Read this in your browser October 30, 2026What's NewCMS Launches Nurses for Nursing Homes. The new initiative is expected to support more than 4,000 nurses and nursing students nationwide, with priority given to facilities located in rural areas and areas with high labor shortages. Nursing students, recent graduates, and licensed nurses may receive up to $40,000 in student loan repayment and/or a $10,000 stipend in exchange for a three-year commitment to serve in a qualifying nursing home. Visit https://nursesfornursinghomes.cms.gov/ to review eligibility requirements, open an account, find open positions at eligible nursing homes, and learn how to apply. RHTP State Policy Maps. Newly released data from the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services provide state-by-state plans for Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding. The three maps on this page show: 1) total funding for Budget Period 1 in each state; 2) state policy action such as nurse licensure compacts and scopes of practice for clinicians; and 3) each state’s focus areas and initiative progress.
Policy UpdatesSend questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. CMS Proposes New Verification Requirements for Marketplace Financial Assistance – Comment by November 27. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposes requiring health insurance Marketplaces to verify household income, family size, citizenship or eligible immigration status, eligibility for other qualifying coverage, and residency before providing advance premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions. As proposed, beginning with 2028 coverage, enrollees would need to confirm their information annually and have their eligibility reverified to retain financial assistance; otherwise, they would be automatically re-enrolled without assistance. Marketplaces would offer an early verification period beginning August 1, 2027, for 2028 coverage and each August thereafter. CMS proposes exceptions for certain family changes, such as birth, adoption, or marriage. 2027 Monthly Facility Payment for Rural Emergency Hospitals. Statute requires Medicare to make this monthly payment, in addition to payments for patient care, to help support operations and services for facilities designated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services as Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs). All REHs receive the same monthly amount, regardless of their size or revenue. Starting January 1, 2027, the monthly payment will be $310,707 before sequestration and $304,492.86 after sequestration, the required federal payment cut.
Learning Events and Technical AssistanceCDC Voyager Tribal Listening Session – Wednesday, November 4 at 2:30 pm Eastern. CDC Voyager is a new agency-wide strategic planning effort from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Anyone can join this 90-minute Tribal Listening Session with CDC leadership to inform strategy with tribal epidemiology centers and tribal-serving organizations. Written comments may be submitted to the Office of Tribal Affairs at TribalSupport@cdc.gov until November 20, 2026. Suicide Prevention, Intervention & Postvention in Substance Use Recovery Housing – Thursday, November 5 at 1:00 pm Eastern. Anyone can join this 75-minute virtual training for recovery house staff on recognizing suicide risk, responding to a disclosure, and running an effective postvention response after death. Participants will come away with practical tools to take back to their rural recovery homes. The training is hosted by The Fletcher Group, one of three Centers of Excellence in FORHP’s Rural Communities Opioid Response Program. Lunch & Learn: Building Social Connection to Reduce Loneliness in Rural Adults – Thursday, November 12 at 1:00 pm Eastern. With support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Health and Safety Education Program, experts from the University of Missouri will discuss (a) the research behind relationships and health, (b) how relationships impact our health, and (c) how we can use this information to improve relationships and build community capacity for social connection.
Resource of the WeekCommunity Supports for Rural Aging in Place and Independent Living. A newly reviewed and updated topic guide at the Rural Health Information Hub includes FAQs on the challenges rural older adults and people with disabilities face when trying to remain in their home. It also covers home-based services, caregiver support, and programs to help support rural residents live independently.
Approaching DeadlinesU.S. Department of Justice Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative – October 30 Request for Information: NTIA’s 2027 Internet Use Survey – Comment by November 9 Community Development Financial Institutions Fund New Markets Tax Credit Program (NMTC) – November 10 DOJ 2026 Mentoring for Youth Impacted by Opioid and Other Substance Use – November 16 HRSA National Health Service Corps Students to Service Loan Repayment Program – November 19 CDC Request for Information: Data Intermediaries to Strengthen Public Health – Comment by November 20 CMS Temporarily Pauses New Agent and Broker Registrations for Marketplaces – Comment by November 21 CMS Seeks Input on Medicare Part D Pharmacy Contracting Standards – Comment by November 23 CMS Proposes New Verification Requirements for Marketplace Financial Assistance – Comment by November 27 IRS Proposes Marketplace Premium Tax Credit Changes – Comment by November 30 Medicare Open Enrollment Runs October 15 – December 7 SAMHSA Requests Feedback on Survey of Mental Health Treatment Facilities – Comment by December 7 CMS Proposes Medicare Advantage Provider Directory Standards and Part D Changes – Comment by December 15 USDA Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program – December 31 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Physical Therapy Telehealth Research Study for Older Veterans – Recruiting Through the End of 2026 CMS Helps Providers Prepare for Electronic Prior Authorization Changes – Beginning January 1, 2027 NIH Advancing Healthcare for Older Adults from Populations that Experience Health Disparities (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional) – January 8 AmeriCorps State and National Grants – January 13, 2027
Ongoing Opportunities - Updated September 2026Bold indicates HRSA- and/or FORHP-funded opportunities. Administration for Children & Families: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program AHRQ TeamSTEPPS Training to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety CMS Medicare Physician Bonuses in Health Professional Shortage Areas CMS Nurses for Nursing Homes Loan Repayment 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) Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program – August 15, 2027 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 Healthcare Provider Transition Project 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: Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act Program U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Real Water Technical Assistance (RealWaterTA) University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction Contingency Management Certificate Course |
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