Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Statistics and data
Telehealth and Federally Qualified Health Centers
Provides an overview of state policies relating to Medicaid fee-for-service coverage and reimbursement of telehealth services at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) as of May 2026. Includes state-by-state information on FQHC eligibility for reimbursement for being originating and distant sites, store-and-forward services, audio-only services, remote patient monitoring, and more.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
view details
Provides an overview of state policies relating to Medicaid fee-for-service coverage and reimbursement of telehealth services at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) as of May 2026. Includes state-by-state information on FQHC eligibility for reimbursement for being originating and distant sites, store-and-forward services, audio-only services, remote patient monitoring, and more.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
view details
Availability of Real-Time Prescription Benefit Information Among U.S. Hospitals
Describes the availability of real-time prescription benefit (RTPB) information across U.S. hospitals in 2025. Presents data and analysis on RTPB information availability by hospital type, including Critical Access Hospital (CAH) designation, rural location, system affiliation, Accountable Care Organization (ACO) participation, ownership status, and more.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
view details
Describes the availability of real-time prescription benefit (RTPB) information across U.S. hospitals in 2025. Presents data and analysis on RTPB information availability by hospital type, including Critical Access Hospital (CAH) designation, rural location, system affiliation, Accountable Care Organization (ACO) participation, ownership status, and more.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
Geographic and Environmental Differences in Associations Between Food Insecurity and Nutritional and Inflammatory Biomarkers Among Pregnant Participants in the All of Us Research Program
Examines the relationship among food insecurity (FI), geography, and health outcomes in pregnant women living in the Southeastern United States. Utilizes 2018-2022 All of Us Research Program data from 12,192 participants and analyzes cardiometabolic biomarkers, nutritional biomarkers, and environmental factors across rural versus urban, as well as FI versus non-FI populations.
Author(s): Alaijah Bashi, Viviane Schuch, Amber Dawning, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 18(18), 2965
Date: 09/2026
view details
Examines the relationship among food insecurity (FI), geography, and health outcomes in pregnant women living in the Southeastern United States. Utilizes 2018-2022 All of Us Research Program data from 12,192 participants and analyzes cardiometabolic biomarkers, nutritional biomarkers, and environmental factors across rural versus urban, as well as FI versus non-FI populations.
Author(s): Alaijah Bashi, Viviane Schuch, Amber Dawning, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 18(18), 2965
Date: 09/2026
view details
Examining the Rural College Labor Market
Examines the rural college labor market, enrollment and degree completion, location decisions of students, and shifts in degree types to meet the needs of changing rural industries. Utilizes American Community Survey data to analyze the nonmetro workforce, college labor trends, demographic characteristics, and industry changes, including trends related to healthcare profession degree completion and subsequent employment.
Author(s): Brandon Genetin, James C. Davis
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
view details
Examines the rural college labor market, enrollment and degree completion, location decisions of students, and shifts in degree types to meet the needs of changing rural industries. Utilizes American Community Survey data to analyze the nonmetro workforce, college labor trends, demographic characteristics, and industry changes, including trends related to healthcare profession degree completion and subsequent employment.
Author(s): Brandon Genetin, James C. Davis
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
view details
Associations of County-Level Urbanicity With Overall Survival Across 19 Solid Tumor Groups, 2004–2023: A SEER Cohort Study of 5.5 Million Patients
Analyzes how cancer survival varies by rurality at diagnosis across 19 tumor groups, including prostate, lung, kidney, and other cancers, using 2004-2023 SEER data.
Author(s): Lihui Liang, Jiancheng Huang, Qingbai Jiang
Citation: Cancer Control, 33
Date: 09/2026
view details
Analyzes how cancer survival varies by rurality at diagnosis across 19 tumor groups, including prostate, lung, kidney, and other cancers, using 2004-2023 SEER data.
Author(s): Lihui Liang, Jiancheng Huang, Qingbai Jiang
Citation: Cancer Control, 33
Date: 09/2026
view details