RHIhub This Week - October 7, 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.
Behavioral Health's Place in the Alaskan Health Aide Workforce, with Xiomara Owens and Tonya HornCheck out our latest episode featuring Xiomara Owens, PhD, Director of Behavioral Health Aide Training at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, and Tonya Horn, PhD, Director of Research and Evaluation in the Behavioral Health Program at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. They share an overview of the network of health aides providing care for rural Alaskans, focusing on the role played by Behavioral Health Aides. |
Recently Added to the Online Library |
Oct 7, 2026 -- Describes the benefits of clinically integrated networks for rural independent hospitals and highlights the Show-Me High Value Network in Missouri. Source: HealthLeaders Media An Ambitious Financial Experiment Tried to Support Struggling Rural Hospitals in Pa. For Years. Did It Work? Oct 6, 2026 -- Discusses the mixed results of the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model, an experimental payment structure program that aimed to stabilize the finances of rural hospitals. Explores what worked and what did not, how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the program, lessons learned about rural hospital reimbursement, and how community resources and services can impact hospital stability. Source: WHYY A Surgeon Shortage Creates Challenges in Rural Communities Oct 5, 2026 -- Discusses recent research finding surgeon workforce shortages in rural communities. Notes that one driver of the shortage is surgeon training not meeting the workforce demand. Source: The Week Coordinating State Services to Address the Needs of Aging Residents Oct 1, 2026 -- Discusses using multi-sector plans for aging (MPAs) to coordinate services for residents as they age. Notes challenges for rural residents in accessing services, how the Utah MPA addresses rural transportation, and using Rural Health Transformation Program funds for aging care. Source: National Conference of State Legislatures Federal RegisterNHTSA: Request for Information: Nationwide Implementation of Prehospital Blood TransfusionOct 6, 2026 -- Notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), on behalf of the Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services (FICEMS), seeking comments on the nationwide implementation of prehospital blood transfusion. Specifically, NHTSA seeks comments on strategies, barriers, and solutions to advance prehospital blood transfusion capabilities across state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency medical services (EMS) and 911 systems. Includes questions to which NHTSA is seeking responses. Comments are due by November 5, 2026. Source: Federal Register CMS: Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing (GLOBE) Model Oct 2, 2026 -- Notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implementing the Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing Model (GLOBE Model), a new Medicare payment model under section 1115A of the Social Security Act. The GLOBE Model would test whether a payment model that uses an alternative method for calculating Part B inflation rebate amounts for certain separately payable Part B drugs and biological products reduces costs for Original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries and the Medicare program while preserving quality of care. This rule also summarizes and responds to comments received on the December 23, 2025, proposed rule, including the potential impact of this model on small rural hospitals. These regulations are effective November 30, 2026. Source: Federal Register |
Reimbursement funding to establish new residency programs by facilities operated by Indian Health Service (IHS), Indian Tribes, tribal organizations, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Department of War (DoW), and other healthcare facilities located in areas designated as underserved by VA, including rural and frontier areas. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Nov 30, 2026 Sponsor: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Emergency Medicine Foundation Pilot Research Grant Funding for pilot projects that impact emergency care research and are intended for a broad audience, including clinical, translational, and basic science researchers. One of the program priorities is research focused on rural and underserved areas. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Dec 10, 2026 Sponsor: Emergency Medicine Foundation Rural Grocery Specialist Program A training for resource professionals to better support rural grocers through business transition. The Rural Grocery Initiative works to support healthy food options, jobs, local tax base, and attraction/retention of residents in rural communities. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Jan 11, 2027 Sponsor: Rural Grocery Initiative Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) A federal-state partnership that provides funding and technical assistance to help water systems and states achieve the health protection objectives of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsor: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency SEARCH - Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households Funding for financially distressed rural communities of 2,500 or less people to assist with feasibility studies, design assistance, and technical assistance on water and waste disposal projects. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsors: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development USDA Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program Loans from eligible private lenders, guaranteed by USDA, to help build essential community facilities in rural areas. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsors: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development Virtual Living Room - Using Technology to Address the Critical Healthcare Needs of Veterans in Rural Areas A grant program that combines rural technology, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs resources, and local support to provide solutions to improve healthcare access for veterans in rural areas. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsors: Foundation for Rural Service, NTCA: The Rural Broadband Association, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs |
Provides answers to frequently asked questions about the 2025 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) performance feedback for small practices. Includes information on how to access and navigate performance feedback, as well as performance category reweighting and redistribution. Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Date: 09/2026 2026 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report Report highlights the rate of suicide among veterans and the VA's role in suicide prevention. Discusses the risk factors for veteran suicide and the steps the VA is taking for suicide prevention. Breaks down rates of suicide by sex, contact with the VHA, and rurality, among other factors. Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Date: 09/2026 AI Primer: A Guide for Rural Health Networks Discusses practical applications of AI (artificial intelligence) for rural healthcare network administration and operations. Sponsoring organizations: Georgia Health Policy Center, JBS International Date: 08/2026 Availability of Real-Time Prescription Benefit Information Among U.S. Hospitals Describes the availability of real-time prescription benefit (RTPB) information across U.S. hospitals in 2025. Presents data and analysis on RTPB information availability by hospital type, including Critical Access Hospital (CAH) designation, rural location, system affiliation, Accountable Care Organization (ACO) participation, ownership status, and more. Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Date: 09/2026 Geographic Accessibility of Burn Centers in the United States Examines access to burn centers in the contiguous U.S. according to geography and community income. Analyzes location of burn centers by region and rurality and includes county-level maps showing median household income as well as distance and drive time to nearest burn center. Author(s): Philong Nguyen, Joshua Wang, Yousef Tanas, et al. Location: JAMA Network Open, 9(9), e2636854 Date: 09/2026 HIV Care and Treatment in Rural Communities: HRSA's Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, 2024 Fact sheet providing an overview of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program in rural areas for the year 2024. Presents statistics on services delivered, impact, and client characteristics, and describes available resources. Sponsoring organization: HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau Date: 09/2026 Power of Partnerships Between Health Centers & Rural Hospitals Provides a brief overview of the rural healthcare landscape. 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. Additional links: Case Studies at a Glance, July 2026 Sponsoring organizations: Impact! Communications, Inc., National Association of Community Health Centers Date: 09/2026 Preparing for a Federal Grant: A Small Community Case Study A recorded webinar that provides a case study about a small community in rural Kansas and its management of a federal grant to build safe water infrastructure. Focuses on creating partnerships, utilizing technical assistance, coordinating with stakeholders, and increasing local capacity. Discusses strategies to assist small, rural communities in successfully preparing for and implementing federal grants. Sponsoring organization: Environmental Finance Center Network Date: 08/2026 Regional Highlights: Changes in Hospital-Based Obstetric Care in the US, 2010-2024 Describes changes in availability of obstetric services at hospitals in the 4 U.S. census regions, including hospitals that lost obstetric services and the percentage of all hospitals without obstetric services. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas. Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center Date: 10/2026 Rural and Urban Differences in the Trends in Supply of Home Care Workers From 2015 to 2024 Examines how the supply of direct care workers varies by rural or urban location using 2015-2024 American Community Survey data. Includes data comparisons by pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods. Author(s): Diogo Miguel Goncalves Fortes, Katherine Miller Location: Journal of Applied Gerontology Date: 10/2026 Rural Health Transformation Program: Early Implementation Actions and Monitoring Plans Provides an overview of actions taken by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program, including how state applications were reviewed and scored; how CMS plans to determine future funding allotments; and the circumstances under which CMS may withhold, reduce, or recover a state's funding. Describes how CMS plans to monitor state RHT Program activities. Additional links: Full Report Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office Date: 10/2026 Rural Health Workforce Challenges and the Role of Networks Describes the national rural health workforce shortage and challenges related to the recruitment and retention of healthcare providers in rural areas. Discusses strategies rural health networks can take to address workforce shortages, including health professions pipelines and a recruitment and retention framework. Sponsoring organization: Georgia Health Policy Center Date: 07/2026 "Rural Public Health Success Stories from the Field" Webinar Series Webinar series focused on public health best practices, success stories, and initiatives that impact population health in rural communities. Sponsoring organization: CDC Office of Rural Health Scope of Practice Laws Affecting Team-Based Heart Disease Care in Rural America: Policy Challenges and Opportunities Evaluates how scope of practice laws influence team-based heart disease care and reimbursement via legal analysis of a variety of health professions and service categories across 11 states and 2 federal healthcare systems, and highlights health policy opportunities to strengthen team-based care. Discusses how team-based care can address rural workforce shortages and improve access to care. Author(s): Jeff Lane, Signe Burchim, Amanda Li, et al. Location: Journal of the American Heart Association Date: 09/2026 September 2026 MACPAC Meeting Transcript Transcript from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) September 2026 meeting. Covers community engagement requirements in Medicaid, state directed payments and healthcare-related taxes, a comparison of an updated inpatient hospital payment index across states, utilization management for medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in Medicaid, and Medicaid coverage of assistive technology for adults, among other things. Includes rural references throughout. Additional links: Medicaid Coverage of Assistive Technology for Adults: Data Analysis and Stakeholder Interviews Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission Date: 09/2026 State Midwifery Full Practice Authority Policies and Midwife-Attended Births among Rural and Urban U.S. Residents Analyzes how the implementation of state policies providing full practice authority to midwives was associated with the percentage of midwife-attended births in rural and urban areas between 2007 and 2023, using CDC WONDER data. Compares rates of midwife-attended births among states with and without full practice authority and those that passed policies during the study period. Author(s): Clara E. Busse, Emily C. Sheffield, Caitlin Carroll, et al. Location: Women's Health Issues, 36(5), 436-443 Date: 07/2026 Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program: Academic Year 2024-2025 Summarizes outcomes of grantee programs and residents who received Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) support during the 2024-2025 academic year. Also presents select multi-year outcomes for the program. Features statistics including the number of disadvantaged or rural residents, and percentages of THCGME clinical training site settings, with breakdowns by rural area and medically underserved communities. Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Workforce Analysis Technology and Caregiver Navigation: Key Insights for Aging Network Professionals Describes technology use in caregiver navigation services across the aging network. Discusses benefits, challenges, and the emerging use of artificial intelligence. Notes rural concerns related to broadband access and evaluating access and outcomes. Sponsoring organization: USAging Date: 09/2026 Telehealth and Federally Qualified Health Centers Provides an overview of state policies relating to Medicaid fee-for-service coverage and reimbursement of telehealth services at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) as of May 2026. Includes state-by-state information on FQHC eligibility for reimbursement for being originating and distant sites, store-and-forward services, audio-only services, remote patient monitoring, and more. Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers Date: 09/2026 |
Deadline: Oct 16, 2026 National Association of Rural Health Clinics Event Dates: Apr 26 - 28, 2027 Salt Lake City, UT Conference Website |
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