Rural-Urban Differences in Access to and Quality of Care for People With Disabilities

There is abundant evidence that rural residents face unique barriers to accessing high-quality care; it is also well documented that individuals with disabilities face reduced access to high-quality care. Despite these largely known realities, and some evidence that rural people with disabilities have higher out-of-pocket costs than their urban counterparts, very little research exists that specifically examines rural-urban differences in access to or quality of care for individuals with disabilities.

The purpose of this project is to address these gaps, identifying rural-urban differences in access to and use of health care services for people with disabilities. To do this, we will primarily rely on quantitative analyses using data from the National Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative study of the U.S. population. We will also use data from the American Community Survey (ACS) to map rates of disability and their socio-demographic correlates across rural and urban areas of the U.S., overlaying data from County Health Rankings on health care access (e.g., provider-to-population ratios) and quality (e.g., use of preventive services) to better understand regional patterns. Coupled with the quantitative analyses, we will conduct a series of key informant interviews with subject matter experts in rural disability and health care access and quality. Results from this project will help inform policy to improve access to and quality of care for this growing population in rural areas.

Publications

• Access to Health Care by Rurality and Disability Status
  Policy Brief
  University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
  Date: 01/2026
  This policy brief examines rates of non-financial and financial access to care barriers by rural-urban location and disability status.
• Transportation for Rural People With Disabilities: Example Programs From Minnesota and Idaho
  University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
  Date: 01/2026
  The purpose of this case series is to highlight efforts by organizations serving rural communities to increase access to transportation for individuals with disabilities. These may serve as examples to others considering ways to improve access to transportation for people with disabilities in their rural communities.