Rural Health
News by Topic: Hospitals
Mar 26, 2026 - Highlights the Rural Health Agenda, a bipartisan and bicameral group of proposed legislation aiming to support rural hospitals through increased Medicare reimbursement, introduce new funding to promote innovation in rural emergency healthcare, and incentivize rural communities for healthcare workers through extended loan repayment programs.
Source: Office of Senator Marsha Blackburn
Mar 24, 2026 - Announces the National Rural Health Association's (NRHA) top 20 rural and community hospitals. The winners will be recognized at NRHA's Annual Rural Health Conference in May 2026.
Source: National Rural Health Association
Mar 18, 2026 - Describes proposed legislation aiming to increase access to healthcare for veterans in rural areas. A 5-year pilot program would create a preauthorization pathway for outpatient services for veterans within 35 miles of a Critical Access Hospital.
Source: Office of Senator Kevin Cramer
Mar 12, 2026 - Describes state-level legislation in Mississippi creating a pilot program that changes certificate of needs (CON) laws. The program would loosen CON regulations for small communities with extra exemptions for the Mississippi Delta. Discusses the potential impact on rural hospitals.
Source: Mississippi Today
Mar 10, 2026 - Highlights a pilot program in a rural Missouri community offering a coordinated response to health and social needs for Medicaid patients. The program allows hospitals and other organizations to refer patients to service providers and track whether their needs are getting addressed. Describes how the program was started, the federal waiver that allows the program to run, and the technology used for it. Discusses sustainability challenges common for rural service providers.
Source: The Beacon: Missouri
Mar 10, 2026 - Describes a hospital renovation project in rural Iowa. Includes discussion of how U.S. Department of Agriculture Community Facilities Direct Loans and Guaranteed Loans will be used for the project.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Mar 10, 2026 - Highlights the increased cost of healthcare for rural Vermont residents due to Medicare reimbursement policy for Critical Access Hospitals. Notes that policymakers are investigating solutions that equitably distribute cost while supporting CAHs that may be negatively impacted by budget changes.
Mar 9, 2026 - Summarizes comments from a HIMSS26 Healthcare Cybersecurity Forum discussing cybersecurity for rural hospitals. Covers topics including regional collaboration, communicating with facility administration, and cybersecurity workforce.
Source: Healthcare IT News
Mar 6, 2026 - Profiles a labor and delivery department in a rural North Carolina Critical Access Hospital. Maternity services were re-started in 2020 using family physicians after closing the department in 1991. Describes maternity care access across North Carolina, challenges with sustaining the service for rural communities, and how they can be a model to other rural communities.
Source: North Carolina Health News
Mar 5, 2026 - Describes challenges around building a new hospital on Navajo Nation. Discusses working within multiple levels of governments, funding, incorporating traditional medicine and facilities, and attracting workforce.
Source: Cronkite News