Urban-rural differences in Medicare in Missouri.

Health Care Financing Administration's (HCFA) administrative data were analyzed to examine urban-rural differences in the characteristics of Medicare beneficiaries, their utilization of medical care, the providers of services, and selected outcomes in Missouri. As compared to the residents of urban areas, the residents of the rural counties were a little poorer, had equal access to health care, and utilized more health care services; but the cost of major services was lower.