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.