Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Technology for health and human services
Access and Quality of Mental Health Services in Rural and Urban America
Research brief documenting recent trends in mental healthcare access and quality in urban and rural communities. Features state-level maps showing locations of mental health facilities, a county-level map with shadings showing driving distances to any mental health facility or access to telehealth, and statistics on ZIP code area demographics, with breakdowns by urban, large rural, and small rural area.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Sophia N.D. Negaro, Rachel M. Hantman, et al.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Research brief documenting recent trends in mental healthcare access and quality in urban and rural communities. Features state-level maps showing locations of mental health facilities, a county-level map with shadings showing driving distances to any mental health facility or access to telehealth, and statistics on ZIP code area demographics, with breakdowns by urban, large rural, and small rural area.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Sophia N.D. Negaro, Rachel M. Hantman, et al.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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The Universal Service Fund and Related FCC Broadband Programs: Overview and Considerations for Congress
Provides an overview of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF) and its four programs: the High Cost Program, Lifeline Program, Rural Health Care Program, and Schools and Libraries Program. Describes legislation introduced in the 118th Congress that would impact the USF programs. Outlines considerations for Congress and five areas for possible reform.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF) and its four programs: the High Cost Program, Lifeline Program, Rural Health Care Program, and Schools and Libraries Program. Describes legislation introduced in the 118th Congress that would impact the USF programs. Outlines considerations for Congress and five areas for possible reform.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Telehealth-Readiness, Healthcare Access, and Cardiovascular Health in the Deep South: A Spatial Perspective
Examines the spatial distribution and social determinants of coronary heart disease (CHD) and CHD-related mortality across 428 counties in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina. Explores how enabling resources, such as healthcare provider availability and broadband infrastructure; sociodemographic characteristics; and access barriers relate to cardiovascular burden.
Author(s): Ruaa Al Juboori, Dylan Barker, Andrew Yockey, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(7), 1020
Date: 06/2025
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Examines the spatial distribution and social determinants of coronary heart disease (CHD) and CHD-related mortality across 428 counties in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina. Explores how enabling resources, such as healthcare provider availability and broadband infrastructure; sociodemographic characteristics; and access barriers relate to cardiovascular burden.
Author(s): Ruaa Al Juboori, Dylan Barker, Andrew Yockey, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(7), 1020
Date: 06/2025
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Evaluating the Impact of Online Learning: Indiana University Mental and Behavioral Health Programs
Examines mental and behavioral health (MBH) workforce pipelines in Indiana with a focus on post-secondary online degree programs. Includes percentage of rural versus urban students in online programs as well as county-level percentages of students enrolled in an online MBH program.
Author(s): Mykayla Moore, Hannah Maxey
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy
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Examines mental and behavioral health (MBH) workforce pipelines in Indiana with a focus on post-secondary online degree programs. Includes percentage of rural versus urban students in online programs as well as county-level percentages of students enrolled in an online MBH program.
Author(s): Mykayla Moore, Hannah Maxey
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy
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AI in Health Care Administration: A Conversation with Experts
Blog post summarizing major themes raised in a conversation among researchers, practitioners, payers, policy experts, and congressional staff regarding how AI can improve administrative efficiency in healthcare. Includes a discussion of access to AI tools in rural and underserved areas.
Additional links: Factsheet
Author(s): Emma Sheffert
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Blog post summarizing major themes raised in a conversation among researchers, practitioners, payers, policy experts, and congressional staff regarding how AI can improve administrative efficiency in healthcare. Includes a discussion of access to AI tools in rural and underserved areas.
Additional links: Factsheet
Author(s): Emma Sheffert
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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The Appalachian Region: A Data Overview from the 2019-2023 American Community Survey Chartbook
State- and county-level information on population, age, household characteristics, housing occupancy, education, labor force, employment, transportation, income, health insurance coverage, disability, and veteran status, for the 13 Appalachian states. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density. Includes data explorer options for Appalachian categories such as population and age, education, income and poverty, computer and broadband access, rural Appalachia versus rural America, and employment and commuting.
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): Sara Srygley, Nurfadila Khairunnisa, Diana Elliott
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, Population Reference Bureau
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State- and county-level information on population, age, household characteristics, housing occupancy, education, labor force, employment, transportation, income, health insurance coverage, disability, and veteran status, for the 13 Appalachian states. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density. Includes data explorer options for Appalachian categories such as population and age, education, income and poverty, computer and broadband access, rural Appalachia versus rural America, and employment and commuting.
