Rural Health
News by Topic: Statistics and data
Jun 22, 2026 - Highlights new data showing increasing drive times to labor and delivery services for rural Arkansans. Discusses labor and delivery department closures in the state and how the population distribution makes offering the service challenging.
Source: Arkansas Advocate
Jun 16, 2026 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on proposed updates to the Uniform Data System (UDS) for performance year 2026. Summarizes and responds to comments received in response to the related December 10, 2025, notice. Comments are due by July 16, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
CDC: Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review
Federal Register
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 8, 2026 - Describes a rural hospital program aiming to improve workforce recruitment by increasing the community's affordable housing supply. Discusses program funding and community demographic shifts.
Source: South Dakota News Watch
Jun 4, 2026 - The Census Bureau is seeking comments on revisions to the Household Trends and Outlook Pulse Survey (HTOPS). HTOPS, a progression from the Household Pulse Survey, is designed to ensure the availability of frequent data collection for nationwide estimates on a variety of topics for a variety of subgroups of the population. The July, September, and November 2026 surveys will include content from the Household Pulse Survey, which serves as an experimental endeavor in cooperation with other federal agencies to produce near real-time data to understand the effects of current events, including health events, and other social or economic events facing the nation or a significant portion of the nation. Comments are due within 30 days of this notice.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 4, 2026 - Highlights data modernization programs in state Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) plans across the country. Discusses legal concerns related to patient privacy and artificial intelligence.
Source: The Network for Public Health Law
Jun 3, 2026 - Highlights a new Census Bureau tool showing the distribution of homes with air conditioning at the state, county, and census tract levels. The tool can be used to identify communities at highest risk of heat exposure. Includes a national county-level map indicating households without air conditioning.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Jun 1, 2026 - Comments are being accepted on the Partnership for Quality Measurement's 2026 draft of the Guidebook of Policies and Procedures for Pre-Rulemaking Measure Review (PRMR) and Measure Set Review (MSR). 2026 updates include PRMR recommendations meeting structure, PRMR measure previews, MSR performance and impact analyses, public comment posting, and website enhancements. Comments are due June 21, 2026.
Source: Partnership for Quality Measurement
May 27, 2026 - Analyzes Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) nursing home data to compare rural and urban staffing and health inspection ratings in Texas.
Source: The Daily Yonder
May 26, 2026 - Describes rural disparities and unique risk factors leading to higher infant mortality. Highlights recent literature from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center on obstetric care access as well as efforts to reduce infant mortality rates in Maine and Montana.
Source: AcademyHealth