Read this in your browser June 18, 2026What's NewHRSA Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Program – Coming Soon. This FORHP program has a focus on improving chronic disease outcomes in rural areas where, by comparison to urban and suburban areas, disparities continue to grow in conditions such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, and overweight. The program aims to strengthen a culture of quality improvement in rural facilities by building capacity to collect and use clinical data and implement evidence-based approaches to chronic disease prevention and treatment. Applicants must be non-profit or public entities and located in a rural area. To get prepared ahead of the official posting on Grants.gov, click on the Package tab of the most recent grant opportunity for this program, then View, and Download Instructions to learn what FORHP is seeking from applications. ACCESS: A New Resource to Support Medicare Beneficiaries with Chronic Conditions. On July 5, the CMS Innovation Center begins the ACCESS (Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions) Model, a 10-year pilot program designed to expand access to technology-supported care for Traditional Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions. Visit ACCESS for Primary Care Providers and Referring Clinicians for more information on beneficiary eligibility, billing guidance, and tools to stay informed about patients’ progress. Contact ACCESSModelTeam@cms.hhs.gov with questions.
Funding and OpportunitiesHRSA Dental Faculty Loan Repayment Program – July 8. HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce will provide funding to accredited dental training programs, public and private institutions of higher learning, nonprofit organizations, and Native American tribal entities. Award recipients will use the funding to attract and retain full-time faculty for training students in general, pediatric, or public health dentistry. HRSA Nursing Workforce Development Program – July 8. HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce provides funding to assist students from disadvantaged backgrounds to expand and support a health care workforce in rural and other communities of need. HRSA Nurse Faculty Loan Program – July 10. HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce provides funding for accredited schools of nursing to establish and/or operate a student loan fund. Grantees will loan money to students, and up to 85% of each loan may be forgiven upon completion of up to 4 years of full-time employment as a faculty member in an accredited school of nursing. SAMHSA Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment Program – July 13. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) makes grants to implement this evidence-based process for addressing substance use in primary care and community health settings. SAMHSA Tribal Behavioral Health Substance Use Prevention – July 13. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides funding to prevent and reduce substance use and overdose among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth and young adults through age 24 by building community-driven prevention systems, services, and partnerships. SAMHSA Rural Emergency Services Training – July 16. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides funding for a two-year project to improve emergency medical services in rural areas. SAMHSA Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Centers – July 16. The purpose of this program is to develop and disseminate training and technical assistance to address the high prevalence of opioid and stimulant use and misuse affecting rural communities. HRSA Delta Rural Integrated Health Network Program – July 17. Funding through HRSA’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy aims to improve healthcare delivery in the Delta region by supporting the development of integrated health networks among rural hospitals, primary care clinics, behavioral health providers, and other essential healthcare organizations. HRSA Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention – Transition to Practice Program – July 17. With this funding, HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce supports clinical training opportunities to address the nursing shortage in rural and medically underserved communities. HRSA Grants to States to Support Oral Health Workforce Activities – July 17. HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce supports states in the development of innovative programs to address the workforce needs of Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (Dental HPSAs). HRSA Public Health Training Centers Program – July 17. This program aims to increase the knowledge of the public health workforce through traineeships, specialized training, and professional development in partnership with state and local health departments, community-based primary care providers, and related organizations. Department of Labor Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Round 7 – July 23. WORC is a partnership between Labor and three regional commissions of the Federal government – the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Delta Regional Authority, and the Northern Border Regional Commission – to address the critical workforce needs of employers in high-growth and emerging industries. DOJ Demonstration Program on Trauma-Informed, Victim Centered Training for Law Enforcement on Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking (Abby Honold) Program – July 27. Rural communities are a program priority for this funding from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to improve law enforcement response to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking from the time of the victim's initial report throughout the investigation. HRSA Rural Hospital Provider Assistance (RHPA) Program – July 27. The RHPA Program provides direct financial assistance to eligible rural hospitals facing structural payment disadvantage with the goal of maintaining essential health care services and preventing avoidable closures. Eligibility for this program is based on methodology outlined in a Federal Register Notice.
