Rural Spotlight

Whitepaper: Infusion Care in Crisis: Why 82% of Centers Struggle to Access the Data They Need

June 25, 2025

Whitepaper: Infusion Care in Crisis: Why 82% of Centers Struggle to Access the Data They Need

As cancer diagnoses rise, infusion centers are navigating a perfect storm: workforce shortages, uneven patient flow and limited visibility into performance. Leaders are struggling to balance staff workloads, manage scheduling bottlenecks and prepare for growth – many without the tools to make informed decisions.

A new survey of nearly 200 cancer center executives identified where operations are breaking down and how centers can adapt. From AI-enabled scheduling to workforce optimization, this report outlines real-world strategies that are already delivering measurable ROI.

Download this report to explore:

  • Top 3 operational challenges centers face in 2025 – and what’s driving them
  • How new models are reducing burnout and improving staff-to-patient ratios
  • What successful growth planning looks like amid limit6ed budgets and workforce constraints

Click Here to Download Whitepaper

Article: Insurers Pledge Ease to Prior Authorizations

June 23, 2025

Article: Insurers Pledge Ease to Prior Authorizations

The broader health insurance industry has announced a series of commitments to streamline, simplify and reduce prior authorization requirements across commercial, Medicare Advantage and managed Medicaid plans covering 257 million Americans.

“The health care system remains fragmented and burdened by outdated manual processes, resulting in frustration for patients and providers alike,” AHIP President and CEO Mike Tuffin said June 23. “Health plans are making voluntary commitments to deliver a more seamless patient experience and enable providers to focus on patient care, while also helping to modernize the system.”

Click Here to Read Seven Things to Know

Request for Information: Inviting Comments on the NIH Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy, Comment by July 15

June 23, 2025

Request for Information: Inviting Comments on the NIH Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy, Comment by July 15

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is crafting an ambitious institute-wide strategy to guide its use and development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies – and they are now seeking public input. Through its recently issued Request for Information (RFI): Inviting Comments on the NIH Artificial Intelligence Strategy, the NIH is calling on researchers, health systems, developers, and stakeholders across sectors to help shape the direction of biomedical AI over the coming decade.

Information Requested

NIH welcomes input on any relevant topic, especially the areas below:

  • Strategic Architecture
  • Research & Innovation Actions
  • Intramural-Extramural Synergy
  • Operational Excellence
  • Facilitating & Validating AI in Healthcare Delivery
  • Reproducibility & Trust
  • Partnerships & Ecosystem Building

The deadline for submitting comments is July 15, 2025.

How to Submit a Response

  • Email: ai-rfi@nih.gov
  • Subject Line: “RIF Response – NIH AI Strategy”
  • Format: 7 pages (PDF, Word, or plain-text); include section headers that correspond to the bullets, such as those above, when feasible.

Responses must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 15, 2025. All submissions are voluntary; do not include proprietary, classified, or personally identifiable information you do not wish to make public. NIH may post anonymized summaries or use content to inform future solicitations or policy documents.

Click Here to Learn More

Save the Date: Minority Mental Health Webinar Series

June 23, 2025

Save the Date: Minority Mental Health Webinar Series

Join the Minority Mental Health Webinar Series to learn more from professionals at the University of Missouri’s Department of Psychiatry about ways to dispel myths and provide tips to address mental health disparities.

Series Schedule:

  • Dispelling Mental Health Myths, Thursday, July 24, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
  • Providing Mental Health Tips, Thursday, August 28, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Cost: Free

Click Here to Register

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Grant Program Funding will be Available Soon!

June 23, 2025

Substance Use Disorder Grant Program (SUD) Grant Program Funding will be Available Soon!

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is pleased to announce the Substance Use Disorder Grant Program (SUD). The goal of the program is to increase health outcomes and prevent and reduce the prevalence of SUDs and/or drug-related harms, including overdose.

Funding will soon be available for projects to achieve this goal through evidence-based strategies aimed at increasing prevention, recovery, and access to treatment programs and services targeting Missouri’s populations with the highest rates of drug-related overdose, poor health outcomes and contributing health factors.

Notice of Grant Opportunities will be posted on the DHSS website when available. To apply for funding, YOU MUST BE REGISTERED with the MO procurement system, MissouriBUYS. MissouriBUYS is the State of Missouri’s web-based statewide eProcurement system located at https://missouribuys.mo.gov/supplier-registration. You can find detailed registration instructions at https://missouribuys.mo.gov/media/pdf/movers-supplier-registration-instructions.

Please note: the time from funding opportunity posting to the application due date may be limited to 4 weeks.

Please email SUDGrantProgram@health.mo.gov to be added to the DHSS mailing list to receive notification of SUD Program funding opportunities and other program-related information.

Webinar: Mental Health Integration in Your RHC – A Clinician and Administrator’s Perspective, Free for NARHC Members, July 2

June 23, 2025

Webinar: Mental Health Integration in Your RHC – A Clinician and Administrator’s Perspective, Free for NARHC Members, July 2

Qualitative and quantitative data support the value of integrating mental health in primary care – but how does that actually work – financially, operationally, and clinically in Rural Health Clinics?

Join Dr. Ryan Santin and Amy Tate, clinical and operational leaders at Merrick Medical Center – Bryan Health, for a members-only webinar, where they will share their experiences integrating mental health into primary care.

They will share advantages and challenges, financial considerations, and effective implementation strategies.

