Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Statistics and data
2025 National CAH Quality Inventory & Assessment National Report
Presents a high-level summary of key data points from the September-November 2025 National Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Quality Inventory and Assessment. Includes data on CAH system affiliation; median average daily census and emergency department volume; median swing bed admissions and swing bed length of stay; hospital inpatient, behavioral health and specialty care, and outpatient and other service lines; CAH quality payment model participation; and CAH quality improvement topic priorities.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Robert Barclay
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Presents a high-level summary of key data points from the September-November 2025 National Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Quality Inventory and Assessment. Includes data on CAH system affiliation; median average daily census and emergency department volume; median swing bed admissions and swing bed length of stay; hospital inpatient, behavioral health and specialty care, and outpatient and other service lines; CAH quality payment model participation; and CAH quality improvement topic priorities.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Robert Barclay
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Rural Residence and Mental Health among US Veterans: Findings from the Millennium Cohort Study
Details a study on the effect rurality, social vulnerability, drive time from Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities, and VHA utilization have on the mental health of rural veterans. Breaks down data by participants' age, education, and military service, among other measures.
Author(s): Claire A. Kolaja, Javier Villalobos, Julia Seay, et al.
Citation: PLOS One, 21(4), e0346780
Date: 04/2026
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Details a study on the effect rurality, social vulnerability, drive time from Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities, and VHA utilization have on the mental health of rural veterans. Breaks down data by participants' age, education, and military service, among other measures.
Author(s): Claire A. Kolaja, Javier Villalobos, Julia Seay, et al.
Citation: PLOS One, 21(4), e0346780
Date: 04/2026
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Overcoming Challenges with Rural-Related Health Data: Lessons Learned from Published Studies
Offers a systematic review of peer-reviewed, rural health-related studies published between 2019-2022. Identifies strategies that could help address challenges related to rural data.
Author(s): Casey P. Balio, Margaret M. Francisco, Nicole Galler, et al.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
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Offers a systematic review of peer-reviewed, rural health-related studies published between 2019-2022. Identifies strategies that could help address challenges related to rural data.
Author(s): Casey P. Balio, Margaret M. Francisco, Nicole Galler, et al.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
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Income and Geographic Disparities in in-Hospital Mortality Following Cardiovascular Procedures: Evidence From the National Inpatient Sample, 2016–2022
Examines in-hospital mortality following cardiovascular procedures as related to income and geographic disparities. Utilizes 2016-2022 National Inpatient Sample data to analyze various cardiovascular procedures and associated mortality risk by income as well as by location of non-metro, metro of 50,000 to 999,000 residents, or metro of 1,000,000 or more residents.
Author(s): Alon Bergman, Ashwin Nathan
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(2), e70117
Date: 04/2026
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Examines in-hospital mortality following cardiovascular procedures as related to income and geographic disparities. Utilizes 2016-2022 National Inpatient Sample data to analyze various cardiovascular procedures and associated mortality risk by income as well as by location of non-metro, metro of 50,000 to 999,000 residents, or metro of 1,000,000 or more residents.
Author(s): Alon Bergman, Ashwin Nathan
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(2), e70117
Date: 04/2026
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A Mixed-Methods Approach for Understanding Cancer Center Catchment Area Needs: An Example of Rural Cancer Disparities, Needs, and Resiliencies
Examines the catchment area for the University of Iowa Health Care Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center and provides data on cancer burden, risks and protective factors, needs and barriers, and assets and resources related to cancer in Iowa. Utilizes rural versus urban cancer registry data as well as qualitative interview data from Iowa leaders to discuss cancer disparities in rural areas.
Author(s): Stephanie Evett, Amanda Kahl, Megan E. Schmidt, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes Control, 37, 82
Date: 04/2026
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Examines the catchment area for the University of Iowa Health Care Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center and provides data on cancer burden, risks and protective factors, needs and barriers, and assets and resources related to cancer in Iowa. Utilizes rural versus urban cancer registry data as well as qualitative interview data from Iowa leaders to discuss cancer disparities in rural areas.
