Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
How Do Services Offered Within Opioid Treatment Programs Vary Based on State Methadone Policies?
Examines the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in various states as well as access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) options, psychosocial services, and housing supports. Analyzes 1,501 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their characteristics, including state restrictiveness, services offered, facility type, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Noa Krawczyk, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Jonathan H. Cantor
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 190, 210062
Date: 11/2026
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Examines the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in various states as well as access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) options, psychosocial services, and housing supports. Analyzes 1,501 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their characteristics, including state restrictiveness, services offered, facility type, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Noa Krawczyk, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Jonathan H. Cantor
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 190, 210062
Date: 11/2026
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Rural Health Disadvantages in the United States: Evidence from Nationally Representative Data
Describes rural and urban mortality rate disparities since the 1990s and then examines National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999, 2000, 2017, and 2020 to identify both individual and place-based factors associated with health outcomes within large metropolitan, small/medium metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas. Discusses disparities in the working adult population and how county characteristics contribute to rural and urban gaps.
Author(s): Brandon Restrepo, Elizabeth A. Dobis, Sarah A. Low, Kelsey L. Thomas
Citation: Economics & Human Biology, 62
Date: 09/2026
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Describes rural and urban mortality rate disparities since the 1990s and then examines National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999, 2000, 2017, and 2020 to identify both individual and place-based factors associated with health outcomes within large metropolitan, small/medium metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas. Discusses disparities in the working adult population and how county characteristics contribute to rural and urban gaps.
Author(s): Brandon Restrepo, Elizabeth A. Dobis, Sarah A. Low, Kelsey L. Thomas
Citation: Economics & Human Biology, 62
Date: 09/2026
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The Obesity-Related Chronic Disease Index (ORCDi), a Novel Composite Metric to Quantify ORCD Burden: An Ecological Study Across U.S. Census Tracts
Analyzes obesity-related conditions across U.S. census-tracts to develop and validate the obesity-related chronic disease index (ORCDi), a metric used to quantify obesity burden at the community level. Utilizes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES 2024 data to analyze health conditions across social vulnerability indices (SVIs) and rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes. Discusses the utility of ORCDi as a measure in health research to analyze ORCD burden in various communities.
Author(s): Md Roungu Ahmmad, Fazlay Faruque, Xiaoli Zhang
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 61, 101547
Date: 09/2026
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Analyzes obesity-related conditions across U.S. census-tracts to develop and validate the obesity-related chronic disease index (ORCDi), a metric used to quantify obesity burden at the community level. Utilizes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES 2024 data to analyze health conditions across social vulnerability indices (SVIs) and rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes. Discusses the utility of ORCDi as a measure in health research to analyze ORCD burden in various communities.
Author(s): Md Roungu Ahmmad, Fazlay Faruque, Xiaoli Zhang
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 61, 101547
Date: 09/2026
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School-Centered Tobacco Retailer Exposure and Neighborhood Opportunity Across Urban and Rural Tennessee
Examines the association between neighborhood opportunity and school-centered tobacco retailer exposure in Tennessee, including differences by rural or urban areas and Appalachian status. Features statistics and county-level maps with shadings showing school-centered tobacco retail exposure and tract-level quintiles of the Child Opportunity Index state percentile.
Author(s): Sima Namin, Jacob Black, Jennifer Ferris, Robert E. Heidel
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(2), 29-52
Date: 08/2026
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Examines the association between neighborhood opportunity and school-centered tobacco retailer exposure in Tennessee, including differences by rural or urban areas and Appalachian status. Features statistics and county-level maps with shadings showing school-centered tobacco retail exposure and tract-level quintiles of the Child Opportunity Index state percentile.
Author(s): Sima Namin, Jacob Black, Jennifer Ferris, Robert E. Heidel
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(2), 29-52
Date: 08/2026
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Understanding Cancer Clinical Trial Participation in Rural Communities: A Qualitative Focus Group Study
Analyzes perceptions of cancer clinical trial participation among 30 rural cancer survivors, patients, caregivers, and advocates in rural Florida via focus group interviews. Discusses barriers to clinical trial participation, misunderstandings of clinical trial purpose, process, and accessibility, and other factors associated with rural access, communication, and trust for clinical trials.
Author(s): Yetunde Tagurum, Jennifer N. Wells, Vickie Cater, et al.
Citation: Psycho-Oncology, 35(8), e70572
Date: 08/2026
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Analyzes perceptions of cancer clinical trial participation among 30 rural cancer survivors, patients, caregivers, and advocates in rural Florida via focus group interviews. Discusses barriers to clinical trial participation, misunderstandings of clinical trial purpose, process, and accessibility, and other factors associated with rural access, communication, and trust for clinical trials.
