February 16, 2026: Rural Areas Classification, Damage from Staffing Shortages, & Expanding Youth Mental Health Services in Virginia

Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital.

News sources for this episode:

Marc Schollett, “Michigan lawmakers challenge rural healthcare funding criteria,” February 9, 2026, https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/michigan-lawmakers-challenge-rural-healthcare-funding-criteria, Up North Live.

Covista, “Covista Care Capacity Monitor,” https://www.covista.com/research

Mariah Taylor, “The current state of staff shortages, per executives,” February 10, 2026, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/workforce/the-current-state-of-staff-shortages-per-executives/, Becker’s Hospital Review.

Emily Schabacker, “New mental health program meets kids where they are: at school,” January 12, 2026, https://cardinalnews.org/2026/01/12/new-school-based-program-shows-promise-for-youth-mental-health/, Cardinal News.

Rural Health Today is a production of Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Michigan and a member of the Health Podcast Network. Our host is JJ Hodshire, our producer is Kyrsten Newlon, and our audio engineer is Kenji Ulmer. Special thanks to our special guests for sharing their expertise on the show, and also to the Hillsdale Hospital marketing team. If you want to submit a question for us to answer on the podcast or learn more about Rural Health Today, visit ruralhealthtoday.com.