Rural Spotlight

Webinar: Denials are on Fire. Don’t Wait for a Board Meeting to Grab a Fire Hose, July 10

July 7, 2025

Webinar: Denials are on Fire. Don’t Wait for a Board Meeting to Grab a Fire Hose, July 10

If your hospital is facing rising denials, mounting write-offs, and margin pressure that feels like a five-alarm fire, this is the conversation you can’t afford to miss. In this eye-opening, fast-paced webinar, they will break down why waiting for perfect ROI models or pilot programs is costing hospitals millions – and why action, not analysis, is the new survival strategy.

You’ll hear directly from physician-led denial defense experts who know the reality of reimbursement firefighting from both clinical and operational trenches.

This session will walk your through the cracks in traditional revenue cycle tools, the hidden costs of delayed decisions, and the transformative power of automation when it’s built by physicians, for hospitals. We’ll also introduce Aerolib.ai – the scalable, AI-powered denial defense platform designed to streamline appeals, uncover denial patterns in real time, and integrate effortlessly with your clinical and case management teams.

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, July 10, 12:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

Registration Open: Intensive Behavioral Therapy Certification Intro Series

July 7, 2025

Registration Open: Intensive Behavioral Therapy Certification Intro Series

This series will provide foundational knowledge for Intensive Behavioral Therapy delivery for patients living with obesity. This is an introductory series to be able 5o participate in the IBT ECHO, where skills will continue to be developed.

Overall/Series Outcomes

  • Outcome #1: The learner will self-report: Increased knowledge about what IBT is and how it is delivered.
  • Outcome #2: The learner will self-report: Increased confidence about delivering IBT to clients

Series Schedule

July 16, Noon – 1:00 p.m. Session 1: Foundations of Obesity Care and IBT

  • Introduction to obesity as a chronic co9ndit5ion and the basics of Intensive Behavioral Therapy (IBT).
    • Session outcome: Understand obesity as a disease and the need for IBT as a solution.

July 30, Noon – 1:00 p.m. Session 2: Nutrition Essentials and Behavior Strategies for Sustainable Change

  • Strategies and tools to support nutrition and physical activity changes, with a focus on helping clients create an environment that supports long-term success.
    • Session outcome: Understanding what the traffic light eating, and activity plan is and how environment can impact success.

August 6, Noon – 1:00 p.m. Session 3: Sustaining Change Through Planning and Habits

  • Building routines, planning, and self-regulation strategies.
    • Session outcome: How important healthy routines and social networks are in lifestyle sustainability.

August 20, Noon – 1:00 p.m. Managing the Journey: Support, Setbacks, and Maintenance

  • Preparing clients – and coaches – for the long haul/
    • Session outcome: Feeling prepared for all situations and how to help clients maintain lifestyle changes.

Click Here to Learn More and Register

SHOW-ME-ECHO: Improving Effective Care for Patients with Hepatitis C, September 6

July 2, 2025

SHOW-ME-ECHO: Improving Effective Care for Patients with Hepatitis C, September 6

The Hepatitis C ECHO empowers and supports primary care professionals to effectively and confidently treat patients suffering from liver diseases.

A multidisciplinary team of experts dedicated to the treatment of patients with all types of liver diseases, especially viral hepatitis and fatty liver disease, will meet with participants via interactive online videoconferencing from noon to 1 p.m. every 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month.

How does this ECHO work?

Together with a multidisciplinary team of experts and specialists, participants will:

  • Screen for and identify Hep C in patients
  • Prescribe the right medications to care for Hep C
  • Apply Hep C diagnosis and treatment best practices to treat patients
  • Detect and make referrals to treat health concerns that are related to Hep C
  • Serve as the local Hep C expert in their clinic and their part of the state

What does this ECHO offer?

  • NO COST for participating sites or individuals,
  • FREE continuing education for health care professionals,
  • Collaboration, support and ongoing learning with experts and other physicians, and
  • Patients get better care in their home community

CE credit available

When: This ECHO is held evert first and third Friday of the month from 12-1 pm

Click Here to Learn More and Register

HRSA Funding Opportunity: Learning Collaborative for HIV Oral Health and Primary Care Integration, HRSA-25-103, Apply by August 12

July 2, 2025

HRSA Funding Opportunity: Learning Collaborative for HIV Oral Health and Primary Care Integration, HRSA-25-103, Apply by August 12

The Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA’s) HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Part F Community Based Dental Partnership Program (CBDPP), Learning Collaborative for HIV Oral Health and Primary Care Integration (CBDPP), cooperative agreement.

