Rural Health Disparities – Resources

Appalachian Diseases of Despair
Provides information on Appalachian mortality disparities due to overdose, suicide, and alcoholic liver disease/cirrhosis among people ages 15-64. Utilizes data from the 2021 Multiple Cause of Death database broken down by Appalachian state, region, gender, and metropolitan or nonmetropolitan status.
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, East Tennessee State University Center for Rural Health Research, NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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Rural-Urban Differences in Health Care Unaffordability
Analyzes healthcare unaffordability in rural versus urban contexts as well as mitigating sociodemographic variables. Examines 90,761 survey responses from the 2019-2021 National Health Interview Survey according to 3 levels of unaffordability, further breaking down the data by race/ethnicity, sex, income, self-rated health, insurance type, education, age, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Hannah MacDougall, Daniel Mork, Stephanie Hanson, Carrie Henning Smith
Citation: The Journal of Rural Health, 40(2), 376-385
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
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Mapping Health Disparities in 11 High-Income Nations
Analyzes 11 high-income countries, including the U.S., for geographic health disparities related to socioeconomics, affordability, and access. Discusses factors where rural residency is either protective or a risk. Compares health disparities of U.S. rural residents with those of the other countries studied.
Author(s): Neil J. MacKinnon, Vanessa Emery, Jennifer Waller, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(7)
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
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Oral Health Disparities Through the Lifespan: Challenges and Opportunities
Recording of a June 7, 2023, conference session on oral health disparities as part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Health Equity Conference. Features a presentation from the CMS Office of the Administrator comparing differences in rural and urban dental opioid prescribing to adolescent/young adult and adult Medicaid/CHIP enrollees by patient and county characteristics. Transcript available by clicking the dots above the video description, then selecting Show transcript.
Additional links: Carla Shoff, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of the Administrator - Presentation Slides
Date: 06/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Spatial Clustering of COVID-19 Mortality Rates across Counties and by Noncore, Micropolitan, and Metropolitan County Characteristics, December 2020–January 2021
Policy brief examining the county-level clusters of COVID-19 mortality when pandemic levels were at their peak, and how characteristics of counties with high and low mortality rates during the study period varied. Features county-level maps showing mortality rates, and statistics with breakdowns by noncore, micropolitan, and metropolitan locations.
Author(s): Whitney E. Zahnd, Khyathi Gadag, Fred Ullrich, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Monthly Excess Mortality Across Counties in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic, March 2020 to February 2022
Analyzes all-cause excess mortality between March 2020 and February 2022 by county and month to show trends in mortality by date and location. Highlights patterns seen over time between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Discusses the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on the trends.
Author(s): Eugenio Paglino, Dielle J. Lundberg, Zhenwei Zhou, et al.
Citation: Science Advances 9(25)
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
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Video Brochures in a Mailed Fecal Immunochemical Test Outreach Program Provide Cancer Screening Information in a User-friendly Format for Rural Appalachian Community Members
Presents a study on the efficacy of using a video brochure to provide colorectal cancer (CRC) screening information and instructions for a fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) sent out to rural patients in Appalachian Ohio. Explores the barriers to CRC screening, including the low rates of returning FITs, and discusses the effect the video brochure had on this process.
Author(s): Mira L. Katz, Abigail B. Shoben, Sabrina Newell, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
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Rural Healthy People 2030, featuring Timothy Callaghan and Morgan Kassabian
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast focused on the Rural Healthy People 2030 project, featuring Timothy Callaghan and Morgan Kassabian. Discusses the rural health priorities covered by this project and changes in rural health concerns over time. Also describes the methods used for collecting insights from rural stakeholders.
Date: 06/2023
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Diabetes Prevalence and Monitoring in Nonmetropolitan and Metropolitan Areas Within a Commercially Insured U.S. Population
Explores the prevalence of diabetes in metro and nonmetro areas. Draws data from commercial insurance enrollees and compares rates of diabetes testing and outcomes by rurality.
Author(s): Lindsey R. Hammerslag, Jeffery Talbert
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Rural Disparities in the Quality of Clinical Care Are Notable and Larger for Males
Explores the differences in healthcare quality among male and female Medicare Advantage beneficiaries in rural and urban areas. Breaks down data by gender, treatment received, treatment outcomes, and rural versus urban location, among other measures.
Author(s): Sarah MacCarthy, Marc N. Elliott, Steven C. Martino, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(3), 636-642
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
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