| Read this in your browser March 12, 2026 What's New HHS Releases Cybersecurity Toolkit RISC 2.0. The Administration for Strategic Preparedness & Response (ASPR) within the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services announced an updated version of its Risk Identification and Site Criticality (RISC) toolkit to help health care facilities identify threats and hazards specific to their site. Funding and Opportunities HRSA Nurse Corps Scholarship Program – April 9. Administered through HRSA's Bureau of Health Workforce, this program provides funding to future nurses to help cover tuition, fees, a monthly stipend, and other costs. Current and accepted nursing students at eligible accredited schools of nursing can apply. SAMHSA Implementing Zero Suicide in Health Systems – April 20. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will invest more than $16 million for cooperative agreements at state and local levels to implement the Zero Suicide framework for adults who are at risk of suicide. CDC Million Hearts Hypertension Control Challenge – April 30. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will make honorary awards to recognize clinicians, practices, and health systems that have made a significant impact on hypertension rates within their communities. Health professionals and practices that have achieved patient hypertension control rates of at least 80 percent are eligible to enter. 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. A Comparison of Independent and System-Affiliated Rural Hospitals. In this FORHP-funded study, system-affiliated hospitals are defined as those that are part of a chain organization (as reported in the Medicare Hospital Cost Report), and independent hospitals are those that are not part of a chain organization. Considering organizational characteristics, financial performance, and county characteristics, this study found that, compared to system-affiliated rural hospitals, independent rural hospitals: - Had fewer acute beds.
- Had a higher proportion that were Critical Access Hospitals, did not receive a low volume adjustment, did not participate in the Medicare Shared Savings Program, were government-owned, operated Rural Health Clinics, provided long-term care, used swing beds, and were located in areas with Rural-Urban Commuting Area Codes 7-10 (small towns and rural areas).
- Were substantially less profitable, had lower net patient revenue and acute average daily census, and had higher long-term debt and Medicare inpatient payer mix.
- Were in counties with a smaller population, a higher percentage of residents in rural areas, and higher uninsured rates.
Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. CMS Issues Toolkit on Behavioral Health Services for Children in Medicaid, CHIP. Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a new State Medicaid & Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Toolkit for Children's Behavioral Health Services and the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) Requirements. This toolkit was developed to support states in implementing Federal EPSDT requirements and includes actionable strategies and state examples across key areas such as early intervention, care coordination, telehealth, workforce capacity, and network adequacy. It also highlights approaches states have used to expand access in less-populated areas — for example, coverage of behavioral health services delivered via telehealth and network adequacy standards that account for travel distances in rural and frontier regions. CMS Issues Guidance on Medicaid Eligibility Redeterminations. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new guidance explaining how states must implement Medicaid eligibility redetermination rules under Section 71107 of Public Law 119-21, which requires most adult beneficiaries in the Medicaid expansion states to have their eligibility redetermined every six months instead of annually. The six-month renewal requirement applies to renewals scheduled on or after January 1, 2027. The guidance reminds states of existing renewal steps they must follow and provides operational guidance on transitioning to 6-month renewals. It also discusses implications for related requirements, such as community engagement, and special situations like households with different renewal schedules. CMS released a series of letters to help states implement various provisions of this law. Resource of the Week Wise Practices for Outreach, Messaging, and Engagement with American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Communities. The Community Engagement Alliance Consultative Resource at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) consulted with a panel of experts recruited from AI/AN communities to create a toolkit for researchers engaging with AI/AN communities. It offers practical guidance for respectful, culturally grounded research partnerships. This toolkit also includes strategies for engaging Tribal leadership, collaborating with community members, and using appropriate language and imagery in outreach and recruitment materials. This resource is a product of the NIH Community Engagement Alliance, a research collaboration working to ensure that health research addresses the most critical issues at the community level and benefits the largest number of people. Approaching Deadlines 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 SAMHSA Implementing Zero Suicide in Health Systems – April 20 CDC Million Hearts Hypertension Control Challenge – April 30 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 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 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 | 
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