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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Behavioral health

Apr 21, 2026 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking comments on an existing information collection project titled "Extended Evaluation of the National Tobacco Prevention and Control Public Education Campaign." The goal of the information collection is to evaluate the reach of the Tips From Former Smokers® (Tips®) campaign among intended audiences and to examine the effectiveness of these efforts in impacting specific outcomes that are targeted by Tips, including quit attempts and intentions to quit among smokers, nonsmokers' communications about the dangers of smoking, and knowledge of smoking-related diseases among both audiences. Comments are due by June 22, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 21, 2026 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking comments on an information collection project titled "National Quitline Data Warehouse (NQDW)." NQDW provides information from all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Asian Smoker's Quitline regarding the general smoking population who contact their state quitlines, as well as information on key subgroups of tobacco users who contact state quitlines to better support cessation services. Comments are due by June 22, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 12, 2026 - Describes psychiatry workforce shortages in Iowa where agriculture is a significant industry and farmers are in need of mental healthcare. Discusses expansion of a psychiatry residency program with a rural practice focus in hopes of retaining more workforce.
Source: KCRG
Apr 8, 2026 - Describes challenges for family caregivers in rural communities where support and resources are limited. Discusses stress and financial strain for caregivers as well as funding needs.
Source: IW Features
Apr 7, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) seeking comments on a proposed information collection titled "Public Health/Public Safety Strategies to Reduce Drug Overdose Data Collection." The information collected will be used to improve public health/public safety partnerships and responses to the overdose crisis that involve public safety. Comments are due by June 8, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 7, 2026 - Notice of a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the FY 2027 prospective payment rates, outlier threshold, and wage index for Medicare inpatient hospital services provided by inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPF), including psychiatric hospitals and excluded psychiatric units of an acute care hospital or Critical Access Hospital. Among other things, this rule proposes refinement of the IPF PPS outlier policy, implementation of a standardized IPF patient assessment, and the removal of two measures used in the IPF Quality Reporting Program. Comments are due by June 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 7, 2026 - Describes a free Arkansas farmer mental health support program utilizing both telehealth and on-the-farm visits, addressing access and stigma associated with receiving mental health support. Highlights how the program was created.
Source: Delta Farm Press
Apr 6, 2026 - Profiles a recovery high school in rural Maine in response to substance use among youth. The high school will have a boarding component to better reach the dispersed rural population. Discusses the lack of youth addiction services in the area, maintaining educational achievement while using substances, stigma, and funding.
Source: The Hechinger Report
Mar 30, 2026 - Describes the work of Nebraska researchers who are investigating treatment barriers and facilitators of success for rural people with addiction. Discusses the impact of both stigma and support networks in treatment.
Source: WJAG
Mar 30, 2026 - Announces U.S. Department of Agriculture funding for one hub site and 5 end-user sites in rural Kentucky with distance learning and teleconferencing equipment. The equipment will allow for mental health and substance use telehealth services in addition to college and career readiness.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture