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Abstract
Separating regional health statistics into smaller geographic segments will help local planning agencies identify and deal with health needs of rural people. National and regional averages for key health planning variables mask rural problems because these variables differ widely within and among regions. Further, health service areas (HSAs) are more rural than the national average would indicate. Better health care planning and delivery require the following adjustments: (1) use of disaggregated data, (2) flexibility in regulations, (3) adjustment of funding formulas, (4) establishment of subarea councils, (5) identification of major HSA rural types, and (6) improvement of data for small rural areas.