Rural Pharmacy and Prescription Drugs – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Pharmacy and Prescription Drugs.
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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Ensuring Access To Care: 340B Arrangements with Community and Specialty Pharmacies Improve Access to Care for Underserved Patients
Provides an overview of the 340B Drug Pricing Program, related legislation, benefits to underserved communities, relationship to specialty and community pharmacies, and more. Includes discussion on the value of the 340B program for rural pharmacies.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Provides an overview of the 340B Drug Pricing Program, related legislation, benefits to underserved communities, relationship to specialty and community pharmacies, and more. Includes discussion on the value of the 340B program for rural pharmacies.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Prescription Medication Use, Coverage, and Nonadherence Among Adults Age 65 and Older: United States, 2021–2022
Reports on medication use, prescription drug insurance coverage, and nonadherence due to cost for older adults between 2021 and 2022. Includes data breakdown of various demographic and health status characteristics including 4 levels of urbanization.
Author(s): Robin A. Cohen, Laryssa Mykyta
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Reports on medication use, prescription drug insurance coverage, and nonadherence due to cost for older adults between 2021 and 2022. Includes data breakdown of various demographic and health status characteristics including 4 levels of urbanization.
Author(s): Robin A. Cohen, Laryssa Mykyta
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Practice Outcomes for the First Decade of Rural Pharmacy Education (RPHARM) Program Graduates
Analyzes the practice characteristics of 2014-2023 graduates of the Rural Pharmacy Education (RPHARM) Program at University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) College of Pharmacy. Provides information on the RPHARM program, number of graduates, and practice characteristics of graduates, including practice type and rurality of location.
Author(s): Heidi R. Olson, Allison E. Schriever, Kevin O. Rynn, Martin MacDowell
Citation: BMC Medical Education, 24, 909
Date: 08/2024
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Analyzes the practice characteristics of 2014-2023 graduates of the Rural Pharmacy Education (RPHARM) Program at University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) College of Pharmacy. Provides information on the RPHARM program, number of graduates, and practice characteristics of graduates, including practice type and rurality of location.
Author(s): Heidi R. Olson, Allison E. Schriever, Kevin O. Rynn, Martin MacDowell
Citation: BMC Medical Education, 24, 909
Date: 08/2024
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Changes in Rural Pharmacy Presence 2023
Data brief exploring availability of retail pharmacy services in rural areas of the U.S. Provides information on rural communities that have kept, lost, or gained a retail pharmacy between 2018 and 2023. Features statistics on numbers of pharmacies in rural areas in 2018 and 2023, with breakdowns by communities with one pharmacy, two pharmacies, or three or more pharmacies.
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Data brief exploring availability of retail pharmacy services in rural areas of the U.S. Provides information on rural communities that have kept, lost, or gained a retail pharmacy between 2018 and 2023. Features statistics on numbers of pharmacies in rural areas in 2018 and 2023, with breakdowns by communities with one pharmacy, two pharmacies, or three or more pharmacies.
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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For the Rural Curious: Mixed Methods Evaluation of a Rural Pharmacy Practice Elective
Discusses the impact of a rural pharmacy course offered at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy to provide students with experience related to serving rural communities struggling with provider shortages. Includes survey data on student experiences and interest in working in rural areas following graduation.
Author(s): Timothy P. Stratton
Citation: BMC Medical Education, 24, 573
Date: 05/2024
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Discusses the impact of a rural pharmacy course offered at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy to provide students with experience related to serving rural communities struggling with provider shortages. Includes survey data on student experiences and interest in working in rural areas following graduation.
Author(s): Timothy P. Stratton
Citation: BMC Medical Education, 24, 573
Date: 05/2024
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