Group warns policy shift could strain rural primary care

Rural primary care practices deliver a broader range of services than their urban counterparts, even as workforce shortages and federal policy changes strain access and affordability.

These findings were detailed in a Nov. 12 report from the Primary Care Collaborative. The group’s 2025 report found that rural areas have roughly 15% fewer primary care clinicians per capita. Despite this, rural clinicians manage a broader range of patient needs, including chronic disease, behavioral health and referrals to community-based services.

The loss of just one rural family physician can raise health spending by more than $1,300 per patient annually — or $5,200 for a family of four — according to the report. Although the recent passage of H.R. 1 created a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, PCC warned that nearly $1 trillion in projected Medicaid cuts over the next decade may widen disparities.

Case studies in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Virginia and Idaho highlight how community-driven models are sustaining rural access. The group urged federal and state policymakers to strengthen payment models, workforce programs and oversight to ensure rural investments reach the communities most at risk.

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