RHIhub This Week - February 11, 2026

As an information clearinghouse on rural health issues, RHIhub provides access to a wide range of resources on relevant topics. Inclusion on RHIhub does not imply endorsement of, or agreement with, the contents by RHIhub or the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Upcoming Webinar Looking Ahead: FY 2026 Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Preview Webinar Join us on Tuesday, February 17th, at 2:00 p.m. Central to hear speakers from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) discuss their 2026 priorities and plans to support locally driven solutions to improve access to, quality of, and sustainability of healthcare in rural communities. Register today!

Updated RHIhub Topic Guide See All Topic Guides Rural Maternal Health Our updated topic guide provides an overview of rural maternal health in the U.S. This guide shares information and resources on maternal health disparities and issues impacting access to maternal healthcare services. It also covers workforce challenges, other barriers to care, and examples of local models and programs working to address these issues and improve maternal healthcare in rural areas.

Models and Innovations See All Models & Innovations

Northern California Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship Program A community of practice and grant program helps rural clinics establish or expand fellowships for nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

Southern Utah AHEC Community Health Workers Program The Southern Utah AHEC Community Health Workers Program conducted home visits and motivational interviewing to connect clients to community resources.

Recent News See All Recent News Chartis Announces Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals and Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals for 2026 Feb 11, 2026 -- Chartis Center for Rural Health has announced results of its annual awards program, based on data from the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX. The program recognizes outstanding performance among rural hospitals. Source: Business Wire Financial Fix, Quality Flaw: Lessons From Pennsylvania's Rural Health Model Feb 11, 2026 -- An evaluation of the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model, describing changes intended to improve care quality, increase access to preventive services, and address local community health needs. Source: Heath Affairs Rural EMS Under Pressure: Longer Calls, Higher Acuity Feb 6, 2026 -- A recent study found that rural EMS call times were at least 20 minutes longer than the national average, and nearly 40% of these calls were for patients with complex injuries, compared with a national average of 26.4%. Rural EMS providers also face challenges in pediatric and mental health care. Source: EMS World Special Delivery: Aggies Work To Support Obstetrics in Rural Communities Feb 4, 2026 -- The Texas Legislature has provided funding through the Rural Engagement Program for Texas A&M Health to develop a practical program to train emergency room personnel to treat expectant mothers in rural Texas. The multidisciplinary training is designed for staff who may be the first to respond to an obstetric emergency. Source: Texas A&M Health - Vital Record New Learning Network on Increasing Access to Primary Care in Rural Communities Feb 2, 2026 -- Announces a new learning network from the National Academy for State Health Policy offering state level officials a forum for sharing approaches for strengthening rural primary care systems. Discussions will include recent relevant federal policy, workforce, facilities, funding, technology, and administration. Includes an interest form to learn more. Source: National Academy for State Health Policy

Funding & Opportunities See All Funding Veterans Affairs Health Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP) Scholarships for health professions students in disciplines for which recruitment or retention is difficult, as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. A minimum service obligation of 2 years is required. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Feb 27, 2026 Sponsor: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Indian Health Service Health Professions Scholarship Program Scholarships for American Indian and Alaska Native undergraduate- and graduate-level students enrolled in specific health professions degree programs. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Feb 28, 2026 Sponsors: Indian Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Patient-Centered Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care (PPP) Program Course and Scholarships An educational program for primary care providers serving low-income and underserved communities. The program trains clinicians to diagnose and treat mental health conditions they see every day in practice. Providers working in rural and tribal communities are encouraged to apply. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Mar 2, 2026 Sponsors: The REACH Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Regional Campuses AmeriCorps State and National Grants Funding for programs that are designed to strengthen communities and solve local problems, including those found in rural and underserved areas. Funding priorities include serving historically underrepresented communities, services for veterans, access to youth mental health and substance use services, public safety, outdoor recreation, and support for families. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories Application Deadline: Mar 31, 2026 Sponsor: AmeriCorps Grace and Harold Sewell Memorial Fund Learning Partnerships A 1-year fellowship that places a medical or health sciences librarian or information professional with a host organization that is involved in health sciences service delivery, research, or product development. Past learning partnerships have been conducted with rural organizations. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Letter of Intent (Required): Mar 31, 2026 Application Deadline: Apr 30, 2026 Sponsor: Grace and Harold Sewell Memorial Fund Strategic Economic and Community Development Program A program that allows USDA to give priority for projects that support the implementation of regional economic development plans through several USDA Rural Development funding programs. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Jun 30, 2026 Sponsors: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development SBA Certified Development Company (504) Loan Program: Rural Initiative Pilot Program Provides small businesses with long-term, fixed-rate financing for major fixed assets, such as land and buildings. 504 Loans are potential options for healthcare practitioners who want to build a new office or expand/renovate an existing medical building. The Rural Initiative Pilot Program waives some small business regulations in order to expand capital access to eligible rural areas. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsor: Small Business Administration

