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

Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare facilities

Sep 29, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services making technical and typographical corrections to the August 4, 2026, final rule. These corrections are effective October 1, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 25, 2026 - A hospital in Alaska will begin offering childcare to employees after being awarded Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funds. The service will address employee needs including challenges like childcare for shift work and inconsistent schedules. The service is meant to aid with employee recruitment and retention. Includes a table of all RHTP funding awarded in Juneau.
Source: KTOO
Sep 24, 2026 - The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announces the extension of funds for certain health centers to avoid a gap in services while HRSA awards funds through the fiscal year 2027 Service Area Competition. Health centers with a current period of performance of January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2026, or February 1, 2023, through January 31, 2027, will receive an extension of funds through June 30, 2027. Health centers with a current period of performance of March 1, 2023, through February 28, 2027, will receive an extension with funds through July 31, 2027.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 22, 2026 - A new statewide collaboration has received funding to help rural North Carolina clinics and hospitals use artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Discusses ethical use of AI and an AI digital divide.
Source: UNC School of Medicine Newsroom
Sep 21, 2026 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) seeks comments on how data intermediaries can be used to support secure, scalable, standards-based public health data exchange. Information collected will be used to evaluate and explore how data intermediaries can advance broader goals to prevent disease; detect emerging threats; drive state-of-the-art solutions that empower communities; and strengthen public health systems for a safer, healthier nation. Includes specific questions and topics of interest to the CDC. Comments are due by November 20, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 21, 2026 - More neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) have opened across Oklahoma, increasing access for rural families across the state.
Source: News 9
Sep 17, 2026 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announces the approval of DNV Healthcare USA Inc. (DNV) as a national accrediting organization for hospitals that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. This approval is applicable from September 26, 2026, through September 26, 2032.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 16, 2026 - Describes projects funded in the first round of Rural Health Transformation Program funding in South Carolina. Projects include equipment and facility upgrades, mobile healthcare, telehealth, and a rural health needs study. Highlights financial struggles for hospitals in rural South Carolina.
Source: South Carolina Daily Gazette
Sep 10, 2026 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced awards to 132 hospitals in 13 states through the Rural Hospital Provider Assistance Program. This will help eligible small rural hospitals maintain their workforce, sustain essential services, and strengthen patients' access to care.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Sep 8, 2026 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announcing a virtual town hall meeting to be held on December 9-10, 2026, to discuss FY 2028 applications for add-on payments for new medical services and technologies under the Medicare Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS). Information on how to join the meeting will be posted on the New Technology website. The deadline to register to present at the meeting is November 2, 2026. Written comments and agenda items for discussion at the meeting are due by November 12, 2026.
Source: Federal Register