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Rural Health Information Hub

Healthcare Access in Rural Communities – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Healthcare Access in Rural Communities.

2016 Rural Enrollment in Health Insurance Marketplaces, by State
Provides enrollment data through March 2016 for state health insurance marketplaces (HIMs) functioning as federally facilitated marketplaces (FFMs) and as federally supported state-based marketplaces (FS-SBMs). Enrollment rates are identified as a percent of the potential market of participants, and parsed by metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas for each state.
Author(s): Abigail R. Barker, Kelsey A. Huntzberry, Timothy D. McBride, Leah M. Kemper, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 01/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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More Than 95 Percent of U.S. Children Had Health Insurance in 2015
Reports on the percent of children with any type of health insurance in 2015 by state and region for rural, suburban, and urban areas. Includes changes in health insurance coverage since 2014 and since 2008.
Author(s): Michael J. Staley
Date: 2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Carsey School of Public Policy
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Access to Services Diminishes in Rural America as Populations Age
Analyzes data derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the American Community Survey to describe a changing median age and population size and the effect on metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties of the U.S. between 1990 and 2010. Discusses the impact of population size and demographics on local economies, as well as education and health service availability for nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Brian C. Thiede, David L. Brown, Scott R. Sanders, Nina Glasgow, László J. Kulcsár
Date: 12/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Applied Population Laboratory
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Freestanding Emergency Departments: An Alternative Model for Rural Communities
Describes the freestanding emergency department (FSED) model as an option for rural communities that can no longer support inpatient services. Looks at both hospital-based and independent FSEDs, examines financial viability of the model, and features rural FSEDs in Illinois and Arizona.
Author(s): Jenn Lukens
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 11/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Health Insurance CO-OPs: Product Availability and Premiums in Rural Counties
Describes the role of CO-OPs, their regional distribution, and national prevalence in rural and urban counties. Compares the number of products available in counties with and without CO-OP plans in 2014 and 2015.
Author(s): Erika C. Ziller, Zachariah Croll, Andrew F. Coburn
Date: 10/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Intersection of Living in a Rural Versus Urban Area and Race/Ethnicity in Explaining Access to Health Care in the United States
Examines healthcare access for Hispanic, African American, and White rural and urban residents. Reports on access to a usual source of healthcare, healthcare needs met, cholesterol screening, cervical screening, and dental visits.
Author(s): Julia T. Caldwell, Chandra L. Ford, Steven P. Wallace, May C. Wang, Lois M. Takahashi
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 106(8), 1463-9
Date: 08/2016
Type: Document
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Breaking the Barriers to Specialty Care: Practical Ideas to Improve Health Equity and Reduce Cost
Collection of briefs focused on how to improve access to specialty care for rural and low-income patients. Discusses telehealth, developing primary care capacity to provide appropriate specialty care, and coordinated specialist networks as approaches to improve specialty care access. Free, but registration required to download.
Date: 06/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, FSG
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Impact of the Affordable Care Act Coverage Expansion on Rural and Urban Populations
Discusses the advances supported by provisions in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) related to health insurance coverage, premium tax credits, and healthcare access for rural and urban populations with a special focus on rural individuals.
Author(s): Kelsey Avery, Kenneth Finegold, Xiao Xiao
Date: 06/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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LGBTQ Healthcare: Building Inclusive Rural Practices
Discusses the challenges rural LGBTQ individuals face in accessing quality care and what rural healthcare providers can do to improve the healthcare experience for this patient population.
Author(s): Zachary Toliver
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 05/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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QuickStats: Percentage of Children and Adolescents Aged ≤17 Years Whose Usual Place of Sick Care is a Clinic or Health Center, by Race/Ethnicity and Metropolitan Status of Residence - National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2014
Chart showing the percentage of children who typically go to a clinic or health center when sick, as opposed to a doctor's office or the emergency room. Identifies children by race/ethnicity and metro/non-metro status. Analysis did not include children without a usual place of sick care.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 65(4), 99
Date: 02/2016
Type: Chart/Graph
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Last Updated: 5/8/2024