RHIhub This Week - July 8, 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
Rural Hospital Financial Performance: Tools for Data-Driven Decision MakingJoin us on Tuesday, July 21, at 12:00 p.m. Central to hear experts from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) and the North Carolina Rural Health Research Center introduce two innovative, data-driven tools that provide valuable insights into the financial health of rural hospitals. Learn how these complementary resources can support planning, policy, research, and decision-making. Register to attend today! |
Practical Guide to Supporting Innovation in Rural HealthExplore our new guide, developed in collaboration with the NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis, highlighting promising practices, practical strategies, tools, and real-world examples to help rural communities develop, implement, and scale innovative solutions rooted in local strengths. |
Virtual Roads to Real Recovery, with Amanda KennedyCheck out our latest episode featuring Amanda Kennedy, manager of the Mercy Virtual Substance Use Recovery Program, sharing her award-winning RCORP-funded initiative. Part 2 in a 3-part series featuring the 2026 Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) Innovation Tank finalists. |
Recently Added to the Online Library |
Jul 7, 2026 -- Describes newly funded research to identify rural resident priorities in healthcare service and delivery and discusses the benefits of community-engaged research. Source: ETSU News IDHW Director: Rural Health Grant May Be 'Economic Opportunity' for Small Communities Jul 7, 2026 -- Highlights non-healthcare industries in Idaho that may benefit from Rural Health Transformation Program funding. Discusses the promotion being done by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to promote funding opportunities to these industries. Source: Idaho Capital Sun Kauaʻi Communities Take Disaster Planning Into Their Own Hands Jul 7, 2026 -- Describes disaster response and recovery plans and training for rural Hawaiian communities led by local organizations and community groups. Discusses the focus on local needs and risks, particularly the risk of isolation following a disaster. Source: Civil Beat What Texas Can Teach Us About the Crisis in Primary Care Jul 2, 2026 -- 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. Source: Commonwealth Fund HRSA Extends Timeline for Review of Certain Health Professional Shortage Area Designations Jul 1, 2026 -- 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. Source: Health Resources & Services Administration Update to List of Professional Degree Programs Due to Court Order Jun 29, 2026 -- 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. Source: Federal Student Aid, Office of the U.S. Department of Education Federal RegisterCMS: 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 SlotsJul 7, 2026 -- 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. Source: Federal Register CMS: Calendar Year 2027 Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) Rate Update; Requirements for the HH Quality Reporting Program and the Expanded HH Value-Based Purchasing Model; Medicare Provider Enrollment, Durable Medical Equipment (DME), and DME, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Policies Jul 6, 2026 -- Notice of proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the home health payment rates for calendar year (CY) 2027. This rule also proposes changes to the Home Health Quality Reporting Program (HH QRP) and summarizes potential initiatives to improve alignment between the HH QRP and the expanded Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) Model requirements. Among other things, this proposed rule discusses the provision of home health palliative care services and includes a request for information (RFI) on a home health specific wage index. Comments are due by August 31, 2026. Source: Federal Register |
Funding to expand the use of non-opioid pain management protocols for patients presenting with pain in emergency care settings. The program supports early identification of opioid use disorder (OUD) and timely intervention and referral to OUD care. Rural Emergency Hospitals are listed as eligible applicants. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Jul 27, 2026 Sponsors: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services First Responders - Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act Grants (FR-CARA) Funding to train first responders and communities in administering and distributing opioid overdose reversal medications. Funding is set aside for recipients serving rural and tribal communities. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories Application Deadline: Jul 27, 2026 Sponsors: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Medication-Assisted Treatment - Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction (MAT-PDOA) Grants to expand and enhance access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD); increase access to treatment and recovery for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD); and decrease illicit opioid use, prescription opioid misuse, and overdose. Working with rural and resource-limited communities is listed as a required activity. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories Application Deadline: Jul 27, 2026 Sponsors: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Mental Health Awareness Training Grants Grants to prepare and train school personnel, emergency first responders, law enforcement, and community-based agency staff on how to appropriately and safely recognize and respond to individuals with mental disorders. Rural applicants have been awarded grants in the past, and up to 3 awards will be made to tribes/tribal organizations pending sufficient application volume. