Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
County-Level Differences in Fee-for-Service Medicare Quality Measures by Rurality and Disability Status
Results of a study examining county-level differences in 3 fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare quality measures to address differences in quality of care by rurality and disability status. Features statistics on percent of FFS enrollees receiving flu vaccine and mammogram screening, and rate of hospital stays for ambulatory-care sensitive conditions, with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Andrew Abram, Alexis Swendener, et al.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Results of a study examining county-level differences in 3 fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare quality measures to address differences in quality of care by rurality and disability status. Features statistics on percent of FFS enrollees receiving flu vaccine and mammogram screening, and rate of hospital stays for ambulatory-care sensitive conditions, with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Andrew Abram, Alexis Swendener, et al.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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New England's Rural Economy: An Overview
Reports data on the rural economy of New England, including overall employment, employment by industry, income, poverty, and educational attainment. Includes state-level data for select indicators.
Author(s): Jeffrey P. Thompson, Nathaniel R. Nelson
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
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Reports data on the rural economy of New England, including overall employment, employment by industry, income, poverty, and educational attainment. Includes state-level data for select indicators.
Author(s): Jeffrey P. Thompson, Nathaniel R. Nelson
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
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Disparities in Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Rural Versus Urban Michigan
Compares rural and urban cancer incidence and cancer-specific mortality in Michigan, using 2017-2021 data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Includes breakdowns by cancer type for 10 leading cancers, as well as incidence by Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) stage for colorectal, female breast, lung and bronchus, and prostate cancer.
Author(s): Reba Dhillon, Stephanie Mackenzie, Austin H. Qasawa, et al.
Citation: Cancer Medicine, 15(11), e72396
Date: 10/2026
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Compares rural and urban cancer incidence and cancer-specific mortality in Michigan, using 2017-2021 data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Includes breakdowns by cancer type for 10 leading cancers, as well as incidence by Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) stage for colorectal, female breast, lung and bronchus, and prostate cancer.
Author(s): Reba Dhillon, Stephanie Mackenzie, Austin H. Qasawa, et al.
Citation: Cancer Medicine, 15(11), e72396
Date: 10/2026
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Rural America Grew During the Pandemic Era Because of Migration Gains
An issue brief that examines migration patterns from 2010 to 2025 across the rural continuum and county types. Discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality and population growth.
Author(s): Kenneth Johnson
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Carsey School of Public Policy
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An issue brief that examines migration patterns from 2010 to 2025 across the rural continuum and county types. Discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality and population growth.
Author(s): Kenneth Johnson
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Carsey School of Public Policy
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Rural Hospital AI Use and Evaluation
Highlights a study exploring the rural and urban differences in the adoption, use, and evaluation of predictive artificial intelligence (AI) in U.S. hospitals. Bases findings on the 2023 American Hospital Association's Annual Survey Information Technology Supplement and compares AI usage across Critical Access Hospitals, Medicare-Dependent Hospitals, and Sole Community Hospitals, as well as by rural and urban location.
Author(s): Josiah A. Cruikshank, Brian E. Whitacre, Alison F. Davis
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70237
Date: 10/2026
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Highlights a study exploring the rural and urban differences in the adoption, use, and evaluation of predictive artificial intelligence (AI) in U.S. hospitals. Bases findings on the 2023 American Hospital Association's Annual Survey Information Technology Supplement and compares AI usage across Critical Access Hospitals, Medicare-Dependent Hospitals, and Sole Community Hospitals, as well as by rural and urban location.
Author(s): Josiah A. Cruikshank, Brian E. Whitacre, Alison F. Davis
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70237
Date: 10/2026
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Patient-Provider Distance in Medicare Outpatient Oncology Telehealth Versus Office Visits, 2021‐2023: Cross-Sectional Claims Analysis
Presents a study exploring the use of telehealth to extend the patient-provider geographic reach for outpatient oncology-related visits in patients aged 66 or older. Draws data from Medicare Fee-For-Service claims to compare patient-provider distance for in-office and telehealth oncology visits, by rurality and U.S. Census region.
