Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
How Do Services Offered Within Opioid Treatment Programs Vary Based on State Methadone Policies?
Examines the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in various states as well as access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) options, psychosocial services, and housing supports. Analyzes 1,501 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their characteristics, including state restrictiveness, services offered, facility type, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Noa Krawczyk, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Jonathan H. Cantor
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 190, 210062
Date: 11/2026
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Examines the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in various states as well as access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) options, psychosocial services, and housing supports. Analyzes 1,501 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their characteristics, including state restrictiveness, services offered, facility type, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Noa Krawczyk, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Jonathan H. Cantor
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 190, 210062
Date: 11/2026
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The Financial Impact of Pregnancy and Childbirth Among Louisiana Medicaid Beneficiaries
Examines the relationship between pregnancy and financial health of women in Louisiana. Analyzes 2017-2020 Medicaid claims data and credit reports of 76,468 patients and provides breakdowns of credit scores, medical debt, and nonmedical debt by demographics, pregnancy status, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Brigham Walker, Ethan Tsai, Andrew Anderson, Melissa Evans, Kevin Callison
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(5), e70166
Date: 10/2026
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Examines the relationship between pregnancy and financial health of women in Louisiana. Analyzes 2017-2020 Medicaid claims data and credit reports of 76,468 patients and provides breakdowns of credit scores, medical debt, and nonmedical debt by demographics, pregnancy status, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Brigham Walker, Ethan Tsai, Andrew Anderson, Melissa Evans, Kevin Callison
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(5), e70166
Date: 10/2026
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Comparing Physicians' Perceptions of Access to Behavioral Health Resources in Rural and Urban Practices
Explores the differences in the perceptions of rural and urban physicians about access to behavioral health resources for their patients. Draws conclusions from findings of the 2022 National Sample Survey of Physicians by rural versus urban ZIP codes. Breaks down data by specialty, years of practice, and average time spent in different care locations, among other measures.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Natalia V. Oster, Xiaochu Hu, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70226
Date: 09/2026
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Explores the differences in the perceptions of rural and urban physicians about access to behavioral health resources for their patients. Draws conclusions from findings of the 2022 National Sample Survey of Physicians by rural versus urban ZIP codes. Breaks down data by specialty, years of practice, and average time spent in different care locations, among other measures.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Natalia V. Oster, Xiaochu Hu, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70226
Date: 09/2026
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National Trends and Disparities in Mortality Involving Bladder Cancer and Substance Use Disorders in the United States, 1999–2023
Examines trends in bladder cancer mortality with co-occurring substance use disorders between 1999 and 2023 using CDC WONDER data. Includes demographic breakdowns and metropolitan versus nonmetropolitan comparisons.
Author(s): Kanza Atif, Unsa Arif, Muhammad Ali Gorish, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Oncology, 16, 1883338
Date: 09/2026
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Examines trends in bladder cancer mortality with co-occurring substance use disorders between 1999 and 2023 using CDC WONDER data. Includes demographic breakdowns and metropolitan versus nonmetropolitan comparisons.
Author(s): Kanza Atif, Unsa Arif, Muhammad Ali Gorish, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Oncology, 16, 1883338
Date: 09/2026
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AI in Rural Health: Data, Insights, and Discussion on AI's Growing Role in Rural Hospital Operations
Webinar discussing recent research on how artificial intelligence (AI) adoption has varied by rurality and other facility characteristics. Includes discussion from webinar participants on implementation strategies, experiences, and expectations in Oklahoma hospitals.
Author(s): Brian Whitacre
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Oklahoma State University Center for Rural Health
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Webinar discussing recent research on how artificial intelligence (AI) adoption has varied by rurality and other facility characteristics. Includes discussion from webinar participants on implementation strategies, experiences, and expectations in Oklahoma hospitals.
Author(s): Brian Whitacre
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Oklahoma State University Center for Rural Health
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Place-Based Risk: Examining Relationships Between Adolescent Perceptions of Community Risk Factors and Adolescent Substance Use Across Geographic Contexts
Examines adolescent perceptions of structural and social factors that influence their substance use in rural and urban communities. Utilizes 2019 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey data from 9,819 adolescents to analyze alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and illicit drug use according to sociodemographics, cultural norms, law enforcement response to substance use, availability of drugs, and urban, suburban, town, or rural location.
