Read this in your browser May 8, 2026What's NewTransforming Rural Health: Strategies from the Field – Georgia Health Policy Center. The Georgia Health Policy Center released a series of briefs, sharing rural-relevant strategies that communities can act on. Highlighted briefs:
CRS: Medicare Payment for Rural or Geographically Isolated Hospitals, 2026. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is a nonpartisan agency within the Library of Congress that provides objective research and analysis to U.S. Congress members, committees, and staff. This report displays data on four types of rural hospitals – Sole Community Hospitals, Medicare-Dependent Hospitals, Low-Volume Hospitals, and Critical Access Hospitals – that receive Medicare payment under the Inpatient Prospective Payment System. AHRQ Seeks Nominations for U.S. Preventive Services Task Force – Submit by May 23. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF or Task Force) is an independent, volunteer panel of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine. Established in 1984, the Task Force reviews scientific evidence to make recommendations on clinical preventive services, including screenings, counseling, and medications. The Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research (AHRQ) seeks nominations with expertise in public health, application of science to health policy, and communicating scientific findings to multiple audiences including health care professionals, policymakers, and the general public. AHRQ also seeks wide geographic representation and practice experience in diverse settings, including individuals with expertise in rural medicine. Interested individuals can nominate themselves. Organizations and individuals may nominate one or more people qualified for membership on the USPSTF for consideration in this or future nomination cycles. Common Barriers in Rural Graduate Medical Education Program Development – Tuesday, May 12 at 12:00 pm Eastern. This webinar is part of a monthly series hosted by RuralGME.org. While these webinars are produced to support grantees of FORHP’s Rural Residency Planning and Development, they are open to anyone with an interest in learning more about rural residency program development.
Funding and OpportunitiesUSDA Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program – June 8. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides funding for Extension programs – a partnership between the Federal government the Land-grant University System - that address the unique needs of Tribal communities. The funding supports informal education and outreach activities aiming to improve quality of life on Tribal lands. USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants – June 30. Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates approximately $27 million available for FY 2026 for this competitive program. Previous grant recipients are located all over the United States and U.S. Territories in communities of 20,000 or fewer. Funds can be used to purchase or support equipment, facilities, computer hardware/software, and instructional programming used for distance learning or telemedicine. Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project – August 14. Participants in this program – including small rural hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals, and Centers for Medicare and 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. USDA Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program – December 31. Grants from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) aim to increase research capacity at 1994 Land-grant Institutions with the goal of preparing students to be competitive for agricultural and related careers in the private sector, government, and academia.
Policy UpdatesSend questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. No updates this week.
Learning Events and Technical AssistanceAntibiotic Stewardship for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) – Wednesday, May 13 at 2:00 pm Eastern. This 60-minute virtual session will provide technical updates from the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), a surveillance system for tracking healthcare-associated infections across the United States. The NHSN is maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, whose experts designed this webinar specifically for CAHs. The webinar is hosted by the Rural Quality Improvement Technical Assistance (RQITA) Resource Center, funded by HRSA to support FORHP’s Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project. Listening Session on New Medicaid HCBS Option – Tuesday, May 19 at 1:30 pm Eastern. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is hosting a national virtual listening session on May 19 at 1:30 p.m. to discuss Section 71121 of Public Law 119-21, which gives states a new option starting in July 2028 to provide home and community-based services (HCBS) through Medicaid. CMS seeks input from states, providers, health plans, participants and family members, self-advocates, direct service professionals, advocacy and disability organizations, Tribal and rural partners, and all other interested stakeholders on opportunities to expand access, improve cost efficiency, and address potential implementation challenges. CMS will attend in listen only and will not respond to comments or take part in discussion. Stakeholders can also submit written comments to CMS at MedicaidReforms@cms.hhs.gov and indicate “Comments on 1915(c)(11) Waiver Option” in the subject line.
Resources of the WeekRHIhub Topic Guide: Finding Statistics and Data Related to Rural Health. The Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub) just updated their topic guide with information and resources on how and where to find rural and rural-relevant data resources. It also covers how to navigate specific statistics on data.census.gov, details related to comparing data across geographic areas, and other factors to consider when searching for and using rural health data. ACL Accessible Transportation Resource Center. The Administration for Community Living (ACL) recently added a few quick tips and fact sheets to its compendium of public and nonprofit resources for easing accessibility to transportation. Visit the Rural Health Information Hub for rural-specific background, models, and funding opportunities at federal, state, and local levels.
Approaching DeadlinesARC Investments Supporting Partnerships in Recovery Ecosystems Initiative (INSPIRE) – Letters of Intent May 12 CMS Now Accepting Applications for the LEAD Model for ACOs – May 17 Become a New Site for the National Health Service Corps – May 19 DOL Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Indian and Native American Program - Employment and Training Grants – May 22 DOT’s Safe Streets for All Grant Program – May 26 DOJ Rural Law Enforcement Violent Crime Reduction Initiative – initiate in Grants.gov by May 27 CMS Seeks Input on the 2028 Medicaid HCBS Quality Measure Set – Comment by May 28 Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) – Impact – May 29 Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) – Planning – May 29 Indian Health Service Capital Infrastructure Program – May 30 Veterans Affairs Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program – May 31 CMS-Driven Partnership for Quality Measurement Seeks Rural Experts – Nominate by June 1 CMS Proposes Updates for the FY 2027 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System – Comment by June 1 Proposed 2027 Hospice Rule: Higher Payments Paired with New Oversight Tools – Comment by June 1 CMS Proposes Updates for the FY 2027 Inpatient Rehabilitation Prospective Payment System Facilities – Comment by June 1 CMS Releases 2027 Medicare Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule - Comment by June 1 USDA Delta Health Care Services Grant Program – June 1 USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program – June 5 USDA Regional Food System Partnerships – June 5 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 FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grants – July 23 NIH Native Collective Research Effort to Enhance Wellness (N CREW) Phase II – July 31
Forecasted OpportunitiesCMS Student Loan Repayment for Nursing Home Staff – Coming soon HRSA Delta Rural Integrated Health Network Program – 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 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 |
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