Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Access to Acute Stroke Capabilities in California: Association with Rurality and Telestroke Access
Examines disparities in presentation to emergency departments (EDs) with or without acute stroke capability among patients with acute stroke by race and ethnicity, and variations in these associations by patient rurality and ED telestroke status, using 2021 NEDI-California and NEDI-USA survey data.
Author(s): Kori S. Zachrison, Renee Y. Hsia, Krislyn M. Boggs, et al.
Citation: Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases, 35(4), 108607
Date: 04/2026
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Examines disparities in presentation to emergency departments (EDs) with or without acute stroke capability among patients with acute stroke by race and ethnicity, and variations in these associations by patient rurality and ED telestroke status, using 2021 NEDI-California and NEDI-USA survey data.
Author(s): Kori S. Zachrison, Renee Y. Hsia, Krislyn M. Boggs, et al.
Citation: Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases, 35(4), 108607
Date: 04/2026
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Mapping Spatial and Social Inequities of Long COVID Across the United States: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Examines spatiotemporal variables and social determinants as correlated with the Omicron variant and long COVID health risk. Analyzes 5,652,474 COVID-19 cases and 41,694 long COVID cases according to year, location, U.S. region, risk level of county, and social determinants, including rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Zhetao Chen, Bingnan Lib, Yewen Chen, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 56, 101401
Date: 04/2026
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Examines spatiotemporal variables and social determinants as correlated with the Omicron variant and long COVID health risk. Analyzes 5,652,474 COVID-19 cases and 41,694 long COVID cases according to year, location, U.S. region, risk level of county, and social determinants, including rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Zhetao Chen, Bingnan Lib, Yewen Chen, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 56, 101401
Date: 04/2026
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Rural/Urban Differences among American Indian/Alaska Native Peoples in Health Care Access and Outcomes, 2019–2023
Compares health outcomes and healthcare utilization metrics for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) rural and urban residents using 2019-2023 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data. Discusses the impact of various sociodemographic factors and the Indian Health Service (IHS) on study findings.
Author(s): Katy Backes Kozhimannil, Hailey A. Baker, Julia D. Interrante, Kyle X. Hill, Melissa L. Walls
Citation: Journal of Community Health, 51, 232-239
Date: 04/2026
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Compares health outcomes and healthcare utilization metrics for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) rural and urban residents using 2019-2023 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data. Discusses the impact of various sociodemographic factors and the Indian Health Service (IHS) on study findings.
Author(s): Katy Backes Kozhimannil, Hailey A. Baker, Julia D. Interrante, Kyle X. Hill, Melissa L. Walls
Citation: Journal of Community Health, 51, 232-239
Date: 04/2026
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Selecting Rural Data in data.census.gov
Step-by-step guide showing two methods for selecting rural data from the U.S. Census Bureau's data.census.gov tool, which provides access to a wide range of statistics describing the U.S. population. Shows how to easily identify data for use in rural health grant applications, community health needs assessments, and more.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Step-by-step guide showing two methods for selecting rural data from the U.S. Census Bureau's data.census.gov tool, which provides access to a wide range of statistics describing the U.S. population. Shows how to easily identify data for use in rural health grant applications, community health needs assessments, and more.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Disparities in Lung Cancer Health Outcomes and Access to Lung Cancer Screening Between Rural and Urban Areas in the U.S
Narrative review examining rural and urban differences in lung cancer health outcomes, screening access, and other contextual factors influencing lung cancer disparities. Provides recommendations for effective lung cancer treatment and policy development supporting rural health.
Author(s): Aishani Gargapati, James Fox, Erminia Massarelli
Citation: Cancers, 18(5), 864
Date: 03/2026
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Narrative review examining rural and urban differences in lung cancer health outcomes, screening access, and other contextual factors influencing lung cancer disparities. Provides recommendations for effective lung cancer treatment and policy development supporting rural health.