Author(s): Yetunde Tagurum, Jennifer N. Wells, Vickie Cater, et al.
Citation: Psycho-Oncology, 35(8), e70572
Date: 08/2026
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Bridging Gaps in Acute Care Access for Rural Veterans: The Reach and Impact of VA's Virtual Emergency and Urgent Care Programs
Examines how the Veterans Health Administration's (VA) tele-emergency care (TEC) and virtual care visits (VCV) programs influenced short-term care utilization, mortality and other health outcomes, and costs among rural veterans, using Jan 2022-Sept 2024 national call center data linked with VA administrative and community care records.
Author(s): Anita A. Vashi, Linda Diem Tran, Tracy Urech, Allison Engstrom Buggaveeti, Liam Rose
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70197
Date: 08/2026
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Examines how the Veterans Health Administration's (VA) tele-emergency care (TEC) and virtual care visits (VCV) programs influenced short-term care utilization, mortality and other health outcomes, and costs among rural veterans, using Jan 2022-Sept 2024 national call center data linked with VA administrative and community care records.
Author(s): Anita A. Vashi, Linda Diem Tran, Tracy Urech, Allison Engstrom Buggaveeti, Liam Rose
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70197
Date: 08/2026
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Deaths of Despair Among Cancer Survivors in Rural/Urban Appalachia (2000-2022)
Compares deaths of despair trends among adults with cancer across Appalachian and non-Appalachian regions. Features statistics on year-by-year incidence-based mortality rates, with breakdowns by sex, urban or rural location, and region, and mortality rates for these groups in 2000 and 2022.
Author(s): Jason Semprini, Anders Erickson, Nosa Osazuwa-Peters
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(2), 14-28
Date: 08/2026
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Compares deaths of despair trends among adults with cancer across Appalachian and non-Appalachian regions. Features statistics on year-by-year incidence-based mortality rates, with breakdowns by sex, urban or rural location, and region, and mortality rates for these groups in 2000 and 2022.
Author(s): Jason Semprini, Anders Erickson, Nosa Osazuwa-Peters
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(2), 14-28
Date: 08/2026
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HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau: Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. Initiative Data Report 2024
Reports on the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program's Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) initiative, which supports expanded programs and services to people who are not receiving regular HIV care or are unaware of their HIV status. Covers program activities, services funded, program administration, and populations served. Discusses providers, programs, and factors influencing access to care in rural areas.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau
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Reports on the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program's Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) initiative, which supports expanded programs and services to people who are not receiving regular HIV care or are unaware of their HIV status. Covers program activities, services funded, program administration, and populations served. Discusses providers, programs, and factors influencing access to care in rural areas.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau
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Disparities in Access to Medicare-Approved Medical Specialists in Rural Kentucky
Describes healthcare disparities among rural Kentucky communities by examining the potential distance required to access specialty care. Features statistics with breakdowns by medical specialty and rural, urban, or mixed-designated ZIP codes, and a county-level map with shadings showing county designations based on eligibility for rural healthcare grants through the Department of Health and Human Services.
Author(s): Logan Hurm, Jacob A. Welch, James Adkins
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(2), 1-13
Date: 08/2026
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Describes healthcare disparities among rural Kentucky communities by examining the potential distance required to access specialty care. Features statistics with breakdowns by medical specialty and rural, urban, or mixed-designated ZIP codes, and a county-level map with shadings showing county designations based on eligibility for rural healthcare grants through the Department of Health and Human Services.
Author(s): Logan Hurm, Jacob A. Welch, James Adkins
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(2), 1-13
Date: 08/2026
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Facilitation of Health Plan-Clinic Partnerships to Improve Colorectal Cancer Screening for Rural Medicaid Enrollees: A Qualitative Study
Examines efforts to increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates, analyzing practice facilitation that supports mailed fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) and patient navigation. Utilizes qualitative data from the SMARTER CRC pragmatic trial that facilitates partnerships between Medicaid health plans and clinics in rural parts of Oregon.
Author(s): Erin S. Kenzie, Anders Herreid-O'Neill, Emily Myers, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70203
Date: 08/2026
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Examines efforts to increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates, analyzing practice facilitation that supports mailed fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) and patient navigation. Utilizes qualitative data from the SMARTER CRC pragmatic trial that facilitates partnerships between Medicaid health plans and clinics in rural parts of Oregon.
Author(s): Erin S. Kenzie, Anders Herreid-O'Neill, Emily Myers, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70203
Date: 08/2026
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