Statement of the problem - Rural populations, and rural minority populations in particular, continue to experience marked disparities in health and health care access. While many studies have examined rural and racial disparities of health or health care, detailed and comprehensive analyses are uncommon. As the country engages in healthcare reform debate, the impact of policy on rural and underserved populations may not receive adequate attention.

Project goals - The goal of the rapid research response project is to expand on the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center's (SCRHRC) existing expertise in investigating persistent inequities in health status within the population of the rural US, with an emphasis on inequities stemming from socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity, and access to healthcare services.

Methods - We will use a variety of national data sets to conduct bivariate and multivariate analyses on health care reform questions that illuminate the impact on race/ethnicity and rural-based health disparities.

Anticipated publications or products - We will produce policy briefs that will be reviewed by the Office of Rural Health Policy as well as the Center's Expert Work Group and Research-Users Network.

Publications

• Rural Residents Lag in Preventive Services Use; Lag Increases With Service Complexity
  Rural and Minority Health Research Center
  Date: 06/2009
  This research brief describes the receipt of preventive services among rural adults and explores the factors that are related to disparities in utilization.
• Update: Independently Owned Pharmacy Closures in Rural America
  Policy Brief
  RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
  Date: 06/2014
  This brief examines the closure of independently owned rural pharmacies in the United States from 2003 to 2013 and its effects on rural Americans' access to medications and other pharmacy services. This report is an update to past publications from RUPRI.