Rural Health Disparities – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Health Disparities.
Rural–Urban Health Disparities among US Adults Ages 50 and Older
Report examining health disparities for Americans ages 50 and older by rural/urban location and by race/ethnicity. Analyzes rates of healthcare access, health behaviors, and chronic health conditions based on 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data.
Author(s): Beth Carter, Olivia Dean
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
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Report examining health disparities for Americans ages 50 and older by rural/urban location and by race/ethnicity. Analyzes rates of healthcare access, health behaviors, and chronic health conditions based on 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data.
Author(s): Beth Carter, Olivia Dean
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
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Health Workforce Strategic Plan
Provides a framework for health workforce improvements and addresses long-standing barriers to strengthening the health workforce. Focuses on recruiting and training health professionals from underserved communities to build a diverse, representative health workforce; ensuring equitable distribution of the workforce across geographic areas and health professions; strengthening the ability of the workforce to deliver high-quality care, including through strengthening cultural and linguistic competency of professionals; and using evidence and data to make better decisions about health workforce education and training investments. Mentions rural throughout.
Additional links: Comments from Federal National Advisory Committees
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Provides a framework for health workforce improvements and addresses long-standing barriers to strengthening the health workforce. Focuses on recruiting and training health professionals from underserved communities to build a diverse, representative health workforce; ensuring equitable distribution of the workforce across geographic areas and health professions; strengthening the ability of the workforce to deliver high-quality care, including through strengthening cultural and linguistic competency of professionals; and using evidence and data to make better decisions about health workforce education and training investments. Mentions rural throughout.
Additional links: Comments from Federal National Advisory Committees
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Investigating Rurality as a Risk Factor for State and Trait Hopelessness in Hospitalized Patients With Ischemic Heart Disease
Highlights a study on the correlation between rurality and hopelessness among adults with ischemic heart disease (IHD). Compares rates of hopelessness of patients with IHD in rural and urban areas. Breaks down data by gender, employment, and marriage status, among other factors.
Author(s): Deb Bomgaars, Gwenneth A. Jensen, Lynn L. White, et al.
Citation: The Journal of the American Heart Association, 10(17), e020768
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
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Highlights a study on the correlation between rurality and hopelessness among adults with ischemic heart disease (IHD). Compares rates of hopelessness of patients with IHD in rural and urban areas. Breaks down data by gender, employment, and marriage status, among other factors.
Author(s): Deb Bomgaars, Gwenneth A. Jensen, Lynn L. White, et al.
Citation: The Journal of the American Heart Association, 10(17), e020768
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
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COVID-19 Working Paper: Meatpacking Working Conditions and the Spread of COVID-19
Report details the working conditions of meatpacking plants and how they affected the spread of COVID-19 during the first months of the pandemic. Compares manufacturing jobs in rural versus total counties and highlights specific rural counties where meatpacking plants were infected. Discusses occupational characteristics that may have contributed to the spread.
Author(s): Thomas P. Krumel, Jr., Corey Goodrich
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Report details the working conditions of meatpacking plants and how they affected the spread of COVID-19 during the first months of the pandemic. Compares manufacturing jobs in rural versus total counties and highlights specific rural counties where meatpacking plants were infected. Discusses occupational characteristics that may have contributed to the spread.
Author(s): Thomas P. Krumel, Jr., Corey Goodrich
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Disparities in Health Care in Medicare Advantage Associated with Dual Eligibility or Eligibility for a Low-income Subsidy
Shares Medicare Advantage (MA) plan performance data for specific healthcare quality measures reported in 2019, which represents care received in 2018. Analyzes and compares the quality of clinical care for dual-eligible (DE) beneficiaries, those who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, and Medicare beneficiaries who are eligible for a Part D low-income subsidy (LIS) with the quality of care for beneficiaries who do not qualify as DE nor LIS by racial/ethnic groups and rural status.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Shares Medicare Advantage (MA) plan performance data for specific healthcare quality measures reported in 2019, which represents care received in 2018. Analyzes and compares the quality of clinical care for dual-eligible (DE) beneficiaries, those who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, and Medicare beneficiaries who are eligible for a Part D low-income subsidy (LIS) with the quality of care for beneficiaries who do not qualify as DE nor LIS by racial/ethnic groups and rural status.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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The Growing Rural-Urban Divide in US Life Expectancy: Contribution of Cardiovascular Disease and Other Major Causes of Death
Study examining rural and urban life expectancy between 1999 and 2019 based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) detailed mortality files. Offers data by gender and age on changes in life expectancy, including cause-of-death breakdowns.
