North Dakota Faces Second-Highest Health Care Desert Rate

Study finds over 200,000 residents live over 19 miles from nearest healthcare facility

Mar. 21, 2026 at 12:51pm

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A recent study has found that over 200,000 North Dakota residents have to travel more than 19 miles to reach the nearest healthcare facility, the second-highest rate in the nation. The state's rural health system is under growing strain due to workforce shortages, financially fragile facilities, and widening outcome gaps for tribal and frontier communities.

Why it matters

Access to quality healthcare is a critical issue, especially in rural areas where residents often have to travel long distances to reach medical services. North Dakota's high rate of healthcare deserts highlights the challenges the state faces in providing adequate care to its residents, particularly those in remote or underserved communities.

The details

The study, conducted by healthcare company Nursa, found that over 80% of U.S. counties lack adequate access to healthcare. In North Dakota, the situation is particularly dire, with over 200,000 residents living more than 19 miles from the nearest healthcare facility. This high rate of healthcare deserts is the second-highest in the nation. North Dakota Health and Human Services cites workforce shortages, financially fragile facilities, and widening outcome gaps for tribal and frontier communities as key factors contributing to the state's rural health system challenges.

  • The recent study was published on March 21, 2026.

The players

North Dakota Health and Human Services

The state agency responsible for overseeing and managing North Dakota's healthcare system.

Nursa

A healthcare company that conducted the study on healthcare access across the United States.

Trump administration

The previous presidential administration that awarded North Dakota nearly $200 million through the Rural Health Transformation Program to address the state's rural health challenges.

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What’s next

The state plans to use the $200 million in federal funding to rebuild and retain a rural health workforce, restore health and reduce costs, bring care closer to home, and gain efficiency with modern technology and data.

The takeaway

North Dakota's high rate of healthcare deserts highlights the urgent need to address the challenges facing the state's rural health system, including workforce shortages, financially fragile facilities, and disparities in healthcare access for tribal and frontier communities. The state's efforts to leverage federal funding to transform its rural healthcare infrastructure could serve as a model for other states facing similar challenges.