Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Specialty care
Beneficiary and Clinician Perspectives on Medicare and Other Issues: Findings from 2025 Focus Groups in St. Louis, Missouri, and 2021–2025 Rural Focus Groups
Summarizes findings from 8 focus groups of Medicare beneficiaries, Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligible) beneficiaries, and clinicians conducted between April and May 2025, including one virtual focus group of rural Medicare beneficiaries. Compiles findings from 13 focus groups of rural Medicare beneficiaries between 2021 and 2025. Highlights themes that emerged across the focus groups covering Medicare coverage options, access to care, telehealth, organization of care, and prescription drugs.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Summarizes findings from 8 focus groups of Medicare beneficiaries, Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligible) beneficiaries, and clinicians conducted between April and May 2025, including one virtual focus group of rural Medicare beneficiaries. Compiles findings from 13 focus groups of rural Medicare beneficiaries between 2021 and 2025. Highlights themes that emerged across the focus groups covering Medicare coverage options, access to care, telehealth, organization of care, and prescription drugs.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Rural Oncologists' Perceptions of Specialty Scarcity and Repercussions for Care Delivery: A Qualitative Study
Explores the perceptions and experiences of oncology physicians regarding the impact those within rural referral networks face following the departure of physicians they see as crucial to their cancer care networks. Discusses the loss of expertise, loss of collaborative relationships, and increased patient volume, as well as the adaptive strategies networks implement to make up for the loss of crucial providers.
Author(s): Erika L Moen, Christopher Tirrell, Gabriel A Brooks, et al.
Citation: JCO Oncology Practice, 22(1), 167-173
Date: 05/2025
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Explores the perceptions and experiences of oncology physicians regarding the impact those within rural referral networks face following the departure of physicians they see as crucial to their cancer care networks. Discusses the loss of expertise, loss of collaborative relationships, and increased patient volume, as well as the adaptive strategies networks implement to make up for the loss of crucial providers.
Author(s): Erika L Moen, Christopher Tirrell, Gabriel A Brooks, et al.
Citation: JCO Oncology Practice, 22(1), 167-173
Date: 05/2025
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Geographic and Sociodemographic Factors and Receipt of Metabolic Disease Specialty Care
Examines geographic and sociodemographic factors that impact access to specialty metabolic care in rural areas. Utilizes data from 9,546 adults with chronic health conditions in Pennsylvania and provides data on receipt of endocrinology and cardiology care according to patient demographics, neighborhood characteristics, and location of urban, large rural town, or small rural town. Includes maps showing driving distance to care centers.
Author(s): Margaret F. Zupa, Scott D. Rothenberger, Jessica G. Bauer, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(5)
Date: 05/2025
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Examines geographic and sociodemographic factors that impact access to specialty metabolic care in rural areas. Utilizes data from 9,546 adults with chronic health conditions in Pennsylvania and provides data on receipt of endocrinology and cardiology care according to patient demographics, neighborhood characteristics, and location of urban, large rural town, or small rural town. Includes maps showing driving distance to care centers.
Author(s): Margaret F. Zupa, Scott D. Rothenberger, Jessica G. Bauer, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(5)
Date: 05/2025
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Wait Times for Medical Appointments among Adults Age 50 and Older
Reports on wait times and distance to healthcare services in rural and urban communities, utilizing data from a February 2025 survey of 1,012 adults age 50 or older. Breaks down data by level of rurality, type of facility, and type of care provided.
Additional links: Annotated Questionnaire
Author(s): Teresa A. Keenan
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: AARP
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Reports on wait times and distance to healthcare services in rural and urban communities, utilizing data from a February 2025 survey of 1,012 adults age 50 or older. Breaks down data by level of rurality, type of facility, and type of care provided.
Additional links: Annotated Questionnaire
Author(s): Teresa A. Keenan
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: AARP
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Evaluating Spoke Facilitation Costs of Implementing TelePain in the Veterans Health Administration
Examines TelePain and hub-and-spoke healthcare models to treat pain in U.S. veterans. Discusses implementation costs, staffing, patients reached, and potential cost barriers of the model in rural and small clinics.
Author(s): Alexandra L. Rose, Shaina Coogan, Jess Indresano, Steven B. Zeliadt, Jessica A. Chen
Citation: Implementation Science Communications, 6, 51
Date: 05/2025
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Examines TelePain and hub-and-spoke healthcare models to treat pain in U.S. veterans. Discusses implementation costs, staffing, patients reached, and potential cost barriers of the model in rural and small clinics.
