Read this in your browser June 4, 2026What's NewNRHA Rural Health Community Capacity Academy – Apply by June 5. The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is accepting applications for the 2026 cycle of the Rural Health Community Capacity Academy. This free 12-month program pairs eligible rural organizations with a coach to strengthen community engagement, planning, and organizational capacity. HHS Welcomes 10 New States into CCBHC Medicaid Demonstration Program. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), announced the addition of 10 new states into the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Medicaid Demonstration Program: Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Washington, and West Virginia. The CCBHC Medicaid Demonstration Program provides states with sustainable funding that expands access to comprehensive mental health and substance use disorder treatment and recovery support services, strengthening behavioral health systems nationwide. A 2025 University of Kentucky research brief found that most of the CCBHC growth was driven by rural counties (57.9% increase, 126 to 199) while urban counties increased by 14.7% (245 to 281). Behavioral Health: What States Are Planning with Their RHTP Funds. The National Governors Association reports that, due to the limited timeframe, states are directing resources toward programs that are already operational or have established provider networks ready to use the funds immediately. Common targets for these plans include integrated care models, workforce incentives, and scaling telehealth services. Application Assistance for the Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project – Wednesday, June 10 at 1:00 pm Eastern. Participants in this program – including small rural hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)-certified Rural Health Clinics – receive virtual and on-site technical assistance to shift from a traditional fee-for-service model focused on volume to a Value-Based Care model. Funded by FORHP and carried out by experts at the National Rural Health Resource Center, the Project accepts applications on an ongoing basis, with a cut-off of August 14 for the next cohort. The center will hold this hour-long webinar to assist applicants.
Funding and OpportunitiesHRSA Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program Site Activation – June 30. Outpatient facilities located in a Health Professional Shortage Area may be eligible to receive assistance from HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce in recruiting and retaining qualified pediatric specialty professionals. After site activation, clinicians at the facility are eligible to apply for the Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program. USDA Business Development Grant Program - Rural Transportation Systems – June 30. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make five grants, each up to $650,000, to national organizations that can provide training and technical assistance to rural entities and communities. The assistance may be a feasibility study, market research, product and/or service improvement to enhance rural transportation systems. DOT Tribal Transit Competitive Program – August 25. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) provides funding to support planning, capital, and operating assistance for tribal public transit services in rural areas. Total funding is close to $19 million for an estimated 60 awards.
Rural Health ResearchResearch in this section is located on the HRSA/FORHP-supported Rural Health Research Gateway. Sign up to receive alerts when new publications become available. Medicare Advantage Enrollment Update 2025. This policy brief is part of the RUPRI Center's ongoing annual series analyzing Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment trends. It examines both total and rural/urban (nonmetropolitan/metropolitan) enrollment patterns, as well as shifts in the types of MA plans selected by beneficiaries. The brief also explores how past policy changes may have influenced these enrollment dynamics. Rural Health Research: A Tour of Youth Behavioral Health Services – Wednesday, June 17 at 1:00 pm Eastern. This webinar will share findings from multiple studies on youth behavioral health issues in the rural U.S., describing the prevalence of behavioral health conditions among youth, the youth behavioral health workforce, the behavioral health licensure and reimbursement policy landscape, and the provision of youth behavioral health services.
Policy UpdatesSend questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. CMS Update: Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) Billing of Distant Site Telehealth Services. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an updated change request instructing Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) on how to bill distant site telehealth services for dates of service on or after October 1, 2026. Per the change request, RHCs and FQHCs should bill the individual Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) or Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes that describe the distant site telehealth service furnished along with the applicable telehealth modifier, instead of the single HCPCS code G2025. This update was made because CMS, RHCs and FQHCs determined there is a program need to identify the specific services furnished and reported using HCPCS code G2025 such as their Accountable Care Organization (ACO) furnished certain services or demonstrating approved billing for distant site telehealth services. The Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) are also advised that this is a technical direction to be implemented as outlined. CMS Releases Updated EPSDT Coverage Guide for Children and Adolescents Enrolled in Medicaid. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released EPSDT – A Guide for States: Coverage in the Medicaid Benefit for Children and Adolescents to help states and partners better understand and implement the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit. It highlights key EPSDT requirements, including screenings, diagnostic services, treatment, dental care, vision services, mental health care, and other services needed to address health conditions before they become more serious. The guide also shares practical strategies and resources to help states improve the quality, use, and delivery of care for children and adolescents enrolled in Medicaid. Final Rule Updates Federal Independent Dispute Resolution Process. The Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury, along with the Office of Personnel Management, have released the final rule titled Federal Independent Dispute Resolution Operations to strengthen implementation of the No Surprises Act. The rule updates operations for the Federal Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process, which helps health plans, insurers, providers, facilities, and air ambulance providers resolve payment disputes related to surprise medical bills. Among other changes, the rule modifies information-sharing requirements, changes procedures for open negotiation and dispute eligibility reviews, and establishes new registration requirements for plans and issuers participating in the Federal IDR system. CMS Releases Interim Final Rule on Medicaid Community Engagement. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued an interim final rule with comment period to implement the Medicaid community engagement requirements mandated by Section 71119 of Public Law 119-21. The rule applies primarily to certain adults enrolled in, or eligible for, Medicaid expansion coverage and individuals covered through certain Section 1115 demonstration programs that provide minimum essential coverage, while exempting or excluding specified populations, such as certain caregivers, pregnant individuals, adults who are medically frail, and American Indians and Alaskan Natives. The rule establishes the federal framework states must use to verify participation in qualifying community engagement activities—including employment, education, job training, community service, or other approved activities—as a condition of Medicaid eligibility beginning January 1, 2027. Key provisions include standards for beneficiary outreach and education, use of existing data sources to verify compliance before requesting documentation, short-term hardship exceptions, and periodic eligibility verification requirements. CMS Finalizes Updates to Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a final rule detailing updates to the Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model, an alternative payment model designed to increase access to kidney transplants for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The finalized changes address guidance regarding participant eligibility, risk adjustment methodology, and transparency for the second year of the model. The changes are effective beginning July 1, 2026.
