Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Statistics and data
State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Policies Report, Fall 2026
Provides an overview of state telehealth policies as of October 2026. Covers Medicaid reimbursement, private payer laws, professional requirements, and licensing.
Additional links: Infographic, Interstate Licensure Compacts – State Compact Participation Chart, State Summary Chart
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
view details
Provides an overview of state telehealth policies as of October 2026. Covers Medicaid reimbursement, private payer laws, professional requirements, and licensing.
Additional links: Infographic, Interstate Licensure Compacts – State Compact Participation Chart, State Summary Chart
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
view details
Rural Health Transformation State Scorecards: Budget Period 1
Provides an overview of each state's progress implementing the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) through July 31, 2026. Reflects information reported by states in their Year 1 RHTP Annual Reports. Covers the status of state policy actions, Make Rural America Healthy Again state policy commitments, and the speed at which the state has implemented RHTP initiatives based on the number of checkpoints completed. Includes the amount of RHTP funding each state received for budget periods 1 and 2.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
view details
Provides an overview of each state's progress implementing the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) through July 31, 2026. Reflects information reported by states in their Year 1 RHTP Annual Reports. Covers the status of state policy actions, Make Rural America Healthy Again state policy commitments, and the speed at which the state has implemented RHTP initiatives based on the number of checkpoints completed. Includes the amount of RHTP funding each state received for budget periods 1 and 2.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
view details
Personal Networks and Cognitive Health Across Rural–Urban Contexts
Analyzes the role of social bridging in aging-related cognitive decline among adults in rural versus urban areas, using interview data of 509 Indiana adults aged 55 and older interviewed between November 2023 and March 2024 as part of the Social Environment and Cognitive Health in Urban and Rural Areas study.
Author(s): Siyun Peng, Brea L. Perry, Adam R. Roth
Citation: The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 81(Suppl 3), S265-S274
Date: 11/2026
view details
Analyzes the role of social bridging in aging-related cognitive decline among adults in rural versus urban areas, using interview data of 509 Indiana adults aged 55 and older interviewed between November 2023 and March 2024 as part of the Social Environment and Cognitive Health in Urban and Rural Areas study.
Author(s): Siyun Peng, Brea L. Perry, Adam R. Roth
Citation: The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 81(Suppl 3), S265-S274
Date: 11/2026
view details
Policy Impact of the Rural Emergency Hospital Designation: A Mixed Methods Study of Leaders' Conversion Experiences and Motivations
Presents a study on the financial profile and other factors affecting the decision to convert rural hospitals to a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Explores financial factors like days of cash on hand, total unreimbursed costs, and total capital purchases, among others, and discusses the challenges of converting to an REH.
Author(s): Christopher Wiggs, Dunc Williams Jr., Kevin Wiley
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70240
Date: 11/2026
view details
Presents a study on the financial profile and other factors affecting the decision to convert rural hospitals to a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Explores financial factors like days of cash on hand, total unreimbursed costs, and total capital purchases, among others, and discusses the challenges of converting to an REH.
Author(s): Christopher Wiggs, Dunc Williams Jr., Kevin Wiley
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70240
Date: 11/2026
view details
Distribution and Accessibility of Board-Certified Pharmacists: A Cross-Sectional Geospatial Study
Examines the composition, accessibility, and geographic distribution of board-certified pharmacists (BCPs) in the United States. Uses 2026 Board of Pharmacy Specialties data to analyze distribution of BCPs by specialty, state, and metropolitan, micropolitan, or small town/rural location. Includes county-level U.S. maps showing distribution of BCPs as well as BCP density per 100,000 residents.
Author(s): Krystal K. Haase, Eric J. MacLaughlin, Amanda N. Charlton
Citation: Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, 9(11), e70318
Date: 11/2026
view details
Examines the composition, accessibility, and geographic distribution of board-certified pharmacists (BCPs) in the United States. Uses 2026 Board of Pharmacy Specialties data to analyze distribution of BCPs by specialty, state, and metropolitan, micropolitan, or small town/rural location. Includes county-level U.S. maps showing distribution of BCPs as well as BCP density per 100,000 residents.