This cooperative agreement will:

  • Promote information sharing and exchange,
  • Maintain and strengthen oral health and primary care integration, and
  • Improve dental education and training through Interprofessional training and community-based education, support community-based dental leaders in HIV oral health care.

Who is Eligible to Apply

  • Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
  • State governments
  • Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Small businesses
  • Special district governments
  • Independent school districts
  • Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • City or township governments
  • For profit organizations other than small businesses

Apply by August 12, 2025, no later than 11:59 p.m. ET

Click Here to Learn More and Apply

Faculty Loan Repayment Program – Deadline Extended to July 22

July 2, 2025

Faculty Loan Repayment Program – Deadline Extended to July 22

There is still time to apply to the Faculty Loan Repayment Program. HRSA extended the application deadline to July 22. Eligible faculty members can apply to this program.

HRSA will repay a portion of a recipient’s health professional student loan debt ($40,000 max over two years). In return, a recipient will serve at an eligible health professions school.

Apply by July 22

Click Here to Learn More and Apply

Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program, Apply by July 17

July 2, 2025

Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program, Apply by July 17

Eligible clinicians who provide pediatric medical subspecialty, pediatric surgical specialty, or child and adolescent behavioral health care can apply to this program. HRSA offers up to $100,000 in educational loan repayment. In exchange recipients must work full-time for three years in a Pediatric Specialty LRP-approved facility.

Apply by July 17

Click Here to Learn More and Apply

Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Loan Repayment Program, Apply by July 12

July 2, 2025

Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Loan Repayment Program, Apply by July 12

Eligible substance use disorder (SUD) treatment clinicians and community health workers can apply to this program.

HRSA offers up to $250,000 in educational loan repayment. In exchange, recipients must work full-time for six years in a facility approved for the STAR Loan Repayment program.

Apply by July 12

Click Here to Learn More and Apply

HRSA Announces New Board of Directors for the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network

July 2, 2025

HRSA Announces New Board of Directors for the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network

On June 5, HRSA announced the new 34-member Board of Directors for the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). This launch of the OPTN Board of Directors advances HRSA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen OPTN governance, mitigate conflicts of interest, and modernize the organ donation, procurement and transplantation system within the United States.

This effort has been strongly supported by HHS Secretary Kennedy, whose leadership has been key to advancing these modernization goals. His support underscores a commitment to strengthening the U.S. organ donation, procurement and transplantation system, and to making impactful decisions that benefit Americans awaiting organ transplants.

Click Here to Read More

HRSA Reaffirms Commitment to Lowering Drug Prices for Low-Income Patients

July 2, 2025

HRSA Reaffirms Commitment to Lowering Drug Prices for Low-Income Patients

On June 24, HRSA announced new steps to lower out-of-pocket costs for life-saving medications. In alignment with President Trump’s Executive Order “Lowering Drug Prices by Putting Americans First,” HRSA has issued updated award terms requiring HRSA-funded health centers to provide insulin and injectable epinephrine to low-income patients at or below the price paid by the center through the 340B Drug Pricing Program.

Click Here to Read Release

Rural Emergency Hospital: A Facilitated Discussion with REH Executives, July 10

July 2, 2025

Rural Emergency Hospital: A Facilitated Discussion with REH Executives, July 10

Effective January 1, 2023, Medicare introduced the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) provider type to help sustain essential services in rural communities facing hospital closures. Eligible Critical Access Hospitals and small rural hospitals may convert to an REH to preserve emergency and outpatient care.

Join the Rural Health Redesign Center for a session hosted by the Rural Emergency Hospital Technical Assistance Center, featuring a panel of REH executives sharing firsthand experiences and technical assistance available for hospitals exploring the Reh designation.

Target Audience:

  • Critical Access Hospitals
  • Other rural hospitals considering conversion to a Rural Emergency Hospital

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, July 10, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register