Appalachians are leading the way to strengthen economic development in their communities!

We’re accepting applications now for our Appalachian Leadership Institute (ALI), which trains people who live or work in the region to:

💡 Identify and implement strategies to improve infrastructure, workforce development, tourism and more
🌳 Recognize and utilize unique assets in their communities to stimulate the economy
🙏 Collaborate with other leaders to plan for long-term economic growth

ALI, at no cost to participants, focuses on economic development skill-building, mentoring and collaboration. Six multi-day seminars will take place across the region from October 2026 to June 2027, concluding with a graduation ceremony in Binghamton, New York.

Applications for the 2026-2027 class are open through June 1, 2026!

Learn more and apply now: www.arc.gov/leadership

Letters of intent are due May 12, 2026, for funding through ARC’s INSPIRE Initiative, which seeks to help Appalachians in recovery enter and reenter the workforce.  

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) issued a notice of solicitation of applications (NOSA) for its Investments Supporting Partnerships in Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE) Initiative. INSPIRE supports projects that create or expand recovery ecosystems that help individuals in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) enter or reenter the workforce.

Since April 2021, ARC’s INSPIRE Initiative has invested $65.7 million in 200 projects that have impacted 380 counties across all 13 Appalachian states. These investments have secured an additional $48.1 million in matching project funds and are projected to improve nearly 4,000 businesses and help prepare over 18,100 individuals for new job opportunities.

Successful INSPIRE projects focus on the creation and expansion of services in the recovery-to-work ecosystem, including skills and workforce training programs, mentoring, peer support, and other wraparound services tailored to individuals in recovery. INSPIRE projects can also build partnerships and coordination among recovery services and providers, establish or expand recovery-ready workplace models, as well as integrate local economic development plans with existing state and regional recovery-to-work activities.

“Mississippi and the Appalachian Region are strongest when every citizen has the opportunity to contribute and succeed,” said ARC 2026 States’ Co-Chair, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves. “Through ARC’s INSPIRE Initiative, we are building partnerships to connect individuals with the skills, training and support they need to secure employment. By strengthening workforce development ecosystems, we are expanding our workforce to drive economic development across our communities.”

Key dates for the fiscal year 2026 INSPIRE application process include:

• April 23, 2026: Pre-application webinar recording available on arc.gov/sud
• April 29, 2026 (10:00 a.m. ET): NOSA Q&A session – Register now!
• By May 5, 2026: Register for Pathways, ARC’s grant management system, to ensure access to the application portal
• May 12, 2026 (5:00 p.m. ET): Required letters of intent (LOI) due
• June 15, 2026 (5:00 p.m. ET): Grant applications due
• Fall 2026: Awards announced

Learn more about ARC’s INSPIRE Initiative, the 2026 NOSA and how to apply.

Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI) has introduced the Safety Net Provider Drug Pricing Protection Act 2.0 BERGMI_084.

This new legislation would prohibit any arrangement under the 340B Program that would allow drug manufacturers to require any of the providers listed below to pay more than the 340B ceiling price at the time of purchase, with later reconciliation through a rebate, reimbursement, or other payment including FQHCs, Hemophilia Treatment Centers, Critical Access Hospitals, Sole Community Hospitals, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Clinics, and other safety net providers.

Together, these providers represent just 15 percent of all 340B spending, yet they are among the most vulnerable to a rebate-based model for the 340B Program. For them, the up-front 340B discount is not surplus revenue – it is a critical lifeline that sustains clinic operations and keeps rural hospitals open.

Rep. Dianna Harshbarger, (R-TN) and Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) are circulating a letter Rebate Support Letter among the House of Representatives “supporting the Administration’s implementation of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program.”

They cite that the rebate model is an important step toward strengthening transparency, accountability, and program integrity within the 340B program. Both representatives are pharmacists.

Deadline for signing is noon April 20.

On April 2, CMS finalized the annual Medicare Advantage/Part D rule for coverage year 2027.

In January, NACHC commented on the rule and its potential impact on CHCs and their patients. The final rule includes updates to STAR Ratings, changes to disclaimer requirements for third-party marketing organizations, and the elimination of the 48-hour scope of appointment waiting period.

On April 14, CMS released a proposed rule on interoperability and prior authorization for drugs across Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care plans.

The rule builds on prior interoperability efforts, expands requirements to prior authorizations of drugs, and proposes the adoption of Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standards.

See the CMS factsheet for more information.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released new guidance outlining changes to federal Medicaid and CHIP funding for certain noncitizens that states must implement by October 1, 2026.

With limited exceptions, federal funding will no longer be available for full Medicaid or CHIP benefits for some qualified noncitizens, unless they meet specific immigration status criteria.

In order to enroll in the Pennsylvania Medical Assistance Program, Community Health Workers (CHW) must be certified through an approved CHW training program. If you have CHWs looking to obtain certification, the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) offers Pennsylvania Certification Board-approved training programs at all regional AHEC centers.

In addition to an approved training program, AHEC also offers a CHW Apprenticeship program that gives the opportunity for uncertified CHWs to earn while they learn, and the added benefit of mentorship and the work hours required to be eligible for the certification exam.

Learn more about the PA AHEC’s CHW Training programs and register your CHWs today!