Commonwealth Fund November 17, 2025
Toplines
Rural communities face persistent primary care workforce shortages, leaving millions with fewer options for routine and preventive care
More than 40 million rural Americans live in areas with too few primary care providers
Introduction
Primary care is facing existential challenges — from lower relative investment compared to specialty care to clinician burnout — which are particularly acute in rural communities.1 For the more than 60 million people, or one in five Americans, who live in rural areas, strengthening primary care requires rural-specific solutions.2
Rural clinician shortages, limited broadband internet, and a lack of public transportation in rural areas make it difficult for patients to get health care, either in person...
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