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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare needs and services

Mar 18, 2026 - Summarizes recent research finding disparities in mortality between urban and rural residents with cancer. The study analyzed 27,710,318 cancer deaths between 1969 and 2023 and compared rural and urban trends during that time. Notes drivers of outcome disparities including access to care, healthcare screenings, poverty, smoking, and more.
Source: American Cancer Society
Mar 18, 2026 - Describes proposed legislation aiming to increase access to healthcare for veterans in rural areas. A 5-year pilot program would create a preauthorization pathway for outpatient services for veterans within 35 miles of a Critical Access Hospital.
Source: Office of Senator Kevin Cramer
Mar 18, 2026 - Offers lessons for implementing large-scale state-based programs like the Rural Health Transformation Program based on a California program investing in primary care for small independent practices, tribal practices, and community health centers. Discusses technical assistance, timing of payments, tracking success, and collaboration to overcome measurement barriers.
Source: Health Affairs Forefront
Mar 17, 2026 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the extension of an information collection titled "Medicaid Program Face-to-Face Requirements for Home Health Services and Supporting Regulations." Physicians must document that there was a face-to-face encounter with the Medicaid beneficiary prior to the physician certifying that home health services are required. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act permits nurse practitioners (NPs), clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), and physician assistants (PAs) to certify the need for home health services and to order services in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Comments are due by April 16, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 17, 2026 - Highlights remarks and the results of a study from a Washington medical student comparing rural and urban experiences in surgical clerkship programs. Discusses robotic surgery as a solution to rural surgeon shortages.
Source: Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine News
Mar 15, 2026 - Discusses pharmacist-led point-of-care testing as a strategy to increase access to acute care in rural areas. Notes challenges in advancing that strategy including insurance reimbursement and regulations.
Source: Drug Topics
Mar 13, 2026 - The American Psychological Association Committee on Rural Health has been awarded an APA presidential citation for its work on rural health including a national needs assessment. Includes an interview with a committee member on rural behavioral health, discussing access to care and rural health resources and training through Oklahoma State University.
Source: OSU Headlines: News and Media
Mar 13, 2026 - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is seeking comments on a proposed methodological field tests for the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The proposed methodological tests will examine ways to increase data quality, lower operating costs, and gain a better understanding of sources and effects of non-sampling error on NSDUH estimates. Comments are due by May 12, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 12, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making technical corrections to the November 5, 2025, final rule. This correction is effective March 12, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 9, 2026 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is allowing an additional 30 days for comments on a proposed information collection project titled "Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS)." PRAMS collects data on maternal attitudes and experiences before, during, and after pregnancy. CDC seeks to extend the approval for PRAMS data collection for 3 years. Comments are due within 30 days of this notice.
Source: Federal Register