Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services
Rural–Urban Differences in Use of Mental Health Care for Serious Mental Illness at the Veterans Health Administration: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis
Examines how use of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) mental health care varies among rural and urban veterans with serious mental illness (SMI), using FY 2018-2022 VHA administrative data. Includes data on rural and urban SMI prevalence, services used, and other demographic and clinical factors influencing service use.
Author(s): Alexandra B. Caloudas, Amber B. Amspoker, Ashley Smith, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70173
Date: 06/2026
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Examines how use of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) mental health care varies among rural and urban veterans with serious mental illness (SMI), using FY 2018-2022 VHA administrative data. Includes data on rural and urban SMI prevalence, services used, and other demographic and clinical factors influencing service use.
Author(s): Alexandra B. Caloudas, Amber B. Amspoker, Ashley Smith, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70173
Date: 06/2026
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Notes from the Field: Initial Public Health Response to a Measles Outbreak in a Close-Knit West Texas Community — January−February 2025
Discusses the public health response to a measles outbreak which took place in Texas's rural Gaines county and other nearby counties from January to August 2025. Covers topics including vaccine coverage, school-based public health responses, patient demographics and vaccination status, and multilingual communication and culturally-tailored materials.
Author(s): Carolyn A. Crisp, Scott Milton, Chelsea S. Lutz, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(23), 300-302
Date: 06/2026
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Discusses the public health response to a measles outbreak which took place in Texas's rural Gaines county and other nearby counties from January to August 2025. Covers topics including vaccine coverage, school-based public health responses, patient demographics and vaccination status, and multilingual communication and culturally-tailored materials.
Author(s): Carolyn A. Crisp, Scott Milton, Chelsea S. Lutz, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(23), 300-302
Date: 06/2026
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Bridging the Rural Mental Health Gap: Telehealth Delivery of Specialized CBT and MBCT for Veterans With Parkinson's Disease
Examines the Veteran Affairs (VA) New Jersey Parkinson's Disease (PD) Telepsychotherapy Hub (PD Telepsych Hub) that provides virtual mental health treatments to rural veterans. Analyzes treatment results of 522 veterans with PD over 5 years of receiving cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-PD) or group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT-PD). Provides data on sample demographics, clinical characteristics, pre- and post-treatment outcomes, and satisfaction with therapy.
Author(s): John R. Purcell, Rokas Perskaudas, Rachael B. Miller, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70175
Date: 06/2026
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Examines the Veteran Affairs (VA) New Jersey Parkinson's Disease (PD) Telepsychotherapy Hub (PD Telepsych Hub) that provides virtual mental health treatments to rural veterans. Analyzes treatment results of 522 veterans with PD over 5 years of receiving cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-PD) or group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT-PD). Provides data on sample demographics, clinical characteristics, pre- and post-treatment outcomes, and satisfaction with therapy.
Author(s): John R. Purcell, Rokas Perskaudas, Rachael B. Miller, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70175
Date: 06/2026
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Understanding Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation for At-Home COVID-19 Testing in Underserved Populations During the Pandemic
Evaluates how access to COVID-19 testing barriers, facilitators, and motivations varied among underserved adults in Utah via interviews with 19 low-income Utahns. Includes rural and urban data comparisons and interview excerpts.
Author(s): Joni H. Pierce, Peter Taber, Leticia Stevens, et al.
Citation: Translational Behavioral Medicine, 16(1), ibag033
Date: 06/2026
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Evaluates how access to COVID-19 testing barriers, facilitators, and motivations varied among underserved adults in Utah via interviews with 19 low-income Utahns. Includes rural and urban data comparisons and interview excerpts.
Author(s): Joni H. Pierce, Peter Taber, Leticia Stevens, et al.
