Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
Are HHC Scores a Reliable Health Status Indicator Across Rural and Urban Areas?
Examines differences in Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) risk scores between rural and urban Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) beneficiaries and analyzes which factors drive observed differences. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated rural areas for 4 chronic conditions in 2019-2020.
Author(s): Craig D. Holden, Alana Knudson, Marilyn Klug, Samantha Augenbraun, Shena Popat
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
view details
Examines differences in Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) risk scores between rural and urban Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) beneficiaries and analyzes which factors drive observed differences. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated rural areas for 4 chronic conditions in 2019-2020.
Author(s): Craig D. Holden, Alana Knudson, Marilyn Klug, Samantha Augenbraun, Shena Popat
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
view details
Notes from the Field: Suicidal Thoughts and Knowing Someone Who Died by Suicide Among Adults — United States, 2023
Estimates the number of U.S. adults who had suicidal thoughts during the past 12 months and the number who personally knew someone who died by suicide. Includes data by metropolitan and nonmetro areas.
Author(s): Bhavna Singichetti, Jing Wang, Robin Lee, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(12), 213-215
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details
Estimates the number of U.S. adults who had suicidal thoughts during the past 12 months and the number who personally knew someone who died by suicide. Includes data by metropolitan and nonmetro areas.
Author(s): Bhavna Singichetti, Jing Wang, Robin Lee, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(12), 213-215
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details
Controlled Substance Prescribing Patterns Among Fatal Overdose Decedents with an Opioid, Stimulant, or Both Contributing to Death — Pennsylvania, 2017–2022
Reports on deaths involving opioids without stimulants, deaths involving stimulants without opioids, and deaths involving both opioids and stimulants in Pennsylvania between 2017 and 2022. Includes data for rural and urban areas. Discusses the role of opioid prescribing on overdose deaths.
Author(s): Stephanie Hayden, Stanley M. Murzynski, Ashley Bolton, Carrie Thomas Goetz
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(12), 205-209
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details
Reports on deaths involving opioids without stimulants, deaths involving stimulants without opioids, and deaths involving both opioids and stimulants in Pennsylvania between 2017 and 2022. Includes data for rural and urban areas. Discusses the role of opioid prescribing on overdose deaths.
Author(s): Stephanie Hayden, Stanley M. Murzynski, Ashley Bolton, Carrie Thomas Goetz
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(12), 205-209
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details
County Characteristics Associated With Receipt of Food Boxes Through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program
Reports on county-level food box distribution through the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program between May 2020 and May 2021. Provides data on program funding and characteristics of food distributed by program round. Examines associations between likelihood of receiving food boxes and county-level rurality, access to food, and other demographic factors.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Keenan Marchesi, Saied Toossi, Katy Georg
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
view details
Reports on county-level food box distribution through the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program between May 2020 and May 2021. Provides data on program funding and characteristics of food distributed by program round. Examines associations between likelihood of receiving food boxes and county-level rurality, access to food, and other demographic factors.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Keenan Marchesi, Saied Toossi, Katy Georg
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
view details
The Rural and Urban Supply of Clinicians With a DEA Waiver to Prescribe Buprenorphine in 2022 Prior to the Elimination of the Waiver Requirement
Report explores the differences in rates of clinicians with DEA waivers to prescribe buprenorphine in 2022 in rural versus urban counties. Highlights the rural gaps in access to buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder prior to the elimination of the DEA waiver requirement in 2023. Provides rural, urban, and regional comparisons.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
view details
Report explores the differences in rates of clinicians with DEA waivers to prescribe buprenorphine in 2022 in rural versus urban counties. Highlights the rural gaps in access to buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder prior to the elimination of the DEA waiver requirement in 2023. Provides rural, urban, and regional comparisons.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
view details
Evaluation of FMVSS No. 226: Curtain Air Bags and Ejection Mitigation in Rollover Events
Results of a study evaluating the likelihood of occupant ejection in the presence of curtain air bags deployable during a rollover, and how other factors can affect this outcome. Uses data from the Crash Report Sampling System for 2016-2021. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and mentions rural throughout.
Author(s): Eliseo Acevedo Díaz
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
view details
Results of a study evaluating the likelihood of occupant ejection in the presence of curtain air bags deployable during a rollover, and how other factors can affect this outcome. Uses data from the Crash Report Sampling System for 2016-2021. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and mentions rural throughout.
Author(s): Eliseo Acevedo Díaz
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
view details
The Relationship Between Food and Housing Insecurity and Healthcare Use among Virginia Medicaid Expansion Members: Considering the Neighborhood Context
Examines how rurality and residential segregation impact food and housing insecurity in Medicaid expansion members in Virginia. Analyzes 14,735 individuals in 2019 for food and housing security, with demographic breakdowns by sex, race/ethnicity, age, health status, healthcare usage, income, and urban, suburban, or rural location.
Author(s): Hannah Shadowen, Sarah J. Marks, Olufemi Obembe, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 60(S2)
Date: 04/2025
view details
Examines how rurality and residential segregation impact food and housing insecurity in Medicaid expansion members in Virginia. Analyzes 14,735 individuals in 2019 for food and housing security, with demographic breakdowns by sex, race/ethnicity, age, health status, healthcare usage, income, and urban, suburban, or rural location.
Author(s): Hannah Shadowen, Sarah J. Marks, Olufemi Obembe, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 60(S2)
Date: 04/2025
view details
The Oral Health of Montana's Kindergarten Children, 2021-2023
Describes the prevalence of tooth decay among Montana's kindergarten children, including those living in rural areas, compared to kindergarten children in the U.S. between 2011 to 2016. Includes data on the decay experience and untreated decay in Montana kindergarten children in 2021 to 2023 by sex and rurality.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
view details
Describes the prevalence of tooth decay among Montana's kindergarten children, including those living in rural areas, compared to kindergarten children in the U.S. between 2011 to 2016. Includes data on the decay experience and untreated decay in Montana kindergarten children in 2021 to 2023 by sex and rurality.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
view details
The Rural/Urban Balance in Wisconsin
Provides comparisons of rural, urban, and suburban areas in Wisconsin. Includes state and regional maps breaking down population density as well as definitions and explanations of geographic and legislative units in Wisconsin.
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Rural Policy Institute
view details
Provides comparisons of rural, urban, and suburban areas in Wisconsin. Includes state and regional maps breaking down population density as well as definitions and explanations of geographic and legislative units in Wisconsin.
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Rural Policy Institute
view details
The Effect of Rurality on Time to Surgery and Overall Survival among Women with Breast Cancer
Explores interactions between rurality, geographic proximity to care, time to surgery, and overall survival among women with Stage 0-III breast cancer, using 2004-2019 National Cancer Database data.
Author(s): Kriyana P. Reddy, Cara L. Berkowitz, Kathleen Jarrell, et al.
Citation: Annals of Surgery, 284(2), 288-295
Date: 03/2025
view details
Explores interactions between rurality, geographic proximity to care, time to surgery, and overall survival among women with Stage 0-III breast cancer, using 2004-2019 National Cancer Database data.
Author(s): Kriyana P. Reddy, Cara L. Berkowitz, Kathleen Jarrell, et al.
Citation: Annals of Surgery, 284(2), 288-295
Date: 03/2025
view details