Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Behavioral health workforce
Pennsylvania Rural Behavioral Health Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in Pennsylvania in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in Pennsylvania in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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How Do Changes in Medicare Reimbursement for Mental Health Services Impact Access for Rural Older Adults?
Examines how policies allowing marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and mental health counselors (MHCs) to independently bill Medicare have impacted mental healthcare access among Medicare beneficiaries living in rural areas. Utilizes interview data from 14 leaders representing rural health systems and mental health organizations regarding their perceptions on mental healthcare access, Medicare reimbursement policy, and the inclusion of MFTs and MHCs as mental health providers for Medicare recipients.
Author(s): Natalia V. Oster, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Davis G. Patterson, Signe Burchim, Janessa M. Graves
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70162
Date: 05/2026
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Examines how policies allowing marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and mental health counselors (MHCs) to independently bill Medicare have impacted mental healthcare access among Medicare beneficiaries living in rural areas. Utilizes interview data from 14 leaders representing rural health systems and mental health organizations regarding their perceptions on mental healthcare access, Medicare reimbursement policy, and the inclusion of MFTs and MHCs as mental health providers for Medicare recipients.
Author(s): Natalia V. Oster, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Davis G. Patterson, Signe Burchim, Janessa M. Graves
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70162
Date: 05/2026
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Access to and Provision of Child and Youth Behavioral Health Services in the Rural and Urban U.S.
Compiles findings from 9 reports on youth behavioral health in the rural U.S. Describes prevalence of behavioral health conditions, the youth behavioral health workforce, behavioral health licensure and reimbursement policy, and provision of youth behavioral health services. Features statistics with breakdowns by 7 levels of population density.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Lisa A. Garberson, Sara C. Woolcock, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Compiles findings from 9 reports on youth behavioral health in the rural U.S. Describes prevalence of behavioral health conditions, the youth behavioral health workforce, behavioral health licensure and reimbursement policy, and provision of youth behavioral health services. Features statistics with breakdowns by 7 levels of population density.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Lisa A. Garberson, Sara C. Woolcock, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Louisiana Rural Behavioral Health Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in Louisiana in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in Louisiana in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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North Carolina Mental Health & Substance Use Services Workforce Data 2024 Snapshot: Certified Peer Support Specialists
Presents statistics on North Carolina peer support specialists, including demographics, rate per 10,000 population with breakdowns by metro and nonmetro areas, and a county-level map showing rate per 10,000 population as of 2024.
Author(s): B.M. Lombardi, J. Headley, M.P. Jimenez, et al.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organizations: The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center
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Presents statistics on North Carolina peer support specialists, including demographics, rate per 10,000 population with breakdowns by metro and nonmetro areas, and a county-level map showing rate per 10,000 population as of 2024.
Author(s): B.M. Lombardi, J. Headley, M.P. Jimenez, et al.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organizations: The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center
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North Carolina Mental Health & Substance Use Services Workforce Data 2024 Snapshot: Addiction Counselors
Offers statistics on number of addiction counselors in North Carolina, with breakdowns by type; demographics; county-level maps showing number of licensed clinical addiction specialists and certified drug and alcohol counselors per 10,000 population; and metro and nonmetro rate to 10,000 population by credential type, as of 2024.
Author(s): B.M. Lombardi, J. Headley, M.P. Jimenez, et al.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organizations: The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center
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Offers statistics on number of addiction counselors in North Carolina, with breakdowns by type; demographics; county-level maps showing number of licensed clinical addiction specialists and certified drug and alcohol counselors per 10,000 population; and metro and nonmetro rate to 10,000 population by credential type, as of 2024.
Author(s): B.M. Lombardi, J. Headley, M.P. Jimenez, et al.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organizations: The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center
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Maryland Rural Behavioral Health Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in Maryland in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in Maryland in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Oklahoma Rural Behavioral Health Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in Oklahoma in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in Oklahoma in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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State Policies Can Help Address the Mental Health Care Workforce Shortages
Discusses how state needs assessments can help policymakers address gaps in mental healthcare workforce coverage. Details rural mental health workforce shortages and highlights how state programs, informed by needs assessments, can address workforce shortages.
Author(s): Stacey Baxter
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Pew
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Discusses how state needs assessments can help policymakers address gaps in mental healthcare workforce coverage. Details rural mental health workforce shortages and highlights how state programs, informed by needs assessments, can address workforce shortages.
Author(s): Stacey Baxter
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Pew
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Implementing Measurement-Based Care in Virtual Mental Health Services for Rural Veterans: Provider Insights from a Pre-Implementation Evaluation
Examines behavioral health provider perspectives on measurement-based care (MBC) implementation in rural and virtual Veterans Health Administration (VHA) settings in the South Central United States. Utilizes qualitative survey feedback from 46 providers on issues such as MBC use, benefits and drawbacks of MBC, and educational needs for successful MBC implementation.
Author(s): Amanda Heeren, Kimberly McCoy, Lindsey Fuhrmeister, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 26, 694
Date: 04/2026
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Examines behavioral health provider perspectives on measurement-based care (MBC) implementation in rural and virtual Veterans Health Administration (VHA) settings in the South Central United States. Utilizes qualitative survey feedback from 46 providers on issues such as MBC use, benefits and drawbacks of MBC, and educational needs for successful MBC implementation.
Author(s): Amanda Heeren, Kimberly McCoy, Lindsey Fuhrmeister, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 26, 694
Date: 04/2026
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