Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Statistics and data
Bridging the Gap: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of a New Rural Maternity Care Center Amid Nationwide Closures
Examines healthcare quality and access following the reopening of a maternity care center at a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in a rural community that experienced a maternity unit closure. Includes data comparisons of rural maternity care center (MCC) versus suburban tertiary care center patient demographics, delivery outcomes, and patient experiences. Discusses policy efforts to improve access to rural maternal health.
Author(s): Kathryn Wouk, Ellen Chetwynd, Emily C. Sheffield, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(1),102
Date: 01/2026
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Examines healthcare quality and access following the reopening of a maternity care center at a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in a rural community that experienced a maternity unit closure. Includes data comparisons of rural maternity care center (MCC) versus suburban tertiary care center patient demographics, delivery outcomes, and patient experiences. Discusses policy efforts to improve access to rural maternal health.
Author(s): Kathryn Wouk, Ellen Chetwynd, Emily C. Sheffield, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(1),102
Date: 01/2026
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Stroke Technology Diffusion in Rural Settings: Differential Exposure to Certification Levels by Community Income Levels
Analyzes how access to certified stroke center services has varied over time among rural communities by median family income level, using 2009-2019 Medicare Provider and Analysis Review (MedPAR) data. Compares access to Acute Stroke Ready Hospitals, Primary Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Centers, or Comprehensive Stroke Centers among low, medium, and high-income communities.
Author(s): Yu-Chu Shen, Maya Spencer, Renee Y. Hsia
Citation: Neurology, 106(4), e214644
Date: 01/2026
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Analyzes how access to certified stroke center services has varied over time among rural communities by median family income level, using 2009-2019 Medicare Provider and Analysis Review (MedPAR) data. Compares access to Acute Stroke Ready Hospitals, Primary Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Centers, or Comprehensive Stroke Centers among low, medium, and high-income communities.
Author(s): Yu-Chu Shen, Maya Spencer, Renee Y. Hsia
Citation: Neurology, 106(4), e214644
Date: 01/2026
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Connected Care for Older Adults: A Pilot Intervention Engaging Community Health Workers to Advance Age-Friendly Care in Rural Oregon
Describes a pilot program implementing the 4Ms of the Age-Friendly Health System framework by embedding community health workers in rural primary care teams for 388 older adult medically frail patients. Assesses patient and clinician satisfaction and associated healthcare utilization.
Author(s): Bryanna De Lima, Lindsay Miller, Elizabeth Foster, Jodi Ready, Elizabeth Eckstrom
Citation: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2026
Date: 01/2026
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Describes a pilot program implementing the 4Ms of the Age-Friendly Health System framework by embedding community health workers in rural primary care teams for 388 older adult medically frail patients. Assesses patient and clinician satisfaction and associated healthcare utilization.
Author(s): Bryanna De Lima, Lindsay Miller, Elizabeth Foster, Jodi Ready, Elizabeth Eckstrom
Citation: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2026
Date: 01/2026
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Rural Practice Made Attractive: A Scoping Review of Rural Primary Care Physician Recruitment and Retention Incentives
Offers a scoping review on the effectiveness of 17 workforce development programs aiming to retain rural primary care physicians. Discusses the lack of systematically collected retention data and the impact on effective evaluation of these programs.
Author(s): Kelley Arredondo, Katherine Bay, Laura Witte, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2026
Date: 01/2026
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Offers a scoping review on the effectiveness of 17 workforce development programs aiming to retain rural primary care physicians. Discusses the lack of systematically collected retention data and the impact on effective evaluation of these programs.
Author(s): Kelley Arredondo, Katherine Bay, Laura Witte, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2026
Date: 01/2026
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Financial Assistance Policy, Hospital Charity Care, and Medical Debt in Collections
Explores whether Oregon's state-level financial assistance policy (FAP) was associated with a lower percentage of the population with medical debt in collections, increase in hospital charity care, and decrease in bad debt in the first 3 years after implementation. Compares county- and hospital-level data from Oregon with data from a sample of hospitals that expanded Medicaid in 2014 but had not implemented a state-level FAP by 2022. Supplemental content includes data by metropolitan and non-metropolitan status.
