Rural Health Disparities – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Health Disparities.
The Nature of the Rural-Urban Mortality Gap
Examines rural-urban mortality disparities in the working-age U.S. population. Analyzes the natural-cause mortality (NCM) rate with 1999-2019 data from the Centers for Disease Control's wide-ranging online data for epidemiology research (WONDER) database according to sex, race and ethnicity, health condition, region, and state.
Author(s): Kelsey L. Thomas, Elizabeth A. Dobis, David A. McGranahan
Date: 03/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Examines rural-urban mortality disparities in the working-age U.S. population. Analyzes the natural-cause mortality (NCM) rate with 1999-2019 data from the Centers for Disease Control's wide-ranging online data for epidemiology research (WONDER) database according to sex, race and ethnicity, health condition, region, and state.
Author(s): Kelsey L. Thomas, Elizabeth A. Dobis, David A. McGranahan
Date: 03/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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The Impact of Rural General Hospital Closures on Communities—A Systematic Review of the Literature
Presents a literature review of studies on the health and economic effects hospital closures have had on rural communities. Analyzes 21 studies completed in the previous 8 years and details the economic and healthcare access outcomes identified.
Author(s): Carol A. Mills, Valerie A. Yeager, Kathleen T. Unroe, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(2), 238-248
Date: 03/2024
Type: Document
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Presents a literature review of studies on the health and economic effects hospital closures have had on rural communities. Analyzes 21 studies completed in the previous 8 years and details the economic and healthcare access outcomes identified.
Author(s): Carol A. Mills, Valerie A. Yeager, Kathleen T. Unroe, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(2), 238-248
Date: 03/2024
Type: Document
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Are There Place-Based Disparities in Mortality Risk? Findings From Two Longitudinal Studies
Analyzes the relationship between place and all-cause mortality by utilizing individual-level data spanning up to 29 years. Utilizes data from 2 longitudinal studies to examine mortality risk of rural, suburban, and urban groups across racial and sociodemographic categories.
Author(s): Olivia E. Atherton
Citation: Health Psychology, 43(9), 639-649
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
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Analyzes the relationship between place and all-cause mortality by utilizing individual-level data spanning up to 29 years. Utilizes data from 2 longitudinal studies to examine mortality risk of rural, suburban, and urban groups across racial and sociodemographic categories.
Author(s): Olivia E. Atherton
Citation: Health Psychology, 43(9), 639-649
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
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Clinical Risk and Outpatient Therapy Utilization for COVID-19 in the Medicare Population
Evaluates COVID-19 treatment disparities among Medicare beneficiaries, with comparisons by age, race and ethnicity, Medicaid eligibility, nursing home use, telemedicine use, rural/urban status, and more. Utilizes Medicare Master Beneficiary Summary and Standard Analytic Claim files for the year 2022. Provides data on rates of COVID-19 therapy use, including medication, hospitalization, and outpatient treatment. Highlights undertreatment experienced by populations with high risk of severe infection.
Author(s): Andrew D. Wilcock, Stephen Kissler, Ateev Mehrotra
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 5(1), e235044
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
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Evaluates COVID-19 treatment disparities among Medicare beneficiaries, with comparisons by age, race and ethnicity, Medicaid eligibility, nursing home use, telemedicine use, rural/urban status, and more. Utilizes Medicare Master Beneficiary Summary and Standard Analytic Claim files for the year 2022. Provides data on rates of COVID-19 therapy use, including medication, hospitalization, and outpatient treatment. Highlights undertreatment experienced by populations with high risk of severe infection.
Author(s): Andrew D. Wilcock, Stephen Kissler, Ateev Mehrotra
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 5(1), e235044
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
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Unequal Treatment Revisited - The Current State of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care: Proceedings of a Workshop
Highlights the proceedings of a workshop on addressing racial and ethnic disparities and equitable healthcare delivery. Presents care perspectives for American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities, among others. Discusses health equity research strategies and challenges.
Author(s): Board on Health Care Services
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Highlights the proceedings of a workshop on addressing racial and ethnic disparities and equitable healthcare delivery. Presents care perspectives for American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities, among others. Discusses health equity research strategies and challenges.
Author(s): Board on Health Care Services
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Public Health Implications of 911 Calls During Heat and Smoke Events
Highlights a study exploring rates of 911 calls related to extreme heat and wildfire related smoke incidents in Missoula County, MT. Differentiates calls within the county by Census tract to identify rural versus urban callers and breaks down the data by average temperature, average particulate matter, and demographic details of callers, among other measures.
Author(s): Christina S. Barsky, Lauren K. McKeague, M. Blake Emidy
Citation: Natural Hazards Center Public Health Disaster Research Report Series, Report 42
Date: 2024
Type: Document
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Highlights a study exploring rates of 911 calls related to extreme heat and wildfire related smoke incidents in Missoula County, MT. Differentiates calls within the county by Census tract to identify rural versus urban callers and breaks down the data by average temperature, average particulate matter, and demographic details of callers, among other measures.
Author(s): Christina S. Barsky, Lauren K. McKeague, M. Blake Emidy
Citation: Natural Hazards Center Public Health Disaster Research Report Series, Report 42
Date: 2024
Type: Document
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The Role of Comorbidities, Medications, and Social Determinants of Health in Understanding Urban-Rural Outcome Differences among Patients with Heart Failure
Analyzes health outcomes for patients with heart failure and mitigating factors such as comorbidities, guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), and social determinants of health (SDOH) in rural versus urban areas. Utilizes data from Medicare beneficiaries who had a heart failure hospitalization between 2008 to 2017 to observe mortality rates within 30 days or 1 year, hospital readmission rates, and emergency room (ER) admissions. Discusses health outcome disparities that correlate to patient location.
Author(s): Emily P. Zeitler, Joanna Joly, Christopher G. Leggett, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(2), 386-393
Date: 2024
Type: Document
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Analyzes health outcomes for patients with heart failure and mitigating factors such as comorbidities, guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), and social determinants of health (SDOH) in rural versus urban areas. Utilizes data from Medicare beneficiaries who had a heart failure hospitalization between 2008 to 2017 to observe mortality rates within 30 days or 1 year, hospital readmission rates, and emergency room (ER) admissions. Discusses health outcome disparities that correlate to patient location.
Author(s): Emily P. Zeitler, Joanna Joly, Christopher G. Leggett, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(2), 386-393
Date: 2024
Type: Document
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Research Note Showing That the Rural Mortality Penalty Varies by Region, Race, and Ethnicity in the United States, 1999–2016
Evaluates rural mortality penalties by region, race, and ethnicity using 1999-2016 CDC WONDER data. Identifies regional variations in metro versus nonmetro mortality disparities experienced by Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, White, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native populations.
Author(s): Danielle Rhubart, Alexis Santos
Citation: Demography, 60(6), 1699-1709
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
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Evaluates rural mortality penalties by region, race, and ethnicity using 1999-2016 CDC WONDER data. Identifies regional variations in metro versus nonmetro mortality disparities experienced by Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, White, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native populations.
Author(s): Danielle Rhubart, Alexis Santos
Citation: Demography, 60(6), 1699-1709
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
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2023 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
Provides a comprehensive summary and data analysis of healthcare quality and access in the U.S. Addresses access to healthcare, patient safety, person-centered care, care coordination, effective treatment, healthy living, and care affordability. Focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare and healthcare systems.
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Provides a comprehensive summary and data analysis of healthcare quality and access in the U.S. Addresses access to healthcare, patient safety, person-centered care, care coordination, effective treatment, healthy living, and care affordability. Focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare and healthcare systems.
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Disparities in LTSS Needs and Supportive Resources at Age 55, and Outcome Disparities During the Next Decade
Reports on disparities in long-term services and supports (LTSS) needs and resources of adults at age 55, and analyzes outcomes over the next 10 years of their lives, using 2008-2018 longitudinal Health and Retirement Study data. Covers race and ethnicity, rural or urban setting, and other demographic information. Highlights financial resources, health insurance, social supports, cognitive decline, assets, and more.
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: ATI Advisory, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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Reports on disparities in long-term services and supports (LTSS) needs and resources of adults at age 55, and analyzes outcomes over the next 10 years of their lives, using 2008-2018 longitudinal Health and Retirement Study data. Covers race and ethnicity, rural or urban setting, and other demographic information. Highlights financial resources, health insurance, social supports, cognitive decline, assets, and more.
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: ATI Advisory, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for:
- Appalachia
- Delta Region
- Health disparities
- Rural-urban differences
- The South
- U.S.-Mexico Border Region
Last Updated: 9/25/2024