Learning Events and Technical AssistanceBeyond the Grant: Braided Funding Strategies for Nonprofit Sustainability in Recovery Services – Thursday, June 4 at 2:00 pm Eastern. The Fletcher Group is one of three HRSA-funded Rural Centers of Excellence on SUD. This hour-long webinar will discuss practical strategies for a sustainable financial framework. Contingency Management for SUD Treatment – Wednesday, June 10 at 12:00 pm Eastern. The University of Vermont’s Center on Rural Addiction (UVM CORA) present the evidence to support the effectiveness of contingency management as a treatment for substance use disorder. UVM CORA is another one of three HRSA-funded Rural Centers of Excellence on SUD Treatment. HRSA Virtual Job Fair – Wednesday, June 10 at 6:00 pm Eastern. HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce holds another free online event to connect primary care trainees and practicing clinicians with health care facilities with job openings. The Future of AI in Clinical Care: What Stakeholders Told HHS – Friday, June 12 at 10:00 am Eastern. Join HHS leadership to hear key takeaways and emerging themes from responses to the Department’s request for information on accelerating the adoption and use of artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical care. The webinar will explore considerations for implementation science, evaluation, and other priorities for advancing AI across healthcare and human services delivery. Learn About USDA Community Connect Grant Program – Wednesday, June 17 at 1:00 pm Eastern. USDA Rural Development hosts an Ask Me Anything webinar to answer questions about this program bringing high-speed internet access to rural communities. The deadline to apply for the USDA Community Connect Broadband Grant Program is June 29.
Resources of the WeekFinancing and Sustaining Integrated Behavioral Health in Primary Care Settings. This interactive toolkit from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality highlights models for funding streams that can sustain integrated behavioral health models. Get Your Bearings on Small Census Geographies An hour-long webinar recording from the U.S. Census Bureau discusses small geographies in the decennial census and American Community Survey. The transcript and presentation slides are included beneath the video player. Exploring USDA Rural Development Programs. This publication from the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports on programs and funding for economic development, housing, community facilities, energy, infrastructure, and more.
Approaching DeadlinesNRHA Rural Health Community Capacity Academy – June 5 USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program – June 5 USDA Regional Food System Partnerships – June 5 CDC Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) Grants – June 8 USDA Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program – June 8 CMS Proposed Collection in Self-Attestation for Recertification of CORFs, OPT/SLP, RHCs Providers and PXR Suppliers – Comment by June 9 CMS Proposes Expansion of Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) Model – Comment by June 9 CMS Seeks Input on Proposed Changes to Medicare Hospital Payments – Comment by June 9 VA Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grants – June 12 CMS Proposes New Interoperability Standards and Prior Authorization for Drugs – Comment by June 15 NIH Association for Rural and Small Libraries Conference Professional Development Award – June 15 SAMHSA Garrett Lee Smith State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Program – June 15 USDA Rural Business Development Grants – June 15 and June 30 USDA Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program – June 16 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grants – June 22 Indian Health Service Phase 2 Produce Prescription Pilot Program – June 22 HRSA Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Loan Repayment Program – June 23 Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO Application Toolkit Available – Apply by 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 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 IHS Epidemiology Program for American Indian/Alaska Native Tribes and Urban Indian Communities – July 13 AHA Circle of Life Award: Celebrating Innovation in Palliative and End-of-Life Care – July 15 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 Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO Application Toolkit Available – Apply by June 23 NIH Native Collective Research Effort to Enhance Wellness (N CREW) Phase II – July 31 Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project – August 14 Final Rule: Criteria for Determining Maternity Care Health Professional Target Areas. – Effective August 15 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 Delta Rural Integrated Health Network Program – June 8 HRSA Technology-enabled Collaborative Learning Program – Estimated Post Date June 12 HRSA Telehealth Nutrition Services Network Grant Program – Estimated Post Date June 12 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 |
