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Designing Policy Solutions To Build A Healthier Rural America, Elizabeth Weeks, Sameer Vohra, Carolyn Pointer, Amanda Fogleman, Thomas Albers, Anish Patel

Scholarly Works

Disparities exist in the livelihood and opportunities for people living in America’s rural communities. These differences result in a much sicker rural America compared to its urban counterpart. Rural counties have higher rates of smoking, obesity, child poverty, and teen pregnancies than urban counties.1 More uninsured adults live in rural areas, causing rural hospitals to close and/or cut vital services such as obstetrics care.2 Rural hospitals also provide fewer mental health services.3 The result is Americans living in rural areas are more likely to die from the five leading causes of death than those living in urban areas: heart disease, …