RHIhub This Week - July 29, 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
Rural Hospital Financial Performance: Tools for Data-Driven Decision MakingIn case you missed it, a recording and transcript of our Rural Hospital Financial Performance: Tools for Data-Driven Decision Making webinar are now available. Learn about two innovative, data-driven resources that provide valuable insights into the financial health of rural hospitals and support planning, policy, research, and decision-making. |
Rural Home Health ServicesHome health services support recovery, help people with chronic conditions or disabilities receive care at home, and promote independence, yet access remains a challenge for many rural residents. Our updated Rural Home Health Services topic guide covers key topics related to rural home healthcare, including workforce, access, funding opportunities, research, and more. |
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Major Health Partners Kidney Care Options (KCO) ProgramA kidney care program in Indiana provides early and frequent patient education so patients can make informed decisions about their care. |
Recently Added to the Online Library |
Jul 27, 2026 -- Announces new proposed bipartisan legislation to protect rural hospitals from cyberattacks. The bill includes cybersecurity workforce development strategies, training for rural hospital staffs, and regular updates to Congress on implementation. Source: Office of Representative Glenn Thompson Home, Not Alone: Helping Aging Seniors in Rural America Jul 26, 2026 -- Discusses challenges faced by seniors in North Dakota, where health risks associated with loneliness and social isolation are common. The number of counties in the U.S. where at least 20% of residents are age 65 or older has almost tripled since 2010, according to the USDA. Source: CBS News An Ohio University Professor's Research Shows the Struggles of Rural Hospitals Are Complex Jul 24, 2026 -- Interview with Cory Cronin, associate professor at Ohio University's Department of Social and Public Health. He discusses the issues involved in nonprofit rural hospitals spending their community benefit budgets, a requirement to invest in improving the health of the local community overall. Source: WOUB Rural at Heart: Making Golden Years Brighter Jul 23, 2026 -- Describes the American Heart Association's Rural at Heart Initiative, a cardiovascular health rural community education program aiming to reach older adults in senior centers. Discusses the culture of rural and tribal communities and how the program helps older adults who want to age in place. Source: National Rural Health Association State Announces Investments to Keep 'Utah-Grown Food in Utah' Jul 22, 2026 -- Discusses new available funding for strengthening the Utah state food supply to support local rural community economies and the health of their residents. The funds are part of the state's Rural Health Transformation Program strategy. Source: KSL Call for Papers: Advancing Age-Friendly Health Systems for Veterans Jul 21, 2026 -- The Veterans Administration's (VA) Medical Care and VA Health Systems Research (HSR) have issued a call for papers for a special issue on Advancing Age-Friendly Health Systems for Veterans. Articles should focus on research, implementation, or clinical innovation as well as the entirety of the 4Ms (Mobility, Mentation, Medications, and What Matters). Rurality is a topic area of interest. Abstracts are optional and may be submitted by September 15, 2026. Manuscripts may be submitted until December 15, 2026. Source: VA Health Systems Research Research News Improving Lung Cancer Screening through Community Care Jul 21, 2026 -- Describes a Veterans Administration (VA) centralized process for a community care model of lung cancer screening and the impact on the timeliness of care, care fragmentation, and follow-up consultations for rural veterans. Notes that the successful pilot has led to the start of a national roll-out of the program. Source: VA Health Systems Research Impacts Federal RegisterHHS: HHS Request for Comment on the Update to the National Plan To Address Alzheimer's DiseaseJul 24, 2026 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking comments to inform the future direction of federal efforts to accelerate scientific progress and improve support for individuals living with Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD) and their families. HHS asks for input on approaches to advance AD/ADRD research and development of new interventions to prevent and treat dementia, risk reduction strategies, early detection and diagnostic tools, and/or enhanced care, services, and supports for people living with dementia and their families, caregivers, and care partners. In addition, HHS seeks input on gaps, emerging priorities, and opportunities to strengthen coordination across federal, state, tribal, local, private sector, and community partners. Comments are due by August 15, 2026. Source: Federal Register |
