Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services
Rural Community Perspectives on Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina
Assesses community perspectives of long-term recovery in two rural western North Carolina counties severely affected by Hurricane Helene. Focuses on housing, communication, transportation, mental health, and food insecurity.
Author(s): Jennifer A. Horney, Lilly Moreau
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(1), 60-68
Date: 04/2026
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Assesses community perspectives of long-term recovery in two rural western North Carolina counties severely affected by Hurricane Helene. Focuses on housing, communication, transportation, mental health, and food insecurity.
Author(s): Jennifer A. Horney, Lilly Moreau
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(1), 60-68
Date: 04/2026
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Income and Geographic Disparities in in-Hospital Mortality Following Cardiovascular Procedures: Evidence From the National Inpatient Sample, 2016–2022
Examines in-hospital mortality following cardiovascular procedures as related to income and geographic disparities. Utilizes 2016-2022 National Inpatient Sample data to analyze various cardiovascular procedures and associated mortality risk by income as well as by location of non-metro, metro of 50,000 to 999,000 residents, or metro of 1,000,000 or more residents.
Author(s): Alon Bergman, Ashwin Nathan
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(2), e70117
Date: 04/2026
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Examines in-hospital mortality following cardiovascular procedures as related to income and geographic disparities. Utilizes 2016-2022 National Inpatient Sample data to analyze various cardiovascular procedures and associated mortality risk by income as well as by location of non-metro, metro of 50,000 to 999,000 residents, or metro of 1,000,000 or more residents.
Author(s): Alon Bergman, Ashwin Nathan
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(2), e70117
Date: 04/2026
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Peer Recovery Supports for Behavioral Health in Rural Communities
Discusses behavioral health peer recovery support services in rural and agricultural communities. Highlights innovative and promising practices for overcoming behavioral health barriers, such as addressing stigma, social isolation, and scarcity of services through community and peer supports.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Discusses behavioral health peer recovery support services in rural and agricultural communities. Highlights innovative and promising practices for overcoming behavioral health barriers, such as addressing stigma, social isolation, and scarcity of services through community and peer supports.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Notes from the Field: Tetanus in Four Children — Idaho, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin, 2024
Reports on four cases of tetanus in children who had not completed a primary tetanus toxoid–containing vaccine (TTCV) series and did not receive TTCV or tetanus immunoglobulin (TIG) after exposure and before illness onset. Two of the four children lived in nonmetro areas.
Author(s): Katherine L. Campbell, Avnika B. Amin, Jessica Goswitz, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(14), 192-193
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports on four cases of tetanus in children who had not completed a primary tetanus toxoid–containing vaccine (TTCV) series and did not receive TTCV or tetanus immunoglobulin (TIG) after exposure and before illness onset. Two of the four children lived in nonmetro areas.
Author(s): Katherine L. Campbell, Avnika B. Amin, Jessica Goswitz, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(14), 192-193
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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April 2026 MACPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) April 2026 meeting. Covers community engagement requirements in Medicaid, state and federal tools for ensuring accountability of Medicaid managed care plans, the role of the state Medicaid agency in the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), pharmacy benefit managers and Medicaid, and more. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Transcript from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) April 2026 meeting. Covers community engagement requirements in Medicaid, state and federal tools for ensuring accountability of Medicaid managed care plans, the role of the state Medicaid agency in the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), pharmacy benefit managers and Medicaid, and more. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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April 2026 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) April 2026 meeting. Covers Medicare payment incentives, regional benchmarks and benchmark-plan availability in the Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) market, preferred networks and pharmacy access in Medicare Part D, the estimated association between Medicare Advantage enrollment and hospitals' and post-acute care providers' finances, information sources that beneficiaries use to make Medicare enrollment decisions, and institutional special-needs plans. Includes a mandated report on the assessment of the Medicare ground ambulance data collection system. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Additional links: Advising the Congress on Medicare Issues Preferred Networks and Pharmacy Access in Part D, Mandated Report: Assessment of the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) April 2026 meeting. Covers Medicare payment incentives, regional benchmarks and benchmark-plan availability in the Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) market, preferred networks and pharmacy access in Medicare Part D, the estimated association between Medicare Advantage enrollment and hospitals' and post-acute care providers' finances, information sources that beneficiaries use to make Medicare enrollment decisions, and institutional special-needs plans. Includes a mandated report on the assessment of the Medicare ground ambulance data collection system. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Additional links: Advising the Congress on Medicare Issues Preferred Networks and Pharmacy Access in Part D, Mandated Report: Assessment of the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Hepatitis C Virus Transmission among People Who Inject Drugs in Rural United States: Mathematical Modeling Study Using Stochastic Agent-Based Network Simulation
Presents a study exploring a network simulation model of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission among rural people who inject drugs (PWID). Breaks down data by participant characteristics, such as age, sex, and HCV antibody positivity, among others, and network characteristics, such as size and percentage of PWID who are HCV positive, among others.