Policy UpdatesSend questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. CMS Seeks Public Feedback on Essential Health Benefits – Comment by July 15. In this request for information (RFI), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeks public input to support their comprehensive review of the Essential Health Benefits (EHB) in Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace plans and the statutory requirement that the scope of EHB be equal to the scope of benefits provided under a typical employer plan. CMS seeks comments on current interpretations of EHB, State approaches to selecting and updating EHB-benchmark plans, and methodologies used to determine the scope of benefits included as EHB. CMS also seeks comments on variation across States in the scope of benefits included as EHB, cost pressures affecting EHB, limitations in available data used to evaluate EHB, and potential impacts of possible future policy changes. The feedback will help CMS decide whether changes to current regulations should be considered through future rulemaking. CMS Issues Final Rule to Strengthen Oversight of Health Care Accrediting Organizations – Comment by August 17. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule with comment period to strengthen federal oversight of Accrediting Organizations (AOs), which are independent organizations approved by CMS to evaluate whether health care providers and suppliers meet Medicare health and safety requirements. The rule addresses potential conflicts of interest, establishes more consistent accreditation standards and survey processes, and enhances CMS monitoring of AOs. It also finalizes policies restricting certain consulting services provided by AOs, requiring additional surveyor training, strengthening performance and validation requirements, and establishing new safeguards for providers that have been terminated from Medicare and seek to reenter the program. The rule is effective June 16, 2027, and CMS will accept comments on the information collection and regulatory impact provisions through August 17, 2026. CMS Proposes to Codify Policies under the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program – Comment by August 17. This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule that would codify policies for the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program beginning in 2029. Established by the Inflation Reduction Act, the Drug Price Negotiation Program allows CMS to negotiate maximum fair prices for certain high-cost, single-source prescription drugs and biological products covered by Medicare. This proposed rule would formalize policies previously implemented through guidance, increase transparency in the negotiation process, establish requirements for manufacturers, and address potential loopholes related to certain drug formulations. CMS also proposes revisions and clarifications based on lessons learned from the program’s first years of implementation. CMS Releases Guidance on Medicaid Section 1115 Budget Neutrality Requirements. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released new guidance explaining how budget neutrality will be evaluated and certified for Medicaid Section 1115 demonstrations, which allow states to test innovative approaches to delivering and paying for Medicaid services. Per statute, beginning January 1, 2027, new, renewed, and amended Section 1115 demonstrations must be certified by the CMS Chief Actuary as not increasing federal Medicaid spending compared with what would occur without the demonstration. To help states prepare, CMS is providing this early notice of the approach it plans to propose and, until a final rule is in place, will use this guidance when reviewing and approving new, amended, and renewed Section 1115 demonstrations on or after January 1, 2027. MedPAC and MACPAC release 2026 Annual Reports to Congress. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) and the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), independent congressional advisory bodies on Medicare and Medicaid policy, respectively, have released their latest Reports to Congress. The MedPAC report addresses potential improvements to Medicare payment systems and issues that affect the Medicare program, including changes to health care delivery and the market for health care services as well as a mandated assessment of the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System. The MACPAC report includes recommendations to Congress related to community engagement requirements in Medicaid, automation in prior authorization, Medicaid managed care accountability, appropriate access to residential treatment services for Medicaid-enrolled youth, and a chapter on provider enrollment in Medicaid.
Learning Events and Technical AssistanceTransforming Rural Health: RHTP and Value-Based Payment – Monday, June 22 at 1:00 pm Eastern. Dr. Keith Mueller from the FORHP-supported Rural Health Value will provide an overview of Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) activities linked to value-based payment arrangements in rural communities and highlight relevant resources that may support states in this work.
Resource of the WeekCRS: Connecting Constituent Organizations to Behavioral Health Funding. This report gives an overview of federal funding opportunities across HHS agencies – including SAMHSA, HRSA, CDC, and ACF – and makes reference to FORHP’s Rural Communities Opioid Response Program. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is part of the Library of Congress and provides nonpartisan research to assist Members of Congress throughout the legislative process.
