Rural Health
News by Topic: Emergency preparedness and response
Apr 21, 2026 - Announces additional resources and flexibilities from
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to
assist with the ongoing public health emergency (PHE) in
Hawaii declared on March 10, 2026 related to the severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides. Shares
information and resources for those impacted and responding
to the severe storms and flooding, including CMS waivers, a
period of special healthcare enrollment, a disaster
toolkit, dialysis care, medical equipment and supplies
replacement, access to Medicare Part D medications, and health information privacy and accessibility resources.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Apr 1, 2026 - The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is seeking experts for a workshop series examining how medical, public health, emergency management, and critical infrastructure data are collected and used to support the decision-making process before, during, and after disasters and emergencies. Both committee members and potential speakers, participants, and peer reviewers are needed. Nominations are due April 17, 2026.
Source: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Mar 23, 2026 - Highlights disaster preparedness plans in rural Alaska, Maine, and New York communities with focus on planning for the specific needs of older adults, people with disabilities, and people with chronic illnesses.
Source: AARP
Mar 12, 2026 - Notice of final rule from the Indian Health Service (IHS) announcing the Catastrophic Health Emergency Fund (CHEF) threshold for fiscal year 2026. The purpose of the CHEF is to meet the extraordinary medical costs associated with the treatment of victims of disasters or catastrophic illnesses who are within the responsibility of IHS.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 9, 2026 - Summarizes comments from a HIMSS26 Healthcare Cybersecurity Forum discussing cybersecurity for rural hospitals. Covers topics including regional collaboration, communicating with facility administration, and cybersecurity workforce.
Source: Healthcare IT News