The discussion consists of a national overview of state legislative activity and summaries of state legislation addressing aspects of physician distribution in rural areas and other rural health care issues during the period 1984-89. Legislative summaries are organized by state. (MSE)

A study of family physicians graduating from Texas residency programs between 1979 and 1987 analyzed patterns of practice location and their relationship to residency location, focusing on size of practice community and distance from the residency program. It is concluded that state policy has effectively distributed physicians in the state. (MSE)

A study of the distances between physicians' (n=2,612) residency program locations and first practice locations indicates that most moved less than 75 miles. Primary care physicians moved significantly shorter distances than did other specialists. This pattern has changed little over the last few decades. (Author/MSE)

A survey of University of North Dakota medical graduates revealed that (1) rural students and primary care specialists were more likely than others to practice in North Dakota's rural areas; and (2) alumni completing residencies following curriculum expansion to four years were twice as likely to practice in the state. (Author/MSE)