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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Populations

May 11, 2026 - The Dolly Parton Children's Hospital, formerly known as East Tennessee Children's Hospital, is expanding pediatric care, particularly in rural communities. The hospital serves about 20 counties in the region, and its new pediatric residency program will begin in summer 2027.
Source: Knox News
May 11, 2026 - Notice of an interim final rule with request for comments from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) extending the web content and mobile application (app) accessibility compliance dates established in the May 9, 2024, final rule. The compliance date for recipients with 15 or more employees is extended to May 11, 2027. The compliance date for recipients with fewer than 15 employees is extended to May 10, 2028. This rule is effective May 7, 2026. Comments are due by July 6, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
May 11, 2026 - Highlights the dangers of grain bin entrapment, profiling a rescue operation in Switzerland County, Indiana. A grain rescue tube developed at Purdue University was used successfully by first responders who had practiced with it regularly.
Source: FarmProgress
May 11, 2026 - Profiles the work of the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System, which serves a population of about 34,000 patients across about 65,000 square miles. The three VA systems in Arizona offer transportation service primarily for veterans who are older and no longer able to drive, but also assist homeless veterans and those who do not have access to transportation.
Source: Cronkite News
May 6, 2026 - The American College of Surgeons has created or participated in programs and courses to help surgical teams eliminate disparities in care for underserved and rural communities. These include the Rural Trauma Team Development Course, the Prehospital Blood Transfusion Coalition, and the Emergency Medical Services for Children program.
Source: American College of Surgeons
May 5, 2026 - Announces the opening of the VA Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program (SELRP), providing loan repayment support to recent physician graduates in exchange for clinical service at a VA facility. Details program eligibility and application information. The SELRP application cycle will close May 31, 2026.
Source: VA News
Related funding: Veterans Affairs Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program (SELRP)
May 4, 2026 - Ohio Senator Jon Husted and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly recently introduced the Delivering for Rural Seniors Act, which would create a pilot program to deliver food boxes directly to underserved seniors. The Federal Commodity Supplemental Food Program currently offers monthly food assistance to qualifying seniors, but some people lack transportation to distribution sites.
Source: News 5 Cleveland
May 4, 2026 - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking comments on a proposed information collection project titled "National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) 2027-2029." Information collected through the NYTS is used to identify trends in youth tobacco use over time, and to inform the development of public education campaigns, policies and rules, and compliance and enforcement programs for tobacco products. Comments are due by July 6, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
May 1, 2026 - The Nez Perce Tribe's Nimiipuu Health Clinic and the Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center at the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation offer diabetes management programs, providing patients access to registered dietitians, fitness classes and cooking classes.
Source: Northwest Public Broadcasting
Apr 29, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announcing the adjusted income eligibility guidelines for States to use to determine the income eligibility of applicants to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). These guidelines are applicable July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
Source: Federal Register