Author(s): Lin Zhu, Jennifer R Havens, Abby E Rudolph, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Epidemiology, 195(4), 937-947
Date: 04/2026
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Presents a study exploring a network simulation model of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission among rural people who inject drugs (PWID). Breaks down data by participant characteristics, such as age, sex, and HCV antibody positivity, among others, and network characteristics, such as size and percentage of PWID who are HCV positive, among others.
Author(s): Lin Zhu, Jennifer R Havens, Abby E Rudolph, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Epidemiology, 195(4), 937-947
Date: 04/2026
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Analysis of Pennsylvania Crime Trends: An Updated Rural/Urban Comparison
Examines rural and urban crime trends in Pennsylvania from 2013-2023. Identifies areas where rural crime trends differ from urban patterns, and highlights differences across rural regions of the state. Features statistics on crime rates by offense category, injuries due to assault, access to drug and alcohol treatment centers, and most prevalent property crimes, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and Philadelphia alone.
Author(s): Brandon Vick, Robert Orth, Emily Schumacher, Angel Alcantara
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Examines rural and urban crime trends in Pennsylvania from 2013-2023. Identifies areas where rural crime trends differ from urban patterns, and highlights differences across rural regions of the state. Features statistics on crime rates by offense category, injuries due to assault, access to drug and alcohol treatment centers, and most prevalent property crimes, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and Philadelphia alone.
Author(s): Brandon Vick, Robert Orth, Emily Schumacher, Angel Alcantara
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Identification and Characteristics of Under-Resourced and High-Need Rural Counties
Describes how county-level data on healthcare workforce, chronic disease prevalence, and socioeconomic environment of rural communities can help policymakers identify the highest need counties for targeted policy initiatives and public health intervention. Features county-level U.S. maps showing geographic distribution of chronic disease burden, socioeconomic status, physician density, and overall resource need, with shadings showing level of need or nonrural status.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Emma Boswell, Peiyin Hung, Eyram Owusu-Sekyere, Elizabeth Crouch
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Describes how county-level data on healthcare workforce, chronic disease prevalence, and socioeconomic environment of rural communities can help policymakers identify the highest need counties for targeted policy initiatives and public health intervention. Features county-level U.S. maps showing geographic distribution of chronic disease burden, socioeconomic status, physician density, and overall resource need, with shadings showing level of need or nonrural status.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Emma Boswell, Peiyin Hung, Eyram Owusu-Sekyere, Elizabeth Crouch
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Residence in a Rural Setting is Associated with Lower Five-Year Survival Rates in Patients that Undergo Spine Surgery for Breast Cancer Metastatic to the Spine: A Propensity Matched Analysis
Compares rural and urban mortality among breast cancer patients who underwent spine surgery, using 2006-2015 SEER data of 865 female patients.
Author(s): Austin Q. Nguyen, Brian M. Phelps, Sree M. Vemu, et al.
Citation: North American Spine Society Journal (NASSJ)
Date: 04/2026
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Compares rural and urban mortality among breast cancer patients who underwent spine surgery, using 2006-2015 SEER data of 865 female patients.
Author(s): Austin Q. Nguyen, Brian M. Phelps, Sree M. Vemu, et al.
Citation: North American Spine Society Journal (NASSJ)
Date: 04/2026
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