Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
The U.S. Dentist Workforce: Based on the Latest Available Data from Multiple Sources as of August 2025
Explores who makes up the dentist workforce, how and where dentists work, how practicing dentists are faring economically, and the future of the dentist workforce. Features statistics including the dentist-to-population ratio and average revenue per dentist, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organizations: American Dental Association, Health Policy Institute
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Explores who makes up the dentist workforce, how and where dentists work, how practicing dentists are faring economically, and the future of the dentist workforce. Features statistics including the dentist-to-population ratio and average revenue per dentist, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organizations: American Dental Association, Health Policy Institute
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Traffic Safety Facts, 2023 Data: State Traffic Data
Contains information on fatal motor vehicle crashes and fatalities, using data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Includes a state-level U.S. map showing percentage change in traffic fatalities from 2022-2023. Features state-by-state statistics on fatalities and fatality rates, percentage change from 1975-2023, population and vehicle miles traveled in 2014 and 2023, registered vehicles and licensed drivers in 2014 and 2023, vehicle type, restraint use, passenger fatalities, alcohol use and survivor status, and speeding-related fatalities by roadway function class, with breakdowns including interstate rural and urban interstate.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Contains information on fatal motor vehicle crashes and fatalities, using data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Includes a state-level U.S. map showing percentage change in traffic fatalities from 2022-2023. Features state-by-state statistics on fatalities and fatality rates, percentage change from 1975-2023, population and vehicle miles traveled in 2014 and 2023, registered vehicles and licensed drivers in 2014 and 2023, vehicle type, restraint use, passenger fatalities, alcohol use and survivor status, and speeding-related fatalities by roadway function class, with breakdowns including interstate rural and urban interstate.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Rural Beneficiary Access to Medicare Advantage-Part D Plans
Policy brief updating RUPRI's analysis of Medicare Advantage-Part D plans (MA-PDs) including enhanced benefit plan availability and differences in characteristics across metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas. Features statistics including number of MA-PDs and stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs), average monthly premium costs, and availability in metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas from 2008-2023.
Author(s): Edmer Lazaro, Dan M. Shane, Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Policy brief updating RUPRI's analysis of Medicare Advantage-Part D plans (MA-PDs) including enhanced benefit plan availability and differences in characteristics across metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas. Features statistics including number of MA-PDs and stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs), average monthly premium costs, and availability in metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas from 2008-2023.
Author(s): Edmer Lazaro, Dan M. Shane, Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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The Power of Prevention: "HPV Doesn't Wait – Why Should You?"
Discusses the Nebraska Cancer Coalition's "HPV Doesn't Wait - Why Should You?" public awareness campaign, which focuses on educating healthcare providers and community members throughout Nebraska on the value of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. Details disparities in adolescent HPV vaccination rates in rural Nebraska and highlights the importance of rural outreach.
Author(s): Laura Schabloske, Tamara Robinson
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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Discusses the Nebraska Cancer Coalition's "HPV Doesn't Wait - Why Should You?" public awareness campaign, which focuses on educating healthcare providers and community members throughout Nebraska on the value of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. Details disparities in adolescent HPV vaccination rates in rural Nebraska and highlights the importance of rural outreach.
Author(s): Laura Schabloske, Tamara Robinson
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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The Doctor is … Out: Shortages of Health Professionals in Rural Areas
Reports on healthcare professional shortages in 16 rural New York counties, including rural and county-level data on primary care, dental health, mental health, and maternity care providers. Discusses rural barriers to healthcare access and highlights approaches to strengthen the rural health workforce in New York.
Author(s): Andrea Miller, Maria Doulis, Matthew Golden, Joshua Simons
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of the New York State Comptroller
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Reports on healthcare professional shortages in 16 rural New York counties, including rural and county-level data on primary care, dental health, mental health, and maternity care providers. Discusses rural barriers to healthcare access and highlights approaches to strengthen the rural health workforce in New York.
Author(s): Andrea Miller, Maria Doulis, Matthew Golden, Joshua Simons
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of the New York State Comptroller
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End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices (ETC) Model: Third Annual Evaluation Report, Calendar Years 2021-2023
Evaluation of the End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices (ETC) Model, incorporating analyses of home dialysis use, waitlisting for a kidney transplant, living donor and deceased donor transplantation, utilization of services, Medicare payments, and quality of care. Features results from interviews and surveys involving model participants and beneficiaries, and examines impacts of the first three years of the ETC Model, 2021-2023. Explores if the impacts of the ETC Model differed by patient subgroup, including rural residence.
