Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
Many Medicare Advantage and Medicaid Managed Care Plans Have Limited Behavioral Health Provider Networks and Inactive Providers
Examines the availability of behavioral health providers in selected Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicaid managed care networks in 2023. Analyzes provider network lists and MA and Medicaid encounter data for four MA and two Medicaid managed care plans from 10 selected urban and rural counties across five states. Describes the proportion of the behavioral health workforce in each county included in the plans' networks. Discusses the extent to which managed care plans had inactive providers in their network and why these providers did not deliver services to enrollees. Includes data on the percentage of inactive providers in rural and urban counties. Offers recommendations to monitor and improve the accuracy of provider networks.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Examines the availability of behavioral health providers in selected Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicaid managed care networks in 2023. Analyzes provider network lists and MA and Medicaid encounter data for four MA and two Medicaid managed care plans from 10 selected urban and rural counties across five states. Describes the proportion of the behavioral health workforce in each county included in the plans' networks. Discusses the extent to which managed care plans had inactive providers in their network and why these providers did not deliver services to enrollees. Includes data on the percentage of inactive providers in rural and urban counties. Offers recommendations to monitor and improve the accuracy of provider networks.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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On the Road to Early Detection: Woman's Hospital's Mobile Mammography
A podcast episode discussing a mobile mammography unit in Louisiana. Discusses differences in rural and urban breast cancer incidence and how a mobile unit increases access to preventive care.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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A podcast episode discussing a mobile mammography unit in Louisiana. Discusses differences in rural and urban breast cancer incidence and how a mobile unit increases access to preventive care.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Inequity, Workload, and External Factors: A Descriptive Study on High-Intensity Statin Prescriptions for Patients with Clinical Cardiovascular Disease and at High Risk for Cardiovascular Disease
Examines adherence to guidelines related to statin prescriptions to treat atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Utilizes medical chart data from 20,923 ASCVD patients according to statin prescribing rates and patient demographics, including rural versus urban residence.
Author(s): Liberty Nguyen, Ethlyn Voorhies, Christy Jesme, et al.
Citation: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 25, 718
Date: 10/2025
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Examines adherence to guidelines related to statin prescriptions to treat atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Utilizes medical chart data from 20,923 ASCVD patients according to statin prescribing rates and patient demographics, including rural versus urban residence.
Author(s): Liberty Nguyen, Ethlyn Voorhies, Christy Jesme, et al.
Citation: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 25, 718
Date: 10/2025
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Pennsylvania Common Procedures Report 2024
Provides information about the performance and utilization of Pennsylvania hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers for spinal fusion, total hip replacement, and total knee replacement, using data from October 2023 through September 2024. Includes hospitalization rates for each procedure by urban and rural areas, among other breakdowns.
Additional links: Summary and Highlights
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council
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Provides information about the performance and utilization of Pennsylvania hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers for spinal fusion, total hip replacement, and total knee replacement, using data from October 2023 through September 2024. Includes hospitalization rates for each procedure by urban and rural areas, among other breakdowns.
Additional links: Summary and Highlights
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council
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2024 National Summer EBT Family Survey
Examines participation in and impact of Summer EBT (S-EBT), or SUNBucks, during the summer of 2024. Provides data on food insecurity, experiences using S-EBT, and S-EBT information and communications, with information specific to rural parents and families.
Author(s): David Metz, Lucia del Puppo, Denny Han
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Examines participation in and impact of Summer EBT (S-EBT), or SUNBucks, during the summer of 2024. Provides data on food insecurity, experiences using S-EBT, and S-EBT information and communications, with information specific to rural parents and families.
Author(s): David Metz, Lucia del Puppo, Denny Han
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Geographic and Socioeconomic Landscape of Veterans With Head and Neck Cancer
Explores the geographic and socioeconomic factors that correlate with the higher rates and worse outcomes for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas among veterans compared to civilians. Breaks down data by socioeconomic factors, such as marital status, unemployment, and service connection, among other factors, as well as rurality, travel distance, and drive time.
Author(s): Kristen L. Zayan, Jennifer L. McCoy, Monique Y. Boudreaux-Kelly, et al.
