Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Statistics and data
Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Medicare Shared Savings Program Assigned Beneficiaries Among Original Medicare Enrollees
Describes trends of Medicare beneficiaries assigned to Medicare Shared Savings Program (SSP) Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Presents data on metropolitan and nonmetropolitan SSP ACO assignment and Medicare Advantage enrollment between 2018 and 2024, as well as the percentage of original Medicare beneficiaries assigned to an ACO in 2024 by metropolitan status and state.
Additional links: State Tables
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Describes trends of Medicare beneficiaries assigned to Medicare Shared Savings Program (SSP) Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Presents data on metropolitan and nonmetropolitan SSP ACO assignment and Medicare Advantage enrollment between 2018 and 2024, as well as the percentage of original Medicare beneficiaries assigned to an ACO in 2024 by metropolitan status and state.
Additional links: State Tables
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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A Comparison of Independent and System-Affiliated Rural Hospitals
Compares independent and system-affiliated rural hospitals by organizational characteristics, financial performance, and county characteristics. Presents Medicare Cost Report data from 2023-2024 on the number and percentage of independent and system-affiliated rural hospitals by state, ownership characteristics, Medicare payment classification, use of swing beds, financial distress, and more.
Author(s): Aditya R. Pillutla, Sruthi Malavika Srinivasan, Kristie Thompson, George Pink, Tyler Malone
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Compares independent and system-affiliated rural hospitals by organizational characteristics, financial performance, and county characteristics. Presents Medicare Cost Report data from 2023-2024 on the number and percentage of independent and system-affiliated rural hospitals by state, ownership characteristics, Medicare payment classification, use of swing beds, financial distress, and more.
Author(s): Aditya R. Pillutla, Sruthi Malavika Srinivasan, Kristie Thompson, George Pink, Tyler Malone
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model Evaluation: Final Report
Provides an overview of the Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model, which tested whether identifying and addressing core health-related social needs (HRSNs) of community-dwelling beneficiaries improves health outcomes, reduces healthcare costs, and reduces unnecessary healthcare utilization. Describes the AHC Model's impacts on key outcomes for Medicaid, FFS Medicare, and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries through December 2023 and final lessons learned.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Findings at a Glance
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, RTI International
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Provides an overview of the Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model, which tested whether identifying and addressing core health-related social needs (HRSNs) of community-dwelling beneficiaries improves health outcomes, reduces healthcare costs, and reduces unnecessary healthcare utilization. Describes the AHC Model's impacts on key outcomes for Medicaid, FFS Medicare, and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries through December 2023 and final lessons learned.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Findings at a Glance
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, RTI International
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Development of Metrics and a Protocol to Clinically Evaluate the HRSA Behavioral Health Integration Program Within the Evidence-Based Telehealth Network Program
Describes a protocol and 27 common data elements for examining the implementation of behavioral health integration in primary care. Protocol and elements were developed from 26 participants in the Health Resources and Services Administration's Evidence-Based Telehealth Network Program.
Author(s): J. Priyanka Vakkalanka, Fred Ullrich, Kimberly A.S. Merchant, Christopher M. Shea, Marcia M. Ward
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Remote Care & Telehealth Research Center
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Describes a protocol and 27 common data elements for examining the implementation of behavioral health integration in primary care. Protocol and elements were developed from 26 participants in the Health Resources and Services Administration's Evidence-Based Telehealth Network Program.
Author(s): J. Priyanka Vakkalanka, Fred Ullrich, Kimberly A.S. Merchant, Christopher M. Shea, Marcia M. Ward
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Remote Care & Telehealth Research Center
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Mental Health Treatment among Adults Who Had Serious Thoughts of Suicide
Offers 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data showing adults that received mental health treatment and had thoughts of suicide. Includes a breakdown by county type at the large metropolitan, small metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan levels.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Offers 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data showing adults that received mental health treatment and had thoughts of suicide. Includes a breakdown by county type at the large metropolitan, small metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan levels.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Visual Impairment and Blindness among Illinoisans, Metro vs. Nonmetro
Examines visual impairment in Illinois utilizing data from the American Community Survey (ACS) and the 2024 Area Health Resources File. Provides data breakdowns of visual impairment prevalence by county as well as a comparison of metro versus nonmetro availability of optometrists and ophthalmologists.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Examines visual impairment in Illinois utilizing data from the American Community Survey (ACS) and the 2024 Area Health Resources File. Provides data breakdowns of visual impairment prevalence by county as well as a comparison of metro versus nonmetro availability of optometrists and ophthalmologists.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Availability of Higher-Level Neonatal Care in Rural and Urban US Hospitals, 2010-2022
A research letter that discusses the availability of higher-level neonatal care in rural and urban hospitals. Analyzes changes in intermediate or intensive neonatal care availability between 2010 and 2022 in 3,257 U.S. birth hospitals according to rurality.
Author(s): Katy B. Kozhimannil, Emily C. Sheffield, Clara E. Busse, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(2), e2559680
Date: 02/2026
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A research letter that discusses the availability of higher-level neonatal care in rural and urban hospitals. Analyzes changes in intermediate or intensive neonatal care availability between 2010 and 2022 in 3,257 U.S. birth hospitals according to rurality.
Author(s): Katy B. Kozhimannil, Emily C. Sheffield, Clara E. Busse, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(2), e2559680
Date: 02/2026
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Indiana Rural Behavioral Health Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in Indiana in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in Indiana in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Arkansas Health Professions Manpower Statistics 2024
Reports on the distribution of licensed healthcare professionals by county for Arkansas with maps and statistics. Includes demographic data for primary and specialty care physicians, dentists, nurses, and more.
Author(s): Marilea Brock, Howraa Al-Mousawi, Nathaniel Noble, Jeremy Courtney
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Department of Health
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Reports on the distribution of licensed healthcare professionals by county for Arkansas with maps and statistics. Includes demographic data for primary and specialty care physicians, dentists, nurses, and more.
Author(s): Marilea Brock, Howraa Al-Mousawi, Nathaniel Noble, Jeremy Courtney
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Department of Health
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Indiana Rural Primary Care Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the primary care workforce distribution in Indiana in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the primary care workforce distribution in Indiana in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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