Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document

Relationship Between Food Security and Walking for Transportation: Findings by Region and Rurality
Examines how the relationship between food security and walking for transport varies by geographic region and rurality, using 2022 National Health Interview Survey data.
Author(s): Jessica Stroope, Marilyn E. Wende, Robert E. Anderson III, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70181
Date: 06/2026
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Rural–Urban Differences in Use of Mental Health Care for Serious Mental Illness at the Veterans Health Administration: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis
Examines how use of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) mental health care varies among rural and urban veterans with serious mental illness (SMI), using FY 2018-2022 VHA administrative data. Includes data on rural and urban SMI prevalence, services used, and other demographic and clinical factors influencing service use.
Author(s): Alexandra B. Caloudas, Amber B. Amspoker, Ashley Smith, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70173
Date: 06/2026
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Changes in Neighborhood Foodscapes From 2003 to 2023 by Area Rurality in the United States
Examines neighborhood-level characteristics of U.S. foodscapes. Utilizes 2003-2023 licensed food retailer data to analyze healthfulness of available food, food deserts, and food swamps, with data broken down by state and rurality.
Author(s): Daniel Wiese, Marissa M. Shams-White, Zhiyuan Zheng, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 116
Date: 06/2026
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Medicaid Opportunities to Strengthen Oral Health Access In Rural Communities
Discusses how workforce innovations, teledentistry, rural workforce pipelines, and the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) can improve oral healthcare access for Medicaid recipients in rural communities.
Author(s): Madeline Steward
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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A Roadmap for Implementing Virtual Geriatric Mental Health Services for Rural Veterans: Qualitative Longitudinal Evaluation
Explores access to geriatric mental health (GMH) in rural areas among older rural veterans. Evaluates the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) tele-GMH program's ability to provide care to veterans in rural areas. Describes the phases of implementation of tele-GMH as a part of a longitudinal evaluation.
Author(s): Christine E. Gould, Marika Blair Humber, Chalise Carlson, et al.
Citation: JMIR Aging, 9, e95286
Date: 06/2026
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Understanding Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation for At-Home COVID-19 Testing in Underserved Populations During the Pandemic
Evaluates how access to COVID-19 testing barriers, facilitators, and motivations varied among underserved adults in Utah via interviews with 19 low-income Utahns. Includes rural and urban data comparisons and interview excerpts.
Author(s): Joni H. Pierce, Peter Taber, Leticia Stevens, et al.
Citation: Translational Behavioral Medicine, 16(1), ibag033
Date: 06/2026
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Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities (FRCAs): Health-Related Programs
Provides an overview of congressionally authorized federal regional commissions and authorities (FRCAs), state-federal partnerships that use federal funds for economic development grants and related activities. Discusses the relationship between health and economic development. Describes examples of FRCA health-related grant programs and activities, such as healthcare facility development and equipment, workforce development, business technical assistance, and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Summarizes recent legislation and policy proposals regarding FRCAs and health, as well as considerations for Congress.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Connection for a Cure: How Broadband Access Supports Telehealth Use
Describes broadband access, the impact it has on telehealth utilization, and the impact of telehealth on health outcomes. Highlights various state and federal policy measures addressing broadband and telehealth access, the Rural Health Transformation Program, reimbursement, cross-state licensure flexibility, teleprescribing, and emergency medical services.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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CDC Office of Rural Health Fact Sheet
Details the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office of Rural Health's (ORH) strategies and initiatives to support rural public health, including discussion of the ORH's federal partnerships, provision of funding, workforce training, and strategic plan.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: CDC Office of Rural Health
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Travel Time to Delivery Facilities for Arkansas Mothers
Infographic on travel times to maternal care services in Arkansas and the impact of labor and delivery unit closures on access to care. Includes comparisons between 2019 and 2024 at the state level, and provides data on median minutes traveled to delivery facilities by county.
Author(s): Jennifer Wessel
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
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