Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
Nicotine and Tobacco Product Use among US Youth in 10th and 12th Grade, 2023–2025: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study
Examines trends in youth nicotine, tobacco, and multi-product co-use. Utilizes 2023-2025 survey data from 10th and 12th graders and analyzes lifetime use and past 30-day use of various nicotine and tobacco products according to grade, demographics, parent education, and school location of urban, suburban/town, or rural.
Author(s): Dayoung Bae, Junhan Cho, Alyssa F. Harlow, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 65, 101673
Date: 01/2027
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Examines trends in youth nicotine, tobacco, and multi-product co-use. Utilizes 2023-2025 survey data from 10th and 12th graders and analyzes lifetime use and past 30-day use of various nicotine and tobacco products according to grade, demographics, parent education, and school location of urban, suburban/town, or rural.
Author(s): Dayoung Bae, Junhan Cho, Alyssa F. Harlow, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 65, 101673
Date: 01/2027
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The Association of Hospital Characteristics With Medicaid Managed Care Hospital Prices
Examines the relationship between hospital characteristics and Medicaid facility prices for routine procedures. Utilizes 2021-2023 facility claims data from Elevance Health-affiliated Medicaid plans, alongside American Hospital Directory data, to compare prices by Critical Access Hospital (CAH) and children's hospital status, ownership (for-profit, religiously affiliated, or government), teaching status, system affiliation, rurality, and size.
Author(s): Brett Alfrey, Benjamin Ukert, Aliza S. Gordon
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(6), e70178
Date: 12/2026
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Examines the relationship between hospital characteristics and Medicaid facility prices for routine procedures. Utilizes 2021-2023 facility claims data from Elevance Health-affiliated Medicaid plans, alongside American Hospital Directory data, to compare prices by Critical Access Hospital (CAH) and children's hospital status, ownership (for-profit, religiously affiliated, or government), teaching status, system affiliation, rurality, and size.
Author(s): Brett Alfrey, Benjamin Ukert, Aliza S. Gordon
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(6), e70178
Date: 12/2026
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Calendar Year (CY) 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule: Quality Payment Program (QPP) Fact Sheet and Policy Comparison Table
Provides an overview of the 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule, focusing on policy changes impacting the Quality Payment Program (QPP). Describes quality measures that are new, revised, and removed for the 2027 performance period. Compares previous policies with the newly finalized policies by policy area.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of the 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule, focusing on policy changes impacting the Quality Payment Program (QPP). Describes quality measures that are new, revised, and removed for the 2027 performance period. Compares previous policies with the newly finalized policies by policy area.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Arizona State Plan on Aging: Federal Fiscal Years 2027 and 2028
Provides a plan for the ways Arizona's Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) will support independent, healthy, and dignified community-based aging during FY 2027 and 2028. Addresses rural and tribal areas throughout, discussing topics including access to healthcare, well-being and safety, the need to ensure sufficient funding for rural programs, collaboration and communication with tribal and rural populations, and more.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Department of Economic Security
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Provides a plan for the ways Arizona's Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) will support independent, healthy, and dignified community-based aging during FY 2027 and 2028. Addresses rural and tribal areas throughout, discussing topics including access to healthcare, well-being and safety, the need to ensure sufficient funding for rural programs, collaboration and communication with tribal and rural populations, and more.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Department of Economic Security
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Texas Report on the Behavioral Health Matching Grant Programs, Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025
Reports on funding and areas served by state-level behavioral health matching grant programs in Texas, including data on number of rural counties served by grant programs. See document pages 26-28 for an overview of the Rural Initiatives Grant Program, which establishes and expands behavioral health centers and jail diversion centers for adults and children.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health and Human Services
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Reports on funding and areas served by state-level behavioral health matching grant programs in Texas, including data on number of rural counties served by grant programs. See document pages 26-28 for an overview of the Rural Initiatives Grant Program, which establishes and expands behavioral health centers and jail diversion centers for adults and children.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health and Human Services
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Availability of Hospital-Based Obstetric Services in the United States by County, 2010–2024: A State-by-State Report
Provides national-, state-, and county-specific information on changes in obstetric care availability between 2010-2024. Includes maps and statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban counties, including rural micropolitan and rural noncore counties.
Author(s): Kevan O'Hanlon, Katy B. Kozhimannil, Julia D. Interrante
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Provides national-, state-, and county-specific information on changes in obstetric care availability between 2010-2024. Includes maps and statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban counties, including rural micropolitan and rural noncore counties.
