Rural Health
News by Topic: Health occupations
CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
Federal Register
Dec 16, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on an information collection titled "Medicare Enrollment Application for Physician and Non-Physician Practitioners." The Form CMS-855I is the enrollment application submitted by physicians and non-physician practitioners to ensure the applicant has the necessary credentials to provide the healthcare services for which they intend to bill Medicare. Comments are due by February 17, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 16, 2025 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on revisions to an information collection regarding forms used by the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and the Nurse Corps Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs. The NHSC and Nurse Corps Interest Capture Form is an optional form that a health profession student, licensed clinician, faculty member, clinical site administrator, or other interested individual can complete and submit to HRSA online. Comments are due by January 15, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 12, 2025 - Describes a field trip for nursing students in Kansas to see a Critical Access Hospital as a way to educate the students about rural nursing and promote it as a career path.
Source: University of Kansas Medical Center News
Dec 10, 2025 - Describes a mental health awareness and crisis response training being used to fill gaps in mental healthcare access for rural communities. Notes health disparities for rural residents due to shortages of mental health workforce and resources.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Dec 10, 2025 - Announces the expansion of a rural pediatric health networking and collaboration initiative in Georgia aiming to support access to pediatric healthcare. The program includes both a physician training and consultation component as well as specialty telehealth component to allow rural children to receive healthcare in their communities. Discusses scholarship opportunities to increase the pediatric health workforce and plans to continue expanding this program.
Source: The Den
Dec 10, 2025 - Describes the impact of new Arkansas legislation which will see 75 community health workers (CHWs) trained. Notes that CHW have had an impact in rural communities with less access to healthcare. Discusses recent CHW training initiatives across the state.
Dec 9, 2025 - Highlights a regional program pairing medical students with physician mentors as a method to recruit and retain healthcare professionals in rural communities. Profiles one student-mentor pair in Wyoming.
Source: Wyoming Public Radio
Dec 4, 2025 - Highlights Montana State University's Center for Research on Rural Education after a decade of work. Discusses access to mental health professionals in schools, mental health awareness building among students, and support for recruiting and retaining teachers.
Source: MSU News
CMS: Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Programs; Provider Enrollment Application Fee Amount for Calendar Year 2026
Federal Register
Dec 3, 2025 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announcing the application fee for providers initially enrolling in the Medicare or Medicaid programs, or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP); revalidating their Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP enrollment; or adding a new Medicare practice location. The new fee is $750 and is required for applications submitted January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 1, 2025 - Highlights the work of rural pharmacists around New Mexico and their paths to rural practice. Discusses initiatives to address primary care physician shortages by increasing a pharmacist's scope of practice, efforts to recruit rural students to the pharmacy field, and networking across the state.
Source: UNM Health Sciences News