Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health workforce shortage designations
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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County-Level Differences in Health Professional Shortage Areas by Rurality, Age, and Disability Status
Examines differences in healthcare access among working-age and older adults, by rurality and disability status. Features statistics including percents of counties qualifying as primary care, mental health, or dental Heath Professional Shortage Areas, with breakdowns by disability quartile and rural or urban location.
Author(s): Andrew Abram, Alexis Swendener, Mariana Tuttle, Katie Rydberg, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Examines differences in healthcare access among working-age and older adults, by rurality and disability status. Features statistics including percents of counties qualifying as primary care, mental health, or dental Heath Professional Shortage Areas, with breakdowns by disability quartile and rural or urban location.
Author(s): Andrew Abram, Alexis Swendener, Mariana Tuttle, Katie Rydberg, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Health Professional Shortage Areas: Mental Health
Printable map that shows nonmetropolitan and micropolitan mental health HPSAs on one color scale and metropolitan mental health HPSAs on another. Data source: data.HRSA.gov
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Printable map that shows nonmetropolitan and micropolitan mental health HPSAs on one color scale and metropolitan mental health HPSAs on another. Data source: data.HRSA.gov
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Health Professional Shortage Areas: Dental Care
Printable map that shows nonmetropolitan and micropolitan dental care HPSAs on one color scale and metropolitan dental care HPSAs on another. Data source: data.HRSA.gov
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Printable map that shows nonmetropolitan and micropolitan dental care HPSAs on one color scale and metropolitan dental care HPSAs on another. Data source: data.HRSA.gov
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Health Professional Shortage Areas: Primary Care
Printable map that shows nonmetropolitan and micropolitan primary care HPSAs on one color scale and metropolitan primary care HPSAs on another. Data source: data.HRSA.gov
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Printable map that shows nonmetropolitan and micropolitan primary care HPSAs on one color scale and metropolitan primary care HPSAs on another. Data source: data.HRSA.gov
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Access to Oral Health Care in California: Barriers and Opportunities
Issue brief summarizing the state of oral health care access in California and prior efforts to address this issue. Discusses geographic barriers for people in rural areas, and Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas in California.
Author(s): Miranda Davis, Elizabeth Mertz
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Healthforce Center at UCSF
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Issue brief summarizing the state of oral health care access in California and prior efforts to address this issue. Discusses geographic barriers for people in rural areas, and Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas in California.
Author(s): Miranda Davis, Elizabeth Mertz
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Healthforce Center at UCSF
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Examining Rural Population Characteristics and Access to Care in 2022: A Study of Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs)
Chartbook examines the characteristics of populations living within Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) across the U.S. Explores geographic, population, and facility-based HPSAs in Primary Care and Dental and Mental Health. Highlights population-to-provider ratios, travel time and distance, and several other category-specific measurements for each HPSA.
Author(s): Craig Holden, Shena Popat, Rachel Van Vleet, et al.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
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Chartbook examines the characteristics of populations living within Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) across the U.S. Explores geographic, population, and facility-based HPSAs in Primary Care and Dental and Mental Health. Highlights population-to-provider ratios, travel time and distance, and several other category-specific measurements for each HPSA.
Author(s): Craig Holden, Shena Popat, Rachel Van Vleet, et al.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
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Maternal Health Workforce Expansion and Local Childbirths
Results of a study to determine whether the National Health Service Corps's support of clinicians to work in Health Professional Shortage Areas has resulted in improved access to local childbirth care. Features statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban counties.
Author(s): Yanlei Ma, Olesya Baker, Fang Zhang, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(2), e2556775
Date: 02/2026
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Results of a study to determine whether the National Health Service Corps's support of clinicians to work in Health Professional Shortage Areas has resulted in improved access to local childbirth care. Features statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban counties.
Author(s): Yanlei Ma, Olesya Baker, Fang Zhang, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(2), e2556775
Date: 02/2026
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Tennessee Uninsured Adult Healthcare Safety Net: 2025 Annual Report
Reports on Tennessee's uninsured population, state safety net funding, and services provided in 2025. Lists safety net service locations, including community and faith-based clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, dental clinics, and more. Provides county-by-county data on primary, oral, and specialty care population-to-provider ratios, and includes county-level maps of Health Resource Shortage Areas. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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Reports on Tennessee's uninsured population, state safety net funding, and services provided in 2025. Lists safety net service locations, including community and faith-based clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, dental clinics, and more. Provides county-by-county data on primary, oral, and specialty care population-to-provider ratios, and includes county-level maps of Health Resource Shortage Areas. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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Strengthening Rural Health Care: A Scoping Review of Nurse Recruitment and Retention Strategies
Results of a review identifying recruitment and retention programs for nurses in rural areas, including strategy characteristics and location. Features statistics and a county-level map showing locations of programs and Primary Care Heath Professional Shortage Areas.
Author(s): Kelley Arredondo, Laura Witte, Alexander Paterson-Roberts, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(1S), S18-S25
Date: 01/2026
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Results of a review identifying recruitment and retention programs for nurses in rural areas, including strategy characteristics and location. Features statistics and a county-level map showing locations of programs and Primary Care Heath Professional Shortage Areas.
Author(s): Kelley Arredondo, Laura Witte, Alexander Paterson-Roberts, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(1S), S18-S25
Date: 01/2026
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