Citation: Head & Neck, 47(10), 2845-2855
Date: 10/2025
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Explores the geographic and socioeconomic factors that correlate with the higher rates and worse outcomes for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas among veterans compared to civilians. Breaks down data by socioeconomic factors, such as marital status, unemployment, and service connection, among other factors, as well as rurality, travel distance, and drive time.
Author(s): Kristen L. Zayan, Jennifer L. McCoy, Monique Y. Boudreaux-Kelly, et al.
Citation: Head & Neck, 47(10), 2845-2855
Date: 10/2025
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The Moderating Effects of Perceived Transportation Access on Health and Social Connectedness for People with Disabilities
Surveys working age adults with disabilities to identify the effect of transportation access on social activity, loneliness, and self-rated health variables. Includes a rural and urban breakdown for survey respondents.
Author(s): Aaron Beuoy, Jean P. Hall, Noelle K. Kurth, Kelsey S. Goddard
Citation: Journal of Transport & Health, 44
Date: 10/2025
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Surveys working age adults with disabilities to identify the effect of transportation access on social activity, loneliness, and self-rated health variables. Includes a rural and urban breakdown for survey respondents.
Author(s): Aaron Beuoy, Jean P. Hall, Noelle K. Kurth, Kelsey S. Goddard
Citation: Journal of Transport & Health, 44
Date: 10/2025
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Implementing a Mobile Clinic for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in an Urban and Rural Context
Highlights a study on the efficacy of the mobile clinic model at providing opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment in rural and urban areas. Compares and evaluates mobile OUD treatment programs in Pittsburgh, PA and rural Robeson County, NC. Evaluates programs on the basis of community engagement, cost, and partnerships with local pharmacies, among other measures.
Author(s): Orrin D. Ware, Divya Venkat, Robyn Jordan, et al.
Citation: Substance Use & Addiction Journal, 46(4), 799–805
Date: 10/2025
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Highlights a study on the efficacy of the mobile clinic model at providing opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment in rural and urban areas. Compares and evaluates mobile OUD treatment programs in Pittsburgh, PA and rural Robeson County, NC. Evaluates programs on the basis of community engagement, cost, and partnerships with local pharmacies, among other measures.
Author(s): Orrin D. Ware, Divya Venkat, Robyn Jordan, et al.
Citation: Substance Use & Addiction Journal, 46(4), 799–805
Date: 10/2025
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A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Tobacco 21 Policies and Youth Tobacco Use: Implications for Future Policy Research
Examines the impact of Tobacco 21 (T21) policies that raise the sales age of tobacco to 21 on youth smoking. Utilizes 24 completed studies to analyze T21 regulations on smoking behaviors of respondents aged 11 to 20. Discusses T21 impacts in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Danyi Li, Shiyou Wu, Steve Sussman, Mary Ann Pentz
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 50, 101208
Date: 10/2025
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Examines the impact of Tobacco 21 (T21) policies that raise the sales age of tobacco to 21 on youth smoking. Utilizes 24 completed studies to analyze T21 regulations on smoking behaviors of respondents aged 11 to 20. Discusses T21 impacts in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Danyi Li, Shiyou Wu, Steve Sussman, Mary Ann Pentz
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 50, 101208
Date: 10/2025
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Does Caregiver Well-Being Differ by Rurality and State Policy Environment? Identifying a Well-Being Typology for Rural, Suburban, and Urban Caregivers
Results of a study of informal caregiver well-being, exploring ways in which geographic location, individual circumstances, and state-level policies can impact a caregiver's health, comfort, and happiness. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by rural, suburban, and urban areas.
Author(s): Elena Maria Pojman, Florence Becot, Zuzana Bednarik, Carrie Henning-Smith
Citation: Rural Sociology, 90(3), e70015
Date: 09/2025
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Results of a study of informal caregiver well-being, exploring ways in which geographic location, individual circumstances, and state-level policies can impact a caregiver's health, comfort, and happiness. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by rural, suburban, and urban areas.
Author(s): Elena Maria Pojman, Florence Becot, Zuzana Bednarik, Carrie Henning-Smith
Citation: Rural Sociology, 90(3), e70015
Date: 09/2025
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