Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
Rural and Urban Differences in Suicide in the United States, 2018-2021
Highlights the rates of suicide across the U.S. from 2018-2021 in rural and urban areas. Discusses some of the geographic and demographic characteristics that correlate with higher rates of suicide. Breaks down data by year, demographics, Census and HHS regions, and rural versus urban location. Makes policy recommendations based on the report's findings.
Author(s): Qian Huang, Nicole Galler, Michael Meit, Amy Wahlquist
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
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Highlights the rates of suicide across the U.S. from 2018-2021 in rural and urban areas. Discusses some of the geographic and demographic characteristics that correlate with higher rates of suicide. Breaks down data by year, demographics, Census and HHS regions, and rural versus urban location. Makes policy recommendations based on the report's findings.
Author(s): Qian Huang, Nicole Galler, Michael Meit, Amy Wahlquist
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
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Rural–Urban Disparities in Cancer Care—Analyzing Routinely Collected Patient‐Reported Outcomes. A Cross‐Sectional Study
Compares rural and urban patient-reported outcomes related to anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain interference, and physical function among 7,271 cancer patients who received treatment at the Huntsman Cancer Institute between 2016 and 2019. Includes data breakdowns by rural or urban status, including comparisons by specific cancer types.
Author(s): Dominik J. Ose, Bayarmaa Mark, Krista Ocier, et al.
Citation: Cancer Medicine, 14(8), e70437
Date: 04/2025
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Compares rural and urban patient-reported outcomes related to anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain interference, and physical function among 7,271 cancer patients who received treatment at the Huntsman Cancer Institute between 2016 and 2019. Includes data breakdowns by rural or urban status, including comparisons by specific cancer types.
Author(s): Dominik J. Ose, Bayarmaa Mark, Krista Ocier, et al.
Citation: Cancer Medicine, 14(8), e70437
Date: 04/2025
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How Does Cost Affect Access to Healthcare?
Explores trends in how costs affect access to healthcare using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) through 2023. Covers the percentage of adults who delayed or went without care due to cost, including insulin users who rationed insulin due to costs. Presents data by income level, health status, insurance status, and urban/rural residence.
Author(s): Shameek Rakshit, Matthew McGough, Lynne Cotter, Gary Claxton
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organizations: KFF, Peterson Center on Healthcare
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Explores trends in how costs affect access to healthcare using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) through 2023. Covers the percentage of adults who delayed or went without care due to cost, including insulin users who rationed insulin due to costs. Presents data by income level, health status, insurance status, and urban/rural residence.
Author(s): Shameek Rakshit, Matthew McGough, Lynne Cotter, Gary Claxton
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organizations: KFF, Peterson Center on Healthcare
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Changes in the Availability of Inpatient Psychiatric Beds Across Rural and Urban Areas, 2012-2021
Policy brief describing numbers of Critical Access Hospitals and rural Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals providing inpatient psychiatric care, and comparing these to urban PPS hospitals. Also examines psychiatric unit closure rates and the effect on access to behavioral health services in rural areas.
Author(s): John Gale, Zachariah T. Croll, Jamar Croom, Yvonne Jonk
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Policy brief describing numbers of Critical Access Hospitals and rural Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals providing inpatient psychiatric care, and comparing these to urban PPS hospitals. Also examines psychiatric unit closure rates and the effect on access to behavioral health services in rural areas.
Author(s): John Gale, Zachariah T. Croll, Jamar Croom, Yvonne Jonk
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Severe Maternal Morbidity in Tennessee, 2018-2022
Focuses on severe maternal morbidity (SMM) occurring during hospitalizations for childbirth in Tennessee, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Features statistics including SMM rates by maternal residence, with breakdowns by urban, urban adjacent, and rural counties.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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Focuses on severe maternal morbidity (SMM) occurring during hospitalizations for childbirth in Tennessee, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Features statistics including SMM rates by maternal residence, with breakdowns by urban, urban adjacent, and rural counties.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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Social Determinants of Health and Variability in Treatment for Patients with Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Examines census tract-level social determinants of health (SDOH) and their impact on lung cancer treatment. Utilizes 2017-2022 Syapse Learning Health Network data to analyze patient social and demographic variables, housing burden, broadband internet access, primary care shortage areas, and rurality, as correlated with radiation therapy and/or surgery.
