Rural Tribal Health – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Tribal Health.
Indian Health Service and Health Care Affordability Issues Among American Indian/ Alaska Native People by Rurality
Report explores healthcare affordability and Indian Health Services (IHS) utilization among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) in rural and urban communities. Highlights rates of patients receiving care at IHS, privately insured, and uninsured in rural and urban communities, among other measures.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Katie Rydberg, Alexis Swendener, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Report explores healthcare affordability and Indian Health Services (IHS) utilization among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) in rural and urban communities. Highlights rates of patients receiving care at IHS, privately insured, and uninsured in rural and urban communities, among other measures.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Katie Rydberg, Alexis Swendener, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Exploring the Use of Telemedicine to Expand Addiction and Recovery Resources in Great Plains Tribal Communities
Explores the use of telemedicine to provide medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) to patients in tribal communities. Explores the barriers and facilitators to implementing telemedicine-based MOUD services across the Great Plains Area of the Indian Health Service.
Author(s): Michael C. Harding, Anna C. Kihlstrom, Allison Kelliher, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70113
Date: 01/2026
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Explores the use of telemedicine to provide medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) to patients in tribal communities. Explores the barriers and facilitators to implementing telemedicine-based MOUD services across the Great Plains Area of the Indian Health Service.
Author(s): Michael C. Harding, Anna C. Kihlstrom, Allison Kelliher, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70113
Date: 01/2026
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American Indian and Alaska Native Population for Nonmetropolitan Counties
Printable map that shows the percent of the U.S. population by county who are American Indian or Alaska Native. Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Printable map that shows the percent of the U.S. population by county who are American Indian or Alaska Native. Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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The Indian Health Service Did Not Ensure That Commissioned Corps Officers' Background Investigations Complied With Federal Requirements
Examines whether Officers of the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service (Commissioned Corps) who are assigned to provide healthcare services to Tribal and IHS-operated health programs received background investigations and reinvestigations in accordance with Federal requirements. Presents findings of a review of background investigation documentation for a sample of 100 Officers assigned to provide healthcare services to IHS and Tribal health facilities in September 2022.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Examines whether Officers of the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service (Commissioned Corps) who are assigned to provide healthcare services to Tribal and IHS-operated health programs received background investigations and reinvestigations in accordance with Federal requirements. Presents findings of a review of background investigation documentation for a sample of 100 Officers assigned to provide healthcare services to IHS and Tribal health facilities in September 2022.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Community Healers: How Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority Leads in Health and Wellness
Discusses how the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) addresses the health needs of its community, by integrating Cherokee culture and Western medical care as a way to improve community health. Documents CIHA's work in promoting relationships between federal and state entities and Native Nations.
Author(s): Hailey A. Baker, Mariana Tuttle, Katy Backes Kozhimannil
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Discusses how the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) addresses the health needs of its community, by integrating Cherokee culture and Western medical care as a way to improve community health. Documents CIHA's work in promoting relationships between federal and state entities and Native Nations.
Author(s): Hailey A. Baker, Mariana Tuttle, Katy Backes Kozhimannil
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Reasons for Experiencing Delayed or Forgone Health Care among Rural American Indian/Alaska Native and Rural Non-Hispanic White Individuals, 2022
Policy brief offering reported reasons for experiencing delayed or forgone healthcare and how this differs between rural American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) and rural non-Hispanic white people, as well as by Indian Health Service care access among rural AI/AN people. Uses data from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Julia Interrante, Hailey A. Baker, Mariana Tuttle, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Policy brief offering reported reasons for experiencing delayed or forgone healthcare and how this differs between rural American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) and rural non-Hispanic white people, as well as by Indian Health Service care access among rural AI/AN people. Uses data from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Julia Interrante, Hailey A. Baker, Mariana Tuttle, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Evaluating the TVR-SET: Insights into Self-Employment from Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors
Discusses the Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Self-Employment Toolkit (TVR-SET) that provides resources to assist American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people with disabilities in securing employment in their communities. Evaluates TVR-SET and provides key findings and impact on users.
Author(s): Catherine Ipsen, Luke Santore
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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Discusses the Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Self-Employment Toolkit (TVR-SET) that provides resources to assist American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people with disabilities in securing employment in their communities. Evaluates TVR-SET and provides key findings and impact on users.
Author(s): Catherine Ipsen, Luke Santore
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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EMS Service Integration in American Indian and Native Alaskan Rural Communities
Highlights several initiatives aimed at expanding emergency medical services (EMS) in tribal communities. Explores the role of tribal sovereignty, cost effectiveness, and infrastructure improvements in expanding and optimizing EMS in tribal communities.
Author(s): Chelsea Tsasse, John Shufeldt
Citation: AMA Journal of Ethics, 27(7), 525-529
Date: 07/2025
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Highlights several initiatives aimed at expanding emergency medical services (EMS) in tribal communities. Explores the role of tribal sovereignty, cost effectiveness, and infrastructure improvements in expanding and optimizing EMS in tribal communities.
Author(s): Chelsea Tsasse, John Shufeldt
Citation: AMA Journal of Ethics, 27(7), 525-529
Date: 07/2025
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35 Years of Partnership to Advance Cardiovascular Health and Well-Being in American Indian Communities: The Strong Heart Study and Strong Heart Family Study
Discusses the impact of the Strong Heart Study (SHS) and Strong Heart Family Study (SHFS) to provide population health and cardiovascular health outcomes information on rural tribal communities. Focuses on the importance of longitudinal studies, rigorous data collection, knowledge sharing, and partnerships.
Author(s): Amanda M. Fretts, Jessica A. Reese, Ying Zhang
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 07/2025
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Discusses the impact of the Strong Heart Study (SHS) and Strong Heart Family Study (SHFS) to provide population health and cardiovascular health outcomes information on rural tribal communities. Focuses on the importance of longitudinal studies, rigorous data collection, knowledge sharing, and partnerships.
Author(s): Amanda M. Fretts, Jessica A. Reese, Ying Zhang
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 07/2025
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Tribal Broadband Deployment: Federal Funding and Considerations for Congress
Provides an overview of the status of broadband access in tribal areas. Describes federal funding programs related to broadband deployment, including funding exclusive to tribal entities. Discusses policy issues and considerations for Congress related to federal broadband deployment funding for tribal entities.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the status of broadband access in tribal areas. Describes federal funding programs related to broadband deployment, including funding exclusive to tribal entities. Discusses policy issues and considerations for Congress related to federal broadband deployment funding for tribal entities.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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