Author(s): Kevan O'Hanlon, Katy B. Kozhimannil, Julia D. Interrante
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Wrong-Way Driving and Injury Risk on a Rural Four-Lane Corridor: A Descriptive and Spatial Analysis of US Highway 10, 2019-2024
Examines crash, injury, and mortality characteristics along a rural highway in Wisconsin. Analyzes 239 motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) from 2019-2024 according to environmental conditions, manner of collision, use of substances, and injury or death. Discusses geographic disparities in MVC fatalities and access to emergency care, as well as the role of public safety planning.
Author(s): Heather Rhodes-Lyons, Rachel Symons, Gina Brandl, Erin Klarr, Lucy Martinek
Citation: Wisconsin Medical Journal, 125(4), 445-450
Date: 11/2026
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Examines crash, injury, and mortality characteristics along a rural highway in Wisconsin. Analyzes 239 motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) from 2019-2024 according to environmental conditions, manner of collision, use of substances, and injury or death. Discusses geographic disparities in MVC fatalities and access to emergency care, as well as the role of public safety planning.
Author(s): Heather Rhodes-Lyons, Rachel Symons, Gina Brandl, Erin Klarr, Lucy Martinek
Citation: Wisconsin Medical Journal, 125(4), 445-450
Date: 11/2026
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Rural-Urban Differences for Integrated First Responder and Drone Automated External Defibrillator Delivery in North Carolina
Models the impact of equipping first responders with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) or utilizing drone networks on median AED arrival time in rural and urban areas of North Carolina. Compares interventions against historical response times using 2013-2019 Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) data.
Author(s): Jamal Chu, K.H. Benjamin Leung, Audrey L. Blewer, et al.
Citation: American Heart Journal, 303, 107604
Date: 11/2026
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Models the impact of equipping first responders with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) or utilizing drone networks on median AED arrival time in rural and urban areas of North Carolina. Compares interventions against historical response times using 2013-2019 Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) data.
Author(s): Jamal Chu, K.H. Benjamin Leung, Audrey L. Blewer, et al.
Citation: American Heart Journal, 303, 107604
Date: 11/2026
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Urban-Rural Variability in Infant Formula Availability and Product Variety in United States Counties from 2022 to 2024
Examines infant formula variety and availability across rural and urban U.S. counties. Utilizes 2022-2024 infant formula product listing data as well as Household Pulse Survey data to analyze metro versus nonmetro differences in households using infant formula, difficulty in purchasing formula, and number of unique formula products by county.
Author(s): Gavin J. Fenske, Jessica E. Todd, Saied Toossi, Latasha A. Robinson, Jane M. Van Doren
Citation: Journal of Food Protection, 89(11), 100916
Date: 11/2026
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Examines infant formula variety and availability across rural and urban U.S. counties. Utilizes 2022-2024 infant formula product listing data as well as Household Pulse Survey data to analyze metro versus nonmetro differences in households using infant formula, difficulty in purchasing formula, and number of unique formula products by county.
Author(s): Gavin J. Fenske, Jessica E. Todd, Saied Toossi, Latasha A. Robinson, Jane M. Van Doren
Citation: Journal of Food Protection, 89(11), 100916
Date: 11/2026
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Differential Effects of Social Determinants on Cancer Survival by Age at Diagnosis: A Population-Based Study in Alabama
Examines whether the impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) on cancer survival differs by age at diagnosis. Utilizes 2010-2019 Alabama Statewide Cancer Registry data on adults diagnosed with breast, prostate, colorectal, or lung cancers and analyzes survival rate alongside social vulnerability, rurality, and insurance status.
Author(s): Mackenzie E. Fowler, Geetanjali Saini, Elizabeth Baker, Mahak Bhargava, Ritu Aneja
Citation: Journal of Geriatric Oncology, 17(8), 103094
Date: 11/2026
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Examines whether the impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) on cancer survival differs by age at diagnosis. Utilizes 2010-2019 Alabama Statewide Cancer Registry data on adults diagnosed with breast, prostate, colorectal, or lung cancers and analyzes survival rate alongside social vulnerability, rurality, and insurance status.
Author(s): Mackenzie E. Fowler, Geetanjali Saini, Elizabeth Baker, Mahak Bhargava, Ritu Aneja
Citation: Journal of Geriatric Oncology, 17(8), 103094
Date: 11/2026
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