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): Sara Srygley, Nurfadila Khairunnisa, Diana Elliott
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, Population Reference Bureau
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State-level Interstate Medical Licensure Policies for Telehealth From 2018-2022: Assessing Changes Before and After the Onset of the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency
Describes the changes in state telehealth-related policies pertaining to physician medical licensure for the provision of out-of-state telehealth services that occurred between 2018 and 2022. Discusses the Interstate Medical License Compact (IMLC) and states' participation over time.
Author(s): Priyanka Vakkalanka, Tracy Young, Knute D. Carter, et al.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Telehealth Research Center
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Describes the changes in state telehealth-related policies pertaining to physician medical licensure for the provision of out-of-state telehealth services that occurred between 2018 and 2022. Discusses the Interstate Medical License Compact (IMLC) and states' participation over time.
Author(s): Priyanka Vakkalanka, Tracy Young, Knute D. Carter, et al.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Telehealth Research Center
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An Exploratory Study to Understand How Rurality Status and Demographic Characteristics Are Associated With Enrollment, Engagement, and Retention in a Digital Health Intervention Targeting the Appalachian Region
Explores how rural status is associated with enrollment, retention, and engagement in a digital health intervention aimed at reducing sugar-sweetened beverages in Appalachia. Breaks down data by rurality, sex, income, and education, among other measures.
Author(s): Donna‐Jean P. Brock, Lee M. Ritterband, Wen You, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70042
Date: 06/2025
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Explores how rural status is associated with enrollment, retention, and engagement in a digital health intervention aimed at reducing sugar-sweetened beverages in Appalachia. Breaks down data by rurality, sex, income, and education, among other measures.
Author(s): Donna‐Jean P. Brock, Lee M. Ritterband, Wen You, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70042
Date: 06/2025
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Primary Care Practices' Choice of Implementation Strategy for Continuous Glucose Monitoring for Patients with Diabetes: A Multiple Methods Study Within a Larger Hybrid Type-3 Effectiveness-Implementation Study
Examines characteristics of primary care (PC) practices that utilize either a self-paced or virtual continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) implementation service. Provides feedback on CGM implementation from 76 PC practices in Colorado as well as characteristics of those practices. Compares metro versus nonmetro PC utilization of two CGM services: the self-paced American Academy of Family Physicians Transformation in Practice Series (TIPS) service or the virtual CGM initiation service (virCIS).
Author(s): Kimberly T. Wiggins, Tristen L. Hall, Bonnie Jortberg, et al.
Citation: BMC Primary Care, 26, 195
Date: 06/2025
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Examines characteristics of primary care (PC) practices that utilize either a self-paced or virtual continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) implementation service. Provides feedback on CGM implementation from 76 PC practices in Colorado as well as characteristics of those practices. Compares metro versus nonmetro PC utilization of two CGM services: the self-paced American Academy of Family Physicians Transformation in Practice Series (TIPS) service or the virtual CGM initiation service (virCIS).
Author(s): Kimberly T. Wiggins, Tristen L. Hall, Bonnie Jortberg, et al.
Citation: BMC Primary Care, 26, 195
Date: 06/2025
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Closing the Food Access Gap in Rural Mississippi: Evaluation of the Grocery Online Ordering Distribution Service (GOODS) Program Using an Assets-Based Framework
Examines the impact of the Grocery Online Ordering Distribution Service (GOODS) food program on nutritious food access in rural Mississippi. Includes data on participant characteristics, eating and shopping habits, and food purchases. Discusses program framework, design, and feedback from staff and participants.
Author(s): Ivonne Quiroz, Sara Evans Miller, Kevin Coogan, Nevin Cohen
Citation: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development
Date: 06/2025
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Examines the impact of the Grocery Online Ordering Distribution Service (GOODS) food program on nutritious food access in rural Mississippi. Includes data on participant characteristics, eating and shopping habits, and food purchases. Discusses program framework, design, and feedback from staff and participants.
Author(s): Ivonne Quiroz, Sara Evans Miller, Kevin Coogan, Nevin Cohen
Citation: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development
Date: 06/2025
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