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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Rural Health Disadvantages in the United States: Evidence from Nationally Representative Data
Describes rural and urban mortality rate disparities since the 1990s and then examines National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999, 2000, 2017, and 2020 to identify both individual and place-based factors associated with health outcomes within large metropolitan, small/medium metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas. Discusses disparities in the working adult population and how county characteristics contribute to rural and urban gaps.
Author(s): Brandon Restrepo, Elizabeth A. Dobis, Sarah A. Low, Kelsey L. Thomas
Citation: Economics & Human Biology, 62
Date: 09/2026
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Describes rural and urban mortality rate disparities since the 1990s and then examines National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999, 2000, 2017, and 2020 to identify both individual and place-based factors associated with health outcomes within large metropolitan, small/medium metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas. Discusses disparities in the working adult population and how county characteristics contribute to rural and urban gaps.
Author(s): Brandon Restrepo, Elizabeth A. Dobis, Sarah A. Low, Kelsey L. Thomas
Citation: Economics & Human Biology, 62
Date: 09/2026
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The Obesity-Related Chronic Disease Index (ORCDi), a Novel Composite Metric to Quantify ORCD Burden: An Ecological Study Across U.S. Census Tracts
Analyzes obesity-related conditions across U.S. census-tracts to develop and validate the obesity-related chronic disease index (ORCDi), a metric used to quantify obesity burden at the community level. Utilizes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES 2024 data to analyze health conditions across social vulnerability indices (SVIs) and rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes. Discusses the utility of ORCDi as a measure in health research to analyze ORCD burden in various communities.
Author(s): Md Roungu Ahmmad, Fazlay Faruque, Xiaoli Zhang
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 61, 101547
Date: 09/2026
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Analyzes obesity-related conditions across U.S. census-tracts to develop and validate the obesity-related chronic disease index (ORCDi), a metric used to quantify obesity burden at the community level. Utilizes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES 2024 data to analyze health conditions across social vulnerability indices (SVIs) and rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes. Discusses the utility of ORCDi as a measure in health research to analyze ORCD burden in various communities.
Author(s): Md Roungu Ahmmad, Fazlay Faruque, Xiaoli Zhang
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 61, 101547
Date: 09/2026
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Unequal Paths to Care: How Region, Rurality, and Deprivation Determine Transport to Verified Trauma Centers among the Critically Injured
Examines the relationship among rurality, area deprivation index (ADI), and trauma center transport of critically injured patients. Utilizes 2018-2022 National Emergency Medical Services Information System data from 36,897,269 critically injured patients and analyzes rural versus urban transport to a trauma center, region of the country, and ADI.
Author(s): Amani Sampson, Edward Helderop, Tokoya Williams, et al.
Citation: Surgery, 196, 110232
Date: 08/2026
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Examines the relationship among rurality, area deprivation index (ADI), and trauma center transport of critically injured patients. Utilizes 2018-2022 National Emergency Medical Services Information System data from 36,897,269 critically injured patients and analyzes rural versus urban transport to a trauma center, region of the country, and ADI.
Author(s): Amani Sampson, Edward Helderop, Tokoya Williams, et al.
Citation: Surgery, 196, 110232
Date: 08/2026
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Young Adult Urbanicity, Late Midlife Neighborhood Disadvantage, and Cognitive Functioning in Community-Dwelling Older Men
Examines the impact of geography and neighborhood socioeconomics on cognitive function in older men. Analyzes data of cognitive performance from 881 community-dwelling men with additional breakdowns according to demographic variables, rural versus urban location, and area disadvantage index (ADI).
Author(s): Rongxiang Tang, Asad Beck, Daniel E Gustavson, et al.
Citation: The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 81(8)
Date: 08/2026
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Examines the impact of geography and neighborhood socioeconomics on cognitive function in older men. Analyzes data of cognitive performance from 881 community-dwelling men with additional breakdowns according to demographic variables, rural versus urban location, and area disadvantage index (ADI).
Author(s): Rongxiang Tang, Asad Beck, Daniel E Gustavson, et al.
Citation: The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 81(8)
Date: 08/2026
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Map the Meal Gap 2026: A Report on Local Food Insecurity and Food Cost in the United States in 2024
Provides information on food insecurity in the United States, with a focus on impacts for various demographic populations, food spending and prices, and policy and program implications. Includes a county-level U.S. map showing food insecurity for the overall U.S. population as well as data breakdowns according to geographical region and rural versus urban location.
Additional links: Technical Brief
Author(s): A. Dewey, S. Dawes, J. Hilvers, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Feeding America
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Provides information on food insecurity in the United States, with a focus on impacts for various demographic populations, food spending and prices, and policy and program implications. Includes a county-level U.S. map showing food insecurity for the overall U.S. population as well as data breakdowns according to geographical region and rural versus urban location.
Additional links: Technical Brief
Author(s): A. Dewey, S. Dawes, J. Hilvers, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Feeding America
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Georgia General Surgery Fact Sheet: Based on 2023-2024 Physician Licensure Data
Provides statistics on general surgeons in Georgia, based on data from the 2023-2024 Physician Survey. Includes maps showing counties that are nonmetropolitan areas and general surgeon rate per 100,000 population, by county.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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Provides statistics on general surgeons in Georgia, based on data from the 2023-2024 Physician Survey. Includes maps showing counties that are nonmetropolitan areas and general surgeon rate per 100,000 population, by county.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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Georgia Psychiatry Fact Sheet: Based on 2023-2024 Physician Licensure Data
Provides statistics on psychiatrists in Georgia, based on data from the 2023-2024 Physician Survey. Includes maps showing counties that are nonmetropolitan areas and psychiatrist rate per 100,000 population, by county.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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Provides statistics on psychiatrists in Georgia, based on data from the 2023-2024 Physician Survey. Includes maps showing counties that are nonmetropolitan areas and psychiatrist rate per 100,000 population, by county.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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Georgia Internal Medicine Fact Sheet: Based on 2023-2024 Physician Licensure Data
Provides statistics on internal medicine physicians in Georgia, based on data from the 2023-2024 Physician Survey. Includes maps showing counties that are nonmetropolitan areas and internal medicine physician rate per 100,000 population, by county.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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Provides statistics on internal medicine physicians in Georgia, based on data from the 2023-2024 Physician Survey. Includes maps showing counties that are nonmetropolitan areas and internal medicine physician rate per 100,000 population, by county.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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Georgia Emergency Medicine Fact Sheet: Based on 2023-2024 Physician Licensure Data
Provides statistics on emergency medicine physicians in Georgia, based on data from the 2023-2024 Physician Survey. Includes maps showing counties that are nonmetropolitan areas and emergency medicine physician rate per 100,000 population, by county.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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Provides statistics on emergency medicine physicians in Georgia, based on data from the 2023-2024 Physician Survey. Includes maps showing counties that are nonmetropolitan areas and emergency medicine physician rate per 100,000 population, by county.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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