Healthcare Access in Rural Communities – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Healthcare Access in Rural Communities.
Adolescent Access to Federally Funded Clinics Providing Confidential Family Planning Following Changes to Title X Funding Regulations
Examines access to reproductive care across U.S. Census tracts for female minors aged 15 to 17 following 2019 changes in Title X funding. Identifies clinic access within a 30-minute drive in August 2018 before Title X changes and access in August 2020 after Title X changes. Includes demographic data on the impacted minors such as rural versus urban geography, census region, social vulnerability index (SVI), race/ethnicity, age, birth rate, and state minor confidentiality laws.
Author(s): Polina Krass, Vicky Tam, Jungwon Min, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(6)
Date: 06/2022
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Examines access to reproductive care across U.S. Census tracts for female minors aged 15 to 17 following 2019 changes in Title X funding. Identifies clinic access within a 30-minute drive in August 2018 before Title X changes and access in August 2020 after Title X changes. Includes demographic data on the impacted minors such as rural versus urban geography, census region, social vulnerability index (SVI), race/ethnicity, age, birth rate, and state minor confidentiality laws.
Author(s): Polina Krass, Vicky Tam, Jungwon Min, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(6)
Date: 06/2022
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Health Care Access Among Self-Employed Workers in Nonmetropolitan Counties
Report examining access to healthcare for self-employed workers, their families, and their households in rural areas, focusing on availability and affordability. Covers health insurance coverage and affordability, availability of healthcare services, and changes in work, income, health status, and healthcare access in 2020.
Author(s): Elizabeth A. Dobis, Jessica E. Todd
Date: 05/2022
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Report examining access to healthcare for self-employed workers, their families, and their households in rural areas, focusing on availability and affordability. Covers health insurance coverage and affordability, availability of healthcare services, and changes in work, income, health status, and healthcare access in 2020.
Author(s): Elizabeth A. Dobis, Jessica E. Todd
Date: 05/2022
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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State Medicaid Managed Care and Access to Rural Behavioral Health Services
Details how states with Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) are using MCO contract language to increase access to behavioral healthcare through service access requirements, provider network requirements, and telehealth utilization policies. Includes links to available MCO contracts and requests for applications.
Author(s): Eliza Mette, Jodi Manz
Date: 05/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Details how states with Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) are using MCO contract language to increase access to behavioral healthcare through service access requirements, provider network requirements, and telehealth utilization policies. Includes links to available MCO contracts and requests for applications.
Author(s): Eliza Mette, Jodi Manz
Date: 05/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Rural Patient Experiences of Accessing Care for Chronic Conditions: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Studies
Investigates rural patient experiences related to accessing healthcare for the purpose of chronic disease management. Analyzes 62 studies from 2010-2019 with a total of 1,354 participants experiencing chronic health issues. Discusses themes of navigating the rural environment and its cultural expectations, navigating the healthcare system, and financing healthcare.
Author(s): Elizabeth H. Golembiewski, Derek L. Gravholt, Victor D. Torres Roldan, et al.
Citation: The Annals of Family Medicine, 20(3), 266-272
Date: 05/2022
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Investigates rural patient experiences related to accessing healthcare for the purpose of chronic disease management. Analyzes 62 studies from 2010-2019 with a total of 1,354 participants experiencing chronic health issues. Discusses themes of navigating the rural environment and its cultural expectations, navigating the healthcare system, and financing healthcare.
Author(s): Elizabeth H. Golembiewski, Derek L. Gravholt, Victor D. Torres Roldan, et al.
Citation: The Annals of Family Medicine, 20(3), 266-272
Date: 05/2022
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The Justice Gap: The Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-Income Americans
Reports on civil legal needs experienced by low-income Americans who do not seek professional legal help and the paths they take when facing civil legal problems. Includes information on legal needs related to healthcare access and other issues that impact health, such as housing and COVID-19. Provides details for specific groups, including rural residents, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, parents of children under 18, and domestic violence survivors.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Full Report, Special Focus Rural
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Legal Services Corporation
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Reports on civil legal needs experienced by low-income Americans who do not seek professional legal help and the paths they take when facing civil legal problems. Includes information on legal needs related to healthcare access and other issues that impact health, such as housing and COVID-19. Provides details for specific groups, including rural residents, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, parents of children under 18, and domestic violence survivors.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Full Report, Special Focus Rural
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Legal Services Corporation
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Health Panel Comment Letter – Access to Coverage and Care in Medicaid & CHIP
Offers comments in response to the Access to Coverage and Care in Medicaid and CHIP Request for Information. Discusses ways the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) can support states in addressing barriers to enrollment and retention, minimum access standards, and monitoring care availability and access to care.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Offers comments in response to the Access to Coverage and Care in Medicaid and CHIP Request for Information. Discusses ways the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) can support states in addressing barriers to enrollment and retention, minimum access standards, and monitoring care availability and access to care.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Partnering for Rural Transportation with Alisa Druzba and Steve Workman
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Alisa Druzba and Steve Workman. Describes the development of the New Hampshire Mobility Management Network and how it provides options for rural residents. Focuses on the role of collaboration among local, state, and federal agencies in supporting long-term sustainability for transportation services.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Alisa Druzba and Steve Workman. Describes the development of the New Hampshire Mobility Management Network and how it provides options for rural residents. Focuses on the role of collaboration among local, state, and federal agencies in supporting long-term sustainability for transportation services.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Public Transportation's Role in Rural Healthcare Access with Carol Wright Kenderdine
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Carol Wright Kenderdine. Discusses transportation needs and challenges faced by rural older adults and people with disabilities. Explains the role of rural public transit agencies, national resources available to support transit, and how COVID-19 has spurred innovation in rural transportation.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Carol Wright Kenderdine. Discusses transportation needs and challenges faced by rural older adults and people with disabilities. Explains the role of rural public transit agencies, national resources available to support transit, and how COVID-19 has spurred innovation in rural transportation.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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How States Can Expand Health Care Access in Rural Communities
Discusses policy options states could use to increase access to care and the supply of healthcare providers in rural areas. Covers financial assistance programs for medical and dental education; malpractice reform; scope of practice changes for advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, and dental health aide therapists; telemedicine parity; and mobile clinics.
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for American Progress
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Discusses policy options states could use to increase access to care and the supply of healthcare providers in rural areas. Covers financial assistance programs for medical and dental education; malpractice reform; scope of practice changes for advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, and dental health aide therapists; telemedicine parity; and mobile clinics.
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for American Progress
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The Problem Of The Color Line: Spatial Access To Hospital Services For Minoritized Racial And Ethnic Groups
Study examining healthcare access by race and geography, covering distances to hospital services for minoritized ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZTCAs). Discusses factors that lead to disparities in access for rural minority communities, including policy, rural hospital closures, and safety-net program issues.
Additional links: Story Map: The Problem Of The Color Line
Author(s): Jan M. Eberth, Peiyin Hung, Gabriel A. Benavidez, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs, 41(2), 237-246
Date: 02/2022
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Study examining healthcare access by race and geography, covering distances to hospital services for minoritized ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZTCAs). Discusses factors that lead to disparities in access for rural minority communities, including policy, rural hospital closures, and safety-net program issues.
Additional links: Story Map: The Problem Of The Color Line
Author(s): Jan M. Eberth, Peiyin Hung, Gabriel A. Benavidez, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs, 41(2), 237-246
Date: 02/2022
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Last Updated: 6/23/2025