Rural Health & Human Services News by Topic: Health workforce - Rural Health Information Hub

The 'Hub-and-Spoke' Model for Addiction Treatment in North Carolina

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

HHS: Request for Information, Training and Care Delivery Models for Safe Administration of Potential FDA-Approved Psychedelic Therapies in Ambulatory Clinical Settings

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

New LSU Health Shreveport Scholarship Program Tackling Critical Rural Workforce Shortage

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Grain Bin Accidents Remain Deadly. One Farmer Hopes His Family's Story Can Help.

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Bridging the Distance: Bringing Care Closer to Home for Rural Veterans

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

CMS: Medicare Program: Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems; and Quality Reporting Programs; Including the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Program and Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Program; Request for Information on Strengthening the Standardization and Comparability of Hospital Price Transparency (HPT) Data; Prior Authorization; Accrediting Organization (AO) Deeming for Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA); and Notices of Closure of Teaching Hospitals and Opportunities To Apply for Available Slots

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

What Texas Can Teach Us About the Crisis in Primary Care

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Describes primary care challenges in Texas and discusses how those challenges are reflected in primary care nationally. Challenges discussed include access to care, clinician administrative burden, workforce, and coordinating reform efforts. Notes that primary care in rural, frontier, and underserved regions of Texas support community stability and vitality. Highlights broad policy options for supporting primary care.

Summer Program Reaches 5-year Milestone in Preparing Future Physicians

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

USF Health Brings Emergency Pregnancy Training to Rural Florida Without Maternal Care

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

HRSA Extends Timeline for Review of Certain Health Professional Shortage Area Designations

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Announcement from the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) that State Primary Care Offices (PCOs) will have additional review time for Health Professional Shortage Areas identified through the 2025 National Shortage Designation Update as "proposed for withdrawal." PCOs may use the additional time to update data and submit revisions where appropriate before HRSA takes final action.

HRSA: Lists of Designated Primary Medical Care, Mental Health, and Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announces the availability of the complete lists of all geographic areas, population groups, and facilities designated as primary care, mental health, and/or dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). HPSA designations that are currently proposed for withdrawal will remain in this status until they are re-evaluated in preparation for the publication of the HPSA Federal Register notice on or before July 1, 2027. Lists are available on the shortage areas topic page on data.hrsa.gov and are current as of April 30, 2026.

Mobile Mental Health Unit Marks First Year of Expanding Care Across Rural Oklahoma

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Describes the accomplishments of an Oklahoma mobile mental health unit after 1 year of service. Notes that rural areas in particular face access challenges in a state where every county is a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area.

What Are the Top Threats Rural Hospitals Face for Survival?

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Highlights common rural hospital healthcare delivery challenges as identified by Wisconsin hospital CEOs. Discusses nursing workforce shortages, employee burnout, reimbursement rates, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, home health, Medicare Advantage, and maintaining inpatient care access.

Update to List of Professional Degree Programs Due to Court Order

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Provides an interim list of programs that are and are not designated as professional degree programs following the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia's partial stay of the May 1, 2026 Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Final Rule published in the Federal Register. Offers guidance to educational institutions for disbursing funds for affected programs.

HRSA Announces Nearly $140 Million in New Funding to Improve Health in Rural Communities

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Bringing Health Care Training Closer to Home for Rural Students

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Idaho Behavioral Health Council Asks Lawmakers to Prioritize Rural Communities with Opioid Funding

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Highlights recommendations from an Idaho state advisory council regarding use of opioid settlement funds. Recommended priorities include funding projects that focus on rural and frontier communities, in addition to first responder mental health support.

Rural Hospitals Look for Innovation To Address Provider Shortages

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Interview with Damon Harbison, President of Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and Alexis Hackstadt, a registered nurse who recently joined the Good Samaritan staff. They discuss provider shortages in the rural setting and initiatives to attract and retain staff.

Mary Baldwin University Launching Rural Mental Healthcare Program

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

New EMS Program Aims To Expand Rural Healthcare Access In W.Va.

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Interviews West Virginia Secretary of Health Dr. Arvin Singh about a community paramedicine initiative to increase assessment and treatment for primary care needs, support chronic disease management, provide follow-up services, and connect people to care in cooperation with rural emergency medical services providers in West Virginia.

$10 Million Gift Launches Statewide Effort to Expand Access to Care in Rural Alabama

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

A new philanthropic donation from Mike and Gillian Goodrich to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine will support the training of rural primary care physicians and meet rural training and residency needs. Discusses how well-supported pathways to rural practice support rural health access.

Kirksville's A.T. Still University Remains Top Producer of Rural Physicians in the Country

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Addressing the Rural Nursing Crisis

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

How St. Luke's Is Bringing Sexual Assault Forensic Care Closer to Home in Rural Idaho

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Discusses challenges with offering trauma-informed sexual assault care in rural Idaho. Describes how workforce shortages contribute to access barriers and how a telehealth hub-and-spoke model overcomes some of those barriers. Offers lessons learned following implementation of the model.

Primary Care Medics: Lessons from the Military Might Help Close Healthcare Gaps in Rural Pa.

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Describes the Primary Care Medic (PC-Medic) initiative in Pennsylvania's Rural Health Transformation Program plan. PC-Medics would increase healthcare access in rural areas with workforce shortages. Discusses how medics would support existing primary care professionals as well as how to recruit veterans and rural residents to the position.

Hospital Partnership Gives UNK Students an Inside Look at Rural Healthcare

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Highlights the Rural Immersion Program, an initiative at a Nebraska university allowing students to shadow rural healthcare professionals. The program aims to build the rural health workforce in Nebraska.

Indian Health Service Receives Gift Membership to Expand Training for Serious Illness Care

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

This Pa. Dentist Treats 1000s of Patients from Multiple Rural Counties. What Will Happen When He Retires?

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Discusses dental workforce shortages across Pennsylvania and highlights the impact on access when a provider retires. Describes initiatives at 2 Pennsylvania universities to train dental students in regional centers and clinics as a strategy to increase the rural dental workforce. Notes these initiatives are incorporated into the state's Rural Health Transformation Program plan.

Target 7: Radford University Tries New Approach to Help Rural Healthcare Crisis

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Describes the work of a university in rural Virginia to address healthcare access through mobile clinics and increasing the size of the nursing workforce.

New Rural Health Hub Connects Arkansans to Healthcare Resources, Opportunities

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Describes a new website highlighting the services offered by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences related to rural healthcare, education, and social safety net programs. Discusses how those programs increase access to healthcare, improve maternal and infant health, support the healthcare workforce, and make use of community health workers.