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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Health disparities

Mar 13, 2026 - The American Psychological Association Committee on Rural Health has been awarded an APA presidential citation for its work on rural health including a national needs assessment. Includes an interview with a committee member on rural behavioral health, discussing access to care and rural health resources and training through Oklahoma State University.
Source: OSU Headlines: News and Media
Mar 10, 2026 - Describes the maternal healthcare workforce distribution in North Carolina and health disparities for rural residents where there are workforce shortages. Notes that recent policy measures aiming to increase rural access with certified nurse midwives has not fully addressed the shortage. Discusses the potential for doulas to fill the gap.
Source: NC Newsline
Mar 4, 2026 - A new wound care clinic has opened in rural West Virginia. Notes that rural residents are more likely to experience diabetes and vascular conditions, diseases associated with slow to heal wounds and increased risk of infection.
Source: WTOV 9
Feb 26, 2026 - Highlights a program in rural South Carolina offering resources and support to people with diabetes. Notes common challenges for rural residents in accessing healthcare.
Source: WACH
Feb 24, 2026 - Describes a value-based care program has been implemented in Texas. Discusses how many patients have been served, how rural is defined, rural healthcare challenges, and upcoming plans for the program.
Source: KBTX
Feb 19, 2026 - Analyzes chronic disease data to discuss health outcomes in rural Texas. Discusses ways rural health challenges are different from urban ones, noting rural-specific issues around chronic disease, access to care, broadband access, and maternal health. Highlights rural-specific strengths that can be used in healthcare innovation.
Source: PCCI News & Events
Feb 17, 2026 - Discusses the need for and lack of mental healthcare in farming communities with a close look at Texas and Oklahoma. Identifies occupational contributors to stress and rural-specific barriers in accessing care.
Source: Southwest Farm Press
Feb 13, 2026 - Describes the Cancer Analytics & Maps for Small Areas (CAMSA), a tool offering cancer incidence and mortality rates data at the Iowa county and Zip Code Tabulation Ares (ZCTA) levels. Notes that rural areas often have data gaps in national tools. Discusses collaborations with other states to develop similar tools.
Source: Iowa Capital Dispatch
Feb 2, 2026 - Discusses overdose death disparities in rural Georgia and new funding for 18 communities to support community-based responses. Notes rural-specific challenges in addressing the opioid crisis.
Source: The Georgia Virtue
Feb 2, 2026 - Describes a study for a virtual exercise program, Response-Driven Individualized Virtual Exercise for Rural Survivors (RIVERS), aiming to positively impact rural cancer outcomes.
Source: University of Colorado Anschutz Health Science News and Features