The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center is implementing changes to the ACO REACH Model, starting in Performance Year (PY) 2026.  The changes are based on early findings in a preview of the PY 2023 Evaluation Report; CMS aims to improve the model’s sustainability by adjusting the financial methodology.

ACO REACH is an advanced accountable care organization (ACO) initiative that provides novel tools, payment methodologies, and resources for primary care and specialty care providers to work together to support delivery of care and improve population health of beneficiaries in Traditional Medicare. In 2025, over 900 Federally Quality Health Centers, Rural Health Clinics, and Critical Access Hospitals participated in ACO REACH.

Click here for more information.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers who collaborate with the aim of coordinating high-quality care to people with Medicare. When an ACO succeeds in both delivering high-quality care and spending health care dollars more wisely, the ACO may be eligible to share in the savings it achieves for the Medicare program (also known as performance payments).

In Phase 1 of the application process, ACOs must submit applications through the Accountable Care Organization Management System.  Certain new ACOs, including those in rural areas, may be eligible for Advance Incentive Payments, which include an upfront payment of $250,000 and two years of quarterly payments.

The Application Toolkit provides detailed information for the upcoming application submission cycle and questions can be emailed to SharedSavingsProgram@cms.hhs.gov.

Applications are due on June 12 at Noon Eastern.

This program from HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce offers up to $100,000 in student loan repayment for eligible clinicians who provide pediatric medical subspecialty, pediatric surgical specialty, or child and adolescent behavioral health care, including substance use disorder (SUD) prevention and treatment.  In return, participants commit to three years of full-time service at an approved facility. For more information, click here.

Applications are due on July 17.

If you’re a behavioral health clinician, clinical support staff, or trained in substance use disorder treatment, HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce offers up to $250,000 toward student loans through its STAR Loan Repayment Program. In return, you’ll commit to six years of full-time service at an approved facility, bringing vital care to communities that need it most.

Applications are due on July 10.

Click here for more information.

HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW) will repay a portion of your health professional student loan in return for serving on the faculty at a health professions school.  Successful applicants will receive up to $40,000 in loan repayment assistance as well as funding to offset the tax burden.

Although the application and program guidance state a deadline of June 26 for this opportunity, BHW’s website updates it to July 3.

Click here for more information.

Closing out Mental Health Awareness Month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new resource for planning suicide prevention campaigns.  The playbook includes:

• Key Audience: Tools for identifying specific populations at higher risk and their networks of influence.
• Campaign Development: Steps to design effective strategies, craft meaningful messages, and promote behavior change.
• Behavior Models: Insights into frameworks like the Health Belief Model and Social Cognitive Theory.
• Messaging Best Practices: Strategies to emphasize hope and resilience and use culturally relevant language.
• Evaluation: Tools to measure campaign impact and improve future efforts.

The latest data from the CDC show that rural residents are at a higher risk for suicide than urban residents and that rates of suicide almost doubled between 2000-2020 in rural areas.

Access the playbook here: CDC’s Suicide Prevention Communication Campaign Playbook.

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is now accepting applications for our 2026 Rural Health Fellows Leadership Program.

NRHA’s Rural Health Fellows is a yearlong training initiative designed to develop a diverse, interprofessional network of rural health leaders from across the country. Each year, NRHA selects 15 to 20 individuals who have demonstrated a dedication to improving rural health through their professional or community experience. Apply today!

More than $640K in ARC funds are supporting a local access road project in Coaldale, Pennsylvania. The effort will increase access to St. Luke’s Hospital and provide safe connections for pedestrians and drivers through the area.

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced over $2.8M in awards through READY Local Governments and the selection of 75 participants for the READY Nonprofits training program. These awards and training opportunities are provided through READY Appalachia, ARC’s initiative to help Appalachians build individual, organizational and community capacity to envision and enact positive economic change.  📈

The 59 local government award recipients successfully completed nine weeks of READY Local Governments training and will use ARC funding for capacity building projects to better address their communities’ economic needs.

Nine local governemnts in Pennsylvania received awards:

• Borough of Greenville
• Borough of New Brighton
• City of Johnstown
• City of New Castle
• Elizabeth Township
• Morris Township
• Potter County
• Reserve Township
• Wright Township

The training offered through READY Nonprofits will help 75 nonprofit organizations representing 12 Appalachian states build internal capacity to better fulfill their missions and strengthen services to help Appalachian economies thrive. After successfully completing training, participants will also have the opportunity to apply for funding to implement a capacity building project.