Rural Health
News by Topic: Telehealth
Oct 17, 2025 - Discusses higher suicide rates for rural residents compared to urban residents and a Louisiana university's online therapy program to address those higher rates. Discusses the program's shift to focus on engaging communities, successes after year 1, and work to address broadband challenges.
Source: WAFB
Oct 14, 2025 - Describes a trend toward using mobile health clinics in rural and other communities to increase access to healthcare. Discusses how mobile clinics can fill gaps in telehealth services, improve health outcomes, be used for community paramedicine programs, develop the healthcare workforce, and more. Notes the need for better data and more funding to continue research on the impact of mobile clinics.
Source: The Daily Yonder
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 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 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