Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services
Controlled, Before-and-After Analysis and Pre–Post Surveys to Assess the Effects of a Community-Wide Sanitation System on Environmental Contamination, Infection Risk and Well-Being in Alabama's Black Belt: Study Protocol
A study protocol focused on implementation of a community-wide sanitation system in a rural area of Alabama. Utilizes controlled, before-and-after (CBA) data collection of pathogens and bacteria to analyze impact of sanitation systems on public health and well-being.
Author(s): Olivia A. Harmon, Megan E. J. Lott, David A. Holcomb, et al.
Citation: BMJ Open, 16(4), e108477
Date: 04/2026
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A study protocol focused on implementation of a community-wide sanitation system in a rural area of Alabama. Utilizes controlled, before-and-after (CBA) data collection of pathogens and bacteria to analyze impact of sanitation systems on public health and well-being.
Author(s): Olivia A. Harmon, Megan E. J. Lott, David A. Holcomb, et al.
Citation: BMJ Open, 16(4), e108477
Date: 04/2026
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Expanding Zero Suicide: Qualitative Assessment of Community Mental Health Center Partnerships Supporting Rural Suicide Prevention
Examines the impact of the Zero Suicide framework and its ability to promote community mental health supports. Utilizes semi-structured interview feedback from Zero Suicide organizations served by a Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) and discusses suicide prevention partnerships, information sharing, and staffing in rural areas.
Author(s): Ryan Marawala, Thomas Delaney
Citation: Community Mental Health Journal
Date: 04/2026
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Examines the impact of the Zero Suicide framework and its ability to promote community mental health supports. Utilizes semi-structured interview feedback from Zero Suicide organizations served by a Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) and discusses suicide prevention partnerships, information sharing, and staffing in rural areas.
Author(s): Ryan Marawala, Thomas Delaney
Citation: Community Mental Health Journal
Date: 04/2026
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A Closer Look at Rural Nursing Homes
Compares characteristics of nursing homes in rural and urban areas including patient population data, distribution, and ownership. Also discusses payer mix, healthcare quality, and staffing levels. Highlights changes between 2015 and 2025 for some data.
Author(s): Priya Chidambaram, Alice Burns, Robin Rudowitz
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Compares characteristics of nursing homes in rural and urban areas including patient population data, distribution, and ownership. Also discusses payer mix, healthcare quality, and staffing levels. Highlights changes between 2015 and 2025 for some data.
Author(s): Priya Chidambaram, Alice Burns, Robin Rudowitz
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Alabama Vital Statistics, 2023
Statistics on births, deaths, marriage, and population in Alabama in 2023. Includes birth rate, maternal demographics and characteristics, causes of death, divorces and annulments, population estimates, and more. Provides county-by-county data, including county-level maps.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Alabama Public Health
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Statistics on births, deaths, marriage, and population in Alabama in 2023. Includes birth rate, maternal demographics and characteristics, causes of death, divorces and annulments, population estimates, and more. Provides county-by-county data, including county-level maps.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Alabama Public Health
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Exploring the Geographic Variation of Hepatitis C Screening and Treatment in Ohio
Examines geographic differences in hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening and treatment across Ohio. Utilizes State of Ohio Integrated Behavioral Health Dashboard data to provide a county-level map showing number of HCV screening exams and people treated for HCV per 100,000 people as well as location of health center testing sites.
Author(s): Michael Topmiller, Aaron T. Vissman, Peter J. Mallow, Adam Visconti
Citation: Ohio Journal of Public Health, 8(1)
Date: 04/2026
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Examines geographic differences in hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening and treatment across Ohio. Utilizes State of Ohio Integrated Behavioral Health Dashboard data to provide a county-level map showing number of HCV screening exams and people treated for HCV per 100,000 people as well as location of health center testing sites.
