Healthcare Access in Rural Communities – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Healthcare Access in Rural Communities.
Access to Care: Populations in Counties with No FQHC, RHC, or Acute Care Hospital
Findings brief focusing on the 3 main facility types providing primary care in rural areas and examining how many people will likely have limited access to primary care based on their locations. Includes statistics on numbers of people living in counties without these facilities, with breakdowns by 9 census divisions.
Author(s): Meagan Clawar, Randy Randolph, Kristie Thompson, George H. Pink
Date: 01/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Findings brief focusing on the 3 main facility types providing primary care in rural areas and examining how many people will likely have limited access to primary care based on their locations. Includes statistics on numbers of people living in counties without these facilities, with breakdowns by 9 census divisions.
Author(s): Meagan Clawar, Randy Randolph, Kristie Thompson, George H. Pink
Date: 01/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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The Differential Effects of Rural Health Care Access on Race-Specific Mortality
Investigates the association between race-specific rural mortality and the health infrastructure of rural counties using data from the National Center for Health Statistics Compressed Mortality File (2008-2012); county-level demographic, socioeconomic, and healthcare indicators from Health Resources and Services Administration's Area Health Resource File; and the U.S. Census. Covers the rural public health infrastructure index that indicates the presence or absence of 4 types of healthcare measures: public health employees, Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) or rural referral centers, Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and emergency departments within counties.
Author(s): Jeralynn Cossman, Wesley James, Julia Kay Wolf
Citation: SSM Population Health, 3, 618-623
Date: 12/2017
Type: Document
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Investigates the association between race-specific rural mortality and the health infrastructure of rural counties using data from the National Center for Health Statistics Compressed Mortality File (2008-2012); county-level demographic, socioeconomic, and healthcare indicators from Health Resources and Services Administration's Area Health Resource File; and the U.S. Census. Covers the rural public health infrastructure index that indicates the presence or absence of 4 types of healthcare measures: public health employees, Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) or rural referral centers, Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and emergency departments within counties.
Author(s): Jeralynn Cossman, Wesley James, Julia Kay Wolf
Citation: SSM Population Health, 3, 618-623
Date: 12/2017
Type: Document
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ESRD Facility Characteristics by Rurality and Risk of Closure
Profiles rural end-stage renal disease (ESRD) facilities, especially the ones at greatest risk for closure. Examines the facilities' characteristics, quality of care, and distance their patients would need to travel if the facilities should close. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural locations.
Author(s): Jan M. Eberth, Fozia Ajmal, Kevin Bennett, Janice C. Probst
Date: 11/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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Profiles rural end-stage renal disease (ESRD) facilities, especially the ones at greatest risk for closure. Examines the facilities' characteristics, quality of care, and distance their patients would need to travel if the facilities should close. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural locations.
Author(s): Jan M. Eberth, Fozia Ajmal, Kevin Bennett, Janice C. Probst
Date: 11/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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Emerging Strategies to Ensure Access to Health Care Services: Urgent Care Centers
Outlines a strategy to improve access to and the delivery of healthcare services by creating urgent care centers. Offers federal policy solutions to promote the effective adoption of the urgent care center model.
Additional links: Is the Urgent Care Center the Right Strategy for your Community?
Date: 11/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Outlines a strategy to improve access to and the delivery of healthcare services by creating urgent care centers. Offers federal policy solutions to promote the effective adoption of the urgent care center model.
Additional links: Is the Urgent Care Center the Right Strategy for your Community?
Date: 11/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Access To Obstetric Services In Rural Counties Still Declining, With 9 Percent Losing Services, 2004-14
Results of a study identifying gaps in the availability of hospital-based obstetric services in rural America, and providing evidence of disparities in local access to obstetric services in vulnerable rural communities. Includes statistics on percentages of rural counties by status of hospital obstetric services from 2004–14, with breakdowns by micropolitan or noncore location, and a county-level map with shadings indicating full closure, continuous services, or no services.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Carrie E. Henning-Smith, Michelle M. Casey, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: Health Affairs, 36(9), 1663-1671
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
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Results of a study identifying gaps in the availability of hospital-based obstetric services in rural America, and providing evidence of disparities in local access to obstetric services in vulnerable rural communities. Includes statistics on percentages of rural counties by status of hospital obstetric services from 2004–14, with breakdowns by micropolitan or noncore location, and a county-level map with shadings indicating full closure, continuous services, or no services.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Carrie E. Henning-Smith, Michelle M. Casey, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: Health Affairs, 36(9), 1663-1671
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
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Immigrant Health in Rural Maryland: A Qualitative Study of Major Barriers to Health Care Access
Highlights a study on barriers to healthcare access for rural immigrants in Maryland. Bases findings on interviews with immigrants living on Maryland's rural Eastern Shore. Discusses insurance coverage, language barriers, and citizenship status, among other factors.
