On July 18, 2019, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded approximately $20 million for Rural Residency Planning and Development Program (RRPD) grants. Recipients across 21 states will receive up to $750,000 over a three-year period to develop new rural residency programs while achieving accreditation through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
“Health care in America is under increasing strain due to many factors, including workforce gaps. This is a particular problem, because heart disease, cancer, and chronic lower respiratory disease are found at higher rates among rural Americans than urban Americans, and this is contributing to an ever-growing health disparity gap that must be slowed and eventually stopped. Rural residency grants are an effective tool that will help rural communities recruit and retain high quality healthcare providers who can improve access to healthcare and health outcomes for patients,” said U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Deputy Secretary Eric D. Hargan.