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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.

Feb 25, 2026 - Highlights the work of the Western North Carolina VA Health Care System in including rural veterans in research studies and developing new treatments. Describes the benefits of research inclusion for both the participating veterans and research generally.
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Feb 19, 2026 - Summarizes recent research finding that multimodal, telehealth delivered mind-body and exercise interventions are effective for rural veterans experiencing chronic pain. Notes that the program could be easily accessed by rural veterans due to the use of nonclinicians. Describes planned modifications for future programs iterations.
Source: NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory
Feb 5, 2026 - Describes proposed bipartisan legislation permanently authorizing telescreening mammography services in rural and other areas for veterans.
Source: The Office of Representative Glenn Thompson
Jan 25, 2026 - Highlights the Mobile Prosthetic and Orthotic Care (MoPOC) truck, a mobile unit from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with support from the VA's Office of Rural Health bringing prosthetic and orthotic care to rural veterans in Texas.
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Jan 12, 2026 - Notice from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) implementing section 120 of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, which allows the VA to increase the expenditure cap for non-institutional care alternatives for eligible veterans. VA will now pay up to 100% of the nursing home rate in a fiscal year for all eligible veterans who need non-institutional care to improve continuity of care and patient outcomes. This guidance is effective September 11, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 10, 2026 - Highlights a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs mobile mammography unit in rural Tennessee. Describes the benefits for rural veterans in improving access to both preventive and follow-up care.
Source: VA News
Jan 6, 2026 - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announces the availability of funds for grants under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program. The purpose of the SSVF Program is to provide supportive services grants to private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives who will coordinate or provide supportive services to very low-income Veteran families reside in or are scheduled to transition to permanent housing. For fiscal year 2027, the VA may award a renewal SSVF grant to existing grantees who received a grant award during FY 2026 to expand services to rural communities. Applications are due by February 19, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Related funding: Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program
Last Updated: 2/26/2026