Rural Health
News by Topic: Access
Sep 17, 2026 - Discusses recent research highlighting labor and delivery service access issues and describes challenges for rural Missouri. Discusses long travel times to care, why offering labor and delivery care is challenging for rural facilities, and how Rural Health Transformation Program funding is supporting doula and other services aiming to fill gaps.
Source: KCUR, NPR
Sep 17, 2026 - Highlights innovative work in pelvic health rehabilitation for veterans that expands training for rural physical therapists and connects veterans with specialized care.
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Sep 17, 2026 - Describes transportation access issues in Kansas for people experiencing mental health or substance use crises. The state's Rural Health Transportation Program is seeking applicants to create a statewide mental health transportation system.
Source: Kansas Public Radio
Sep 16, 2026 - Announces newly awarded funding from the Indian Health Service to expand the Community Health Aide Program, which increases access to primary, behavioral, and oral healthcare in tribal communities.
Source: Indian Health Service
Sep 15, 2026 - Discusses medical loan closet programs for people struggling to afford expensive medical equipment. Notes that equipment may be more expensive for rural residents with more limited access to equipment and loan closets can fill that gap.
Source: High Plains Public Radio
CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
Federal Register
Sep 14, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Provider Experience of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) Program; 2) Use Agreement (DUA) Limited Data Set (LDS) Forms Research Identifiable Files (RIF) Forms; and 3) Methods for Assuring Access to Covered Medicaid Services Under 42 CFR 447.203 and 447.204. Comments are due by November 13, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 14, 2026 - Describes a North Carolina opioid overdose prevention program offering free naloxone through vending machines in an effort to increase access to the medication. Discusses how machines are placed and stocked based on community needs as well as the partnerships that make projects like this possible.
Source: ECU News Services
Sep 14, 2026 - Describes a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs program in Tennessee increasing access to cancer care for rural veterans. Discusses increased cancer risk for veterans and the impact that travel can have on patients and their caregivers.
Source: VA News
Sep 11, 2026 - Describes a remote patient monitoring program for pregnant and postpartum women in rural Mississippi. Discusses the impact of the program on detecting common health conditions, increasing health literacy, and addressing mental health as well as how clinicians use the data in healthcare provision.
Source: National Rural Health Association
Sep 10, 2026 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced awards to 132 hospitals in 13 states through the Rural Hospital Provider Assistance Program. This will help eligible small rural hospitals maintain their workforce, sustain essential services, and strengthen patients' access to care.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services