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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Veterans and Access to Healthcare – News

News stories from the past 60 days.

May 16, 2023 - Highlights changes and challenges in rural health care access, including hospital closures, transportation issues, lack of obstetric services and mental health services, poor outcomes among Black or Native American populations, and lack of services for veterans.
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office
May 4, 2023 - Highlights a lung cancer screening program at a Veterans Assistance medical center in Houston, Texas. Since beginning in May 2021, the program has diagnosed 30 lung cancer instances, 90% which were symptom free and in early stages. Success of the program has led the system to expand into other rural sites in the VA system, ensuring rural veterans have access to the same screenings and care as veterans in Houston.
Source: VA News
Apr 25, 2023 - Outlines the goals of the Joseph Maxwell Cleland and Robert Joseph Dole Memorial Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improve Act of 2022. The Cleland-Dole Act will address rural health, telehealth, rural transportation, and more.
Source: VA News
Apr 19, 2023 - Notice from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) seeking comment on the re-establishment of a computer matching program between the VA Veterans Health Administration and the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) to verify veterans' employment status and earnings to determine eligibility for its health benefit programs. Comments are due by May 19, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 14, 2023 - Discusses the expansion of a VA program to connect rural veterans to information about VA telehealth and mental health services to Wyoming, Kansas, Louisiana, and Nevada, as well as the initial pilot project state, Montana.
Source: VA News
Apr 14, 2023 - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will hold a virtual public meeting on April 26-27, 2023. Agenda items include updates from VA leadership, the Acting Executive Director of the VA Office of Rural Health, and the Committee Chair, as well as presentations on general rural healthcare access.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 11, 2023 - Chiropractors and chiropractic residents who are working, teaching, and training at the Fort Dodge Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Iowa are providing access to more interprofessional care for rural veterans while training future health professionals.
Source: VA News
Apr 11, 2023 - Notice from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) making technical corrections to the April 4, 2023, final rule. This correction is effective April 11, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 10, 2023 - Dr. Vida Passero is spearheading ground-breaking National TeleOncology services such as National Virtual Tumor Boards, and is helping veterans at smaller or rural facilities receive the same standard of care as patients of larger VA medical centers. According to a report by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, 66 percent of rural counties have no oncologist.
Source: VA News
Apr 4, 2023 - Notice of final rule from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) implementing a statute exempting Indian and urban Indian veterans from copayment requirements for the receipt of hospital care or medical services, including all urgent care visits. The rule is effective April 4, 2023.
Source: Federal Register

Last Updated: 5/17/2023