Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services
Alaska Community Needs Assessment, 2025-2027
Results of a 2024-2025 series of surveys that gather household-level data on individualized, local needs in the areas of education, employment, workforce development, food security, and access to healthcare resources. Features demographics and statistics on disabilities, poverty, education level, rural housing, healthcare access, deaths of despair, substance use, and supply and demand of dental, mental health, and primary care providers.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc.
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Results of a 2024-2025 series of surveys that gather household-level data on individualized, local needs in the areas of education, employment, workforce development, food security, and access to healthcare resources. Features demographics and statistics on disabilities, poverty, education level, rural housing, healthcare access, deaths of despair, substance use, and supply and demand of dental, mental health, and primary care providers.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc.
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Assessing Temporal Changes in Spatially-Varying Disparities in Tobacco Retailer Density across Ohio
Examines how tobacco retailer density (TRD) across Ohio contributes to disparities in tobacco use. Utilizes 2017-2022 geocoded data on TBD, with breakdowns according to census tract sociodemographic characteristics and urban, suburban, or rural neighborhood type.
Author(s): Rui Qiang, Peter F. Craigmile, Wendy Hyde, Abby Shores, Megan E. Roberts
Citation: Ohio Journal of Public Health, 7(2)
Date: 06/2025
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Examines how tobacco retailer density (TRD) across Ohio contributes to disparities in tobacco use. Utilizes 2017-2022 geocoded data on TBD, with breakdowns according to census tract sociodemographic characteristics and urban, suburban, or rural neighborhood type.
Author(s): Rui Qiang, Peter F. Craigmile, Wendy Hyde, Abby Shores, Megan E. Roberts
Citation: Ohio Journal of Public Health, 7(2)
Date: 06/2025
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Association of a State-Wide Alternative Payment Model for Rural Hospitals with Bypass for Elective Surgeries
Examines the impact of the payment model, Pennsylvania Rural Health Model (PARHM), on rural hospital bypass for elective surgeries. Utilizes 2016-2022 all-payer visit-level inpatient discharge data to measure 175,138 surgeries in Pennsylvania, with data on risk level of elective surgery, hospital type, payer type, and more.
Author(s): Donald S. Bourne, Zhaojun Sun, Bruce L. Jacobs, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 60(3), e14442
Date: 06/2025
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Examines the impact of the payment model, Pennsylvania Rural Health Model (PARHM), on rural hospital bypass for elective surgeries. Utilizes 2016-2022 all-payer visit-level inpatient discharge data to measure 175,138 surgeries in Pennsylvania, with data on risk level of elective surgery, hospital type, payer type, and more.
Author(s): Donald S. Bourne, Zhaojun Sun, Bruce L. Jacobs, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 60(3), e14442
Date: 06/2025
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Family Weight Management in Rural U.S. Communities: A Mixed Methods Study of Parent and Child Perspectives
Examines interest in behavioral health programming to treat childhood obesity, utilizing focus group excerpts and survey data from 33 parents and 15 children in rural Southern counties. Highlights concerns, suggestions, and desired outcomes for program implementation.
Author(s): Alyssa Button, Denise Holston, Jamila Freightman, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2089
Date: 06/2025
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Examines interest in behavioral health programming to treat childhood obesity, utilizing focus group excerpts and survey data from 33 parents and 15 children in rural Southern counties. Highlights concerns, suggestions, and desired outcomes for program implementation.
Author(s): Alyssa Button, Denise Holston, Jamila Freightman, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2089
Date: 06/2025
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Integrating Mental Health Support into Rural Libraries: Evaluation of the Libraries for Health (L4H) Initiative
Presents findings from an evaluation of the implementation of Libraries for Health (L4H), a pilot project embedding nonclinical adult mental health supports into ten libraries in rural Texas. Summarizes how libraries implemented L4H, barriers and facilitators of implementation, and efforts to to build and sustain the program and sustain their capacity to address patrons' mental health needs.
Additional links: Research Summary
Author(s): Lynsay Ayer, Karen Christianson, Ivy Todd, et al.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Presents findings from an evaluation of the implementation of Libraries for Health (L4H), a pilot project embedding nonclinical adult mental health supports into ten libraries in rural Texas. Summarizes how libraries implemented L4H, barriers and facilitators of implementation, and efforts to to build and sustain the program and sustain their capacity to address patrons' mental health needs.
