Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
Rural–Urban Differences in Excessive Alcohol Use and Select Mental Health Conditions
Explores the differences in alcohol use by people with self-reported mental health conditions in rural and urban areas using 2021-2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data. Breaks down data by demographic markers, such as education level, employment, and health insurance status, among others. Compares alcohol use and mental health data by large urban, small urban, and rural areas.
Author(s): Taryn Farrell, Cassie Odahowski, Emma Boswell, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70209
Date: 08/2026
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Explores the differences in alcohol use by people with self-reported mental health conditions in rural and urban areas using 2021-2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data. Breaks down data by demographic markers, such as education level, employment, and health insurance status, among others. Compares alcohol use and mental health data by large urban, small urban, and rural areas.
Author(s): Taryn Farrell, Cassie Odahowski, Emma Boswell, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70209
Date: 08/2026
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Evaluating the Impact of the Ripe for Revival Mobile Market with Vouchers on Food and Nutrition Security, Fruit and Vegetable Intake, and Blood Pressure in Rural Eastern North Carolina: A Quasi-Experimental Trial Design Study Protocol
Outlines a study protocol that focuses on the impact of produce vouchers to improve fruit and vegetable intake and health status in rural North Carolina residents. Discusses participant eligibility and recruitment, data collection, and study measures and assessments.
Author(s): Basheerah Enahora, Stephanie Jilcott Pitts, Qiang Wu, et al.
Citation: BMJ Open, 16(8), e114071
Date: 08/2026
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Outlines a study protocol that focuses on the impact of produce vouchers to improve fruit and vegetable intake and health status in rural North Carolina residents. Discusses participant eligibility and recruitment, data collection, and study measures and assessments.
Author(s): Basheerah Enahora, Stephanie Jilcott Pitts, Qiang Wu, et al.
Citation: BMJ Open, 16(8), e114071
Date: 08/2026
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State of Oral Health in America: Key Findings from 2026
Details the findings of a survey that aims to identify gaps in dental coverage, barriers to care, and areas that have worse overall oral health outcomes across the country. Compares metro and nonmetro areas by dental insurance coverage, adult dental visits, and overall oral health.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Details the findings of a survey that aims to identify gaps in dental coverage, barriers to care, and areas that have worse overall oral health outcomes across the country. Compares metro and nonmetro areas by dental insurance coverage, adult dental visits, and overall oral health.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Measuring the Association of Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations on Total Cost of Care Across the Perinatal Period
Evaluates the impact of Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) on the cost of healthcare in prenatal, delivery, and postpartum periods. Compares 150,879 Medicaid-covered live deliveries in Massachusetts practices that both did and did not participate in an ACO implementation between January 2016 and March 2023. Includes the rural ZIP code residence percentage for deliveries included in the study.
Author(s): Kathleen Carey, Megan B. Cole
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(8)
Date: 08/2026
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Evaluates the impact of Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) on the cost of healthcare in prenatal, delivery, and postpartum periods. Compares 150,879 Medicaid-covered live deliveries in Massachusetts practices that both did and did not participate in an ACO implementation between January 2016 and March 2023. Includes the rural ZIP code residence percentage for deliveries included in the study.
Author(s): Kathleen Carey, Megan B. Cole
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(8)
Date: 08/2026
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Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Evaluation of Compliance with the Rural and Distance Requirements
Provides guidance regarding the evaluation of Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status and location requirements for current CAHs and initial CAH determinations. Covers the circumstances that trigger a CAH eligibility review, the evaluation of whether a proposed provider-based location will impact a CAH's status, and procedures for decennial reviews of existing CAHs.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Provides guidance regarding the evaluation of Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status and location requirements for current CAHs and initial CAH determinations. Covers the circumstances that trigger a CAH eligibility review, the evaluation of whether a proposed provider-based location will impact a CAH's status, and procedures for decennial reviews of existing CAHs.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Health Outcomes in Rural America: A Prevention-to-Crisis View on Determinants of Health, Chronic Diseases, and Economic Consequences
Presents findings from a June 2026 symposium discussing factors behind health disparities in rural areas, the connection between health and economic opportunity, and possible avenues for improving healthcare outcomes for rural residents.
