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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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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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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How Has Insurer Participation in the ACA Marketplaces Changed in 2026?
Presents data on health insurer participation in the ACA Marketplace, including the average number of ACA Marketplace insurers by state between 2014 and 2026. Includes interactive maps displaying state- and county-level data on the number of participating Marketplace insurers in 2026 and the change in the number of insurers between 2025 and 2026.
Author(s): Jared Ortaliza, Justin Lo, Matt McGough, Cynthia Cox
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Presents data on health insurer participation in the ACA Marketplace, including the average number of ACA Marketplace insurers by state between 2014 and 2026. Includes interactive maps displaying state- and county-level data on the number of participating Marketplace insurers in 2026 and the change in the number of insurers between 2025 and 2026.
Author(s): Jared Ortaliza, Justin Lo, Matt McGough, Cynthia Cox
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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2025 Indiana Physician License Renewal Data Report: 2025-2027 Biennium
Provides information on the 2025 physician workforce in Indiana. Includes county-level data on total actively practicing physicians, primary care physicians, and psychiatrists as well as provider to population ratios.
Additional links: Physician Workforce Snapshot, Primary Care Physician Snapshot, Psychiatrist Snapshot
Author(s): Aaron Brehm, Sierra Vaughn, Brittany Daulton
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy
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Provides information on the 2025 physician workforce in Indiana. Includes county-level data on total actively practicing physicians, primary care physicians, and psychiatrists as well as provider to population ratios.
Additional links: Physician Workforce Snapshot, Primary Care Physician Snapshot, Psychiatrist Snapshot
Author(s): Aaron Brehm, Sierra Vaughn, Brittany Daulton
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy
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Research Brief: Supporting Indian Tribal Organizations To Expand Summer EBT Access
Analyzes Indian Tribal Organization (ITO) participation in the the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) program. Discusses the history of Summer EBT, ITOs and federal nutrition programs, inclusion of culturally relevant foods, and benefits and barriers of ITO participation in Summer EBT. Includes a U.S. map showing area where states and Tribes administer Summer EBT.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Food Research & Action Center
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Analyzes Indian Tribal Organization (ITO) participation in the the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) program. Discusses the history of Summer EBT, ITOs and federal nutrition programs, inclusion of culturally relevant foods, and benefits and barriers of ITO participation in Summer EBT. Includes a U.S. map showing area where states and Tribes administer Summer EBT.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Food Research & Action Center
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Supporting Rural Older Adults in Home and Community-Based Settings: Perspectives from Area Agencies on Aging
Explores the needs of older adults living in rural communities who are homebound. Presents findings and themes from a July 2025 listening session with representatives from rural-serving Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) from five states regarding challenges serving rural older adults who are homebound.
Author(s): Katie Rydberg, Jessica Machler, Megan Lahr, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Explores the needs of older adults living in rural communities who are homebound. Presents findings and themes from a July 2025 listening session with representatives from rural-serving Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) from five states regarding challenges serving rural older adults who are homebound.
Author(s): Katie Rydberg, Jessica Machler, Megan Lahr, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Factors Influencing Rural Hospitals to Participate and Remain in Accountable Care Organizations
Examines factors that impact rural hospital participation in Medicare and accountable care organization (ACO) models. Utilizes interview feedback from rural hospital executives regarding ACO participation and discusses themes such as financial incentives, value-based reimbursement, population health, healthcare quality, and more.
Author(s): Emily J. Lawton, Jenah McCarty, Thomas E. Vaughn, Fred Ullrich, Keith J. Mueller
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70179
Date: 06/2026
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Examines factors that impact rural hospital participation in Medicare and accountable care organization (ACO) models. Utilizes interview feedback from rural hospital executives regarding ACO participation and discusses themes such as financial incentives, value-based reimbursement, population health, healthcare quality, and more.
Author(s): Emily J. Lawton, Jenah McCarty, Thomas E. Vaughn, Fred Ullrich, Keith J. Mueller
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70179
Date: 06/2026
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Marriage and Family Therapist and Mental Health Counselor Workforces in Rural America Under New Medicare Reimbursement Policy
Describes how Medicare reimbursement expanded to cover marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and mental health counselors (MHCs) in January 2024. Examines the change in Medicare-enrolled MFTs and MHCs between the third quarter (Q3) of 2023 and fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024. Presents findings from semi-structured interviews with rural health system and mental health organization leaders regarding practice arrangements, the perceived impacts of MFT and MHC reimbursement, barriers to serving rural Medicare beneficiaries, and considerations for future policies.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Natalia V. Oster, Lisa A. Garberson, Davis G. Patterson, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Describes how Medicare reimbursement expanded to cover marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and mental health counselors (MHCs) in January 2024. Examines the change in Medicare-enrolled MFTs and MHCs between the third quarter (Q3) of 2023 and fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024. Presents findings from semi-structured interviews with rural health system and mental health organization leaders regarding practice arrangements, the perceived impacts of MFT and MHC reimbursement, barriers to serving rural Medicare beneficiaries, and considerations for future policies.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Natalia V. Oster, Lisa A. Garberson, Davis G. Patterson, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Texas Rural Obstetrical Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the obstetricians and advanced practice midwives workforce distribution in Texas 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: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the obstetricians and advanced practice midwives workforce distribution in Texas 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: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Texas Rural Primary Care Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the primary care workforce distribution in Texas 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: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the primary care workforce distribution in Texas 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: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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