Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
Mental and Physical Health of US Rural/Urban Caregivers of Persons With Dementia
Presents a study on the physical and mental health of caregivers of people with dementia in rural and urban areas. Highlights access challenges for both physical and mental health in rural areas and compares rates of mental and physical issues among rural and urban caregivers.
Author(s): Phoebe Tran, Fei Wang, E-Shien Chang
Citation: PLOS ONE, 20(8), e0329260
Date: 08/2025
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Presents a study on the physical and mental health of caregivers of people with dementia in rural and urban areas. Highlights access challenges for both physical and mental health in rural areas and compares rates of mental and physical issues among rural and urban caregivers.
Author(s): Phoebe Tran, Fei Wang, E-Shien Chang
Citation: PLOS ONE, 20(8), e0329260
Date: 08/2025
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Medicare Telehealth Trends Report
Describes the trends of telehealth utilization among Medicare beneficiaries between January 1, 2020, and March 31, 2025. Presents data on the percentage of Medicare beneficiaries that used a telehealth service by calendar quarter and by Medicaid eligibility, type of Medicare eligibility, demographic characteristics, and rural/urban residence.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Describes the trends of telehealth utilization among Medicare beneficiaries between January 1, 2020, and March 31, 2025. Presents data on the percentage of Medicare beneficiaries that used a telehealth service by calendar quarter and by Medicaid eligibility, type of Medicare eligibility, demographic characteristics, and rural/urban residence.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Wisconsin 2024 RN Survey Report
An overview of the registered nurse (RN) and advanced practice nurse (APN) workforce in Wisconsin, based on data from the February 2024 Wisconsin RN Workforce Survey. Features statistics including demographics, geographic distribution, educational preparation, and median income, with breakdowns by rural or urban location.
Author(s): Roberta Pawlak, Katie Gillespie, Jessica Leiberg, et al.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organizations: School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin Center for Nursing
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An overview of the registered nurse (RN) and advanced practice nurse (APN) workforce in Wisconsin, based on data from the February 2024 Wisconsin RN Workforce Survey. Features statistics including demographics, geographic distribution, educational preparation, and median income, with breakdowns by rural or urban location.
Author(s): Roberta Pawlak, Katie Gillespie, Jessica Leiberg, et al.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organizations: School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin Center for Nursing
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Appalachian Diseases of Despair: Final Report
Analyzes the impact of diseases of despair on mortality within Appalachia, focusing on mortality from alcohol, prescription drug, and illegal drug overdose; suicide; and alcoholic liver disease/cirrhosis of the liver. Includes data through 2023, with demographics and breakdowns by subregion, county economic status, and levels of rurality.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, East Tennessee State University Center for Rural Health Research, NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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Analyzes the impact of diseases of despair on mortality within Appalachia, focusing on mortality from alcohol, prescription drug, and illegal drug overdose; suicide; and alcoholic liver disease/cirrhosis of the liver. Includes data through 2023, with demographics and breakdowns by subregion, county economic status, and levels of rurality.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, East Tennessee State University Center for Rural Health Research, NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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Palliative Care Specialist Use Among Medicare Decedents Who Had Poor-Prognosis Cancers
Examines demographic variation in specialty palliative care (PC) use, utilizing data of all Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries who died from poor-prognosis cancers between 2018 and 2023. See Figure 3 for data on associations between rural or urban populations, among other factors, and PC use.
Author(s): Isaac S. Chua, Haiden A. Huskamp, Ateev Mehrotra, Andrew D. Wilcock
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(7), e2522886
Date: 07/2025
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Examines demographic variation in specialty palliative care (PC) use, utilizing data of all Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries who died from poor-prognosis cancers between 2018 and 2023. See Figure 3 for data on associations between rural or urban populations, among other factors, and PC use.
Author(s): Isaac S. Chua, Haiden A. Huskamp, Ateev Mehrotra, Andrew D. Wilcock
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(7), e2522886
Date: 07/2025
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Adult Tobacco Use in Vermont
Data brief summarizing tobacco measures from the 2023 Vermont Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a phone survey of adult Vermonters. Features a county-level map showing smoking rates, and statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Vermont Department of Health
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Data brief summarizing tobacco measures from the 2023 Vermont Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a phone survey of adult Vermonters. Features a county-level map showing smoking rates, and statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Vermont Department of Health
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Illinois Rural Behavioral Health Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in Illinois 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: 07/2025
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 Illinois 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: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Illinois Rural Primary Care Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the primary care workforce distribution in Georgia 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: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the primary care workforce distribution in Georgia 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: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Illinois Rural Obstetrical Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the obstetricians and advanced practice midwives workforce distribution in Illinois 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: 07/2025
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 Illinois 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: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Adult Ratings of Neighborhood Medical Care Availability in Nonmetropolitan and Metropolitan Areas, United States 2021
Statistical brief examining perceptions of medical care availability and quality in nonmetropolitan and metropolitan areas, utilizing 2021 AHRQ Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPS-HC) data. Includes data breakdowns by level of rurality and age group, insurance status, physical health status, and more.
Author(s): Sandra L. Decker, Xue Wu
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Statistical brief examining perceptions of medical care availability and quality in nonmetropolitan and metropolitan areas, utilizing 2021 AHRQ Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPS-HC) data. Includes data breakdowns by level of rurality and age group, insurance status, physical health status, and more.
Author(s): Sandra L. Decker, Xue Wu
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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