Megan Lahr, MPH

University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center

Phone: 612.624.3921
Email: lahrx074@umn.edu

Division of Health Policy and Management
University of Minnesota
2221 University Ave. SE #350
Minneapolis, MN 55414

Current Projects - (2)
Completed Projects - (1)
Publications - (25)

Current Projects - (2)

Housing as a Social Determinant of Rural Health
The purpose of this project is to identify rural/urban and within-rural differences in housing quality and its relationship to health and disability status, especially for individuals living in poverty. We will also identify rural-specific housing issues and innovative policy solutions to address housing challenges in order to improve rural health.
Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Disabilities, Environmental and agricultural health, Health disparities and health equity, Poverty, Public health, Rural statistics and demographics, Social determinants of health
Rural/Urban Differences in Health and Health Care Access for LGBT Adults
The purpose of this project is to identify rural/urban differences in health and health care access for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) adults. We will also identify within-rural differences among LGBT adults by race, ethnicity, age, disability status, and socio-economic status. Finally, we will identify examples of best practices supporting LGBT health and wellness in rural areas.
Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Aging, Cancer, Disabilities, Health disparities and health equity, Healthcare access, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+), Mental and behavioral health, Minority health, Poverty, Rural statistics and demographics, Social determinants of health

Completed Projects - (1)

Aging in Place in Rural America: What Does It Look Like and How Can It Be Supported?
In general, people want to age in place. This project looked at the structures in place to help them do so and how those structures vary by rurality. Federal, state, and local policy implications for improving health outcomes and quality of life for rural older adults aging in place were also be identified.
Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Aging, Disabilities, Health disparities and health equity, Healthcare access, Home health, Long-term care, Social determinants of health

Publications - (25)

2022

Key Informant Perspectives on Supporting Health and Well-Being for LGBTQ+ Rural Residents
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 09/2022
This policy brief presents findings from interviews with national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) support and advocacy organizations regarding challenges to physical and mental health and well-being for rural LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as recommendations to meet the needs of LGBTQ+ individuals in rural areas.
Prevalence of Chronic Conditions by Sexual Orientation and Rural-Urban Location
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 06/2022
This policy brief examines rates of individual chronic conditions, as well as differences in the number of chronic conditions by sexual orientation and rural-urban location.
Approaches to Serving Rural Older Adults in State Plans on Aging: A Policy Content Evaluation
Journal Article
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 05/2022
In this article, we share a policy content evaluation of State Plans on Aging from all 50 U.S. states, focusing on how the states will serve older adults and including common and innovative approaches to doing so.
Contact by Collection Agencies for Medical Debt: Rural-Urban Differences Among Older and Younger Medicare Beneficiaries
Journal Article
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 02/2022
This study uses data from the 2016 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (n = 12,688 U.S. community-dwelling beneficiaries) to understand the impact of medical debt for rural residents. The study analyzed rural-urban differences in rates of collection agency contact for unpaid medical bills.
Social Cohesion and Social Engagement Among Older Adults Aging in Place: Rural/Urban Differences
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 01/2022
This policy brief examines rural/urban differences in social cohesion and social engagement for older adults aging in place, as well as within-rural differences by race and ethnicity.

2021

Barriers to Aging in Place in Rural Communities: Perspectives From State Offices of Rural Health
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 11/2021
This policy brief presents findings from an online survey of State Offices of Rural Health describing barriers for older adults in successfully aging in place in rural communities, and recommendations for how to improve the ability to safely age in place in rural areas of their states.
Examples of Statewide Age-Friendly Initiatives
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 10/2021
The purpose of these policy briefs is to identify the extent of statewide programs to support aging in place or age-friendly environments and, within those, to identify the extent to which such programs have an explicit rural focus. The "Examples" document provides an overview of the initiatives identified in the "Environmental Scan."
Statewide Age-Friendly Initiatives: An Environmental Scan
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 10/2021
The purpose of these policy briefs is to identify the extent of statewide programs to support aging in place or age-friendly environments and, within those, to identify the extent to which such programs have an explicit rural focus. The "Examples" document provides an overview of the initiatives identified in the "Environmental Scan."
"They're Not Leaving Their Home; This Is Where They Were Born, This Is Where They Will Die.": Key Informant Perspectives From the U.S. Counties With the Greatest Concentration of the Oldest Old
Journal Article
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 07/2021
Researchers share interview results with key informants from 50 rural U.S. counties with the highest percentage of the residents ages 85 and older or the "oldest old." Respondents shared unique challenges to serving this population, as well as positive attributes of rural communities that make them attractive places for growing older.
Preferences for Long-Term Care Arrangements Among Rural and Urban Older Adults
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 05/2021
This study describes care preferences by rural and urban location and by demographic characteristics among rural residents.
Barriers to Health Care Access for Rural Medicare Beneficiaries: Recommendations From Rural Health Clinics
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 01/2021
This brief presents findings from an online survey of Rural Health Clinics describing barriers for Medicare patients in accessing healthcare services and recommendations for how to improve access to care for Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas.

