Rural Dispatch: Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Opioid Settlement Money Pays for Services To Battle Addiction in Rural Kentucky
By Taylor Sisk
A program in rural eastern Kentucky is receiving opioid settlement funding to address substance use disorders, housing, hunger, and other challenges.
More Americans Are Surviving Cancer. But the Mental Health Challenges Can Persist.
By Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio
Amid advancements in treatment and screening, more Americans are surviving the disease. But many are left with psychological scars, such as lingering anxiety and depression.
A Trump Stronghold Grapples With Health Risks of ICE Detention Sites
By Renuka Rayasam
Several rural communities were thrust into a charged national debate over the Trump administration’s mass deportation strategy when federal officials sought to place new detention centers in them. In Social Circle, Georgia, locals fear the effort will overburden its modest healthcare infrastructure.
Montana Hurries To Adopt Trump’s Medicaid Work Rules Amid Budget Woes
By Katheryn Houghton
The state is ramping up to implement the federal work requirements six months ahead of the deadline. But Montana is one of several states already struggling to pay for health services.
In a Vaccine-Skeptical California County, a Potential Playbook To Contain Measles
By Annie Sciacca
Conservative Shasta County stopped a measles outbreak from spreading, enlisting teachers, church leaders, and other trusted community members to get the public on board with health guidelines. Infectious disease specialists say the successful effort could be a guide for other communities struggling to contain the highly contagious virus.
They’re Uninsured After Obamacare Became Too Costly. And They’re Far From Alone.
By Andrew Jones
After congressional Republicans let expanded subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans expire at the end of last year, some families have decided the price is too great of a financial burden and canceled their coverage.
Telehealth Booms as Demand for GLP-1s Surges and Questions Mount About Safety, Oversight
By Lauren Sausser and Maia Rosenfeld
Many telehealth companies have emerged in recent years offering easy access to GLP-1 weight loss drugs as demand has exploded. Meanwhile, researchers and doctors are concerned that some of these online companies aren't properly screening or monitoring patients. “It gives a black eye to telemedicine,” one researcher said.
Trivia Nights, Valentine’s Cards: Overlooked Social Connections Can Prevent Suicide
By Aneri Pattani
The research is clear: Among the various complex issues that contribute to suicide, loneliness is a big one. Now, there’s a growing push to address loneliness not just through personal choices but also through public policy.
Anguished Parents. Doctors in Tears. Utah’s Long Measles Outbreak Takes a Toll.
By Amy Maxmen
Measles has been spreading in Utah for nearly a year, straining hospitals, schools, and parents. The state’s outbreak provides a glimpse into a new era in America’s health, in which vaccine-preventable diseases become common again.
Final Rules for Medicaid Work Requirements Are Out. Here’s What You Need To Know.
By Sam Whitehead
The Trump administration has laid out what millions of Americans on Medicaid must do to prove they’re working or completing other activities. Health policy researchers and consumer advocates say there are some important takeaways.
Backed by Threat of Clawbacks, Feds Wield Tight Grip on $50B Rural Health Fund
By Sarah Jane Tribble and Arielle Zionts
Mehmet Oz, head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, framed the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program as “bold, creative plans” led by states. But as states have started to roll out their plans, federal officials control where and how the money is spent.
Reporters Talk Through FDA Sunscreen Move and Closure of Rural Dialysis Clinics
KFF Health News journalists made the rounds on national media last week to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.