Resources See All Resources 2026 Stability of the Rural Health Safety Net: State and National Data Tables Provides links to national and state data tables showing the financial impact of federal policies such as sequestration and bad debt reimbursement on rural hospital revenues, jobs, and gross domestic product. Presented at the February 2026 National Rural Health Association Policy Institute. Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health Date: 02/2026 AACOM 2025 Osteopathic Medical Education Impact Report Assesses how osteopathic colleges contribute to the physician workforce, focusing on geographic distribution and medical specialties of alumni. Evaluates the extent to which graduates serve rural and underserved areas, and fill specialty needs. Mentions rural throughout. Sponsoring organization: American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Date: 12/2025 Advancing Rural Cancer Control: A Portfolio Analysis of Research Funded by the National Cancer Institute, 2016–2024 Highlights a study exploring cancer control-focused grants funded by the National Cancer Institute for research opportunities to identify methods to close rural and urban disparities in cancer outcomes. Details rural grants from 2016 to 2024, their healthcare focus, and location of cancer treated. Author(s): Anna Gaysynsky, Sallie J. Weaver, Robin C. Vanderpool, et al. Location: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70120 Date: 01/2026 Care Delivery Transformation Case Study: Dartmouth Health Connected Care Program Profiles the Dartmouth Health Connected Care Program, which supports specialty care delivery via telehealth-based partnerships with rural hospitals in New Hampshire and Vermont. Highlights the Connected Care Program's reach, outcomes, and lessons learned. Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association Date: 02/2026 Chartis Center for Rural Health Research & Resources for the 2026 National Rural Health Association's Rural Health Policy Institute Conference Offers research and analysis of the stability of the rural healthcare safety net. Includes 2026 Rural State of the State, and presentation slides on this report from the 2026 National Rural Health Association Policy Institute. Provides links to national and state data tables showing the financial impact of federal policies on rural hospitals. Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health Date: 02/2026 Glossary of Value-Based Care Terms Presents definitions of key terms related to value-based care and payment. Includes terminology regarding healthcare value, payment and incentive structures, care delivery, data and technology, and more. Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value Date: 01/2026 Maternal Health Workforce Expansion and Local Childbirths Results of a study to determine whether the National Health Service Corps's support of clinicians to work in Health Professional Shortage Areas has resulted in improved access to local childbirth care. Features statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban counties. Author(s): Yanlei Ma, Olesya Baker, Fang Zhang, et al. Location: JAMA Network Open, 9(2), e2556775 Date: 02/2026 Patterns of Telehealth Use During Pregnancy and Postpartum Among Commercially Insured Women Examines the use of telehealth among pregnant and postpartum women by rural versus urban location and type of service. Utilizes 2019-2021 data to examine telehealth visits by patient characteristics, predelivery versus postpartum use, service type, and rurality. Discusses the role of telehealth to access mental health services and differences between rural and urban telehealth use. Author(s): Adit Doza, Lijing Ouyang, Donatus U. Ekwueme, et al. Location: Journal of Women's Health, 35(2) Date: 02/2026 Provider-Level Variation in the Delivery of Primary Care Telehealth for the Rural Medicare Advantage Population Results of a study comparing use of telehealth primary care between rural and nonrural Medicare Advantage (MA) beneficiaries by providers' level of telehealth delivery. Based on data from claims for MA beneficiaries enrolled in Humana Inc. plans from January 2021 to June 2024. Author(s): Debra Bozzi, Amanda Sutherland, Melanie Canterberry, Emily Boudreau, Gosia Sylwestrzak Location: The Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70127 Date: 02/2026 Shared Savings Program Fast Facts Provides summary statistics on the Medicare Shared Savings Program as of January 1, 2026. Offers data on the number of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), assigned beneficiaries, total earned shared savings, and quality scores each year since 2012; the number and percent of ACOs in each track; and more. Includes information on ACO participants, including the number of Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) participating in the program. Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Date: 02/2026 Training in Place: How a Unique Scholarship Program Is Catalyzing Innovation in Rural Health Examines the Rural Health Innovation Scholarship Program, which provides support to midcareer clinicians and public health professionals to address population health issues in rural communities. Discusses the work of the scholarship recipients, focusing on community engagement, healthcare financing, partnerships and collaboration, rural health policy, and more. Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund Date: 02/2026 Transforming Rural Health: Strategies from the Field - Food Insecurity A brief that provides an overview on food insecurity in rural areas. Discusses examples of rural-focused food programs and their strategies to create partnerships, enhance food access, and improve health outcomes. Sponsoring organization: Georgia Health Policy Center Date: 02/2026 The VA Rural Interprofessional Faculty Development Initiative: A Qualitative Evaluation Guided by the RE-AIM Framework Discusses the design, implementation, and outcomes of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Rural Interprofessional Faculty Development Initiative (RIFDI) via mid-program, program end, and post-program interview excerpts and survey data of RIFDI participants. Details impacts of RIFDI on rural clinician-educators and broader rural health workforce recruitment and retention. Author(s): Sarah Keithly, Paige Perry, Erica J. Ho, et al. Location: BMC Medical Education, 26, 215 Date: 01/2026