Author(s): Stephanie Evett, Amanda Kahl, Megan E. Schmidt, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes Control, 37, 82
Date: 04/2026
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Prevalence of Selected Chronic Conditions Among Adults Age 45 and Older, by Age and Urbanization Level: United States, 2024
Provides data on the prevalence of heart disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and stroke among adults age 45 and older by level of rurality, using data from the 2024 National Health Interview Survey.
Author(s): Xun Wang, Lindsey I. Black
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Provides data on the prevalence of heart disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and stroke among adults age 45 and older by level of rurality, using data from the 2024 National Health Interview Survey.
Author(s): Xun Wang, Lindsey I. Black
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Hepatitis C Virus Transmission among People Who Inject Drugs in Rural United States: Mathematical Modeling Study Using Stochastic Agent-Based Network Simulation
Presents a study exploring a network simulation model of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission among rural people who inject drugs (PWID). Breaks down data by participant characteristics, such as age, sex, and HCV antibody positivity, among others, and network characteristics, such as size and percentage of PWID who are HCV positive, among others.
Author(s): Lin Zhu, Jennifer R Havens, Abby E Rudolph, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Epidemiology, 195(4), 937-947
Date: 04/2026
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Presents a study exploring a network simulation model of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission among rural people who inject drugs (PWID). Breaks down data by participant characteristics, such as age, sex, and HCV antibody positivity, among others, and network characteristics, such as size and percentage of PWID who are HCV positive, among others.
Author(s): Lin Zhu, Jennifer R Havens, Abby E Rudolph, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Epidemiology, 195(4), 937-947
Date: 04/2026
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Analysis of Pennsylvania Crime Trends: An Updated Rural/Urban Comparison
Examines rural and urban crime trends in Pennsylvania from 2013-2023. Identifies areas where rural crime trends differ from urban patterns, and highlights differences across rural regions of the state. Features statistics on crime rates by offense category, injuries due to assault, access to drug and alcohol treatment centers, and most prevalent property crimes, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and Philadelphia alone.
Author(s): Brandon Vick, Robert Orth, Emily Schumacher, Angel Alcantara
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Examines rural and urban crime trends in Pennsylvania from 2013-2023. Identifies areas where rural crime trends differ from urban patterns, and highlights differences across rural regions of the state. Features statistics on crime rates by offense category, injuries due to assault, access to drug and alcohol treatment centers, and most prevalent property crimes, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and Philadelphia alone.
Author(s): Brandon Vick, Robert Orth, Emily Schumacher, Angel Alcantara
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Trends Among Medicare Special Needs Plan Enrollment in Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Areas
Examines enrollment trends from 2016-2025 in Medicare Advantage plans that provide benefits and services to people with specific conditions or healthcare needs, or who also have Medicaid. Features statistics with breakdowns by year and by metropolitan or nonmetropolitan location.
Author(s): Edmer Lazaro, Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Examines enrollment trends from 2016-2025 in Medicare Advantage plans that provide benefits and services to people with specific conditions or healthcare needs, or who also have Medicaid. Features statistics with breakdowns by year and by metropolitan or nonmetropolitan location.
Author(s): Edmer Lazaro, Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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April 2026 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) April 2026 meeting. Covers Medicare payment incentives, regional benchmarks and benchmark-plan availability in the Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) market, preferred networks and pharmacy access in Medicare Part D, the estimated association between Medicare Advantage enrollment and hospitals' and post-acute care providers' finances, information sources that beneficiaries use to make Medicare enrollment decisions, and institutional special-needs plans. Includes a mandated report on the assessment of the Medicare ground ambulance data collection system. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Additional links: Advising the Congress on Medicare Issues Preferred Networks and Pharmacy Access in Part D, Mandated Report: Assessment of the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) April 2026 meeting. Covers Medicare payment incentives, regional benchmarks and benchmark-plan availability in the Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) market, preferred networks and pharmacy access in Medicare Part D, the estimated association between Medicare Advantage enrollment and hospitals' and post-acute care providers' finances, information sources that beneficiaries use to make Medicare enrollment decisions, and institutional special-needs plans. Includes a mandated report on the assessment of the Medicare ground ambulance data collection system. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Additional links: Advising the Congress on Medicare Issues Preferred Networks and Pharmacy Access in Part D, Mandated Report: Assessment of the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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