Rural Health
News by Topic: Health screening
Jul 21, 2026 - Describes a Veterans Administration (VA) centralized process for a community care model of lung cancer screening and the impact on the timeliness of care, care fragmentation, and follow-up consultations for rural veterans. Notes that the successful pilot has led to the start of a national roll-out of the program.
Source: VA Health Systems Research Impacts
CMS, CDC, HHS: Request for Information; Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) Regulations
Federal Register
Jul 16, 2026 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are seeking comments on various topics related to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 including breath testing; laboratory processes and procedures; emergency preparedness, biosafety and security, and cybersecurity; and specialty testing areas. The use of remote direct observation for assessing laboratory personnel competency for the benefit of rural and remote facilities is of particular interest. Comments are due by September 14, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 25, 2026 - 52 rural libraries across California are now offering blood pressure screening tools and at-home monitoring kits. Describes high rates of high blood pressure and limited access to monitoring resources. The program is part of the American Heart Association's Libraries with Heart program.
Source: American Heart Association Newsroom
Jun 3, 2026 - Describes a pilot program that aims to increase lung cancer screenings in rural Minnesota. Discusses higher rates of tobacco use for rural adults compared to urban adults and how the program addresses cancer screening barriers through a "whole-of-office" approach.
Source: The Daily Yonder

