Rural Health
News by Topic: Population health
HHS: HHS Request for Comment on the Update to the National Plan To Address Alzheimer's Disease
Federal Register
Jul 24, 2026 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking comments to inform the future direction of federal efforts to accelerate scientific progress and improve support for individuals living with Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD) and their families. HHS asks for input on approaches to advance AD/ADRD research and development of new interventions to prevent and treat dementia, risk reduction strategies, early detection and diagnostic tools, and/or enhanced care, services, and supports for people living with dementia and their families, caregivers, and care partners. In addition, HHS seeks input on gaps, emerging priorities, and opportunities to strengthen coordination across federal, state, tribal, local, private sector, and community partners. Comments are due by August 15, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 23, 2026 - Discusses a new healthcare clinic that opened in a rural Mississippi Delta community. Highlights the history of healthcare access in the area and the challenges the community faced when there was no clinic, particularly related to transportation to healthcare facilities in other communities. Discusses plans to expand services further in the future.
Source: Mississippi Free Press
Jul 21, 2026 - Describes a postpartum care initiative in a rural Pennsylvania town aiming to support new mothers and increase breastfeeding rates.
Source: 90.5 WESA
Jul 18, 2026 - Describes an emergency response training drill on a working farm in rural Wisconsin. Notes that the drill gives practice for rural specific conditions to healthcare students and first responders.
Source: WKBT
Jul 15, 2026 - Describes a North Carolina network offering training and support for healthcare providers offering medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) through a hub-and-spoke model. Discusses how the model works in rural communities and integrating the treatment into primary care.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Jul 13, 2026 - Describes the outcomes of a mini-grant to 9 state rural health associations for e-newsletter and social media information dissemination campaigns focused on rural older adults for Older Americans Month in May 2026. Discusses implementation challenges and the impact of the funding.
Source: National Rural Health Association
Jul 11, 2026 - Discusses the risk of grain bin incidents on farms, noting that fatality rates remain high despite increased training for first responders. Highlights safety equipment and policy measures that can prevent deaths.
Source: Nebraska Examiner
Jul 10, 2026 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on an information collection request titled "Healthy Start Evaluation and Quality Improvement, OMB No. 0915-0338—Revision." Proposed revisions include changes to clarifying instructions, updating response options to replace obsolete categories, separating response options to better reflect current program priorities, and adding fields to capture the month of infant birth and/or death. Comments are due by September 8, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 9, 2026 - Discusses the importance of fall prevention for older adults and particularly for rural older adults who are less likely to have access to emergency services and follow up rehabilitation. Notes that data show high rates of fall-related deaths and increases in emergency service responses to falls in Wisconsin. Notes that fall prevention can help aging rural adults maintain independence longer.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Jul 9, 2026 - Highlights recent research discussing the impact of where a person lives on health and how 8 data sets assess social risk across health conditions, populations, and geographies.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau