Rural Health
News by Topic: Health workforce
Oct 29, 2026 - The Mountain Plains Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Center (MP ROTAC) is seeking feedback on the training, technical assistance, and support needs related to opioid, stimulant, and other substance use challenges impacting communities throughout the Mountain Plains region. Eligible stakeholders can submit feedback through November 15th, 2026.
Oct 26, 2026 - Describes the challenges with introducing rural students into nursing education programs to address the workforce shortages. Highlights one hospital that supported existing employees in continuing their education through a "grow-your-own" model.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Oct 26, 2026 - Highlights a Missouri program that helps healthcare employers provide childcare support for their employees in an effort to attract and retain workforce. The program is being expanded with Rural Health Transformation Program money. Discusses the challenges with finding child care in rural communities.
Source: The Beacon: Kansas City
Oct 23, 2026 - Announces a new initiative to support recruiting and retaining nurses for rural and higher labor shortage area nursing homes through loan repayment and stipends in exchange for 3 years of employment in qualified facilities. Describes eligibility guidelines for nurses interested in the program.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Related funding:
Nurses for Nursing Homes
Oct 23, 2026 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on an information collection request titled "National Practitioner Data Bank for Adverse Information on Physicians and Other Health Care Practitioners—45 CFR part 60 Regulations and Forms, OMB No. 0906-0081—Revision." The National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) aims to improve the quality of healthcare by encouraging hospitals, state licensing boards, professional societies, and other eligible entities providing healthcare services to identify and discipline those who engage in unprofessional behavior, and to restrict the ability of incompetent healthcare practitioners, providers, or suppliers to move from state to state without disclosure or discovery of previous damaging or incompetent performance. Comments are due by November 23, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 23, 2026 - Describes a newly funded project aiming to increase the participation of rural communities in clinical research and strengthen research partnerships with rural areas across the Southwest. Planned clinical research studies will investigate using telehealth to manage chronic disease and the impact of community doulas on maternal health outcomes.
Source: UNM Health Sciences News
Oct 22, 2026 - Announces newly awarded Rural Health Transformation Program funding in Texas. Initiatives funded will address chronic disease conditions, recruiting and retaining healthcare workforce, and upgrading facilities and equipment.
Source: Office of Governor Greg Abbott
Oct 21, 2026 - The medical school at the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) in Fort Smith has announced the launch of its Doctor of Public Health in Leadership for Rural Health and Sustainable Development program. The first cohort comprises physicians, nurse practitioners, and people working in government agencies, hospital systems, and health-focused nonprofits.
Source: Texarkana Gazette
Oct 21, 2026 - Discusses a new Minnesota-based fellowship to train family medicine physicians in obstetrics to address limited access to obstetric care in rural communities.
Source: MPR News
Oct 20, 2026 - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama offers a medical scholarship program to help students pursue healthcare careers. Recipients get financial support for their final 2 years of school and in return they agree to complete their residency and practice in an underserved area of Alabama for at least 3 years.
Source: Bham Now