News stories via the Rural Health Information Hub

HRSA Awards Nearly $13 Million to Expand Access to Healthy Foods for Pregnant and Postpartum Women

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced $12.7 million in awards through the Maternal Produce Prescription Program to help pregnant and postpartum women and their families in low-income and medically underserved communities access healthy foods. The program bolsters partnerships among healthcare providers, community-based organizations, and local food systems.

HHS Launches Newborn Essentials Support Toolkit Program to Support Mothers and Babies

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has launched the Newborn Essentials Support Toolkit in West Virginia. The program aims to offer families supplies and information in the days following delivery of a baby. One goal of the program is to reach rural and other medically underserved families.

A Rural CIO's Guide to Getting More from Technology

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Offers guidance for optimizing existing technology as learned by a rural chief information officer in a New Hampshire nonprofit health system. Discusses planning for the future, evaluating organizational workflows, process improvement, understanding full costs, and piloting programs, particularly artificial intelligence technology.

Missouri Independent Hospitals Seek Strength in Numbers with New Clinically Integrated Network

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Describes the benefits of clinically integrated networks for rural independent hospitals and highlights the Show-Me High Value Network in Missouri.

An Ambitious Financial Experiment Tried to Support Struggling Rural Hospitals in Pa. For Years. Did It Work?

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Discusses the mixed results of the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model, an experimental payment structure program that aimed to stabilize the finances of rural hospitals. Explores what worked and what did not, how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the program, lessons learned about rural hospital reimbursement, and how community resources and services can impact hospital stability.

Request for Information: Data Intermediaries and Approaches to Strengthen Public Health Data Exchange

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is requesting information from public health, healthcare, health information exchange, and other organizations serving rural communities on how to support secure, scalable, standards-based public health data exchange. Comments are due November 20, 2026.

'Spreading like Wildfire': How One KY County Is Grappling with a National Tick-Borne Scourge

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Discusses the rise of alpha-gal syndrome, a tick-borne disease, in a rural Kentucky region. Describes the higher risks of contracting the disease for farmworkers and others who work outdoors, symptoms, and managing the disease.

HRSA Awards Nearly $90 Million to Expand Addiction Treatment and Recovery Services in Rural Communities

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Announces awarded funding for the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) which expands substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery services throughout rural communities.

FORHP Awards More Than $6 Million to Strengthen Rural Health Networks

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Announces funding awarded from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) to support new or existing rural health networks in several states. Describes the role of health networks in strengthening rural healthcare delivery.

First-of-Its-Kind Initiative Aims to Deliver AI to Rural and Critical Access Hospitals and Clinics in North Carolina

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

HRSA Awards Nearly $19 Million to Expand Access to Healthcare Through Telehealth and Innovative Technologies

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Announces newly awarded funding for telehealth and technology-enabled learning projects focused on testing innovative solutions, increasing access to nutrition services, and improving provider retention to strengthen the rural healthcare workforce.

988 Crisis System Grantee and Partners National Conference

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Announces a free Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) supported conference for 988 and behavioral health crisis system state, territory, and tribal grantees, federal partners, subject-matter experts, providers, and other key partners to discuss strengthening crisis services and systems, as well as network with colleagues. The conference is December 15-17, 2026 in Washington, D.C. Rural response in crisis care is a topic of interest.

Paramedics Are Helping Patients Manage Illnesses, Connect with Services and Avoid Calling 911. But These Programs Can Be Tough to Sustain in Rural Areas.

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Highlights a Virginia community paramedicine program and describes the challenges faced in offering the service, most notably funding and workforce. Discusses how community paramedicine can relieve strain on community emergency services which are often volunteer-run in rural communities.

Kansans in Need of 'Stupidly Expensive' Medical Equipment Are Turning to Loan Closets for Help

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Discusses medical loan closet programs for people struggling to afford expensive medical equipment. Notes that equipment may be more expensive for rural residents with more limited access to equipment and loan closets can fill that gap.

How Libraries Are Bringing Heart-Health Resources to Rural Communities

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Describes the work of libraries to connect rural and tribal communities with tools and education promoting heart health through the American Heart Association's Libraries with Heart initiative. Discusses rural heart health risk and highlights how the program has been implemented in Florida, Louisiana, and Arkansas.

A Virtual Lifeline: How Maternal Health RPM Transforms Care

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Describes a remote patient monitoring program for pregnant and postpartum women in rural Mississippi. Discusses the impact of the program on detecting common health conditions, increasing health literacy, and addressing mental health as well as how clinicians use the data in healthcare provision.

