Rural Health
News by Topic: Health occupations
Jan 6, 2026 - Describes findings from a recent study evaluating access to sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) in Kentucky. Notes planned policy efforts as a result of study findings. Discusses rural-specific challenges with maintaining access to SANEs including training and retaining workforce.
Source: Kentucky Lantern
Jan 5, 2026 - Discusses the role of community colleges in addressing nursing workforce shortages. Highlights programs in Oregon and Mississippi offering new facilities and accelerated training timelines to attract new students.
Source: Community College Daily
HRSA: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Public Comment Request; Health Workforce Connector, OMB No. 0906-0031 Revision
Federal Register
Dec 31, 2025 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on proposed revisions to an information collection request titled "Bureau of Health Workforce Health Workforce Connector OMB No. 0906-0031-Revision." The Health Workforce Connector (HWC) provides a central platform to connect participants, including but not limited to those in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), Nurse Corps Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs (Nurse Corps), Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Loan Repayment Program, Pediatric Specialty (PS) Loan Repayment Program, Nursing Training, and Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) programs with facilities that are approved for their programs. Comments are due by March 2, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 30, 2025 - A Virginia law that went info effect Nov. 19, 2025 allows certified nurse midwives to perform newborn care on their own in hospitals, though this is not a requirement. Supporters say this change might help keep labor and delivery units open in rural areas.
Source: Cardinal News
Dec 29, 2025 - Reports on the stress placed on emergency medical services (EMS) due to labor and delivery unit shortages in Arkansas. Discusses the impact on recruiting and retaining EMS workforce, limited labor and delivery training, and long travel times for adequate care.
Source: Arkansas Advocate
A Group of Community Members Are Hoping to Start a New Medical School in Shasta. Here's What We Know
Dec 23, 2025 - Describes a community driven effort to establish a medical school in a rural California county to improve healthcare access and recruit the physician workforce to the area. Discusses the role residencies play in retaining the physician workforce, the goals of the committee driving the movement, and the resources required to open a medical school.
Source: Shasta Scout
Dec 23, 2025 - Profiles the Chair of Surgery at the University of South Dakota's Sanford School of Medicine. Describes his early education and work history as well as the need for and creation of a rural general surgery program.
Source: American College of Surgeons
Dec 22, 2025 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)is allowing an additional 30 days for comments on an information collection related to the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Loan Repayment Program (LRP) and the Pediatric Specialty LRP. The information collected is used to assess an applicant's eligibility and qualifications for the STAR and Pediatric Specialty LRPs. Summarizes a comment already received. Comments are due by January 21, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 17, 2025 - Summarizes recent research finding gaps in access to sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) for rural residents due to training barriers for rural nurses. Offers interview with study author discussing those barriers, telementoring as a solution, and future research needs.
Source: Maverick News
CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
Federal Register
Dec 16, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on an information collection titled "Medicare Enrollment Application for Physician and Non-Physician Practitioners." The Form CMS-855I is the enrollment application submitted by physicians and non-physician practitioners to ensure the applicant has the necessary credentials to provide the healthcare services for which they intend to bill Medicare. Comments are due by February 17, 2026.
Source: Federal Register