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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Access

Mar 26, 2026 - Highlights a recently published report to discuss maternal healthcare and resource access challenges in rural Texas. Discusses telehealth and federal programs as potential solutions to those access challenges.
Source: KRWG, PBS, NPR
Mar 26, 2026 - Describes a telestroke program in Oklahoma connecting rural patients to specialty care. Discusses the funding that makes the program possible, plans to expand the program using Rural Health Transformation Program funding, and a similar program in Arkansas.
Source: KOSU, NPR
Mar 25, 2026 - Highlights work in New Hampshire, Colorado, and Maine to turn public places into gathering spaces that support community needs, promote wellness and accessibility, social programs, and more.
Source: AARP
Mar 25, 2026 - Announces bipartisan legislation to improve access to mental health and addiction services for farmers and ranchers in rural communities.
Source: Office of Representative Derrick Van Orden
Mar 24, 2026 - A new proposed California bill would create a program to provide menstrual products to female farmworkers in rural communities with high poverty rates. Discusses the lack of access to stores with hygiene products in rural areas.
Source: Imperial Valley Press
Mar 24, 2026 - Highlights the Remote Area Medical (RAM) clinic from the University of Virginia, a student and volunteer led clinic offering health screenings, dental and vision care, and other primary care services. Also discusses the hands-on training the program gives medical students.
Source: UVA Today
Mar 23, 2026 - Profiles a rural Arizona doctor preparing for retirement. Describes the impact on a rural community when the only doctor stops practicing, discussing health professional shortage areas, recruitment challenges, and distance to healthcare.
Source: Cronkite News
Mar 22, 2026 - Describes a research initiative investigating how artificial intelligence and mobile clinics might be used to increase access to care in rural areas with workforce shortages. Highlights rural healthcare access disparities and implementation challenges related to broadband and patient privacy.
Source: The Independent Florida Alligator
Mar 19, 2026 - Summarizes conversations at the Rural Health Transformation Summit on March 18, 2026, a meeting of state officials, experts, and federal administrators to discuss implementation of the Rural Health Transformation Plan. Discusses state program alignment with RHTP's 5 strategic goals: Make Rural America Healthy Again, sustainable access, workforce development, innovative care, and tech innovation. Notes the role of the Office of Rural Health Transformation (ORHT) within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS).
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Mar 18, 2026 - Summarizes recent research finding disparities in mortality between urban and rural residents with cancer. The study analyzed 27,710,318 cancer deaths between 1969 and 2023 and compared rural and urban trends during that time. Notes drivers of outcome disparities including access to care, healthcare screenings, poverty, smoking, and more.
Source: American Cancer Society