Rural Health
News by Topic: Access
CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
Federal Register
Nov 19, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on an information collection titled "Methods for Assuring Access to Covered Medicaid Services Under 42 CFR 447.203 and 447.204." CMS will use the information to monitor ongoing compliance with section 1902(a)(30)(A) of the Social Security Act, and to make informed approval decisions on State plan amendments that propose to make Medicaid rate reductions or restructure payment rates. Beneficiaries, providers, and other affected stakeholders may use the information to raise access issues to state Medicaid agencies and work with agencies to address those issues. Comments are due by January 20, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 19, 2025 - Describes a program embedding social workers in a rural North Carolina police department to address the increase in non-crime related calls to the police. Notes that similar programs have operated in urban areas. Discusses how successes have led to expanding the program, connecting people to services in under-resourced areas, and other alternative responder programs in the state.
Source: North Carolina Health News
Nov 18, 2025 - Highlights the work of various nonprofits in Ohio offering support to rural residents in need of human services, experiencing poverty, and with limited healthcare access. Describes disparities experienced by Appalachian Ohio.
Source: Soapbox Cincinnati
Nov 18, 2025 - A rural Vermont mental health urgent care facility has expanded services to offer overnight beds. It is the first 24/7 walk-in mental health urgent care facility in the state and is intended to relieve area emergency rooms as well as offer care close to home. Describes the facility's place in the mental healthcare intervention space, how the program has been funded, outcomes for prior patients, services offered, and sustainability.
Source: VT Digger
Nov 13, 2025 - Describes a program bringing a team of medical providers offering oncology care to rural Colorado once a month. The program eliminates travel times of 3 or more hours for area cancer patients.
Source: UCHealth Today
Nov 12, 2025 - Summarizes discussions at a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine webinar describing barriers and facilitators in accessing diagnostic care for rural residents. Highlights projects increasing access to primary and diagnostic care including school-based health centers, mobile units, telehealth, and artificial intelligence. Notes the connection between rural community investment and improving access to diagnostic care.
Source: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine News
Nov 12, 2025 - Highlights 2 new California laws aiming to increase access to maternal healthcare services in rural areas. One law creates a 10 year pilot program to operate standby maternity units for emergency care rather than maintaining staff full time. A second law relaxes licensing rules for birth centers. Discusses new maternity care options as a result of the new policies in Plumas County where a maternity ward closed in 2022.
Source: Cal Matters
Nov 11, 2025 - Describes a new mental health treatment offered for free to veterans and other first responders in Ohio. Highlights one veteran's work to increase access to the treatment in rural areas using mobile units.
Source: The Ohio Newsroom
Nov 5, 2025 - Highlights progress on a facility expansion in rural Wisconsin that will increase access to healthcare diagnostic technology and services for local residents. Describes common challenges for rural residents in accessing these services.
Source: WKBT
Nov 5, 2025 - Offers data showing rural and urban differences in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) incidence and factors contributing to those higher rates. Discusses smoking, occupational hazards, access to healthcare, and social determinants of health. Notes effective approaches for overcoming these contributors to COPD.
Source: Loma Linda University Health News