Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Social determinants of health
Disparities in Geographic Access to Cardiac Rehabilitation among Socially Vulnerable Communities
Examines geographic and social disparities regarding access to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) care. Analyzes the relationship between CR access and social vulnerability, focusing on county CR availability, population size, distance to CR services, percentage without health insurance, and more. Includes metro versus rural county comparisons and discusses the role of rurality in CR access.
Author(s): Edward W. Chen, Wen‐Chih Wu, Ling Han, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Heart Association,14, 20
Date: 10/2025
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Examines geographic and social disparities regarding access to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) care. Analyzes the relationship between CR access and social vulnerability, focusing on county CR availability, population size, distance to CR services, percentage without health insurance, and more. Includes metro versus rural county comparisons and discusses the role of rurality in CR access.
Author(s): Edward W. Chen, Wen‐Chih Wu, Ling Han, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Heart Association,14, 20
Date: 10/2025
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Utilization of Home- and Community-Based Services among Rural Family Caregivers of Persons with Dementia: The Role of the Area Deprivation Index
Examines the association between utilization of home- and community-based services and area-level factors as measured by the Area Deprivation Index, utilizing survey data of 361 rural family caregivers of people with dementia. Analyzes the relationship between home or community service use and level of area deprivation, U.S. region, and other individual factors.
Author(s): Jasmine Santoyo-Olsson, Kenneth E. Covinsky, Jing Cheng, Dolores Gallagher Thompson, Veronica Yank
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1688161
Date: 10/2025
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Examines the association between utilization of home- and community-based services and area-level factors as measured by the Area Deprivation Index, utilizing survey data of 361 rural family caregivers of people with dementia. Analyzes the relationship between home or community service use and level of area deprivation, U.S. region, and other individual factors.
Author(s): Jasmine Santoyo-Olsson, Kenneth E. Covinsky, Jing Cheng, Dolores Gallagher Thompson, Veronica Yank
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1688161
Date: 10/2025
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Unfairness Toward Rural Beneficiaries in Medicare's Hierarchical Conditions Categories Score
Evaluates the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) to determine its usefulness in accurately predicting risk for rural and urban patients. Assesses rural and urban risk by mortality rates and compares findings with HCC's measure of spending to identify risk. Discusses implications of findings related to reimbursement rates, healthcare access, social determinants of health, and Medicare Advantage enrollment. Offers potential solutions to address study findings.
Author(s): Ravi B. Parikh, Kristin A. Linn, Junning Liang, et al
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 3(9)
Date: 09/2025
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Evaluates the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) to determine its usefulness in accurately predicting risk for rural and urban patients. Assesses rural and urban risk by mortality rates and compares findings with HCC's measure of spending to identify risk. Discusses implications of findings related to reimbursement rates, healthcare access, social determinants of health, and Medicare Advantage enrollment. Offers potential solutions to address study findings.
Author(s): Ravi B. Parikh, Kristin A. Linn, Junning Liang, et al
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 3(9)
Date: 09/2025
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Examining the Burden of Chronic Disease and Low SES to Identify High-Need Rural Counties
Analyzes the geographic and sociodemographic profile of rural, high-need counties in the United States. Examines chronic disease prevalence, socioeconomic status, and access to healthcare facilities by county, with additional breakdowns by demographic characteristics of low-, moderate-, and high-need counties.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Emma Boswell, Peiyin Hung, Elizabeth Crouch
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management & Practice, 31(5), 691-699
Date: 09/2025
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Analyzes the geographic and sociodemographic profile of rural, high-need counties in the United States. Examines chronic disease prevalence, socioeconomic status, and access to healthcare facilities by county, with additional breakdowns by demographic characteristics of low-, moderate-, and high-need counties.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Emma Boswell, Peiyin Hung, Elizabeth Crouch
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management & Practice, 31(5), 691-699
Date: 09/2025
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Health Panel Comment Letter – Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems Proposed Rule
Comments offered in response to a July 17, 2025, proposed rule revising the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems for calendar year 2026. Discusses proposals for the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR), Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Program (REHQR), and Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR) Programs.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Comments offered in response to a July 17, 2025, proposed rule revising the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems for calendar year 2026. Discusses proposals for the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR), Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Program (REHQR), and Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR) Programs.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Diabetes in Pennsylvania: Prevention and Maintenance Programs
Present data and describes government and non-government programs working to help people prevent and manage diabetes in Pennsylvania. Includes information about possible new treatments and summaries of other new research on diabetes including the effects of social determinants of health. Mentions special needs of rural and underserved populations.
