Category: HRSA

CMS Expands Electronic Prior Authorization Initiative

May 14, 2026

CMS Expands Electronic Prior Authorization Initiative

This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the expansion of electronic prior authorization as part of its Health Tech Ecosystem initiative. Building on efforts that began in January 2026, CMS is strengthening collaboration among health plans, providers, and certified electronic health record (EHR) vendors, and digital health developers – alongside payers – to enable end-to-end, consistent electronic prior authorization workflows across the healthcare system.

Participants will also align with CMS interoperability and Prior Authorization Final Rule requirements, focusing on closing workflow gaps and improving technical coordination across stakeholders. Full implementation of electronic prior authorization infrastructure is expected by January 1, 2027.

Click Here to Read CMS Electronic Prior Authorization

Click Here to Read More About Health Tech Ecosystem

Mental Health Awareness Month: National Maternal Mental Health Hotline

May 14, 2026

Mental Health Awareness Month: National Maternal Mental Health Hotline

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, HRSA is highlighting the importance of mental health among pregnant and postpartum women.

Research has shown that rural mothers experience higher rates of post-partum depression compared to urban mothers.

The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline can be reached at 1-833-TLC-MAMA and offers free, confidential support 24/7 by call, text, and chat.

Trained counselors provide emotional support, information, and referrals to local resources for pregnant and postpartum women, and their loved ones.

Since launching on Mother’s Day in 2022, the Hotline has supported more than 100,000 people, helping to connect them to care when they need it most.

Share this resource with your patients, clients, partners, and communities. You can also print and order free promotional materials including posters, magnets, and wallet cards to display and distribute.

See the HRSA Maternal & Child Health Website for more information and to access materials.

Click Here to go the HRSA’s Maternal & Child Health Website

Telehealth Resources

May 6, 2026

Telehealth Resources

  • Looking for quick access to telehealth resources? Visit HRSA’s Featured Resources page to find topics, tip sheets, videos, and more.
    • Click Here to View Featured Telehealth Resources
  • Bringing Specialized Telehealth Care Home for Kids
    • Telehealth helps children with developmental delays or special needs, like autism. They can access care from home and stay connected with providers.
    • Click Here to Find Out More
  • Patient Resource: Accessing Direct-to-Consumer Telehealth
    • Telehealth care on demand, or “direct-to-consumer” telehealth, is a quick and easy way to book a virtual health care visit. Learn what it is, the benefits, the types of care available, and what you need to do to get started.
    • Click Here to Learn More
  • Learn about HRSA’s Office for the Advancement of Telehealth
    • HRSA’s Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (OAT) improves access to care through telehealth. Learn more about its programs, policy, research, and resources.
    • Click Here to Discover More

Funding Opportunity: Rural Residency Planning and Development

May 6, 2026

Funding Opportunity: Rural Residency Planning and Development

The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) supported Rural Residency Planning and Development Program (RRPD) provides start-up funding to grant recipients to create accredited rural residency programs in a qualifying medical specialty as well as FORHP-funded technical assistance for Rural Graduate medical Education at RuralGME.org for the duration of their project period.

These residency programs are then sustained long-term through viable and stable funding mechanisms, such as Medicare and in states where there is a viable path of support, through Medicaid or other consistent state funding.

Research has shown that physicians from a rural background and those trained in rural settings are more likely to continue practicing in rural areas after completing their residencies.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has 11.25 million to award up to 15 awardees up to $750,000 for a 3-year grant period (August 1, 2026 – July 31, 2029) to develop new, sustainable rural residency programs.

Applications are due Tuesday, June 2 at 11:59 p.m. EST in Grants.gov. A technical assistance webinar is available for more information. It is recommended you subscribe to the NOFO on Grants.gov to receive updates when documents are posted.

Click Here to see Notice of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov

Click Here to see Profiles of current and past RRPD Program Grantees

Click Here to go to RuralGME.org

HHS Launches MAHA Action Plan to Curb Psychiatric Overprescribing

May 6, 2026

HHS Launches MAHA Action Plan to Curb Psychiatric Overprescribing

On May 4, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced efforts to curb psychiatric overprescribing at a MAHA Institute summit on mental health and overmedicalization. As the closing speaker, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. laid out a new action plan to promote appropriate psychiatric prescribing and drive deprescribing when clinically indicated.

