Read this in your browser August 20, 2026What's NewReminder- FORHP Webinar: Planning with Purpose – Thursday, August 20th at 2:00 pm Eastern. Explore how FORHP's Rural Health Network Development Planning Program helps communities build sustainable health care networks through collaboration and strategic planning. Hear from former grantees as they share lessons learned and practical strategies for strengthening partnerships, building infrastructure, and maximizing the impact of a Network Planning grant. Registration is required and free and this will be recorded. HRSA Virtual Job Fair – Wednesday, August 26 at 6:00 p.m. ET. Register for the Bureau of Health Workforce’s free online event, which connects primary care trainees and practicing clinicians with health care facilities with job openings. Integrating Physical and Behavioral Health: Addressing Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders with Chronic Physical Illnesses. The report details the way physical and behavioral healthcare integration can support patients with co-occurring behavioral health disorders and chronic physical issues. It discusses different levels of care integration, evidence-based approaches, and established models for care integration in different settings. This report sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration also highlights a rural health clinic-based telepsychiatry model in South Carolina. HRSA Seeking Nominations for the Tribal Advisory Council. Deadline September 30. HRSA is accepting nominations from the Great Plains, Nashville, Oklahoma, and Phoenix areas to serve on the Tribal Advisory Council (TAC). The TAC consists of one delegate and one alternate delegate from each of the 12 Indian Health Service geographic areas. The area delegate and alternate delegate must both be elected Tribal officials who are qualified to represent the views of federally recognized Tribes in the area from which they are being nominated. Email TribalAffairs@hrsa.gov for more information or visit the HRSA TAC website, which includes a template nomination letter. You can also share the Call for Nominations flyer with your Tribal leaders. Rural Health Value: New Resources on Clinically Integrated Networks The Rural Health Value team has developed two new resources to help rural leaders assess readiness, build infrastructure, and advance clinically integrated network (CIN) strategies. The first resource, Collaboration to Contracting: A Guide to Rural Clinically Integrated Networks, is a practical roadmap for developing and operating a rural CIN, includes guidance on governance, clinical integration, data infrastructure, financial sustainability, and payer contracting. The team also developed a companion piece, Rural Clinically Integrated Network Readiness Assessment Tool, that provides a self-assessment to help organizations evaluate readiness, identify opportunities, and spark strategic conversations about CIN participation and value-based care. This material was developed by Rural Health Value, funded by a cooperative agreement with the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy.
Policy UpdatesSend questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Urban Rural Rate Guidance for the Telecommunications (Telecom) Program. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released guidance regarding the rural telecommunications rates for the Rural Health Care Program’s Telecommunications (Telecom) Program. Telecom helps eligible rural health care providers (HCPs) reduce the cost of telecommunications and voice services used to support telemedicine and telehealth by providing support for the difference between eligible rural and urban rates within a state. On August 7, 2026 the FCC released an order allowing previously approved rural rates to continue to be used for FY 2027 while the Commission completes its review. The rural rates are based on an applicant's circumstances and the applicable rate-setting method. To learn more about determining FY 2027 urban and rural rates, please review the FY 2027 Urban and Rural Rate tip sheet. CMS Requests Billing Information for Unpaid 2026 APM Incentive Payments – due October 13. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has identified eligible clinicians who attained Qualifying Alternative Payment Model Participant (QP) status for the 2024 performance period and earned an incentive payment for the 2026 payment year. When processing these payments, CMS was unable to identify a taxpayer identification number (TIN) associated with some QPs and therefore could not disburse their payments. CMS has compiled a list of QPs for whom it could not identify an associated TIN; these QPs, as well as others who anticipated receiving an APM incentive payment but have not, should provide CMS with updated Medicare billing information and all required documentation by October 13, 2026. After that date, claims for a 2026 APM incentive payment based on QP status for the 2024 performance period will be forfeited, and CMS will not accept requests for additional payment review or reprocessing. Additional information about the APM Incentive Payment and the QP determination methodology is available in the 2026 Learning Resources for QP Status and APM Incentive Payment and questions about submitting information through the Quality Payment Program website may be directed to the QPP Help Desk at 1-866-288-8292.
Resource of the WeekHRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau: Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. Initiative Data Report 2024 This reports on the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program's Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) initiative, which supports expanded programs and services to people who are not receiving regular HIV care or are unaware of their HIV status. The report discusses providers, programs, and factors influencing access to care in rural areas.
Approaching DeadlinesFederal Transit Administration/Univ of Minnesota Mobility, Access, and Transportation Insecurity Program – Round 3 – Letters of Intent August 21 CMS Releases 2027 End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule – Comment by August 24 DOT Tribal Transit Competitive Program – August 25 ACF 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 CDC Rural Health Evaluation and Capacity Building Fellowship – September 25 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 HRSA Seeking Nominations for the Tribal Advisory Council – September 30 CMS Requests Billing Information for Unpaid 2026 APM Incentive Payments – update by October 13 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 NIH Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health (R01 and R34 Clinical Trials Optional) – October 21, 2026 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) 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 |
