Publication Date: December 30th, 2019
Publication Type(s): Policy Brief
Topic(s): Aging, Healthcare Access, Medicare, Rural Health Clinics
Author(s): Lahr M., Henning-Smith C., Hernandez A.M., Neprash H
Access to timely, high-quality health care is essential for health, but rural areas face particular barriers to access, including for primary care. However, there is limited information on access to primary care for Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas, specifically care received in Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), which are safety net clinics designed to increase access to care for rural residents. This policy brief presents findings from an online survey of RHCs describing clinic data and characteristics related to health care access and capacity for Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas.