Read this in your browser August 6, 2026What's NewNew Toolkit at RHIhub: Rural Mobile Healthcare. This free resource provides information on the benefits and challenges of mobile health care, practical resources for planning and implementing a program, and successful models from across the United States. It was created by the Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub) in collaboration with the NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis. From Withdrawal to Regulation: The Brains Timeline for Early Recovery in Recovery Housing – Thursday, August 6 at 2:00 pm Eastern. On the first Thursday of each month, the Fletcher Group presents an online learning opportunity with the latest research, innovations, and best practices in subjects related to substance use disorder. In this webinar, participants will explore the neurobiology of addiction, gaining a practical understanding of how the brain changes during the first 18 months of recovery. Learn why common behaviors in recovery housing are often signs of neurological healing rather than noncompliance and discover evidence-informed strategies to support residents through each stage of recovery. The Fletcher Group is one of three Rural Centers of Excellence established by FORHP’s Rural Communities Opioid Response Program. FORHP Webinar: Planning with Purpose – August 20th at 2:00 pm Eastern. Explore how FORHP's Rural Health Network Development Planning Program helps rural 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. RFI: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Seeks Input on Strategic Plan – Comment by September 21. Part of the National Institutes of Health, NIDA is the lead federal agency supporting research on drug use and its outcomes. In this Request for Information (RFI) NIDA invites feedback from the public on an outline for its CY 2027-2031 Strategic Plan, seeking response from a broad range of stakeholders – including researchers, healthcare providers, people with lived/living experience – and others with an interest in substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery. The new plan will be an update to the current plan, established in 2022 and expiring this year, incorporating new information, innovations, challenges, and lessons learned. Review NIDA’s cross-cutting themes and priority areas up for consideration, and submit a response using this online form by September 21, 2026, 11:59 pm Eastern. Individuals may respond and organizations are encouraged to submit a single response representing the whole organization.
Previously Announced FORHP FundingHRSA Delta States Rural Development Network Program – Apply by August 12. This FORHP program seeks to improve access to, coordination of, and quality of health care services and associated health outcomes with a focus on 1) diabetes, 2) cardiovascular disease, 3) obesity, 4) acute ischemic stroke, 5) chronic lower respiratory disease, 6) cancer, or 7) unintentional injury/substance use in rural communities within the service area of the Delta Regional Authority. Applicants must demonstrate experience serving, or capacity to serve, populations in rural areas within the eight Mississippi Delta Region States (Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee). For more information about this funding opportunity, you can listen to the pre-recorded webinar.
Funding and OpportunitiesFederal Transit Administration/Univ of Minnesota Mobility, Access, and Transportation Insecurity Program – Round 3 – Letters of Intent August 21. With funding from the Federal Transit Administration, the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota seeks applicants for Round 3 of their program to explore strategies to improve access to transportation for daily needs. Eligible applicants include government entities, U.S. territories, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, Federally recognized tribes and tribal organizations, and institutions of higher education. Letters of intent are required by August 21. ACF Native American Programs: Economic Advancement Grants for Local Empowerment (EAGLE) – August 27. The Administration for Children and Families expects to make 31 awards with estimated total funding of $24 million. Eligible applicants include tribal organizations, Federally recognized tribal governments, and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status. The program aims to foster sustainable economic growth through job creation, infrastructure, and wealth-building.
Policy UpdatesSend questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. CMS Finalizes FY 2027 Medicare Hospital Payment and Policy Updates – Effective October 1, 2026. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System (LTCH PPS) rule, updating Medicare payment rates, quality reporting, interoperability, and graduate medical education policies for hospitals beginning October 1, 2026. Key provisions include revised criteria for qualifying as a new residency program, a requirement that Medicare-approved residency programs comply with existing federal nondiscrimination laws, updates to the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting and Medicare Promoting Interoperability programs, and adoption of updated health information technology standards to support interoperability. CMS did not finalize its proposal to revise provider-based location criteria for off-campus facilities, leaving the existing regulations unchanged. CMS also finalized a new nationwide mandatory Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Expanded (CJR-X) model beginning January 1, 2028. CMS Finalizes Updates for Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Payments – Effective October 1, 2026. On July 29, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Payments final rule. In this rule, CMS updates Medicare payment policies and rates for Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities (IPFs) under the IPF Prospective Payment System (PPS) for fiscal year (FY) 2027. Through this rule, CMS is updating base payment rates by 2.3 percent. CMS is also changing the outlier threshold so that outlier payments are capped at the provider level in fiscal year 2028. CMS Finalizes Updates for the FY 2027 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System – Effective October 1, 2026. This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule for Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility Payment Rates for FY 2027. The proposed rule indicates a 2.4 percent increase for non-rural SNFs and a 2.7 percent increase in payments for rural SNFs. In addition to payment updates, the rule finalizes changes to the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (QRP), including the removal of two COVID-19 vaccination measures, revised data submission deadlines to improve timeliness of public reporting, and a new requirement to submit Minimum Data Set (MDS) data on all residents receiving skilled care, regardless of payer. The proposal also includes updates to the Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program, which withholds 2% of SNF payments and redistributes a portion based on performance, along with technical updates to align measure calculations and reporting timelines. Additionally, CMS summarizes stakeholder comments to the Requests for Information on topics such as advanced care planning and potential refinements to the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) to address case-mix coding practices. CMS Finalizes Updates for the FY 2027 Inpatient Rehabilitation Prospective Payment System Facilities – Effective October 1, 2026. This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule for Medicare Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRF) Payment Rates for fiscal year (FY) 2027. The final rule indicates a 2.3 percent increase for IRFs. In addition to payment updates the rule finalizes the third and final year of the phase-out of the rural adjustment for IRFs transitioning from rural to urban that were reclassified due to Core-Based Statistical Area Delineations. CMS also finalizes changes to the IRF coverage rules stating that current functional status be documented at admission, the initial Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) meeting must take place on or before the fourth day of admission, and all therapies must be started within 36 hours of admission. Additionally, CMS is finalizing changes made to the timeframe for data submission from 4.5 months to 45 days beginning in FY 2029. CMS also included a summary of the comments received on the request for information on modernizing the IRF PPS methodologies for classifying patient case-mix. FY 2027 Hospice Final Rule Includes Payment, Transparency, and Telehealth Updates – Effective October 1, 2026. On July 31, CMS released the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update, which updates hospice payment rates, the wage index, and the aggregate cap amount, with an estimated $755 million increase in Medicare hospice payments for FY 2027. In this year’s final rule, CMS finalized requirements for hospices to provide the hospice election statement addendum to all Medicare beneficiaries who elect hospice. CMS updated hospice discharge policy to expand the list of clinicians permitted to discharge patients from hospice and extended telehealth face-to-face encounters for a patient’s hospice recertification through December 31, 2027. In addition, CMS will publicly release updated provider level summary data files under the Service and Spending Variation Index (SSVI), a claims-based scoring system intended to support transparency and oversight for non-hospice spending, beginning with FY 2024 and 2025. This final rule summarizes feedback on community-based palliative care and medical aid in dying, and updates the Hospice Quality Reporting Program, including adding a data submission icon to the Medicare.gov Care Compare tool.
Resources of the WeekRecovery Is Possible: Continuity of Care from Incarceration to Community. The latest episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast is a discussion with Kelsea O’Leary, Behavioral Health Program Manager for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. She describes strategies for continuity of care for justice-involved citizens in recovery post-incarceration. This is part 3 in a 3-part series featuring Innovation Tank finalists from the FORHP-supported Rural Communities Opioid Response Program. Advancing Strategies to Bridge the Gap in Rural Public Health and Rural Health Care. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials shares ideas emerging from their second Rural Health Academy. The group sought to go beyond health care delivery and discussed areas for collaboration across stakeholders, sectors, and municipal boundaries. One promising strategy is the Rural Development Hub, connecting people, organizations, resources, and opportunities that might otherwise remain disconnected. Here, ASTHO shares several characteristics that distinguish successful Rural Development Hubs with examples working currently. ASTHO receives a major portion of its funding from the federal government through grants and contracts. FarmSafe: A Podcast for Farmers and Their Advocates. Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the FarmSafe podcast features agricultural workers and public health experts discussing a range of topics from mental health to natural disasters to cancer risk to managing ticks.
Approaching DeadlinesDepartment of Education Promise Neighborhoods Program – August 6 HRSA Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Program – August 6 ACF Child Abuse Prevention in Migrant and Tribal Communities – August 7 ACF Regional Partnership Grants – August 7 HUD Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program Community Selection – August 10 USDA Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network – August 10 SAMHSA Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction Grant Program – August 11 CMS Essential Community Providers - Apply or Renew – August 12 HRSA Delta States Rural Development Network Program – August 12 New Request for Information to Support Executive Order (EO) 14401, “Accelerating Medical Treatments for Serious Mental Illness” – Comment by August 13 Federal Transit Administration/Univ of Minnesota Mobility, Access, and Transportation Insecurity Program – Round 3 – Letters of Intent August 21 CMS Proposes Updates to Medicare Shared Savings Program for Calendar Year 2027 – Comment by September 14 Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project – August 14 USDA Native Community Development Financial Institution Relending Demonstration Program – August 14 Final Rule: Criteria for Determining Maternity Care Health Professional Target Areas – Effective August 15 HHS Request for Comment: National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease – Comment by August 15 CMS Issues Final Rule to Strengthen Oversight of Health Care Accrediting Organizations – Comment by August 17 CMS Proposes to Codify Policies under the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program – Comment by August 17 Northern Border Regional Commission Catalyst Program – Required Letters of Intent August 18 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 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 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 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 |
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