Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
Mapping Social Vulnerability and Proximity to Pharmacies in Minnesota, 2009–2024
Analyzes the relationship between pharmacy deserts and social vulnerability across Minnesota. Utilizes Minnesota Board of Pharmacy and geocoded data to examine the relationship among social vulnerability, access to pharmacy, and urban, metro, or nonmetro location. Includes census-tract level Minnesota map showing social vulnerability and access to pharmacies.
Author(s): Emma Goldner, Emily Styles, Lindsay Sorge, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 07/2026
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Analyzes the relationship between pharmacy deserts and social vulnerability across Minnesota. Utilizes Minnesota Board of Pharmacy and geocoded data to examine the relationship among social vulnerability, access to pharmacy, and urban, metro, or nonmetro location. Includes census-tract level Minnesota map showing social vulnerability and access to pharmacies.
Author(s): Emma Goldner, Emily Styles, Lindsay Sorge, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 07/2026
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Food Service Directors' Knowledge and Beliefs About Ultraprocessed Foods in California's San Joaquin Valley Schools
Examines food service director (FSD) perspectives on ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) while planning meals for schools in the largely rural San Joaquin Valley of California. Utilizes interview data from 20 FSDs and discusses themes such as healthfulness of UPFs, scratch-cooked foods versus UPFs, and reasons for including or not including UPFs in school menus.
Author(s): Anjali Gupta, Alix Zuceth Duran Gomez, Donna Matheson, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 07/2026
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Examines food service director (FSD) perspectives on ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) while planning meals for schools in the largely rural San Joaquin Valley of California. Utilizes interview data from 20 FSDs and discusses themes such as healthfulness of UPFs, scratch-cooked foods versus UPFs, and reasons for including or not including UPFs in school menus.
Author(s): Anjali Gupta, Alix Zuceth Duran Gomez, Donna Matheson, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 07/2026
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The Role of Rurality and Area-Level Disadvantage in Lifestyle Risk Factors and Psychological Well-Being among Cancer Survivors: Findings from the 2021 NCI HINTS-SEER
Examines how rurality and area-level disadvantage are associated with obesity, smoking, and depression or anxiety among cancer survivors, using 2021 HINTS-SEER data. Compares the roles of area-level and individual factors in influencing cancer survivorship outcomes in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Anita M. Kumar, Carrie A. Miller, Reyna Han, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 125
Date: 07/2026
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Examines how rurality and area-level disadvantage are associated with obesity, smoking, and depression or anxiety among cancer survivors, using 2021 HINTS-SEER data. Compares the roles of area-level and individual factors in influencing cancer survivorship outcomes in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Anita M. Kumar, Carrie A. Miller, Reyna Han, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 125
Date: 07/2026
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Economic Cynicism, COVID-19 and Deaths of Despair in Rural Ohio Counties
Explores the relationship between economic cynicism, COVID-19, and deaths of despair (DoDs) in rural counties in Ohio. Highlights rates of social connection, economic disadvantage and cynicism, and how they correlate with DoDs, among other measures.
Author(s): Christopher R. Browning, Bethany Boettner, Catherine A. Calder, Elisabeth Root
Citation: Sociology of Health & Illness, 48(6), e70227
Date: 07/2026
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Explores the relationship between economic cynicism, COVID-19, and deaths of despair (DoDs) in rural counties in Ohio. Highlights rates of social connection, economic disadvantage and cynicism, and how they correlate with DoDs, among other measures.
Author(s): Christopher R. Browning, Bethany Boettner, Catherine A. Calder, Elisabeth Root
Citation: Sociology of Health & Illness, 48(6), e70227
Date: 07/2026
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Georgia Rural Hospital Tax Credit - 2026 Ranking of Financial Need
List of Georgia hospitals eligible for the Georgia Rural Hospital Tax Credit, ranked by financial need. Updated in July 2026.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Department of Community Health
List of Georgia hospitals eligible for the Georgia Rural Hospital Tax Credit, ranked by financial need. Updated in July 2026.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Department of Community Health
Related funding:
Georgia Rural Hospital Tax Credit
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Defining Veteran Rurality: An Analysis of the U.S. Veterans Health Administration Rural–Urban Taxonomy
Examines the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) "Categorization B" rural–urban taxonomies and changes to drive time estimates to VHA care as determined by these taxonomies. Analyzes drive time across RUCA codes, Categorization B designation, and VHA designation. Discusses VHA rural and highly rural designations and the importance of aligning rural definitions to the VHA's access-to-care priorities.
Author(s): Diana J. Govier, Travis I. Lovejoy, Sarah S. Ono, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70182
Date: 07/2026
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Examines the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) "Categorization B" rural–urban taxonomies and changes to drive time estimates to VHA care as determined by these taxonomies. Analyzes drive time across RUCA codes, Categorization B designation, and VHA designation. Discusses VHA rural and highly rural designations and the importance of aligning rural definitions to the VHA's access-to-care priorities.
Author(s): Diana J. Govier, Travis I. Lovejoy, Sarah S. Ono, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70182
Date: 07/2026
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Evaluation of the ACO REACH Model: Evaluation Report 3
Presents key findings from an evaluation of the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) REACH Model's first performance year, as well as the two years of the preceding Global and Professional Direct Contracting (GPDC) Model. Examines model participants' implementation experiences and the model's impact on cost, utilization, and quality outcomes. Includes information on the participation of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in the model.
Additional links: Appendices, CMS Perspective Report, Executive Summary, Findings at a Glance
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Presents key findings from an evaluation of the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) REACH Model's first performance year, as well as the two years of the preceding Global and Professional Direct Contracting (GPDC) Model. Examines model participants' implementation experiences and the model's impact on cost, utilization, and quality outcomes. Includes information on the participation of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in the model.
Additional links: Appendices, CMS Perspective Report, Executive Summary, Findings at a Glance
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
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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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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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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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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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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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