Rural Health
News by Topic: Health disparities
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 9, 2026 - New funding has been awarded to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette as part of the state's Rural Health Transformation Program funding. Projects include the use of artificial intelligence that allow healthcare providers to identify areas of unmet need across the state and in their communities, as well as funding academic programs that give nursing students clinical experience and create new workforce initiatives.
Source: University of Louisiana Lafayette University News
Sep 3, 2026 - Discusses physician workforce shortages both nationally and in one Alabama county. Describes the rural-specific impacts of the shortage and how an Alabama health system recruits to address area shortages.
Source: Huntsville Business Journal
Sep 1, 2026 - Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute has issued a
call for information on high-priority, patient-centered
comparative clinical effectiveness research needs to
address gaps in evidence. Information is sought on areas
that would improve health outcomes and includes a focus on
comparisons of treatments, care delivery, or system-level
strategies; addressing differences across groups or
communities; healthcare challenges; or addressing varied
settings. Submissions are being accepted until November 2,
2026.
Source: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Aug 31, 2026 - Announces plans for the Lumbee River Health System, a new system aiming to join the Indian Health Service (IHS) in North Carolina. Describes how the system will work with partners for payment and identify areas of need to be addressed within the Lumbee Tribe.
Source: Foxy 99
Aug 28, 2026 - Announces a new suicide prevention campaign in Oklahoma designed to reach certain groups with high rates of suicide including rural residents, tribal residents, older adults, veterans, and middle-aged men.
Source: Fox 23
Aug 25, 2026 - Discusses the work of 3 Minnesota-based researchers to address Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) in rural communities. Highlighted projects focus on tribal communities, overcoming barriers to exercise, and identifying innovative work in the ADRD space already happening in rural communities.
Source: The Daily Yonder