Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
Results from the Annual Survey of School Food Authorities, School Year 2024-2025
Analyzes supply chain disruptions in School Food Authorities (SFAs), such as the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP), from 2024 to 2025. Provides data on SFA supply chain challenges, food and labor costs, student participation, and more, with rural, suburban, and urban breakdowns.
Author(s): Ashley Chaifetz, Susannah Barr, Allison Lacko
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration
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Analyzes supply chain disruptions in School Food Authorities (SFAs), such as the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP), from 2024 to 2025. Provides data on SFA supply chain challenges, food and labor costs, student participation, and more, with rural, suburban, and urban breakdowns.
Author(s): Ashley Chaifetz, Susannah Barr, Allison Lacko
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration
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MedPAC Data Book: Health Care Spending and the Medicare Program, 2026
Provides an overview of Medicare spending and highlights data on Medicare beneficiary demographics, dual-eligible beneficiaries, quality of care provided through the Medicare program, and other payer liability. Examines settings of care, including rural-specific provider sites, as they relate to spending, access to care, and Medicare and operating margins. Compares rural and urban beneficiaries and providers throughout. Chart 6-2 addresses rural hospital closures and Rural Emergency Hospital conversions.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Provides an overview of Medicare spending and highlights data on Medicare beneficiary demographics, dual-eligible beneficiaries, quality of care provided through the Medicare program, and other payer liability. Examines settings of care, including rural-specific provider sites, as they relate to spending, access to care, and Medicare and operating margins. Compares rural and urban beneficiaries and providers throughout. Chart 6-2 addresses rural hospital closures and Rural Emergency Hospital conversions.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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A Profile of Dual-Eligible Individuals
Presents data on the demographic, socioeconomic, and health characteristics of dual-eligible individuals in 2023. Compares dual-eligible individuals' characteristics with those of Medicare beneficiaries without Medicaid. Includes data on urban and rural residence.
Author(s): Abby Wolk, Nancy Ochieng, Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Alice Burns
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Presents data on the demographic, socioeconomic, and health characteristics of dual-eligible individuals in 2023. Compares dual-eligible individuals' characteristics with those of Medicare beneficiaries without Medicaid. Includes data on urban and rural residence.
Author(s): Abby Wolk, Nancy Ochieng, Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Alice Burns
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Small Rural Hospital and Clinic Finance 101
Provides introductory information on healthcare facility finances and payment for state Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program personnel, Critical Access Hospital (CAH) staff and board members, small rural prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals, and provider-based Rural Health Clinics (RHC).
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Provides introductory information on healthcare facility finances and payment for state Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program personnel, Critical Access Hospital (CAH) staff and board members, small rural prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals, and provider-based Rural Health Clinics (RHC).
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Veteran Satisfaction With Lung Cancer Screening Care: A Cross-Sectional Evaluation
Examines how satisfaction with lung cancer screening varied among rural and nonrural veterans receiving care at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers between 2018 and 2021, using survey data of 689 veterans. Includes data on how other demographic and clinical factors, including smoking status, influence satisfaction with care.
Author(s): Jennifer A. Lewis, Amber J. Hackstadt, Kathryn D. Snyder, et al.
Citation: Medical Care
Date: 07/2026
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Examines how satisfaction with lung cancer screening varied among rural and nonrural veterans receiving care at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers between 2018 and 2021, using survey data of 689 veterans. Includes data on how other demographic and clinical factors, including smoking status, influence satisfaction with care.
Author(s): Jennifer A. Lewis, Amber J. Hackstadt, Kathryn D. Snyder, et al.
Citation: Medical Care
Date: 07/2026
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The Change Club Intervention: 2-Year Impacts from a Cluster-Randomized Trial in Rural Communities in New York and Texas
Examines the impact of Change Club, a community-focused intervention implemented in New York and Texas that promotes physical activity and healthful nutrition. Examines the impact of a civic engagement curriculum targeting built environment on participant health behaviors and outcomes.
Author(s): Rebecca A. Seguin-Fowler, Karla L. Hanson, Galen D. Eldridge et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14
Date: 07/2026
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Examines the impact of Change Club, a community-focused intervention implemented in New York and Texas that promotes physical activity and healthful nutrition. Examines the impact of a civic engagement curriculum targeting built environment on participant health behaviors and outcomes.
Author(s): Rebecca A. Seguin-Fowler, Karla L. Hanson, Galen D. Eldridge et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14
Date: 07/2026
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Train Rural, Work Rural: The Potential for Advanced Fellowships in Addressing Rural VA Healthcare Workforce Shortages
Explores the potential of professional training programs to increase recruitment and retention of the healthcare workforce in rural Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities. Bases findings on a survey of current VHA fellowships on whether they would be applicable to rural areas. Breaks down data by fellowship program, rurality of program site, and demographics of participating fellows.
Author(s): Kathleen L. Carluzzo, Linda M. Kinney, Bradley V. Watts, Karen E. Schifferdecker
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70188
Date: 07/2026
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Explores the potential of professional training programs to increase recruitment and retention of the healthcare workforce in rural Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities. Bases findings on a survey of current VHA fellowships on whether they would be applicable to rural areas. Breaks down data by fellowship program, rurality of program site, and demographics of participating fellows.
Author(s): Kathleen L. Carluzzo, Linda M. Kinney, Bradley V. Watts, Karen E. Schifferdecker
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70188
Date: 07/2026
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When Policy Exists but Practice Fails: Rethinking Cognitive Screening as a Public Health Delivery Problem
An essay that discusses gaps in early dementia detection and the related impact of public health delivery constraints in rural communities. Examines policy efforts and state-level examples to improve dementia care.
Author(s): Brian Kim
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 07/2026
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An essay that discusses gaps in early dementia detection and the related impact of public health delivery constraints in rural communities. Examines policy efforts and state-level examples to improve dementia care.
Author(s): Brian Kim
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 07/2026
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2026 Workforce Survey Report: The Status of Kentucky's Hospital Workforce
Provides an in-depth look at non-physician direct care positions in inpatient or hospital-related outpatient departments in Kentucky as of 2025. Includes statistics on vacancies, benefits, and pay, with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Maik Schutze
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Kentucky Hospital Association
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Provides an in-depth look at non-physician direct care positions in inpatient or hospital-related outpatient departments in Kentucky as of 2025. Includes statistics on vacancies, benefits, and pay, with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Maik Schutze
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Kentucky Hospital Association
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Community Voices from North Carolina's Healthy Opportunities Pilots Program: Implications for Designing and Evaluating Programs to Address Upstream Drivers of Health
Describes experiences of participants in North Carolina's Healthy Opportunities Pilots program, including enrollees, care managers, and staff at community-based organizations. The program tested impacts of providing services to eligible Medicaid members to address upstream drivers of health in 3 predominantly rural regions of the state.
Author(s): Alida Austin, Katie Huber, Brianna Van Stekelenburg, Kody Kinsley, Rebecca Whitaker
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy, Milbank Memorial Fund
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Describes experiences of participants in North Carolina's Healthy Opportunities Pilots program, including enrollees, care managers, and staff at community-based organizations. The program tested impacts of providing services to eligible Medicaid members to address upstream drivers of health in 3 predominantly rural regions of the state.
Author(s): Alida Austin, Katie Huber, Brianna Van Stekelenburg, Kody Kinsley, Rebecca Whitaker
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy, Milbank Memorial Fund
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