Rural Health
News by Topic: Access
Jul 27, 2026 - Sanford Health and Marshfield Clinic Health System merged in 2025, creating a rural health organization that serves Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This has improved recruiting and retention of staff and expanded access to care for underserved rural communities.
Source: American Medical Association
Jul 24, 2026 - Interview with Cory Cronin, associate professor at Ohio University's Department of Social and Public Health. He discusses the issues involved in nonprofit rural hospitals spending their community benefit budgets, a requirement to invest in improving the health of the local community overall.
Source: WOUB
HHS: HHS Request for Comment on the Update to the National Plan To Address Alzheimer's Disease
Federal Register
Jul 24, 2026 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking comments to inform the future direction of federal efforts to accelerate scientific progress and improve support for individuals living with Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD) and their families. HHS asks for input on approaches to advance AD/ADRD research and development of new interventions to prevent and treat dementia, risk reduction strategies, early detection and diagnostic tools, and/or enhanced care, services, and supports for people living with dementia and their families, caregivers, and care partners. In addition, HHS seeks input on gaps, emerging priorities, and opportunities to strengthen coordination across federal, state, tribal, local, private sector, and community partners. Comments are due by August 15, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 23, 2026 - Discusses a new healthcare clinic that opened in a rural Mississippi Delta community. Highlights the history of healthcare access in the area and the challenges the community faced when there was no clinic, particularly related to transportation to healthcare facilities in other communities. Discusses plans to expand services further in the future.
Source: Mississippi Free Press
Jul 23, 2026 - Profiles a West Virginia University (WVU) Medicine clinic in rural Glenville, where two WVU neurologists drive from Morgantown once a month to see patients. The clinic serves people in rural areas who lack ready access to specialists.
Source: Association of American Medical Colleges
Jul 23, 2026 - Two new advanced nursing programs in West Texas are opening this fall. The programs aim to address healthcare workforce shortages and make emergency healthcare more accessible for the rural Texas Panhandle.
Source: KVII
Jul 21, 2026 - Describes a postpartum care initiative in a rural Pennsylvania town aiming to support new mothers and increase breastfeeding rates.
Source: 90.5 WESA
Jul 18, 2026 - Highlights a tour of rural Franklin County in Massachusetts for new doctors at the local hospital. The tour helps the new doctors learn more about the community, its resources, and how far many community members are from the hospital.
Source: Greenfield Recorder
Jul 15, 2026 - Highlights the work of a Milwaukee Veteran's Administration employee to address access to vision services for veterans, particularly those in rural areas. Notes that national statistics show low-vision service utilization is low.
Source: VA Milwaukee Health Care Stories
Jul 15, 2026 - Describes a North Carolina network offering training and support for healthcare providers offering medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) through a hub-and-spoke model. Discusses how the model works in rural communities and integrating the treatment into primary care.
Source: The Daily Yonder