Author(s): Thurka Sangaramoorthy, Emilia M. Guevara
Citation: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 19, 939-946
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
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Highlights a study on barriers to healthcare access for rural immigrants in Maryland. Bases findings on interviews with immigrants living on Maryland's rural Eastern Shore. Discusses insurance coverage, language barriers, and citizenship status, among other factors.
Author(s): Thurka Sangaramoorthy, Emilia M. Guevara
Citation: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 19, 939-946
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
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Regulating Network Adequacy for Rural Populations: Perspectives of Five States
Policy brief describing how California, Kentucky, Montana, Texas, and Wisconsin define insurance network adequacy and how much consideration is given to rural issues in regulating their networks. Features statistics including these states' rural population, rural percent of total population, rural area in square miles, number of marketplace networks, and percent that are narrow networks.
Author(s): Michelle Casey, Carrie Henning-Smith, Jean Abraham, Ira Moscovice
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Policy brief describing how California, Kentucky, Montana, Texas, and Wisconsin define insurance network adequacy and how much consideration is given to rural issues in regulating their networks. Features statistics including these states' rural population, rural percent of total population, rural area in square miles, number of marketplace networks, and percent that are narrow networks.
Author(s): Michelle Casey, Carrie Henning-Smith, Jean Abraham, Ira Moscovice
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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The Role of Medicaid in Rural America
Uses data from the 2013-2015 American Community Survey to examine the role of Medicaid in rural areas, and discuss how potential expansions or cuts could affect rural healthcare. Highlights the importance of Medicaid for many rural residents who are often faced with limited access to insurance and providers, longer travel times, and greater health needs when compared to their urban counterparts. Includes several charts and graphs to illustrate important statistics and demographic comparisons.
Author(s): Julia Foutz, Samantha Artiga, Rachel Garfield
Date: 04/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Uses data from the 2013-2015 American Community Survey to examine the role of Medicaid in rural areas, and discuss how potential expansions or cuts could affect rural healthcare. Highlights the importance of Medicaid for many rural residents who are often faced with limited access to insurance and providers, longer travel times, and greater health needs when compared to their urban counterparts. Includes several charts and graphs to illustrate important statistics and demographic comparisons.
Author(s): Julia Foutz, Samantha Artiga, Rachel Garfield
Date: 04/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Closure of Hospital Obstetric Services Disproportionately Affects Less-Populated Rural Counties
Policy brief describing a study examining obstetric unit and hospital closures in rural areas of the United States, 2004-2014. Features statistics with breakdowns by all rural counties, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Katy Kozhimannil, Carrie Henning-Smith, Michelle Casey
Date: 04/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Policy brief describing a study examining obstetric unit and hospital closures in rural areas of the United States, 2004-2014. Features statistics with breakdowns by all rural counties, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Katy Kozhimannil, Carrie Henning-Smith, Michelle Casey
Date: 04/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Chartbook: Trends in Rural Children's Health and Access to Care
Findings brief discussing changing status of rural and urban children from 2003-2012, with a focus on their demographics, financial access to care, reported use of care, and health status. Features statistics including poverty rate, insurance coverage, and race or ethnicity, with breakdowns by urban, large rural, and small rural location.
Additional links: Fact Sheet
Author(s): Janice C. Probst, Karen M. Jones
Date: 01/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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Findings brief discussing changing status of rural and urban children from 2003-2012, with a focus on their demographics, financial access to care, reported use of care, and health status. Features statistics including poverty rate, insurance coverage, and race or ethnicity, with breakdowns by urban, large rural, and small rural location.
Additional links: Fact Sheet
Author(s): Janice C. Probst, Karen M. Jones
Date: 01/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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Last Updated: 3/12/2024