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Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document

3RNET Annual Report 2024-2025
Includes information on accomplishments from October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025. Features statistics on referrals, placements, job postings, and technical assistance.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: 3RNET
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Access to WIC-Authorized Vendors and High-Speed Internet Services in Urban and Rural Areas
Examines the availability internet services across geographies that enable Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) eligible families to access online WIC shopping options. Utilizes data from 38,279 WIC-authorized vendors during fiscal years 2020-2022 and provides U.S. maps showing census tract-level access to WIC-authorized vendors, access to WIC-authorized vendors and fixed high-speed internet, and access to WIC-authorized vendors and 5G mobile high-speed internet. Includes rural versus urban census tract comparisons of adequate internet access and distance to nearest WIC-authorized vendor.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Leslie Hodges, John Pender, David Marquardt, Anna Shetler, Joanne Guthrie
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Voices From the Field: Informing Maternal Child Health Navigator Training Through Rural Practice Insights
Presents a study on Maternal-Child Health (MCH) Navigators on their perception of their preparedness for providing trauma-informed care, substance use support, and addressing drivers of health in rural Texas communities. Explores MCH Navigators' assessment of the efficacy of their training and real-world experience to prepare them for the maternal health challenges in rural communities.
Author(s): Sharon L. Dormire, Cassidy S. Doucet, Nydia Garcia, Robin Page
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 17
Date: 07/2026
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Rural Lending and the Need for Expanded Access to Credit: Evaluating and Expanded Threshold for Defining Rurality
Explores how access to credit differs by level of rurality, and discusses how federal rural definitions influence rural lending and finance. Includes data on housing supply, distance to maternal care, access to rural school districts, and other housing and financial metrics.
Author(s): Ani Katchova, Alexander Ryan, Micah Mensing
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: The Ohio State University
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Demographic Characteristics of Medicaid Beneficiaries Enrolled in the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly
Describes the demographic characteristics and long-term nursing facility use of Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) enrollees in 2023, including rural residence. Compares data by PACE enrollees who are full-benefit dually eligible beneficiaries and those who are Medicaid-only enrollees.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Non-Congregate Meal Service in the USDA Summer Meal Programs, 2023 to 2024
Examines non-congregate summer meal service in rural areas from 2023 to 2024. Provides data on non-congregate meal service sites and organizations sponsoring non-congregate meal service sites.
Author(s): Susannah Barr
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration
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Survivability in Patients with Rare Sigmoid Colon Adenocarcinoma Variants: Exploring the Influence of Rural–Urban Continuum Codes and Social Determinants of Health in the USA
Examines survival rates of patients with rare sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma across geographic and income variables. Utilizes SEER data from 93,020 patients and includes rural versus urban breakdowns according to demographics, cancer characteristics, mortality, and median household income. Discusses impacts of rurality and socioeconomics on survivability.
Author(s): Md Roungu Ahmmad, Fazlay Faruque, Rodney Rocconi, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 123
Date: 07/2026
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The Effect of Rural Versus Urban Residence on Risk of Unplanned Readmission and Death in Older Veterans Discharged From VA Hospitals
Examines the relationship among geography, readmission, and mortality rates of older veterans discharged from hospital to home. Examines 2023 readmission rates of 99,557 veterans discharged from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals with data broken down according to sociodemographics, admission characteristics, health status, drive time to nearest VA facility, mortality, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Joanne K. Daggy, Anthony J. Perkins, Katie Ross-Driscoll, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70183
Date: 07/2026
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Early Evidence of Geographic Variation in Medicare Participation among Newly Eligible Mental Health Providers Following the 2024 Coverage Expansion
Explores the effect that Medicare's expansion of coverage to marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and mental health counselors (MHCs) has had on the rural mental health workforce. Highlights the rate of participation among rural MFTs and MHCs in Medicare from 2022 to 2024 and compares rates to metro counties.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Natalia V. Oster, Lisa A. Garberson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70180
Date: 07/2026
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Food Banks in the United States: Systems, USDA Programs, and Participation
Provides information on charitable food assistance systems in the United States and the households that utilize them. Includes data on food pantry programs, services, and participation, including use and knowledge of food pantries in metro versus nonmetro areas.
Author(s): Laura J. Hales, Anne T. Byrne, Laura Tiehen, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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