2020

Making It Work: Models of Success in Rural Maternity Care
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 11/2020
The goal of this case series is to describe key factors that underlie three successful models of rural maternity care and to inform communities, clinicians, and hospitals that wish to keep obstetric services available locally.
Rural-Urban Differences Among Older Adults
Chartbook
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 08/2020
This chartbook presents the characteristics of older adults in rural counties, as well as rural-urban differences among older adults, across four domains: demographics, socioeconomic characteristics, healthcare access and use, and health characteristics.
Characteristics of Counties With the Highest Proportion of the Oldest Old
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 05/2020
The "oldest old," or individuals age 85 and older, are one of the fastest-growing segments of the U.S. population, yet little is known about where those individuals tend to live and what their communities are like. This information is important for planning how to best respond to and support this growing population.
Differences by Rurality in Satisfaction With Care Among Medicare Beneficiaries
Journal Article
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 05/2020
There are stark differences between rural and urban areas in demographic characteristics, health status, and healthcare. Yet less is known about rural‐urban differences in Medicare beneficiaries' satisfaction with care. We seek to understand rural‐urban differences in satisfaction with care for Medicare beneficiaries.

2019

Access and Capacity to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries in Rural Health Clinics
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 12/2019
Access to timely, high-quality healthcare is essential for health, but rural areas face particular barriers to access, including for primary care. We present findings from an online survey of RHCs describing clinic characteristics related to healthcare access for rural Medicare beneficiaries.
Access to Specialty Care for Medicare Beneficiaries in Rural Communities
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 12/2019
Access to care is a challenge in many rural communities for both primary care services and specialty care services. We present findings from an online survey of Rural Health Clinics describing access issues for rural Medicare beneficiaries in seeking care from specialty care providers.
Rural-Urban Differences in Access to and Attitudes Toward Care for Medicare Beneficiaries
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 12/2019
Access to healthcare is important to health outcomes and well-being. Even among Medicare beneficiaries, access to care may differ by rural-urban location due to differences in the healthcare and socio-demographic landscape. We describe rural-urban differences in access to care for Medicare beneficiaries.
Measuring Access to Care in National Surveys: Implications for Rural Health
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 06/2019
This brief presents data about how access to healthcare is measured, focusing on how this applies to rural populations.
Unmet Need for Personal Care Assistance Among Rural and Urban Older Adults
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 06/2019
This brief presents data on rural-urban differences in unmet need for personal care among older adults with functional limitations.

2018

Key Informant Perspectives on Rural Social Isolation and Loneliness
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 10/2018
This policy brief uses data from interviews with 22 key informants in 12 states, all of whom were experts on the issue of social isolation and/or rural health, to describe key challenges and opportunities related to rural social isolation.
Perspectives on Rural Caregiving Challenges and Interventions
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 08/2018
This brief presents findings from key informant interviews describing challenges and opportunities related to supporting informal caregivers in rural areas.
Resources for Caregiving in Rural Communities
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 08/2018
This policy brief describes resources that are being used across the country to support caregivers in rural communities.
A National Examination of Caregiver Use of and Preferences for Support Services: Does Rurality Matter?
Journal Article
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 07/2018
The objective of this study was to assess rural-urban differences in caregiver use of and preferences for support services.
Rural-Urban Difference in Workplace Supports and Impacts for Employed Caregivers
Journal Article
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 06/2018
This study finds that employed rural caregivers had significantly fewer workplace benefits available to them compared with urban caregivers. In particular, employed rural caregivers were less likely to have access to telecommuting, employee assistance programs, and paid leave.