Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Statistics and data
The 10-20-30 Provision: Defining Persistent Poverty Counties
Defines persistent poverty counties. Discusses how differences in definitions and data can affect which counties are considered persistently poor and includes a map highlighting the impact of different rounding methods. Briefly addresses legislation targeting persistent poverty counties using the "10-20-30 provision," including rural development funding. Table 3 lists persistent poverty counties based on data from the 1993 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), Census 2000, and the 2024 SAIPE.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Defines persistent poverty counties. Discusses how differences in definitions and data can affect which counties are considered persistently poor and includes a map highlighting the impact of different rounding methods. Briefly addresses legislation targeting persistent poverty counties using the "10-20-30 provision," including rural development funding. Table 3 lists persistent poverty counties based on data from the 1993 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), Census 2000, and the 2024 SAIPE.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Skilled Nursing Facilities - Dually Certified in Rural Areas
Printable map that shows the location of Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) and nursing facilities that are dually certified located in rural areas (outside U.S. Census Bureau Urban Areas with a population of 50,000 or more). Data source: data.HRSA.gov, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Additional links: Dually Certified Rural SNF Table
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Printable map that shows the location of Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) and nursing facilities that are dually certified located in rural areas (outside U.S. Census Bureau Urban Areas with a population of 50,000 or more). Data source: data.HRSA.gov, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Additional links: Dually Certified Rural SNF Table
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Disparities in Lung Cancer Health Outcomes and Access to Lung Cancer Screening Between Rural and Urban Areas in the U.S
Narrative review examining rural and urban differences in lung cancer health outcomes, screening access, and other contextual factors influencing lung cancer disparities. Provides recommendations for effective lung cancer treatment and policy development supporting rural health.
Author(s): Aishani Gargapati, James Fox, Erminia Massarelli
Citation: Cancers, 18(5), 864
Date: 03/2026
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Narrative review examining rural and urban differences in lung cancer health outcomes, screening access, and other contextual factors influencing lung cancer disparities. Provides recommendations for effective lung cancer treatment and policy development supporting rural health.
Author(s): Aishani Gargapati, James Fox, Erminia Massarelli
Citation: Cancers, 18(5), 864
Date: 03/2026
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Mortality Trends and Disparities Associated with Aortic Aneurysm and Aortic Dissection in the United States from 1999 to 2023: A CDC Wonder Database Analysis
Examines aortic aneurysm (AA) and aortic dissection (AD) mortality trends in the United States. Utilizes 1999-2023 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) data to analyze mortality according to demographics, census region, and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Lin Lv, Xuedi Gao, Jia Li, et al.
Citation: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 26, 292
Date: 03/2026
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Examines aortic aneurysm (AA) and aortic dissection (AD) mortality trends in the United States. Utilizes 1999-2023 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) data to analyze mortality according to demographics, census region, and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Lin Lv, Xuedi Gao, Jia Li, et al.
Citation: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 26, 292
Date: 03/2026
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Heart Failure Readmissions in Urban and Rural Hospital Settings: An Analysis of 30-Day Readmissions Using the 2021 Nationwide Readmissions Database
Analyzes how 30-day hospital readmission for heart failure varies by rural or urban dwelling using 2021 National Readmissions Database data. Includes data breakdowns by payment type, patient demographics, related health conditions, and other clinical factors.
Author(s): Kendra J. Duran, Janice L. Hinkle, Linda C. Copel
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70138
Date: 03/2026
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Analyzes how 30-day hospital readmission for heart failure varies by rural or urban dwelling using 2021 National Readmissions Database data. Includes data breakdowns by payment type, patient demographics, related health conditions, and other clinical factors.
