Research Publications

Browse the full list of research publications from the Rural Health Research Centers.

Products – Freely accessible products include policy briefs, fact sheets, full reports, chartbooks, and interactive data websites.

Journal Articles – Articles in peer-reviewed journals may require a subscription or affiliation with a subscribing library. For these publications, Gateway lists the article citation, a brief summary, a link to additional information and access to the full-text of the article, if available.

Browse Research Products:

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Five Most Recent Publications

• Indian Health Service and Health Care Affordability Issues Among American Indian/Alaska Native People by Rurality
  Policy Brief
  University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
  Date: 01/2026
  This policy brief examines rural/urban differences in rates of health care affordability and Indian Health Service use among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) people, as well as within rural AI/AN residents.
• Rural-Urban Differences in Homebound Status by Health and Functional Limitations
  Policy Brief
  University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
  Date: 01/2026
  Being homebound is associated with poorer health outcomes for older adults. Yet, little is known about how rates of being homebound differ between rural and urban older adults by specific health indicators. This brief addresses that gap.
• 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.
• 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.
• Availability of Hospital-Based Obstetric Services in the United States by County, 2010–2023: A State-by-State Report
  Chartbook
  Rural Maternal Health Data Support and Analysis Program, University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
  Date: 01/2026
  The purpose of this report is to provide timely national, state, and county-specific information on changes in obstetric care access. The report includes a national overview of hospital-based obstetric services access by county, followed by county-level reports for every U.S. state.