Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
Rural Health Disparities and Differences in Definitions of Rurality
Examines health disparities and differences in healthcare characteristics between rural and nonrural counties using data from the 2023 County Health Rankings and 2021-2022 Area Health Resources Files. Compares community health and healthcare characteristics by two county-level urban-rural classification systems: Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC) and Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs). Explores the degree to which four county-level classification systems - RUCC, CBSA, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Urban-Rural Classification Scheme for Counties, and Urban Influence Codes (UIC) - agree regarding which counties are designated as rural.
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Examines health disparities and differences in healthcare characteristics between rural and nonrural counties using data from the 2023 County Health Rankings and 2021-2022 Area Health Resources Files. Compares community health and healthcare characteristics by two county-level urban-rural classification systems: Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC) and Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs). Explores the degree to which four county-level classification systems - RUCC, CBSA, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Urban-Rural Classification Scheme for Counties, and Urban Influence Codes (UIC) - agree regarding which counties are designated as rural.
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Exploring Access to Critical Health Services for Older Adults in Rural America from 1990 to 2020
Analyzes Area Health Resource Files to evaluate access to healthcare facilities and services between 1990 and 2020 using Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC). Discusses healthcare access disparities between urban and rural areas and the growth of the older adult population in rural communities.
Author(s): Elizabeth A. Bambury, Alexis A. Merdjanoff, Joshua T. Fergen, J. Tom Mueller
Citation: The Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e70004
Date: 02/2025
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Analyzes Area Health Resource Files to evaluate access to healthcare facilities and services between 1990 and 2020 using Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC). Discusses healthcare access disparities between urban and rural areas and the growth of the older adult population in rural communities.
Author(s): Elizabeth A. Bambury, Alexis A. Merdjanoff, Joshua T. Fergen, J. Tom Mueller
Citation: The Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e70004
Date: 02/2025
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2023 Missouri Nursing Workforce Report
Presents an overview of the nursing workforce in Missouri, using data from nurses who held active licenses in Missouri as of October 2023. Provides demographics and statistics on advanced practice registered nurses, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, school nurses, and more, with breakdowns by county and metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural areas.
Author(s): Sara Davenport, Tracy Greever-Rice, Eric McDavid, et al.
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Missouri State Board of Nursing, University of Missouri Center for Health Policy
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Presents an overview of the nursing workforce in Missouri, using data from nurses who held active licenses in Missouri as of October 2023. Provides demographics and statistics on advanced practice registered nurses, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, school nurses, and more, with breakdowns by county and metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural areas.
Author(s): Sara Davenport, Tracy Greever-Rice, Eric McDavid, et al.
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Missouri State Board of Nursing, University of Missouri Center for Health Policy
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Cancer in Iowa - 2025
Provides county-level data on cancer cases, deaths, and survivors in Iowa. Highlights information on cancer surveillance and care in Iowa, data on specific types of cancer, and risk factors for cancer, with a focus on cancer survivorship and the needs of survivors in urban and rural areas.
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Iowa Cancer Registry, Iowa College of Public Health
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Provides county-level data on cancer cases, deaths, and survivors in Iowa. Highlights information on cancer surveillance and care in Iowa, data on specific types of cancer, and risk factors for cancer, with a focus on cancer survivorship and the needs of survivors in urban and rural areas.
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Iowa Cancer Registry, Iowa College of Public Health
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Trends in Emergency Department, Primary Care, and Behavioral Health Use for Pediatric Mental Health Conditions in Virginia Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines the relationship between access to primary and behavioral care and pediatric emergency department (ED) visits. Utilizes 2016-2021 data from the Virginia All-Payers Claims Database to analyze pediatric ED visits, mental health ED visits, ED visits for suicidality, and 2016 versus 2021 ED visits by various sociodemographic factors, including rural location.
Author(s): Jennifer L. Gilbert, Bergen B. Nelson, Jacqueline Britz, et al.
Citation: BMC Primary Care, 26, 54
Date: 02/2025
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Examines the relationship between access to primary and behavioral care and pediatric emergency department (ED) visits. Utilizes 2016-2021 data from the Virginia All-Payers Claims Database to analyze pediatric ED visits, mental health ED visits, ED visits for suicidality, and 2016 versus 2021 ED visits by various sociodemographic factors, including rural location.
