Persistent Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Health Care Access in Rural America


Description:

This study examined the degree to which persistence of primary care health professional services area (HPSA) designation in rural counties is associated with lower population socioeconomic status and deficiencies in access to health care services. It used a five-level classification of rural counties measuring partial- vs. whole-county persistence of primary care HPSA designation that stratified rural populations by socioeconomic status (SES), race/ethnicity, primary care supply, health insurance uptake, and access to needed health care services. The study found that those U.S. rural counties that were persistently designated as whole-county HPSAs had much lower SES, and adults residing in these counties reported substantial financial obstacles to obtaining needed health care services. Rural counties that were persistently designated as whole-county HPSAs also faced severe provider shortages, and adults residing in these locations were less likely to have a regular primary care provider. This study was funded by HRSA’s Office of Rural Health Policy.

 

Status:

Complete

 

Publications/Presentations

Authors Title Type Date Documents/Media
Doescher MP, Jackson JE, Fordyce MA, Rosenblatt RA Persistent Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and health care access in rural America PRESENTATION 11-17-2010
Doescher MP, Fordyce MA, Skillman SM, Jackson JE, Rosenblatt RA Persistent primary care health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) and health care access in rural America PRESENTATION 05-02-2010
Doescher MP, Fordyce MA, Skillman SM, Jackson JE, Rosenblatt RA Persistent primary care health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) and health care access in rural America PRESENTATION 06-27-2010