HHS Awards Nearly $25 Million to Strengthen Small Rural Hospitals and Preserve Access to Care

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

HHS Awards More Than $380 Million to Strengthen America's Behavioral Health System on 988 Day

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Announces awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for a variety of behavioral health treatment, prevention, and crisis response programs across over 20 funding opportunities. Includes funding for suicide prevention and response in tribal communities, community-based systems of care for tribal youth, emergency medical services for behavioral health crises in rural areas, and training and technical assistance for rural opioid and stimulant use.

HHS Awards More Than $11 Million to Expand Medical Residencies in Rural and Tribal Communities

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Announces new funding awarded to support the development of 15 physician rural and tribal residency programs in 14 states through the Rural Residency Planning and Development Program. Since being established in 2019, the program has created 66 new rural residency programs and trained over 850 physicians.

North Carolina Invests in Childcare While Testing How to Sustain Family Childcare Homes

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Describes the loss of childcare slots across North Carolina and the financial and regulatory challenges with offering childcare services. Highlights 2 rural childcare pilot programs that will inform future policy to address identified challenges.

Rural Transformation Plans Bolster Community Paramedicine Programs

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Describes community paramedicine programs funded by the Rural Health Transformation Program in 5 states. Highlighted programs will expand access to care, upgrade equipment, address reimbursement issues, and introduce mobile integrated health programs.

Building Rural Age-Friendly Communities by Expanding CHW Training

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The National Rural Health Association has trained 223 rural community health workers in Texas and Alabama to strengthen care for rural older adults through the National Rural Age-Friendly Initiative.

Request for Information: Call for Evidence Needs for Patient-Centered Comparative Clinical Effectiveness Research

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute has issued a call for information on high-priority, patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research needs to address gaps in evidence. Information is sought on areas that would improve health outcomes and includes a focus on comparisons of treatments, care delivery, or system-level strategies; addressing differences across groups or communities; healthcare challenges; or addressing varied settings. Submissions are being accepted until November 2, 2026.

CMS Hospice News & Announcements: FY 2027 Hospice Wage Index Technical Error (August 2026)

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid have recalculated the fiscal year 2027 hospice wage index values for all CBSAs and rural areas. A correction notice with updated rates will be posted on the FY 2027 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements webpage.

Vermont's Population of Primary Care Doctors Is Declining

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Discusses a new survey showing a continued decline in primary care providers in Vermont. Describes how Vermont's shortage compares with national trends, challenges with primary care distribution in a small population state, a rise in specialization, and physician demographic trends.

MedPAC's Analytic Agenda for the 2026-2027 Meeting Cycle

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Highlights the agenda for MedPAC meetings in 2026-2027. Topics to be discussed include Medicare Part D spending, the enrollment process, quality measurement and value-based payment programs, cost-sharing liability for Rural Health Clinics, the impact of converting a hospital to Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) status, reimbursement rates including for REHs, and Medicare Advantage (MA). Offers recommendations for engaging with the group and information on scheduled publications.

In Rural Mississippi, Crisis Text Services Help Fill Mental Healthcare Gaps

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Discusses the use of texting services for mental health support in rural Mississippi following a report showing the state has the 3rd highest rate of rural users in the nation. Notes that texting services can increase access to mental healthcare and provide anonymity for rural residents.

Researchers Work to Address Alzheimer's and Dementia in Rural Communities

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Discusses the work of 3 Minnesota-based researchers to address Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) in rural communities. Highlighted projects focus on tribal communities, overcoming barriers to exercise, and identifying innovative work in the ADRD space already happening in rural communities.

EMS Programs Face Many Challenges. In Rural Colorado, the Hurdles Are Even Higher.

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Describes challenges in emergency medicine services (EMS) delivery in Colorado and how EMS agencies across the state are supported. Discusses long response times, mobile training methods, community outreach and volunteers, and rural blood shortages.

U of A and Gila River Health Care (an Entity of the Gila River Indian Community) Launch Nation's First MD-Granting Medical School Branch Within a Tribal Nation

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Announces a partnership between the University of Arizona and Gila River Health Care, a tribally operated healthcare system, to establish the first medical school branch on sovereign tribal lands. The goal of the partnership is to train future physicians in tribal communities while expanding access to care for tribal residents. It's an accelerated 3-year program and includes a full scholarship. Discusses rural and tribal physician workforce shortages.