Cost: Free – For NARHC Members ONLY

Click Here to Register

If you have registration issues and are using Internet Explorer, try using another browser. If you continue to have issues, please contact NARHC at 866 306-1961 for assistance.

Register Now: 2025 Independent Rural Health Clinic Institute, Starts July 8

June 23, 2025

Register Now: 2025 Independent Rural Health Clinic Institute, Starts July 8

You are invited to join Stroudwater Associates and the National Organization of State Office of Rural Health (NOSORH) for a four-part institute focusing on chronic care management for independent Rural Health Clinics (RHCs).

The independent RHC Institute will begin on Tuesday, July 8, and will feature four live sessions and “Office Hours.”

Session Topics

Part 1: Care Management in the RHC, July 15, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET

  • This session will explore how population health data can be leveraged to inform and guide the strategic development of care management within RHCs, setting the stage for understanding the importance of implementing a care management.

Part 2: Using Population Data to Drive Care Management, July 15, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET

  • This session will explore how population health data can be leveraged to inform and guide the strategic development of care management programs within RHCs.

Part 3: Medicare’s Chronic Care Management (CCM), July 22, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET

  • This session will focus on CCM and the principles of Advanced Primary Care Management (APCM) within the Medicare program.

Part 4: Care Planning & Best Practices, July 29, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET

  • Discover how incorporating data-driven goals into care plans can enhance coordination, promote accountability, and enable timely intervention as patient needs evolve.

Office Hours: August 5, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET

  • Join the Stroudwater Associates team for our designated office hours to ask specific questions.

COST: Free

Click Here to Register

Register Now: Missouri Rural Health Conference, September 16-17

June 23, 2025

Register Now: Missouri Rural Health Conference, September 16-17

The Missouri Rural Health Conference is dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of rural communities across Missouri.

This year’s conference, co-hosted by the Missouri Rural Health Association (MRHA) and The Association of Rural Health Clinics, will bring together healthcare professionals, policymakers, advocates, and community leaders for an enriching and collaborative experience. Attendees will gain insights into the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in rural healthcare.

Benefits of Attending:

Network with Leaders:

    • Connect with key stakeholders in rural health, including:
      • Healthcare providers,
      • Government officials, and
      • Industry experts
    • Build lasting relationships and engage in meaningful discussions to address the unique challenges and opportunities facing rural health.

Learn from experts

    • Gain insights from thought leaders and experts in rural health through:
      • Keynote speeches,
      • Panel discussions, and
      • Interactive workshops
    • Stay informed about the latest trends, policies, and innovations that are shaping the future of rural healthcare.

Engage in advocacy

    • Participate in advocacy sessions that empower you to be a voice for rural health.
    • Learn how to effectively advocate for policies and programs that support the health and well-being of rural communities.

Discover innovations

    • Explore the latest healthcare technologies, products, and services at the conference exhibition. Discover innovative solutions that can help you overcome the unique challenges of providing care in rural settings.

When: September 16-17, 2025

Where: Old Kinderhook, Camdenton, MO

Click Here to Learn More, View Agenda and Register

2025 Missouri EMS Conference

June 23, 2025

2025 Missouri EMS Conference

Mark your calendars for the 14th Missouri EMS Conference & Expo and 5th Annual Mobile Integrated Healthcare Summit, hosted by the Missouri Emergency Medical Association (MEMSA), the Missouri Ambulance Association (MAA), and the Missouri Association of Air Medical Services (MOAMMS).

The conference will bring together diverse industries and disciplines to explore the evolving role of EMS in emergency and whole-person care through innovative partnerships and care integration. The carefully curated sessions will address healthcare issues and cover various topics, including:

  • Emergency care,
  • Mobile integrated healthcare,
  • Primary care,
  • Behavioral health, substance use disorders, and
  • Maternal health

The event is designed to be inclusive, with topics appropriate for all levels, from the frontline to the administrator. The aim is to broaden and deepen knowledge and skills in these areas ensuring something for everyone.

When: July 28 – August 1, 2025

Where:

Holiday Inn – Kansas City International Airport, 11728 NW Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO 64153

Click Here to Learn More and Register

Webinar: Reducing Stigma Associated with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, June 24

June 18, 2025

Webinar: Reducing Stigma Associated with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, June 24

Are you interested in growing skills to reduce barriers to prevention and create a more supportive community for those impacted by fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs)? Do you want actionable strategies to reduce stigma that you can implement in your work to promote substance-free pregnancies?

Join the National Association of County & City Health Officials (NACCHO) for “Reducing Stigma Associated with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs)”. This interactive, two-hour virtual training presented by the Center for Health and Safety Culture at Montana State University (MSU) in collaboration with NACCHO.

This engaging training features participatory breakout sessions where you’ll have the opportunity to interact with other participants and dive into practical approaches for reducing stigma around FASDs.

By attending, you will:

  • Identify how stigma manifests and t5he factors that contribute to stigma in the context of FASDs,
  • Recognize the impact of stigma on individuals and communities,
  • Learn effective ways to reduce stigma,
  • Gain actionable strategies to implement in your work to promote substance-free pregnancies and support those impacted by FASDs, and
  • Leave with clear next steps to continue your work in reducing stigma and promoting change.

This training is perfect for anyone working to promote substance-free pregnancies, including:

  • Health educators,
  • Nurses,
  • Substance use prevention professionals,
  • Prevention specialists, and
  • Local health department staff

Cost: Free

When: Tuesday, June 24, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register