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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Access

May 11, 2026 - The Dolly Parton Children's Hospital, formerly known as East Tennessee Children's Hospital, is expanding pediatric care, particularly in rural communities. The hospital serves about 20 counties in the region, and its new pediatric residency program will begin in summer 2027.
Source: Knox News
May 11, 2026 - Notice of an interim final rule with request for comments from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) extending the web content and mobile application (app) accessibility compliance dates established in the May 9, 2024, final rule. The compliance date for recipients with 15 or more employees is extended to May 11, 2027. The compliance date for recipients with fewer than 15 employees is extended to May 10, 2028. This rule is effective May 7, 2026. Comments are due by July 6, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
May 11, 2026 - The Care Collaborative, a University of Kansas Health System patient safety organization, has launched a program to support maternity care in rural areas, by offering in-person instruction at emergency rooms across the state. In Kansas only about a third of rural hospitals still deliver babies.
Source: WAFB9
May 11, 2026 - Profiles the work of the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System, which serves a population of about 34,000 patients across about 65,000 square miles. The three VA systems in Arizona offer transportation service primarily for veterans who are older and no longer able to drive, but also assist homeless veterans and those who do not have access to transportation.
Source: Cronkite News
May 10, 2026 - The University of Minnesota Medical School is partnering with Lakewood Health System to launch a residency in Staples, a small city in west-central Minnesota. Residents will have one year of training in Minneapolis, followed by two years in Staples. The aim of the program is to address the shortage of doctors in rural Minnesota.
Source: MPR News
May 8, 2026 - A recent episode of the Iowa Economy Podcast features 3 healthcare and public health experts, who discuss how statewide health challenges are affecting Iowa's economy. They point out that these issues have implications for employers, workforce stability, and long-term economic growth.
Source: Business Record
May 8, 2026 - Opinion piece discussing effects of healthcare provider shortages in rural Ohio. Ohio Senate Bill 258 would would allow Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to practice without the physician collaboration requirement currently in place, and might help alleviate shortages in rural and underserved areas.
Source: Ohio Capital Journal
May 7, 2026 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is accepting applications for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant program for fiscal year 2026. DLT grant funds support the use of telecommunications-enabled information, audio and video equipment, and related advanced technologies by students, teachers, medical professionals, and rural residents. Program guidance and application forms are available on USDA's website.
Source: Federal Register
Related funding: Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program Grants
May 7, 2026 - The Stephen F. Austin State University nursing program enrolls about 100 students a year, and is working to address a nurse shortage that is especially acute in rural communities. The Texas Health and Human Services agency estimates that by 2032 there will be a shortage of 57,000 nurses in the state.
Source: KTRE
May 6, 2026 - A Missouri University of Science and Technology medical drone delivery program is trialing the delivery of time-sensitive medical materials, including blood and lab samples, between hospital hubs and smaller communities in Missouri.
Source: Fox News