“today, we take clear and decisive action to confront our nation’s mental health crisis by addressing the overuse of psychiatric medications – especially among children,” said Secretary Kennedy. “We will support patient autonomy, require informed consent and shared decision-making, and shift the standard of care toward prevention, transparency, and a more holistic approach to mental health.

Click Here to Read the Full Press Release.

CDC Webinar: NHSN AU Option 2023 SAAR Rebaseline: Information for Critical Access Hospitals, May 13

April 28, 2026

CDC Webinar: NHSN AU Option 2023 SAAR Rebaseline: Information for Critical Access Hospitals, May 13

The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Antimicrobial Use (AU) Option has released updates to its risk-adjustment methodology with the 2023 SAAR (Standardized Antimicrobial Administration Ratio) rebaseline.

A major development is the introduction of mixed acuity unit with SAAR values which will enable more critical access hospitals (CAHs) to receive SAAR calculations. This represents a substantial change from previous reporting periods when many CAHs were unable to generate SAARs due to not having SAAR-eligible units within NHSN.

The speakers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have specifically designed this webinar for CAHs and will provide a comprehensive overview of these important updates.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, May 13, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

HRSA Webinar: Sustaining Rural Labor & Delivery Programs, May 4

April 28, 2026

HRSA Webinar: Sustaining Rural Labor & Delivery Programs, May 4

Rural Hospitals face ongoing financial and operational pressures that have contributed to the closure of many Labor & Delivery programs nationwide. This webinar, hosted by researchers at the Flex Monitoring Team (FMT) for rural Medicare hospitals and presented by Stroudwater, will highlight practical strategies to help rural hospitals assess and strengthen the financial sustainability of these services.

The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) funded the development of the Sustaining Rural Labor & Delivery Programs brief; this webinar will highlight key insights from the brief and cover:

  • Approaches to improving how costs are tracked and reported,
  • Understanding the financial performance of Labor & Delivery services, and
  • Identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and partnerships.

Attendees will gain actionable insights to support informed decision-making and help maintain access to essential maternity care in rural communities.

Cost: Free

When: Monday, May 4, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

2026 New NHSC Site Application Site Now Open, Apply by May 19

April 16, 2026

2026 New NHSC Site Application Site Now Open, Apply by May 19

Eligible health care facilities can apply to become NHSC-approved sites.

To be eligible, sites must provide outpatient, comprehensive primary health care services to people located in Health Professional Shortage Areas.

Once approved, you can use your status as an NHSC site to recruit, hire, and retain clinicians.

Attend the NHSC Site Application Point of Contact Webinar on Tuesday, April 14 at 1:00 p.m. E.T. to learn more.

Click Here to Learn More and Apply

Hospital Price Transparency: Enforcement of 2026 Requirements Starts April 1

March 26, 2026

Hospital Price Transparency: Enforcement of 2026 Requirements Starts April 1

In the Calendar Year 2026 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) Final Rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) added new Hospital Price Transparency requirements and will begin enforcement on April 1.

Hospitals must update the machine-readable file posted on their website to include new allowed amount data elements (median, 10th percentile, 90th percentile, and count), their organizational National Provider Identifier (NPI), and an attestation from a senior official confirming the information is accurate and complete.

Hospitals that do not comply may receive warning notices, be required to submit corrective action plans, or face civil monetary penalties that may be publicly reported. CMS maintains tools and resources to help hospitals in meet machine-readable file requirements.

Click Here to See Hospital Price Transparency Requirements

Click Here to Explore CMS Tools and Resources

HUD Research on Rural Housing

March 26, 2026

HUD Research on Rural Housing

The Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) is a division within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that conducts research, data analysis, and program evaluations to inform housing policy.

This report examines housing challenges that are unique to rural communities, such as affordability, the physical inadequacy of homes, homelessness, difficulty in aging in place, and disaster response and recovery.

The report also describes federal, state, local, and private policy efforts to address these challenges, with details on three rural housing initiatives states have implemented to spur development and boost home ownership.

Click Here to Read Report