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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health disparities

The Rural and Urban Supply of Clinicians With a DEA Waiver to Prescribe Buprenorphine in 2022 Prior to the Elimination of the Waiver Requirement
Report explores the differences in rates of clinicians with DEA waivers to prescribe buprenorphine in 2022 in rural versus urban counties. Highlights the rural gaps in access to buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder prior to the elimination of the DEA waiver requirement in 2023. Provides rural, urban, and regional comparisons.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Maternal Mortality in Indiana: Contributing Factors and Policy Recommendations
Discusses causes of maternal mortality and related data in Indiana and the U.S. at large. Includes information on disparities with a focus on rural areas, demographics, and access to maternal health services. Provides county-level map of Indiana showing full, moderate, low, or no access to maternity care. Explores potential solutions to maternal mortality, such as co-location of maternal and behavioral healthcare, substance use disorder (SUD) support, mental health support, and more.
Author(s): Tierra Brooks, Lee Ruess, Kristi Schultz, Elizabeth Thuranira
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Indiana University Public Policy Institute
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Use of Medicaid Personal Care Services in 2019 and 2020
Explores the change in the utilization of personal care services (PCS) among Medicaid beneficiaries from 2019 to 2020. Compares the number and characteristics of Medicaid enrollees with comprehensive benefits who received personal care services (PCS) between a pre-COVID-19 pandemic period (March and December of 2019) and a COVID-19 pandemic period (March through December of 2020). Presents data by patient demographic and clinical characteristics.
Author(s): Melissa Sanchez, Zosha Kandel, Andrea Wysocki, et al.
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Tennessee Maternal Health Strategic Plan, 2025-2030
Addresses Tennessee's maternal health outcomes. Outlines goals, strategies, and objectives that seek to build on existing partnerships and strengths while addressing challenges and gaps, to improve maternal health statewide. Mentions rural throughout.
Author(s): Hannah Dudney
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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Improving HPV Vaccine Coverage in Tennessee: Addressing Barriers and Expanding Access for Mid-Adults
Examines barriers to achieving optimal human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination uptake in the rural South. Analyzes HPV vaccination rates in Tennessee according to insurance status and rural versus urban location. Discusses cancer prevention and interventions to improve education, awareness, access, and vaccination uptake among rural and uninsured populations.
Author(s): Donald J. Alcendor, Patricia Matthews-Juarez, Mohammad Tabatabai, et al.
Citation: Pathogens, 14(4), 311
Date: 03/2025
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Public Health Research and Program Strategies for Diabetes Prevention and Management
Editorial describing diabetes prevention and management efforts and policy since 1975. Discusses disparities in diabetes prevalence including rural residence. Highlights current and future work in diabetes prevention and management.
Author(s): Shelly-Ann Bowen, Arsham Alamian, Stephen Onufrak
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Rising Rural Mortality Rates From Natural Causes for Working-Age Adults Lead to Widening Gap With Urban Counterparts
Reports on disparities in natural cause mortality rates between rural and urban working age adults. Explores disparities by various demographic factors and underlying causes.
Author(s): Kelsey L. Thomas (Conley), Elizabeth A. Dobis, David McGranahan
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Disparities in Cardiovascular Disease Prevalence by Race and Ethnicity, Socioeconomic Status, Urbanicity, and Social Determinants of Health Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Diabetes
Examines demographic disparities in cardiovascular disease prevalence among people with diabetes, utilizing 2015–2019 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data. Includes sociodemographic data, including rural-urban comparisons, on crude and adjusted prevalence of myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure.
Author(s): Xilin Zhou, Joohyun Park, Deborah B. Rolka, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22, 240270
Date: 03/2025
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Lung Cancer Disparities in Rural, Persistent Poverty Counties: A Secondary Data Analysis
Examines lung cancer incidence and mortality according to county-level smoking rates, rurality, and poverty. Analyzes county types, such as urban and non-persistent poverty, urban and persistent poverty, rural and non-persistent poverty, and rural and persistent poverty as correlated with lung cancer disparities.
Author(s): Veronica Bernacchi, Kelly Hirko, Eric Adjei Boakye, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 878
Date: 03/2025
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Goal Alignment and Unintended Consequences of Accountable Care: How the Structure of Oregon's Medicaid Coordinated Care Model Shapes Health Plan-Clinic Partnerships
Analyzes how the coordinated care organization model in Oregon impacts payers and primary care clinics through building relationships, metrics reporting, electronic health record technical assistance, training, and implementing alternative payment methods. Includes discussion of the impact on rural clinics and rural health outcomes.
Author(s): Erin S. Kenzie, Jean Campbell, Mellodie Seater, et al.
Citation: Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 9(1)
Date: 02/2025
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