Author(s): Lingbo Liu, Tracy Onega, Erika L. Moen, et al.
Citation: JMIR Medical Informatics, 14, e95370
Date: 10/2026
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Presents a study exploring the use of telehealth to extend the patient-provider geographic reach for outpatient oncology-related visits in patients aged 66 or older. Draws data from Medicare Fee-For-Service claims to compare patient-provider distance for in-office and telehealth oncology visits, by rurality and U.S. Census region.
Author(s): Lingbo Liu, Tracy Onega, Erika L. Moen, et al.
Citation: JMIR Medical Informatics, 14, e95370
Date: 10/2026
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Rural Value-Based Care and Payment: From Payment Fundamentals to Rural Design
Slides presented to Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) staff during a two-day seminar in October 2026. Provides an overview of Medicare payment systems and mechanisms for rural healthcare providers. Explores the difference between fee-for-service and value-based payment systems and the applicability of value-based care and payment (VBC/P) models to rural providers. Discusses factors that influence whether a rural VBC/P approach is likely to succeed.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Slides presented to Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) staff during a two-day seminar in October 2026. Provides an overview of Medicare payment systems and mechanisms for rural healthcare providers. Explores the difference between fee-for-service and value-based payment systems and the applicability of value-based care and payment (VBC/P) models to rural providers. Discusses factors that influence whether a rural VBC/P approach is likely to succeed.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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People Living with Dementia in Rural Areas Are Most Likely to Report Unmet Service Needs in Home- and Community-based Services in the United States
Examines the relationship among home and community-based services (HCBS), dementia status, and rural versus urban location. Utilizes 2016-2019 National Core Indicators-Aging and Disability survey data to analyze 14,645 residents according to dementia status, sociodemographics, residential status and assistive care needs, and metropolitan, micropolitan, small town, or rural location. Discusses how location impacts access to HCBS for people living with dementia.
Author(s): Romil R. Parikh, Eric Jutkowitz, Jack M. Wolf, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70230
Date: 10/2026
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Examines the relationship among home and community-based services (HCBS), dementia status, and rural versus urban location. Utilizes 2016-2019 National Core Indicators-Aging and Disability survey data to analyze 14,645 residents according to dementia status, sociodemographics, residential status and assistive care needs, and metropolitan, micropolitan, small town, or rural location. Discusses how location impacts access to HCBS for people living with dementia.
Author(s): Romil R. Parikh, Eric Jutkowitz, Jack M. Wolf, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70230
Date: 10/2026
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Physical Activity and Perceptions of the Community Walking Environment Among Cancer Survivors, National Health Interview Survey, 2024
Examines how physical activity among cancer survivors differs by clinical and demographic characteristics and by perceptions of the local walking environment, using 2024 National Health Interview Survey data. See Table 2 for data on leisure-time physical activity among cancer survivors by rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Jonathan Bryant-Genevier, Michael Boring, Elizabeth A. Rohan, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23, 260220
Date: 10/2026
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Examines how physical activity among cancer survivors differs by clinical and demographic characteristics and by perceptions of the local walking environment, using 2024 National Health Interview Survey data. See Table 2 for data on leisure-time physical activity among cancer survivors by rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Jonathan Bryant-Genevier, Michael Boring, Elizabeth A. Rohan, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23, 260220
Date: 10/2026
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Hospice Visit Patterns Across Patient Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Examines visit patterns among Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older enrolled in hospice, to help establish or evaluate benchmark visit standards, quality measures, care delivery practices, and workforce planning. Features statistics on characteristics of Medicare hospice enrollees from 2016-2021, with breakdowns by urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated small rural location.
Author(s): Lauren J. Hunt, Joanne Spetz, Siqi Gan, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(10), qxag271
Date: 10/2026
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Examines visit patterns among Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older enrolled in hospice, to help establish or evaluate benchmark visit standards, quality measures, care delivery practices, and workforce planning. Features statistics on characteristics of Medicare hospice enrollees from 2016-2021, with breakdowns by urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated small rural location.
Author(s): Lauren J. Hunt, Joanne Spetz, Siqi Gan, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(10), qxag271
Date: 10/2026
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