Rural Health
News by Topic: Health workforce
Dec 17, 2025 - The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is seeking comments on an information collection titled "Shortage Designation Management System OMB No. 0906-0029-Extension." The Shortage Designation Management System (SDMS) is used to accept applications for determining Health Professional Shortage Areas and Medically Underserved Area/Medically Underserved Population (MUA/P) designations. Comments are due January 16, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 17, 2025 - Summarizes recent research finding gaps in access to sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) for rural residents due to training barriers for rural nurses. Offers interview with study author discussing those barriers, telementoring as a solution, and future research needs.
Source: Maverick News
CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
Federal Register
Dec 16, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on an information collection titled "Medicare Enrollment Application for Physician and Non-Physician Practitioners." The Form CMS-855I is the enrollment application submitted by physicians and non-physician practitioners to ensure the applicant has the necessary credentials to provide the healthcare services for which they intend to bill Medicare. Comments are due by February 17, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 16, 2025 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on revisions to an information collection regarding forms used by the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and the Nurse Corps Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs. The NHSC and Nurse Corps Interest Capture Form is an optional form that a health profession student, licensed clinician, faculty member, clinical site administrator, or other interested individual can complete and submit to HRSA online. Comments are due by January 15, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 16, 2025 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on an information collection titled "Application and Other Forms Used by the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program, the NHSC Students to Service Loan Repayment Program, and the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program, OMB No. 0915-0146-Revision." Revisions include adding a proof of citizenship document and an essay to the application packet for both the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program (SP) and NHSC Students to Service Loan Repayment Program (S2S LRP). Comments are due by January 15, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 16, 2025 - A call for papers for a special issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Papers should discuss innovation in rural healthcare delivery including topics such as workforce, capacity building, policy, tribal communities, technology, and anything else related to regional, rural, and remote health. The deadline to submit a manuscript is May 1, 2026.
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Dec 12, 2025 - Describes a field trip for nursing students in Kansas to see a Critical Access Hospital as a way to educate the students about rural nursing and promote it as a career path.
Source: University of Kansas Medical Center News
Dec 10, 2025 - Describes a mental health awareness and crisis response training being used to fill gaps in mental healthcare access for rural communities. Notes health disparities for rural residents due to shortages of mental health workforce and resources.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Dec 10, 2025 - Announces the expansion of a rural pediatric health networking and collaboration initiative in Georgia aiming to support access to pediatric healthcare. The program includes both a physician training and consultation component as well as specialty telehealth component to allow rural children to receive healthcare in their communities. Discusses scholarship opportunities to increase the pediatric health workforce and plans to continue expanding this program.
Source: The Den
Dec 10, 2025 - Describes the impact of new Arkansas legislation which will see 75 community health workers (CHWs) trained. Notes that CHW have had an impact in rural communities with less access to healthcare. Discusses recent CHW training initiatives across the state.