Author(s): Alexandra L. Rose, Shaina Coogan, Jess Indresano, Steven B. Zeliadt, Jessica A. Chen
Citation: Implementation Science Communications, 6, 51
Date: 05/2025
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School-Based Enhanced Hearing Screening and Specialty Telehealth Follow-Up for Hearing Loss among Children in Rural Alaska: Study Protocol for a Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Stepped Wedge, Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial (North STAR Trial)
Describes a study protocol that examines the impact of providing specialty hearing care for students in rural Alaska following standard school hearing screenings. Focuses on trial objectives, design, setting, participants, recruitment, data collection, and planned statistical analyses.
Author(s): Samantha Kleindienst Robler, Janet Prvu Bettger, Elizabeth Turner, et al.
Citation: Trials, 26, 175
Date: 05/2025
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Describes a study protocol that examines the impact of providing specialty hearing care for students in rural Alaska following standard school hearing screenings. Focuses on trial objectives, design, setting, participants, recruitment, data collection, and planned statistical analyses.
Author(s): Samantha Kleindienst Robler, Janet Prvu Bettger, Elizabeth Turner, et al.
Citation: Trials, 26, 175
Date: 05/2025
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Bringing Virtual Behavioral Health Care Access to Rural Youth in West Virginia
Podcast episode that discusses a virtual collaborative behavioral healthcare model for children in rural West Virginia. Focuses on early behavioral health interventions, access, and improved health outcomes.
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Adrienne Coopey, Jordan Steiger
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Podcast episode that discusses a virtual collaborative behavioral healthcare model for children in rural West Virginia. Focuses on early behavioral health interventions, access, and improved health outcomes.
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Adrienne Coopey, Jordan Steiger
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Access to CCTA at Safety-Net Hospitals Across the United States
Examines the availability of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) at safety-net hospitals to evaluate patients with chest pain. Analyzes 391 safety-net hospitals according to bed size, state, academic status, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Jonah Delshad, Trevor Weis, Caleb Bayona, et al.
Citation: Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, 19(3), 340-343
Date: 05/2025
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Examines the availability of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) at safety-net hospitals to evaluate patients with chest pain. Analyzes 391 safety-net hospitals according to bed size, state, academic status, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Jonah Delshad, Trevor Weis, Caleb Bayona, et al.
Citation: Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, 19(3), 340-343
Date: 05/2025
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Environmental Scan on Reducing Barriers to Participation in Population-Based Total Cost of Care (PB-TCOC) Models and Supporting Primary and Specialty Care Transformation
Presents results of an environmental scan on reducing barriers to participation in population-based total cost of care (PB-TCOC) models and supporting primary and specialty care transformation. Discusses identifying pathways for maximizing participation of different kinds of organizations in PB-TCOC models; an assessment of and approaches to reducing organization-level barriers; approaches to support primary and specialty care transformation; an assessment of factors that influence the ability of PB-TCOC models to be competitive; and a summary of relevant features in previously submitted Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) proposals. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Presents results of an environmental scan on reducing barriers to participation in population-based total cost of care (PB-TCOC) models and supporting primary and specialty care transformation. Discusses identifying pathways for maximizing participation of different kinds of organizations in PB-TCOC models; an assessment of and approaches to reducing organization-level barriers; approaches to support primary and specialty care transformation; an assessment of factors that influence the ability of PB-TCOC models to be competitive; and a summary of relevant features in previously submitted Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) proposals. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Social Determinants of Health and Variability in Treatment for Patients with Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Examines census tract-level social determinants of health (SDOH) and their impact on lung cancer treatment. Utilizes 2017-2022 Syapse Learning Health Network data to analyze patient social and demographic variables, housing burden, broadband internet access, primary care shortage areas, and rurality, as correlated with radiation therapy and/or surgery.
Author(s): Molly Scannell Bryan, Xiaohan Hu, Monika A. Izano, et al.
Citation: JNCI Cancer Spectrum, 9(2)
Date: 04/2025
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Examines census tract-level social determinants of health (SDOH) and their impact on lung cancer treatment. Utilizes 2017-2022 Syapse Learning Health Network data to analyze patient social and demographic variables, housing burden, broadband internet access, primary care shortage areas, and rurality, as correlated with radiation therapy and/or surgery.
Author(s): Molly Scannell Bryan, Xiaohan Hu, Monika A. Izano, et al.
Citation: JNCI Cancer Spectrum, 9(2)
Date: 04/2025
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