RHIhub This Week - August 26, 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.
ROI in Rural Community Health ProgramsNow in our Rural Community Health Toolkit, new information on ROI targeted to rural programs. Get practical guidance on calculating return on investment (ROI) to help rural programs demonstrate their impact, strengthen support, and plan for long-term sustainability. |
Webinar Recording
Planning with Purpose: Leveraging FORHP's Rural Health Network Development Planning Program for Lasting Community ImpactIn case you missed it, a recording and transcript of our recent webinar are now available. Learn about the Rural Health Network Development Planning Program and hear former grantees explain how the program helped strengthen partnerships, build organizational infrastructure, and improve access to care in rural communities. |
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Connected Communities for Healthy AgingA multi-year initiative works with local partners to help rural communities strengthen the "connective tissue" that supports older adults aging in place. |
Recently Added to the Online Library |
Aug 25, 2026 -- Discusses the work of 3 Minnesota-based researchers to address Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) in rural communities. Highlighted projects focus on tribal communities, overcoming barriers to exercise, and identifying innovative work in the ADRD space already happening in rural communities. Source: The Daily Yonder EMS Programs Face Many Challenges. In Rural Colorado, the Hurdles Are Even Higher. Aug 24, 2026 -- Describes challenges in emergency medicine services (EMS) delivery in Colorado and how EMS agencies across the state are supported. Discusses long response times, mobile training methods, community outreach and volunteers, and rural blood shortages. Source: University of Colorado Anschutz Health Science How States Leverage Policy to Build Up Community Health Workers Aug 21, 2026 -- Discusses recent federal and state policy measures supporting the community health worker workforce, including the Rural Health Transformation Program, training and certification, and sustainable funding. Source: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials American Nurses Enterprise Awarded $5 Million to Spearhead AI Training for Rural Nursing Communities Aug 20, 2026 -- Announces new funding for an artificial intelligence (AI) training program focused on nurses in rural, remote, and underserved communities. The program aims to train nurses to safely and effectively use AI in clinical environments. Source: American Nurses Enterprise News Federal Health Official Calls for Greater Coordination With States Aug 20, 2026 -- Summarizes discussions from a National Conference of State Legislatures convening regarding coordination between federal and state officials to address healthcare workforce shortages, rural healthcare access gaps, and maternal health needs. Discusses the Federally Qualified Health Center program and telehealth. Source: National Conference of State Legislatures Mississippi Study Examines Value of Food as Medicine, Invests in Local Farms Aug 20, 2026 -- Highlights a study in progress investigating the impact of a food as medicine program on health outcomes in the rural Mississippi Delta. Also discusses the way the study is positively impacting area farmers through investments in the local food production economy. Notes that preliminary study outcomes are positive, but full results will not be ready until the study concludes in 2027. Source: Farm Press |
Funding for education and training programming and research projects addressing pressing health and safety issues in agriculture, forestry, and fishing. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Sep 21, 2026 Sponsor: High Plains Intermountain Center for Agricultural Health and Safety PCORI Engagement Award: Building Capacity for Small Organizations to Engage in Patient-Centered Comparative Clinical Effectiveness Research (CER) Funding and technical assistance to help small public and private organizations build the knowledge and skills necessary to engage as partners in patient-centered outcomes research/clinical effectiveness research process. PCORI funding interests include research for improved access and delivery of care for rural communities. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Letter of Intent (Required): Oct 1, 2026 Application Deadline: Jan 11, 2027 Sponsor: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute PCORI Engagement Award: Capacity Building Funds projects that build capacity for patients and others to engage with the healthcare community in all phases of future patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER). PCORI funding interests include research for improved access and delivery of care for rural communities. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Letter of Intent (Required): Oct 1, 2026 Application Deadline: Jan 11, 2027 Sponsor: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute PCORI Engagement Award: Convening Support Funding for organizations and communities to hold multi-stakeholder convenings, meetings, and conferences. Convenings should focus on supporting collaboration around patient-centered outcomes research and clinical comparative effectiveness research. PCORI funding interests include research for improved access and delivery of care for rural communities. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Letter of Intent (Required): Oct 1, 2026 Application Deadline: Jan 11, 2027 Sponsor: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute PCORI Engagement Award: Dissemination Initiative Funding to disseminate and communicate pertinent PCORI-funded research findings to relevant stakeholders in ways that will command their attention and interest and encourage use of information in their healthcare decision-making. PCORI funding interests include research for improved access and delivery of care for rural communities. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Letter of Intent (Required): Oct 1, 2026 Application Deadline: Jan 11, 2027 Sponsor: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Senior Corps Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Funding to develop and support Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) projects for volunteers 55 years and older in serving specific local and community needs. Applications from rural communities are encouraged. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Oct 20, 2026 Sponsor: AmeriCorps Using Get With the Guidelines® Clinical Registry Data to Address Gaps in Care of Patients with Cardiovascular Disease or Stroke Funding for early-career researchers to learn to use the American Heart Association Get With the Guidelines clinical registry data to address current gaps in the implementation of care. Differences in care among rural and urban hospitals are an example of a potential research question. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Dec 4, 2026 Sponsor: American Heart Association Agricultural Health and Safety Emerging Issues Grant Program Grants for short-term projects for emerging agricultural health and safety issues that are defined as health risks that are new or have rapidly expanding impact in the immediate or near future. Geographic coverage: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsor: High Plains Intermountain Center for Agricultural Health and Safety |
Explores the feasibility of using virtual reality (VR) workforce training modules to address the lack of specialty-trained mental health professionals serving rural veterans and to improve suicide prevention efforts. Evaluates participants' engagement in the VR environment, realism of VR scenarios, and perception of usability across different workforce groups, among other measures. Author(s): Donna L. Schuman , Micki Washburn, Regina T. Praetorius, et al. Location: PLoS One, 21(8), e0345819 Date: 08/2026 The Appalachian Region: A Data Overview from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey Chartbook Provides state- and county-level information on population, age, household characteristics, housing occupancy, education, labor force, employment, transportation, income, health insurance coverage, disability, and veteran status for the 13 Appalachian states. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density. Includes data explorer options for Appalachian categories such as population and age, education, income and poverty, computer and broadband access, rural Appalachia versus rural America, and employment and commuting. Additional links: Full Report Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, Population Reference Bureau Date: 08/2026 Association Between Transportation Access and Self-Rated Health among Older Adults with Disabilities Analyzes the association between access to transportation and self-rated health for 257 community-dwelling older adults. Offers data on study participant characteristics by consistent and inconsistent transportation access, including a comparison of micropolitan/non-core and metropolitan residence. Author(s): Jihyeong Jeong, Jason R. Falvey, Amanda J. Lehning Location: Journal of Transport & Health, 51 Date: 09/2026 Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Evaluation of Compliance with the Rural and Distance Requirements Provides guidance regarding the evaluation of Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status and location requirements for current CAHs and initial CAH determinations. Covers the circumstances that trigger a CAH eligibility review, the evaluation of whether a proposed provider-based location will impact a CAH's status, and procedures for decennial reviews of existing CAHs. Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Date: 08/2026 Delta Regional Authority - 25 Years of Impact, 2000-2025 Discusses the Delta Regional Authority's strategic investments, programming, and initiatives from 2000-2025. Focuses on critical and human infrastructure, public works, capacity building, workforce opportunities and health system improvements in rural areas, and more. Sponsoring organization: Delta Regional Authority Date: 08/2026 Five Milestones to Addressing Rural Veteran Care Coordination, Care Management, and Case Management Needs: An Integrated Case Management Practice Framework Explores the implementation of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Care Coordination and Integrated Case Management (CCICM) program into rural facilities. Highlights the goals of the CCICM program and outlines the challenges of implementing it in rural areas. Breaks down the implementation process into five milestones – leadership awareness, facility readiness, preparing to implement, systems and clinical integration, and establishment of a governance structure. Author(s): Christine Melillo, Heidi Sjoberg, Marcie Lee, et al. Location: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70190 Date: 08/2026 Health Outcomes in Rural America: A Prevention-to-Crisis View on Determinants of Health, Chronic Diseases, and Economic Consequences Presents findings from a June 2026 symposium discussing factors behind health disparities in rural areas, the connection between health and economic opportunity, and possible avenues for improving healthcare outcomes for rural residents. Sponsoring organizations: Brookings-AEI Commission on U.S. Rural Prosperity, The Brookings Institution Date: 08/2026 Introduction to the American Community Survey Webinar recording discussing the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey including how the survey is administered, topics and geographies covered, tools for accessing the data, and resources to learn more. Notes the differences in the 1-year and 5-year data estimates. Transcript available beneath the video player. Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau Date: 08/2026 Mandatory Value-Based Payment Programs and Hospital Administrative Costs Explores the association between hospital participation in mandatory value-based payment programs and hospital administrative costs. Analyzes Medicare cost report data from 2006 to 2020 to examine hospital administrative costs before and during implementation of four mandatory programs: the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (HVBP) program, the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP), the Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program (HACRP), and the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) model. Compares data from participating hospitals to data from nonparticipating hospitals, including general acute care hospitals in Maryland that were paid under Maryland's all-payer model, Critical Access Hospitals, and long-term care hospitals. Author(s): Zehui Zhou, Jason D. Buxbaum, Andrew M. Ryan Location: JAMA Health Forum, 7(8), e262503 Date: 08/2026 Measuring the Association of Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations on Total Cost of Care Across the Perinatal Period Evaluates the impact of Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) on the cost of healthcare in prenatal, delivery, and postpartum periods. Compares 150,879 Medicaid-covered live deliveries in Massachusetts practices that both did and did not participate in an ACO implementation between January 2016 and March 2023. Includes the rural ZIP code residence percentage for deliveries included in the study. Author(s): Kathleen Carey, Megan B. Cole Location: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(8) Date: 08/2026 MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Payment System for End-Stage Renal Disease for CY 2027 Comments on a June 26, 2026, Federal Register proposed rule related to Medicare payment policies for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Includes comments addressing updates to the ESRD bundled market basket and the low-volume payment adjustment (LVPA), approaches to increase home dialysis use, and more. Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission Date: 08/2026 Meeting Challenges of Staffing Rural Health Systems: Strategies and Actions in Eight Organizations Summarizes key findings from conversations with health system leaders regarding workforce strategy and operations challenges. Describes initiatives used in rural healthcare settings to offset clinical, administrative, and technical support staffing constraints; accommodate evolving care needs; and address limitations unique to rural settings. Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel Date: 08/2026 Rural–Urban Differences in Excessive Alcohol Use and Select Mental Health Conditions Explores the differences in alcohol use by people with self-reported mental health conditions in rural and urban areas using 2021-2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data. Breaks down data by demographic markers, such as education level, employment, and health insurance status, among others. Compares alcohol use and mental health data by large urban, small urban, and rural areas. Author(s): Taryn Farrell, Cassie Odahowski, Emma Boswell, et al. Location: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70209 Date: 08/2026 Rural–Urban Variability in Home and Community-Based Service Use Among Veterans Evaluates rural and urban differences in home and community-based services (HCBS) use among more than 6 million veterans. Includes analysis of variance in use by rural status of Veterans Administration medical centers, as well as rural and urban comparisons of the study population's demographics and comorbidities. Author(s): Heather Davila, Daniel Hackert, Frank DeVone, et al. Location: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2026 Date: 06/2026 State of Oral Health in America: Key Findings from 2026 Details the findings of a survey that aims to identify gaps in dental coverage, barriers to care, and areas that have worse overall oral health outcomes across the country. Compares metro and nonmetro areas by dental insurance coverage, adult dental visits, and overall oral health. Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health Date: 08/2026 Strategies to Address the Rural Access Gap in Substance Use Services Describes how community paramedicine and mobile substance use care units can address barriers to substance use treatment in rural areas, and how these programs can be supported at the state level via Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding. Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy Date: 07/2026 |
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