Additional links: Research Summary
Author(s): Lynsay Ayer, Karen Christianson, Ivy Todd, et al.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Difference-Making Factors for Successful Implementation of a Multicomponent Colorectal Cancer Screening Program in Rural Clinics (SMARTER CRC)
Evaluates multicomponent colorectal cancer screening programs at 14 rural primary care clinics to identify factors associated with higher rates of screening. Interventions include using mailed outreach materials and patient navigation programs in partnership with health plans. Discusses the effectiveness of outreach activities conducted by the clinic or a third-party vendor as well as collaborations between clinics and health plans.
Author(s): Amanda F. Petrik, Brittany Badicke, Melinda M. Davis, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Medicine, 12
Date: 06/2025
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Evaluates multicomponent colorectal cancer screening programs at 14 rural primary care clinics to identify factors associated with higher rates of screening. Interventions include using mailed outreach materials and patient navigation programs in partnership with health plans. Discusses the effectiveness of outreach activities conducted by the clinic or a third-party vendor as well as collaborations between clinics and health plans.
Author(s): Amanda F. Petrik, Brittany Badicke, Melinda M. Davis, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Medicine, 12
Date: 06/2025
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The Opioid Epidemic in Rural Communities: Can Telehealth Increase Access to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder and Offset Barriers to Care?
Examines the impact of telehealth on access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and substance use disorder (SUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. Utilizes data from the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program's (RCORP) consortia, the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), and the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) to analyze access to MOUD and rates of telehealth use for rural consortia. Discusses potential barriers and factors impacting telehealth implementation for SUD and OUD care.
Author(s): Kathleen Meyers, Shannon Herman, Heather Schuler, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 271, 112628
Date: 06/2025
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Examines the impact of telehealth on access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and substance use disorder (SUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. Utilizes data from the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program's (RCORP) consortia, the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), and the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) to analyze access to MOUD and rates of telehealth use for rural consortia. Discusses potential barriers and factors impacting telehealth implementation for SUD and OUD care.
Author(s): Kathleen Meyers, Shannon Herman, Heather Schuler, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 271, 112628
Date: 06/2025
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Data Sharing Lessons from Alaska: Improving a State's Process for Disclosing Data for Public Health Purposes to Tribal Public Health Organizations
Discusses data sharing agreements between Tribal-Serving Organizations and other state or local public health agencies. Examines the process of collaboration between the Alaska Division of Public Health (DPH) and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC), with a focus on overcoming barriers, working through legal considerations, and lessons learned.
Author(s): Chris Alibrandi O'Connor
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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Discusses data sharing agreements between Tribal-Serving Organizations and other state or local public health agencies. Examines the process of collaboration between the Alaska Division of Public Health (DPH) and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC), with a focus on overcoming barriers, working through legal considerations, and lessons learned.
Author(s): Chris Alibrandi O'Connor
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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A Comparison of Classifications for Geographic Location and Their Associations with Tobacco Use among US Adults
Details a study on the differences in 2 different rural classification in rates of cigarette, e-cigarette, and smokeless tobacco usage. Compares U.S. Census Bureau's definition of urban and rural areas with the National Center for Education Statistics' urban/suburban/town/rural classification.
Author(s): Jenny E. Ozga, Andrea Milstred, Melissa D. Blank, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70070
Date: 06/2025
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Details a study on the differences in 2 different rural classification in rates of cigarette, e-cigarette, and smokeless tobacco usage. Compares U.S. Census Bureau's definition of urban and rural areas with the National Center for Education Statistics' urban/suburban/town/rural classification.
Author(s): Jenny E. Ozga, Andrea Milstred, Melissa D. Blank, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70070
Date: 06/2025
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Tobacco Treatment Billing and Tobacco Use Disorder Diagnosis in Healthcare Settings in the United States: An Analysis of South Carolina Medicaid Claims
Examines demographic differences in tobacco use disorder diagnosis and receipt of counseling among Medicaid beneficiaries in South Carolina, utilizing 2019-2022 South Carolina Medicaid administrative claims data. Includes data breakdowns by rural or urban dwelling, among other factors.
Author(s): Kinsey Pebley, Joni D. Nelson, Julie L. Marshall, Alana M. Rojewski
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 20, 24
Date: 06/2025
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Examines demographic differences in tobacco use disorder diagnosis and receipt of counseling among Medicaid beneficiaries in South Carolina, utilizing 2019-2022 South Carolina Medicaid administrative claims data. Includes data breakdowns by rural or urban dwelling, among other factors.
Author(s): Kinsey Pebley, Joni D. Nelson, Julie L. Marshall, Alana M. Rojewski
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 20, 24
Date: 06/2025
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