Category: HRSA

CMS Releases 2027 End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule, Comment by August 24

June 30, 2026

CMS Releases 2027 End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule, Comment by August 24

On June 24, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule to update payment rates and policies under the Medicare End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS) for renal dialysis services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries on or after January 1, 2027.

CMS is proposing to increase the base ESRD PPS rate by approximately 1.1% and proposes changes to the adjustments for low volume facilities and pediatric patients. CMS also proposed changes to the quality measures collected as part of the ESRD Quality Improvement Program.

Comments are due in the Federal Register by 11:59 p.m. on August 24, 2026.

Click Here to Learn More and Submit a Comment

Rural Hospital Provider Assistance Program, Apply by July 27

June 16, 2026

Rural Hospital Provider Assistance Program, Apply by July 27

The Rural Hospital Provider Assistance Program provides direct financial assistance to eligible rural hospitals facing structural payment disadvantages for the maintenance of health care providers with the goal of maintaining essential health care services and preventing avoidable closures.

Eligibility for this program is based on methodology outlined in a Federal Register Notice.

Eligible rural hospitals must have no more than 50 acute care inpatient beds, an established Medicare wage index value below 0.90. and be located in a HRSA designated rural area.

A technical assistance webinar is available to learn more about the program and application process.

Visit these HHS webpages for important information on pre-application requirements and guidance on submitting a well thought out application:

Click Here to Learn More

Click Here to View on Grants.Gov and Apply

Save the Date for The Rural Impact, Monday, June 22

June 4, 2026

Save the Date for The Rural Impact, Monday, June 22

The National Association of Community Health Centers will hold an online panel discussion with leaders from rural hospitals and health centers from three states – New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania – discussing their collaborations for rural health.

Hear from panelists as they discuss their priorities for Rural Health Transformation funding as well as how they face shared challenges such as workforce, community engagement, and care models that close access gaps.

Cost: Free

When: Monday, June 22, 2:00 p.m. ET

Click Here to Register

Telehealth and Workforce Planning in Rural Health Transformation

June 4, 2026

Telehealth and Workforce Planning in Rural Health Transformation

Experts from the National Technology Center – Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center reviewed all 50 state plans for the Rural Health Transformation Program with a close look at technology-enabled care in rural settings.

A recording of that presentation, along with the transcript and slides are provided here by the HRSA-funded national Consortium of Telehealth Resource Center.

Click Here to View Presentation

Take the HRSA National Nursing Survey

May 27, 2026

Take the HRSA National Nursing Survey

Since 1977, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has sponsored this survey to assess supply and demand of the nursing workforce, evaluate the impact of state and federal programs for nursing, and understand current trends such as education, employment, income, and demographics.

The survey is carried out by the U.S. Census Bureau, using a random selection of all Registered Nurses in the country. If you receive the survey, know that all information is solely for statistical purposes; all personal information is removed from all forms and not included in any statistical release.

Click Here for Frequently Asked Questions

Click Here to Learn More

Forecasted Funding Opportunity: HRSA Telehealth Nutrition Services Network Grant Program, Estimated Post Date June 2

May 27, 2026

Forecasted Funding Opportunity: HRSA Telehealth Nutrition Services Network Grant Program, Estimated Post Date June 2

Funded through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA’s) Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (OAT), this program will support telehealth networks using nutrition services to help prevent and manage chronic diseases.

Eligible applicants include:

  • State, local and tribal governments,
  • School districts and institutions of higher learning,
  • Nonprofit organizations, and
  • Small businesses

Click Here to Learn More

Federal Health Department (HHS) Reports on the State of Rural Hospitals

May 27, 2026

Federal Health Department (HHS) Reports on the State of Rural Hospitals

Policy researchers and analysts within the HHS office for planning and evaluation (ASPE) used a Cox proportional hazards model to identify low occupancy rates, for-profit ownership, and proximity to an urban county as key determinants of rural hospital closure or conversion to outpatient-only facilities. The brief is accompanied by a data dashboard that features an interactive map with comprehensive information on rural hospitals, both open and closed, spanning 2012 to 2023.

Consult the dashboard’s User Guide to understand how to filter data by year, hospital name, closure status, state, occupancy rate, ownership type, and system affiliation. The dashboard also includes hospital level information such as occupancy rates, number of beds, Medicare and Medicaid share of discharges, liability-to-asset ratios, and annual profit margins.

Click Here to Read Report

Click Here to Access dashboard User Guide

Click Here to Access Data Dashboard

Group Prenatal Care in Rural Areas

May 14, 2026

Group Prenatal Care in Rural Areas

This Issue Brief, developed by the FORHP-funded Rural Maternal Health Data Support and Analysis Program, describes how prenatal care can be delivered in a group setting in rural communities, drawing from the experiences of a Rural Maternity and obstetrics Management Strategies (Rural MOMS) network in northern Minnesota. It also shares lessons learned from other group-oriented maternal health services provided by FORHP-funded networks.

Click Here to Read Issue Brief

Click Here to Read More About Rural MOMS Program

First Healthcare Advisory Committee (HAC) Meeting, Open to Public, May 18

May 14, 2026

First Healthcare Advisory Committee (HAC) Meeting, Open to Public, May 18

The Healthcare Advisory Committee (HAC) advises the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on programs and policies to improve the U.S. healthcare system.

This first meeting will include an introduction of Committee members, discussion of the Committee’s vision, and establishment of bylaws. A detailed final agenda is posted on the Committee’s website and will include Zoom webinar access information.

The meeting will be held virtually, and no registration is required for those who wish to watch or provide public comment.

Click Here to Visit the Committee’s website

Click Here to View the Agenda

Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO Application Toolkit Available, Apply by June 23

May 14, 2026

Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO Application Toolkit Available, Apply by June 23

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a toolkit with resources for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) to apply for the upcoming cycle of the Medicare Shared Savings Program.

Applications will be accepted through the ACO Management System from June 9 through noon ET on June 23.

For more information, visit the Application Types & Timeline webpage.

Email questions to SharedSavingsProgram@cms.hhs.gov