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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services

Midwesterners' Beliefs about Genetic Testing: Variability Across Ethnic Groups and Metro Vs. Nonmetro Residents
Examines perceptions about genetic testing among Midwesterners. Provides metro versus nonmetro types of and reasons for genetic testing. Includes demographic breakdowns about beliefs surrounding genetic testing confidentiality and ethics.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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New Mexico STD Program Summary of Surveillance Data: 2024
Reports on sexually transmitted disease (STD) rates for New Mexico. Compares New Mexico rates to U.S. rates over time and provides STD rates for each New Mexico county for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis.
Author(s): Janine Waters, Miranda Durham, Angie Bartok
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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The Uncertain Future of Medicare's Stand-Alone Prescription Drug Plan Market and Why It Matters
Discusses the Medicare Part D stand-alone prescription drug plan (PDP) market and the Part D premium stabilization demonstration. Describes the impact of PDP market stability on rural Medicare beneficiaries. Explores the potential effects of the continuation of, or changes to, the premium stabilization program.
Author(s): Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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2024 Forces of Change Survey
Presents results from a 2024 survey of 667 local health departments (LHDs). Provides data on LHD staffing and budgets, governance, fellowship and training programs, public health nursing, evaluation capacity, and harm reduction activities. Includes data comparisons between rural and urban LHDs, and LHDs serving small, medium, and large populations.
Author(s): Krishna Patel, Gwen Davis, Kellie Perkins, Timothy C. McCall
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Implementing a Tribally Engaged Lung Cancer Screening Pilot Program in Rural Oklahoma
Presents a study on the efficacy of a lung cancer screening program within a tribally operated health system in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Bases findings on pre- and post-intervention surveys. Makes recommendation for program expansion and highlights key barriers and facilitators to implementation.
Author(s): Zsolt Nagykaldi, Mark Doescher, Dorothy A. Rhoades, et al.
Citation: Cancer Prevention Research, 18(7), 423-430
Date: 07/2025
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Obstetric Care Access Declined in Rural and Urban Hospitals Across US States, 2010–22
Examines the number and proportion of hospitals located in rural and urban counties in each state that lost hospital-based obstetric services between 2010 and 2022. Describes the proportion of hospitals without obstetric services for any reason by 2022.
Author(s): Katy Backes Kozhimannil, Julia D. Interrante, Caitlin Carroll, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs, 44(7), 806-811
Date: 07/2025
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How Should Rural EMS Funding Streams Be Improved?
Discusses the need and mechanisms for funding rural EMS systems more robustly. Offers suggestions for finding funding and discusses the decline in volunteerism.
Author(s): James Small
Citation: AMA Journal of Ethics, 27(7), E518-524
Date: 07/2025
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Mapping Healthcare Deserts: Over 80% of the Country Still Lacks Adequate Access to Healthcare
Provides information on healthcare and pharmacy deserts in the United States. Includes an interactive county-level U.S. map that shows healthcare deserts in the following categories: pharmacy, primary care, hospital, hospital beds, trauma center, and health center.
Author(s): Amanda Nguyen
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: GoodRx
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Emergency Department Visits among Rural and Urban Older Adults: Disparities in Ambulatory and Emergency Care Sensitive Conditions
Compares emergency department (ED) utilization for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) and emergency care sensitive conditions (ECSCs) among rural and urban Medicare beneficiaries. Presents findings from a pooled cross-sectional analysis of 2016–2020 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data.
Author(s): Cameron J. Gettel, Courtney Kitchen, Craig Rothenberg, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 25, 275
Date: 07/2025
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Pennsylvania Rural Health Plan, 2025-2030
Highlights healthcare challenges in rural Pennsylvania, acknowledges strengths, and promotes recommendations to address disparities. Features demographics and sections on social determinants of health, agricultural safety and farmworker health, aging, disabilities, homelessness, veterans, Pennsylvania's healthcare delivery system, broadband access, and telehealth.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Rural Health Association
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