RHIhub This Week - June 24, 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.
Webinar Recording
Transforming Rural Health: RHTP and Value-Based PaymentIn case you missed it, a recording and transcript of our Transforming Rural Health: RHTP and Value-Based Payment webinar are now available! |
Recently Added to the Online Library |
Jun 23, 2026 -- Highlights the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV) from the Health Resources and Services Administration. Discusses new data showing an increase in access for rural counties across the country. Source: Health Resources & Services Administration Comment on Proposed Measures for the 2026 Measure Set Review (MSR) Cycle Jun 22, 2026 -- Comments are requested for the 2026 Measure Set Review cycle. 39 active measures with a focus on the Safety priority are being reviewed. Comments are due July 6, 2026. Source: Partnership for Quality Measurement How St. Luke's Is Bringing Sexual Assault Forensic Care Closer to Home in Rural Idaho Jun 22, 2026 -- 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. Source: Healthcare IT News Mobile Health Tops Early RHTP Funding Trends Jun 22, 2026 -- Describes mobile health programs in Rural Health Transformation Fund (RHTP) plans. Discusses the hub-and-spoke service delivery model, telemedicine, and remote patient monitoring as methods for increasing healthcare access using RHTP funds. Source: Healthcare IT News Primary Care Medics: Lessons from the Military Might Help Close Healthcare Gaps in Rural Pa. Jun 22, 2026 -- 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. Source: Pennsylvania Capital-Star Closing the AI Divide: Finding a Path Forward for Rural Hospitals Jun 18, 2026 -- Describes artificial intelligence (AI) use in rural hospitals, noting that recent research found AI is used less compared to urban hospitals. Highlights the implementation of AI in a rural Oklahoma hospital. Source: Oklahoma Farm Report Rural, Independent Kansas Hospitals Launch Clinically Integrated Network Jun 18, 2026 -- 7 independent hospitals in Kansas have formed a clinically integrated network (CIN). Describes how the CIN is organized and will function. Also discusses a recent trend in forming CINs and the inclusion of CINs in Rural Health Transformation Program funding. Source: Fierce Healthcare With High Costs and Access Gaps, Wyoming's Elder Care Landscape Is 'In Crisis' Jun 17, 2026 -- Discusses the shortage in affordable long term care services coupled with an aging population both nationally and in Wyoming. Discusses the challenges facing family caregivers and highlights a Wyoming nonprofit that offers nonmedical assistance to older adults aging at home. Source: WyoFile |
Funding to support community-based organizations to develop produce prescription intervention programs that promote access to healthy foods for pregnant and postpartum women and their families in low-income rural and urban areas. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories Application Deadline: Jul 17, 2026 Sponsors: Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Screening and Treatment for Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders (MMHSUD) Funding for efforts that give obstetric, primary care, and other maternal health providers quick access to expert consultation, training, and care coordination support. The program is designed to reduce barriers to care, with a focus on rural communities, tribal communities, and areas with shortages of health professionals. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Jul 17, 2026 Sponsors: Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Support for 988 Tribal Response Cooperative Agreements Resources to improve response to 988 crisis contacts (including calls, chats, and texts) originating in tribal communities and/or activated by American Indians/Alaskan Natives. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories Application Deadline: Jul 17, 2026 Sponsors: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program Grants to develop and expand existing farm to school initiatives and other food and learning initiatives with the overall goal of increasing knowledge of agriculture and improving the nutritional health of children. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Jul 20, 2026 Sponsors: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture Protecting and Rehabilitating Sexually Exploited Women and Girls Through Long-Term Safe Homes Funding for initiatives that seek to address sexual violence by providing safe homes for sexually exploited and/or abused women or girls. One of the program priorities is supporting safety and justice for trafficking victims in small towns and rural, remote, and tribal communities. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Jul 20, 2026 Sponsors: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health Protecting Women and Girls through Founding and Replication of Existing Long-Term Safe Homes Funding for initiatives that seek to address sexual violence by founding or replicating new safe homes for sexually exploited and/or abused women or girls. One of the program priorities is supporting safety and justice for trafficking victims in small towns and rural, remote, and tribal communities. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Jul 20, 2026 Sponsors: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health Alzheimer's Disease Programs Initiative - Dementia Capability in Indian Country Grants to increase capacity to deliver dementia-capable home and community-based services (HCBS) in Indian Country. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Letter of Intent (Optional): Jun 29, 2026 Application Deadline: Jul 22, 2026 Sponsors: Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction Grant Program (STCJ) Grant support and technical assistance for Tribes for planning, developing, and implementing changes in tribal criminal justice systems necessary to exercise Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) for covered crimes, which include assault of Tribal justice personnel; child violence; dating violence; domestic violence; obstruction of justice; sexual violence; sex trafficking; stalking; and violation of a protection order. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Aug 11, 2026 Sponsors: Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice Technical Assistance and Training for Rural, Small and Tribal Municipalities and Wastewater Treatment Systems Funding to provide training and technical assistance to rural, small, and tribal publicly owned wastewater treatment works and decentralized wastewater treatment systems to help improve water quality and to achieve and maintain compliance. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories Application Deadline: Aug 14, 2026 Sponsor: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency OVW Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program Grants to assist tribal governments and authorized designees of tribal governments to respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking in their communities. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Sep 1, 2026 Sponsors: Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program Funding for Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian lands for deployment of broadband service and programs that promote remote learning, telework, or telehealth resources. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Sep 17, 2026 Sponsors: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) Provides low interest loans to intermediaries that re-lend to businesses to improve economic conditions and create jobs in rural communities. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsors: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development |
Examines the Veteran Affairs (VA) New Jersey Parkinson's Disease (PD) Telepsychotherapy Hub (PD Telepsych Hub) that provides virtual mental health treatments to rural veterans. Analyzes treatment results of 522 veterans with PD over 5 years of receiving cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-PD) or group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT-PD). Provides data on sample demographics, clinical characteristics, pre- and post-treatment outcomes, and satisfaction with therapy. Author(s): John R. Purcell, Rokas Perskaudas, Rachael B. Miller, et al. Location: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70175 Date: 06/2026 Building Collaborative Contracts With Health Care: A Social Connection Partnership Between Senior Connection, Inc., and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Massachusetts Highlights a mobile outreach program for older adults in rural Massachusetts. Describes the program's focus on the 4Ms Framework of Age-Friendly Care, demonstrated impact, lessons learned, and sustainability plan. Sponsoring organizations: Aging and Disability Business Institute, The John A. Hartford Foundation, USAging Date: 06/2026 Building Rural Weather Resilience Describes how Archuleta County Public Health and Pagosa Springs Community Center collaboratively addressed vulnerability to extreme weather in rural Colorado by developing community partnerships, implementing public health preparedness initiatives, and effective planning and assessment. Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials Date: 06/2026 Changes in Neighborhood Foodscapes From 2003 to 2023 by Area Rurality in the United States Examines neighborhood-level characteristics of U.S. foodscapes. Utilizes 2003-2023 licensed food retailer data to analyze healthfulness of available food, food deserts, and food swamps, with data broken down by state and rurality. Author(s): Daniel Wiese, Marissa M. Shams-White, Zhiyuan Zheng, et al. Location: American Journal of Public Health, 116 Date: 06/2026 Grief in Native Communities Report details the findings of a summit on grief in tribal communities from June, 2025. Discusses community-based grief practices, traditional cultural practices, and how postvention approaches can be adopted by elders and spiritual leaders as a protective measure. Sponsoring organization: Suicide Prevention Resource Center Date: 2026 Health-Related Social Needs as a Rural Health Transformation Strategy Analyzes how state Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) applications have planned to address health-related social needs (HRSNs) or non-medical drivers of health. Provides recommendations for implementing HRSN policies at the state level. Sponsoring organization: Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy Date: 06/2026 Medicaid Opportunities to Strengthen Oral Health Access In Rural Communities Discusses how workforce innovations, teledentistry, rural workforce pipelines, and the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) can improve oral healthcare access for Medicaid recipients in rural communities. Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies Date: 06/2026 Reasons for Uninsurance among Rural Working-Age U.S. Adults with Histories of Cancer Analyzes reasons for uninsurance among uninsured, rural-dwelling people with and without a history of cancer, using 2020-2024 National Health Interview Survey data of 1,930 adults aged 18-64. Compares reasons related to cost, eligibility, ability to meet patient needs, and other factors by cancer history and sociodemographic group. Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Wade Swenson, Emily McGovern Location: Discover Public Health, 23, 997 Date: 06/2026 A Rural Solution to the Geriatric Mental Health Crisis Podcast episode featuring leaders from two rural New England hospitals, discussing their behavioral health programs for older adults. Describes how these specialized behavioral health programs are helping older adults receive mental healthcare close to home. Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association Date: 06/2026 Rural Water Infrastructure: Better Agency Coordination Could Help Unserved Communities Address Their Needs Discusses issues related to rural water infrastructure, including what the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) know about rural communities not served by drinking water or wastewater utilities. Describes USDA and EPA programs that can provide financial and technical assistance to rural communities for water infrastructure, how the agencies prioritize these communities, and challenges rural unserved communities face in accessing financial and technical assistance from USDA and EPA. Offers recommendations to USDA and EPA regarding increasing access to water infrastructure funding and technical assistance. Additional links: Full Report Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office Date: 06/2026 Rural-Urban Disparities in Access to Interventional Psychiatry Treatments among VA Patients Analyzes how access varies to interventional psychiatry treatments, including electroconvulsive therapy, vagus nerve stimulation, and medication-assisted psychotherapy, among rural and urban veterans. Uses 2017-2023 VA electronic health record data of veterans with major depressive disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnoses. Author(s): Brian Shiner, Vincent DuFort, Tayla Peltzman, Bradley V. Watts Location: Journal of Rural Mental Health, 50(2), 75-85 Date: 06/2026 Rural-Urban Disparity in Postacute Care and 1-Year Outcomes After Ischemic Stroke Examines how postacute stroke care varies among rural and urban-dwelling ischemic stroke patients, and how mortality, readmission, and home time varied at 1 year. Uses 2017-2022 Medicare beneficiary data. Author(s): Shumei Man, Jie-Lena Sun, Brooke Alhanti, et al. Location: Stroke, 57(7), 2138-2149 Date: 05/2026 Rural–Urban Differences in Use of Mental Health Care for Serious Mental Illness at the Veterans Health Administration: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis Examines how use of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) mental health care varies among rural and urban veterans with serious mental illness (SMI), using FY 2018-2022 VHA administrative data. Includes data on rural and urban SMI prevalence, services used, and other demographic and clinical factors influencing service use. Author(s): Alexandra B. Caloudas, Amber B. Amspoker, Ashley Smith, et al. Location: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70173 Date: 06/2026 Telemedicine Use Among Office-Based Physicians in 2021 and 2024 Offers data showing trends in telehealth utilization by physicians, comparing 2021 and 2024. Includes a comparison between metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and non-MSAs, among other factors. Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics Date: 06/2026 A Tour of Youth Behavioral Health Services Landscape: Prevalence, Treatment, and the Workforce Webinar discussing the prevalence of youth mental health conditions, substance use, and treatment in rural areas, the distribution of the youth behavioral health workforce, and the state of Medicaid funding for these services. Additional links: Presentation Slides Sponsoring organizations: Rural Health Research Gateway, WWAMI Rural Health Research Center Date: 06/2026 Voices From the Field: Insights on Coordinating Health and Community Care in Rural, Frontier and Tribal Communities Summarizes themes from 44 interviews with 24 rural and tribal community-based organizations highlighting benefits, challenges, and needs for coordination between health and social care through community care hubs. Discusses rural resiliency and specific concerns for tribal communities. Sponsoring organizations: Aging and Disability Business Institute, Center of Excellence to Align Health and Social Care, USAging Date: 06/2026 |
Deadline: Aug 7, 2026 National Rural Health Association Event Dates: May 18 - 21, 2027 New Orleans, LA Conference Website Call for Concurrent Sessions: 2027 50th Annual NRHA Rural Health Conference Deadline: Aug 7, 2026 National Rural Health Association Event Dates: May 18 - 21, 2027 New Orleans, LA Conference Website |
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