Rural Pharmacy and Prescription Drugs – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Pharmacy and Prescription Drugs.
Barriers and Facilitators to HPV Vaccination in Rural South Carolina Pharmacies: A Qualitative Investigation
Examines human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination services in rural South Carolina pharmacies. Utilizes interview feedback from rural community-based pharmacists and discusses barriers and facilitators to administering HPV vaccines.
Author(s): Abby Davies, Sarah Beth Tucker, Macie Goodman, Heather M. Brandt, Tessa J. Hastings
Citation: Implementation Science Communications, 6, 26
Date: 03/2025
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Examines human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination services in rural South Carolina pharmacies. Utilizes interview feedback from rural community-based pharmacists and discusses barriers and facilitators to administering HPV vaccines.
Author(s): Abby Davies, Sarah Beth Tucker, Macie Goodman, Heather M. Brandt, Tessa J. Hastings
Citation: Implementation Science Communications, 6, 26
Date: 03/2025
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Vulnerability Index Approach to Identify Pharmacy Deserts and Keystone Pharmacies
Discusses the importance of improving pharmacy access in rural and low-income areas. Utilizes data from the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) dataQ to examine travel time to nearest pharmacy according to urbanicity. Defines a pharmacy vulnerability index according to this measure and reports on residents in the the contiguous U.S. living in or at risk of living in a pharmacy desert, with comparisons for small rural, large rural, suburban, and urban.
Author(s): Walter S. Mathis, Lucas A. Berenbrok, Peter A. Kahn, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(3)
Date: 03/2025
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Discusses the importance of improving pharmacy access in rural and low-income areas. Utilizes data from the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) dataQ to examine travel time to nearest pharmacy according to urbanicity. Defines a pharmacy vulnerability index according to this measure and reports on residents in the the contiguous U.S. living in or at risk of living in a pharmacy desert, with comparisons for small rural, large rural, suburban, and urban.
Author(s): Walter S. Mathis, Lucas A. Berenbrok, Peter A. Kahn, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(3)
Date: 03/2025
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Screening and Referral Programs for Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease: Can Community Pharmacists Bridge the Care Gap?
Examines the community-based valued-driven care initiative (CVCI) in community pharmacies to evaluate its effectiveness related to screening and referral (S&R) to treat cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes mellitus (DM). Analyzes patient demographics and success rates of CVD and DM S&R in 6 community pharmacies, with both rural and urban locations represented.
Author(s): Melanie Livet, Amber Watson, Shweta Pathak, et al.
Citation: Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy, 17, 100539
Date: 03/2025
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Examines the community-based valued-driven care initiative (CVCI) in community pharmacies to evaluate its effectiveness related to screening and referral (S&R) to treat cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes mellitus (DM). Analyzes patient demographics and success rates of CVD and DM S&R in 6 community pharmacies, with both rural and urban locations represented.
Author(s): Melanie Livet, Amber Watson, Shweta Pathak, et al.
Citation: Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy, 17, 100539
Date: 03/2025
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High Prescription Drug Out-of-Pocket Spending Burden among Privately Insured Rural and Urban Adults Age 18-64
Analyzes prescription drug out-of-pocket spending among privately-insured rural and urban adults, utilizing 2017-2020 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data. Compares average spending and high prescription out-of-pocket burden in rural and urban populations, and details implications for rural medication adherence and associated health outcomes.
Author(s): Jean A. Talbot, Elora Way, Yvonne Jonk, Erica C. Ziller
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Analyzes prescription drug out-of-pocket spending among privately-insured rural and urban adults, utilizing 2017-2020 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data. Compares average spending and high prescription out-of-pocket burden in rural and urban populations, and details implications for rural medication adherence and associated health outcomes.
Author(s): Jean A. Talbot, Elora Way, Yvonne Jonk, Erica C. Ziller
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Opioid Use among Rural Medicare Beneficiaries
Examines trends in prescription opioid use among Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas, utilizing 2010-2017 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) data. Provides data on receipt of opioid prescriptions among community-dwelling and facility-dwelling beneficiaries, associations between prescribing and chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs), and prescriptions exceeding CDC guidelines. Includes rural-urban comparisons.
Author(s): Yvonne Jonk, Heidi O'Connor, Karen Pearson, et al.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Examines trends in prescription opioid use among Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas, utilizing 2010-2017 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) data. Provides data on receipt of opioid prescriptions among community-dwelling and facility-dwelling beneficiaries, associations between prescribing and chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs), and prescriptions exceeding CDC guidelines. Includes rural-urban comparisons.
