Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
Medicare Advantage Enrollees Have Access to About Half of the Physicians Available to Traditional Medicare Beneficiaries
Explores how provider networks vary across Medicare Advantage plans and when compared to traditional Medicare. Examines the share of physicians available to Medicare Advantage enrollees as a share of physicians available to traditional Medicare beneficiaries by analyzing Medicare Advantage provider directories for 2022. Includes information on the availability of physicians to Medicare Advantage enrollees and traditional Medicare beneficiaries in rural counties.
Author(s): Matthew Rae, Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Tricia Neuman, Karen Pollitz
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Explores how provider networks vary across Medicare Advantage plans and when compared to traditional Medicare. Examines the share of physicians available to Medicare Advantage enrollees as a share of physicians available to traditional Medicare beneficiaries by analyzing Medicare Advantage provider directories for 2022. Includes information on the availability of physicians to Medicare Advantage enrollees and traditional Medicare beneficiaries in rural counties.
Author(s): Matthew Rae, Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Tricia Neuman, Karen Pollitz
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Greater Physician Supply Associated with Lower Mortality in Rural Counties: A 23-Year County-Level Longitudinal Observational Study
Examines the relationship between increasing the primary care physician supply in rural areas and corresponding mortality rates. Provides data from a study conducted between 1992-2014 and analyzes rural versus urban trends in mortality rates and physician supply. Discusses rural healthcare practitioner workforce needs, rural versus urban healthcare disparities, and access to care.
Author(s): Nasim B. Ferdows, Cyrus Kosar, Orestis Panagiotou, Momotazur Rahman
Citation: INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 62
Date: 10/2025
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Examines the relationship between increasing the primary care physician supply in rural areas and corresponding mortality rates. Provides data from a study conducted between 1992-2014 and analyzes rural versus urban trends in mortality rates and physician supply. Discusses rural healthcare practitioner workforce needs, rural versus urban healthcare disparities, and access to care.
Author(s): Nasim B. Ferdows, Cyrus Kosar, Orestis Panagiotou, Momotazur Rahman
Citation: INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 62
Date: 10/2025
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Lost Opportunity: Afterschool in Demand, But Out of Reach for Many
Provides information about afterschool programs and their demand, affordability, accessibility, and availability. Discusses benefits of afterschool programs and policy to support them. Includes rural, suburban, and urban comparisons related to program enrollment and perceived benefits.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Afterschool Alliance
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Provides information about afterschool programs and their demand, affordability, accessibility, and availability. Discusses benefits of afterschool programs and policy to support them. Includes rural, suburban, and urban comparisons related to program enrollment and perceived benefits.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Afterschool Alliance
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Caregiving in the US 2025: Caring Across States
Offers data on caregivers including demographics, tasks performed, finances and employment, and wellness. Includes rural, suburban, and urban breakdown for caregivers in 32 states.
Additional links: State-Specific Findings
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organizations: AARP, National Alliance for Caregiving
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Offers data on caregivers including demographics, tasks performed, finances and employment, and wellness. Includes rural, suburban, and urban breakdown for caregivers in 32 states.
Additional links: State-Specific Findings
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organizations: AARP, National Alliance for Caregiving
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What Drives Advanced Practice Nurses to Stay in Rural America? Insights From the 2022 National Survey of Registered Nurses
Presents a study on the factors influencing rural advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to leave their jobs or stay working in rural communities. Draws data from the 2022 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses. Explores factors such as burnout, proximity to family, and cost of living, among others, that can contribute to whether or not APRNs stay in rural communities.
Author(s): Esita Patel, Chris Gillette, Jan Ostermann, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70088
Date: 10/2025
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Presents a study on the factors influencing rural advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to leave their jobs or stay working in rural communities. Draws data from the 2022 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses. Explores factors such as burnout, proximity to family, and cost of living, among others, that can contribute to whether or not APRNs stay in rural communities.
Author(s): Esita Patel, Chris Gillette, Jan Ostermann, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70088
Date: 10/2025
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South Carolina Rural Primary Care Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the primary care workforce distribution in South Carolina in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the primary care workforce distribution in South Carolina in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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South Carolina Rural Behavioral Health Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in South Carolina in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in South Carolina in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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South Carolina Rural Obstetrical Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the obstetricians and advanced practice midwives workforce distribution in South Carolina in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the obstetricians and advanced practice midwives workforce distribution in South Carolina in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Minnesota Rural Obstetrical Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the obstetricians and advanced practice midwives workforce distribution in Minnesota in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the obstetricians and advanced practice midwives workforce distribution in Minnesota in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Minnesota Rural Behavioral Health Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in Minnesota in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in Minnesota in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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