Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Health workforce

Mar 17, 2024 - Highlights a project to offer internships for rural high school students and create a training center in Washington for careers in health and other industries. Notes that the project may help keep students in the region once they graduate.
Source: The Spokesman-Review
Mar 14, 2024 - Announces proposed bipartisan legislation aiming to reduce burdens on rural Medicare patients seeking healthcare in an Accountable Care Organization (ACO). The bill expands the ability of Medicare beneficiaries to be assigned to an ACO by allowing assignments based on primary care visits performed by nurse practitioners, physician assistants, or clinical nurse specialists.
Source: Office of Representative Suzan DelBene
Mar 13, 2024 - A new mobile crisis response program is launching in rural Oregon, aiming to bring mental healthcare access to residents that may be far from services or without transportation. Discusses current and planned future funding, workforce challenges, and support for other first responders.
Source: KLCC, NPR
Mar 12, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is requesting information to assist in the development of a national standard of practice for VA peer specialists. Outlines the proposed national standard of practice for VA peer specialists, who are Veterans who self-identify with a lived experience of recovery from a mental health condition and have been professionally trained to help other Veterans with similar experiences. Comments are due by May 13, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 11, 2024 - Offers overview of priorities in the proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Budget for the Health Resources & Services Administration including youth mental health, maternity care deserts, access to primary care, opioid treatment and recovery, the healthcare workforce, and organ donation. Discusses rural specific needs throughout.
Source: Health Resources & Services Administration
Mar 11, 2024 - The Indian Health Service (IHS) is accepting applications for the Indians into Medicine (InMed) program. The purpose of this program is to increase the number of American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) health professionals by encouraging AI/AN individuals to enter the health professions and removing barriers to serving AI/AN populations. Target populations should not include tribes within North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana, which are served by the existing University of North Dakota InMed grant program. Applications are due by May 14, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 11, 2024 - The Indian Health Service (IHS) is accepting applications for the Indians into Nursing (NU) program. The purpose of this program is to recruit, retain, graduate, and increase the number of registered nurses, certified nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners who deliver healthcare services to American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. Specifically, this program aims to recruit and train AI/AN individuals in nursing fields and provide continuing education to nurses and advanced practice nurses serving AI/AN communities. Applications are due by May 14, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 11, 2024 - The Indian Health Service (IHS) is accepting applications for the Indians into Psychology (InPsy) program. The purpose of this program is to increase the number of clinical psychologists who deliver healthcare services to American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. Specifically, this program aims to recruit, train, and provide scholarships to AI/AN individuals to be clinical psychologists. Applications are due by May 14, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 6, 2024 - Discusses the rise in colorectal cancer rates and mortality disparities for Black and rural Americans. Highlights efforts by multiple states to increase screening rates including in rural West Virginia. Notes challenges for rural residents such as distance to care and shortages of specialists.
Source: Stateline
Mar 6, 2024 - Discusses the shortage of rural surgeons, noting challenges in building the rural surgeon workforce. Discusses rural training tracks, homegrown workforce, funding needs, and telemedicine as possible solutions for building the workforce.
Source: ACS Bulletin