Author(s): Molly Scannell Bryan, Xiaohan Hu, Monika A. Izano, et al.
Citation: JNCI Cancer Spectrum, 9(2)
Date: 04/2025
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Examines census tract-level social determinants of health (SDOH) and their impact on lung cancer treatment. Utilizes 2017-2022 Syapse Learning Health Network data to analyze patient social and demographic variables, housing burden, broadband internet access, primary care shortage areas, and rurality, as correlated with radiation therapy and/or surgery.
Author(s): Molly Scannell Bryan, Xiaohan Hu, Monika A. Izano, et al.
Citation: JNCI Cancer Spectrum, 9(2)
Date: 04/2025
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Mapping Maternity Care Deserts: Driving Distance and Health Outcomes in North Carolina
Examines the relationship between maternity care deserts in North Carolina and maternal and infant health. Utilizes 2016-2021 hospitalization records to examine travel distance to care and health outcomes such as cesarean delivery rates, severe maternal morbidity, and hypertension. Discusses maternal health access issues across rural-urban commuting (RUCA) codes.
Author(s): Margaret Sugg, Shishir Shakya, Sarah Ulrich, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 04/2025
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Examines the relationship between maternity care deserts in North Carolina and maternal and infant health. Utilizes 2016-2021 hospitalization records to examine travel distance to care and health outcomes such as cesarean delivery rates, severe maternal morbidity, and hypertension. Discusses maternal health access issues across rural-urban commuting (RUCA) codes.
Author(s): Margaret Sugg, Shishir Shakya, Sarah Ulrich, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 04/2025
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Chronic Disease Prevalence among New Mexican Adults: Results from the 2023 New Mexico Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Reports on chronic health conditions in New Mexico using New Mexico Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (NM BRFSS) data. Covers conditions including arthritis, respiratory diseases, cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity, depression, and more. Provides data breakdowns for each condition by level of rurality and other demographics.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Reports on chronic health conditions in New Mexico using New Mexico Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (NM BRFSS) data. Covers conditions including arthritis, respiratory diseases, cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity, depression, and more. Provides data breakdowns for each condition by level of rurality and other demographics.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Primary Care Workforce in Illinois Counties, Demand and Supply
Examines primary care workforce supply and demand in Illinois. Provides county-level data on number of primary care physicians (PCPs), physician assistants (PAs), and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) with metro versus nonmetro county comparisons.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Examines primary care workforce supply and demand in Illinois. Provides county-level data on number of primary care physicians (PCPs), physician assistants (PAs), and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) with metro versus nonmetro county comparisons.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Medicare Beneficiary Receipt of Methadone by Drive Time to Opioid Treatment Programs
Examines availability of methadone at opioid treatment programs for Medicare beneficiaries who have been diagnosed with an opioid use disorder. Utilizes data from 640,706 Medicare beneficiaries and analyzes their respective drive time to a treatment facility as well as receipt of methadone treatment. Includes U.S. map showing locations of opioid treatment programs and rural versus urban comparisons of patient drive times.
Author(s): Jonathan Cantor, Helin G. Hernandez, Aaron Kofner, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(4)
Date: 04/2025
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Examines availability of methadone at opioid treatment programs for Medicare beneficiaries who have been diagnosed with an opioid use disorder. Utilizes data from 640,706 Medicare beneficiaries and analyzes their respective drive time to a treatment facility as well as receipt of methadone treatment. Includes U.S. map showing locations of opioid treatment programs and rural versus urban comparisons of patient drive times.
Author(s): Jonathan Cantor, Helin G. Hernandez, Aaron Kofner, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(4)
Date: 04/2025
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