Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
Vaccination Coverage by Age 24 Months Among Children Born in 2021 and 2022 — National Immunization Survey-Child, United States, 2022–2024
Examines vaccination coverage for selected vaccines and doses among children born in 2021-2022. Supplementary Table 2 includes data on vaccine coverage for metropolitan and nonmetro areas.
Additional links: Supplementary Table 2
Author(s): Holly A. Hill, David Yankey, Laurie D. Elam-Evans, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(11), 146-155
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Examines vaccination coverage for selected vaccines and doses among children born in 2021-2022. Supplementary Table 2 includes data on vaccine coverage for metropolitan and nonmetro areas.
Additional links: Supplementary Table 2
Author(s): Holly A. Hill, David Yankey, Laurie D. Elam-Evans, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(11), 146-155
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Slow Growth Impacts Nation's Largest Counties Hardest: Diminishing Population Gains in Metro Areas Highlight Nationwide Trend
Discusses how county-level population growth varied between 2023-2024 and 2024-2025, with data breakdowns by level of rurality and for specific metropolitan and micropolitan areas.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Discusses how county-level population growth varied between 2023-2024 and 2024-2025, with data breakdowns by level of rurality and for specific metropolitan and micropolitan areas.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Dentist Workforce and Dental Care Utilization in the Rural and Urban U.S.
Describes the supply of general and specialist dentists in rural and urban counties in 2022. Explores dental care utilization and outcomes in 2019 by degree of rurality and patient characteristics. Discusses the implication of these findings on policies and interventions related to the supply of dentists in rural areas.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, et al.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Describes the supply of general and specialist dentists in rural and urban counties in 2022. Explores dental care utilization and outcomes in 2019 by degree of rurality and patient characteristics. Discusses the implication of these findings on policies and interventions related to the supply of dentists in rural areas.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, et al.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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An Early Look at Profitability Before and After Conversion to Rural Emergency Hospital
Examines the impact of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation on profitability of hospitals. Analyzes Medicare Cost Reports (MCRs) from 32 REHs before and after conversion and provides information on REH total and operating margins.
Author(s): Aditya Pillutla, George Pink, Kristie Thompson, Mark Holmes
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Examines the impact of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation on profitability of hospitals. Analyzes Medicare Cost Reports (MCRs) from 32 REHs before and after conversion and provides information on REH total and operating margins.
Author(s): Aditya Pillutla, George Pink, Kristie Thompson, Mark Holmes
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Brief Prescribing Support and Buprenorphine Adoption in Rural Primary Care: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial
Explores the efficacy of a brief support program on rural primary care providers willingness to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder (OUD). Breaks down the support program modules aimed at educating providers about buprenorphine-based treatment and prescribing practices. Highlights post-intervention changes in prescribing and treatment outcomes.
Author(s): Berkeley Franz, Lindsay Y. Dhanani, Daniel Brook, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(3), e263050
Date: 03/2026
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Explores the efficacy of a brief support program on rural primary care providers willingness to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder (OUD). Breaks down the support program modules aimed at educating providers about buprenorphine-based treatment and prescribing practices. Highlights post-intervention changes in prescribing and treatment outcomes.
Author(s): Berkeley Franz, Lindsay Y. Dhanani, Daniel Brook, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(3), e263050
Date: 03/2026
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Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Medicare Advantage Enrollment 2025
Describes the percentage of rural and urban Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans between 2021-2025. Presents data on the changes in MA penetration rates in urban and rural counties during this time. Includes data on MA penetration rates in 2025 in urban and rural counties by state.
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Describes the percentage of rural and urban Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans between 2021-2025. Presents data on the changes in MA penetration rates in urban and rural counties during this time. Includes data on MA penetration rates in 2025 in urban and rural counties by state.
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Unapologetically Built Backwards: ONU HealthWise, Pharmacist-Driven Healthcare Access in Rural Ohio
Features a university pharmacy department in rural Ohio that prepares pharmacy students for rural practice while also providing mobile services in nearby rural counties. Describes how the program has expanded to offer interprofessional education experiences and serve a larger region.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Features a university pharmacy department in rural Ohio that prepares pharmacy students for rural practice while also providing mobile services in nearby rural counties. Describes how the program has expanded to offer interprofessional education experiences and serve a larger region.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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A Scoping Review of Certified Nurse-Midwife and Certified Midwife Care in the United States: Assessing Outcomes Across Six Patient Care Domains
Provides a scoping review focused on certified nurse-midwife (CNM) and certified midwife (CM) care and quality measures. Discusses 66 studies focused on safety, effectiveness, patient satisfaction, and more, with 4 studies focused on rural populations.
Author(s): Emma Virginia Clark, Robyn Schafer, Rachel Lane Walden, et al.
Citation: The Milbank Quarterly: A Multidisciplinary Journal of Population and Health Policy, 104(1), 220-291
Date: 03/2026
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Provides a scoping review focused on certified nurse-midwife (CNM) and certified midwife (CM) care and quality measures. Discusses 66 studies focused on safety, effectiveness, patient satisfaction, and more, with 4 studies focused on rural populations.
Author(s): Emma Virginia Clark, Robyn Schafer, Rachel Lane Walden, et al.
Citation: The Milbank Quarterly: A Multidisciplinary Journal of Population and Health Policy, 104(1), 220-291
Date: 03/2026
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Bridging the Gap: A Scoping Review of Family Caregiver Roles in Rural Health Settings
Presents a literature review exploring how unpaid caregivers contribute to rural healthcare systems by filling gaps in the rural healthcare infrastructure. Highlights the various roles that unpaid caregivers play in the provision of healthcare, such as providing transportation, translating for family members, and telehealth mediation, among other activities.
Author(s): Stephanie Quon, Isabel Truong, Leah Moroz, Katherine Zheng
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 26(1), 10621
Date: 03/2026
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Presents a literature review exploring how unpaid caregivers contribute to rural healthcare systems by filling gaps in the rural healthcare infrastructure. Highlights the various roles that unpaid caregivers play in the provision of healthcare, such as providing transportation, translating for family members, and telehealth mediation, among other activities.
Author(s): Stephanie Quon, Isabel Truong, Leah Moroz, Katherine Zheng
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 26(1), 10621
Date: 03/2026
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Rural-Urban Trends in the Burden of Diabetes Among U.S. Adults
Describes the national incidence and prevalence of diabetes between 2021-2023 using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Presents data on diabetes-related mortality between 2018-2023 from the CDC WONDER platform. Compares the incidence, prevalence, and mortality data across large metro, small metro, and non-metro counties. Highlights areas of the country with significantly higher and lower diabetes-related mortality rates.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Michelle Asiedu-Danso, Cassie Odahowski, Peiyin Hung, Elizabeth Crouch
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Describes the national incidence and prevalence of diabetes between 2021-2023 using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Presents data on diabetes-related mortality between 2018-2023 from the CDC WONDER platform. Compares the incidence, prevalence, and mortality data across large metro, small metro, and non-metro counties. Highlights areas of the country with significantly higher and lower diabetes-related mortality rates.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Michelle Asiedu-Danso, Cassie Odahowski, Peiyin Hung, Elizabeth Crouch
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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