Author(s): Yvonne Jonk, Heidi O'Connor, Karen Pearson, et al.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Projecting the Impact of the $2,000 Part D Out-Of-Pocket Cap for Medicare Part D Enrollees with High Prescription Drug Spending
Examines the impact of the Medicare Part D $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket prescription drugs. Provides projected savings according to low-income subsidy (LIS) status, state, and demographic characteristics, including urban, rural-micropolitan, rural-other, or unclassified geographic location.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Examines the impact of the Medicare Part D $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket prescription drugs. Provides projected savings according to low-income subsidy (LIS) status, state, and demographic characteristics, including urban, rural-micropolitan, rural-other, or unclassified geographic location.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Innovations in Pharmacy Training and Sustainable Practice to Advance Patient Care: Proceedings of a Workshop (2025)
Proceedings from a workshop convened May 29-30, 2025, exploring opportunities and challenges in pharmacy. Features sections on pharmacy deserts and workforce, financial sustainability, education and training programs, and recommendations for the future. Mentions rural throughout.
Author(s): Roundtable on Quality Care for People with Serious Illness
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Proceedings from a workshop convened May 29-30, 2025, exploring opportunities and challenges in pharmacy. Features sections on pharmacy deserts and workforce, financial sustainability, education and training programs, and recommendations for the future. Mentions rural throughout.
Author(s): Roundtable on Quality Care for People with Serious Illness
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Buprenorphine Injection among Rural Persons Who Inject Drugs
Describes buprenorphine use by rural people who inject drugs, using data from the Rural Opioid Initiative, to inform patient-clinician discussions and public health interventions. Features demographics and behavioral characteristics of 2,369 people who were surveyed between 2018-2020.
Author(s): Kaitlin A. Zinsli, Elenore P. Bhatraju, Judith Feinberg, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(12), e2450108
Date: 12/2024
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Describes buprenorphine use by rural people who inject drugs, using data from the Rural Opioid Initiative, to inform patient-clinician discussions and public health interventions. Features demographics and behavioral characteristics of 2,369 people who were surveyed between 2018-2020.
Author(s): Kaitlin A. Zinsli, Elenore P. Bhatraju, Judith Feinberg, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(12), e2450108
Date: 12/2024
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Pharmacy-Based Preventive Services for Opioid Use Disorder: A Survey of U.S. Pharmacists
Examines pharmacist perceptions related to addressing opioid use disorder (OUD) and substance use disorder (SUD) in their patients. Utilizes online survey data from 1,146 pharmacists to analyze pharmacist concerns about drug use; drug screenings, interventions, and referrals; and commitment and readiness to address OUD and SUD in their patients. Includes breakdowns of pharmacist demographics as well as rurality of pharmacy locations.
Author(s): Li-Tzy Wu, Jacquie King, Kathryn Hefner, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 19, 88
Date: 12/2024
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Examines pharmacist perceptions related to addressing opioid use disorder (OUD) and substance use disorder (SUD) in their patients. Utilizes online survey data from 1,146 pharmacists to analyze pharmacist concerns about drug use; drug screenings, interventions, and referrals; and commitment and readiness to address OUD and SUD in their patients. Includes breakdowns of pharmacist demographics as well as rurality of pharmacy locations.
Author(s): Li-Tzy Wu, Jacquie King, Kathryn Hefner, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 19, 88
Date: 12/2024
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Community Responses and Adaptations Following the Closure of a Rural Pharmacy and Primary Care Facility
Uses interviews with 26 community members to identify the impact of a pharmacy and primary healthcare facility closure in a rural Pennsylvania community. Discusses challenges for vulnerable populations, distance to care, social networks, delayed treatment, emergency medical services, alternative medicine, and more.
Author(s): Hazel Velasco Palacios, Kristina Brant, Danielle Rhubart, Jorden Jackson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health 41(2), e12896
Date: 11/2024
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Uses interviews with 26 community members to identify the impact of a pharmacy and primary healthcare facility closure in a rural Pennsylvania community. Discusses challenges for vulnerable populations, distance to care, social networks, delayed treatment, emergency medical services, alternative medicine, and more.
Author(s): Hazel Velasco Palacios, Kristina Brant, Danielle Rhubart, Jorden Jackson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health 41(2), e12896
Date: 11/2024
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Last Updated: 1/16/2026