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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Population health

Jun 26, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) allowing an additional 30 days for comment on the March 9, 2026, notice regarding the reinstatement of an information collection titled "Collaborating Center for Questionnaire Design and Evaluation for the National Center for Health Statistics (CCQDER)." The information collected by the CCQDER is used to evaluate questions for optimal design as well as to provide documentation supporting the validity of NCHS and other agencies' information collections. Comments are due within 30 days of this notice.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 26, 2026 - Discusses food insecurity for children in a rural Michigan community and a partnership between a school and nonprofit to educate on and connect children with nutritious food. Describes rural specific challenges in accessing food including community resources, transportation, and pride.
Source: Rapid Growth
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 24, 2026 - Describes how University of Nebraska Medical Center researchers are examining the health and environmental impacts of Nebraska's spring wildfires on rural and agricultural communities.
Source: Fox Nebraska
Jun 16, 2026 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking comments on three new objectives proposed to be added to Healthy People 2030. Objectives cover access to mental healthcare, childhood development, and referrals to non-clinical activities. HHS also seeks comments on proposals to refine or expand two existing objectives related to screen time throughout childhood and adolescence. Comments are due by July 16, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 15, 2026 - Highlights health disparities for rural men and highlights work in Illinois to increase awareness. Notes how rural culture contributes to those disparities in addition to general healthcare access challenges.
Source: Public News Service
Jun 10, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) allowing an additional 30 days for comment on the March 9, 2026, notice regarding a proposed information collection titled "Developmental/Methodological Projects to Improve the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and Related Programs." NHANES produces descriptive statistics, which measure the health and nutrition status of the general population. The purpose of these projects is to evaluate proposed survey designs, content, methods, and alternative approaches to survey activities for NHANES or National Center for Health Statistics-wide projects. Comments are due within 30 days of this notice.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 10, 2026 - Notice of a request for information (RFI) from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding substance research, policy, and strategies to improve the prevention, treatment, recovery from mental illness and substance use. HHS seeks information from public, patients, people with lived experience of addiction and recovery, healthcare providers, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, policymakers and others on improvements to the programs and policies of the United States government and HHS that focus on substance use, including opioid and polysubstance use, prevention, treatment, and recovery as well as mental health treatment prevention, and recovery in all age groups. Includes specific questions and topics of interest to HHS. Comments are due by July 5, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 10, 2026 - Describes a collaborative program between 3 University of North Carolina institutions allowing cohorts of students from different healthcare disciplines to learn about and address rural health issues. Notes the program's impact on increasing the rural healthcare workforce.
Source: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill News
Jun 8, 2026 - Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding has been granted to 39 emergency medical services (EMS) agencies in North Carolina to enhance the EMS workforce as well as improve access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment and services through mobile integrated health. Describes drug overdose disparities in rural communities.
Source: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services