Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
Rural Hospital Bypass by Patients With Commercial Health Insurance
Results of a study examining rural hospital bypass rates among commercially insured patients, and hospital payments from patients who bypassed their nearest hospitals. Features statistics with breakdowns by clinical category and 4 levels of population density.
Author(s): Jessica Y. Chang, Caitlin E. Carroll
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(1), e2555017
Date: 01/2026
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Results of a study examining rural hospital bypass rates among commercially insured patients, and hospital payments from patients who bypassed their nearest hospitals. Features statistics with breakdowns by clinical category and 4 levels of population density.
Author(s): Jessica Y. Chang, Caitlin E. Carroll
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(1), e2555017
Date: 01/2026
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Management of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors by Rural and Urban Primary Care Practices
Results of a study comparing management of cardiovascular disease risk factors between rural and urban practices, using data from a national primary care registry from 2016-2020. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, large rural, and small rural areas.
Author(s): Lars E. Peterson, Zachary J. Morgan
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Results of a study comparing management of cardiovascular disease risk factors between rural and urban practices, using data from a national primary care registry from 2016-2020. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, large rural, and small rural areas.
Author(s): Lars E. Peterson, Zachary J. Morgan
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Use of Preventive Services by Rurality, Disability Status, and Health Insurance
Examines rates of use of routine physicals and flu vaccination by rural or urban location, disability status, and health insurance type. Uses data from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey.
Author(s): Alexis Swendener, Katie Rydberg, Lisa I. Iezzoni, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Examines rates of use of routine physicals and flu vaccination by rural or urban location, disability status, and health insurance type. Uses data from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey.
Author(s): Alexis Swendener, Katie Rydberg, Lisa I. Iezzoni, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Rural America at a Glance: 2025 Edition
Provides an overview of social and economic factors affecting rural America, with a focus on population migration, poverty, and employment. Includes county-level maps as well as metro and nonmetro comparisons.
Author(s): Tracey Farrigan, Austin Sanders, Lauren Miller, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Provides an overview of social and economic factors affecting rural America, with a focus on population migration, poverty, and employment. Includes county-level maps as well as metro and nonmetro comparisons.
Author(s): Tracey Farrigan, Austin Sanders, Lauren Miller, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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An Overview of Public Health Services Among Local Health Departments in Rural Versus Urban Jurisdictions
Examines the services provided by rural and urban public health departments. Utilizes 2022 National Profile of Local Health Departments data to examine rural versus urban local health department (LHD) clinical programs and services, population health programs and services, and workforce infrastructure and capacity.
Author(s): Gwen Davis, Margaret Cunningham, Kellie Perkins, Krishna Patel, Timothy McCall
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management & Practice
Date: 01/2026
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Examines the services provided by rural and urban public health departments. Utilizes 2022 National Profile of Local Health Departments data to examine rural versus urban local health department (LHD) clinical programs and services, population health programs and services, and workforce infrastructure and capacity.
Author(s): Gwen Davis, Margaret Cunningham, Kellie Perkins, Krishna Patel, Timothy McCall
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management & Practice
Date: 01/2026
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Persistent Poverty and Breast Cancer Incidence by Tumor Subtype: Intersections of Rural/Urban Residence and Race Within USA Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results Registries, 2017 to 2021
Examines the relationship between breast cancer types and persistent poverty across rurality and demographic variables. Utilizes county-level 2017-2021 (excluding 2020) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data to analyze breast cancer subtype rates, with breakdowns according to counties defined as persistent poverty or non-persistent poverty and by rural versus urban. Discusses the impact of sociodemographics on cancer disparities.
Author(s): Heather R. Sherr, Amr S. Soliman, Kimberly A. Bertrand, Kelly A. Hirko
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37(26)
Date: 01/2026
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Examines the relationship between breast cancer types and persistent poverty across rurality and demographic variables. Utilizes county-level 2017-2021 (excluding 2020) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data to analyze breast cancer subtype rates, with breakdowns according to counties defined as persistent poverty or non-persistent poverty and by rural versus urban. Discusses the impact of sociodemographics on cancer disparities.
Author(s): Heather R. Sherr, Amr S. Soliman, Kimberly A. Bertrand, Kelly A. Hirko
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37(26)
Date: 01/2026
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Indian Health Service and Health Care Affordability Issues Among American Indian/ Alaska Native People by Rurality
Report explores healthcare affordability and Indian Health Services (IHS) utilization among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) in rural and urban communities. Highlights rates of patients receiving care at IHS, privately insured, and uninsured in rural and urban communities, among other measures.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Katie Rydberg, Alexis Swendener, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Report explores healthcare affordability and Indian Health Services (IHS) utilization among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) in rural and urban communities. Highlights rates of patients receiving care at IHS, privately insured, and uninsured in rural and urban communities, among other measures.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Katie Rydberg, Alexis Swendener, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Access to Health Care by Rurality and Disability Status
Report explores barriers to access to care by rurality and disability status. Highlights the compounding barriers to access for rural people with disabilities. Discusses barriers due to financial reasons, lack of transportation, and workforce shortages, among other factors.
Author(s): Alexis Swendener, Ingrid Jacobson, Andrew Abram, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Report explores barriers to access to care by rurality and disability status. Highlights the compounding barriers to access for rural people with disabilities. Discusses barriers due to financial reasons, lack of transportation, and workforce shortages, among other factors.
Author(s): Alexis Swendener, Ingrid Jacobson, Andrew Abram, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Prevalence of Meeting Youth Physical Activity Guidelines Across Income, Sex, Urbanicity, and Sport Participation: 2022–2023 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH)
Examines the prevalence of youth meeting physical activity guidelines by income, sex, rurality, and sports participation. Draws data from the National Survey of Children's Health from 2022-2023.
Author(s): Ashleigh Johnson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70105
Date: 01/2026
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Examines the prevalence of youth meeting physical activity guidelines by income, sex, rurality, and sports participation. Draws data from the National Survey of Children's Health from 2022-2023.
Author(s): Ashleigh Johnson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70105
Date: 01/2026
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America's Health Rankings Annual Report 2025
Provides a national and state-by-state overview of population health by analyzing 99 measures drawn from 31 data sources to describe and rank health outcomes in the U.S. Analyzes and presents data on disparities by geography and demographic characteristics throughout. See the section titled, "Spotlight: Rural Communities," for information on trends in colorectal and breast cancer screening rates and physical inactivity of adults in rural areas between 2022 and 2024.
Additional links: Executive Brief
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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Provides a national and state-by-state overview of population health by analyzing 99 measures drawn from 31 data sources to describe and rank health outcomes in the U.S. Analyzes and presents data on disparities by geography and demographic characteristics throughout. See the section titled, "Spotlight: Rural Communities," for information on trends in colorectal and breast cancer screening rates and physical inactivity of adults in rural areas between 2022 and 2024.
Additional links: Executive Brief
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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