Publication Date: January 21st, 2021
Publication Type(s): Policy Brief
Topic(s): Aging, Healthcare Access, Medicare, Rural Health Clinics
Author(s): Lahr M., Henning-Smith C., Rahman A., Hernandez A
Access to health care is essential for maintaining good health, but people in rural areas often face specific barriers to access, including in primary care. To date, there is limited information outlining specific barriers that are encountered by safety net providers in serving rural Medicare beneficiaries, including Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) that were designed to increase access for rural residents. This policy brief presents findings from an online survey of RHCs describing barriers for Medicare patients in accessing health care services, and recommendations for how to improve access to care for Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas.