Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Medicare Advantage Enrollment 2025
Describes the percentage of rural and urban Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans between 2021-2025. Presents data on the changes in MA penetration rates in urban and rural counties during this time. Includes data on MA penetration rates in 2025 in urban and rural counties by state.
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Describes the percentage of rural and urban Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans between 2021-2025. Presents data on the changes in MA penetration rates in urban and rural counties during this time. Includes data on MA penetration rates in 2025 in urban and rural counties by state.
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Unapologetically Built Backwards: ONU HealthWise, Pharmacist-Driven Healthcare Access in Rural Ohio
Features a university pharmacy department in rural Ohio that prepares pharmacy students for rural practice while also providing mobile services in nearby rural counties. Describes how the program has expanded to offer interprofessional education experiences and serve a larger region.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Features a university pharmacy department in rural Ohio that prepares pharmacy students for rural practice while also providing mobile services in nearby rural counties. Describes how the program has expanded to offer interprofessional education experiences and serve a larger region.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Rural Health Transformation Program: State Focus on Maternal and Child Health
Describes maternal and child healthcare initiatives addressed in state Rural Health Transformation Program applications. Covers access to maternity care, the maternal health workforce, community-based behavioral health programs, technology-enabled strategies for maternal health, and more.
Author(s): Anoosha Hasan, Elliot Hill, Zack Gould
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Describes maternal and child healthcare initiatives addressed in state Rural Health Transformation Program applications. Covers access to maternity care, the maternal health workforce, community-based behavioral health programs, technology-enabled strategies for maternal health, and more.
Author(s): Anoosha Hasan, Elliot Hill, Zack Gould
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Small Area Health Insurance Estimates: 2022
Reports on health insurance coverage in the U.S. in 2022 and changes between 2021 and 2022, as well as changes between 2019 and 2022. Includes maps showing county-level uninsured rates.
Date: 03/2026
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Reports on health insurance coverage in the U.S. in 2022 and changes between 2021 and 2022, as well as changes between 2019 and 2022. Includes maps showing county-level uninsured rates.
Date: 03/2026
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Rural-Urban Trends in the Burden of Diabetes Among U.S. Adults
Describes the national incidence and prevalence of diabetes between 2021-2023 using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Presents data on diabetes-related mortality between 2018-2023 from the CDC WONDER platform. Compares the incidence, prevalence, and mortality data across large metro, small metro, and non-metro counties. Highlights areas of the country with significantly higher and lower diabetes-related mortality rates.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Michelle Asiedu-Danso, Cassie Odahowski, Peiyin Hung, Elizabeth Crouch
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Describes the national incidence and prevalence of diabetes between 2021-2023 using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Presents data on diabetes-related mortality between 2018-2023 from the CDC WONDER platform. Compares the incidence, prevalence, and mortality data across large metro, small metro, and non-metro counties. Highlights areas of the country with significantly higher and lower diabetes-related mortality rates.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Michelle Asiedu-Danso, Cassie Odahowski, Peiyin Hung, Elizabeth Crouch
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Impact of Age and Rurality on Colorectal Cancer Outcomes in the United States
Examines how colorectal cancer stage at diagnosis and mortality differ based on age and rurality, using 2006-2020 SEER Program data. Includes rural versus nonrural data comparisons by age bracket.
Author(s): Caitlyn Grunert, Meng-Han Tsai, Charles R. Rogers, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 61
Date: 03/2026
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Examines how colorectal cancer stage at diagnosis and mortality differ based on age and rurality, using 2006-2020 SEER Program data. Includes rural versus nonrural data comparisons by age bracket.
Author(s): Caitlyn Grunert, Meng-Han Tsai, Charles R. Rogers, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 61
Date: 03/2026
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Geographic, Racial, and Sex Disparities in Time to Treatment for Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer
Research letter analyzes how timely treatment initiation differs among adults with early-onset colorectal cancer by four levels of rurality, sex, and race/ethnicity, using 2006-2020 SEER Program data.
Author(s): Meng-Han Tsai, Steven S. Coughlin, Jorge Cortes, Kenneth J. Vega
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(3), e261980
Date: 03/2026
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Research letter analyzes how timely treatment initiation differs among adults with early-onset colorectal cancer by four levels of rurality, sex, and race/ethnicity, using 2006-2020 SEER Program data.
Author(s): Meng-Han Tsai, Steven S. Coughlin, Jorge Cortes, Kenneth J. Vega
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(3), e261980
Date: 03/2026
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Examining Rural Population Characteristics and Access to Care in 2022: A Study of Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs)
Chartbook examines the characteristics of populations living within Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) across the U.S. Explores geographic, population, and facility-based HPSAs in Primary Care and Dental and Mental Health. Highlights population-to-provider ratios, travel time and distance, and several other category-specific measurements for each HPSA.
Author(s): Craig Holden, Shena Popat, Rachel Van Vleet, et al.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
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Chartbook examines the characteristics of populations living within Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) across the U.S. Explores geographic, population, and facility-based HPSAs in Primary Care and Dental and Mental Health. Highlights population-to-provider ratios, travel time and distance, and several other category-specific measurements for each HPSA.
Author(s): Craig Holden, Shena Popat, Rachel Van Vleet, et al.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
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Health Insurance Coverage and Rural–Urban Differences in Maternal Health Care Among Postpartum Women—National Health Interview Survey
Examines rural versus urban differences in health insurance coverage and postpartum healthcare. Utilizes 2013-2018 National Health Interview Survey data from 2,664 women and analyzes rural versus urban differences according to demographics, insurance type, sleep problems, acute care utilization, dissatisfaction with care, and delayed or forgone care.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Alyssa H. Fritz, Sara C. Handley, Clara E. Busse, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: Birth Issues in Perinatal Care
Date: 03/2026
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Examines rural versus urban differences in health insurance coverage and postpartum healthcare. Utilizes 2013-2018 National Health Interview Survey data from 2,664 women and analyzes rural versus urban differences according to demographics, insurance type, sleep problems, acute care utilization, dissatisfaction with care, and delayed or forgone care.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Alyssa H. Fritz, Sara C. Handley, Clara E. Busse, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: Birth Issues in Perinatal Care
Date: 03/2026
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The Importance of Long-Term Services and Supports to a High-Performance Rural Health System: Demographic, Policy and Economic Challenges
Explores the potential impact of The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (HR 1) on sustaining long-term services and supports (LTSS) in rural areas as an important element of a high performing rural health system. Describes how the policy landscape affecting LTSS in rural America is undergoing changes in population characteristics, healthcare resources, and financing. Discusses the potential impact of federal policy changes on rural LTSS.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Explores the potential impact of The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (HR 1) on sustaining long-term services and supports (LTSS) in rural areas as an important element of a high performing rural health system. Describes how the policy landscape affecting LTSS in rural America is undergoing changes in population characteristics, healthcare resources, and financing. Discusses the potential impact of federal policy changes on rural LTSS.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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