Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Statistics and data
How Do Services Offered Within Opioid Treatment Programs Vary Based on State Methadone Policies?
Examines the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in various states as well as access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) options, psychosocial services, and housing supports. Analyzes 1,501 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their characteristics, including state restrictiveness, services offered, facility type, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Noa Krawczyk, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Jonathan H. Cantor
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 190, 210062
Date: 11/2026
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Examines the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in various states as well as access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) options, psychosocial services, and housing supports. Analyzes 1,501 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their characteristics, including state restrictiveness, services offered, facility type, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Noa Krawczyk, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Jonathan H. Cantor
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 190, 210062
Date: 11/2026
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Risk Adjustment in the Medicare Advantage Population Using Encounter Data
Examines the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) risk model by comparing 2016-2022 Traditional Medicare (TM) claims and Medicare Advantage (MA) encounter data. Analyzes differences in the TM-based model and MA-based model and discusses risk-adjusted MA payment, MA payment policy, and enrollment incentives for various populations, including rural.
Author(s): Caroline S. Carlin, Roger Feldman, Jeah Jung
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(5), e70165
Date: 10/2026
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Examines the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) risk model by comparing 2016-2022 Traditional Medicare (TM) claims and Medicare Advantage (MA) encounter data. Analyzes differences in the TM-based model and MA-based model and discusses risk-adjusted MA payment, MA payment policy, and enrollment incentives for various populations, including rural.
Author(s): Caroline S. Carlin, Roger Feldman, Jeah Jung
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(5), e70165
Date: 10/2026
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Veterans Affairs Clinical Resource Hub Improve Access to Mental Health Services for Rural Veterans
Evaluates 627,436 telemental health service encounters over 5 years with rural veterans to determine the impact of 18 Clinical Resource Hubs on access to mental healthcare. Discusses how utilization of telemental health services increased over the 5 years, trends in modality types, and mental health diagnoses, in addition to other demographic characteristics.
Author(s): Erin Jaske, Chelle L. Wheat, Bradford Felker, et al.
Citation: Telemedicine and e-Health, 32(10), 995-1002
Date: 10/2026
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Evaluates 627,436 telemental health service encounters over 5 years with rural veterans to determine the impact of 18 Clinical Resource Hubs on access to mental healthcare. Discusses how utilization of telemental health services increased over the 5 years, trends in modality types, and mental health diagnoses, in addition to other demographic characteristics.
Author(s): Erin Jaske, Chelle L. Wheat, Bradford Felker, et al.
Citation: Telemedicine and e-Health, 32(10), 995-1002
Date: 10/2026
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The Quiet Driver of Rural Minnesota's Population Trends: It's Not Just Migration
Examines factors impacting population changes in Minnesota such as births, deaths, and migration trends. Provides comparisons of population changes from 2001 to 2025 across entirely urban, urban/town/rural mix, town/rural mix, and entirely rural locations.
Author(s): Kelly Asche
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
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Examines factors impacting population changes in Minnesota such as births, deaths, and migration trends. Provides comparisons of population changes from 2001 to 2025 across entirely urban, urban/town/rural mix, town/rural mix, and entirely rural locations.
Author(s): Kelly Asche
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
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Cooperative Extension in Transition: Trends Through 2024
Reports on funding and program areas of Cooperative Extension programs from 1915 through 2024. Details how Cooperative Extension programs support agricultural education, nutrition, community development, and other topics relevant to rural populations.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Tatiana Borisova, Keith Fuglie, Benjamin Garber, Sun Ling Wang
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Reports on funding and program areas of Cooperative Extension programs from 1915 through 2024. Details how Cooperative Extension programs support agricultural education, nutrition, community development, and other topics relevant to rural populations.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Tatiana Borisova, Keith Fuglie, Benjamin Garber, Sun Ling Wang
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Association Between Rural Attitudes in Family Medicine Residency and Rural Employment
Explores rural family medicine residents' attitudes at residency completion and how they are associated with subsequent rural employment. Based on data from a study conducted from 2021-2025 survey of residents in two Mountain Area Health Education Center programs.
