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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

Early Adoption of Telehealth/Remote Patient Monitoring and Hospital Revenue Changes During COVID-19
Evaluates telehealth and remote patient monitoring use between 2019 and 2020 among 1,742 rural and urban hospitals to determine the impact of COVID-19 on utilization and revenue. Discusses potential policy measures given study findings.
Author(s): Claudia A. Rhoades, Brian E. Whitacre, Alison F. Davis
Citation: Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 31(10)
Date: 12/2025
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Medicare Telehealth Trends Report
Describes the trends of telehealth utilization among Medicare beneficiaries between January 1, 2020, and June 30, 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: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Arizona Child Fatality Review Program: Thirty-Second Annual Report
Reports on child mortality in Arizona in 2024. Discusses demographics, causes of death, and recommendations for prevention. Includes rural and urban comparisons of mortality rates and risk factors.
Author(s): Kiran Lalani, Morgan Anderson, Susan Newberry, et al.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Department of Health Services
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What to Ask (About) a Hospital
Describes payment and financial considerations for hospitals as it relates to the hospital's organizational structure, type of care provided, location, patient population, training programs, and alternative payment models. Discusses rural considerations throughout with a close analysis in Section 6: How a Hospital's Location Matters.
Author(s): Christine H. Monahan, Kennah Watts, Julia Burleson, Rachel Swindle, Ariel Winter
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Blood Cancer United, Georgetown University's Center on Health Insurance Reforms (CHIR)
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Obstetric Emergency Preparedness in Arkansas Emergency Departments: Results From a Cross-Sectional Survey
Presents results of a survey of obstetric emergency preparedness and previous-year obstetric emergency response among hospital emergency departments in Arkansas. Discusses rural service availability, including rural-urban data comparisons.
Author(s): Jennifer A Callaghan-Koru, Tanvangi Tiwari, Lauren Peña, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open, 7(1), 100274
Date: 11/2025
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Differences in GLP-1 RA Medication Adherence Across Place-Based Variables in Patients with Diabetes Living in Wisconsin
Analyzes adherence to GLP-1 RA medications for diabetes treatment among Wisconsin adults by geographic and demographic group, utilizing 2020-2022 Wisconsin Health Information Organization data. Compares adherence by rural or urban status, among other factors.
Author(s): Kara L. Gavin, Rabia Amjad, Vaia Makris, Joan M. Neuner
Citation: Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, 31(12), 1311-1319
Date: 11/2025
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Tennessee Birth Defects Data Report 2018-2022
Provides information on the prevalence of 47 major birth defects for children born in Tennessee in the years 2018-2022. Features a state map showing rates of birth defects in 7 rural regions.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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A Novel Approach to Incorporate Frontier Areas Into Urban–Rural Geographic Classifications: Integrated Metropolitan-to-Frontier Area Codes
Explores an effort to develop a rural-urban classification that captures the remoteness of frontier areas. Details the tract-level Integrated Metropolitan-to-Frontier Area Codes (tlMFAC), a combination of the USDA's Frontier and Remote Area (FAR) definition and the Rural-Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) Codes. Discusses the conceptual framework for tlMFAC and the census tract-level results of applying the definition nationally.
Author(s): Brody J. Gibson, Elizabeth Dobis, John Cromartie, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70102
Date: 11/2025
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Current and Maximum Acceptable Travel Times to Primary Care Among US Older Adults
Explores the threshold of travel time at which it becomes a barrier to primary care access and for which groups. Uses data from a study conducted in February 2025 of adults age 50 and older. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by urban, suburban, and rural or other areas.
Author(s): Tabasa Ozawa, Ying Liu, Soeren Mattke
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(11), e2545280
Date: 11/2025
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Family Physician Workforce Trends: The Toll on Rural Communities
Analyzes distribution of family physicians between 2017 and 2023 to identify trends in practice location. Includes analysis of physician demographic characteristics, rurality, and region. Discusses the impact of a reduction in the family physician workforce on rural communities.
Author(s): Colleen T. Fogarty, Hoon Byun, Alison N. Huffstetler
Citation: The Annals of Family Medicine, 26(6), 535-538
Date: 11/2025
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