Rural Health
Top Stories
Top news stories from the past 60 days. For more, see news by topic or news by state.
Sep 4, 2025 - Highlights a pilot program in Virginia to authorize Special Conservators of the Peace to respond to mental health issues. Discusses the trend away from using law enforcement as first responders for these calls, noting that departments in rural communities often do not have the resources to respond to these calls.
Source: Virginia Mercury
Sep 2, 2025 - Announces changes to the Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design (AHEAD) Model beginning in January 2026 including the end date for all cohorts, payment reforms for patients with Original Medicare, and new requirements around total cost of care and primary care investment targets.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Sep 2, 2025 - Highlights an initiative in New Mexico providing rural veterans with home visiting services both following emergency department (ED) visits and proactively to prevent ED visits.
Source: VA News
Sep 2, 2025 - Highlights an initiative in South Dakota for virtual nursing services. The program increases access to healthcare services in rural communities and addresses shortages in the registered nurse workforce. Discusses patient satisfaction and rural facility budgets.
Source: Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Aug 26, 2025 - Highlights a trip by Federal Communications Commission officials to Alaska to discuss broadband expansion in remote areas, including to support rural healthcare.
Source: Federal Communications Commission
Aug 22, 2025 - Request for nominations for the Health Resources & Services Administration's Tribal Advisory Council (TAC). TAC advises HRSA staff on public health issues and collaborative approaches to addressing the needs of American Indian and Alaska Natives. Eligible nominees are elected tribal officials from Alaska, Albuquerque, Bemidji, Billings, California, Navajo, Phoenix, and Portland. Nominations should be emailed to tribalaffairs@hrsa.gov by August 29, 2025.
Source: Health Resources and Services Administration
Aug 22, 2025 - Discusses the suicide risks for veterans, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) services that increase access to healthcare, and secure firearm storage as a means to reduce suicide risk.
Source: VA News
Aug 14, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making technical and typographical corrections to the July 16, 2025, proposed rule.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 13, 2025 - Describes a tour of Alaskan rural and tribal healthcare facilities by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, noting common challenges with healthcare access for rural and remote communities. Discusses approaches to health and nutrition in Native American communities.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Aug 9, 2025 - Describes emergency healthcare services provided by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs providers for a veteran in rural Louisiana including collaboration between VA providers and staff at the nearest hospital.
Source: VA News
HRSA: Health Center Program Performance Period Extensions
Federal Register
Aug 7, 2025 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of an extension of the standard performance period for health center grantees from 3 to 4 years. The extended performance period will provide current health centers additional time to serve their service area before they apply for a new award. Includes a list of 194 health center awardees that will receive a one-year extension with funds for a total 4-year performance period. This update will not change the statutory requirement that health centers that fail to comply with Health Center Program requirements will receive a 1-year performance period if a new project period is awarded.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 16, 2025 - Notice of a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS) addressing: 1) changes to the
Physician Fee Schedule and Medicare Part B payment
policies; 2) policies for the Medicare Prescription Drug
Inflation Rebate Program under the Inflation Reduction Act
of 2022; 3) the Ambulatory Specialty Model; 4) updates to
the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program expanded model; 5)
updates to drugs and biological products paid under Part B;
6) Medicare Shared Savings Program requirements; 7) updates
to the Quality Payment Program; 8) updates to policies for
Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health
Centers (FQHCs); 9) updates to the Ambulance Fee Schedule
regulations; 10) codification of the Inflation Reduction
Act and Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 provisions;
and 11) updates to the Medicare Promoting Interoperability
Program. Comments are due on September 12, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
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