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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare needs and services

Jun 10, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the extension of an information collection titled "Physician Certifications/Recertifications in Skilled Nursing Facilities Manual Instruction." The physician certification and recertification is intended to ensure that the beneficiary's need for services has been established and then reviewed and updated at appropriate intervals and is a condition for Medicare Part A payment for post-hospital skilled nursing facility (SNF) care. Comments are due by July 10, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 10, 2026 - Announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the approval of the Commission on Laboratory Accreditation (COLA) as an accreditation organization for clinical laboratories under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) program for the specialty of histocompatibility. This approval is applicable from July 10, 2026, to June 10, 2031.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 10, 2026 - Notice of a request for information (RFI) from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding substance research, policy, and strategies to improve the prevention, treatment, recovery from mental illness and substance use. HHS seeks information from public, patients, people with lived experience of addiction and recovery, healthcare providers, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, policymakers and others on improvements to the programs and policies of the United States government and HHS that focus on substance use, including opioid and polysubstance use, prevention, treatment, and recovery as well as mental health treatment prevention, and recovery in all age groups. Includes specific questions and topics of interest to HHS. Comments are due by July 5, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 9, 2026 - A new bill has been proposed aiming to expand veterinary care in rural and tribal communities. Describes the increase in animal-related injury and zoonotic diseases for communities with limited access to veterinary care.
Source: Brownfield Ag News
Jun 8, 2026 - Describes a recent study finding that a U.S. Veterans Administration (VA) telenephrology program improved mortality rates and increased guideline-directed medication prescriptions for veterans at rural VA clinics receiving treatment for chronic kidney disease. The program uses a hub-and-spoke system to connect rural veterans with specialized care. Notes additional research finding veterans are satisfied with telenephrology care.
Source: Military.com
Jun 8, 2026 - Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding has been granted to 39 emergency medical services (EMS) agencies in North Carolina to enhance the EMS workforce as well as improve access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment and services through mobile integrated health. Describes drug overdose disparities in rural communities.
Source: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Jun 3, 2026 - Describes a pilot program that aims to increase lung cancer screenings in rural Minnesota. Discusses higher rates of tobacco use for rural adults compared to urban adults and how the program addresses cancer screening barriers through a "whole-of-office" approach.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Jun 1, 2026 - Notice of a final 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. 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. This rule is effective July 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
May 29, 2026 - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is seeking comments on the extension of the generic information collection request (ICR) entitled Generic Clearance for Grant Program Monitoring Activities. Information collected is used by SAMHSA to perform agency program oversight activities such as monitoring progress on recipient activities, determining and responding to recipient's training and technical assistance needs, and ensure compliance with federal and programmatic requirements. Comments are due by July 28, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
May 28, 2026 - A rural Alabama county sheriff's office has purchased 16 automated external defibrillators and 2 trauma first aid kits. Notes that area emergency medical services units have large service areas and law enforcement often respond to emergencies more quickly.
Source: WTVM