Approaching DeadlinesUSDA Rural Business Development Grants – June 15 and June 30 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grants – June 22 Indian Health Service Phase 2 Produce Prescription Pilot Program – June 22 Department of Education Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development Grant Program – June 23 HRSA Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Loan Repayment Program – June 23 CMS Medicare Shared Savings Program – June 23 USDA Community Connect Broadband Grant Program – June 29 HRSA Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program – June 30 HRSA Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program Site Activation – June 30 USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants – June 30 USDA Rural Development: Intermediary Relending Program – June 30 USDA Business Development Grant Program - Rural Transportation Systems – June 30 HHS Request for Comment on Chronic Disease of Addiction – Comment by July 5 HUD FY 2025 Rural Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing Grants – July 6 NOSORH Rural Health University: Level II Developing Competitive Grant Proposals – July 7 through 30 HRSA Dental Faculty Loan Repayment Program – July 8 HRSA Nursing Workforce Development (NWD) Program – July 8 HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Planning Program (RCORP – Planning) – July 8 HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Impact (RCORP – Impact) – July 8 HRSA Rural Residency Planning and Development Program – July 8 HRSA Ryan White HIV/AIDS Part C: Early Intervention Services and Capacity Development – July 8 HRSA Telehealth Nutrition Services Network Grant Program – July 8 HRSA Technology-enabled Collaborative Learning Program – July 8 HRSA Faculty Loan Repayment Program – July 9 HRSA Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Leadership, Education, and Advancement in Undergraduate Pathways (LEAP) Training Program – July 10 HRSA Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) – July 10 HRSA Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program – July 10 HRSA Rural Northern Border Region Network Planning Program – July 10 IHS Epidemiology Program for American Indian/Alaska Native Tribes and Urban Indian Communities – July 13 SAMHSA Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment Program – July 13 SAMHSA Tribal Behavioral Health Substance Use Prevention – July 13 AHA Circle of Life Award: Celebrating Innovation in Palliative and End-of-Life Care – July 15 CMS Seeks Public Feedback on Essential Health Benefits – Comment by July 15 SAMHSA Rural Emergency Services Training – July 16 SAMHSA Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Centers – July 16 HRSA Delta Rural Integrated Health Network Program – July 17 HRSA Grants to States to Support Oral Health Workforce Activities – July 17 HRSA Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention – Transition to Practice Program – July 17 HRSA Public Health Training Centers Program – July 17 Proposed Changes to Medicaid Managed Care State Directed Payments and Targeted Medicaid Fee-For-Service Payments – Comment by July 21 FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grants – July 23 Department of Labor Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Round 7 – July 23 DOJ Demonstration Program on Trauma-Informed, Victim Centered Training for Law Enforcement on Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking (Abby Honold) Program – July 27 HRSA Rural Hospital Provider Assistance (RHPA) Program – July 27 NIH Native Collective Research Effort to Enhance Wellness (N CREW) Phase II – July 31 Department of Education Promise Neighborhoods Program – August 6 Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project – August 14 Final Rule: Criteria for Determining Maternity Care Health Professional Target Areas. – Effective August 15 CMS Issues Final Rule to Strengthen Oversight of Health Care Accrediting Organizations – Comment by August 17 CMS Proposes to Codify Policies under the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program – Comment by August 17 DOT Tribal Transit Competitive Program – August 25 Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals Program – Deadline for Next Cohort September 30 USDA Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program – December 31
Forecasted OpportunitiesHRSA Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Program – Coming Soon CMS Student Loan Repayment for Nursing Home Staff – Coming Soon
Ongoing Opportunities - Updated May 2026Bold indicates HRSA- and/or FORHP-funded opportunities. Administration for Children & Families: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency – Rural Emergency Medical Communications Demonstration Project Delta Region Community Health Systems Development Program EPA Real Water Technical Assistance (RealWaterTA) General Services Administration: Federal Surplus Property Available for Public Use HRSA Needs Rural Reviewers for Grant Applications HRSA National Health Service Corps Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Training HRSA Look-Alike Initial Designation for the Health Center Program Indian Health Service/Department of Defense: Medical Supplies and Equipment for Tribes (Project TRANSAM) Licensure Portability: The Multi-Discipline Licensure Resource Project National Rural Health Resource Center: Rural Hospital Stabilization Program NIH Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health (R01 and R34 Clinical Trials Optional) – January 7, 2027 ProviderBridge: Mobilizing Health Care Workforce via Telehealth Rural Graduate Medical Education Planning and Development Small Business Administration Rural Businesses Small Business Administration Guaranteed Loans for Small Business Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals Program USDA: National School Lunch Afterschool Snack Program USDA: Summer Food Service Program USDA/National Rural Health Association: Rural Hospital Technical Assistance USDA Rural Development: America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative USDA Rural Development: Circuit Rider Program – Technical Assistance for Rural Water Systems USDA Rural Development: Community Facilities Programs USDA Rural Development: Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants USDA Rural Development: Grants for Rural and Native Alaskan Villages USDA Rural Development: Intermediary Relending Program – Ongoing with deadlines every quarter USDA Rural Development: Multifamily Housing Loan Guarantees USDA Rural Development: Rural Business Investment Program USDA Rural Development: Rural Energy Savings Program USDA Rural Development: SEARCH – Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households (for Water/Waste Projects) USDA Rural Development: Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans and Loan Guarantees U.S. Department of Transportation: Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (R.O.U.T.E.S) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Drinking Water State Revolving Fund U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Physical Therapy Telehealth Research Study for Older Veterans – Ongoing until October 2026 UVM Center on Rural Addiction Contingency Management Certificate Course |
