MDH Updates Rural Health Chartbook

MDH released the 2024 Rural Health Chartbook this week, in recognition of National Rural Health Day on Thursday.

The chartbook has five sections - state of rural Minnesota, the rural health care system, workforce, availability of healthcare, use of healthcare, and financing.

Some of the highlights from the report include:

• Between 75% and 78% of people in rural Minnesota have incomes below the statewide median income.

• Rural Minnesotans are more likely to have public health insurance coverage compared to urban areas.

• Rural physicians are in short supply, are older than their urban counterparts, and are more likely to leave the workforce in the next five years compared to urban physicians.

• 18 Minnesota counties have lost or reduced hospital birth services between 2013 and 2023.

• People in rural Minnesota had the most trouble getting primary care appointments when needed.

• Rural Minnesotans had lower telehealth use and most telehealth visits were to primary care providers.