Geographic Access to Health Care for Rural Beneficiaries in Five States: An Update

November 16, 2021
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This policy brief from the WWAMI Rural Health Research Center addresses geographic access to health care for rural Medicare beneficiaries in five states. Among other findings, WWAMI reported that "in 2014, rural Medicare beneficiaries in the five study states (Alaska, Idaho, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington) received a higher proportion of their visits (50.7%) from generalist physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants than did urban Medicare beneficiaries (41.8%)."

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