Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Medicare Advantage Enrollment 2025
Describes the percentage of rural and urban Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans between 2021-2025. Presents data on the changes in MA penetration rates in urban and rural counties during this time. Includes data on MA penetration rates in 2025 in urban and rural counties by state.
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
view details
Describes the percentage of rural and urban Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans between 2021-2025. Presents data on the changes in MA penetration rates in urban and rural counties during this time. Includes data on MA penetration rates in 2025 in urban and rural counties by state.
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
view details
Rural-Urban Trends in the Burden of Diabetes Among U.S. Adults
Describes the national incidence and prevalence of diabetes between 2021-2023 using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Presents data on diabetes-related mortality between 2018-2023 from the CDC WONDER platform. Compares the incidence, prevalence, and mortality data across large metro, small metro, and non-metro counties. Highlights areas of the country with significantly higher and lower diabetes-related mortality rates.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Michelle Asiedu-Danso, Cassie Odahowski, Peiyin Hung, Elizabeth Crouch
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
view details
Describes the national incidence and prevalence of diabetes between 2021-2023 using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Presents data on diabetes-related mortality between 2018-2023 from the CDC WONDER platform. Compares the incidence, prevalence, and mortality data across large metro, small metro, and non-metro counties. Highlights areas of the country with significantly higher and lower diabetes-related mortality rates.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Michelle Asiedu-Danso, Cassie Odahowski, Peiyin Hung, Elizabeth Crouch
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
view details
Geographic, Racial, and Sex Disparities in Time to Treatment for Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer
Research letter analyzes how timely treatment initiation differs among adults with early-onset colorectal cancer by four levels of rurality, sex, and race/ethnicity, using 2006-2020 SEER Program data.
Author(s): Meng-Han Tsai, Steven S. Coughlin, Jorge Cortes, Kenneth J. Vega
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(3), e261980
Date: 03/2026
view details
Research letter analyzes how timely treatment initiation differs among adults with early-onset colorectal cancer by four levels of rurality, sex, and race/ethnicity, using 2006-2020 SEER Program data.
Author(s): Meng-Han Tsai, Steven S. Coughlin, Jorge Cortes, Kenneth J. Vega
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(3), e261980
Date: 03/2026
view details
Impact of Age and Rurality on Colorectal Cancer Outcomes in the United States
Examines how colorectal cancer stage at diagnosis and mortality differ based on age and rurality, using 2006-2020 SEER Program data. Includes rural versus nonrural data comparisons by age bracket.
Author(s): Caitlyn Grunert, Meng-Han Tsai, Charles R. Rogers, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 61
Date: 03/2026
view details
Examines how colorectal cancer stage at diagnosis and mortality differ based on age and rurality, using 2006-2020 SEER Program data. Includes rural versus nonrural data comparisons by age bracket.
Author(s): Caitlyn Grunert, Meng-Han Tsai, Charles R. Rogers, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 61
Date: 03/2026
view details
Health Insurance Coverage and Rural–Urban Differences in Maternal Health Care Among Postpartum Women—National Health Interview Survey
Examines rural versus urban differences in health insurance coverage and postpartum healthcare. Utilizes 2013-2018 National Health Interview Survey data from 2,664 women and analyzes rural versus urban differences according to demographics, insurance type, sleep problems, acute care utilization, dissatisfaction with care, and delayed or forgone care.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Alyssa H. Fritz, Sara C. Handley, Clara E. Busse, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: Birth Issues in Perinatal Care
Date: 03/2026
view details
Examines rural versus urban differences in health insurance coverage and postpartum healthcare. Utilizes 2013-2018 National Health Interview Survey data from 2,664 women and analyzes rural versus urban differences according to demographics, insurance type, sleep problems, acute care utilization, dissatisfaction with care, and delayed or forgone care.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Alyssa H. Fritz, Sara C. Handley, Clara E. Busse, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: Birth Issues in Perinatal Care
Date: 03/2026
view details
Health Insurance Coverage in Rural and Urban Missouri: Update
Reports on 2024 health insurance coverage in Missouri, comparing both rural and urban residents within the state and against national averages. Includes analysis of health insurance type, by age groups, and changes since 2023.
Author(s): Sarah A. Eisenstein, Timothy D. McBride
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Washington University in St. Louis Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy & Economics Research
view details
Reports on 2024 health insurance coverage in Missouri, comparing both rural and urban residents within the state and against national averages. Includes analysis of health insurance type, by age groups, and changes since 2023.
Author(s): Sarah A. Eisenstein, Timothy D. McBride
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Washington University in St. Louis Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy & Economics Research
view details
Rural Specialty Care for Veterans with the Chronic Overlapping Pain Conditions: Fibromyalgia, Migraine, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Presents a study on rural veterans' access to specialty care for chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs), such as fibromyalgia, migraine, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Explores the role of rural residence and primary care site access plays in veterans' ability to receive specialty care for COPCs. Breaks down data by patient characteristics, chronic pain conditions, care site, and provider type, among other factors.
Author(s): Katherine Hadlandsmyth, Mary A. Driscoll, Jenna L. Adamowicz, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70132
Date: 03/2026
view details
Presents a study on rural veterans' access to specialty care for chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs), such as fibromyalgia, migraine, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Explores the role of rural residence and primary care site access plays in veterans' ability to receive specialty care for COPCs. Breaks down data by patient characteristics, chronic pain conditions, care site, and provider type, among other factors.
Author(s): Katherine Hadlandsmyth, Mary A. Driscoll, Jenna L. Adamowicz, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70132
Date: 03/2026
view details
Trends in Cancer-and Respiratory Failure-Related Mortality in the US Adult Population: An Analysis of the CDC WONDER Database from 1999 to 2023
Examines how trends in respiratory failure-associated mortality among adults with cancer differ by rurality, state, age, sex, and other demographics, using 1999-2023 CDC WONDER data.
Author(s): Chengchi Xia, Tianshu Rong, Baoqing Wang
Citation: Frontiers in Cancer Control and Society, 4
Date: 03/2026
view details
Examines how trends in respiratory failure-associated mortality among adults with cancer differ by rurality, state, age, sex, and other demographics, using 1999-2023 CDC WONDER data.
Author(s): Chengchi Xia, Tianshu Rong, Baoqing Wang
Citation: Frontiers in Cancer Control and Society, 4
Date: 03/2026
view details
The State of Rural Minnesota: 2026
Presents an overview of rural Minnesota. Includes interactive county-level data and statistics on population migration, economic vitality, employment, income, demographics, rural versus urban comparisons, and more.
Additional links: Summary Presentation
Author(s): Kelly Asche, Marnie Werner
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
view details
Presents an overview of rural Minnesota. Includes interactive county-level data and statistics on population migration, economic vitality, employment, income, demographics, rural versus urban comparisons, and more.
Additional links: Summary Presentation
Author(s): Kelly Asche, Marnie Werner
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
view details
Rural America's Philanthropic Sector: Grantmaking and The Role of Philanthropy in Rural Communities
Discusses philanthropy in rural and urban communities including the geographic distribution of philanthropic organizations, types of organizations, and topic areas of giving. Includes maps and charts highlighting key study findings.
Additional links: The Geography of Rural America's Philanthropic Sector
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
view details
Discusses philanthropy in rural and urban communities including the geographic distribution of philanthropic organizations, types of organizations, and topic areas of giving. Includes maps and charts highlighting key study findings.
Additional links: The Geography of Rural America's Philanthropic Sector
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
view details