Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
Marriage and Family Therapist and Mental Health Counselor Workforces in Rural America Under New Medicare Reimbursement Policy
Describes how Medicare reimbursement expanded to cover marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and mental health counselors (MHCs) in January 2024. Examines the change in Medicare-enrolled MFTs and MHCs between the third quarter (Q3) of 2023 and fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024. Presents findings from semi-structured interviews with rural health system and mental health organization leaders regarding practice arrangements, the perceived impacts of MFT and MHC reimbursement, barriers to serving rural Medicare beneficiaries, and considerations for future policies.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Natalia V. Oster, Lisa A. Garberson, Davis G. Patterson, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Describes how Medicare reimbursement expanded to cover marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and mental health counselors (MHCs) in January 2024. Examines the change in Medicare-enrolled MFTs and MHCs between the third quarter (Q3) of 2023 and fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024. Presents findings from semi-structured interviews with rural health system and mental health organization leaders regarding practice arrangements, the perceived impacts of MFT and MHC reimbursement, barriers to serving rural Medicare beneficiaries, and considerations for future policies.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Natalia V. Oster, Lisa A. Garberson, Davis G. Patterson, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Texas Rural Obstetrical Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the obstetricians and advanced practice midwives workforce distribution in Texas in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the obstetricians and advanced practice midwives workforce distribution in Texas in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Texas Rural Behavioral Health Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in Texas in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in Texas in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Texas Rural Primary Care Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the primary care workforce distribution in Texas in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the primary care workforce distribution in Texas in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Medicare Hospice: Action Needed to Pay More Efficiently for Routine Home Care
Describes the frequency and characteristics of routine home care visits in 2024 for Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in hospice since 2022 who died or were discharged alive in 2024. Compares estimated per-visit Medicare payment rates for routine home care across hospices with the highest and lowest number of visits per week and to home health per-visit rates. Includes information on the average number of visits per week by rural and urban hospice providers. Offers recommendations to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding revisions to the hospice payment system.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Describes the frequency and characteristics of routine home care visits in 2024 for Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in hospice since 2022 who died or were discharged alive in 2024. Compares estimated per-visit Medicare payment rates for routine home care across hospices with the highest and lowest number of visits per week and to home health per-visit rates. Includes information on the average number of visits per week by rural and urban hospice providers. Offers recommendations to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding revisions to the hospice payment system.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Rural-Urban Disparities in Epilepsy Outcomes in the United States
Examines rural and urban differences in epilepsy outcomes using 2016-2021 National Inpatient Sample data. Provides data on in-hospital mortality, treatments received, length of stay, and more.
Author(s): Edward R. Bader, William S. Kemball-Cook, Joshua A. Benton, et al.
Citation: Neurology, 107(1), e218053
Date: 06/2026
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Examines rural and urban differences in epilepsy outcomes using 2016-2021 National Inpatient Sample data. Provides data on in-hospital mortality, treatments received, length of stay, and more.
Author(s): Edward R. Bader, William S. Kemball-Cook, Joshua A. Benton, et al.
Citation: Neurology, 107(1), e218053
Date: 06/2026
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1 in 10 Adults Ages 50 and Older Were Food Insecure in 2024
Provides data on food insecurity in adults aged 50 and older in the United States with breakdowns according to state, demographic variables, and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Olivia Dean, Lauren Toppenberg
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: AARP
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Provides data on food insecurity in adults aged 50 and older in the United States with breakdowns according to state, demographic variables, and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Olivia Dean, Lauren Toppenberg
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: AARP
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Housing Affordability in the United States: Exploring Unaffordable Rent in 2024 Using State Health Compare
Presents information on unaffordable rent in the United States in 2024 according to disability status, income, Medicaid enrollment, state, metro versus nonmetro location, and demographic variables.
Author(s): Zoë Pringle, Elliot Walsh
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: State Health Access Data Assistance Center
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Presents information on unaffordable rent in the United States in 2024 according to disability status, income, Medicaid enrollment, state, metro versus nonmetro location, and demographic variables.
Author(s): Zoë Pringle, Elliot Walsh
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: State Health Access Data Assistance Center
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Traffic Safety Facts, 2024 Data: Children
Fact sheet containing information on fatal and non-fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes involving children 14 years of age and younger. Includes statistics on child traffic fatality rates per 100,000 child population and fatality rates by age group from 2015-2024, passenger vehicle occupants by survival status, age group, and restraint use in 2024, driver's blood alcohol level in fatal crashes, and percentages of child pedestrian and child pedalcyclist fatalities with breakdowns by urban and rural location. Features tables with child fatalities by state and age group in 2023.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Fact sheet containing information on fatal and non-fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes involving children 14 years of age and younger. Includes statistics on child traffic fatality rates per 100,000 child population and fatality rates by age group from 2015-2024, passenger vehicle occupants by survival status, age group, and restraint use in 2024, driver's blood alcohol level in fatal crashes, and percentages of child pedestrian and child pedalcyclist fatalities with breakdowns by urban and rural location. Features tables with child fatalities by state and age group in 2023.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services Rebalancing Is Concentrated in Large Urban Areas
Compares rural and urban utilization of home and community-based services among Medicaid long-term services and supports users, using 2022 Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System data sourced through an ATI Advisory LTSS user dashboard. Analyzes rural-urban disparities in access by level of rurality and by state.
Author(s): Emmaline Keesee, Laura M. Keohane
Citation: The Journal of the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association, 27(6), 106208
Date: 06/2026
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Compares rural and urban utilization of home and community-based services among Medicaid long-term services and supports users, using 2022 Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System data sourced through an ATI Advisory LTSS user dashboard. Analyzes rural-urban disparities in access by level of rurality and by state.
Author(s): Emmaline Keesee, Laura M. Keohane
Citation: The Journal of the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association, 27(6), 106208
Date: 06/2026
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