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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

Changes in Physical Inactivity Among US Adults Overall and by Sociodemographic Characteristics, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2020 Versus 2018
Analyzes changes in physical activity in U.S. adults during the COVID-19 pandemic by comparing 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data to 2018 and 2016 data. Focuses on prevalence of physical inactivity according to age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, and rural versus urban geographic location.
Author(s): Miriam E. Van Dyke, Tiffany J. Chen, Jasmine Y. Nakayama, Latetia V. Moore, Geoffrey P. Whitfield
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 20
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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State Differences in Recommended Components of Care Received During Postpartum Visits for Rural and Urban Residents, 2016-2019
Policy brief measuring state-level differences in receipt of recommended postpartum care components for urban and rural residents, using data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. Features statistics on the median number of postpartum care components with breakdowns by state and rurality, and state-level maps with shadings showing frequency of screening for depression, smoking, abuse, and counseling for contraception, eating and exercise, and birth spacing.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Phoebe Chastain, Katy Backes Kozhimannil
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Expanded Report to Congress: Non-Emergency Medical Transportation in Medicaid, 2018–2021
Examines the Medicaid analysis of non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) using Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System (T-MSIS) data from 2018-2021. Explores the number and percentage of Medicaid beneficiaries using NEMT, the average number of NEMT "ride days" per NEMT user per month enrolled in Medicaid, the types of medical services accessed when using NEMT, monthly trends in the use of NEMT versus telehealth services before and during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), and the volume of NEMT services used by type of NEMT delivery model. Offers recommendations for states and local stakeholders regarding Medicaid coverage of NEMT. Presents data by state and by beneficiary characteristics, including Medicaid eligibility category, health conditions, and urban-rural location.
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Unvaccinated Adolescents' COVID-19 Vaccine Intentions: Implications for Public Health Messaging
Examines factors related to COVID-19 vaccine intentions in the U.S. adolescent population. Analyzes April 2021 survey data of 831 unvaccinated respondents regarding their vaccine hesitancy or acceptance according to age, gender, rurality, race/ethnicity, and concerns over COVID-19 infection and vaccine side effects, as well as additional factors impacting their vaccination decisions.
Author(s): Grace W. Ryan, Natoshia M. Askelson, Kate R. Woodworth, et al.
Citation: Journal of Adolescent Health, 73(4), 679-685
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
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Updated Medicare FFS Telehealth Trends by Beneficiary Characteristics, Visit Specialty and State, 2019-2021
Examines telehealth visits by Medicare beneficiaries from 2019 through 2021. Compares telehealth use by patient characteristics, including urban and rural residence and Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), visit specialty, health conditions, and state.
Author(s): Lok Wong Samson, Sara J. Couture, Tim B. Creedon, Laura Jacobus-Kantor, Steven Sheingold
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Activity-Limiting Injury in Adults: United States, 2020−2021
Reports on adults who had an activity-limiting injury in 2020-2021 by sex, age, race, income, education, region, and urbanization level, including large central metropolitan, large fringe metropolitan, medium and small metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan.
Author(s): Amy E. Cha, Xun Wang
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Telemedicine and the Carbon Footprint of Healthcare: An Empirical Analysis of Illinois Counties
Examines the impact of telemedicine on reducing carbon emissions in Illinois. Provides metro versus nonmetro estimates as well as county-level estimates of carbon emissions savings in both outpatient and hospital settings.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Targeted Provider Relief Funds Allocated to Hospitals Had Some Differences with Respect to the Ethnicity and Race of Populations Served
Examines how early Provider Relief Fund Targeted Distributions (Targeted PRF) in 2020 correlated with the racial, ethnic, and economic characteristics of the communities providers serve. Analyzes the Targeted PRF allocations to hospitals and explores if there are statistically significant correlations between PRF per person and the racial, ethnic, and economic composition of the census tracts. Covers four Targeted PRF allocations to COVID-19 High Impact Area Hospitals, Safety Net Hospitals, Rural Hospitals, and Indian Health Service and Tribal Hospitals. Identifies and describes trends in the allotment to rural hospitals.
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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The Other Side of Rural Health Care
Podcast episode with Terry Scoggin, CEO of Titus Regional Medical Center in northeast Texas, discussing how the hospital uses innovative data to understand and meet the needs of its community.
Date: 07/2023
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Occupational COVID-19 Exposures and Illnesses among Workers in California—Analysis of a New Occupational COVID-19 Surveillance System
Results of a study using Doctor's First Report of Occupational Injury or Illness (DFR) surveillance data in California to report on workers affected by occupational SARS-CoV-2 exposures and COVID-19, as well as their outcomes, including lost work time and hospitalizations. Features statistics with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): David Pham Bui, Kathryn Gibb, Martha Fiellin, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(13), 6307
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
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