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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

Cervical Cancer Screening Rates among Rural and Urban Females, From 2019 to 2022
Analyzes frequency of receiving a recent Papanicolau (Pap) test among rural and urban women aged 21 to 65, using Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) data from 2019, 2020, and 2022. Provides screening rate data comparisons by year and by demographic category, including race and ethnicity, age, insurance status, educational level, and more.
Author(s): Tyrone F. Borders, Amanda Thaxton Wiggins
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(6), e2417094
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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Understanding the Rise of Ransomware Attacks on Rural Hospitals
Explores trends in ransomware attacks on rural hospitals between 2016 and 2021 by analyzing data from the Tracking Healthcare Ransomware Events and Traits (THREAT) database. Describes the types of rural hospitals that experienced ransomware attacks during this period. Compares the frequency of hospitals' operational disruptions during attacks by urban and rural location.
Author(s): Hannah T. Neprash, Claire C. McGlave, Katie Rydberg, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Health Care Access Barriers Among Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Populations of Eight Geographically Diverse States, 2018
Reports on healthcare access and demographic differences in metro and nonmetro populations. Utilizes Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data to observe differences in noncore, micropolitan, and metropolitan sociodemographics and access barriers such as insurance, cost, non-financial delays in care, and more.
Author(s): Whitney E. Zahnd, Peiyin Hung, Elizabeth L. Crouch, Radhika Ranganathan, Jan M. Eberth
Citation: Journal of Rural Health
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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Updated Analysis: Using Population-Based Outcome Measures to Assess the Impact of Telehealth Expansion on Medicare Beneficiaries' Access to Care and Quality of Care
Explores the association between telehealth use, quality of care, and access to care when both telehealth and in-person visits are available to fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare beneficiaries. Compares data from the second half of 2018 and 2019 to the second half of 2022 by the level of telehealth utilization in Hospital Service Areas (HSAs). Describes the effects of telehealth for urban and rural beneficiaries and differentiates between telehealth utilization for behavioral and non-behavioral health services. Updates a June 2023 report that analyzed data from 2021.
Author(s): Tanvi Rao, Angshuman Gooptu, Karin Johnson, Guido Cataife, Steven Susana-Castillo
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: American Institutes for Research, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Ambient Air Pollution and the Risk of Violence in Primary and Secondary School Settings: A Cross-sectional Study
Examines the relationship among air quality, neurological dysfunction, and violent behavior in schools. Analyzes associations between air pollution and violent incidents in Minnesota schools from 2008-2012. Includes county-level maps showing air pollution levels and location of rural and urban schools, with further data analysis exploring rural versus urban differences in air quality and violent behavior.
Author(s): Austin T. Rau, Alyson B. Harding, Andy Ryan, et al.
Citation: Injury Epidemiology, 11, 24
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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Diagnosed Dementia in Adults Age 65 and Older: United States, 2022
Examines the prevalence of diagnosed dementia in the U.S. population in adults aged 65 or older. Utilizes 2022 National Health Interview Survey data to observe dementia prevalence in noninstitutionalized adults, with breakdowns according to age, sex, veteran status, race/ethnicity, education, income, region, and urbanization level, including large central metropolitan, large fringe metropolitan, medium and small metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan location.
Author(s): Ellen A. Kramarow
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System, June 2024
Evaluates Medicare payment issues and provides recommendations to the U.S. Congress. Covers approaches for updating fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare's physician fee schedule (PFS) payments and incentivizing participation in alternative payment models; provider networks and prior authorization in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans; an assessment of the relative completeness of MA encounter data and other data sources; Medicare coverage and payments for medical software; alternate approaches to lower Medicare payment rates for select conditions in inpatient rehabilitation facilities; and Medicare's Acute Hospital Care at Home program. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Prime Working Age Natural-Cause Mortality Increases with Rurality, Especially for Females
Bar chart comparing change in natural cause mortality from 1999-2001 to 2017-2019 among working age women and men, with data broken down by county level of rurality.
Date: 06/2024
Type: Chart/Graph
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Risk Factors for Poor Health Among U.S. Older Adults in Rural and Urban Areas: Injury, Food Insecurity, and Lack of Social and Emotional Support
Examines differences in select risk factors for poor health between rural and urban older adults and among rural older adults, with breakdowns by several sociodemographic characteristics. Features statistics including percentage of older adults experiencing risk factors for poor health, injury and significant injury, food insecurity, and lack of social and emotional support.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Alexis Swendener, Megan Lahr, Alyssa Fritz, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Rural Health Disparities in Skin Cancer Amplified Among Skin of Color
Analyzes how geography and the social determinants of health impact skin cancer disparities. Analyzes skin cancer history in rural versus urban populations, with data further broken down by gender, race, health plan, healthcare provider access, age, and income.
Author(s): Rachel R. Lin, Juwon Lee, Andrea D. Maderal, Scott A. Elman
Citation: Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 23(6), 480-484
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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