Rural Health
News by Topic: Health workforce
Jan 28, 2026 - Highlights new funding for a mobile health clinic designed to expand access to healthcare in rural New York and support training healthcare workers.
Source: St. Bonaventure University News & Events
Jan 26, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announcing the 2026 meetings of the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC), which will include discussion and voting on proposals for physician-focused payment models (PFPMs). The 2026 meeting dates are: February 23-24, June 15-16, September 14-15, and December 8-9.
Source: Federal Register
HHS: Rescission of Guidance on Nondiscrimination Protections Under the Church Amendments
Federal Register
Jan 26, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rescinding the September 17, 2021, HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) notice titled "Guidance on Nondiscrimination Protections under the Church Amendments."
Source: Federal Register
Jan 22, 2026 - Highlights a new facility at the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus to expand rural health education. The facility will allow for an interprofessional model of training and team-based care. Discusses recruiting students from rural communities with the goal of addressing workforce shortages in Nebraska and improving rural economies in the state.
Source: KSNB
Jan 20, 2026 - Highlights a state-funded program offering charter flights for rural Hawaiians with off-island medical appointments. Describes current and projected funding needs for sustainability, physician shortages in rural areas, reimbursement rate challenges driving workforce shortages, and the state's Rural Health Transformation Program plans.
Source: Honolulu Civil Beat
Jan 20, 2026 - Discusses the launch of a new regional campus from the University of Minnesota Medical School. The campus is located in a rural region and aims to increase the number of rural students to address rural physician shortages. Highlights a partnership with a regional healthcare system to support the new campus.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Jan 20, 2026 - Highlights a college program partnering with a local rural emergency department to hire students as emergency medicine technicians to address workforce shortages. Describes common rural challenges with hiring and retaining EMTs and the benefits of rural hands-on training for the students.
Source: MPR News
Jan 19, 2026 - Highlights a rural community campaign to address the caregiving shortage through an intergenerational care center. Discusses the research around intergenerational care as well as how the facility could positively impact retention rates for healthcare workers in the community.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Jan 14, 2026 - Describes various rural healthcare-focused investments across Oklahoma. Discusses long-term investment strategies, telehealth, workforce training and retention, cancer care access, and preventive care.
Source: News 9
Jan 13, 2026 - Discusses the work of independent pharmacies in rural communities and the challenges that come when one closes. Highlights reasons for closures including workforce recruitment challenges and low reimbursement rates. Discusses recent Colorado legislation that aimed to ease burdens on rural pharmacies in the state.
Source: University of Colorado Anschutz Health Science News and Features