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Jul 27, 2026 Sponsors: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Alzheimer's Disease Programs Initiative (ADPI) - Dementia Capable Community Health Worker Programs Funding to strengthen dementia-capable community health worker programs within the National Aging Network and increase the number of people living with dementia who receive dementia-capable early detection, care navigation, and services. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Aug 3, 2026 Sponsors: Administration for Community Living, Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Program Grants to support the planning, development, and implementation of quality improvement activities for rural primary care providers or providers of healthcare services, such as Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, or a network of rural health providers, to increase access to high quality healthcare services and improve health. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories Application Deadline: Aug 6, 2026 Sponsors: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Foundation for Rural Service Community Grant Program Grants to support a variety of local efforts to build and sustain a high quality of life in rural communities across America. Focus areas include business and economic development, education and workforce, health and wellbeing, and public service and first responders. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Sep 4, 2026 Sponsor: Foundation for Rural Service Native Entities Grant Program Funding for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian tribes and organizations to promote the adoption of broadband within their communities. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Sep 17, 2026 Sponsors: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce NOSORH Rural Health University: Workforce+ A national certification program designed to help rural healthcare organizations strengthen recruitment, retention, and workforce stability. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Oct 7, 2026 Sponsors: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, Wintergreen |
Reports on prevalence of alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), an allergy to meat and dairy due to tick bites, based on blood donor samples collected during 2024–2025 from 10 states. Includes data for rural, suburban, and urban locations. Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Location: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(25), 315-321 Date: 07/2026 CCAM-Technical Assistance Center Rural Health Transformation Program Toolkit Offers Rural Health Transformation Program information and resources with a focus on transportation and transit, federal fund braiding guidance, data, and more. Sponsoring organization: Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility Technical Assistance Center Demographic Characteristics of Medicaid Beneficiaries Enrolled in the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly Describes the demographic characteristics and long-term nursing facility use of Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) enrollees in 2023, including rural residence. Compares data by PACE enrollees who are full-benefit dually eligible beneficiaries and those who are Medicaid-only enrollees. Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission Date: 07/2026 The Digital Divide in Adoption and Advanced Use of Electronic Health Records among U.S. Hospitals: Rural Versus Urban Disparities from 2008 to 2023 Examines differences in electronic health record (EHR) technology adoption in rural versus urban hospitals. Utilizes 2008-2023 American Hospital Association Annual Survey Information Technology Supplement data to analyze rural versus urban differences in hospital EHR use, with breakdowns according to EHR adoption, level of EHR technology, advanced EHR use and capabilities, and more. Includes U.S. map showing rural versus urban gap in EHR adoption. Author(s): A. Jerrod Anzalone, Yinting Liu, Elizabeth Reisher, et al. Location: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 33(7), 1354-1369 Date: 07/2026 Early Evidence of Geographic Variation in Medicare Participation among Newly Eligible Mental Health Providers Following the 2024 Coverage Expansion Explores the effect that Medicare's expansion of coverage to marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and mental health counselors (MHCs) has had on the rural mental health workforce. Highlights the rate of participation among rural MFTs and MHCs in Medicare from 2022 to 2024 and compares rates to metro counties. Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Natalia V. Oster, Lisa A. Garberson, et al. Location: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70180 Date: 07/2026 Family Caregivers of Adults Age 50-Plus: The Caregiving in the US 2025 Series Explores demographics and other characteristics of family caregivers of adults aged 50 or older. Discusses their housing, types of care provided, finances, employment, and more. Offers comparisons with a rural break down of caregivers aged 18-49, as well as changes to caregivers between 2015 and 2020. Sponsoring organizations: AARP Public Policy Institute, National Alliance for Caregiving Date: 07/2026 Improving Childhood Immunization Access in Rural Washington Through School-Based Partnerships Discusses Washington State's Northeast Tri County Health District (NETCHD) efforts to address low rates of childhood immunization within Ferry, Stevens, and Pend Oreille counties via partnerships with schools, public communication, immunization clinics, and other forms of outreach. Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials Date: 07/2026 A National Description of Emergency Medical Services Patient Utilization Patterns Evaluates 9,508,809 emergency medical services encounters from 2024 to identify utilization patterns. Categorizes patients into single, moderate, high, and very-high utilization groups and explores various demographic and health conditions within those groups. Includes comparison of urban, rural, and super-rural areas for very-high utilization and single encounter groups. Author(s): Antonio R. Fernandez, Jonathan Brent Myers, Scott S. Bourn, et al. Location: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(6) Date: 06/2026 National Health Center Financial and Operational Performance Analysis: 2021–2024 Examines financial and operational characteristics of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) from 2021-2024. Explores FQHC growth and expansion, patient and payer mix, revenue and growth mix, staffing and productivity, operational trends, financial performance, and quality of care. Compares data on rural FQHCs to urban and national FQHC data. Sponsoring organization: Capital Link Date: 06/2026 Nursing in the Rural West: Challenges and Opportunities for Supporting Rural Students and Communities Provides a regional perspective on nursing workforce needs in Western rural areas, based on discussions with stakeholders from Wyoming, New Mexico, and Colorado. Highlights rural nursing student supports, clinical placements, faculty development, and preceptor development. Sponsoring organization: Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education Date: 06/2026 Poverty Assessment and Investment Dashboard Interactive dashboard indicating levels of poverty at the county and census tract levels as well as demographic and Health Resources & Services Administration funding data for persistent poverty and high poverty counties between fiscal years 2021 and 2025. Includes filters for both the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy's (FORHP) rural definition and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural-Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) Codes. Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration Rural Health Disadvantages in the United States: Evidence from Nationally Representative Data Describes rural and urban mortality rate disparities since the 1990s and then examines National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999, 2000, 2017, and 2020 to identify both individual and place-based factors associated with health outcomes within large metropolitan, small/medium metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas. Discusses disparities in the working adult population and how county characteristics contribute to rural and urban gaps. Author(s): Brandon Restrepo, Elizabeth A. Dobis, Sarah A. Low, Kelsey L. Thomas Location: Economics & Human Biology, 62 Date: 09/2026 Rural Health Transformation: Insights from States Recording of a June 2026 webinar regarding how states are using Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding to expand technology innovation, strengthen the rural workforce, and build new models of care. Features a discussion with state and regional rural health leaders about state innovations and federal policy actions to make RHTP investments sustainable. Transcript available in the video description. Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center Date: 06/2026 Syphilis Outbreak Field Outreach, Overdose Prevention, and Tribal Collaboration: Lessons Learned from Oklahoma State Department of Health Details how the Oklahoma State Department of Health addressed a syphilis outbreak concurrently with overdose prevention efforts across rural, urban, and tribal areas via partnerships with the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board and other tribal and community organizations. Sponsoring organizations: National Association of County and City Health Officials, Oklahoma State Department of Health Date: 06/2026 Understanding Smokeless Tobacco Use in Rural United States: A Narrative Synthesis of Contributing Factors and Prevention Efforts Narrative review examining research on smokeless tobacco (SLT) use in rural areas. Covers prevalence, risk factors, and prevention strategies, giving particular attention to youth SLT use. Author(s): Mariyam Abbas, Steven A. Cohen Location: Public Health in Practice, 11, 100801 Date: 06/2026 Voices From the Field: Informing Maternal Child Health Navigator Training Through Rural Practice Insights Presents a study on Maternal-Child Health (MCH) Navigators on their perception of their preparedness for providing trauma-informed care, substance use support, and addressing drivers of health in rural Texas communities. Explores MCH Navigators' assessment of the efficacy of their training and real-world experience to prepare them for the maternal health challenges in rural communities. Author(s): Sharon L. Dormire, Cassidy S. Doucet, Nydia Garcia, Robin Page Location: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 17 Date: 07/2026 |
Deadline: Jul 24, 2026 Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network Event Dates: Nov 10 - 11, 2026 Champaign, IL Conference Website |
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