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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Technology for health and human services

Feb 3, 2026 - Discusses the rural-focused work at a primarily rural health system. Highlights the use of telehealth and artificial intelligence to tackle common rural health challenges.
Source: Health Leaders Media
Feb 2, 2026 - Announces a new learning network from the National Academy for State Health Policy offering state level officials a forum for sharing approaches for strengthening rural primary care systems. Discussions will include recent relevant federal policy, workforce, facilities, funding, technology, and administration. Includes an interest form to learn more.
Source: National Academy for State Health Policy
Jan 30, 2026 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking comment on the potential adoption of diagnostic imaging technical standards and certification criteria for health information technology (IT) under the ONC Health IT Certification Program and whether such standards would improve the access, exchange, and use of diagnostic images for providers and patients. Comments are due by March 16, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 27, 2026 - Highlights high rates of Parkinson's disease in Kansas and programs across the state helping diagnosed Kansans manage symptoms. Describes a rural organization offering art therapy and exercise classes, including how they manage to offer support using technology.
Source: KCUR, NPR
Jan 27, 2026 - The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will hold a virtual listening session on February 11, 2026, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern regarding the use of the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program funds. The listening session will gather input from stakeholders to inform NTIA's future planning and policy development. Meeting materials will be available on NTIA's BroadbandUSA website.Pre-registration is required.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 21, 2026 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP) announces the dates for public meetings of the Health Information Technology Advisory Committee (HITAC) to be held throughout the 2026 calendar year.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 14, 2026 - Pre-publication notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announcing a virtual tribal consultation on the January 21, 2021, notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) titled "Proposed Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy Rule To Support, and Remove Barriers to, Coordinated Care and Individual Engagement." The NPRM intends to strengthen individuals' rights to access their own protected health information, improve care coordination, and reduce administrative burdens on HIPAA covered health care providers and health plans, while continuing to protect individuals' health information privacy interests. The tribal consultation will be held on February 6, 2026, from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Eastern. Registration is required.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 29, 2025 - Announces the distribution of $50 billion of funding for the Rural Health Transformation Program. Highlights goals of the funding including making rural healthcare more accessible, strengthening the rural healthcare workforce, modernizing rural health infrastructure and technology, streamlining workflows, and testing innovative payment models.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Dec 29, 2025 - Notice of proposed rule from the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP)/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) proposing deregulatory actions identified in HHS regulations regarding health information technology standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria and certification programs for health information technology, as well as information blocking. ASTP/ONC intends for the revisions and removal of select regulations to streamline and reduce administrative burdens on healthcare providers, health information technology (IT) developers, and the health IT community overall. Comments are due by February 27, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 29, 2025 - Notice from the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP)/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) withdrawing non-finalized provisions of the August 5, 2024, proposed rule titled "Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Patient Engagement, Information Sharing, and Public Health Interoperability." The withdrawal of the non-finalized provisions of the August 5, 2024, proposed rule is effective December 29, 2025.
Source: Federal Register