Additional links: Appendices, Executive Summary, Findings at a Glance
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, The Lewin Group
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Evaluation of the End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices (ETC) Model, incorporating analyses of home dialysis use, waitlisting for a kidney transplant, living donor and deceased donor transplantation, utilization of services, Medicare payments, and quality of care. Features results from interviews and surveys involving model participants and beneficiaries, and examines impacts of the first three years of the ETC Model, 2021-2023. Explores if the impacts of the ETC Model differed by patient subgroup, including rural residence.
Additional links: Appendices, Executive Summary, Findings at a Glance
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, The Lewin Group
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Rural/Urban Differences in Health, Health Care Use, and Barriers to Care for Postpartum and Parenting Women, 2006-2018
Presents a study on rural and urban differences in access to and utilization of healthcare for postpartum or parenting women. Highlights barriers women parents face in accessing care and utilizing care that is available. Breaks down data by age of child, barriers to care, rural versus urban location, and compares rates for postpartum and parenting women to all women aged 18-49 by rurality.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Clara E. Busse, Alyssa Fritz, et al.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Presents a study on rural and urban differences in access to and utilization of healthcare for postpartum or parenting women. Highlights barriers women parents face in accessing care and utilizing care that is available. Breaks down data by age of child, barriers to care, rural versus urban location, and compares rates for postpartum and parenting women to all women aged 18-49 by rurality.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Clara E. Busse, Alyssa Fritz, et al.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Supply, Distribution, and Access to Cardiologists, Oncologists, and Pulmonologists in the Rural and Urban U.S.
Describes the changes in the supply and demand of four specialists - cardiologists, neurologists, oncologists, and pulmonologists - between 2012 and 2022. Compares data on the ratio of these specialists per 100,000 population across urban, large rural, and small/isolated rural areas. Explores the socioeconomic characteristics of rural counties with and without one of these specialists in 2022. Summarizes perspectives of rural health system leaders on how specialty care is accessed by and delivered to rural patients.
Author(s): Signe Burchim, David Evans, Nathan Maris, et al.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Describes the changes in the supply and demand of four specialists - cardiologists, neurologists, oncologists, and pulmonologists - between 2012 and 2022. Compares data on the ratio of these specialists per 100,000 population across urban, large rural, and small/isolated rural areas. Explores the socioeconomic characteristics of rural counties with and without one of these specialists in 2022. Summarizes perspectives of rural health system leaders on how specialty care is accessed by and delivered to rural patients.
Author(s): Signe Burchim, David Evans, Nathan Maris, et al.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: 2023
Highlights from the 2023 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), which provides single-year median household income and poverty statistics. Includes county-level maps showing income and poverty rates in 2023 and changes from 2022 to 2023 for the total population and children.
Additional links: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: 2023 Report
Author(s): Sara B. Robinson, Sam A. Shirazi
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Highlights from the 2023 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), which provides single-year median household income and poverty statistics. Includes county-level maps showing income and poverty rates in 2023 and changes from 2022 to 2023 for the total population and children.
Additional links: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: 2023 Report
Author(s): Sara B. Robinson, Sam A. Shirazi
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Geographic Disparities by Rural-Urban Status and Drive Time to Care in Tobacco Treatment for COPD
Explores the potential relationship between the drive-time to tobacco dependence treatment (TDT) services and the development of COPD among smokers. Details distances of rural smokers to TDT services. Draws from Veterans Affairs data and breaks down data by demographic characteristics, treatment type, and rural versus urban location, among other measures.
Author(s): Arianne K. Baldomero, Anne C. Melzer, Ken M. Kunisaki, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(8), e2528898
Date: 08/2025
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Explores the potential relationship between the drive-time to tobacco dependence treatment (TDT) services and the development of COPD among smokers. Details distances of rural smokers to TDT services. Draws from Veterans Affairs data and breaks down data by demographic characteristics, treatment type, and rural versus urban location, among other measures.
Author(s): Arianne K. Baldomero, Anne C. Melzer, Ken M. Kunisaki, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(8), e2528898
Date: 08/2025
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