Rural Health
News by Topic: Health workforce
Jul 2, 2026 - Pre-publication notice of a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making changes to the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and the Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) payment system for calendar year 2027, including changes to the amounts and factors used to determine the payment rates for Medicare services paid under the OPPS and those paid under the ASC payment systems. Among other things, this rule also proposes updates related to the requirements for the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Program and Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting Program; requests information regarding potential approaches to improve comparability and standardization of the HPT information reported in machine-readable files and consumer-friendly displays, particularly for complex contracting methodologies; and announces notices of closure of teaching hospitals and opportunities to apply for available slots. Comments are due by August 31, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 1, 2026 - Announcement from the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRS) that State Primary Care Offices (PCOs) will have additional review time for Health Professional Shortage Areas identified through the 2025 National Shortage Designation Update as "proposed for withdrawal." PCOs may use the additional time to update data and submit revisions where appropriate before HRSA takes final action.
Source: Health Resources & Services Administration
HRSA: Lists of Designated Primary Medical Care, Mental Health, and Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas
Federal Register
Jul 1, 2026 - The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announces the availability of the complete lists of all geographic areas, population groups, and facilities designated as primary care, mental health, and/or dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). HPSA designations that are currently proposed for withdrawal will remain in this status until they are re-evaluated in preparation for the publication of the HPSA Federal Register notice on or before July 1, 2027. Lists are available on the shortage areas topic page on data.hrsa.gov and are current as of April 30, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 30, 2026 - Describes the accomplishments of an Oklahoma mobile mental health unit after 1 year of service. Notes that rural areas in particular face access challenges in a state where every county is a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area.
Source: News On 6
Jun 30, 2026 - Highlights common rural hospital healthcare delivery challenges as identified by Wisconsin hospital CEOs. Discusses nursing workforce shortages, employee burnout, reimbursement rates, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, home health, Medicare Advantage, and maintaining inpatient care access.
Source: Farm Progress: Wisconsin Agriculturist
Jun 29, 2026 - Kansas City University's Rural Health Scholars program is building up the rural health care workforce in the region where Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri meet. By building relationships with 8 different community colleges and 2 four-year universities, the program will accelerate career pathways for students who want to become doctors or dentists in rural communities.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Jun 29, 2026 - The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) has announced new funding for rural communities, including funding for rural substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery services; expansion of medical residencies; strengthening rural healthcare networks, and advancing telehealth.
Source: Health Resources & Services Administration
Related funding:
Delta Rural Integrated Health Network Program · Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Impact (RCORP – Impact) · Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Planning (RCORP – Planning) · Rural Health Network Advancement Program · Rural Northern Border Region Network Planning Program · Rural Residency Planning and Development Program · Technology-Enabled Collaborative Learning Program · Telehealth Nutrition Services Network Grant Program
Jun 29, 2026 - Provides an interim list of programs that are and are not designated as professional degree programs following the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia's partial stay of the May 1, 2026 Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Final Rule published in the Federal Register. Offers guidance to educational institutions for disbursing funds for affected programs.
Source: Federal Student Aid, Office of the U.S. Department of Education
Jun 26, 2026 - Highlights recommendations from an Idaho state advisory council regarding use of opioid settlement funds. Recommended priorities include funding projects that focus on rural and frontier communities, in addition to first responder mental health support.
Source: Idaho Capital Sun
Jun 26, 2026 - A Virginia university is offering a new psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program to address a growing need for rural mental healthcare amid healthcare workforce shortages. The program will support placements in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and North Carolina.
Source: Augusta Free Press