Author(s): Melissa Pearman Fenton, Sarah D. Lynne, Josie L. Bryan, Catherine Woodstock Striley, Larry F. Forthun
Citation: American Journal of Community Psychology, 78(1-2), 245-262
Date: 09/2026
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Examines adolescent perceptions of structural and social factors that influence their substance use in rural and urban communities. Utilizes 2019 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey data from 9,819 adolescents to analyze alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and illicit drug use according to sociodemographics, cultural norms, law enforcement response to substance use, availability of drugs, and urban, suburban, town, or rural location.
Author(s): Melissa Pearman Fenton, Sarah D. Lynne, Josie L. Bryan, Catherine Woodstock Striley, Larry F. Forthun
Citation: American Journal of Community Psychology, 78(1-2), 245-262
Date: 09/2026
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Geographic and Environmental Differences in Associations Between Food Insecurity and Nutritional and Inflammatory Biomarkers Among Pregnant Participants in the All of Us Research Program
Examines the relationship among food insecurity (FI), geography, and health outcomes in pregnant women living in the Southeastern United States. Utilizes 2018-2022 All of Us Research Program data from 12,192 participants and analyzes cardiometabolic biomarkers, nutritional biomarkers, and environmental factors across rural versus urban, as well as FI versus non-FI populations.
Author(s): Alaijah Bashi, Viviane Schuch, Amber Dawning, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 18(18), 2965
Date: 09/2026
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Examines the relationship among food insecurity (FI), geography, and health outcomes in pregnant women living in the Southeastern United States. Utilizes 2018-2022 All of Us Research Program data from 12,192 participants and analyzes cardiometabolic biomarkers, nutritional biomarkers, and environmental factors across rural versus urban, as well as FI versus non-FI populations.
Author(s): Alaijah Bashi, Viviane Schuch, Amber Dawning, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 18(18), 2965
Date: 09/2026
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Associations of County-Level Urbanicity With Overall Survival Across 19 Solid Tumor Groups, 2004–2023: A SEER Cohort Study of 5.5 Million Patients
Analyzes how cancer survival varies by rurality at diagnosis across 19 tumor groups, including prostate, lung, kidney, and other cancers, using 2004-2023 SEER data.
Author(s): Lihui Liang, Jiancheng Huang, Qingbai Jiang
Citation: Cancer Control, 33
Date: 09/2026
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Analyzes how cancer survival varies by rurality at diagnosis across 19 tumor groups, including prostate, lung, kidney, and other cancers, using 2004-2023 SEER data.
Author(s): Lihui Liang, Jiancheng Huang, Qingbai Jiang
Citation: Cancer Control, 33
Date: 09/2026
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Examining the Rural College Labor Market
Examines the rural college labor market, enrollment and degree completion, location decisions of students, and shifts in degree types to meet the needs of changing rural industries. Utilizes American Community Survey data to analyze the nonmetro workforce, college labor trends, demographic characteristics, and industry changes, including trends related to healthcare profession degree completion and subsequent employment.
Author(s): Brandon Genetin, James C. Davis
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Examines the rural college labor market, enrollment and degree completion, location decisions of students, and shifts in degree types to meet the needs of changing rural industries. Utilizes American Community Survey data to analyze the nonmetro workforce, college labor trends, demographic characteristics, and industry changes, including trends related to healthcare profession degree completion and subsequent employment.
Author(s): Brandon Genetin, James C. Davis
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Mental Health Care Access in Rural Communities amid the Expansion of Telehealth
Analyzes National Health Interview Survey and Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data to explore how mental healthcare access has changed for rural and urban residents as telehealth services have expanded. Discusses findings regarding publicly insured, privately insured, and self-pay patients.
Author(s): Anja Gruber, Anders Van Sandt, Scott Loveridge, Craig Carpenter, Cris Meier
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(9)
Date: 09/2026
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Analyzes National Health Interview Survey and Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data to explore how mental healthcare access has changed for rural and urban residents as telehealth services have expanded. Discusses findings regarding publicly insured, privately insured, and self-pay patients.
Author(s): Anja Gruber, Anders Van Sandt, Scott Loveridge, Craig Carpenter, Cris Meier
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(9)
Date: 09/2026
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