| Read this in your browser February 27, 2026 What's New Forecasted: HRSA Delta Rural Integrated Health Network Program – Estimated Date April 1. This FORHP-administered program seeks to improve healthcare delivery in the region by supporting the development of integrated health network among rural hospitals, primary care clinics, behavioral health providers and other essential services located within the Delta Regional Authority. Tracking Maternity Outcomes at Critical Access Hospitals. The Flex Monitoring Team (FMT) is a consortium of researchers from the Universities of Minnesota, North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Southern Maine. The team is funded by FORHP to assess the quality and viability of a specific type of rural hospital, the Critical Access Hospital (CAH). In this brief, the FMT describes characteristics of CAHs with and without labor and delivery services and then describes CAH reporting and performance on five key quality measures related to maternity care and birth outcomes. Funding and Opportunities Ongoing Opportunities at USDA Rural Development. The USDA's Community Facilities Programs offer financial resources for public service buildings, including healthcare facilities. Get localized expertise through USDA Rural Development State Offices and Tribal Relations and sign up for the USDA Rural Development newsletter, Innovation Matters, to get the latest in funding opportunities and resources. You can also find direct links for ongoing opportunities helpful to rural health at the bottom of the FORHP Announcements every week. Rural Health Research Research in this section is located on the HRSA/FORHP-supported Rural Health Research Gateway. Sign up to receive alerts when new publications become available. Usual Source of Care for Rural Medicare Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries in 2021. Having a regular place to go for health care—often called a usual source of care (USC)—is important because it helps people get timely and consistent medical attention. This brief describes where rural Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) beneficiaries received their routine care in 2021 and which groups were most likely to lack a regular care source. It also looks at how access differs across rural areas and regions of the country. Understanding these patterns is important for policymakers working to strengthen rural health care systems and reduce gaps in access. Management of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors by Rural and Urban Primary Care Practices. Despite the beneficial impact on health of preventive screening for cardiovascular disease (CVD), screening rates remain low. This brief compares management of CVD risk factors between rural and urban primary care practices, using quality measures, in a large national registry. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. New ASPE PTAC Issue Briefs: Advancing Value-Based Care Across Settings. The Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC)—an independent advisory committee supported by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) that reviews and makes recommendations on physician-focused payment models to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)—has released a new set of issue briefs focused on advancing value-based care. These briefs explain how alternative payment models can improve quality, strengthen accountability, and lower costs across the health care system. A rural-focused PTAC brief examines the challenges rural providers face participating in population-based payment models and outlines practical strategies to support value-based care in rural communities. Comment Period Extended for Proposed Changes to Health Plan Price Transparency – Comment by March 2. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), working with the Department of Labor and the Department of the Treasury (collectively, the Departments), requests public input on proposed changes to the payer price transparency regulations intended to make pricing information easier to access for participants, beneficiaries, and enrollees, and to improve the consistency and reliability of public pricing disclosures. They have extended the due date from February 23 to March 2. Resources of the Week ICYMI: Preview FORHP Programs for FY2026. In case you missed it, the Rural Health Information Hub archived the February 17 webinar they hosted. The hour-long session outlined FORHP's priorities for Fiscal Year 2026, including planned funding opportunities and key resources. As we continue our shared efforts to strengthen rural health care delivery and advance evidence-informed approaches, we hope these materials will support your planning efforts for the year ahead. Rural Health Value Updates Catalog of Value-Based Initiatives. Rural Health Value, a Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) funded partner, recently updated the Catalog of Value-Based Initiatives for Rual Providers. The catalog summarizes rural-relevant, value-based programs currently or recently implemented by the Department of Health and Human Services, primarily by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and its CMS Innovation Center. Its purpose is to help rural leaders and communities identify HHS value-based programs appropriate for rural participation. The catalog aims to assist rural leaders and communities in identifying HHS value-based programs appropriate for rural participation. Approaching Deadlines Proposed Rule for HTI-5 Seeks to Reduce Criteria for Health IT Certification – Comment by February 27 Veterans Affairs Health Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP) – February 27 U.S. Department of Labor YouthBuild – March 2 Department of Justice (DOJ) Violence Against Women Training and Technical Assistance Initiative – March 3 NIH Network of the National Library of Medicine Consumer Health Information Specialization Training Award – March 3 HRSA Seeks Feedback on Maternity Care Health Professional Target Areas – Comment by March 5 Department of Labor (DOL) Veterans Employment and Training Services – March 6 HRSA Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program – March 12 Institute of Museum and Library Sciences – Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program – March 13 AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Competition – March 26 CMS Requests Feedback on Hospital Supply Chain Policy – Comment by March 30 AmeriCorps State and National Grants – March 31 HRSA NHSC Loan Repayment – Three Programs – March 31 Now Available: Medicare Survey on Hospital Outpatient Drug Costs – Submit by March 31 USDA Rural Development: Economic Development Loan & Grants Programs – March 31 USDA Rural Development: Intermediary Relending Program – March 31 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings – April 15 Forecasted Opportunities HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) - Planning – Estimated Post Date March 13 HRSA Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) Program – Estimated Post Date March 16 HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) – Impact – Estimated Post Date March 18 HRSA Delta Rural Integrated Health Network Program – Estimated Post Date April 1 Ongoing Opportunities - Updated February 2026 Bold 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 Guaranteed Loans for Small Business Small Business Administration Rural Initiative Pilot Program Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration/Federal Emergency Management Agency/: Post-Disaster Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program 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 | 