Author(s): Anthony F. Pipa, Brent Orrell, Adam Aley, Madeline Tong
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Brookings-AEI Commission on U.S. Rural Prosperity, The Brookings Institution
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Presents findings from a June 2026 symposium discussing factors behind health disparities in rural areas, the connection between health and economic opportunity, and possible avenues for improving healthcare outcomes for rural residents.
Author(s): Anthony F. Pipa, Brent Orrell, Adam Aley, Madeline Tong
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Brookings-AEI Commission on U.S. Rural Prosperity, The Brookings Institution
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Payment System for End-Stage Renal Disease for CY 2027
Comments on a June 26, 2026, Federal Register proposed rule related to Medicare payment policies for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Includes comments addressing updates to the ESRD bundled market basket and the low-volume payment adjustment (LVPA), approaches to increase home dialysis use, and more.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comments on a June 26, 2026, Federal Register proposed rule related to Medicare payment policies for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Includes comments addressing updates to the ESRD bundled market basket and the low-volume payment adjustment (LVPA), approaches to increase home dialysis use, and more.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Impact of School Rurality on Fruit and Vegetable Selection Differs by Sex and Eating Duration for Arizona Schools
Analyzes how fruit and vegetable selection, consumption, and waste vary by rurality, sex, and eating duration in Arizona schools. Uses data collected in Arizona elementary, middle, and high schools between 2017 and 2019.
Author(s): Mary Curnutte, Alaina L. Pearce, Marc Adams, Traci Grgich, Meg Bruening
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70208
Date: 08/2026
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Analyzes how fruit and vegetable selection, consumption, and waste vary by rurality, sex, and eating duration in Arizona schools. Uses data collected in Arizona elementary, middle, and high schools between 2017 and 2019.
Author(s): Mary Curnutte, Alaina L. Pearce, Marc Adams, Traci Grgich, Meg Bruening
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70208
Date: 08/2026
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Spatial and Temporal Trends of Access to Birthing Hospitals in Illinois, 2016–2021
Explores changes in travel time to obstetric care between 2016 and 2021 in Illinois at the census tract level, using Illinois Department of Public Health and American Community Survey data. Provides data on access to care by rural or urban dwelling, among other demographic comparisons.
Author(s): Mechelle D. Claridy, Barbara Chebet Keino, Lauren M. Ramsey, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 08/2026
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Explores changes in travel time to obstetric care between 2016 and 2021 in Illinois at the census tract level, using Illinois Department of Public Health and American Community Survey data. Provides data on access to care by rural or urban dwelling, among other demographic comparisons.
Author(s): Mechelle D. Claridy, Barbara Chebet Keino, Lauren M. Ramsey, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 08/2026
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Five Milestones to Addressing Rural Veteran Care Coordination, Care Management, and Case Management Needs: An Integrated Case Management Practice Framework
Explores the implementation of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Care Coordination and Integrated Case Management (CCICM) program into rural facilities. Highlights the goals of the CCICM program and outlines the challenges of implementing it in rural areas. Breaks down the implementation process into five milestones – leadership awareness, facility readiness, preparing to implement, systems and clinical integration, and establishment of a governance structure.
Author(s): Christine Melillo, Heidi Sjoberg, Marcie Lee, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70190
Date: 08/2026
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Explores the implementation of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Care Coordination and Integrated Case Management (CCICM) program into rural facilities. Highlights the goals of the CCICM program and outlines the challenges of implementing it in rural areas. Breaks down the implementation process into five milestones – leadership awareness, facility readiness, preparing to implement, systems and clinical integration, and establishment of a governance structure.
Author(s): Christine Melillo, Heidi Sjoberg, Marcie Lee, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70190
Date: 08/2026
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