This website is being reviewed for updates. Some information is offline. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document

Telemedicine Visits in US Skilled Nursing Facilities
Results of a study of telemedicine use in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), using data from over 4.4 million residents at 15,434 SNFs. Features statistics including characteristics of SNFs in the top quartile by telemedicine use in 2020 to 2021, with breakdowns by metropolitan, micropolitan, small urban, and rural areas, and state-level maps with shadings showing rates of telemedicine use in SNFs from 2019-2022.
Author(s): Agne Ulyte, Ateev Mehrotra, Andrew D. Wilcock, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(8)
Date: 08/2023
view details
Physical Activity–Friendly Policies and Community Design Features in the US, 2014 and 2021
Examines policy and community design changes from 2014 to 2021 that support physical activity infrastructure. Focuses on designs and policies such as sidewalk width, lighting, bicycle space, and more. Includes discussions about infrastructure and policy specific to rural areas.
Author(s): Bryant J. Webber, Geoffrey P. Whitfield, Latetia V. Moore, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 20
Date: 08/2023
view details
Changes in Policy Supports for Healthy Food Retailers, Farmers Markets, and Breastfeeding Among US Municipalities, 2014–2021: National Survey of Community-Based Policy and Environmental Supports for Healthy Eating and Active Living (CBS-HEAL)
Examines policies that support healthy food access and breastfeeding, such as tax incentives for food vendors, streamlined processes for farmers markets, breaktime for workers who pump breast milk, and more. Tracks data changes between 2014 and 2021 to examine policies in US municipalities according to rural-urban status, Census region, educational attainment, poverty, and race/ethnicity.
Author(s): Stephen J. Onufrak, Latetia V. Moore, Samantha L. Pierce, Carol A. MacGowan, Deborah A. Galuska
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 20
Date: 08/2023
view details
GusNIP Efforts Impacting Rural Communities – and Economies
Discusses the impacts of the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), a food program that helps people access fresh fruits and vegetables. Focuses on resident and community experiences with the program in rural West Virginia.
Author(s): Matt Browning
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
view details
PREVENT Pandemics Act (P.L. 117-328, Division FF, Title II)
Provides a section-by-section overview of the Prepare for and Respond to Existing Viruses, Emerging New Threats, and Pandemics Act (PREVENT Pandemics Act), enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. Describes the Continuing Education Support for Health Professionals Serving in Rural and Underserved Communities Program, which supports specialty training for primary care providers, as well as other rural-relevant provisions.
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
view details
Ensuring Age-Friendly Public Health in Rural Communities: Challenges, Opportunities, and Model Programs
Discusses the components of age-friendly environments and how to support public health efforts that improve the lives of aging residents in rural areas. Provides data related to rural technology access, rural versus urban poverty rates and healthcare provider workforce, county-level U.S. maps of percentage of population aged 65 or older, and rural versus urban majority communities. Includes innovations and recommendations for age-friendly public health systems.
Author(s): M. Aaron Guest, Megan Wolfe, Karon Phillips, Jane Hook
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
view details
A Consensus Panel Approach to Estimating the Start-Up and Annual Service Costs for Rural Ambulance Agencies
Policy brief exploring the costs of running ambulance services for 3 population-based service tiers. Establishes a minimum access standard for ambulances servicing a 25-minute travel time from the ambulance station, and enables policymakers and community stakeholders to develop strategic plans for the financing and provision of ambulance services. Features statistics on number of calls, population ranges of service areas, and fixed, depreciation, variable, and administrative costs.
Author(s): Yvonne Jonk, Gary Wingrove, Nikiah Nudell, Kevin McGinnis
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
view details
KFF Tracking Poll July 2023: Substance Use Crisis And Accessing Treatment
Provides results of a poll focused on the impact of substance use on American families, such as experiences with addiction, social and mental health impacts of substance use, and potential outcomes of substance use such as homelessness or need for medical care. Includes information specific to opioid use with results categorized by community type, including urban, suburban, and rural.
Author(s): Grace Sparks, Alex Montero, Ashley Kirzinger, Isabelle Valdes, Liz Hamel
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: KFF
view details
Distributional Analysis of Variation in Medicare Advantage Participation Within and Between Metropolitan, Micropolitan, and Noncore Counties
Policy brief identifying penetration rates, number of plans, and enrollment patterns and trends in Medicare Advantage participation in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties from 2017-2022. Features statistics with breakdowns by year and metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Author(s): Dan Shane, Ufuoma Ejughemre, Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
view details
Medicaid's Coverage Role in Small Towns and Rural Areas
Discusses the roles Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) play in providing health coverage to residents of small towns and rural areas. Presents data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) on the percentage of children and adults covered by Medicaid and CHIP in 2020-2021. Includes a list of the top 20 small towns and rural areas with the highest share of children and adults covered by Medicaid.
Author(s): Aubrianna Osorio, Joan Alker, Edwin Park
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: Georgetown University Health Policy Institute
view details