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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services

Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening in Rural Communities: A Practical Guide
Provides an overview of rural colorectal cancer (CRC) disparities and guidance for community organizations on improving CRC screening in rural areas. Includes recommendations related to recognizing and addressing barriers to screening, organizational planning and strategy, service delivery models, and more.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Cancer Society National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (ACS NCCRT)
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FY 2026 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System (LTCH PPS) Final Rule — CMS-1833-F
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) fiscal year 2026 hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) and long-term care hospital prospective payment system (LTCH PPS) final rule. Includes information about the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program and the discontinuation of the low-wage index hospital policy for FY 2026 and subsequent years.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Oral Health Screening Survey of Third Grade Schoolchildren in Ohio, 2023-2024
Provides information on the dental health of third-grade children in Ohio. Includes data on oral health conditions, access to dental care, and county-level information on prevalence of untreated tooth decay and locations of Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and safety net clinics.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Ohio Department of Health
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Spatial Accessibility of Substance Use Disorder Treatment Programs, Compared with Other Health Care Facilities, in New York State, 2024
Examines spatial accessibility to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in New York State. Analyzes one-way travel time as well as the difference in travel between the closest and fifth closest facility. Includes maps comparing travel time to SUD treatment to other healthcare facilities in rural and urban areas of New York State.
Author(s): Marcus A. Bachhuber, Chinazo O. Cunningham, Pat Lincourt, Ashly E. Jordan
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 20, 60
Date: 07/2025
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Solar Panel Installation Workers Exposed to Pesticides During Two Agricultural Applications — Michigan, August 2023 and May 2024
Reports on two instances of nonagricultural workers operating on or adjacent to farmland who were exposed to farm-related pesticides. Describes each event and the exposure response and discusses ways to reduce the risk of these types of exposures.
Author(s): Hailey TenHarmsel, Laurel Harduar Morano, Kenneth D. Rosenman
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(28), 450-454
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Metropolitan/Nonmetropolitan Differences of the Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Survivors' Care
Examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care in metro and nonmetro locations. Utilizes 2021 Health Information National Trends-Surveillance Epidemiology End Results (HINTS-SEER) data from cancer survivors regarding their routine cancer screening, preventive care, treatment, and follow-up appointments.
Author(s): Whitney E. Zahnd, Jason T. Semprini, Robin C. Vanderpool, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3)
Date: 07/2025
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Is Rural Residence an Independent Risk Factor for Spontaneous Preterm Birth at a Midwestern Tertiary Care Center? A Cross-Sectional Study
Examines the correlation between rural residence and spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB). Analyzes 16,974 deliveries among 13,339 women at a Midwest tertiary care center according to patient demographics, gestational age, insurance status, health status and behaviors, and rural versus urban location. Discusses rurality as a variable and potential causes for the correlation to sPTB.
Author(s): Abbie Lund, Barcey T. Levy, Yinghui Xu, David A. Bedell, Mark K. Santillan
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 16
Date: 07/2025
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Wisconsin Critical Access Hospitals: Meeting Rural Community Needs!
Provides the top community health priorities for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in Wisconsin, focusing on access to care, chronic disease, mental health, social determinants of health, and substance use. Lists each CAH and their county location.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Office of Rural Health
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Exploring a Food Is Medicine Pilot Program to Improve Dietary Quality among Rural Perinatal Patients
Examines the implementation of Food is Medicine (FIM) approaches in rural areas to improve food access and perinatal health outcomes. Analyzes qualitative data from 31 participants regarding FIM supports, dietary quality, self-reported health outcomes, and potential food security barriers.
Author(s): Sophia E. Allen, Taralyn Bielaski, Chelsey R. Canavan
Citation: BMC Nutrition, 11, 152
Date: 07/2025
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COVID-19 Risk Stratification among Older Adults: A Machine Learning Approach to Identify Personal and Health-Related Risk Factors
Examines risk perceptions and health behaviors related to COVID-19 to create a predictive model to classify individuals into risk categories. Analyzes individual features such as demographic variables, health conditions, adherence to public health guidelines, health literacy, and urbanicity.
Author(s): Arezoo Abasi, Seyed Abbas Motevalian, Haleh Ayatollahi
Citation: BMC Public Health 25, 2577
Date: 07/2025
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