Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services
Primary Care Access and the Role of Telemedicine for Traditional Medicare Beneficiaries
Examines how in-person and telehealth primary care use, access, and continuity of care varied among Medicare beneficiaries between 2017 and 2023, using traditional Medicare claims and administrative data. Includes data comparisons by level of rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Ishani Ganguli, Nicolas E. Daley, Andrew Hicks, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 7(5), e260979
Date: 05/2026
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Examines how in-person and telehealth primary care use, access, and continuity of care varied among Medicare beneficiaries between 2017 and 2023, using traditional Medicare claims and administrative data. Includes data comparisons by level of rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Ishani Ganguli, Nicolas E. Daley, Andrew Hicks, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 7(5), e260979
Date: 05/2026
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New Insights on the Rural Public Health Workforce, with Casey Balio and Betty Bekemeier
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Casey Balio, research assistant professor at the East Tennessee State University Center for Rural Health and Research, and Betty Bekemeier, director of the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice. Focuses on new insights about the rural public health workforce from their recently published research study.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Casey Balio, research assistant professor at the East Tennessee State University Center for Rural Health and Research, and Betty Bekemeier, director of the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice. Focuses on new insights about the rural public health workforce from their recently published research study.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Oklahoma Rural Primary Care Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the primary care workforce distribution in Oklahoma in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the primary care workforce distribution in Oklahoma in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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The Golden Hour Is Elusive in Rural Trauma: A 10-year Analysis from a Level I Trauma Center in Montana
Analyzed 4,213 trauma patients between 2012 and 2022 at a Level 1 trauma facility in Montana to determine whether trauma transfer patterns and rurality impacted outcomes. Discusses the goal of offering definitive care within 1 hour of injury and the impact of workforce shortages in rural areas.
Author(s): Jung G. Min, Maggie Smith, Michael S. Englehart, et al.
Citation: The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 103, 127-131
Date: 05/2026
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Analyzed 4,213 trauma patients between 2012 and 2022 at a Level 1 trauma facility in Montana to determine whether trauma transfer patterns and rurality impacted outcomes. Discusses the goal of offering definitive care within 1 hour of injury and the impact of workforce shortages in rural areas.
Author(s): Jung G. Min, Maggie Smith, Michael S. Englehart, et al.
Citation: The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 103, 127-131
Date: 05/2026
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Significant Mediation by Sadness and Self-Injury Is Observed in Associations Between County-Level Cyberbullying Victimization and Youth Suicidality in Rural New York State
Explores the relationship between cyberbullying, traditional bullying, and suicidality in rural counties in New York State. Highlights rates of bullying and cyberbullying, self-harm, recreational screen time, and other measures by demographic characteristic data.
Author(s): Laura E. Jones, Riya Nadkarni, Nicole Krupa
Citation: Journal of Affective Disorders, 401(15), 121270
Date: 05/2026
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Explores the relationship between cyberbullying, traditional bullying, and suicidality in rural counties in New York State. Highlights rates of bullying and cyberbullying, self-harm, recreational screen time, and other measures by demographic characteristic data.
Author(s): Laura E. Jones, Riya Nadkarni, Nicole Krupa
Citation: Journal of Affective Disorders, 401(15), 121270
Date: 05/2026
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Feasibility Study of a Screening Decision Tool for Allocating Adults into Food Is Medicine Programs as an Effective Approach to Target Clinical and Dietary Outcomes among Rural and Urban Adults
Examines the feasibility of utilizing a food insecurity screening tool to identify hypertension patients in a Kentucky hospital system needing medically tailored meals (MTM) or grocery prescription (Rx). Provides rural versus urban program comparisons, with data on clinical results as well as qualitative feedback from participants. Discusses the screening tool's effectiveness in identifying nutrition needs in both rural and urban patients.
Author(s): Alison Gustafson, Carolyn Lauckner, Joshua L. Bush, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14
Date: 04/2026
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Examines the feasibility of utilizing a food insecurity screening tool to identify hypertension patients in a Kentucky hospital system needing medically tailored meals (MTM) or grocery prescription (Rx). Provides rural versus urban program comparisons, with data on clinical results as well as qualitative feedback from participants. Discusses the screening tool's effectiveness in identifying nutrition needs in both rural and urban patients.
Author(s): Alison Gustafson, Carolyn Lauckner, Joshua L. Bush, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14
Date: 04/2026
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One Nation, Two Rural Health Crises: Georgia and Texas Show Why Local Data-Informed Solutions Matter
Discusses how local conditions, including socioeconomic pressures, chronic disease prevalence, and limited access to care, differently influence rural health needs and solutions in Georgia and Texas. Includes discussion of maternal health disparities and chronic disease prevalence as key topics requiring different solutions in different states.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: PCCI
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Discusses how local conditions, including socioeconomic pressures, chronic disease prevalence, and limited access to care, differently influence rural health needs and solutions in Georgia and Texas. Includes discussion of maternal health disparities and chronic disease prevalence as key topics requiring different solutions in different states.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: PCCI
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Patient-Centered Burdens and Economic Outcomes among Patients Who Are Veterans, People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and People Living in Rural Areas and Their Caregivers: A Scoping Review
Provides a literature review on patient-centered burdens and economic outcomes (PCBEOs) for military veterans, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), and people living in rural areas. Includes 126 studies from 2015-2025 and examines for PCBEOs such as direct medical and non-medical monetary costs, indirect impacts such as unpaid caregiving and time off work, and intangible burdens such as delayed career advancement. Discusses emotional and psychological strain of PCBEOs among these groups.
Author(s): Naomi Buell, Ella Shenkar, Sydney Kirsch, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14
Date: 04/2026
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Provides a literature review on patient-centered burdens and economic outcomes (PCBEOs) for military veterans, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), and people living in rural areas. Includes 126 studies from 2015-2025 and examines for PCBEOs such as direct medical and non-medical monetary costs, indirect impacts such as unpaid caregiving and time off work, and intangible burdens such as delayed career advancement. Discusses emotional and psychological strain of PCBEOs among these groups.
Author(s): Naomi Buell, Ella Shenkar, Sydney Kirsch, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14
Date: 04/2026
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2025 Kentucky Drug Overdose Fatality Report
Offers statistics on drug overdose deaths in Kentucky in 2025, based on autopsy and toxicology reports. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by type of drug and age-adjusted mortality rates by county. Includes county-level maps with shadings indicating numbers of deaths involving methamphetamine and fentanyl, and markings to show Appalachian counties.
Author(s): Meghan Steel, Mira Mirzaian, Lara Daniels
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center, Kentucky Public Health Association, Team Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, University of Kentucky College of Public Health
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Offers statistics on drug overdose deaths in Kentucky in 2025, based on autopsy and toxicology reports. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by type of drug and age-adjusted mortality rates by county. Includes county-level maps with shadings indicating numbers of deaths involving methamphetamine and fentanyl, and markings to show Appalachian counties.
Author(s): Meghan Steel, Mira Mirzaian, Lara Daniels
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center, Kentucky Public Health Association, Team Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, University of Kentucky College of Public Health
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility for FY 2027
Comments on an April 6, 2026, Federal Register proposed rule addressing updates to the prospective payment system for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for fiscal year 2026. Includes comments on the potential creation of an IRF-specific wage index and refinements to the IRF payment system, such as changes to IRF patient clinical classification. Includes rural considerations throughout.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comments on an April 6, 2026, Federal Register proposed rule addressing updates to the prospective payment system for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for fiscal year 2026. Includes comments on the potential creation of an IRF-specific wage index and refinements to the IRF payment system, such as changes to IRF patient clinical classification. Includes rural considerations throughout.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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