Rural Veterans and Access to Healthcare – News
News stories from the past 60 days.
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
VA: Veterans Rural Health Advisory Committee, Notice of Meeting
Federal Register
Sep 26, 2025 - The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) will hold a virtual public meeting on October 29, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Eastern. Agenda items include updates from VA leadership, the Executive Director of the VA Office of Rural Health, and the Committee Chair, as well as presentations by subject matter experts on general rural healthcare access.
Source: Federal Register
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 proposed legislation that aims to improve access to healthcare for veterans by allowing rural Veterans Administration (VA) clinics to contract with outside healthcare providers. The bill is in response to staffing issues in VA facilities.
Source: KOLD
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
Aug 22, 2025 - Discusses the suicide risks for veterans, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) services that increase access to healthcare, and secure firearm storage as a means to reduce suicide risk.
Source: VA News
Aug 9, 2025 - Describes emergency healthcare services provided by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs providers for a veteran in rural Louisiana including collaboration between VA providers and staff at the nearest hospital.
Source: VA News
Last Updated: 10/2/2025