Citation: Translational Behavioral Medicine, 16(1), ibag033
Date: 06/2026
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CDC Office of Rural Health Fact Sheet
Details the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office of Rural Health's (ORH) strategies and initiatives to support rural public health, including discussion of the ORH's federal partnerships, provision of funding, workforce training, and strategic plan.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: CDC Office of Rural Health
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Details the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office of Rural Health's (ORH) strategies and initiatives to support rural public health, including discussion of the ORH's federal partnerships, provision of funding, workforce training, and strategic plan.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: CDC Office of Rural Health
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How a Father-Daughter Team is Strengthening Rural Maternity Care
A podcast episode that shares the story of two physicians, father and daughter, who provide maternal healthcare in rural Wisconsin. Discusses community-based care, family, and the connected nature of healthcare in rural communities.
Author(s): Kevin Carr, Melissa Carr, Tom Haederle, Julia Resnick
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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A podcast episode that shares the story of two physicians, father and daughter, who provide maternal healthcare in rural Wisconsin. Discusses community-based care, family, and the connected nature of healthcare in rural communities.
Author(s): Kevin Carr, Melissa Carr, Tom Haederle, Julia Resnick
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Travel Time to Delivery Facilities for Arkansas Mothers
Infographic on travel times to maternal care services in Arkansas and the impact of labor and delivery unit closures on access to care. Includes comparisons between 2019 and 2024 at the state level, and provides data on median minutes traveled to delivery facilities by county.
Author(s): Jennifer Wessel
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
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Infographic on travel times to maternal care services in Arkansas and the impact of labor and delivery unit closures on access to care. Includes comparisons between 2019 and 2024 at the state level, and provides data on median minutes traveled to delivery facilities by county.
Author(s): Jennifer Wessel
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
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Connection for a Cure: How Broadband Access Supports Telehealth Use
Describes broadband access, the impact it has on telehealth utilization, and the impact of telehealth on health outcomes. Highlights various state and federal policy measures addressing broadband and telehealth access, the Rural Health Transformation Program, reimbursement, cross-state licensure flexibility, teleprescribing, and emergency medical services.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Describes broadband access, the impact it has on telehealth utilization, and the impact of telehealth on health outcomes. Highlights various state and federal policy measures addressing broadband and telehealth access, the Rural Health Transformation Program, reimbursement, cross-state licensure flexibility, teleprescribing, and emergency medical services.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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A Roadmap for Implementing Virtual Geriatric Mental Health Services for Rural Veterans: Qualitative Longitudinal Evaluation
Explores access to geriatric mental health (GMH) in rural areas among older rural veterans. Evaluates the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) tele-GMH program's ability to provide care to veterans in rural areas. Describes the phases of implementation of tele-GMH as a part of a longitudinal evaluation.
Author(s): Christine E. Gould, Marika Blair Humber, Chalise Carlson, et al.
Citation: JMIR Aging, 9, e95286
Date: 06/2026
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Explores access to geriatric mental health (GMH) in rural areas among older rural veterans. Evaluates the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) tele-GMH program's ability to provide care to veterans in rural areas. Describes the phases of implementation of tele-GMH as a part of a longitudinal evaluation.
Author(s): Christine E. Gould, Marika Blair Humber, Chalise Carlson, et al.
Citation: JMIR Aging, 9, e95286
Date: 06/2026
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Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities (FRCAs): Health-Related Programs
Provides an overview of congressionally authorized federal regional commissions and authorities (FRCAs), state-federal partnerships that use federal funds for economic development grants and related activities. Discusses the relationship between health and economic development. Describes examples of FRCA health-related grant programs and activities, such as healthcare facility development and equipment, workforce development, business technical assistance, and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Summarizes recent legislation and policy proposals regarding FRCAs and health, as well as considerations for Congress.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of congressionally authorized federal regional commissions and authorities (FRCAs), state-federal partnerships that use federal funds for economic development grants and related activities. Discusses the relationship between health and economic development. Describes examples of FRCA health-related grant programs and activities, such as healthcare facility development and equipment, workforce development, business technical assistance, and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Summarizes recent legislation and policy proposals regarding FRCAs and health, as well as considerations for Congress.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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