation: Plos ONE, 19(1), e0297208
Date: 01/2024
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Creating Community-Based Health Education Materials for Indigenous Farmworkers
Describes the importance of accessible and culturally relevant resources for Mexican and Central American Indigenous farmworkers, and outlines steps for health education material development. Identifies techniques for promoting health literacy and encouraging community input. Highlights the importance of distinguishing Mesoamerican Indigenous farmworkers from non-Indigenous Latino populations.
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Language Access Florida, National Center for Farmworker Health, Rural Women's Health Project
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Describes the importance of accessible and culturally relevant resources for Mexican and Central American Indigenous farmworkers, and outlines steps for health education material development. Identifies techniques for promoting health literacy and encouraging community input. Highlights the importance of distinguishing Mesoamerican Indigenous farmworkers from non-Indigenous Latino populations.
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Language Access Florida, National Center for Farmworker Health, Rural Women's Health Project
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Mapping Access to Children's Hospitals in Texas
Compares the population of Texas children with the location of children's hospitals to assess distance to care, evaluate bed availability, and highlight areas of disparity. Discusses vehicle access, travel times, and rural health disparities.
Author(s): Shadi Maleki, Nathaniel Dede-Bamfo, Elizabeth Ekren, Milad Mohammadalizadehkorde, Melinda Villagran
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(2), 140
Date: 01/2024
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Compares the population of Texas children with the location of children's hospitals to assess distance to care, evaluate bed availability, and highlight areas of disparity. Discusses vehicle access, travel times, and rural health disparities.
Author(s): Shadi Maleki, Nathaniel Dede-Bamfo, Elizabeth Ekren, Milad Mohammadalizadehkorde, Melinda Villagran
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(2), 140
Date: 01/2024
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Exploring Telemental Health Practice Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
Presents a study on the use of telemedicine by mental health providers since the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights the expansion of telemental health during the pandemic and how that expansion has continued in the aftermath. Breaks down data by patient and provider characteristics, as well as the rurality of providers and of the area served.
Author(s): Demi Zhu, Samantha R. Paige, Henry Slone, et al.
Citation: Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 30(1), 72-78
Date: 01/2024
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Presents a study on the use of telemedicine by mental health providers since the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights the expansion of telemental health during the pandemic and how that expansion has continued in the aftermath. Breaks down data by patient and provider characteristics, as well as the rurality of providers and of the area served.
Author(s): Demi Zhu, Samantha R. Paige, Henry Slone, et al.
Citation: Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 30(1), 72-78
Date: 01/2024
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Pennsylvania Hospital Workforce Survey
Examines Pennsylvania hospitals' efforts to recruit and retain talented workers, using data from a survey conducted in October and November 2023. Describes how care is evolving to support providers and patients, examines healthcare professional shortages, and offers strategies to eliminate violence against healthcare professionals. Features statistics on vacancy rates, with breakdown by rural areas.
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organization: Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania
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Examines Pennsylvania hospitals' efforts to recruit and retain talented workers, using data from a survey conducted in October and November 2023. Describes how care is evolving to support providers and patients, examines healthcare professional shortages, and offers strategies to eliminate violence against healthcare professionals. Features statistics on vacancy rates, with breakdown by rural areas.
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organization: Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania
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