Rural Health
News by Topic: Access
Dec 23, 2025 - Profiles the Chair of Surgery at the University of South Dakota's Sanford School of Medicine. Describes his early education and work history as well as the need for and creation of a rural general surgery program.
Source: American College of Surgeons
Dec 23, 2025 - Describes the work conditions putting Colorado farmers at
risk for skin cancer, alongside cancer healthcare access
challenges for rural communities. Notes that skin cancer
caught early is often successfully treated.
Source: KOAA News 5
Dec 22, 2025 - Describes high rates of gun suicide among older California adults, particularly for those in rural communities. Discusses the connection between suicide and health conditions, rural barriers to care, and suicide prevention initiatives.
Source: Cal Matters
Dec 19, 2025 - Highlights a visit from Tennessee state officials to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Discusses recent and upcoming rural-focused projects at the Center in addition to facility updates. The projects will expand access to healthcare and advance cancer research.
Source: UTHSC News
Dec 18, 2025 - Highlights the Mendo Food Network's Pop-Up Distribution program to bring emergency food and essential commodities to rural Mendocino County, California. Notes that fixed location food banks in the area require multiple hours-long trips for rural residents.
Source: The Mendocino Beacon
Dec 17, 2025 - Summarizes recent research finding gaps in access to sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) for rural residents due to training barriers for rural nurses. Offers interview with study author discussing those barriers, telementoring as a solution, and future research needs.
Source: Maverick News
Dec 13, 2025 - Highlights a rural community event from a South Carolina health care organization offering winter clothing, free flu shots, and health resources to local residents. Notes that access to weather appropriate clothing and preventive care can be more limited in rural areas.
Source: WLTX
CMS: Medicare Program; Alternative Payment Model Updates and the Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model
Federal Register
Dec 11, 2025 - Notice of a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating and revising the Increasing Organ Transplant Access Model (IOTA Model) for Performance Year (PY) 2, which will begin on July 1, 2026. The IOTA Model tests whether performance-based upside risk payments or downside risk payments paid to or owed by participating kidney transplant hospitals increase access to kidney transplants for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) while preserving or enhancing the quality of care and reducing Medicare expenditures. Comments are due by February 9, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 10, 2025 - Announces the expansion of a rural pediatric health networking and collaboration initiative in Georgia aiming to support access to pediatric healthcare. The program includes both a physician training and consultation component as well as specialty telehealth component to allow rural children to receive healthcare in their communities. Discusses scholarship opportunities to increase the pediatric health workforce and plans to continue expanding this program.
Source: The Den
Dec 10, 2025 - Describes the impact of new Arkansas legislation which will see 75 community health workers (CHWs) trained. Notes that CHW have had an impact in rural communities with less access to healthcare. Discusses recent CHW training initiatives across the state.