Author(s): Allison Kobzowicz, Lydia K. Ring, Wendy L. Baker
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Joint State Government Commission, General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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Present data and describes government and non-government programs working to help people prevent and manage diabetes in Pennsylvania. Includes information about possible new treatments and summaries of other new research on diabetes including the effects of social determinants of health. Mentions special needs of rural and underserved populations.
Author(s): Allison Kobzowicz, Lydia K. Ring, Wendy L. Baker
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Joint State Government Commission, General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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Forces Driving Change in Rural North Carolina
Examines major forces driving change in rural North Carolina communities, which influence people, communities, and businesses. Includes sections on rural healthcare inequities, social determinants of health, and the long-term impact of COVID-19 on rural people. Features a county-level map showing health outcome rankings as of 2022, and statistics on the number of healthcare professionals per 10,000 people, with breakdowns by urban, suburban, and rural areas.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: NC Rural Center
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Examines major forces driving change in rural North Carolina communities, which influence people, communities, and businesses. Includes sections on rural healthcare inequities, social determinants of health, and the long-term impact of COVID-19 on rural people. Features a county-level map showing health outcome rankings as of 2022, and statistics on the number of healthcare professionals per 10,000 people, with breakdowns by urban, suburban, and rural areas.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: NC Rural Center
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Expanding Access to Integrated Medicare-Medicaid Programs in Rural Communities
Discusses the rural population who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and their unique physical health, mental health, and health-related social needs (HRSNs). Includes information on dual eligibility issues related to access, integrated care, and managed care infrastructure. Provides a literature review and stakeholder interview feedback focused on potential strategies to improve healthcare integration.
Author(s): Molly Knowles, Nida Joseph, Nancy Archibald, Ellen Breslin
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Discusses the rural population who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and their unique physical health, mental health, and health-related social needs (HRSNs). Includes information on dual eligibility issues related to access, integrated care, and managed care infrastructure. Provides a literature review and stakeholder interview feedback focused on potential strategies to improve healthcare integration.
Author(s): Molly Knowles, Nida Joseph, Nancy Archibald, Ellen Breslin
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Building Healthier Rural Communities: Economic Development Districts Address Social Determinants of Health
Report outlining social determinants of health (SDOH) in rural areas and how Economic Development Districts (EDD) address them. Highlights workforce, infrastructure, food security, health, disaster preparedness, funding, data, and public-private partnerships. Includes a case study from an EDD in North Carolina and highlights the role of hospitals in the community.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Economic Development District Community of Practice, National Association of Development Organizations
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Report outlining social determinants of health (SDOH) in rural areas and how Economic Development Districts (EDD) address them. Highlights workforce, infrastructure, food security, health, disaster preparedness, funding, data, and public-private partnerships. Includes a case study from an EDD in North Carolina and highlights the role of hospitals in the community.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Economic Development District Community of Practice, National Association of Development Organizations
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Understanding the Influence of Social Determinants of Health on Symptom Reporting in Pediatric Cancer
Highlights a study on the social determinants of health of caregivers of children with cancer in Appalachia. Discusses the symptom burden of child cancer and breaks down data by child's age, rurality, and Appalachian versus non-Appalachian location, among other measures.
Author(s): Micah A. Skeens, Adelaide Booze, Mark Ranalli, Anna Olsavsky
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70071
Date: 08/2025
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Highlights a study on the social determinants of health of caregivers of children with cancer in Appalachia. Discusses the symptom burden of child cancer and breaks down data by child's age, rurality, and Appalachian versus non-Appalachian location, among other measures.
Author(s): Micah A. Skeens, Adelaide Booze, Mark Ranalli, Anna Olsavsky
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70071
Date: 08/2025
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