Rural Health
News by Topic: Health workforce
Feb 11, 2026 - The Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust has awarded more than $600,000 to research and prevention projects at Mercer University School of Medicine. The projects address substance use in Georgia and emphasize prevention, treatment, and impact in rural communities most affected by the opioid epidemic.
Source: The Den
Feb 10, 2026 - The Teledermatology Serving Georgia program offers primary care providers hands-on training in dermatology procedures. The project will lead to timely interventions and improved patient outcomes, especially for those living in rural and medically underserved areas.
Source: Jagwire
Feb 9, 2026 - South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has signed a bill protecting nurses who provide care in ambulances and another bill adding firefighters and law enforcement officers to the statutory definition of "ambulance operator." The bills will help improve the continuum of care in rural areas.
Source: South Dakota Searchlight
Feb 9, 2026 - Touro University's medical and dental schools have built clinics and workforce pipelines in rural areas of California and New Mexico. The initiative gives students community-based training while increasing healthcare access for patients.
Source: Inside Higher Ed
DEA: Registering Emergency Medical Services Agencies Under the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2017
Federal Register
Feb 5, 2026 - Notice of final rule from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) establishing a new registration category for emergency medical services (EMS) agencies that handle controlled substances in accordance with the statutory requirements of the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2017. This rule creates standards for registering EMS agencies; establishes requirements for delivery, storage, and recordkeeping related to their handling of controlled substances; and allows EMS professionals to administer controlled substances outside the physical presence of a medical director or authorizing medical professional while providing emergency medical services. This rule is effective March 9, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 5, 2026 - Profiles a Nebraska freshman college student aiming to practice medicine in a rural community. Describes her experiences growing up in a rural area, interactions with the medical system, and what drew her to her rural-focused program.
Source: UNK News
Feb 5, 2026 - Describes the experience gained by Iowa medical students in a program aiming to reduce rural physician shortages by exposing students to rural healthcare opportunities.
Source: KCRG
Feb 4, 2026 - Describes proposed policy to increase emergency medical service (EMS) reimbursement rates in Kentucky. Highlights long response times across the state, particularly for rural residents, and the strain that underfunding puts on EMS workforce.
Source: Kentucky Lantern
Feb 4, 2026 - The Texas Legislature has provided funding through the Rural Engagement Program for Texas A&M Health to develop a practical program to train emergency room personnel to treat expectant mothers in rural Texas. The multidisciplinary training is designed for staff who may be the first to respond to an obstetric emergency.
Source: Texas A&M Health - Vital Record
Feb 3, 2026 - Announces bipartisan legislation to elevate the Director of the Indian Health Service (IHS) to the Assistant Secretary for Indian Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The change would allow for greater authority in recruiting and retaining IHS workforce.
Source: The Office of Senator Cortez Masto