Author(s): Leah R. Abrams, Mikko Myrskyla, Neil K. Mehta
Citation: International Journal of Epidemiology, 50(6), 1970-1978
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
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Study examining rural and urban life expectancy between 1999 and 2019 based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) detailed mortality files. Offers data by gender and age on changes in life expectancy, including cause-of-death breakdowns.
Author(s): Leah R. Abrams, Mikko Myrskyla, Neil K. Mehta
Citation: International Journal of Epidemiology, 50(6), 1970-1978
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
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Rural Healthy People: Where We've Been and Where We're Going
August 25, 2021 webinar presenting key findings from Rural Healthy People 2010 and Rural Healthy People 2020, studying the top 10 rural health priorities for the previous two decades. Presents early findings from the Rural Healthy People 2030 survey and discusses what comes next. Features statistics on mortality rates from diabetes, heart disease, suicide, and cancer, with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Author(s): Timothy Callaghan, Alva O. Ferdinand, Morgan Kassabian
Date: 08/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Research Gateway
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August 25, 2021 webinar presenting key findings from Rural Healthy People 2010 and Rural Healthy People 2020, studying the top 10 rural health priorities for the previous two decades. Presents early findings from the Rural Healthy People 2030 survey and discusses what comes next. Features statistics on mortality rates from diabetes, heart disease, suicide, and cancer, with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Author(s): Timothy Callaghan, Alva O. Ferdinand, Morgan Kassabian
Date: 08/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Research Gateway
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Cancer Mortality and Research Outcomes in a Rural State
Highlights a study exploring the factors contributing to high cancer rates in rural North Dakota. Breaks down cancer data by sex, ethnicity, and geography, among other measures.
Author(s): Mark R. Williamson, Rashid M. Ahmed
Citation: Wisconsin Medical Journal, 120(2), 120-126
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
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Highlights a study exploring the factors contributing to high cancer rates in rural North Dakota. Breaks down cancer data by sex, ethnicity, and geography, among other measures.
Author(s): Mark R. Williamson, Rashid M. Ahmed
Citation: Wisconsin Medical Journal, 120(2), 120-126
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
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The Synchronicity of COVID-19 Disparities: Statewide Epidemiologic Trends in SARS-CoV-2 Morbidity, Hospitalization, and Mortality among Racial Minorities and in Rural America
Presents a study of patterns in COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality among all adults tested for COVID-19 infection in Indiana between March 1 and December 31, 2020. Analyzes data by gender, age, race/ethnicity, and rural/urban location, discussing disparities for rural and minority populations during the fall 2020 surge.
Author(s): Brian E. Dixon, Shaun J. Grannis, Lauren R. Lembcke, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 16(7), e0255063
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
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Presents a study of patterns in COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality among all adults tested for COVID-19 infection in Indiana between March 1 and December 31, 2020. Analyzes data by gender, age, race/ethnicity, and rural/urban location, discussing disparities for rural and minority populations during the fall 2020 surge.
Author(s): Brian E. Dixon, Shaun J. Grannis, Lauren R. Lembcke, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 16(7), e0255063
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
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Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) Program: Highlights and Lessons Learned from the Planning Year (2019 – 2020)
Webinar recording discusses the Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) Program and evaluates its successes and challenges. Includes information on network models and planning year activities, as well as baseline characteristics of the maternal health population prior to program implementation. Features presentations from Mission Analytics and Insight Policy Research.
Additional links: Audio Recording, PowerPoint Handout, Webinar Transcript
Date: 07/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Webinar recording discusses the Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) Program and evaluates its successes and challenges. Includes information on network models and planning year activities, as well as baseline characteristics of the maternal health population prior to program implementation. Features presentations from Mission Analytics and Insight Policy Research.
Additional links: Audio Recording, PowerPoint Handout, Webinar Transcript
Date: 07/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for:
- Appalachia
- Delta Region
- Health disparities
- Rural-urban differences
- The South
- U.S.-Mexico Border Region
Last Updated: 5/20/2024