Author(s): Tatiane Santos, Richard C. Lindrooth, Gary J. Young, Shoou-Yih Lee
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(1), e2555698
Date: 01/2026
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Explores whether Oregon's state-level financial assistance policy (FAP) was associated with a lower percentage of the population with medical debt in collections, increase in hospital charity care, and decrease in bad debt in the first 3 years after implementation. Compares county- and hospital-level data from Oregon with data from a sample of hospitals that expanded Medicaid in 2014 but had not implemented a state-level FAP by 2022. Supplemental content includes data by metropolitan and non-metropolitan status.
Author(s): Tatiane Santos, Richard C. Lindrooth, Gary J. Young, Shoou-Yih Lee
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(1), e2555698
Date: 01/2026
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Mobile Telemedicine for Treating Chronic Hepatitis C among Rural People Who Inject Drugs: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Explores the efficacy of a mobile telemedicine-based intervention for hepatitis C (HCV) infections among rural people who inject drugs. Highlights the outcomes of the intervention in terms of treatment initiation, viral clearance, and reduced equipment sharing. Breaks down data by demographic characteristics, outcomes, and risks and probabilities, among other measures.
Author(s): Peter D. Friedmann, Donna Wilson, David de Gijsel, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(1), e2555125
Date: 01/2026
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Explores the efficacy of a mobile telemedicine-based intervention for hepatitis C (HCV) infections among rural people who inject drugs. Highlights the outcomes of the intervention in terms of treatment initiation, viral clearance, and reduced equipment sharing. Breaks down data by demographic characteristics, outcomes, and risks and probabilities, among other measures.
Author(s): Peter D. Friedmann, Donna Wilson, David de Gijsel, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(1), e2555125
Date: 01/2026
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Medicare Advantage Demographics Report, 2023
Summarizes demographics data on Medicare Advantage enrollment in 2023. Compares rural/urban residence of Medicare Advantage, Original Medicare, and dually eligible enrollees in Appendix B.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: AHIP
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Summarizes demographics data on Medicare Advantage enrollment in 2023. Compares rural/urban residence of Medicare Advantage, Original Medicare, and dually eligible enrollees in Appendix B.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: AHIP
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Medicare Fee-for-Service Health Care Expenditures among Rural and Urban Beneficiaries During 2009-2019
Examines trends in Medicare Fee-for-Service spending among rural noncore, rural micropolitan, and urban beneficiaries, utilizing 2009-2019 CMS Medicare Geographic Variation Public Use files data. Details rural-urban differences in spending over time on per-patient hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, physician services, and post-acute care, among other categories. Discusses implications for healthcare access and quality.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Theodoros Giannouchos, Xuanzi Qin, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Examines trends in Medicare Fee-for-Service spending among rural noncore, rural micropolitan, and urban beneficiaries, utilizing 2009-2019 CMS Medicare Geographic Variation Public Use files data. Details rural-urban differences in spending over time on per-patient hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, physician services, and post-acute care, among other categories. Discusses implications for healthcare access and quality.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Theodoros Giannouchos, Xuanzi Qin, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Molecular and Socioeconomic Characteristics of Inflammatory Breast Cancer in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study
Examines associations between the incidence of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) and demographic and clinical factors, including rurality, utilizing Carolina Breast Cancer Study data of 153 cases of IBC.
Author(s): Qichen Wang, Sarah C. Van Alsten, Xiaojia Ji, et al.
Citation: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 215(2), 61
Date: 01/2026
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Examines associations between the incidence of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) and demographic and clinical factors, including rurality, utilizing Carolina Breast Cancer Study data of 153 cases of IBC.
Author(s): Qichen Wang, Sarah C. Van Alsten, Xiaojia Ji, et al.
Citation: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 215(2), 61
Date: 01/2026
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Federal Rural Definitions
Webinar recording featuring speakers from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) discussing how FORHP compiles information from various federal agencies to identify and define rural areas in the U.S. for rural health grant program eligibility. Highlights changes to rural areas, as identified by FORHP with their September 2025 data release.
Additional links: Audio Recording, Webinar Slides
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Webinar recording featuring speakers from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) discussing how FORHP compiles information from various federal agencies to identify and define rural areas in the U.S. for rural health grant program eligibility. Highlights changes to rural areas, as identified by FORHP with their September 2025 data release.
Additional links: Audio Recording, Webinar Slides
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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