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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Urban and Rural Hospital Closures in Georgia, 2022-2024
Results of a study examining postclosure changes in discharge volume, charges, and length of stay at hospitals within 35 miles of a hospital closure in Georgia from 2022-2024. Includes statistics on characteristics of discharges from hospitals that remained open, as well as outcomes associated with a closure, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Sara D. Turbow, Kajal Patel, Young-Rock Hong, Jennifer Lom, Mohammed K. Ali
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(9), e2635085
Date: 09/2026
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Results of a study examining postclosure changes in discharge volume, charges, and length of stay at hospitals within 35 miles of a hospital closure in Georgia from 2022-2024. Includes statistics on characteristics of discharges from hospitals that remained open, as well as outcomes associated with a closure, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Sara D. Turbow, Kajal Patel, Young-Rock Hong, Jennifer Lom, Mohammed K. Ali
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(9), e2635085
Date: 09/2026
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Wireless Substitution: Early Release of Estimates from the National Health Interview Survey, July-December 2025
Provides data on households that rely on wireless telephones rather than landlines. Includes data on the percent of adults who live in wireless-only households and have their own wireless telephone, as well as data on phoneless adults. Provides data for nonmetropolitan compared to metropolitan areas.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Provides data on households that rely on wireless telephones rather than landlines. Includes data on the percent of adults who live in wireless-only households and have their own wireless telephone, as well as data on phoneless adults. Provides data for nonmetropolitan compared to metropolitan areas.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Rural–Urban and Appalachian Disparities in Geographic Access to Colonoscopy and Screening Prevalence Across the Contiguous US
Results of a study comparing access to colonoscopy providers. Features statistics on diagnostic/therapeutic procedures and screening procedures, with breakdowns by rural and urban areas and Appalachian and non-Appalachian areas and by type of colonoscopy provider.
Author(s): Sima Namin, R. Eric Heidel, Martin Whiteside, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 09/2026
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Results of a study comparing access to colonoscopy providers. Features statistics on diagnostic/therapeutic procedures and screening procedures, with breakdowns by rural and urban areas and Appalachian and non-Appalachian areas and by type of colonoscopy provider.
Author(s): Sima Namin, R. Eric Heidel, Martin Whiteside, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 09/2026
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Transportation Walking Among US Adults With and Without Transportation Insecurity, 2022 National Health Interview Survey
Reports on a study describing transportation walking among adults with and without transportation insecurity, using data on 25,889 adults. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Graycie Soto, Miriam E. Van Dyke, Jasmine Y. Nakayama, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 09/2026
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Reports on a study describing transportation walking among adults with and without transportation insecurity, using data on 25,889 adults. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Graycie Soto, Miriam E. Van Dyke, Jasmine Y. Nakayama, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 09/2026
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Poverty in the United States: 2025
Reports on poverty rates for 2024 and 2025, including changes in the official poverty measure rate and changes in the Supplemental Poverty Measure rate. Separate tables include statistics for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Based on data from the 2026 and earlier Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplements.
Additional links: Table 1: Official Poverty Measure (Excel), Table 4: Supplemental Poverty Measure (Excel), Table 7: Comparison of Official and Supplemental Poverty Measures (Excel)
Author(s): Christina Bijou, Emily A. Shrider
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Reports on poverty rates for 2024 and 2025, including changes in the official poverty measure rate and changes in the Supplemental Poverty Measure rate. Separate tables include statistics for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Based on data from the 2026 and earlier Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplements.
Additional links: Table 1: Official Poverty Measure (Excel), Table 4: Supplemental Poverty Measure (Excel), Table 7: Comparison of Official and Supplemental Poverty Measures (Excel)
Author(s): Christina Bijou, Emily A. Shrider
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Income in the United States: 2025
Reports on pre-tax money income and post-tax income levels for 2024 and 2025, along with the percent change from 2024 to 2025. Separate tables include statistics for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Based on data from the 2026 and earlier Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplements.
Additional links: Table 1: Income Summary (Excel), Table 3: Post-Tax Household Income Summary (Excel), Table 4: Money Income and Post-Tax Income (Excel)
Author(s): Melissa Kollar, Zach Scherer
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Reports on pre-tax money income and post-tax income levels for 2024 and 2025, along with the percent change from 2024 to 2025. Separate tables include statistics for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Based on data from the 2026 and earlier Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplements.
Additional links: Table 1: Income Summary (Excel), Table 3: Post-Tax Household Income Summary (Excel), Table 4: Money Income and Post-Tax Income (Excel)
Author(s): Melissa Kollar, Zach Scherer
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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The Quiet Driver of Rural Minnesota's Population Trends: It's Not Just Migration
Examines factors impacting population changes in Minnesota such as births, deaths, and migration trends. Provides comparisons of population changes from 2001 to 2025 across entirely urban, urban/town/rural mix, town/rural mix, and entirely rural locations.
Author(s): Kelly Asche
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
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Examines factors impacting population changes in Minnesota such as births, deaths, and migration trends. Provides comparisons of population changes from 2001 to 2025 across entirely urban, urban/town/rural mix, town/rural mix, and entirely rural locations.
Author(s): Kelly Asche
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
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Outpatient Care Fragmentation and Patient Satisfaction With Care
Examines the relationship between outpatient care fragmentation and Medicare patient satisfaction. Utilizes 2020-2022 survey data from 2,294 Medicare beneficiaries to analyze physician and practice-level fragmentation alongside patient satisfaction, measured by perceived accessibility, communication, coordination, and quality as experienced by rural, suburban, and urban Medicare populations.
Author(s): Isabella Ratto, Neelam Ahmed, Mengyuan Chen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70220
Date: 09/2026
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Examines the relationship between outpatient care fragmentation and Medicare patient satisfaction. Utilizes 2020-2022 survey data from 2,294 Medicare beneficiaries to analyze physician and practice-level fragmentation alongside patient satisfaction, measured by perceived accessibility, communication, coordination, and quality as experienced by rural, suburban, and urban Medicare populations.
Author(s): Isabella Ratto, Neelam Ahmed, Mengyuan Chen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70220
Date: 09/2026
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