Funding to support a comprehensive approach to addressing abuse in later life, including domestic/dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, neglect, abandonment, economic abuse, or willful harm committed against victims who are 50 years of age or older. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories Application Deadline: Sep 14, 2026 Sponsors: Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice Bus and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Program Grants to assist in the financing of buses and bus facilities capital projects, including replacing, rehabilitating, purchasing, or leasing buses or related equipment, and rehabilitating, purchasing, constructing, or leasing bus-related facilities. A minimum of 15% of the total program funding will be awarded to projects located in rural areas. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories Application Deadline: Sep 21, 2026 Sponsors: Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation Rural Decentralized Water Systems Grant Program Grants for qualified nonprofit organizations and tribal organizations to create a revolving loan fund to increase access to clean, reliable water and septic systems for households in eligible rural areas. Funding is designed to help individuals with low to moderate incomes finance certain costs of household water wells and individually owned decentralized wastewater systems that they own or will own. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Sep 30, 2026 Sponsors: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Utilities Service Stand Down Grants Provides funding for events that offer homeless veteran populations a variety of services designed to help them to reintegrate into their communities, such as housing, healthcare, and employment opportunities. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Sep 30, 2026 Sponsors: U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans Employment and Training Service Rural Grocery Initiative Technical Assistance Technical assistance to help establish and sustain independently-owned grocery stores in rural communities. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsors: Kansas State University, Rural Grocery Initiative Funding from the U.S. Department of Justice Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Oct 15, 2026
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Examines the impact of the inflation-adjusted conversion factor and reduced reimbursement on Medicare beneficiaries' access to care. Utilizes 2005-2023 Medicare fee-for-service data from 4,662,729 unique beneficiaries and provides data breakdowns on conversion factor values and care utilization according to community income, area deprivation index, and urbanicity. Author(s): Eric W. Christensen, Alexandra R. Drake, Gregory N. Nicola, et al. Location: INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 63 Date: 07/2026 Evaluation of the 2021–2024 Implementation of the Fresh Start Enhanced Food Is Medicine Intervention Among Rural, Underinsured People With Type 2 Diabetes Examines the impact of the Fresh Start produce prescription (FSPRx) intervention in rural North Carolina among a medically underinsured population with type 2 diabetes. Utilizes program, survey, and interview data from FSPRx participants to analyze feasibility and acceptability of the program, with pre- and post-intervention data breakdowns according to dietary patterns, food literacy, health outcomes, and more. Author(s): Lauren R. Sastre, Brandon Stroud, Raven Breinholt, et al. Location: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23 Date: 07/2026 An Exploratory Analysis of U.S. Health System Workforce Trends Examines the impact of hospital mergers and acquisitions (M&As) and changes in health system affiliations on workforce availability. Utilizes 2018 and 2020-2023 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Compendium of U.S. Health Systems data to examine hospital system membership and system workforce characteristics. Provides breakdowns of primary care physician, all physician, nurse practitioner, and physician assistant workforce supply per bed according to hospital characteristics such as census region, ownership, operating margin, and rurality. Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program Date: 07/2026 How Primary Care Medics Can Bring Needed Health Care to Rural Americans Describes Penn State College of Medicine's Primary Care Medic Project, a certificate-based pathway under development that will train local individuals to deliver primary and preventive care under the supervision of licensed clinicians. Discusses how primary care medics will fill gaps between community-based outreach and licensed primary care providers. Compares the scope of practice of primary care medics with those of community health workers, paramedics, and registered nurses, among others. Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund Date: 07/2026 How Small Rural Hospital Networks Are Leveling the Playing Field with Larger Health Systems Describes rural hospital networks in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Ohio that have developed to preserve their independence and improve their economies of scale. Discusses how participating hospitals are expanding rural healthcare access and changing how payers recognize and reward rural providers for delivering high-quality care. Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund Date: 07/2026 The Integration of Spirituality Into Domestic Violence Services in Indian Country Discusses the role of spirituality in supporting domestic violence services for tribal communities, noting challenges related to access to domestic violence services, funding, and incorporating traditional spiritual practices into care for survivors. Offers recommendations for overcoming highlighted challenges. Sponsoring organization: National Indigenous Women's Resource Center Date: 07/2026 MACPAC Comment Letter on Medicaid Managed Care State Directed Payments and Medicaid Fee-for-Service Targeted Medicaid Practitioner Payments Comments on a May 22, 2026, Federal Register proposed rule regarding Medicaid managed care state directed payments (SDPs) and fee-for-service (FFS) targeted practitioner payments. Discusses state flexibility in payment policy, Medicare as a benchmark for Medicaid, monitoring and compliance, establishing appropriate SDP limits, and more. Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission Date: 07/2026 National Burden of Bicyclist Hospitalizations in the United States by Rurality, 2016–2020 Examines bicycle injuries and hospitalizations in the United States by geography. Utilizes 2016-2020 HCUP-NIS data to analyze 124,000 rural versus urban bicycle hospitalizations, with data further broken down according to patient demographics, hospital region, admission and discharge characteristics, motor vehicle crash (MVC) involvement, and injury severity and/or death. Author(s): Amir Ghanbari, Ryan M. Carnahan, Joseph E. Cavanaugh, et al. Location: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70194 Date: 07/2026 NSDUH (National Survey on Drug Use and Health) Detailed Tables - 2025 Explores 2025 survey data on use of prescription and illicit drugs, alcohol, tobacco and nicotine products, trends in substance use disorder (SUD) and mental illness, and access to treatment for youth and adults. Features statistics for a variety of demographic and geographic characteristics, including rural versus urban status. Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Date: 07/2026 Palliative Care In U.S. Hospitals: 2026 Snapshot Offers data showing the availability of hospital palliative care in 2024 by number of beds, ownership type, region, and community type including rural, suburban, and urban. Sponsoring organization: Center to Advance Palliative Care Date: 2026 Prevalence and Correlates of Social Risks and Receipt of Resources Among Rural and Urban Veterans Examines social risks, needs screenings, and resource referrals for veterans. Utilizes 2024-2025 Assessing Circumstances and Offering Resources for Needs (ACORN) data from 92,017 veterans to examine social risks and follow-up referrals in rural versus urban veterans. Author(s): Lauren E. Russell, Sarah M. Leder, Jenny K. Cohen, et al. Location: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70186 Date: 07/2026 Recruiting Rural Patients for Clinical Research: Lessons From a Colorectal Cancer Screening Trial Examines the effectiveness of the Colonoscopy Outreach for Rural Communities (CORC) trial in recruiting rural patients via its remotely-delivered patient navigation program. Analyzes location of primary care organizations (PCOs) participating in CORC and their success in recruiting rural patients in clinical research. Author(s): Gina A. Keppel, Brooke Ike, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Allison M. Cole Location: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70189 Date: 07/2026 Remote Work: How US State Practices Affect Rural Local Public Health Examines perspectives on remote work in rural local health departments (LHDs) and state health departments, using interview data from 14 rural LHD leaders. Discusses benefits and complications of remote work for LHD staff recruitment and retention, communication with state LHD staff, and more. Author(s): Paula M. Kett, Kelly Chadwick, Betty Bekemeier Location: American Journal of Public Health Date: 06/2026 Rural Health Care Infrastructure: Trends and Considerations for the Future - Research Summary of America's Rural Future Symposium Presents findings from a rural health symposium hosted by the Brookings-AEI Commission on U.S. Rural Prosperity in March 2026 examining the state of rural healthcare infrastructure, identifying rural healthcare policy challenges and opportunities, and strategies for service delivery innovations and strengthening the financial viability of rural healthcare systems. Sponsoring organizations: Brookings-AEI Commission on U.S. Rural Prosperity, The Brookings Institution Date: 05/2026 Rural Health Workforce Development Through the AHEC Scholars Model Examines the impact of the Indiana AHEC Scholars program on student intent to practice in a rural community. Analyzes 2018-2023 AHEC Scholars student survey data and provides respondent feedback regarding plans for rural health employment. Discusses the importance of rural education and training to develop the rural health workforce. Author(s): Danielle Bruno, Taylor O'Shaughnessy, Jennifer D. Taylor Location: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70193 Date: 07/2026 Sex Differences in Rural Prehospital ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Care Compares prehospital treatment for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) by sex in rural populations using 2016-2020 STEMI registry data from a rural cohort in North Carolina. Includes data breakdowns by clinical characteristics. Author(s): Michael W. Supples, Randy S. Carpenter, Nicklaus P. Ashburn, et al. Location: Emergency Medicine Journal, 43(8), 486-492 Date: 06/2026 State Innovations in Improving Access to Care for Adults with Complex Needs in Rural Communities Discusses Medicaid policy and financing strategies that can help improve rural delivery systems and access to care for rural older adults, people with disabilities, and others with complex health and social needs. Describes effective approaches undertaken in California, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Virginia across three promising strategies. Identifies four factors critical to successful program design and implementation and key considerations for states. Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies Date: 07/2026 Traffic Safety Facts, 2024 Data: Rural/Urban Traffic Fatalities Reports 2024 Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data describing fatal motor vehicle crashes. Provides rural versus urban statistics for fatal motor vehicle crashes by light condition, roadway departure and intersection, age group, speeding, alcohol use, seat belt use, and rollover crashes. Includes statistics on ratio of rural to urban fatality rates per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, by state, as of 2024. Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Date: 07/2026 |
Deadline: Aug 28, 2026 National Association of Community Health Centers Event Dates: Feb 8 - 11, 2027 National Harbor, MD Conference Website |
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