Demystifying Rural Classification Systems

• November 14, 2023

Educational and socioeconomic disparities within a service market’s population create challenges for delivering quality healthcare services to rural areas. These challenges include an inadequate supply of trained providers and the absence of critical infrastructure. This is no small concern for our healthcare system, considering that approximately 20% of the population in the United States resides within areas designated as rural.

Recognizing these challenges, federal and state governments offer a variety of financial programs and incentives aimed at increasing access to care in rural areas. Depending upon the program, rural healthcare providers may be eligible to receive increased reimbursement, access to specially designated grant programs, and a host of other financial incentives such as repayment or forgiveness of medical education debt. However, the specific opportunities available may vary from one location to the next depending upon how each respective program defines the term “rural.”