Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
Rural Health Disadvantages in the United States: Evidence from Nationally Representative Data
Describes rural and urban mortality rate disparities since the 1990s and then examines National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999, 2000, 2017, and 2020 to identify both individual and place-based factors associated with health outcomes within large metropolitan, small/medium metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas. Discusses disparities in the working adult population and how county characteristics contribute to rural and urban gaps.
Author(s): Brandon Restrepo, Elizabeth A. Dobis, Sarah A. Low, Kelsey L. Thomas
Citation: Economics & Human Biology, 62
Date: 09/2026
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Describes rural and urban mortality rate disparities since the 1990s and then examines National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999, 2000, 2017, and 2020 to identify both individual and place-based factors associated with health outcomes within large metropolitan, small/medium metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas. Discusses disparities in the working adult population and how county characteristics contribute to rural and urban gaps.
Author(s): Brandon Restrepo, Elizabeth A. Dobis, Sarah A. Low, Kelsey L. Thomas
Citation: Economics & Human Biology, 62
Date: 09/2026
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The Obesity-Related Chronic Disease Index (ORCDi), a Novel Composite Metric to Quantify ORCD Burden: An Ecological Study Across U.S. Census Tracts
Analyzes obesity-related conditions across U.S. census-tracts to develop and validate the obesity-related chronic disease index (ORCDi), a metric used to quantify obesity burden at the community level. Utilizes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES 2024 data to analyze health conditions across social vulnerability indices (SVIs) and rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes. Discusses the utility of ORCDi as a measure in health research to analyze ORCD burden in various communities.
Author(s): Md Roungu Ahmmad, Fazlay Faruque, Xiaoli Zhang
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 61, 101547
Date: 09/2026
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Analyzes obesity-related conditions across U.S. census-tracts to develop and validate the obesity-related chronic disease index (ORCDi), a metric used to quantify obesity burden at the community level. Utilizes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES 2024 data to analyze health conditions across social vulnerability indices (SVIs) and rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes. Discusses the utility of ORCDi as a measure in health research to analyze ORCD burden in various communities.
Author(s): Md Roungu Ahmmad, Fazlay Faruque, Xiaoli Zhang
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 61, 101547
Date: 09/2026
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Medicare Telehealth Trends Report
Describes the trends of telehealth utilization among Medicare beneficiaries between January 1, 2020, and March 31, 2026. 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: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Describes the trends of telehealth utilization among Medicare beneficiaries between January 1, 2020, and March 31, 2026. 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: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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2025 Pennsylvania Dentist and Dental Hygienist Workforce Survey Report
Presents findings from the 2025 Dentist Survey and 2025 Dental Hygienist Survey, designed to collect information on the characteristics and distribution of the dentist and dental hygienist workforces in Pennsylvania. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural location.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Department of Health
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Presents findings from the 2025 Dentist Survey and 2025 Dental Hygienist Survey, designed to collect information on the characteristics and distribution of the dentist and dental hygienist workforces in Pennsylvania. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural location.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Department of Health
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Oregon by the Numbers - Key Measures for Oregon and Its Counties
Breaks down demographic and socioeconomic data in Oregon by county. Highlights data on various measures for each county such as food insecurity, unemployment rate, adult smoking, broadband access, and percent rural versus urban, among others.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Oregon State University Rural Studies Program, The Ford Family Foundation
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Breaks down demographic and socioeconomic data in Oregon by county. Highlights data on various measures for each county such as food insecurity, unemployment rate, adult smoking, broadband access, and percent rural versus urban, among others.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Oregon State University Rural Studies Program, The Ford Family Foundation
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Financial Analysis 2025, Rural Hospitals: An Annual Report on the Financial Health of Pennsylvania Rural Hospitals
Provides data on general acute care (GAC) hospitals located in rural counties, as defined by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. Features financial statistics for GAC hospitals from 2022-2025, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council
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Provides data on general acute care (GAC) hospitals located in rural counties, as defined by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. Features financial statistics for GAC hospitals from 2022-2025, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council
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Community-Based Training and Impact on Care of Socially Disadvantaged Populations
Results of a study examining the association between community-based training of primary care physicians and subsequent practice in rural and underserved areas. Features demographics and and a state-level map showing distribution of family physicians who trained in Teaching Health Centers or Rural Training Tracks and graduated between 2017-2022.
Author(s): Freesia Quezada, Peter Manfredonia, Trenten L. Fenster, et al.
Citation: Journal of Graduate Medical Education, 18(4), 424-431
Date: 08/2026
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Results of a study examining the association between community-based training of primary care physicians and subsequent practice in rural and underserved areas. Features demographics and and a state-level map showing distribution of family physicians who trained in Teaching Health Centers or Rural Training Tracks and graduated between 2017-2022.
Author(s): Freesia Quezada, Peter Manfredonia, Trenten L. Fenster, et al.
Citation: Journal of Graduate Medical Education, 18(4), 424-431
Date: 08/2026
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Rural–Urban Differences in Cervical Cancer Screening Patterns: A Cross‐Sectional Analysis of the 2021 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
Compares cervical cancer screening rates and experiences among rural and urban women, using 2021 National Health Interview Survey data. Provides data on likelihood of ever receiving cervical cancer screening, time since most recent screening, screening type, abnormal test results, and more.
Author(s): Anika Eldien, Laura Hankins, Taylor Neilson, Ingrid Jacobson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70210
Date: 08/2026
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Compares cervical cancer screening rates and experiences among rural and urban women, using 2021 National Health Interview Survey data. Provides data on likelihood of ever receiving cervical cancer screening, time since most recent screening, screening type, abnormal test results, and more.
Author(s): Anika Eldien, Laura Hankins, Taylor Neilson, Ingrid Jacobson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70210
Date: 08/2026
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High-Deductible Health Plans in Rural and Urban Populations: Outpatient Utilization and Out-of-Pocket Costs
Policy brief exploring rural-urban differences in High-Deductible Health Plan enrollment, subsequent healthcare use, and out-of-pocket costs. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Aaron P. Smith, Jeffery Talbert
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Policy brief exploring rural-urban differences in High-Deductible Health Plan enrollment, subsequent healthcare use, and out-of-pocket costs. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Aaron P. Smith, Jeffery Talbert
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Rural/Urban Disparities in Utilization of Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT) to the Fee-for-Service Medicare Population, 2017-2024
Analyzes disparities in Diabetes Self-Management Training use among Medicare beneficiaries, using data from 2017-2024. Expands on a 2020 study to assess whether disparities have persisted, widened, or narrowed over time, and to examine broader trends in service availability, provider participation, and beneficiary use. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Wanying Zhu, Aleksandr Taraskin, Jeffery Talbert
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Analyzes disparities in Diabetes Self-Management Training use among Medicare beneficiaries, using data from 2017-2024. Expands on a 2020 study to assess whether disparities have persisted, widened, or narrowed over time, and to examine broader trends in service availability, provider participation, and beneficiary use. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Wanying Zhu, Aleksandr Taraskin, Jeffery Talbert
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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