Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Statistics and data
Mapping Spatial and Social Inequities of Long COVID Across the United States: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Examines spatiotemporal variables and social determinants as correlated with the Omicron variant and long COVID health risk. Analyzes 5,652,474 COVID-19 cases and 41,694 long COVID cases according to year, location, U.S. region, risk level of county, and social determinants, including rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Zhetao Chen, Bingnan Lib, Yewen Chen, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 56, 101401
Date: 04/2026
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Examines spatiotemporal variables and social determinants as correlated with the Omicron variant and long COVID health risk. Analyzes 5,652,474 COVID-19 cases and 41,694 long COVID cases according to year, location, U.S. region, risk level of county, and social determinants, including rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Zhetao Chen, Bingnan Lib, Yewen Chen, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 56, 101401
Date: 04/2026
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Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model Evaluation: Final Report
Provides an overview of the Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model, which tested whether identifying and addressing core health-related social needs (HRSNs) of community-dwelling beneficiaries improves health outcomes, reduces healthcare costs, and reduces unnecessary healthcare utilization. Describes the AHC Model's impacts on key outcomes for Medicaid, FFS Medicare, and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries through December 2023 and final lessons learned.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Findings at a Glance
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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Provides an overview of the Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model, which tested whether identifying and addressing core health-related social needs (HRSNs) of community-dwelling beneficiaries improves health outcomes, reduces healthcare costs, and reduces unnecessary healthcare utilization. Describes the AHC Model's impacts on key outcomes for Medicaid, FFS Medicare, and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries through December 2023 and final lessons learned.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Findings at a Glance
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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A Comparison of Independent and System-Affiliated Rural Hospitals
Compares independent and system-affiliated rural hospitals by organizational characteristics, financial performance, and county characteristics. Presents Medicare Cost Report data from 2023-2024 on the number and percentage of independent and system-affiliated rural hospitals by state, ownership characteristics, Medicare payment classification, use of swing beds, financial distress, and more.
Author(s): Aditya R. Pillutla, Sruthi Malavika Srinivasan, Kristie Thompson, George Pink, Tyler Malone
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Compares independent and system-affiliated rural hospitals by organizational characteristics, financial performance, and county characteristics. Presents Medicare Cost Report data from 2023-2024 on the number and percentage of independent and system-affiliated rural hospitals by state, ownership characteristics, Medicare payment classification, use of swing beds, financial distress, and more.
Author(s): Aditya R. Pillutla, Sruthi Malavika Srinivasan, Kristie Thompson, George Pink, Tyler Malone
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Development of Metrics and a Protocol to Clinically Evaluate the HRSA Behavioral Health Integration Program Within the Evidence-Based Telehealth Network Program
Describes a protocol and 27 common data elements for examining the implementation of behavioral health integration in primary care. Protocol and elements were developed from 26 participants in the Health Resources and Services Administration's Evidence-Based Telehealth Network Program.
Author(s): J. Priyanka Vakkalanka, Fred Ullrich, Kimberly A.S. Merchant, Christopher M. Shea, Marcia M. Ward
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Remote Care & Telehealth Research Center
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Describes a protocol and 27 common data elements for examining the implementation of behavioral health integration in primary care. Protocol and elements were developed from 26 participants in the Health Resources and Services Administration's Evidence-Based Telehealth Network Program.
Author(s): J. Priyanka Vakkalanka, Fred Ullrich, Kimberly A.S. Merchant, Christopher M. Shea, Marcia M. Ward
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Remote Care & Telehealth Research Center
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Visual Impairment and Blindness among Illinoisans, Metro vs. Nonmetro
Examines visual impairment in Illinois utilizing data from the American Community Survey (ACS) and the 2024 Area Health Resources File. Provides data breakdowns of visual impairment prevalence by county as well as a comparison of metro versus nonmetro availability of optometrists and ophthalmologists.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Examines visual impairment in Illinois utilizing data from the American Community Survey (ACS) and the 2024 Area Health Resources File. Provides data breakdowns of visual impairment prevalence by county as well as a comparison of metro versus nonmetro availability of optometrists and ophthalmologists.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Mental Health Treatment among Adults Who Had Serious Thoughts of Suicide
Offers 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data showing adults that received mental health treatment and had thoughts of suicide. Includes a breakdown by county type at the large metropolitan, small metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan levels.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Offers 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data showing adults that received mental health treatment and had thoughts of suicide. Includes a breakdown by county type at the large metropolitan, small metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan levels.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Availability of Higher-Level Neonatal Care in Rural and Urban US Hospitals, 2010-2022
A research letter that discusses the availability of higher-level neonatal care in rural and urban hospitals. Analyzes changes in intermediate or intensive neonatal care availability between 2010 and 2022 in 3,257 U.S. birth hospitals according to rurality.
Author(s): Katy B. Kozhimannil, Emily C. Sheffield, Clara E. Busse, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(2), e2559680
Date: 02/2026
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A research letter that discusses the availability of higher-level neonatal care in rural and urban hospitals. Analyzes changes in intermediate or intensive neonatal care availability between 2010 and 2022 in 3,257 U.S. birth hospitals according to rurality.
Author(s): Katy B. Kozhimannil, Emily C. Sheffield, Clara E. Busse, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(2), e2559680
Date: 02/2026
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Have Incomes Kept Up With Minnesota's Rising Cost of Living?
Discusses cost of living in relation to median household income in Minnesota. Provides interactive, county-level maps showing household income and cost of living changes from 2018 to 2024.
Author(s): Kelly Asche
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
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Discusses cost of living in relation to median household income in Minnesota. Provides interactive, county-level maps showing household income and cost of living changes from 2018 to 2024.
Author(s): Kelly Asche
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
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Indiana Rural Behavioral Health Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in Indiana in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in Indiana in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Indiana Rural Obstetrical Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the obstetricians and advanced practice midwives workforce distribution in Indiana in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the obstetricians and advanced practice midwives workforce distribution in Indiana in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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