Author(s): Jennifer L. Gilbert, Bergen B. Nelson, Jacqueline Britz, et al.
Citation: BMC Primary Care, 26, 54
Date: 02/2025
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Rural Households Accounted for Nearly One-Sixth of U.S. Food-Insecure Households in 2023
Charts depicting the share of food insecurity in 2023 by residence area type.
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Charts depicting the share of food insecurity in 2023 by residence area type.
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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A Fast Approach for Analyzing Spatio-Temporal Patterns in Ischemic Heart Disease Mortality Across US Counties (1999–2021)
Examines spatio-temporal patterns and county-level trends of ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality in the United States from 1999 to 2021. Includes county-level U.S. maps presenting IHD trends as well as discussion of geographic and rural versus urban IHD disparities.
Author(s): A. Urdangarin, T. Goicoa, P. Congdon, M.D. Ugarte
Citation: Spatial and Spatio-Temporal Epidemiology, 52, 100700
Date: 02/2025
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Examines spatio-temporal patterns and county-level trends of ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality in the United States from 1999 to 2021. Includes county-level U.S. maps presenting IHD trends as well as discussion of geographic and rural versus urban IHD disparities.
Author(s): A. Urdangarin, T. Goicoa, P. Congdon, M.D. Ugarte
Citation: Spatial and Spatio-Temporal Epidemiology, 52, 100700
Date: 02/2025
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Medicaid-Covered Health Care Visits During the Postpartum Year: Variation by Enrollee Characteristics and State
Examines 2018 Medicaid claims data in 46 states to evaluate the impact of extending postpartum coverage from 60 days to 1 year. Offers comparisons by state Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion status and rural or urban residence, among other variables. Discusses access to healthcare disparities.
Author(s): Laura Barrie Smith, Claire O'Brien, Keqin Wei, Timothy A. Waidmann, Genevieve M. Kenney
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 3(2)
Date: 02/2025
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Examines 2018 Medicaid claims data in 46 states to evaluate the impact of extending postpartum coverage from 60 days to 1 year. Offers comparisons by state Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion status and rural or urban residence, among other variables. Discusses access to healthcare disparities.
Author(s): Laura Barrie Smith, Claire O'Brien, Keqin Wei, Timothy A. Waidmann, Genevieve M. Kenney
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 3(2)
Date: 02/2025
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Trends in Travel Time to Obtain Surgical Care for Rural Patients
Research letter analyzing travel time to surgical care in rural areas between 2010 and 2020, utilizing Medicare Provider Analysis and Review data. Includes data comparing annual change by surgical procedure type among rural and nonrural beneficiaries.
Author(s): Cody Lendon Mullens, Reagan A. Collins, Nicholas Kunnath, Janice C. Probst, Andrew M. Ibrahim
Citation: JAMA
Date: 02/2025
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Research letter analyzing travel time to surgical care in rural areas between 2010 and 2020, utilizing Medicare Provider Analysis and Review data. Includes data comparing annual change by surgical procedure type among rural and nonrural beneficiaries.
Author(s): Cody Lendon Mullens, Reagan A. Collins, Nicholas Kunnath, Janice C. Probst, Andrew M. Ibrahim
Citation: JAMA
Date: 02/2025
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Medicare Advantage Penetration and the Financial Distress of Rural Hospitals
Examines county-level Medicare Advantage (MA) penetration rates and the financial impact on rural hospitals. Utilizes 2014-2020 American Hospital Association data to analyze Medicare and non-Medicare inpatient days paid by the plans, with data breakdowns according to patient demographics, rural versus urban location, timing of inpatient stay, and more.
Author(s): Guido Cataife, Siying Liu
Citation: Health Economics Review, 15, 9
Date: 02/2025
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Examines county-level Medicare Advantage (MA) penetration rates and the financial impact on rural hospitals. Utilizes 2014-2020 American Hospital Association data to analyze Medicare and non-Medicare inpatient days paid by the plans, with data breakdowns according to patient demographics, rural versus urban location, timing of inpatient stay, and more.
Author(s): Guido Cataife, Siying Liu
Citation: Health Economics Review, 15, 9
Date: 02/2025
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