Read this in your browser September 18, 2026What's NewHighlights from Summit on Rural Healthcare Information Technology. In April 2026, the Rural Health Value team held a national convening of rural health care leaders to learn about how organizations are making critical technology investment decisions as value-based care continues to evolve. This report highlights findings from the event and offers practical lessons and recommendations for leveraging health IT to support value-based care success. A key takeaway from participants is that effective technology investments begin with people and processes, not technology alone. This material was developed by Rural Health Value, a national initiative – funded by cooperative agreement with the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy – to assist rural organizations, payers, and communities transition to value-based care. What is Rural Emergency Hospital Conversion Like? – Thursday, September 24 at 2:00 pm Eastern. The FORHP-supported Rural Health Redesign Center hosts an hour-long session with hospital CEOs who have led their organizations through this transformational journey. HRSA’s Health Centers Program Celebrates National Recovery Month – Wednesday, September 30 at 1:00 pm Eastern. Join HRSA’s Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) for a National Recovery Month webinar highlighting how health centers are integrating comprehensive substance use disorder treatment and recovery services into primary care. Hear from innovative health centers and BPHC partners implementing care delivery models that reduce stigma, strengthen the behavioral health workforce, and enhance recovery outcomes that last. National Recovery Month is an opportunity to honor this momentum, recognize those who make recovery possible, and encourage every provider to help build recovery‑ready communities.
Funding and OpportunitiesComing Soon: NHSC Students to Service Loan Repayment Program. Eligible students in the last year of medical, physician assistant, nursing, or dental school can receive loan repayment assistance of up to $120,000 from the HRSA National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Students to Service Loan Repayment Program. In return, you provide at least three years of full-time service at an NHSC-approved site in a designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). An additional $40,000 can be received by maternity care providers working in a Maternity Care Target Area (MCTA) – HPSAs experiencing a shortage of maternity health care professionals. Sign up for emails to be notified when the application window opens.
Policy UpdatesSend questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. Update: CMS Guidance on RHC and FQHC Telehealth Billing Changes. Beginning October 1, 2026, Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) must bill the individual Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) or Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code for distant site telehealth services they provide instead of HCPCS code G2025. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) publishes these codes annually along with Calendar Year (CY) Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) rule. RHCs and FQHCs must report the appropriate revenue code along with modifier 93 (audio-only) or 95 (audio-visual) to indicate the service was performed via telehealth. Request for Information: NTIA’s 2027 Internet Use Survey – Comment by November 9. The Internet Use Survey collects data on how people in the U.S. use computers, devices, and the internet. The survey is conducted annually by the U.S. Census Bureau through its Current Population Survey on behalf of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The NTIA uses the data to inform policymakers, researchers, and the public. In this request, the NTIA seeks comment from the public and from other Federal agencies on a set of questions for the November 2017 edition of the Current Population Survey about whether and how citizens are using the internet.
Learning Events and Technical AssistanceICYMI: RHC Compliance 101 – Fall 2026. In case you missed it, the National Association of Rural Health Clinics posted a recording of their September 9 webinar with an overview of Rural Health Clinic (RHC) regulations and requirements. NARHC also posted a September 3 webinar, RHC Billing 101 – Fall.
Resources of the WeekSAMHSA Recovery Resource Center. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides resources and information for behavioral health recovery support and services. These include a series of guides for recovery services in rural areas. USDA WIC & FMNP Modernization Evaluation Annual Report - 2025. For this report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) interviewed State agencies about their experiences implementing the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and the WIC Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program (FMNP). This is the second annual report on USDA’s effort to modernize these programs that go beyond standard food assistance known as SNAP – the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – and provides benefit to low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women as well as children up to age five. The evaluation includes feedback on efforts in rural communities.
Approaching DeadlinesCMS 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 NIH Connecting the Community for Maternal Health Challenge: Research Capacity Building in Maternity Care Deserts – recruitment phase open until September 23 DHS Proposes New Fee for H-1B Cap-Subject Petitions – Comment by September 24 CDC Rural Health Evaluation and Capacity Building Fellowship – September 25 FCC: Promoting Telehealth in Rural America – Comment by September 30 HRSA Seeking Nominations for the Tribal Advisory Council – September 30 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 Infrastructure Loans & Guarantees – September 30 USDA Rural Utilities Service: Rural Decentralized Water System Grant Program – September 30 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Physical Therapy Telehealth Research Study for Older Veterans – Project Ending in October NHTSA Request for Information: National Emergency Services Information System (NEMSIS) – Comment by October 6 CMS Requests Billing Information for Unpaid 2026 APM Incentive Payments – update by October 13 AmeriCorps Seniors Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) – October 20 NIH Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health (R01 and R34 Clinical Trials Optional) – October 21 Request for Information: NTIA’s 2027 Internet Use Survey – Comment by November 9 USDA Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program – December 31 AmeriCorps State and National Grants – January 13, 2027
Forecasted OpportunitiesCMS Student Loan Repayment for Nursing Home Staff – Coming Soon HRSA National Health Service Corps Student to Service Loan Repayment Program – Coming Soon
Ongoing Opportunities - Updated September 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 Association: USDA Rural Hospital Technical Assistance 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 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 (ROUTES) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Drinking Water State Revolving Fund U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Real Water Technical Assistance (RealWaterTA) University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction Contingency Management Certificate Course |
No comments:
Post a Comment