Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Populations

Mar 27, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) making changes to rates contained within the VA fee schedule, which is used as part of the rate structure for certain agreements the VA uses to purchase community care under the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP). This notice also describes the VA's use of non-reimbursable codes and industry-standard business practices to ensure consistent adjudication of claims for services deemed non-billable or non-reimbursable. These changes are effective March 27, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 26, 2024 - Describes virtual occupational therapy services offered by 2 Veterans Affairs facilities to reach rural veterans. Notes that the program is able to address social determinants of health issues such as home safety evaluations and fall risk assessments. Discusses how the program integrates with other virtual VA services.
Source: VA News
Mar 26, 2024 - Highlights a study in progress investigating eating disorders in rural Michigan teenagers. The study aims to identify rural environment characteristics and weight stigma that may contribute to eating disorders.
Source: ABC12
Mar 26, 2024 - Highlights social engagement in rural Maine communities for older adults. Describes the community services that allow them to stay in their communities. Discusses concerns about healthcare access.
Source: The Christian Science Monitor
Mar 26, 2024 - Describes the impact of increased internet access on a tribal reservation in Arizona. Training to increase digital literacy and safety on the internet is being offered. Increased access is also expected to improve economic opportunities and preserve culture such as language.
Source: Cronkite News
Mar 25, 2024 - Summarizes recent research finding that female patients at rural Community Health Centers are more likely to be behind on cervical cancer screenings than patients in urban community health centers. Discusses factors associated with the disparity including English proficiency, income levels, employment, and primary care physician access. Notes that the disparity grew during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: Medical Xpress
Mar 25, 2024 - Highlights a program offering healthy aging support in rural Oklahoma. The program creates intergenerational teams to foster dialog about healthy aging throughout the lifespan.
Source: OSU Headlines: News and Media
Mar 22, 2024 - Discusses suicide among rural men in Michigan, noting the issues of stigma and mental healthcare access. Discusses the results of an intervention targeting men and policy measures building on those successes.
Source: The 'Gander
Mar 22, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) seeking comments on updates to its policy and directive on VA Tribal Consultation. VA has gathered and reviewed tribal input and recommendations from previous requests for comments, tribal consultation meetings, and the VA's Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs and proposes several edits to the Tribal Consultation Policy in response to the tribal recommendations. Comments are due by April 22, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 21, 2024 - Executive Order from the Office of the President to advance and integrate women's health across the Federal research portfolio. Directs agency members of the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research – Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Director of the National Science Foundation – to develop or strengthen research and data standards that enhance the study of women's health across all relevant, federally funded research and other federal funding opportunities and prioritize grantmaking and other awards to advance women's health research. Among other things, this order directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to address research gaps in understanding women's health, diseases, conditions associated with women's midlife and later years and directs the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to evaluate the needs and develop recommendations related to the midlife health women service members and veterans.
Source: Federal Register