摘要：We examined case studies of 3 rural Midwestern communities to assess local health care systems’ response to rapidly growing Latino populations. Currently, clinics provide free or low-cost care, and schools, public health, social services, and religious organizations connect Latinos to the health care system. However, many unmet health care needs result from lack of health insurance, limited income, and linguistic and cultural barriers. Targeted safety net funding would help meet Latino health care needs in rural communities with limited resources. Most studies of health care access for Latino immigrants focus on urban areas and the states where immigrants first arrived. 1– 5 Research on health care access for rural Latinos, especially in the Midwest, is limited. 6 Yet many rural Midwest communities are experiencing unprecedented growth in their Latino populations. 7 Many new immigrants are long-term residents who came to work in meatpacking and other processing plants. 8– 10 Rural health care systems are being challenged to ensure access to care for a population with low rates of health insurance coverage, limited financial resources, language and cultural differences, and special health care needs. 11– 16
