Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
Medicare Telehealth Trends Report
Describes the trends of telehealth utilization among Medicare beneficiaries between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2025. Presents data on the percentage of Medicare beneficiaries that used a telehealth service by calendar quarter and by Medicaid eligibility, type of Medicare eligibility, demographic characteristics, and rural/urban residence.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Describes the trends of telehealth utilization among Medicare beneficiaries between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2025. Presents data on the percentage of Medicare beneficiaries that used a telehealth service by calendar quarter and by Medicaid eligibility, type of Medicare eligibility, demographic characteristics, and rural/urban residence.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Navigating Rural Challenges and Promoting Posttraumatic Growth via Expressive Writing: A Qualitative Study among Rural Breast Cancer Survivors
Preprint article discussing findings from an expressive writing therapeutic intervention for rural breast cancer survivors via interviews with 14 participants. Analyzes interview themes related to the impact of expressive writing on emotional regulation, personal strength, relationships to others, and more, including discussion of rural challenges with rural cancer survivorship and access to supportive services.
Author(s): Yusi Aveva Xu, Eunju Choi, Celia C. Y. Wong-Meli, et al.
Citation: Research Square
Date: 04/2026
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Preprint article discussing findings from an expressive writing therapeutic intervention for rural breast cancer survivors via interviews with 14 participants. Analyzes interview themes related to the impact of expressive writing on emotional regulation, personal strength, relationships to others, and more, including discussion of rural challenges with rural cancer survivorship and access to supportive services.
Author(s): Yusi Aveva Xu, Eunju Choi, Celia C. Y. Wong-Meli, et al.
Citation: Research Square
Date: 04/2026
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"Hit or Miss": Rural Veterans' Experiences Receiving Community Mental Health Care
Discusses experiences with accessing and using Veteran Health Administration (VHA)-purchased community care for mental health among 30 rural veterans who received community care services between October 2022 and September 2024. Identifies common positive and negative experiences, including discussion of rural-specific challenges with provider availability, geography, communication, and culture.
Author(s): Patricia V. Chen, Jessica Walsh, Ashley H. Smith, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70151
Date: 04/2026
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Discusses experiences with accessing and using Veteran Health Administration (VHA)-purchased community care for mental health among 30 rural veterans who received community care services between October 2022 and September 2024. Identifies common positive and negative experiences, including discussion of rural-specific challenges with provider availability, geography, communication, and culture.
Author(s): Patricia V. Chen, Jessica Walsh, Ashley H. Smith, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70151
Date: 04/2026
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Career Pathways and Employment Experiences of Certified Nurse-Midwives Compared With Other Advanced Practice Registered Nurses in the United States
Examines how certified nurse midwife (CNM) demographics, career pathways, and job experiences changed from 2018-2022 and in comparison with other advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Uses data from the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses. Features demographics and statistics including percentages of CNMs working in rural areas and Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Author(s): Paula M. Kett, Kyla F. Woodward, Shahida Shahrir, Selina A. Mohammed
Citation: Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 0(1)
Date: 04/2026
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Examines how certified nurse midwife (CNM) demographics, career pathways, and job experiences changed from 2018-2022 and in comparison with other advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Uses data from the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses. Features demographics and statistics including percentages of CNMs working in rural areas and Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Author(s): Paula M. Kett, Kyla F. Woodward, Shahida Shahrir, Selina A. Mohammed
Citation: Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 0(1)
Date: 04/2026
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Expanding Mobility Options in Rural Western South Carolina: Upper Savannah Transit and Mobility Feasibility Study for Abbeville, Laurens, and Saluda Counties
Examines transportation in rural South Carolina counties and the impact of transportation gaps on employment, healthcare, education, and overall community well-being. Provides information and data on transportation needs, demographic profile of rural residents, and transit/mobility options, such as fixed and flexible transit, volunteer driving programs, carpooling, and more. Includes resources on medical and rural health transportation needs.
Author(s): Rebecca Gleason, David Kack, Jennifer MacFarlane
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Western Transportation Institute
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Examines transportation in rural South Carolina counties and the impact of transportation gaps on employment, healthcare, education, and overall community well-being. Provides information and data on transportation needs, demographic profile of rural residents, and transit/mobility options, such as fixed and flexible transit, volunteer driving programs, carpooling, and more. Includes resources on medical and rural health transportation needs.
Author(s): Rebecca Gleason, David Kack, Jennifer MacFarlane
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Western Transportation Institute
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Risk Factors Associated with Physical Inactivity among Adults with Arthritis
Provides self-reported data on Vermont adults with arthritis who had not participated in leisure time physical activity in the month prior to completing the survey. Features statistics including breakdowns by co-occurring chronic conditions, food and housing insecurity, and residence in urban, large rural, or small rural areas.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Vermont Department of Health
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Provides self-reported data on Vermont adults with arthritis who had not participated in leisure time physical activity in the month prior to completing the survey. Features statistics including breakdowns by co-occurring chronic conditions, food and housing insecurity, and residence in urban, large rural, or small rural areas.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Vermont Department of Health
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Understanding Artificial Intelligence and How It Can Be Used in Transit
Discusses the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in transit agencies. Includes the results of a survey among 24 rural, tribal, and other transit agencies about their use of AI, potential uses of AI, regulations, and potential funding sources. Offers a 6-step process for implementation following best practices.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Transit Assistance Program
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Discusses the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in transit agencies. Includes the results of a survey among 24 rural, tribal, and other transit agencies about their use of AI, potential uses of AI, regulations, and potential funding sources. Offers a 6-step process for implementation following best practices.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Transit Assistance Program
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Demographic Profiles and Disparities in All Liver Diseases and Diabetes Mellitus Patients - Related Mortality among Older Adults (≥ 65) in the United States, 1999 to 2020
Examines mortality rates of diabetes mellitus (DM) and all liver diseases (All-LD) in older adults from 1999 to 2020 in the United States. Utilizes the CDC-WONDER Multiple Cause of Death database to analyze 95,870 deaths related to All-LD and DM according to demographics, census region, place of death, and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Mansuor A. Alanazi, Saeed Ali Alshahrani, Ali Elkarouri, et al.
Citation: BMC Gastroenterology, 26, 287
Date: 04/2026
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Examines mortality rates of diabetes mellitus (DM) and all liver diseases (All-LD) in older adults from 1999 to 2020 in the United States. Utilizes the CDC-WONDER Multiple Cause of Death database to analyze 95,870 deaths related to All-LD and DM according to demographics, census region, place of death, and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Mansuor A. Alanazi, Saeed Ali Alshahrani, Ali Elkarouri, et al.
Citation: BMC Gastroenterology, 26, 287
Date: 04/2026
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State Policies Can Help Address the Mental Health Care Workforce Shortages
Discusses how state needs assessments can help policymakers address gaps in mental healthcare workforce coverage. Details rural mental health workforce shortages and highlights how state programs, informed by needs assessments, can address workforce shortages.
Author(s): Stacey Baxter
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Pew
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Discusses how state needs assessments can help policymakers address gaps in mental healthcare workforce coverage. Details rural mental health workforce shortages and highlights how state programs, informed by needs assessments, can address workforce shortages.
Author(s): Stacey Baxter
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Pew
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Boosting Oral Health Care in Rural Communities
Provides a brief overview of the state of oral healthcare in rural areas. Highlights state and federal actions taken to improve access to oral healthcare and support and expand the dental health workforce.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Provides a brief overview of the state of oral healthcare in rural areas. Highlights state and federal actions taken to improve access to oral healthcare and support and expand the dental health workforce.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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