Author(s): Michael Topmiller, Aaron T. Vissman, Peter J. Mallow, Adam Visconti
Citation: Ohio Journal of Public Health, 8(1)
Date: 04/2026
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Medicaid Home Care Chartbook
Provides an overview of home care services within the Medicaid program, including participant eligibility, types of services delivered, inclusion in managed care arrangements, and provider distribution. Includes data on the percentage of home care recipients and location of providers in 2023 by Rural-Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) Code.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Health Management Associates, National Alliance for Care at Home, Research Institute for Home Care
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Provides an overview of home care services within the Medicaid program, including participant eligibility, types of services delivered, inclusion in managed care arrangements, and provider distribution. Includes data on the percentage of home care recipients and location of providers in 2023 by Rural-Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) Code.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Health Management Associates, National Alliance for Care at Home, Research Institute for Home Care
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The Distribution of the Youth Behavioral Health Workforce in Rural and Urban America in 2025
Examines the distribution of school counselors; youth, family, or school psychologists; youth or family mental health nurses; school social workers; and pediatric psychiatrists or behavioral pediatricians across rural and urban areas of the U.S. Features statistics with breakdowns by provider type and location by 6 levels of population density, and a county-level map with shadings showing rural counties with and without youth behavioral health clinicians.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Examines the distribution of school counselors; youth, family, or school psychologists; youth or family mental health nurses; school social workers; and pediatric psychiatrists or behavioral pediatricians across rural and urban areas of the U.S. Features statistics with breakdowns by provider type and location by 6 levels of population density, and a county-level map with shadings showing rural counties with and without youth behavioral health clinicians.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Factors Associated With Mortality in Appalachian Nursing Homes During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines neighborhood characteristics related to Appalachian nursing home (NH) mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzes 1,259 NHs in Appalachia for COVID-19 death rates and overall mortality, with breakdowns according to NH characteristics, patient sociodemographics, and rurality.
Author(s): Erica Gigas, Baiming Zou, Lorinda A Coombs, et al.
Citation: The Permanente Journal, 1-9
Date: 04/2026
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Examines neighborhood characteristics related to Appalachian nursing home (NH) mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzes 1,259 NHs in Appalachia for COVID-19 death rates and overall mortality, with breakdowns according to NH characteristics, patient sociodemographics, and rurality.
Author(s): Erica Gigas, Baiming Zou, Lorinda A Coombs, et al.
Citation: The Permanente Journal, 1-9
Date: 04/2026
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Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Nursing Home Residents and Health Care Personnel — United States, 2024–25 Influenza Season
Reports on influenza vaccination during the 2024–25 influenza season for nursing home residents and healthcare workers. Provides pooled influenza coverage data by facility for nursing home residents and for nursing home personnel, with data by urbanicity for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Author(s): Jeneita M. Bell, Kira Barbre, Lu Meng, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(15), 195-201
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports on influenza vaccination during the 2024–25 influenza season for nursing home residents and healthcare workers. Provides pooled influenza coverage data by facility for nursing home residents and for nursing home personnel, with data by urbanicity for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Author(s): Jeneita M. Bell, Kira Barbre, Lu Meng, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(15), 195-201
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Comparing the Care, Distance Traveled, and Health Workforce Clinician Mix for Rural and Urban Commercially Insured Enrollees With Opioid Use Disorder
Examines characteristics of opioid treatment in rural and urban communities across the United States. Utilizes 2019 commercial claims data from the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) to analyze rural versus urban differences in opioid use disorder and overdose diagnoses, healthcare utilization, healthcare visits by clinician type, average distance traveled to utilize healthcare, and location of received care.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, Janessa M. Graves
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Examines characteristics of opioid treatment in rural and urban communities across the United States. Utilizes 2019 commercial claims data from the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) to analyze rural versus urban differences in opioid use disorder and overdose diagnoses, healthcare utilization, healthcare visits by clinician type, average distance traveled to utilize healthcare, and location of received care.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, Janessa M. Graves
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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