Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Population health

2026 Medicare Annual Wellness Visits: Strategies for Rural Health Clinic Success
Recording of a September 22, 2026, webinar discussing Medicare Annual Wellness Visits (AWVs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Discusses the history of AWVs; why AWVs are important for patients, RHCs, and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs); billing AWVs in RHCs; and more.
Additional links: Annual Wellness Visit Form, Annual Wellness Visit Prep List, Annual Wellness Visits Packet, Call Us First Handout, Presentation Slides
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
view details
Supporting Agricultural Workers, and Their Mental Health
Short video discusses mental health struggles in the agricultural community and explores the story of a ranching family that lost a loved one to suicide. Details the Farm State of Mind campaign, which offers peer support and counseling.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Pew
view details
Rural–Urban and Appalachian Disparities in Geographic Access to Colonoscopy and Screening Prevalence Across the Contiguous US
Results of a study comparing access to colonoscopy providers. Features statistics on diagnostic/therapeutic procedures and screening procedures, with breakdowns by rural and urban areas and Appalachian and non-Appalachian areas and by type of colonoscopy provider.
Author(s): Sima Namin, R. Eric Heidel, Martin Whiteside, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 09/2026
view details
Transportation Walking Among US Adults With and Without Transportation Insecurity, 2022 National Health Interview Survey
Reports on a study describing transportation walking among adults with and without transportation insecurity, using data on 25,889 adults. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Graycie Soto, Miriam E. Van Dyke, Jasmine Y. Nakayama, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 09/2026
view details
Rural Health Transformation Program 101
Provides a broad overview of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). Highlights legislation enacted by states that fulfill policy commitments outlined in state RHTP applications, support RHTP initiatives, establish advisory and oversight mechanisms, and more.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
view details
Opportunities for a Healthier Rural America: Perspectives from the Rural Health Research Centers
Several Rural Health Research Center directors share insights on the challenges rural communities face and opportunities to improve access and outcomes.
Author(s): Jessica Rosencrans
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
Alpha-gal Syndrome Symptom Profiles and Diagnostic Experiences Among Farmers and Ranchers
Surveys 201 farmers and ranchers with an alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) diagnosis on their knowledge of AGS prior to diagnosis, symptoms, and diagnosis experience. Discusses demographic differences, the number of medical provider visits for a diagnosis, and the type of medical professional providing the diagnosis.
Author(s): Alexandrea M. Welch, Cheryl L. Beseler, Shaun T. Cross
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine
Date: 09/2026
view details
Cooperative Extension in Transition: Trends Through 2024
Reports on funding and program areas of Cooperative Extension programs from 1915 through 2024. Details how Cooperative Extension programs support agricultural education, nutrition, community development, and other topics relevant to rural populations.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Tatiana Borisova, Keith Fuglie, Benjamin Garber, Sun Ling Wang
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
view details
Cancer Survival Differences Between Rural and Urban Populations During the Opioid Epidemic: A SEER Analysis
Explores how rural and urban cancer survival changed over time during the U.S. opioid epidemic, and how rural cancer survival disparities were associated with increasing drug mortality during the same period. Utilizes 2000-2016 SEER and CDC WONDER data.
Author(s): Martin G. Bouldo, Daniel J. Becker
Citation: Anticancer Research, 46(9), 4973-4984
Date: 09/2026
view details
Changing Patterns of Specialty Care for Diabetic Foot Ulcers among Rural and Urban Veterans Following the VA MISSION Act
Presents a study on older veterans' access to specialty care for diabetic foot ulcers under the MISSION Act in rural and urban areas. Explores veterans' access both inside and outside of the VA and breaks down utilization data by specialty, such as podiatry, infectious disease, vascular surgery, and endocrinology.
Author(s): Hiroyuki Suzuki, Mary Vaughan-Sarrazin, Michael Ohl, et al.
Citation: International Wound Journal, 23(9), e71039
Date: 09/2026
view details