Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare needs and services
Oct 26, 2025 - Discusses the impact of the expansion of Medicaid dental benefits on the oral health of Missouri residents. Notes that areas with dental workforce shortages are less likely to feel the positive impact of increases in reimbursement rates.
Source: Kansas City Magazine
Oct 24, 2025 - Highlights an app from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs supporting home-based primary care teams in areas with low internet connectivity. The app allows for digital access to patient information in the field, reducing the need for printed documents and increasing patient privacy and healthcare quality.
Source: VA News
Oct 23, 2025 - Highlights a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in rural Minnesota successfully offering labor and delivery services in spite of nationwide department closures. Describes the challenges with offering this service in rural communities and factors contributing to this CAH's success including participating in a network and cross-training staff. Includes a state map of maternity care deserts at the county level.
Source: MPR News
Oct 22, 2025 - Analyzes recent and projected population shift data to describe anticipated changes to Appalachian communities. Discusses the impact declining population would have on those communities and vital services in them such as hospitals, emergency services, schools, and more.
Source: The Daily Yonder
New Texas Energy Package Could Help Older Adults in Long-Term Care Facilities During Extreme Weather
Oct 20, 2025 - Discusses the challenges with caring for older adults in rural long-term care settings during natural disasters with a close look at the impact of 2021's Winter Storm Uri in Texas. Describes the outsized impact infrastructure failures have on the health of older adults. Highlights the Texas Backup Power Package, legislation aiming to strengthen energy resilience for critical facilities and essential services.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Oct 17, 2025 - Discusses higher suicide rates for rural residents compared to urban residents and a Louisiana university's online therapy program to address those higher rates. Discusses the program's shift to focus on engaging communities, successes after year 1, and work to address broadband challenges.
Source: WAFB
Oct 15, 2025 - Highlights a partnership between a rural Kentucky school system and local health system to increase access to mental health services for students. The program aims to overcome common barriers, particularly transportation. Notes existing partnerships with other school districts and the health system and plans to continue expanding.
Source: LEX 18
Oct 15, 2025 - Highlights the work of rural health fellows at Augusta University in Georgia. Discusses the benefits to both the rural communities and the fellows themselves. Notes the potential for retaining fellows in rural practice where there are workforce shortages for both primary and specialty care.
Source: Jagwire
Oct 14, 2025 - A rural Montana sheriff's department is offering deputies a first responder medical training and certification program. The program would allow deputies to assist emergency medical services (EMS) providers in situations with multiple victims or provide aid while waiting for EMS to arrive. Notes that understaffing, poor weather, and large service areas can make EMS response times long. Discusses upcoming work by the state legislature to address EMS challenges.
Source: EMS 1
Oct 14, 2025 - Describes a trend toward using mobile health clinics in rural and other communities to increase access to healthcare. Discusses how mobile clinics can fill gaps in telehealth services, improve health outcomes, be used for community paramedicine programs, develop the healthcare workforce, and more. Notes the need for better data and more funding to continue research on the impact of mobile clinics.
Source: The Daily Yonder