Rural Health
News by Topic: Health workforce education and training
Jul 18, 2026 - Highlights a tour of rural Franklin County in Massachusetts for new doctors at the local hospital. The tour helps the new doctors learn more about the community, its resources, and how far many community members are from the hospital.
Source: Greenfield Recorder
Jul 17, 2026 - Highlights the 25 year history of the Nebraska Area Health Education Center program which works to strengthen the rural healthcare workforce across the state.
Source: University of Nebraska Medical Center Newsroom
Jul 17, 2026 - Notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) amending its regulations to change the admission period in the F, J, and I classifications from duration of status to an admission for a fixed time period, and to change to admission and extension requirements. This rule also summarizes comments received in response to the August 28, 2025, proposed rule, including comments related to health workforce education and training, among other things. This rule is effective September 15, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 15, 2026 - Describes a North Carolina network offering training and support for healthcare providers offering medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) through a hub-and-spoke model. Discusses how the model works in rural communities and integrating the treatment into primary care.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Jul 14, 2026 - The Department of Health and Human Services is seeking comments on training and care delivery models to ensure safe and effective use of psychedelic drugs. Questions for consideration include training regarding patient eligibility, drug administration, and post-administration follow up; access for Federally Qualified Health Centers, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, and Rural Health Clinics; and technologies that allow for expanded access while maintaining patient safety. Comments are due August 13, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 13, 2026 - Describes a physician assistant scholarship program in a Louisiana university aiming to address rural healthcare workforce shortages in the state. The program will also work with new rural clinical preceptor sites, thereby expanding access to healthcare for rural residents while also offering students rural-focused training.
Source: Red River Radio
Jul 11, 2026 - Discusses the risk of grain bin incidents on farms, noting that fatality rates remain high despite increased training for first responders. Highlights safety equipment and policy measures that can prevent deaths.
Source: Nebraska Examiner
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