Open Calls for Contributions See All Open Calls Call for Abstracts: 2026 Georgia Farm Stress Summit Deadline: Feb 13, 2026 Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance Event Dates: Mar 12, 2026 Fort Valley, GA Conference Website Call for Abstracts: 2026 Rural Health and Cancer Conference Deadline: Mar 9, 2026 University of Vermont Cancer Center Event Dates: Jun 2 - 4, 2026 Burlington, VT Conference Website Call for Proposals: 2026 43rd Annual Oregon Rural Health Conference Deadline: Mar 30, 2026 Oregon Office of Rural Health Event Dates: Oct 7 - 9, 2026 Bend, OR Conference Website

Upcoming Events See All Events Feb 17 2026 FORHP Preview Webinar Virtual Feb 17, 2:00 p.m. Central Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Feb 18 Non-Congregate 101: The Building Blocks to Successful and Sustainable Rural Summer Meals Virtual Feb 18, 3:00 p.m. Eastern No Kid Hungry Feb 18 Storytelling and Social Media: Connecting to Community and Beyond Virtual Feb 18, 3:00 p.m. Eastern National AgrAbility Project Feb 18 Understanding Breast Cancer Screening Access Through Rural Community Partnerships Virtual Feb 18, 3:00 p.m. Eastern AcademyHealth Feb 20 2026 Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy Symposium In-Person Feb 20 Kansas University School of Law Lawrence, KS Feb 23-24 Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) Meeting Virtual Feb 23 - 24 HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation Feb 26 Accelerate Delivery of Road Safety Projects: Successful Implementation of Modular Designs and Materials Virtual Feb 26, 1:00 p.m. Eastern Federal Highway Administration Mar 2-3 Meeting of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Virtual Mar 2 - 3 Medicare Payment Advisory Commission Mar 3 RHC Cost Reporting 101 Virtual Mar 3, 2:00 p.m. Eastern National Association of Rural Health Clinics Mar 5 RHC Compliance 101 Virtual Mar 5, 1:00 p.m. Eastern National Association of Rural Health Clinics Mar 5 Rural Emergency Hospital Educational Webinar and Fireside Chat Virtual Mar 5, 2:00 p.m. Eastern Rural Health Redesign Center Mar 5-6 Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) Public Meeting Virtual Mar 5 - 6 Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission Mar 9 CMS/ITU Outreach and Education Training - Billings Region Virtual Mar 9, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, National Indian Health Board Mar 9 CMS/ITU Outreach and Education Training - Portland Region Virtual Mar 9, 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. Eastern Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, National Indian Health Board Mar 11-12 30th Biannual CDC/ATSDR Tribal Advisory Committee Meeting Virtual Mar 11 - 12 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Mar 12 2026 Georgia Farm Stress Summit In-Person Mar 12 Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance Fort Valley, GA Mar 12 Unlocking Pediatric Readiness in Rural Health Virtual Mar 12, 1:00 p.m. Eastern National Association of Rural Health Clinics Mar 16-18 2026 NARHC Spring Institute In-Person Mar 16 - 18 National Association of Rural Health Clinics Atlanta, GA Mar 18 2026 HHS Annual Tribal Budget Consultation - Planning Session #1 Virtual Mar 18, 3:00 p.m. Eastern U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Mar 24-25 2026 IHEART Spring Virtual Workshop Virtual Mar 24 - 25 Indigenous Health, Education, and Resources Taskforce (IHEART) Mar-Apr 31-2 2026 Critical Access Hospital Conference In-Person Mar 31 - Apr 2 Eide Bailly LLP Omaha, NE Apr 1 2026 HHS Annual Tribal Budget Consultation - Planning Session #2 Virtual Apr 1, 3:00 p.m. Eastern U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Apr 1 AgriStress Response Network - Mental Health Innovations Exchange Virtual Apr 1, 10:00 a.m. Central AgriSafe Network