Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
Is Medicare Home Health Care Utilization Substituting for Long-Term Care? Evidence From Dual Eligible Beneficiaries
Examines the relationship between Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) and Medicare community-initiated home health care (CIHHC). Utilizes 2016-2019 national Medicare and Medicaid claims data of dually enrolled older adults and analyzes the effects of Medicaid HCBS use on the utilization of Medicare CIHHC. Includes comparisons of HCBS users and non-HCBS users with breakdowns by demographics and rural versus urban county classification.
Author(s): Mingyu Qi, Rachel M. Werner, Megan Huisingh-Scheetz, R. Tamara Konetzka
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(2), e70109
Date: 04/2026
view details
Examines the relationship between Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) and Medicare community-initiated home health care (CIHHC). Utilizes 2016-2019 national Medicare and Medicaid claims data of dually enrolled older adults and analyzes the effects of Medicaid HCBS use on the utilization of Medicare CIHHC. Includes comparisons of HCBS users and non-HCBS users with breakdowns by demographics and rural versus urban county classification.
Author(s): Mingyu Qi, Rachel M. Werner, Megan Huisingh-Scheetz, R. Tamara Konetzka
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(2), e70109
Date: 04/2026
view details
Acute Myocardial Infarction in Medicare Beneficiaries During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines how acute myocardial infarction incidence and outcomes differed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, using 2018-2023 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiary data. Includes data breakdowns by level of rurality.
Author(s): Jonah M. Graves, R. J. Waken, Fengxian Wang, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(4), e264122
Date: 04/2026
view details
Examines how acute myocardial infarction incidence and outcomes differed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, using 2018-2023 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiary data. Includes data breakdowns by level of rurality.
Author(s): Jonah M. Graves, R. J. Waken, Fengxian Wang, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(4), e264122
Date: 04/2026
view details
Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Among Health Care Personnel — United States, 2024–25 Respiratory Virus Season
Reports on influenza and COVID-19 vaccination coverage during the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season among healthcare personnel working in hospitals, ambulatory care, long-term care/home health, and other clinical settings. Includes data by workplace location for rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Mehreen Meghani, Zhuping Garacci, Hilda Razzaghi, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(12), 164-171
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details
Reports on influenza and COVID-19 vaccination coverage during the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season among healthcare personnel working in hospitals, ambulatory care, long-term care/home health, and other clinical settings. Includes data by workplace location for rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Mehreen Meghani, Zhuping Garacci, Hilda Razzaghi, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(12), 164-171
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details
Post-Hospital Access to Preferred and High-Quality Skilled Nursing Facilities for Patients With Opioid Use Disorder
Examines access to preferred and high-quality skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) among Medicare beneficiaries with opioid use disorder (OUD). Utilizes 2017-2021 Medicare inpatient claims data to analyze 6,490,593 patients with OUD and their likelihood to enter preferred and high-quality SNFs according to patient demographics and urbanicity of metro, micro, small town, or rural.
Author(s): Talia S. Benheim, Momotazur Rahman, Andrew R. Zullo, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(2), e70110
Date: 04/2026
view details
Examines access to preferred and high-quality skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) among Medicare beneficiaries with opioid use disorder (OUD). Utilizes 2017-2021 Medicare inpatient claims data to analyze 6,490,593 patients with OUD and their likelihood to enter preferred and high-quality SNFs according to patient demographics and urbanicity of metro, micro, small town, or rural.
Author(s): Talia S. Benheim, Momotazur Rahman, Andrew R. Zullo, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(2), e70110
Date: 04/2026
view details
Prioritizing High-Volume Repair Hospitals with Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms, for Rural and Nonrural Patients
Examines associations between in-hospital ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) mortality, hospital rAAA repair volume, patient rurality, and patient transfer status, using 2015-2020 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database (HCUP SID) data of 1,744 patients who underwent rAAA repair in New York and Florida.
Author(s): Neha H. Shetty, Hasan Nassereldine, Kristina E. Rudd, et al.
Citation: Journal of Vascular Surgery, 83(4), 1089-1099
Date: 04/2026
view details
Examines associations between in-hospital ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) mortality, hospital rAAA repair volume, patient rurality, and patient transfer status, using 2015-2020 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database (HCUP SID) data of 1,744 patients who underwent rAAA repair in New York and Florida.
