Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Statistics and data
Effects of Using Different Rural Measurements on Estimates of Hospitalizations for Depression and Substance Use
Explores how using different rural measurements can affect estimates of hospitalization rates for behavioral health conditions. Highlights how Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCA) codes, Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSA), Urban-Rural Category 4 (URCategory4), and Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC) affect hospitalization estimates. Discusses the consequences these difference can have on policy.
Author(s): Robin Danek, Justin Blackburn, Marion Greene, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 25, 818
Date: 06/2025
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Explores how using different rural measurements can affect estimates of hospitalization rates for behavioral health conditions. Highlights how Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCA) codes, Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSA), Urban-Rural Category 4 (URCategory4), and Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC) affect hospitalization estimates. Discusses the consequences these difference can have on policy.
Author(s): Robin Danek, Justin Blackburn, Marion Greene, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 25, 818
Date: 06/2025
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Payment Source Shift for Surgical Care Among Veterans Enrolled in Medicare Advantage Plans
Examines the likelihood of veterans enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to shift payments for inpatient surgical care from MA to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Analyzes 54,754 inpatient surgeries of VHA enrollees to observe payment trends, with data broken down by demographics, insurance characteristics, region, and rurality.
Author(s): Winta T. Mehtsun, Yanlei Ma, Ellen Latsko, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 6(6)
Date: 06/2025
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Examines the likelihood of veterans enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to shift payments for inpatient surgical care from MA to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Analyzes 54,754 inpatient surgeries of VHA enrollees to observe payment trends, with data broken down by demographics, insurance characteristics, region, and rurality.
Author(s): Winta T. Mehtsun, Yanlei Ma, Ellen Latsko, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 6(6)
Date: 06/2025
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Harvest Hope's Non-Congregate Summer Meals Model for Food Banks
Discusses how a food bank in South Carolina supported 3 non-congregate meal service sites for children across rural counties. Provides information on agency collaboration, meal options, tracking and reporting on food program use, and more.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Discusses how a food bank in South Carolina supported 3 non-congregate meal service sites for children across rural counties. Provides information on agency collaboration, meal options, tracking and reporting on food program use, and more.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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LTSS Users by State, County, and Setting
Interactive dashboard presenting data on the number of Medicaid enrollees that use long-term services and supports (LTSS) at the national, state, and county-levels in 2022. Includes data on LTSS users, Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) users, and institutional LTSS users by age, dual-enrollment status, and sex.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organizations: ATI Advisory, The SCAN Foundation
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Interactive dashboard presenting data on the number of Medicaid enrollees that use long-term services and supports (LTSS) at the national, state, and county-levels in 2022. Includes data on LTSS users, Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) users, and institutional LTSS users by age, dual-enrollment status, and sex.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organizations: ATI Advisory, The SCAN Foundation
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Illinois County Cancer Statistics Review Incidence, 2018-2022
Provides cancer incidence rates from 2018-2022 for individual counties in Illinois, utilizing data from the Illinois Department of Public Health and Illinois State Cancer Registry. Includes data and statistics broken down by sex, race, ethnicity, and cancer site.
Author(s): Stephen Roy, Lori Koch
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Department of Public Health
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Provides cancer incidence rates from 2018-2022 for individual counties in Illinois, utilizing data from the Illinois Department of Public Health and Illinois State Cancer Registry. Includes data and statistics broken down by sex, race, ethnicity, and cancer site.
Author(s): Stephen Roy, Lori Koch
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Department of Public Health
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5 Key Facts About Medicaid Coverage for People Living in Rural Areas
Provides an overview of Medicaid coverage in rural areas. Includes rural versus urban comparisons of Medicaid coverage, enrollee age, enrollee diagnosed chronic conditions, state-by-state data of Medicaid enrollees by degree of rurality, and more.
Author(s): Rhiannon Euhus, Sammy Cervantes, Alice Burns, Robin Rudowitz
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Provides an overview of Medicaid coverage in rural areas. Includes rural versus urban comparisons of Medicaid coverage, enrollee age, enrollee diagnosed chronic conditions, state-by-state data of Medicaid enrollees by degree of rurality, and more.
Author(s): Rhiannon Euhus, Sammy Cervantes, Alice Burns, Robin Rudowitz
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Social Determinants of Health and Rehabilitation Service Areas: An Urban and Rural Mediation Analysis
Analyzes associations between social determinants of health (SDOH) and community discharge rate disparities in rural and urban communities, utilizing AHRQ Social Determinants of Health Database data alongside other ZCTA-level datasets. Identifies key factors for addressing disparities in post-acute rehabilitation services.
Author(s): Sanghun Nam, Susanne Schmidt, Julianna M. Dean, Alex F. Bokov, Timothy A. Reistetter
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1562610
Date: 06/2025
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Analyzes associations between social determinants of health (SDOH) and community discharge rate disparities in rural and urban communities, utilizing AHRQ Social Determinants of Health Database data alongside other ZCTA-level datasets. Identifies key factors for addressing disparities in post-acute rehabilitation services.
Author(s): Sanghun Nam, Susanne Schmidt, Julianna M. Dean, Alex F. Bokov, Timothy A. Reistetter
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1562610
Date: 06/2025
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Fluoride Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors: Adults in Rural Alabama
Highlights a study on rural adults knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding fluoride use in water and toothpaste as method of cavity prevention. Bases findings on a survey of 291 adults in Green Hill, Alabama.
Author(s): Alex Harper, Steven M. Levy, Wei Shi
Citation: Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, 16
Date: 06/2025
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Highlights a study on rural adults knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding fluoride use in water and toothpaste as method of cavity prevention. Bases findings on a survey of 291 adults in Green Hill, Alabama.
Author(s): Alex Harper, Steven M. Levy, Wei Shi
Citation: Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, 16
Date: 06/2025
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An Exploratory Study to Understand How Rurality Status and Demographic Characteristics Are Associated With Enrollment, Engagement, and Retention in a Digital Health Intervention Targeting the Appalachian Region
Explores how rural status is associated with enrollment, retention, and engagement in a digital health intervention aimed at reducing sugar-sweetened beverages in Appalachia. Breaks down data by rurality, sex, income, and education, among other measures.
Author(s): Donna‐Jean P. Brock, Lee M. Ritterband, Wen You, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70042
Date: 06/2025
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Explores how rural status is associated with enrollment, retention, and engagement in a digital health intervention aimed at reducing sugar-sweetened beverages in Appalachia. Breaks down data by rurality, sex, income, and education, among other measures.
Author(s): Donna‐Jean P. Brock, Lee M. Ritterband, Wen You, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70042
Date: 06/2025
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Firearm Safe Storage Practices among Firearm Owners in Rural and Urban Households
Analyzes associations between rural or urban living and likelihood of storing firearms loaded versus unloaded and locked versus unlocked, utilizing 2021-2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data.
Author(s): Yi-Fang Lu, Victor A. Soupene
Citation: Injury Epidemiology, 12, 33
Date: 06/2025
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Analyzes associations between rural or urban living and likelihood of storing firearms loaded versus unloaded and locked versus unlocked, utilizing 2021-2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data.
Author(s): Yi-Fang Lu, Victor A. Soupene
Citation: Injury Epidemiology, 12, 33
Date: 06/2025
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