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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Access

Sep 26, 2025 - The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) will hold a virtual public meeting on October 29, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Eastern. Agenda items include updates from VA leadership, the Executive Director of the VA Office of Rural Health, and the Committee Chair, as well as presentations by subject matter experts on general rural healthcare access.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 25, 2025 - Highlights a group of resource-constrained colleges using innovation and collaboration to improve wellness and mental health for their students. Discusses scaling programs designed for larger universities, the strengths and challenges of rural mental health, and collaborating with similar institutions. Notes the early educational successes seen by the program.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Sep 25, 2025 - Highlights the challenges for rural hospital service delivery as seen in one hospital in rural Iowa. Discusses staffing shortages and high operating costs as well as potential solutions such as telehealth, partnering with larger hospitals, and increasing residency spots.
Source: CBS 2 Iowa
Sep 24, 2025 - Describes a collaboration between Syracuse University and a local hub offering wraparound services to pilot a recovery café for those recovering from mental health issues, substance use, grief, and more. The café offers a non-clinical space for those in need of services. Discusses the rural challenges for residents and services providers that this program aims to address.
Source: Syracuse University Impact
Sep 23, 2025 - Describes legislation passed in the U.S. House of Representatives to extend COVID-era flexibilities for prescribing medication through telemedicine for physicians in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Discusses access issues for rural veterans as well as anxiety around seeing a doctor in a clinic.
Source: Camden News
Sep 22, 2025 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has mobilized over 70 Public Health Service Officers to Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities across the country in a move to address staffing shortages.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Sep 18, 2025 - Describes emergency maternity training for staff in a rural Arizona hospital without a labor unit. Highlights increasing maternal mortality rates in the state.
Source: KOLD
Sep 17, 2025 - Highlights proposed legislation that aims to improve access to healthcare for veterans by allowing rural Veterans Administration (VA) clinics to contract with outside healthcare providers. The bill is in response to staffing issues in VA facilities.
Source: KOLD
Sep 17, 2025 - Highlights maternal healthcare access challenges in rural Ohio including patient volume and facility closures. Discusses potential solutions including telehealth and mobile clinics.
Source: The Post
Sep 17, 2025 - Highlights the opening of a new Rural Health Clinic increasing access to care for the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana.
Source: KALB