The State of Rural Health Provider Organizations and Health Professional Shortages

 

Project Investigators:

Project PI: James Alexander, PhD

Co-PI: Larry Gamm, PhD; Craig H. Blakely, PhD, MPH

 

Project Overview:

Hospitals and home care providers are critically important to rural populations that, compared to urban, tend to be older and relatively more reliant on Medicare and Medicaid.  Both are now facing health profession shortages and financial challenges.  And with an aging population, combined with efforts to constrain the growth in Medicare and Medicaid funding, rural health providers will continue to face the specter of increased demand outpacing growth in revenues, further reducing the ability of these providers to meet the needs of rural populations.  This study addresses the convergence of health professions shortages and financial limitations among rural hospitals and rural home health providers and will help to inform state deliberation on Medicaid policy, insurance for state employees, and insurance regulation.  At the same time, the results may offer additional guidance to state government policies on health professions education and licensing of professionals.. 

 

Project Funding Source:

Office of Rural Health Policy

 

Project Term:

September 2003 - August 2004

 

Project Reports:

 

Gamm, L., Alexander, J., Barron, K., and Piszczor, J. (2005). The State of Rural Hospital Nursing and Allied Health Professional Shortages. College Station, TX: Southwest Rural Health Research Center, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M University Health Science Center.  REQUEST A COPY