Rural Health
Research Gateway

Chris Delcher, PhD

Rural and Underserved Health Research Center

Phone: 859.562.2175
Email: chris.delcher@uky.edu

College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science
University of Kentucky
Healthy Kentucky Research Building
760 Press Avenue, Suite 360
Lexington, KY 40536

Completed Projects - (1)

  • Rural Variation in Access to Naloxone for Opioid Overdose Prevention
    This project examined variability in access to naloxone-based metropolitan/nonmetropolitan dispensing counts from a representative sample of outpatient pharmacies across the U.S.
    Research center: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
    Topics: Health disparities and health equity, Healthcare access, Pharmacy and prescription drugs, Substance use and treatment

Publications - (2)

2022

  • Medicaid Expansion and Access to Naloxone in Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Areas
    Journal Article
    Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
    Date: 11/2022
    This study evaluated the association of Medicaid expansion at the state level on the number of naloxone prescriptions dispensed and the percentage paid by Medicaid. Increasing the percentage of Medicaid-paid naloxone prescriptions improved access in metro areas.

2021

  • Medicare-Paid Naloxone: Trends in Nonmetropolitan and Metropolitan Areas
    Policy Brief
    Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
    Date: 05/2021
    Naloxone is an opioid overdose reversal medication. Medicare beneficiaries benefit from access to naloxone because they have high rates of high-dose prescription opioids. This brief examines trends in Medicare-paid naloxone dispensing rates in nonmetropolitan versus metropolitan areas from 2014 to 2018.