RHIhub This Week - September 2, 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.
Scholarships, Loans, and Loan Repayment for Rural Health ProfessionsAs part of our updated Scholarships, Loans, and Loan Repayment for Rural Health Professions topic guide, we've added a new Search for Scholarships and Loan Repayment Programs tool that lets you narrow opportunities by type, profession, or geography. |
Centering Innovation in Rural Communities, with Alycia BayneCheck out our latest episode featuring Alycia Bayne, Associate Director for Public Health Research at the NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis. She summarizes findings and recommendations shared in a new RHIhub resource, the Practical Guide to Supporting Innovation in Rural Health. |
Upcoming Webinar
Rural Measles Response: Lessons Learned from the FieldJoin us on Thursday, September 17, at 12:00 p.m. Central to hear from clinicians and public health leaders about their real-world experiences responding to measles cases in rural settings. Speakers will discuss what to do when a suspected case is identified and how local health departments can rapidly mobilize a response. |
Recently Added to the Online Library |
Sep 1, 2026 -- The National Rural Health Association has trained 223 rural community health workers in Texas and Alabama to strengthen care for rural older adults through the National Rural Age-Friendly Initiative. Source: National Rural Health Association CMS Hospice News & Announcements: FY 2027 Hospice Wage Index Technical Error (August 2026) Aug 31, 2026 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid have recalculated the fiscal year 2027 hospice wage index values for all CBSAs and rural areas. A correction notice with updated rates will be posted on the FY 2027 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements webpage. Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Dartmouth Secures Millions to Research Rural Health-Care Access for Seniors Aug 28, 2026 -- A new research program has been funded to study rural healthcare access for older adults with serious illness. Highlights common barriers to healthcare for rural residents and discusses planned projects for the institute. Source: Valley News Spring 2026 Appeals Period Now Open Aug 27, 2026 -- Appeals regarding endorsed and not endorsed Spring 2026 quality measures may be submitted to the Partnership for Quality Measurement. The deadline to submit an appeal is September 16, 2026. Source: Partnership for Quality Measurement MedPAC's Analytic Agenda for the 2026-2027 Meeting Cycle Aug 26, 2026 -- Highlights the agenda for MedPAC meetings in 2026-2027. Topics to be discussed include Medicare Part D spending, the enrollment process, quality measurement and value-based payment programs, cost-sharing liability for Rural Health Clinics, the impact of converting a hospital to Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) status, reimbursement rates including for REHs, and Medicare Advantage (MA). Offers recommendations for engaging with the group and information on scheduled publications. Source: MedPAC News Federal RegisterHUD: Tribal Intergovernmental Advisory Committee Request for Member NominationsSep 1, 2026 -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is seeking nominations of candidates to be considered for appointment as members of the Tribal Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (TIAC). TIAC facilitates intergovernmental communication between HUD and leaders of federally recognized tribes on all HUD programs and provides advice on the development of HUD's American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) housing priorities. Nominations are due by November 2, 2026. Source: Federal Register FCC: Maximizing Efficiencies in Universal Service Administration Aug 31, 2026 -- Notice of proposed rule from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeking comments on proposals to improve the administration of the Universal Service Fund, including the structure of USF administration, operating costs associated with USF administration, and the impact of the Universal Service Administrative Company's (USAC) Board of Directors on USF administration. Comments are due by September 30, 2026, and reply comments are due by October 30, 2026. Source: Federal Register FCC: Promoting Telehealth in Rural America Aug 31, 2026 -- Notice of proposed rule from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeking comments on possible Rural Health Care (RHC) Program improvements related to Telecommunications (Telecom) Program support calculations, RHC Program supported services, and RHC Program processes. Specifically, the FCC is interested in comments on the scope of the similar service and rural area comparability requirements, existing cost study method of determining rural telecommunications rates, a proposal to establish an eligible services list for the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program, and more. Comments are due by September 30, 2026. Source: Federal Register |
Grants to support community-based initiatives that provide dental homes to children who are underserved and/or have limited access to oral healthcare. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories Application Deadline: Sep 18, 2026 Sponsor: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry PRIME Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Scholars Program A 9-month hybrid training experience designed to build durable point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) competence in family medicine and primary care. The program blends structured monthly virtual sessions, progressive hands-on workshops, asynchronous learning, image review with individualized faculty feedback, small-group mentorship, and formal competency assessment across Tier 1–5 applications of the Family Medicine POCUS Blueprint. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Sep 18, 2026 Sponsor: University of North Carolina School of Medicine Connecting the Community for Maternal Health Challenge: Research Capacity Building in Maternity Care Deserts Challenge designed to encourage and reward nonprofit community-based organizations, advocacy organizations, and state or federally recognized tribes to develop research capabilities and infrastructure to pursue research projects in maternal health, particularly of maternal morbidity and mortality. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Sep 23, 2026 Sponsor: National Institutes of Health CCAM-TAC Community Rides Pilot Grant Program Funding for pilot initiatives designed to strengthen local transportation coordination and partnerships, foster cross-sector service coordination, and build capacity to improve transportation access for populations with the greatest need. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Oct 19, 2026 Sponsor: Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility Technical Assistance Center NIH Extramural Loan Repayment Program Loan repayment assistance for researchers that are not employed by the NIH. Loan repayment awards are based on an applicant's potential to build and sustain a research career, not to support specific research. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories Application Deadline: Nov 19, 2026 Sponsors: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |
Summarizes research presentations, panel discussions, and other proceedings of a May 2026 conference on rural health disparities hosted by the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice and Dartmouth Health. Discusses state approaches to the Rural Health Transformation Program, recent rural health research, and public trust and political polarization in public health, among other topics. Sponsoring organization: The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice Date: 07/2026 Availability of Rural Hospitals Providing Inpatient Maternity Care in Medicaid Examines the availability of hospitals offering inpatient maternity care in rural areas to Medicaid enrollees. Describes the median drive time between rural hospitals and the next closest in-state hospital that provides inpatient maternity care to Medicaid enrollees by state. Includes data on the number of urban and rural hospitals providing these services in each state in 2023. Sponsoring organization: KFF Date: 08/2026 Broadband Deployment: Agencies Should Take Steps to Better Target Underserved Areas and Consider Sustainability Examines selected federal agencies' progress in broadband deployment. Describes the agencies' approaches to targeting broadband deployment funding to underserved areas while avoiding duplication, and how they address challenges that program participants face in sustaining broadband service and obtaining permits and reviews. Additional links: Full Report Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office Date: 08/2026 Buprenorphine Dispensed by Pharmacies and Administered in Emergency Departments in Urban and Rural Areas — United States, 2019–2025 Reports on how the provision of buprenorphine in pharmacies and emergency departments varied by rural or urban area between 2019 and 2025. Includes rural and urban data comparisons on the frequency of dispensing or administering buprenorphine, dosing, prescribing, availability, and more, including year-by-year comparisons. Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Location: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(33), 522-528 Date: 08/2026 Choosing a Falls Prevention Program That Works for Your Community Describes how to match a falls prevention program to community needs. Highlights evidence-based programs approved by the Administration for Community Living (ACL). Discusses rural considerations regarding training demands and delivery methods. Sponsoring organization: National Council on Aging Date: 08/2026 Critical Access Hospital Replacement Study Dashboard Provides interactive data on Critical Access Hospital (CAH) financial and operational performance before and after a facility/building replacement. Allows user to filter information by key performance indicator, rurality, region, state, and average net patient revenue. Sponsoring organization: Stroudwater Capital Partners MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Home Health Prospective Payment System for CY 2027 Comments on a July 6, 2026, Federal Register proposed rule related to Medicare payment policies for home health agencies. Includes comments regarding permanent and temporary budget-neutrality adjustments and durable medical equipment and provider enrollment provisions, as well as comments in response to a request for information on the construction of a home health-specific wage index. Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission Date: 08/2026 MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Payment Systems for Hospital Outpatient Departments and Ambulatory Surgical Centers for CY 2027 Comment on the July 7, 2026, Federal Register proposed rule revising the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) payment system for calendar year 2027. Includes considerations for expansion of site-neutral payments for imaging without contrast services under the OPPS, the continued use of the hospital market basket to update ASC payment rates, the reduction of OPPS payment rates for 340B-acquired drugs, and more. Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission Date: 08/2026 Migration and Aging Across the Rural-Urban Continuum Examines migration and aging patterns from 1980 to 2020 across the rural-urban continuum. Covers age-specific net migration by decade, retirement-age and working adult migration, aging in place, and the relationship between housing, income, employment, and health on migration. Provides charts, graphs, and county-level U.S. maps depicting migration patterns. Additional links: Report Summary Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service Date: 09/2026 The Power of Partnerships: Health Centers & Rural Hospitals Presents case studies describing partnerships between health centers and rural hospitals in New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania that aim to strengthen access, improve outcomes, and build long-term sustainability. Identifies key themes and actionable strategies that can be adapted across rural communities. Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers Date: 07/2026 Rural and Urban Availability of Substance Use Treatment Facilities Discusses the national availability of and regional variance in substance use disorder treatment facilities for rural and urban residents. Highlights the number of facilities per 100,000 population by rural status and county, as well as the number of facilities offering medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) services. Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center Date: 08/2026 State RHTP & Telehealth Database Excel spreadsheet detailing the telehealth-related initiatives included in each state's Rural Health Transformation Program project narrative. Allows users to filter by telehealth modality, healthcare issue addressed, proposed use of AI, and more. Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center Date: 08/2026 Substance Use in Nonmetropolitan Counties Spotlight highlights selected substance use in nonmetropolitan counties by urbanization. Breaks down rates of alcohol use, marijuana use, and illicit drug use, among others, by urbanized, less urbanized, and rural nonmetro areas. Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Location: NSDUH Data Spotlight, 3(4) Date: 08/2026 Top Provider Enrollment Mistakes in Rural Primary Care & Behavioral Health - and How to Fix Them Recording of an August 31, 2026, webinar describing common Medicare provider enrollment mistakes that can result in application denials, credentialing delays, disrupted cash flows, and more. Identifies practical strategies to prevent or address these errors. Additional links: Presentation Slides Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics Date: 08/2026 Urban Versus Rural Differences in Services Requested, Received, and Interest Expressed among Informal Caregivers of Older U.S. Veterans Results of a study on differences in access to, utilization of, and interest in home and community-based services (HCBS) for caregivers of older veterans in rural and urban communities. Bases findings on an online survey of caregivers of older veterans. Breaks down data by demographic factors of both veterans and their caregivers, veterans' care complexity, and by caregivers' access to services and interest in services to support the veterans under their care. Author(s): Elizabeth S. Chamberlin, Steven D. Shirk, Victoria Ngo, et al. Location: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70218 Date: 08/2026 Year 1 Rural Health Transformation Program Community Health Center & Primary Care Association Award Recipients Excel spreadsheet displaying the state primary care associations (PCAs) and health centers that received funding through each state's Rural Health Transformation Program. Includes the funding amount and description of each initiative. Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers Date: 09/2026 |
Deadline: Sep 9, 2026 Indiana Regional Medical Center, Indiana University of Pennsylvania Event Dates: Nov 19, 2026 Indiana, PA Conference Website |
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