Read this in your browser August 27, 2026What's NewCDC: Gaps Remain in Rural Access to Buprenorphine. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at data tracking dispensing rates in rural and urban counties for buprenorphine, one of three medications for opioid use disorder approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Buprenorphine Dispensed by Pharmacies and Administered in Emergency Departments in Urban and Rural Areas — United States, 2019–2025 is the second feature in the latest MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Key takeaways for rural health:
- Rural communities rely heavily on office-based treatment and pharmacies. Buprenorphine dispensing, treatment initiation, and retention were higher in rural than urban counties, and 80% of rural pharmacies dispensed buprenorphine consistently in 2025.
- Access remains vulnerable. Rural areas had fewer buprenorphine prescribers per capita, highlighting persistent workforce limitations.
- Rural emergency departments (EDs) represent a major opportunity. Only about 1 in 10 rural EDs had adopted buprenorphine by 2025, compared with nearly 1 in 3 urban EDs.
- Rural health opportunity: Strengthen the rural treatment pathways already working—local providers, pharmacies, and telehealth—while expanding ED-based treatment and connections to ongoing care.
Bottom line: Rural communities have demonstrated important strengths in buprenorphine access, but workforce shortages and limited ED-based treatment remain key gaps—and opportunities for rural health investment. Webinar: Rural Public Health Success Stories from the Field: Utah. Join the Office of Rural Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on September 15, 2026 at 1:00 pm Eastern for the launch of Rural Public Health Success Stories from the Field. This webinar series will feature stories from state, local, and tribal partners who have implemented impactful initiatives aimed at improving health in rural communities. The first event in this series will showcase real-world successes and effective strategies happening in Utah. New Rural Health Transformation Resources from CMS. This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a guide for all state and local participants in the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program to raise awareness of federally supported and independent public health coalitions and resources. CMS created the guide in partnership with our office within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the Office of Rural Health within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can be found under RHTP Resources at Medicaid.gov. How States Leverage Policy to Build Up Community Health Workers. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) describes recent Federal and State policy measures supporting the community health worker workforce – including investment through the Rural Health Transformation Program, training and certification, and sustainable funding. ASTHO receives a major portion of its funding from the federal government through grants and contracts. Save the Date: What is Rural Emergency Hospital Conversion Like? – Thursday, September 24 at 2:00 pm Eastern. The FORHP-supported Rural Health Redesign Center hosts an hour-long session with hospital CEOs who have led their organizations through this transformational journey. September is National Recovery Month. Each year, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recognizes the work of States, Tribes, Territories, local governments, faith organizations, employers, families, recovery community organizations, treatment providers, and people with lived experience who strengthen the systems that make recovery possible for everyone. To spread the word, SAMHSA provides a toolkit with messages, graphics, and promotional materials to raise awareness and foster connection. Additionally, every September, SAMHSA and other organizations observe Suicide Prevention Awareness Month to raise awareness, share mental health resources, and reduce the stigma surrounding suicide. We encourage their use by grantees of our Rural Communities Opioid Response Program but also recognize that nearly every community across the country has reasons to pause, reflect, and connect with others. New Info from RHIhub: ROI in Rural Community Health Programs. The Rural Health Information Hub recently added 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. NHTSA Request for Information: National Emergency Services Information System (NEMSIS) – Comment by October 6. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is seeking feedback from the Emergency Medical Services community to ensure that practical field experience is considered in their effort to build NEMSIS, a national system used to collect, store, and share EMS data from U.S. States and Territories. Comments are due October 6, 2026, and may be submitted through Regulations.gov under Docket No. NHTSA-2026-1420.
Funding and OpportunitiesAmeriCorps Seniors Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) – October 20. AmeriCorps, the Federal agency that promotes national service and volunteerism, will fund RSVP projects for volunteers aged 55 years and older serving local and community needs. Applications from rural communities are encouraged for funding priorities that are:
- Supporting older adults and caregivers
- Helping older adults re-enter the workforce
- Building strong families
- Preventing and mitigating fraud and scams
- Reducing the number of people who are homeless
- Supporting behavioral health initiatives.
Eligible applicants include States, Territories, Tribes and tribal organizations, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education.