Author(s): Aishani Gargapati, James Fox, Erminia Massarelli
Citation: Cancers, 18(5), 864
Date: 03/2026
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Mortality Trends and Disparities Associated with Aortic Aneurysm and Aortic Dissection in the United States from 1999 to 2023: A CDC Wonder Database Analysis
Examines aortic aneurysm (AA) and aortic dissection (AD) mortality trends in the United States. Utilizes 1999-2023 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) data to analyze mortality according to demographics, census region, and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Lin Lv, Xuedi Gao, Jia Li, et al.
Citation: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 26, 292
Date: 03/2026
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Examines aortic aneurysm (AA) and aortic dissection (AD) mortality trends in the United States. Utilizes 1999-2023 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) data to analyze mortality according to demographics, census region, and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Lin Lv, Xuedi Gao, Jia Li, et al.
Citation: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 26, 292
Date: 03/2026
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Heart Failure Readmissions in Urban and Rural Hospital Settings: An Analysis of 30-Day Readmissions Using the 2021 Nationwide Readmissions Database
Analyzes how 30-day hospital readmission for heart failure varies by rural or urban dwelling using 2021 National Readmissions Database data. Includes data breakdowns by payment type, patient demographics, related health conditions, and other clinical factors.
Author(s): Kendra J. Duran, Janice L. Hinkle, Linda C. Copel
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70138
Date: 03/2026
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Analyzes how 30-day hospital readmission for heart failure varies by rural or urban dwelling using 2021 National Readmissions Database data. Includes data breakdowns by payment type, patient demographics, related health conditions, and other clinical factors.
Author(s): Kendra J. Duran, Janice L. Hinkle, Linda C. Copel
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70138
Date: 03/2026
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Massachusetts 2024 Opioid-Involved Overdose Report: Data, Trends, and Action
Reviews trends in fatal and nonfatal opioid overdoses in Massachusetts, overdose risk factors and the drug supply, and opioid overdose-related service utilization. Features statistics including rates of fatal overdoses from 2016-2024 with breakdowns by rural, most rural, and urban areas, and county-level maps showing age-adjusted death rates in 2023 and 2024.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Massachusetts Department of Public Health
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Reviews trends in fatal and nonfatal opioid overdoses in Massachusetts, overdose risk factors and the drug supply, and opioid overdose-related service utilization. Features statistics including rates of fatal overdoses from 2016-2024 with breakdowns by rural, most rural, and urban areas, and county-level maps showing age-adjusted death rates in 2023 and 2024.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Massachusetts Department of Public Health
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What to Know About Medicare Coverage of Telehealth
Discusses telehealth use by Medicare patients before, during, and after declaration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Notes temporary telehealth provisions set to expire December 31, 2027, telehealth provisions made permanent, and trends in use since 2020. Includes rural and urban comparisons of telehealth use since 2020. Discusses payment models for Medicare and Medicare Advantage, current policies related to telehealth, program integrity, and the cost of coverage through Medicare.
Author(s): Alex Cottrill, Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Discusses telehealth use by Medicare patients before, during, and after declaration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Notes temporary telehealth provisions set to expire December 31, 2027, telehealth provisions made permanent, and trends in use since 2020. Includes rural and urban comparisons of telehealth use since 2020. Discusses payment models for Medicare and Medicare Advantage, current policies related to telehealth, program integrity, and the cost of coverage through Medicare.
Author(s): Alex Cottrill, Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Telehealth Uptake and Rural-Urban and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Postpartum Care Access Among Medicaid Beneficiaries in South Carolina, 2018–2022
Compares how postpartum care attendance and timeliness varied by race and ethnicity, rural or urban dwelling, and exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how these associations varied by level of telehealth uptake, using 2019-2022 South Carolina Medicaid claims and enrollment data.
Author(s): Anirban Chatterjee, Xuzhuo Zhao, Jihong Liu, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(5), 298-309
Date: 03/2026
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Compares how postpartum care attendance and timeliness varied by race and ethnicity, rural or urban dwelling, and exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how these associations varied by level of telehealth uptake, using 2019-2022 South Carolina Medicaid claims and enrollment data.
Author(s): Anirban Chatterjee, Xuzhuo Zhao, Jihong Liu, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(5), 298-309
Date: 03/2026
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