Author(s): Neha H. Shetty, Hasan Nassereldine, Kristina E. Rudd, et al.
Citation: Journal of Vascular Surgery, 83(4), 1089-1099
Date: 04/2026
view details
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Access to Acute Stroke Capabilities in California: Association with Rurality and Telestroke Access
Examines disparities in presentation to emergency departments (EDs) with or without acute stroke capability among patients with acute stroke by race and ethnicity, and variations in these associations by patient rurality and ED telestroke status, using 2021 NEDI-California and NEDI-USA survey data.
Author(s): Kori S. Zachrison, Renee Y. Hsia, Krislyn M. Boggs, et al.
Citation: Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases, 35(4), 108607
Date: 04/2026
view details
Examines disparities in presentation to emergency departments (EDs) with or without acute stroke capability among patients with acute stroke by race and ethnicity, and variations in these associations by patient rurality and ED telestroke status, using 2021 NEDI-California and NEDI-USA survey data.
Author(s): Kori S. Zachrison, Renee Y. Hsia, Krislyn M. Boggs, et al.
Citation: Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases, 35(4), 108607
Date: 04/2026
view details
Mapping Spatial and Social Inequities of Long COVID Across the United States: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Examines spatiotemporal variables and social determinants as correlated with the Omicron variant and long COVID health risk. Analyzes 5,652,474 COVID-19 cases and 41,694 long COVID cases according to year, location, U.S. region, risk level of county, and social determinants, including rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Zhetao Chen, Bingnan Lib, Yewen Chen, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 56, 101401
Date: 04/2026
view details
Examines spatiotemporal variables and social determinants as correlated with the Omicron variant and long COVID health risk. Analyzes 5,652,474 COVID-19 cases and 41,694 long COVID cases according to year, location, U.S. region, risk level of county, and social determinants, including rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Zhetao Chen, Bingnan Lib, Yewen Chen, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 56, 101401
Date: 04/2026
view details
Assessing Access to Cardiologists and Endocrinologists in the Texas ACA Market
Uses secret shopper surveys to assess patient access to cardiologists and endocrinologists in the Texas Affordable Care Act marketplace. Includes breakdown of data by rurality of both patient and provider. Discusses appointment wait times and distance to care for rural patients.
Author(s): Simon F. Haeder, Yuqin Lou, Wendy Xu
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(4)
Date: 03/2026
view details
Uses secret shopper surveys to assess patient access to cardiologists and endocrinologists in the Texas Affordable Care Act marketplace. Includes breakdown of data by rurality of both patient and provider. Discusses appointment wait times and distance to care for rural patients.
Author(s): Simon F. Haeder, Yuqin Lou, Wendy Xu
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(4)
Date: 03/2026
view details
NSDUH Short Report: Substance Use Disorder and Major Depressive Episode among Females
Report explores rates of substance use disorder (SUD) and major depressive episode (MDE) among women from 2022-2024. Breaks down data by a number of factors, such as demographic factors, adolescents versus adults, SUD/MDE severity, and rurality, among other measures.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
view details
Report explores rates of substance use disorder (SUD) and major depressive episode (MDE) among women from 2022-2024. Breaks down data by a number of factors, such as demographic factors, adolescents versus adults, SUD/MDE severity, and rurality, among other measures.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
view details
Who is Benefiting from the Dramatic Decline in U.S. Cancer Mortality? Place-Based Evidence of Disparities in Rates of Improvement
Analyzes how improvements in cancer mortality between 1991 and 2019 varied by geography, using CDC WONDER data. Includes data comparisons by U.S. region, income level, and rurality at the county level.
Author(s): Arthur G. Cosby, Viswadeep Lebakula, Karissa Bergene, et al.
Citation: British Journal of Cancer
Date: 03/2026
view details
Analyzes how improvements in cancer mortality between 1991 and 2019 varied by geography, using CDC WONDER data. Includes data comparisons by U.S. region, income level, and rurality at the county level.
Author(s): Arthur G. Cosby, Viswadeep Lebakula, Karissa Bergene, et al.
Citation: British Journal of Cancer
Date: 03/2026
view details