Policy UpdatesSend questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. CMS Updates Critical Access Hospital Rural and Distance Eligibility Review Guidance. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued updated guidance for evaluating whether Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) continue to meet Medicare rural status and distance requirements, including clarification of the circumstances that trigger an eligibility review. Effective September 20, 2026, CMS will conduct reviews when a new acute care hospital is seeking Medicare certification near an existing CAH, when CMS identifies a nearby acute care hospital not considered during a prior review, or when a hospital seeks new CAH certification or conversion. Beginning in 2033, CMS will also review all existing CAHs for compliance with rural status and distance requirements on a 10-year cycle, although CMS may conduct a review at any time; CAHs found no longer eligible will generally have a set period of time to reclassify as rural, convert to an acute care hospital or Rural Emergency Hospital if eligible, or face termination of Medicare participation. The guidance also recommends that CAHs seek an advance CMS determination before adding a provider-based location to ensure the location will not affect CAH eligibility and clarifies that routine recertification surveys may proceed without CMS first confirming rural and distance eligibility. DHS Proposes New Fee for H-1B Cap-Subject Petitions – Comment by September 24. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a proposed rule that would establish an additional $103,265 fee for each H-1B cap-subject petition, including petitions eligible for the advanced degree exemption, to help recover federal costs associated with administering the lawful immigration system. The fee would be paid at the time of filing and would be in addition to other applicable H-1B fees, but would not apply to H-1B petitions that are exempt from the annual cap. It would be applied uniformly to all H-1B cap-subject petitioners irrespective of their size and nonprofit status.
Resources of the WeekICYMI: Leveraging FORHP's Rural Health Network Development Planning Program for Lasting Community Impact. In case you missed it, the Rural Health Information Hub posted the transcript, audio recording, and presentation slides from last week’s webinar highlighting the one-year Rural Health Network Development Planning Program grant from FORHP. Speakers include former Network Planning Program grantees discussing their experiences and work, including a focus on partnerships, strengthening infrastructure, and improving access to care. RHIhub Models and Innovations: Connected Communities for Healthy Aging. The Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub) provides details of a multi-year initiative implemented by a Minnesota organization that works with local partners to strengthen the "connective tissue" that supports older adults aging in place. Unlocking Rural Data: How to Find Census Bureau Data for Rural Communities – Wednesday, September 2 at 2:00 pm Eastern. Data dissemination specialists at the U.S. Census Bureau will hold an hour-long session designed to help rural‑serving professionals better understand the people and economies they support. Participants will explore key Census geographies relevant to rural communities and discover the wide range of Census data available for assessments and planning. Through demonstrations, participants will learn to leverage data.census.gov and other key data tools to make data-informed decisions in their work.
Approaching DeadlinesACF Native American Programs: Economic Advancement Grants for Local Empowerment (EAGLE) – August 27 CMS Seeks Input on the CY 2027 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Payment System Proposed Rule – Comment by August 31 HUD Older Adults Home Modification Grant Program – August 31 Medicare Proposes Changes to Home Health Program – Comment by August 31 DOJ Office of Violence Against Women Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program – September 1 DOJ Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program – September 1 ACF Community Economic Development Projects – September 8 USDA Rural Development: Rural Housing Preservation Grants – September 8 CMS Proposes Updates to Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Payments for Calendar Year 2027 – Comment by September 14 CMS Proposes Updates to Medicare Shared Savings Program for Calendar Year 2027 – Comment by September 14 DOJ Training and Services to End Abuse in Later Life – September 14 NTIA Native Entities Grant Program – September 17 NTIA Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program – September 17 CMS Issues Draft Guidance for 2028 Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program Effectuation – Comment by September 18 National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Seeks Input on Strategic Plan – Comment by September 21 USDA Rural Decentralized Water System Grant Program – September 30 CMS Proposes to Amend Medicaid Provider Tax Standards – Comment by September 21 DOT Bus and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Program – September 21 DHS Proposes New Fee for H-1B Cap-Subject Petitions – Comment by September 24 CDC Rural Health Evaluation and Capacity Building Fellowship – September 25 HRSA Seeking Nominations for the Tribal Advisory Council – September 30 Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals Program – Deadline for Next Cohort September 30 USDA America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative – September 30 USDA Rural Development: Intermediary Relending Program – September 30 USDA Rural Development: SEARCH – Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households (for Water/Waste Projects) – September 30 USDA Rural Development: Telecommunications Infrastrastructure Loans & Guarantees – September 30 USDA Rural Utilities Service: Rural Decentralized Water System Grant Program – September 30 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Physical Therapy Telehealth Research Study for Older Veterans – Project Ending in October NHTSA Request for Information: National Emergency Services Information System (NEMSIS) – Comment by October 6 CMS Requests Billing Information for Unpaid 2026 APM Incentive Payments – update by October 13 AmeriCorps Seniors Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) – October 20 NIH Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health (R01 and R34 Clinical Trials Optional) – October 21 USDA Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program – December 31
Forecasted OpportunitiesCMS Student Loan Repayment for Nursing Home Staff – Coming Soon
Ongoing Opportunities - Updated July 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 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 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. Environmental Protection Agency: Real Water Technical Assistance (RealWaterTA) UVM Center on Rural Addiction Contingency Management Certificate Course |
