In-depth stories examining key rural health issues.
March 11, 2026
The second annual Rural Workforce Innovation Potluck brought together healthcare professionals from around the country to share their own experiences in rural recruitment, retention, and bridging workforce gaps.
February 18, 2026
Efforts to grow public awareness, encourage testing, and expand resources in Idaho and Kansas may offer a blueprint for lead poisoning prevention.
January 28, 2026
The health benefits associated with cycling are vast. But in some rural areas, potential cyclists can be discouraged by a lack of bike-friendly infrastructure or the absence of a local cycling community.
December 10, 2025
To meet the demand for affordable child care, rural healthcare organizations in Indiana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin have partnered with childcare providers, schools, businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations. These healthcare facilities sell or lease space at a steep discount, and one formed a cooperative with other businesses to offer child care.
September 17, 2025
A national recruitment organization, state behavioral health organizations in Nebraska and South Carolina, and a mental health center CEO in Michigan discuss the challenges in recruiting and retaining mental health professionals in rural areas and share solutions.
November 13, 2024
The RUPRI Health Panel, consisting of six of the foremost rural health experts from across the country, is celebrating 30 years of nonpartisan policy analysis. Members reflect on the Panel's history – and their ongoing commitment to representing rural communities and perspectives in national health policy discussions.
November 6, 2024
From the 2036 physician supply predictions: 6% shortage in urban, but 56% in rural. With supply influenced by 100 years of attitudes, health policies, and federal funding, this historical review leads up to the recent decades of new federal funding and policies that experts said will be changing this geographic maldistribution of physicians.
October 23, 2024
Maternal deaths have increased in the U.S., with half of those deaths occurring in the year after childbirth. In many rural communities, accessing necessary postpartum care has become increasingly difficult.
October 2, 2024
Rural people with disabilities face barriers to healthcare, such as transportation, inaccessible buildings, and providers' lack of experience or confidence treating this patient population. Experts, including a public health department in Montana and a disability and health program in New Hampshire, discuss these barriers and ways to improve accessibility and communication with patients with disabilities.
September 11, 2024
What can board members and CEOs do to ensure the continuity of strong leadership through transitions? Rural health leaders from across the country share their approaches to succession planning — from written policies to the mentorship of emerging talent.
