Rural Health
News by Topic: Service delivery models
Oct 8, 2025 - Announces a new telehealth service launching in 27 rural South Dakota long-term care facilities. A phone line will be monitored by registered nurses and advanced practice providers. The facilities are located in communities with limited medical resources, increasing healthcare access for patients in need of higher level care.
Source: McKnights Long Term Care News
VA: Health Care Professionals Practicing Via Telehealth
Federal Register
Oct 2, 2025 - Notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) amending its medical regulations that govern the VA's healthcare professionals who practice healthcare via telehealth. This rule enables VA to maximize healthcare resource utilization and provide safe and convenient national healthcare to veterans using telehealth. This notice also summarizes and responds to public comments on the August 23, 2022, proposed rule. This rule is effective November 3, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 27, 2025 - Describes how the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
National Oncology Program expanded access to provide cancer
and cancer survivorship care through most of the 23 Veteran
Integrated Service Network (VISN) regional care systems.
Source: VA News
Sep 25, 2025 - Highlights the challenges for rural hospital service delivery as seen in one hospital in rural Iowa. Discusses staffing shortages and high operating costs as well as potential solutions such as telehealth, partnering with larger hospitals, and increasing residency spots.
Source: CBS 2 Iowa
Sep 23, 2025 - Describes legislation passed in the U.S. House of Representatives to extend COVID-era flexibilities for prescribing medication through telemedicine for physicians in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Discusses access issues for rural veterans as well as anxiety around seeing a doctor in a clinic.
Source: Camden News
Sep 17, 2025 - Highlights maternal healthcare access challenges in rural Ohio including patient volume and facility closures. Discusses potential solutions including telehealth and mobile clinics.
Source: The Post
Sep 16, 2025 - Discusses the use of mobile clinics in North Carolina to increase access to medications for opioid use disorder in rural and other low access areas. Discusses distance to care and transportation barriers for opioid treatment programs as well as stigma.
Source: North Carolina Health News
Sep 11, 2025 - Discusses a recent report on the mental healthcare worker shortage in New Mexico. Highlights programs at New Mexico State University working to fill workforce gaps with focus on training students to meet the needs of rural residents. Notes potential policy changes related to integrated care and certifications.
Source: Source NM
Sep 2, 2025 - Highlights an initiative in New Mexico providing rural veterans with home visiting services both following emergency department (ED) visits and proactively to prevent ED visits.
Source: VA News
Sep 2, 2025 - Highlights an initiative in South Dakota for virtual nursing services. The program increases access to healthcare services in rural communities and addresses shortages in the registered nurse workforce. Discusses patient satisfaction and rural facility budgets.
Source: Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture