Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Statistics and data
Federal Rural Definitions
Webinar recording featuring speakers from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) discussing how FORHP compiles information from various federal agencies to identify and define rural areas in the U.S. for rural health grant program eligibility. Highlights changes to rural areas, as identified by FORHP with their September 2025 data release.
Additional links: Audio Recording, Webinar Slides
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Webinar recording featuring speakers from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) discussing how FORHP compiles information from various federal agencies to identify and define rural areas in the U.S. for rural health grant program eligibility. Highlights changes to rural areas, as identified by FORHP with their September 2025 data release.
Additional links: Audio Recording, Webinar Slides
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Financial Analysis 2024, Rural Hospitals: An Annual Report on the Financial Health of Pennsylvania Rural Hospitals
Provides data on general acute care (GAC) hospitals located in rural counties, as defined by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. Features financial statistics for GAC hospitals from 2021-2024, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council
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Provides data on general acute care (GAC) hospitals located in rural counties, as defined by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. Features financial statistics for GAC hospitals from 2021-2024, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council
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Update: The Expanding Maternity Care Desert in Pennsylvania
Provides an overview of labor and delivery services in rural Pennsylvania and implications of limited access to maternity care. Features county-level maps showing locations of Pennsylvania hospitals with labor and delivery units and areas that are a 20-minute drive from a labor and delivery unit, as of 2026.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Provides an overview of labor and delivery services in rural Pennsylvania and implications of limited access to maternity care. Features county-level maps showing locations of Pennsylvania hospitals with labor and delivery units and areas that are a 20-minute drive from a labor and delivery unit, as of 2026.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Rural Hospital Bypass by Patients With Commercial Health Insurance
Results of a study examining rural hospital bypass rates among commercially insured patients, and hospital payments from patients who bypassed their nearest hospitals. Features statistics with breakdowns by clinical category and 4 levels of population density.
Author(s): Jessica Y. Chang, Caitlin E. Carroll
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(1), e2555017
Date: 01/2026
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Results of a study examining rural hospital bypass rates among commercially insured patients, and hospital payments from patients who bypassed their nearest hospitals. Features statistics with breakdowns by clinical category and 4 levels of population density.
Author(s): Jessica Y. Chang, Caitlin E. Carroll
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(1), e2555017
Date: 01/2026
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Merging Law and Medicine: Patient Attitudes About and Experiences with Social Needs Screening and Medical-Legal Partnerships in Primary Care
Analyzes survey results of 502 adults who had visited a primary care provider in 2023 to investigate patient experiences with social needs screening (SNS) and medical-legal partnerships (MLP). Discusses rural patients' comfort with MLPs as an option to address social needs.
Author(s): Jamelia D. Graham, Jennifer L. Kraschnewski, Sophia I. Allen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 2026
Date: 01/2026
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Analyzes survey results of 502 adults who had visited a primary care provider in 2023 to investigate patient experiences with social needs screening (SNS) and medical-legal partnerships (MLP). Discusses rural patients' comfort with MLPs as an option to address social needs.
Author(s): Jamelia D. Graham, Jennifer L. Kraschnewski, Sophia I. Allen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 2026
Date: 01/2026
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Compounding Hazards Posed by Wildfires, Flooding, and Resource Extraction: Assessing Multimedia Metal(loid) Exposures and Risk in Rural, Southwestern U.S. Populations
Examines the impact of weather events, resource extraction, and dust exposure on cancer risk in rural communities in Arizona. Utilizes a community-based study and data from multiple sampling sites to analyze child and adult exposure to hazardous elements.
Author(s): Zain Alabdain Alqattan, God'sgift N. Chukwuonye, Camille Tinerella, Miriam Jones, Mónica D. Ramírez-Andreotta
Citation: Environment International, 207, 110034
Date: 01/2026
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Examines the impact of weather events, resource extraction, and dust exposure on cancer risk in rural communities in Arizona. Utilizes a community-based study and data from multiple sampling sites to analyze child and adult exposure to hazardous elements.
Author(s): Zain Alabdain Alqattan, God'sgift N. Chukwuonye, Camille Tinerella, Miriam Jones, Mónica D. Ramírez-Andreotta
Citation: Environment International, 207, 110034
Date: 01/2026
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Doula Services for Medicaid Beneficiaries in Virginia: Access, Utilization, and Policy Lessons
Discusses barriers and facilitators of access to doula care for Medicaid beneficiaries in Virginia after evaluation of a collection of both qualitative and quantitative data gathered between January 2022 and January 2025. Discusses geographic disparities including concerns for access in rural areas and policies to address access.
Author(s): Desirae Leaphart Mensah, Alison E. Cuellar
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(1)
Date: 01/2026
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Discusses barriers and facilitators of access to doula care for Medicaid beneficiaries in Virginia after evaluation of a collection of both qualitative and quantitative data gathered between January 2022 and January 2025. Discusses geographic disparities including concerns for access in rural areas and policies to address access.
Author(s): Desirae Leaphart Mensah, Alison E. Cuellar
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(1)
Date: 01/2026
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Management of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors by Rural and Urban Primary Care Practices
Results of a study comparing management of cardiovascular disease risk factors between rural and urban practices, using data from a national primary care registry from 2016-2020. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, large rural, and small rural areas.
Author(s): Lars E. Peterson, Zachary J. Morgan
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Results of a study comparing management of cardiovascular disease risk factors between rural and urban practices, using data from a national primary care registry from 2016-2020. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, large rural, and small rural areas.
Author(s): Lars E. Peterson, Zachary J. Morgan
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Examining Rural Community Pharmacists' Knowledge and Practices in Opioid Overdose Prevention and Treatment Services in the Southeastern United States
Highlights a study on the knowledge and practices of rural pharmacists around opioid use disorder-related education and counseling in the Southeastern U.S. Presents data by pharmacist demographic characteristics, knowledge, and experience with medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD).
Author(s): Stefanie P. Ferreri, Paige Q. Ngo, Kaileigh D. Yen, Kevin Wang, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 23(11)
Date: 01/2026
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Highlights a study on the knowledge and practices of rural pharmacists around opioid use disorder-related education and counseling in the Southeastern U.S. Presents data by pharmacist demographic characteristics, knowledge, and experience with medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD).
Author(s): Stefanie P. Ferreri, Paige Q. Ngo, Kaileigh D. Yen, Kevin Wang, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 23(11)
Date: 01/2026
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Use of Preventive Services by Rurality, Disability Status, and Health Insurance
Examines rates of use of routine physicals and flu vaccination by rural or urban location, disability status, and health insurance type. Uses data from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey.
Author(s): Alexis Swendener, Katie Rydberg, Lisa I. Iezzoni, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Examines rates of use of routine physicals and flu vaccination by rural or urban location, disability status, and health insurance type. Uses data from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey.
Author(s): Alexis Swendener, Katie Rydberg, Lisa I. Iezzoni, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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