Rural Health
Top Stories
Top news stories from the past 60 days. For more, see news by topic or news by state.
Sep 15, 2025 - Announces information for states to apply for funding under the Rural Health Transformation Program. Funded projects should address one or more of the stated goals related to healthcare access, rural health innovation, workforce development, and technology. The deadline to apply is November 5, 2025.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Newsroom
Related funding:
Rural Health Transformation Program
Sep 12, 2025 - Describes a partnership between the American Heart Association and a rural Arkansas library system to offer blood pressure monitoring kits available for check out. Discusses differences in heart disease prevalence for rural and urban residents.
Source: American Heart Association Newsroom
Sep 10, 2025 - Summarizes recent research findings that rural residents are more likely to experience poor outcomes compared to urban residents following surgery for colon cancer. Greater access to minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for rural patients is identified as a solution for improving surgery outcomes. Discusses challenges with expanding access to MIS.
Source: Bioengineer.org
Sep 9, 2025 - Highlights the work of the North Carolina Psychiatry Access Line (NC-PAL), a free phone line allowing medical providers to consult with behavioral health specialists about their patients. Discusses ways in which they are reaching rural communities to increase access to mental health services.
Source: North Carolina Health News
Sep 9, 2025 - Profiles the Rough Rider Network, a collaborative effort of 22 independent rural healthcare facilities known as a Clinical Integration Network (CIN). Located in North Dakota, these facilities are working together to save money and improve care across all facilities.
Source: KFF Health News
Sep 5, 2025 - Documents the transition of Harper County Hospital, located in Buffalo, Oklahoma, to becoming a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) in 2023, with guidance from the REH Technical Assistance Center.
Source: National Rural Health Association
Sep 5, 2025 - Blog post discussing the Rural Health Transformation Program. Provides an overview of the program and examples of early actions taken by governors. Identifies key stakeholder partners and critical policy areas related to rural health.
Source: National Governors Association
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
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