Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Statistics and data
Structural Vulnerability in the United States Radiation Oncology Delivery System: Predictors and Consequences of Practice Site Disappearance
Examines the impact of radiation oncology (RO) practice site disappearance on treatment capacity in U.S. counties. Utilizes 2018-2025 data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services National Downloadable File to analyze RO practice sites according to urban, rural-adjacent, or rural-nonadjacent county location, hospital affiliation, and county sociodemographics. Includes county-level U.S. map showing RO site growth, loss, or stability.
Author(s): Catherine Yu, Sifan Grace Lu, Danielle Arons, Jared P. Rowley, Kunal K. Sindhu
Citation: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics
Date: 07/2026
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Examines the impact of radiation oncology (RO) practice site disappearance on treatment capacity in U.S. counties. Utilizes 2018-2025 data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services National Downloadable File to analyze RO practice sites according to urban, rural-adjacent, or rural-nonadjacent county location, hospital affiliation, and county sociodemographics. Includes county-level U.S. map showing RO site growth, loss, or stability.
Author(s): Catherine Yu, Sifan Grace Lu, Danielle Arons, Jared P. Rowley, Kunal K. Sindhu
Citation: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics
Date: 07/2026
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Average USDA, Rural Development Investment Grew in Every Rural County Type Between 2000 and 2024
Bar chart showing the amount of investment by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development in nonmetropolitan counties. Compares investment amounts between 2000-2011 and 2012-2024 for 6 industry dependency county types.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Bar chart showing the amount of investment by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development in nonmetropolitan counties. Compares investment amounts between 2000-2011 and 2012-2024 for 6 industry dependency county types.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Results from the Annual Survey of School Food Authorities, School Year 2024-2025
Analyzes supply chain disruptions in School Food Authorities (SFAs), such as the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP), from 2024 to 2025. Provides data on SFA supply chain challenges, food and labor costs, student participation, and more, with rural, suburban, and urban breakdowns.
Author(s): Ashley Chaifetz, Susannah Barr, Allison Lacko
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration
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Analyzes supply chain disruptions in School Food Authorities (SFAs), such as the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP), from 2024 to 2025. Provides data on SFA supply chain challenges, food and labor costs, student participation, and more, with rural, suburban, and urban breakdowns.
Author(s): Ashley Chaifetz, Susannah Barr, Allison Lacko
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration
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A Twelve-Year Retrospective Analysis of a Journey Towards Rural Level I Trauma Center Verification
Discusses the goals, implementation strategies, and challenges of a rural trauma center in Montana which became an ACS Level I Trauma Center in 2023. Includes data on 8,947 trauma activations between 2011 and 2022, discussing quality of care, patient volume, and program infrastructure in a rural setting.
Author(s): Lanny C. Orr, Alexa Peterson, Tessa C. Savell, et al.
Citation: Open Access Emergency Medicine, 18, 618725
Date: 07/2026
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Discusses the goals, implementation strategies, and challenges of a rural trauma center in Montana which became an ACS Level I Trauma Center in 2023. Includes data on 8,947 trauma activations between 2011 and 2022, discussing quality of care, patient volume, and program infrastructure in a rural setting.
Author(s): Lanny C. Orr, Alexa Peterson, Tessa C. Savell, et al.
Citation: Open Access Emergency Medicine, 18, 618725
Date: 07/2026
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The Change Club Intervention: 2-Year Impacts from a Cluster-Randomized Trial in Rural Communities in New York and Texas
Examines the impact of Change Club, a community-focused intervention implemented in New York and Texas that promotes physical activity and healthful nutrition. Examines the impact of a civic engagement curriculum targeting built environment on participant health behaviors and outcomes.
Author(s): Rebecca A. Seguin-Fowler, Karla L. Hanson, Galen D. Eldridge et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14
Date: 07/2026
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Examines the impact of Change Club, a community-focused intervention implemented in New York and Texas that promotes physical activity and healthful nutrition. Examines the impact of a civic engagement curriculum targeting built environment on participant health behaviors and outcomes.