Author(s): Bryan Hodge, Julianne M. Power, Gwyneth DeHart, et al.
Citation: Family Medicine, 58
Date: 09/2026
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Explores rural family medicine residents' attitudes at residency completion and how they are associated with subsequent rural employment. Based on data from a study conducted from 2021-2025 survey of residents in two Mountain Area Health Education Center programs.
Author(s): Bryan Hodge, Julianne M. Power, Gwyneth DeHart, et al.
Citation: Family Medicine, 58
Date: 09/2026
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Risk Factors for Loss of Hospital-Based Obstetric Care in Rural and Urban Hospitals
Examines factors associated with loss of obstetric services in hospitals. Analyzes 3,108 rural and urban hospitals in 2010 and then again in 2023 to observe rates of unit or hospital closure. Includes breakdown of hospital characteristics such as distance to nearest obstetric hospital, birth volume, hospital ownership, county unemployment, and more.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Caitlin Carroll, Kevan O'Hanlon, Emily C. Sheffield, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 7(9), e263122
Date: 09/2026
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Examines factors associated with loss of obstetric services in hospitals. Analyzes 3,108 rural and urban hospitals in 2010 and then again in 2023 to observe rates of unit or hospital closure. Includes breakdown of hospital characteristics such as distance to nearest obstetric hospital, birth volume, hospital ownership, county unemployment, and more.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Caitlin Carroll, Kevan O'Hanlon, Emily C. Sheffield, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 7(9), e263122
Date: 09/2026
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The State of Childhood in Rural America: Well-Being, Challenges and Opportunities
Reports on the well-being of rural children, including their educational performance, poverty, household spending, and food insecurity. Discusses how state and federal policy can support the well-being of rural children and families.
Author(s): Anita I. Drever, Beth A. Eagleton, Denali A. Drake, Jonathan J. Sury
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Save the Children
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Reports on the well-being of rural children, including their educational performance, poverty, household spending, and food insecurity. Discusses how state and federal policy can support the well-being of rural children and families.
Author(s): Anita I. Drever, Beth A. Eagleton, Denali A. Drake, Jonathan J. Sury
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Save the Children
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Chronic Pain in Community: A Mixed Methods Evaluation of the Vet-to-Vet Program
Examines healthcare utilization patterns among veterans with chronic pain enrolled in the Vet-to-Vet program, a peer-led virtual support group. Utilizes focus group feedback from 40 veterans in the program regarding outcomes from participation, including impacts on mental, physical, and social health.
Author(s): Rachael R. Kenney, Elise Gunzburger, Drew Herbert, Kyla L. Bauer, Joseph W. Frank
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70217
Date: 09/2026
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Examines healthcare utilization patterns among veterans with chronic pain enrolled in the Vet-to-Vet program, a peer-led virtual support group. Utilizes focus group feedback from 40 veterans in the program regarding outcomes from participation, including impacts on mental, physical, and social health.
Author(s): Rachael R. Kenney, Elise Gunzburger, Drew Herbert, Kyla L. Bauer, Joseph W. Frank
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70217
Date: 09/2026
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Changing Patterns of Specialty Care for Diabetic Foot Ulcers among Rural and Urban Veterans Following the VA MISSION Act
Presents a study on older veterans' access to specialty care for diabetic foot ulcers under the MISSION Act in rural and urban areas. Explores veterans' access both inside and outside of the VA and breaks down utilization data by specialty, such as podiatry, infectious disease, vascular surgery, and endocrinology.
Author(s): Hiroyuki Suzuki, Mary Vaughan-Sarrazin, Michael Ohl, et al.
Citation: International Wound Journal, 23(9), e71039
Date: 09/2026
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Presents a study on older veterans' access to specialty care for diabetic foot ulcers under the MISSION Act in rural and urban areas. Explores veterans' access both inside and outside of the VA and breaks down utilization data by specialty, such as podiatry, infectious disease, vascular surgery, and endocrinology.
Author(s): Hiroyuki Suzuki, Mary Vaughan-Sarrazin, Michael Ohl, et al.
Citation: International Wound Journal, 23(9), e71039
Date: 09/2026
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