Rural Health
News by Topic: Health workforce education and training
Jul 8, 2026 - Describes a Veterans Administration (VA) pilot program in New Mexico, Arizona, and Wyoming to make healthcare more accessible for rural veterans by including rural and underserved VA and Indian Health Service locations in VA residencies. Discusses how the program offers innovative service delivery models, builds cultural awareness, and increases the VA and IHS workforce.
Source: VA News
Jul 7, 2026 - 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 2, 2026 - The University of Alabama program Tuscaloosa Rural Pre-Medical Internship is celebrating 5 years of preparing physicians for rural practice. The program recruits rural Alabama residents in high school and moves them through medical school and into rural practice while offering clinical experiences, skills training, and mentorship. The program recently welcomed the 2026 class.
Source: UA News Center
Jul 2, 2026 - Describes a maternal care training program for emergency responders and hospital staff in rural Florida where maternal care is limited. The training includes simulations of emergency scenarios, preparing the trainees to handle critical issues to allow for safe patient transfers to specialty care.
Source: Fox 13
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 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
Jun 23, 2026 - Offers an interview with a South Dakota State University assistant professor in the College of Nursing about rural healthcare challenges and the work the university is doing to address nursing workforce shortages in both short-term acute care and long-term care settings in rural communities.
Source: South Dakota State University News
Jun 23, 2026 - Highlights a medical school producing significant numbers of rural practicing physicians. Discusses perceived contributing factors including recruiting rural residents, a rural focus in the curriculum, and osteopathic medicine being suited to rural practice.
Source: KBIA
Jun 16, 2026 - The Indian Health Service (IHS) has a new membership with a palliative care organization with the goal of expanding access to training and resources. Selected IHS workforce participants will gain access to a library of courses, tools, webinars, and experts to improve palliative care quality and outcomes.
Source: Indian Health Service Announcements