Context: Past research has documented rural physician and health care professional shortages. Purpose: Rural hospital chief executive officers' (CEOs') reported shortages of health professionals and perceptions about recruiting and retention are compared in Illinois and Arkansas. Methods: A survey, previously developed and sent to 28 CEOs in…

Discusses nonfinancial barriers to receiving medical care, including legal restrictions, geographic isolation and provider shortages, provider practices and policies, and personal circumstances. Suggests ways to reduce these barriers. These efforts should not wait for health care financing reforms, because nonfinancial barriers will continue even…

Reviews evidence about health care resources currently available to children and pregnant women in the United States. Evidence suggests that the maldistribution of resources remains a serious threat to health care access for women and children at greatest risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and child morbidity and mortality. (SLD)