Larson SL, Machlin SR, Nixon A, Zodet M. 2004. Health care in urban and rural areas, combined years 1998-2000. Rockville, MD: U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 39 pp. (MEPS chartbook; no. 13) Annotation: This chartbook examines the differences in health care access, use, and expenses between urban and rural areas. Counties are classified along the urban-rural continuum according to whether they are metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and, if they are not, according to their proximity to an MSA. The chartbook presents data from the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey; the charts indicate similarities and differences between rural and urban places on measure of health care access, use, and expenses. The chartbook is organized into three sections. The first compares people in four categories along the urban-rural continuum (metro, near-metro, near-rural, and rural). the second provides information on insurance access and access to care. The third focuses on variations in use and expenses for ambulatory care, prescription medications, and dental care. An updated edition, covering 2004-2006, was published in 2009. Contact: U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, Telephone: (301) 427-1104 Secondary Telephone: (301) 427-1364 Web Site: http://www.ahrq.gov Available at no charge; also available from the website. Document Number: AHRQ Pub. No. 04-0050. Keywords: Access to health care, Costs, Data, Dental care, Health care utilization, Health insurance, Prescription drugs, Primary care, Rural health, Rural populations, Statistics, Urban health, Urban populations |