Author(s): Kendra J. Duran, Janice L. Hinkle, Linda C. Copel
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70138
Date: 03/2026
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Massachusetts 2024 Opioid-Involved Overdose Report: Data, Trends, and Action
Reviews trends in fatal and nonfatal opioid overdoses in Massachusetts, overdose risk factors and the drug supply, and opioid overdose-related service utilization. Features statistics including rates of fatal overdoses from 2016-2024 with breakdowns by rural, most rural, and urban areas, and county-level maps showing age-adjusted death rates in 2023 and 2024.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Massachusetts Department of Public Health
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Reviews trends in fatal and nonfatal opioid overdoses in Massachusetts, overdose risk factors and the drug supply, and opioid overdose-related service utilization. Features statistics including rates of fatal overdoses from 2016-2024 with breakdowns by rural, most rural, and urban areas, and county-level maps showing age-adjusted death rates in 2023 and 2024.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Massachusetts Department of Public Health
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What to Know About Medicare Coverage of Telehealth
Discusses telehealth use by Medicare patients before, during, and after declaration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Notes temporary telehealth provisions set to expire December 31, 2027, telehealth provisions made permanent, and trends in use since 2020. Includes rural and urban comparisons of telehealth use since 2020. Discusses payment models for Medicare and Medicare Advantage, current policies related to telehealth, program integrity, and the cost of coverage through Medicare.
Author(s): Alex Cottrill, Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Discusses telehealth use by Medicare patients before, during, and after declaration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Notes temporary telehealth provisions set to expire December 31, 2027, telehealth provisions made permanent, and trends in use since 2020. Includes rural and urban comparisons of telehealth use since 2020. Discusses payment models for Medicare and Medicare Advantage, current policies related to telehealth, program integrity, and the cost of coverage through Medicare.
Author(s): Alex Cottrill, Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Acceptability and Satisfaction of Eat My ABCs: A Mindful Eating Program for Preschoolers in Low-Income Families
Examines a Head Start-based mindful eating program for low-income families in rural Michigan. Utilizes quantitative and qualitative satisfaction data from 192 caregivers and 23 classroom teachers and provides feedback on their perceived program acceptability and satisfaction. Discusses issues such as parent communication, availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, child comprehension of the program, recruitment strategies, and more.
Author(s): Hannah Lalonde, Esra'a Sawalmeh, Reese Buhlman, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 18(7), 1103
Date: 03/2026
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Examines a Head Start-based mindful eating program for low-income families in rural Michigan. Utilizes quantitative and qualitative satisfaction data from 192 caregivers and 23 classroom teachers and provides feedback on their perceived program acceptability and satisfaction. Discusses issues such as parent communication, availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, child comprehension of the program, recruitment strategies, and more.
Author(s): Hannah Lalonde, Esra'a Sawalmeh, Reese Buhlman, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 18(7), 1103
Date: 03/2026
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Community Place Attachment as a Significant Correlate of Motivation to Change Substance Use Behavior among Adults who Inject Drugs in Rural U.S.
Explores the role of community place attachment (CPA) in motivating change in substance use behaviors (MCSUB) among 350 people who inject drugs in Appalachian Kentucky. Provides data on the relationship between CPA, MCSUB, and substance use treatment utilization, and discusses belongingness as an asset supporting SUD treatment in rural communities.
Author(s): Janet K. Otachi, Shawndaya S. Thrasher, Keith J. Watts, Juma S. Mwenda, Hilary L. Surratt
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14, 1746203
Date: 03/2026
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Explores the role of community place attachment (CPA) in motivating change in substance use behaviors (MCSUB) among 350 people who inject drugs in Appalachian Kentucky. Provides data on the relationship between CPA, MCSUB, and substance use treatment utilization, and discusses belongingness as an asset supporting SUD treatment in rural communities.
Author(s): Janet K. Otachi, Shawndaya S. Thrasher, Keith J. Watts, Juma S. Mwenda, Hilary L. Surratt
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14, 1746203
Date: 03/2026
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Telehealth Uptake and Rural-Urban and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Postpartum Care Access Among Medicaid Beneficiaries in South Carolina, 2018–2022
Compares how postpartum care attendance and timeliness varied by race and ethnicity, rural or urban dwelling, and exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how these associations varied by level of telehealth uptake, using 2019-2022 South Carolina Medicaid claims and enrollment data.
Author(s): Anirban Chatterjee, Xuzhuo Zhao, Jihong Liu, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(5), 298-309
Date: 03/2026
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Compares how postpartum care attendance and timeliness varied by race and ethnicity, rural or urban dwelling, and exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how these associations varied by level of telehealth uptake, using 2019-2022 South Carolina Medicaid claims and enrollment data.
Author(s): Anirban Chatterjee, Xuzhuo Zhao, Jihong Liu, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(5), 298-309
Date: 03/2026
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