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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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The Financial Impact of Pregnancy and Childbirth Among Louisiana Medicaid Beneficiaries
Examines the relationship between pregnancy and financial health of women in Louisiana. Analyzes 2017-2020 Medicaid claims data and credit reports of 76,468 patients and provides breakdowns of credit scores, medical debt, and nonmedical debt by demographics, pregnancy status, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Brigham Walker, Ethan Tsai, Andrew Anderson, Melissa Evans, Kevin Callison
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(5), e70166
Date: 10/2026
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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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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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Associations of Occupational Exposures on Environmental Allergies Among Farmers and Ranchers in the Central United States
Explores demographics and occupational exposures associated with allergies among farmers in 7 states. Notes public health implications based on study findings and highlights opportunities for further research.
Author(s): Alexandrea Welch, Cheryl Beseler, Yi Du, Shaun Cross, Risto H. Rautiainen
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 31(4), 530-540
Date: 10/2026
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National Trends and Disparities in Mortality Involving Bladder Cancer and Substance Use Disorders in the United States, 1999–2023
Examines trends in bladder cancer mortality with co-occurring substance use disorders between 1999 and 2023 using CDC WONDER data. Includes demographic breakdowns and metropolitan versus nonmetropolitan comparisons.
Author(s): Kanza Atif, Unsa Arif, Muhammad Ali Gorish, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Oncology, 16, 1883338
Date: 09/2026
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Rural Hospital Closures and Mortality From Time-Sensitive Conditions in Texas
Examines the relationship between mortality and rural hospital closures in Texas. Analyzes time-sensitive deaths per 100,000 residents across 175 counties between 2006 and 2019 and observes changes in mortality rates in a county where a rural hospital closed or in a nearby affected area. Includes county-level map showing location of hospital closures.
Author(s): Mark A. Poisler, Kritee Gujral
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(9), e2636325
Date: 09/2026
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Comparing Physicians' Perceptions of Access to Behavioral Health Resources in Rural and Urban Practices
Explores the differences in the perceptions of rural and urban physicians about access to behavioral health resources for their patients. Draws conclusions from findings of the 2022 National Sample Survey of Physicians by rural versus urban ZIP codes. Breaks down data by specialty, years of practice, and average time spent in different care locations, among other measures.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Natalia V. Oster, Xiaochu Hu, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70226
Date: 09/2026
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Methadone Versus Buprenorphine/Naloxone: Treatment Outcome Differences among Individuals Receiving Medications for Opioid Use Disorders in Rural Treatment Settings - A 1-Year Retrospective Cohort Study
Presents a study comparing the efficacy of methadone and buprenorphine treatments for opioid use disorders (OUD) in community-based rural treatment settings. Bases findings on data from patients who began treatment in 2019 at four rural clinics in Oregon. Breaks down data by participant age, OUD diagnosis, and employment status, among other measures.
Author(s): Anna MacCamy, Lisa Khairy, Tara Wasser, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70219
Date: 09/2026
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Place-Based Risk: Examining Relationships Between Adolescent Perceptions of Community Risk Factors and Adolescent Substance Use Across Geographic Contexts
Examines adolescent perceptions of structural and social factors that influence their substance use in rural and urban communities. Utilizes 2019 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey data from 9,819 adolescents to analyze alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and illicit drug use according to sociodemographics, cultural norms, law enforcement response to substance use, availability of drugs, and urban, suburban, town, or rural location.
Author(s): Melissa Pearman Fenton, Sarah D. Lynne, Josie L. Bryan, Catherine Woodstock Striley, Larry F. Forthun
Citation: American Journal of Community Psychology, 78(1-2), 245-262
Date: 09/2026
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