Rural Health
News by Topic: Health workforce
Jun 2, 2026 - The National Alliance for Rural Health Improvement (NARHI) has been acquired by Stratis Health and renamed the Rural Health Quality Improvement Exchange (RHQIX). RHQIX is a membership organization aiming to impact rural healthcare access, quality, and outcomes through education, professional development, peer networking, and rural-focused resources.
Source: Stratis Health News
Jun 2, 2026 - A new program in Hawaii offers free medical school in exchange for practicing in a rural Hawaiian community for 5 years. Describes the physician shortages in Hawaii and profiles some of the students already participating in the program, which is funded through the state's Rural Health Transformation Program.
Source: Honolulu Civil Beat
Jun 1, 2026 - An agreement between the Indian Health Services (IHS) and Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas has been made to build a new medical clinic to expand educational and workforce training opportunities for American Indian students. Haskell Indian National University is operated by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Education. The facility will allow Haskell students to train alongside IHS providers practicing high quality, culturally-informed healthcare.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior
May 31, 2026 - Describes the importance of rural healthcare access for an aging population and healthcare workforce shortages in New York.
Source: Spectrum News 1
May 31, 2026 - Describes the economic impact of hospitals on rural communities with a focus on Wisconsin. Discusses community engagement, workforce training, and rural livability as factors influencing the recruitment of healthcare workforce.
Source: Spectrum News 1
May 28, 2026 - East Carolina University has added a rural residency track for their internal medicine, general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics graduate medical education programs. The goal is to increase access to healthcare in rural North Carolina communities.
Source: WITN
May 27, 2026 - Analyzes Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) nursing home data to compare rural and urban staffing and health inspection ratings in Texas.
Source: The Daily Yonder
May 27, 2026 - Announces new funding for rural health work that expands workforce capacity; supports startup growth and private investment; strengthens technology infrastructure; builds pathways for piloting and scaling solutions; and creates partnerships between government, providers, and industry. Supported by the state's Rural Health Transformation Program plan.
Source: Louisiana Economic Development
May 25, 2026 - Discusses a loan forgiveness program for rural practicing Vermont physicians as a strategy to recruit and retain rural physicians.
Source: WCAX
May 22, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services making technical and typographical corrections to the April 14, 2026, proposed rule. Comments on the proposed rule are due by June 9, 2026.

