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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

High Prescription Drug Out-of-Pocket Spending Burden among Privately Insured Rural and Urban Adults Age 18-64
Analyzes prescription drug out-of-pocket spending among privately-insured rural and urban adults, utilizing 2017-2020 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data. Compares average spending and high prescription out-of-pocket burden in rural and urban populations, and details implications for rural medication adherence and associated health outcomes.
Author(s): Jean A. Talbot, Elora Way, Yvonne Jonk, Erica C. Ziller
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Rural-Urban Differences and Trends in Children's Health Insurance Coverage
Examines differences in urban and rural children's insurance coverage from 2012-2019, and socioeconomic characteristics of uninsured children in 2016 and 2019. Features demographics and statistics by year, with breakdowns by urban and rural residence.
Author(s): Erica C. Ziller. Catherine Gelsinger, Brianna Holston
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Prevalence and Correlates of Forgone Care among Older Rural and Urban Medicare Beneficiaries during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Results of a study assessing rural-urban differences in forgone care among Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older, using data from June and July 2020. Also examines what types of care were most often forgone and what access barriers were most common. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Yvonne Jonk, Heidi O'Connor, Jean Talbot, Erica C. Ziller
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Prenatal Care Utilization in Arkansas, United States
Examines demographic factors associated with number of prenatal care visits, including data on late prenatal care and no prenatal care, in Arkansas. Utilizes 2014-2022 National Center for Health Statistics birth record data. Includes rural versus urban comparisons for select demographic indicators.
Author(s): Pearl A. McElfish, Aaron Caldwell, Donya Watson, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine Reports, 51, 102983
Date: 01/2025
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Association Between Rurality and Race/Ethnicity and Pediatric Cancer Early Mortality: A Population-Based Cohort Study Using SEER Data from 2000 to 2021
Examines the relationship among early mortality in pediatric cancer patients, rurality, and race/ethnicity. Utilizes 2000-2021 SEER Research Plus Limited-Field data to examine 138,648 patients and the factors contributing to mortality within 12 months of diagnosis. Discusses health disparities for rural and non-White populations.
Author(s): Kiersten Preuss, Emma Hymel, Melissa Acquazzino, Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway
Citation: Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 73(3), e31520
Date: 01/2025
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2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association
Compiles national data on heart disease, stroke, and health behaviors and other factors affecting cardiovascular health. Mentions demographic health disparities throughout, including rural-urban health disparities.
Author(s): Seth S. Martin, Aaron W. Aday, Norrina B. Allen, et al.
Citation: Circulation, 151:e1-e620
Date: 01/2025
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Access to Firearms and Opioids Among Veterans at Risk for Suicide
Analyzes rates of access to firearms and opioids, gun safety practices, and being provided or declining naloxone or firearm locks among 38,454 veterans at risk for suicide, utilizing 2021-2023 Veterans Health Administration electronic health record data. Includes demographic breakdowns, including rural versus urban dwelling.
Author(s): Gabriela Kattan Khazanov, Matthew Wilson, Tom Cidav, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(1), e2456906
Date: 01/2025
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Investigating Suicide Risk Factors Among Appalachian West Virginian Adults
Results of a study exploring lifetime suicide risk in West Virginia. Identifies factors driving urban-rural differences in suicide risk, using survey data from the 2021 Mountain State Assessment of Trends in Community Health. Features demographics and statistics with breakdown by urban or rural residence.
Author(s): Erin D. Caswell, Angela M. Dyer, Summer D. Hartley
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(4), 41-66
Date: 01/2025
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How Medicaid Helps Your State
Offers fact sheets for 50 states and D.C. on Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) participation. Includes percent of children and adults covered by Medicaid or CHIP in rural areas of each state.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Analyzing Temporal Patterns in Frequent Emergency Department Visits among Oncology Patients Using Semantic Similarity Measures
Analyzes patterns in frequent emergency department (ED) use among patients with and without cancer, utilizing 2018-2019 ED visit data of 5 rural and 5 urban Illinois hospitals. Compares patient characteristics, cancer versus non-cancer patient mix, and proximity to care in rural and urban EDs. Discusses cancer patients as a priority group for improving access and service delivery to produce better outcomes and reduce emergency services use.
Author(s): Hyojung Kang, Lloyd Fernandes, John P. Riordan
Citation: The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 89, 51-56
Date: 01/2025
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