Author(s): Rebecca A. Seguin-Fowler, Karla L. Hanson, Galen D. Eldridge et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14
Date: 07/2026
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MedPAC Data Book: Health Care Spending and the Medicare Program, 2026
Provides an overview of Medicare spending and highlights data on Medicare beneficiary demographics, dual-eligible beneficiaries, quality of care provided through the Medicare program, and other payer liability. Examines settings of care, including rural-specific provider sites, as they relate to spending, access to care, and Medicare and operating margins. Compares rural and urban beneficiaries and providers throughout. Chart 6-2 addresses rural hospital closures and Rural Emergency Hospital conversions.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Provides an overview of Medicare spending and highlights data on Medicare beneficiary demographics, dual-eligible beneficiaries, quality of care provided through the Medicare program, and other payer liability. Examines settings of care, including rural-specific provider sites, as they relate to spending, access to care, and Medicare and operating margins. Compares rural and urban beneficiaries and providers throughout. Chart 6-2 addresses rural hospital closures and Rural Emergency Hospital conversions.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Veteran Satisfaction With Lung Cancer Screening Care: A Cross-Sectional Evaluation
Examines how satisfaction with lung cancer screening varied among rural and nonrural veterans receiving care at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers between 2018 and 2021, using survey data of 689 veterans. Includes data on how other demographic and clinical factors, including smoking status, influence satisfaction with care.
Author(s): Jennifer A. Lewis, Amber J. Hackstadt, Kathryn D. Snyder, et al.
Citation: Medical Care
Date: 07/2026
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Examines how satisfaction with lung cancer screening varied among rural and nonrural veterans receiving care at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers between 2018 and 2021, using survey data of 689 veterans. Includes data on how other demographic and clinical factors, including smoking status, influence satisfaction with care.
Author(s): Jennifer A. Lewis, Amber J. Hackstadt, Kathryn D. Snyder, et al.
Citation: Medical Care
Date: 07/2026
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A Profile of Dual-Eligible Individuals
Presents data on the demographic, socioeconomic, and health characteristics of dual-eligible individuals in 2023. Compares dual-eligible individuals' characteristics with those of Medicare beneficiaries without Medicaid. Includes data on urban and rural residence.
Author(s): Abby Wolk, Nancy Ochieng, Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Alice Burns
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Presents data on the demographic, socioeconomic, and health characteristics of dual-eligible individuals in 2023. Compares dual-eligible individuals' characteristics with those of Medicare beneficiaries without Medicaid. Includes data on urban and rural residence.
Author(s): Abby Wolk, Nancy Ochieng, Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Alice Burns
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Train Rural, Work Rural: The Potential for Advanced Fellowships in Addressing Rural VA Healthcare Workforce Shortages
Explores the potential of professional training programs to increase recruitment and retention of the healthcare workforce in rural Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities. Bases findings on a survey of current VHA fellowships on whether they would be applicable to rural areas. Breaks down data by fellowship program, rurality of program site, and demographics of participating fellows.
Author(s): Kathleen L. Carluzzo, Linda M. Kinney, Bradley V. Watts, Karen E. Schifferdecker
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70188
Date: 07/2026
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Explores the potential of professional training programs to increase recruitment and retention of the healthcare workforce in rural Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities. Bases findings on a survey of current VHA fellowships on whether they would be applicable to rural areas. Breaks down data by fellowship program, rurality of program site, and demographics of participating fellows.
Author(s): Kathleen L. Carluzzo, Linda M. Kinney, Bradley V. Watts, Karen E. Schifferdecker
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70188
Date: 07/2026
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Nearly 90 Percent of U.S. Census Tracts Are Level or Nearly Level
Map of the United States showing census tracts by topographic ruggedness using a 6-point scale ranging from level to extremely rugged.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Map of the United States showing census tracts by topographic ruggedness using a 6-point scale ranging from level to extremely rugged.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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