Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare needs and services
Jan 13, 2026 - Discusses the work of independent pharmacies in rural communities and the challenges that come when one closes. Highlights reasons for closures including workforce recruitment challenges and low reimbursement rates. Discusses recent Colorado legislation that aimed to ease burdens on rural pharmacies in the state.
Source: University of Colorado Anschutz Health Science News and Features
Jan 13, 2026 - Discusses reasons for labor and delivery department closures across Pennsylvania including challenges with recruiting and retaining obstetricians and gynecologists and low reimbursement rates for Medicare and Medicaid. Also notes poor health outcomes associated with maternal healthcare deserts. Describes potential solutions including increasing access to and the scope of practice for nurse midwives and certified midwives
Source: The Pennsylvania Independent
Jan 13, 2026 - Discusses a recent study finding that portable water stations installed in rural Alaskan homes without piped water as part of COVID-19 mitigation efforts are decreasing contagious diseases and increasing water use. Discusses the cost savings associated with this system, making water associated public health practices more achievable than in the past.
Source: Alaska Beacon
Jan 12, 2026 - Discusses a program offering mental healthcare to students in a rural Virginia school. Highlights the program's funding, the increased mental healthcare access for rural children through school-based programs, and mental health awareness.
Source: Cardinal News
VA: Implementation of Section 120 of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act
Federal Register
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 12, 2026 - Describes increasing rates of suicide among children between 10 and 17 in Tennessee and highlights a program being expanded into rural communities to address the crisis. Notes rural-specific issues driving poor outcomes including stigma and less mental healthcare access. Discusses telehealth and school-based services as opportunities to improve outcomes.
Source: WJHL
Jan 11, 2026 - Highlights a new health center in rural Alabama offering podiatry services. Describes rural disparities in accessing specialty care and the associated poor outcomes.
Source: WSFA
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 9, 2026 - Baylor University has conducted a scoping review of rural nursing workforce recruitment and retention programs across the U.S., to address shortages of registered nurses. The study highlights what is being done to support the nurses' rural communities, and which strategies work best.
Source: Baylor College of Medicine
Jan 8, 2026 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on an information collection request titled "Enrollment and Re-Certification of Entities in the 340B Drug Pricing Program, OMB No. 0915-0327—Revision." HRSA requires covered entities to submit administrative information, certifying information, and attestation from appropriate grantee-level or entity-level authorizing officials and primary contacts in order to enroll and certify the eligibility of federally funded grantees and other safety net health care providers. Comments are due by February 9, 2026.
Source: Federal Register