Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Transportation
State Innovations in Improving Access to Care for Adults with Complex Needs in Rural Communities
Discusses Medicaid policy and financing strategies that can help improve rural delivery systems and access to care for rural older adults, people with disabilities, and others with complex health and social needs. Describes effective approaches undertaken in California, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Virginia across three promising strategies. Identifies four factors critical to successful program design and implementation and key considerations for states.
Author(s): Molly Knowles, Nida Enehizena, Gretchen Bell, Ellen Breslin
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Discusses Medicaid policy and financing strategies that can help improve rural delivery systems and access to care for rural older adults, people with disabilities, and others with complex health and social needs. Describes effective approaches undertaken in California, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Virginia across three promising strategies. Identifies four factors critical to successful program design and implementation and key considerations for states.
Author(s): Molly Knowles, Nida Enehizena, Gretchen Bell, Ellen Breslin
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Relationship Between Food Security and Walking for Transportation: Findings by Region and Rurality
Examines how the relationship between food security and walking for transport varies by geographic region and rurality, using 2022 National Health Interview Survey data.
Author(s): Jessica Stroope, Marilyn E. Wende, Robert E. Anderson III, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70181
Date: 06/2026
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Examines how the relationship between food security and walking for transport varies by geographic region and rurality, using 2022 National Health Interview Survey data.
Author(s): Jessica Stroope, Marilyn E. Wende, Robert E. Anderson III, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70181
Date: 06/2026
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Supporting Rural Older Adults in Home and Community-Based Settings: Perspectives from Area Agencies on Aging
Explores the needs of older adults living in rural communities who are homebound. Presents findings and themes from a July 2025 listening session with representatives from rural-serving Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) from five states regarding challenges serving rural older adults who are homebound.
Author(s): Katie Rydberg, Jessica Machler, Megan Lahr, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Explores the needs of older adults living in rural communities who are homebound. Presents findings and themes from a July 2025 listening session with representatives from rural-serving Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) from five states regarding challenges serving rural older adults who are homebound.
Author(s): Katie Rydberg, Jessica Machler, Megan Lahr, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Tribal Transportation/Transit Building Virtual Roundtable: Tribal Transit Facilities
A recorded meeting focused on transit facility grants and how to manage facilities that support safe and reliable transit in tribal communities. Provides information on funding requirements and strategies for successful project implementation. Transcript available below description.
Author(s): Warren Blackman, Michele Smith
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Development Organizations
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A recorded meeting focused on transit facility grants and how to manage facilities that support safe and reliable transit in tribal communities. Provides information on funding requirements and strategies for successful project implementation. Transcript available below description.
Author(s): Warren Blackman, Michele Smith
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Development Organizations
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Expanding Mobility Options in Rural Western South Carolina: Upper Savannah Transit and Mobility Feasibility Study for Abbeville, Laurens, and Saluda Counties
Examines transportation in rural South Carolina counties and the impact of transportation gaps on employment, healthcare, education, and overall community well-being. Provides information and data on transportation needs, demographic profile of rural residents, and transit/mobility options, such as fixed and flexible transit, volunteer driving programs, carpooling, and more. Includes resources on medical and rural health transportation needs.
Author(s): Rebecca Gleason, David Kack, Jennifer MacFarlane
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Western Transportation Institute
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Examines transportation in rural South Carolina counties and the impact of transportation gaps on employment, healthcare, education, and overall community well-being. Provides information and data on transportation needs, demographic profile of rural residents, and transit/mobility options, such as fixed and flexible transit, volunteer driving programs, carpooling, and more. Includes resources on medical and rural health transportation needs.
Author(s): Rebecca Gleason, David Kack, Jennifer MacFarlane
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Western Transportation Institute
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Understanding Artificial Intelligence and How It Can Be Used in Transit
Discusses the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in transit agencies. Includes the results of a survey among 24 rural, tribal, and other transit agencies about their use of AI, potential uses of AI, regulations, and potential funding sources. Offers a 6-step process for implementation following best practices.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Transit Assistance Program
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Discusses the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in transit agencies. Includes the results of a survey among 24 rural, tribal, and other transit agencies about their use of AI, potential uses of AI, regulations, and potential funding sources. Offers a 6-step process for implementation following best practices.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Transit Assistance Program
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Food Alliance's Mobile Food Community Kitchen and Pop-Up Pantry Model
Examines the New Hampshire Community Kitchen's Mobile Food Pantry program, aimed at reducing food insecurity in rural areas. Utilizes qualitative data from 97 participants attending mobile pantry events and discusses issues such as financial stress, transportation barriers, sustainability, and more.
Author(s): Margaret Henning, Magdalynn Graul, Kate McAvoy
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(5), 550
Date: 04/2026
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Examines the New Hampshire Community Kitchen's Mobile Food Pantry program, aimed at reducing food insecurity in rural areas. Utilizes qualitative data from 97 participants attending mobile pantry events and discusses issues such as financial stress, transportation barriers, sustainability, and more.
Author(s): Margaret Henning, Magdalynn Graul, Kate McAvoy
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(5), 550
Date: 04/2026
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Assessing Healthcare Access among Residents in Rural Eastern San Diego County: A Qualitative Study
Examines patient healthcare experiences, healthcare access, and public health infrastructure in rural Eastern San Diego County. Utilizes interview data from 24 residents and discusses issues such as geographical isolation, financial constraints, transportation issues, administrative burdens, limited access to rural aging health programming, and public health infrastructure.
Author(s): Loretta Sosa Ortiz, Pamela Padilla, Gina Chung, et al.
Citation: BMC Primary Care, 27, 149
Date: 03/2026
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Examines patient healthcare experiences, healthcare access, and public health infrastructure in rural Eastern San Diego County. Utilizes interview data from 24 residents and discusses issues such as geographical isolation, financial constraints, transportation issues, administrative burdens, limited access to rural aging health programming, and public health infrastructure.
Author(s): Loretta Sosa Ortiz, Pamela Padilla, Gina Chung, et al.
Citation: BMC Primary Care, 27, 149
Date: 03/2026
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A Strategic Planning Guide for Rural Communities
Report outlines the importance of strategic planning in supporting the health of rural communities and highlights implementation challenges. Details the process of engaging community partners in the strategic planning process and explores methods for overcoming barriers.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Communities Opioid Response Program - Technical Assistance
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Report outlines the importance of strategic planning in supporting the health of rural communities and highlights implementation challenges. Details the process of engaging community partners in the strategic planning process and explores methods for overcoming barriers.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Communities Opioid Response Program - Technical Assistance
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Empowering Rural Communities: Overcoming Barriers to Substance Use Treatment
Webinar recording discusses the ways rural communities can overcome barriers to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and uptake. Explores substance use data for rural communities and outlines common barriers, such as travel times and distance to care, provider shortages, and concerns about stigma and patient confidentiality. Highlights strategies for rural communities to leverage their community bonds and faith communities to address SUD, and details models for expanding treatment and patient support in rural areas.
Additional links: Webinar Slides
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network
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Webinar recording discusses the ways rural communities can overcome barriers to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and uptake. Explores substance use data for rural communities and outlines common barriers, such as travel times and distance to care, provider shortages, and concerns about stigma and patient confidentiality. Highlights strategies for rural communities to leverage their community bonds and faith communities to address SUD, and details models for expanding treatment and patient support in rural areas.
Additional links: Webinar Slides
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network
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