Author(s): Krystal K. Haase, Eric J. MacLaughlin, Amanda N. Charlton
Citation: Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, 9(11), e70318
Date: 11/2026
view details
Medicare Advantage Enrollment Update, 2026
Reports on the percentage of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan location and plan type, from 2016-2026. Discusses how policy changes may have influenced MA enrollment dynamics.
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
view details
Reports on the percentage of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan location and plan type, from 2016-2026. Discusses how policy changes may have influenced MA enrollment dynamics.
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
view details
Molecular Testing Among Patients With Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer in the Rural US
Explores factors associated with molecular testing among older adults with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), such as age, dual Medicaid and Medicare enrollment, Part D coverage, and visits with specialists. Analyzes data from a cohort of 8,259 NSCLC patients in rural areas between 2014-2019.
Author(s): Dena P. Rhinehart, Evelien van Gelderen, Josephine Feliciano, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(11), e2642270
Date: 11/2026
view details
Explores factors associated with molecular testing among older adults with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), such as age, dual Medicaid and Medicare enrollment, Part D coverage, and visits with specialists. Analyzes data from a cohort of 8,259 NSCLC patients in rural areas between 2014-2019.
Author(s): Dena P. Rhinehart, Evelien van Gelderen, Josephine Feliciano, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(11), e2642270
Date: 11/2026
view details
Breast Cancer Screening in Rural West Texas: Access Barriers, Follow-Up Fragmentation, and AI-Enabled Oncology Care Delivery
A narrative review of literature that examines breast cancer screenings, timely diagnostic resolution, and treatment access in rural West Texas. Provides information on barriers to oncology care delivery, screening and treatment financial expenditures, county-level mammography utilization, female breast cancer burden, AI-enabled screening and diagnostic prioritization, and regional screening-to-treatment pathways.
Author(s): Alexander Philipovskiy, Sharda Singh, Austin Castillo, Karla Daniele
Citation: Cancer Control, 33
Date: 11/2026
view details
A narrative review of literature that examines breast cancer screenings, timely diagnostic resolution, and treatment access in rural West Texas. Provides information on barriers to oncology care delivery, screening and treatment financial expenditures, county-level mammography utilization, female breast cancer burden, AI-enabled screening and diagnostic prioritization, and regional screening-to-treatment pathways.
Author(s): Alexander Philipovskiy, Sharda Singh, Austin Castillo, Karla Daniele
Citation: Cancer Control, 33
Date: 11/2026
view details
Availability of Hospital-Based Obstetric Services in the United States by County, 2010–2024: A State-by-State Report
Provides national-, state-, and county-specific information on changes in obstetric care availability between 2010-2024. Includes maps and statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban counties, including rural micropolitan and rural noncore counties.
Author(s): Kevan O'Hanlon, Katy B. Kozhimannil, Julia D. Interrante
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
Provides national-, state-, and county-specific information on changes in obstetric care availability between 2010-2024. Includes maps and statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban counties, including rural micropolitan and rural noncore counties.
Author(s): Kevan O'Hanlon, Katy B. Kozhimannil, Julia D. Interrante
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
Urban-Rural Variability in Infant Formula Availability and Product Variety in United States Counties from 2022 to 2024
Examines infant formula variety and availability across rural and urban U.S. counties. Utilizes 2022-2024 infant formula product listing data as well as Household Pulse Survey data to analyze metro versus nonmetro differences in households using infant formula, difficulty in purchasing formula, and number of unique formula products by county.
Author(s): Gavin J. Fenske, Jessica E. Todd, Saied Toossi, Latasha A. Robinson, Jane M. Van Doren
Citation: Journal of Food Protection, 89(11), 100916
Date: 11/2026
view details
Examines infant formula variety and availability across rural and urban U.S. counties. Utilizes 2022-2024 infant formula product listing data as well as Household Pulse Survey data to analyze metro versus nonmetro differences in households using infant formula, difficulty in purchasing formula, and number of unique formula products by county.
Author(s): Gavin J. Fenske, Jessica E. Todd, Saied Toossi, Latasha A. Robinson, Jane M. Van Doren
Citation: Journal of Food Protection, 89(11), 100916
Date: 11/2026
view details