| Read this in your browser April 2, 2026 What's New Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Coming Soon. Under this program, we provide start-up funding to grant recipients to create accredited rural residency programs in a qualifying medical specialty. These residency programs are then sustained long-term through viable and stable funding mechanisms, such as Medicare and in states where there is a viable path of support, through Medicaid or other consistent state funding. The current forecast estimates this funding opportunity will post on April 14, 2026. Historically, we have competed FORHP's RRPD program annually. Three resources to help you prepare for this year's competition before it posts: Request for Information: HRSA 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program – Deadline extended to April 20. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is providing additional time to submit comments for evaluation of potential impacts of access to drugs for patients under a new model for HRSA's 340B Drug Pricing Program. Comments on this notice should be received no later than April 20, 2026. Pediatric Readiness in Rural Emergency Care – TODAY –Thursday, April 2 at 1:00 pm Eastern. The HRSA-funded Emergency Medical Services for Children, in coordination with the National Rural Health Association, is holding an information session on the Pediatric Readiness Assessment, which is available now through the end of May. Learn how this free 30-minute assessment can help emergency department teams evaluate their readiness and provide feedback and insights to support improvement and save lives in your rural community. Webinar: Realizing the Value of Recovery Through Community-Based Services – TODAY – Thursday April 2 at 2:00 pm Eastern. This engaging webinar from the Rural Center of Excellence on Substance Use Disorders at The Fletcher Group will share practical strategies for integrating Community-Based Recovery Support Services (CBRSS), a powerful new model of recovery that combines clinical treatment with community-based support to dramatically improve outcomes and reduce costs. Attendees will learn how to distinguish between the different care models and learn about community-driven recovery approaches while leveraging personal, social, and community capital to sustain long-term recovery. The Fletcher Group is one of three Centers of Excellence supported by HRSA/FORHP's Rural Communities Opioid Response Program. Save the Date: HRSA Virtual Job Fair – Wednesday, April 15 at 6:00 pm Eastern. This free online event connects health care professionals with representatives from health care facilities that are recruiting for open positions. Learn about job opportunities, hear details about benefits packages, and explore ways to serve communities in need. To prepare, update your profile on HRSA's Health Workforce Connector that includes your experience, education, training, certifications, and employment preferences so health care sites can find and recruit you. Register to attend. Funding and Opportunities DOJ Adult Treatment Court Program – April 27. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) supports state, local, and tribal efforts to enhance the operations of Adult Treatment Courts, including Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts, to integrate Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment, mandatory drug testing, incentives and sanctions, and transitional services. Recipients of FORHP's Rural Communities Opioid Response Program funding may be well-positioned to apply for BJA's program, as many already possess the strong clinical and recovery infrastructure needed to meet ATC goals. DOJ's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) will invest total funding of $48,659,892 for a two-year project that starts October 1, 2026. Categories of available funding are as follows: - Category 1: Planning and Implementation (Anticipated Award Amount: $950,000)
- Category 2: Enhancement (Anticipated Award Amount: $1,000,000)
- Category 3: Statewide (Anticipated Award Amount: $2,500,000)
DOT's Safe Streets for All Grant Program – May 26. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) expects that half of the awards for this program will benefit rural and Tribal communities. This notice for FY 2026 makes available up to $993,488,194 for projects that support planning, infrastructure, and initiatives to prevent fatalities and serious injuries on streets and roads. Read more about projects DOT selected in FY 2025. 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. Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Medicare Advantage Enrollment 2025. This data report presents an interim review of Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment while awaiting the release of updated detailed Medicare enrollment data. The MA rate of penetration (i.e., the proportion of Medicare enrollees in MA plans) in the United States has grown, since at least 2009, and surpassed 50 percent in 2023. While nonmetropolitan MA penetration has also grown steadily during that time, it has not yet passed the 50 percent level. Although MA penetration rates continued to grow in 2025, there were signs of a substantial slowing in the rate of growth. In 2025, over 22 percent of counties saw a decline in their MA penetration rate. Rural-Urban Trends in the Burden of Diabetes Among U.S. Adults. This brief provides an updated analysis of diabetes incidence, prevalence, and mortality across rural and urban counties. The National Health Interview Survey (2021, 2022, and 2023) provided diabetes incidence and prevalence data. CDC Wonder provided diabetes mortality data. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. No updates this week Resource of the Week Community Resource and Asset Mapping: Tip Sheet. This resource summarizes community asset-mapping, a collaborative process that identifies local assets – for example, funding or services or useful connections. The tip sheet is a product of the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Technical Assistance (RCORP-TA), a program funded through the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. Approaching Deadlines CDC Drug Free Communities (DFC) Support Program – NEW – April 14 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings – April 15 HRSA National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program – April 16 Request for Information: HRSA 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program – Deadline extended to April 20 SAMHSA Implementing Zero Suicide in Health Systems – April 20 DOJ Adult Treatment Court Program – April 27 CDC Million Hearts Hypertension Control Challenge – April 30 DOT's Safe Streets for All Grant Program – May 26 NIH Native Collective Research Effort to Enhance Wellness (N CREW) Phase II – July 31 Forecasted Opportunities HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) - Planning – Estimated Post Date April 9 HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) – Impact – Estimated Post Date April 9 HRSA Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) Program – Estimated Post Date April 14 HRSA Delta Rural Integrated Health Network Program – Estimated Post Date April 17 Ongoing Opportunities - Updated March 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 Rural Businesses Small Business Administration Guaranteed Loans for Small Business 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 UVM Center on Rural Addiction Contingency Management Certificate Course | 
