- Trump Administration Announces $10 Billion in Second Year of Rural Health Transformation Awards to All 50 States
- Texas Tech Health Sciences Center Brings Emergency Room Technology to Rural EMS Crews
- AHRQ and Indian Health Service Partner to Strengthen Sepsis Care
- US Launches Program to Deliver Free Cybersecurity Help to Rural Hospitals
- Doctor Left Thriving Practice to Follow New Vision for Rural Healthcare
- To Keep Rural Healthcare Workers, Missouri Is Helping Cover Their Childcare Costs
- Looking Local Could Be a Solution to Rural Nursing Shortage
- AI Promises Relief for Rural Hospitals and Adds Risks They Are Not Staffed to Manage
- CMS and States Launch $275 Million Initiative to Recruit and Retain Nurses in Nursing Homes
- HRSA Awards Nearly $13 Million to Expand Access to Healthy Foods for Pregnant and Postpartum Women
- HHS Launches Newborn Essentials Support Toolkit Program to Support Mothers and Babies
- A Rural CIO's Guide to Getting More from Technology
- Missouri Independent Hospitals Seek Strength in Numbers with New Clinically Integrated Network
- An Ambitious Financial Experiment Tried to Support Struggling Rural Hospitals in Pa. For Years. Did It Work?
- Request for Information: Data Intermediaries and Approaches to Strengthen Public Health Data Exchange
Data Spotlight from SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Chronic Pain Among Adults
A new Data Spotlight is available, describing Drug Use and Health: Chronic Pain Among Adults.
The latest NSDUH, overseen by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), added a question asking adults aged 18 or older how often they had experienced pain during the past 3 months, with response options of never, some days, most days, or every day. For the NSDUH, chronic pain is defined as having pain on most days or every day. Women were more likely than men to have had chronic pain (21.6 percent vs 17.8 percent). Experiences of chronic pain also varied by county type, increasing from 16.5 percent in large metropolitan counties to 23.2 percent in small metropolitan counties and 26.9 percent in nonmetropolitan counties.
Lunch & Learn: Building Social Connection to Reduce Loneliness in Rural Adults
With support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Health and Safety Education Program, experts from the University of Missouri will discuss (a) the research behind relationships and health, (b) how relationships impact our health, and (c) how we can use this information to improve relationships and build community capacity for social connection.
The webinar is scheduled for Thursday, November 12, 2026 at 1:00 pm Eastern.
CMS Releases 2027 End-Stage Renal Disease Payment Final Rule
On October 28, 2026, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the calendar year 2027 End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS) final rule, which updates payment rates and policies under the ESRD PPS for dialysis services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries in 2027.
CMS is increasing ESRD payments by approximately 2.7% and is finalizing changes to the low-volume payment adjustment and payment adjustments for pediatric payments. CMS is also updating quality reporting requirements.
Department of Labor Finalizes Rule Requiring Pharmacy Benefit Managers to Disclose Fees
The U.S. Department of Labor released a final rule requiring pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)—companies that manage prescription drug benefits—and their affiliated brokers and consultants to share detailed information about their fees and other payments with those responsible for employer health plans.
The rule applies to large, self-insured plans covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), where employers pay health claims directly. It is intended to help employers compare PBM contracts, identify potential conflicts of interest, and assess whether fees are reasonable. The requirements apply to plan years beginning on or after July 1, 2027.
County-Level Differences in Fee-for-Service Medicare Quality Measures by Rurality and Disability Status
Despite research showing differences in quality of care by disability status and rurality, there is limited research looking at the intersection of the two.
In this policy brief, researchers examine county-level differences in three commonly used fee-for-service Medicare quality measures to address differences in quality care by both rurality and disability status.Â
Availability of Hospital-Based Obstetric Services in the United States by County, 2010–2024: A State-by-State Report
This state-by-state report reveals continued declines in availability of hospital-based obstetric services in both rural and urban U.S. communities.
Between 2023 and 2024, 30 counties across the U.S. lost these services, 24 of which were rural. By 2024, 61% of rural counties and 39% of urban counties did not have hospital-based obstetric services.
Upcoming Webinar—Understanding Access to Care for Rural Residents with Disabilities
As part of a National Rural Health Day celebration, researchers from the FORHP-funded University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center will share findings on access to care at the intersection of rurality and disability. The webinar will explore county-level comparisons of disability rates, workforce shortages, and quality of care, along with findings from the National Health Interview Survey on barriers to care and use of preventive services by rural-urban location and disability status.
Registration is free and required. The webinar is scheduled for Monday, November 16, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern.
The University of Minnesota is home to one of eight rural health research centers across the nation currently funded by FORHP at the Rural Health Research Gateway online.
Community Supports for Rural Aging in Place and Independent Living
A newly reviewed and updated topic guide at the Rural Health Information Hub includes FAQs on the challenges rural older adults and people with disabilities face when trying to remain in their home.
It also covers home-based services, caregiver support, and programs to support rural residents who live independently.Â
2027 Monthly Facility Payment for Rural Emergency Hospitals
Statute requires Medicare to make this monthly payment, in addition to payments for patient care, to help support operations and services for facilities designated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services as Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs).
All REHs receive the same monthly amount, regardless of their size or revenue. Starting January 1, 2027, the monthly payment will be $310,707 before sequestration and $304,492.86 after sequestration, the required federal payment cut.
CMS Proposes New Verification Requirements for Marketplace Financial Assistance
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposes requiring health insurance Marketplaces to verify household income, family size, citizenship or eligible immigration status, eligibility for other qualifying coverage, and residency before providing advance premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions.
As proposed, beginning with 2028 coverage, enrollees would need to confirm their information annually and have their eligibility reverified to retain financial assistance; otherwise, they would be automatically re-enrolled without assistance. Marketplaces would offer an early verification period beginning August 1, 2027, for 2028 coverage and each August thereafter. CMS proposes exceptions for certain family changes, such as birth, adoption, or marriage.
The comment period ends November 27.