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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Funding

May 7, 2026 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is accepting applications for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant program for fiscal year 2026. DLT grant funds support the use of telecommunications-enabled information, audio and video equipment, and related advanced technologies by students, teachers, medical professionals, and rural residents. Program guidance and application forms are available on USDA's website.
Source: Federal Register
Related funding: Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program Grants
May 6, 2026 - Lackey Memorial Hospital in Scott County, Mississippi will soon apply for Rural Health Transformation Program funds, to modernize technology in medical record keeping and surgical operations. The state has received almost $206 million for the first year of the program.
Source: WLBT
May 4, 2026 - Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced the application process is underway for $209 million in funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program. Initial awards will be centered on the Telehealth, Health‑Monitoring, and Response Innovation for Vital Expansion (THRIVE) initiative, which will modernize rural healthcare delivery through telehealth, emergency medical response systems, and remote patient monitoring technologies.
Source: Office of Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders
May 4, 2026 - U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Illinois State Director Jesus Ortega marked the 100th anniversary of the Route 66 designation by highlighting several Rural Development investments along the highway. Almost $11 million has been invested in recent projects to benefit people in rural Illinois and beyond.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Apr 22, 2026 - Summarizes the Tennessee Rural Health Care Center of Excellence Innovation and Practice Conference where statewide and grant recipients leaders discussed health disparities and programs tackling those disparities.
Source: UTHSC News
Apr 21, 2026 - Announces the Healthcare Career Guidance Hub Initiative from the Community College System of New Hampshire. The program will build pathways into healthcare careers for high school students in addition to offering career guidance, apprenticeships, job placement, credentialing, and other educational support. The initiative is funded with Rural Health Transformation Program money.
Source: The Concord Insider
Apr 20, 2026 - Profiles Lancaster County's community paramedicine program, an initiative that serves about 1,000 people a month. Pennsylvania officials want to expand it to rural communities with few medical providers and elder care services.
Source: Evening Sun
Apr 20, 2026 - Examines ways in which rural communities can create accountable care programs, using funds from the Rural Health Transformation Program. Notes that rural areas have tighter social networks, clearer referral pathways, and fewer competing delivery systems, which can support accountable care after infrastructure is in place.
Source: Health Affairs
Apr 20, 2026 - Notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Housing Service (RHS) changes related to insurance requirements under the Multi-Family Housing (MFH) Direct Loan and Grant programs. This final rule will align USDA Rural Development insurance coverage types, amounts, and deductibles with affordable housing industry standards to simplify the coverage amounts and deductible limits, and improve customer experience with updated and understandable insurance requirements. This rule is effective May 20, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 17, 2026 - Notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) correcting the March 24, 2024, final rule that made changes to regulations to clarify protections for beneficiaries and prospective beneficiaries of federally funded social services and the rights and obligations of organizations providing such services. This correction will specifically state that the rule is intended to cover recipients and subrecipients of USDA domestic social service programs to which USDA uniform administrative requirements for recipients applies. This rule is effective May 18, 2026.
Source: Federal Register