WWAMI Rural Health Research Center

On Monday, WWAMI Rural Health Research Center Director Janessa M. Graves joined the National Rural Health Association on Capitol Hill to highlight how rural health research centers across the country are advancing understanding of rural health challenges. Together with researchers from across the country, they shared how rural health research is driving better understanding—and better solutions—for rural communities.

📢 New journal article!

Our latest study in The Journal of Rural Health examines how recent Medicare policy changes that allow marriage & family therapists (MFTs) and mental health counselors (MHCs) to bill independently may impact access to mental health care in rural communities.

In this quantitative analysis, we explored the perspectives of leaders from rural health systems and mental health organizations about how this policy may impact the accessibility of mental health services for rural Medicare beneficiaries and their communities, and identify facilitators and barriers to utilizing MFTs and MHCs in the rural behavioral health workforce.

🔗 Read more: https://doi.org/10.1111/jrh.70162