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Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document

Frequent Police Contact and Nonfatal Overdose among People Who Use Drugs in Rural Appalachia
Explores the relationship between non-fatal overdoses and frequent stop-and-search contact with the police for rural people who use drugs (PWUD) in Kentucky. Breaks down data by participant demographic measures, such as age, sex, housing stability, frequency of police stops, and drug use, among other measures.
Author(s): Javier A. Cepeda, Talia Loeb, Zach R. Salazar, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 284, 113188
Date: 07/2026
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Exploring Associations Between Well-Being, Mental Distress, and Five Dimensions of Social Capital in Rural Georgia
Explores the role social capital plays in supporting mental health and well-being in rural communities. Bases findings on surveys collected from residents of 6 rural counties in Georgia. Breaks down findings by rates of mental health and well-being by dimension of social capital: trust, diversity of interactions, reciprocity, civic engagement, and voting.
Author(s): Alexis Joanna Smith, Lauren M Bigger, Robin E McGee, et al.
Citation: Family and Community Health, 49(3), 192-196
Date: 07/2026
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Medicare Hospice: Action Needed to Pay More Efficiently for Routine Home Care
Describes the frequency and characteristics of routine home care visits in 2024 for Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in hospice since 2022 who died or were discharged alive in 2024. Compares estimated per-visit Medicare payment rates for routine home care across hospices with the highest and lowest number of visits per week and to home health per-visit rates. Includes information on the average number of visits per week by rural and urban hospice providers. Offers recommendations to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding revisions to the hospice payment system.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Rural-Urban Disparities in Epilepsy Outcomes in the United States
Examines rural and urban differences in epilepsy outcomes using 2016-2021 National Inpatient Sample data. Provides data on in-hospital mortality, treatments received, length of stay, and more.
Author(s): Edward R. Bader, William S. Kemball-Cook, Joshua A. Benton, et al.
Citation: Neurology, 107(1), e218053
Date: 06/2026
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Traffic Safety Facts, 2024 Data: Alcohol-Impaired Driving
National data on traffic crashes from 2015-2024 involving alcohol-impaired drivers. Features statistics with breakdowns including road conditions, month, time of day, state, and rural or urban location.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services Rebalancing Is Concentrated in Large Urban Areas
Compares rural and urban utilization of home and community-based services among Medicaid long-term services and supports users, using 2022 Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System data sourced through an ATI Advisory LTSS user dashboard. Analyzes rural-urban disparities in access by level of rurality and by state.
Author(s): Emmaline Keesee, Laura M. Keohane
Citation: The Journal of the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association, 27(6), 106208
Date: 06/2026
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1 in 10 Adults Ages 50 and Older Were Food Insecure in 2024
Provides data on food insecurity in adults aged 50 and older in the United States with breakdowns according to state, demographic variables, and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Olivia Dean, Lauren Toppenberg
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: AARP
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2026 Kids Count Data Book: State Trends in Child Well-Being
Reports on the trends in overall child wellness, economic well-being, education, health, and family and community support for children nationwide. Includes state-by-state comparisons for each category.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Annie E. Casey Foundation
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Quick Facts 2024
Provides statistics on motor vehicle crashes in 2022-2024, with breakdowns including fatalities, injuries, vehicle type, alcohol-impaired-driving, seat belt use, children, older population, and rural or urban location.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Traffic Safety Facts, 2024 Data: Large Trucks
National data on fatal and nonfatal traffic crashes involving commercial and noncommercial trucks weighing more than 10,000 pounds. Features statistics from 2015-2024 with breakdowns by involvement rate per 100,000 registered trucks, crash characteristics, estimated proportion of alcohol-impaired drivers, previous 5-year driving records of drivers in fatal crashes, time of day and week, state, and rural or urban location.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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