National Rural Health Association

03/13/2026

At NRHA’s Rural Health Policy Institute, HRSA Administrator Tom Engels and FORHP Associate Administrator Tom Morris recently reinforced the agency’s commitment to strengthening rural health care nationwide. Read more: https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38302/full-story?utm_source=racupdate&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=update030426

HRSA Reaffirms Commitment to Rural America During the National Rural Health Association Policy Institute, news story from HRSA eNews.

03/12/2026

This week in NRHA Today: Health tech promise vs reality; speak with NRHA in KC; how RHTP is funding value based care; REH conversion perspectives; join age-friendly health webinars; pediatric readiness in the ED; and more: https://nrha_weblink_test.informz.net/informzdataservice/onlineversion/ind/bWFpbGluZ2luc3RhbmNlaWQ9MTIyODYyNTYmc3Vic2NyaWJlcmlkPTExNTIwNDM1MTU=

03/11/2026

NEXT WEEK! Join us as we welcome the National Rural Health Association's Zil Joyce Dixon Romero for a deep dive into the Rural Health Transformation Fund and what it means for oral health access and integration. Register here: https://shorturl.at/NU5O6

03/11/2026

NRHA is now accepting presentation proposals for our Rural Health Clinic and Critical Access Hospital Conferences Sept. 15-18 in Kansas City, Mo. Act soon to share your expertise at our fastest-growing events in NRHA’s hometown: https://www.ruralhealth.us/events/rhc-and-cah-conference-call-for-presentations

The goal of NRHA’s Rural Health Clinic and Critical Access Hospital conferences is to share effective practices, policies and information and provide insights and best practices addressing many of the access, quality and patient safety issues confronted by CAHs and RHCs.

03/10/2026

State lawmakers want to have a say in “how [RHTP] funding is being allocated — how the implementation will go,” says NRHA Chief Policy Officer Carrie Cochran-McClain. Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/states-rural-health-transformation-plans/

Some Republican state lawmakers and health associations are pushing back against spending plans under the Trump administration's $50 billion federal rural health fund.

03/09/2026

Don’t miss the nation’s largest gathering of rural health pros! NRHA’s 49th Annual Rural Health Conference, 11th Rural Hospital Innovation Summit, and associated events have something for everyone May 18-22 in San Diego, Calif. Register early to save: https://www.ruralhealth.us/events/schedule/annual-rural-health-conference

03/06/2026

Founded in 1994, the Arizona Diaper Bank was the first of its kind in the country. What began as a holiday drive grew into a statewide initiative, distributing more than 3 million items yearly. Read more in the latest Rural Horizons: https://www.ruralhealth.us/blogs/2026/1-jan/meeting-essential-needs-brings-dignity-to-the-desert

03/05/2026

You have 6 days left to nominate your health equity heroes for NRHA’s Rosemary McKenzie Award. Read about this and more in this week’s NRHA Today: https://nrha_weblink_test.informz.net/informzdataservice/onlineversion/ind/bWFpbGluZ2luc3RhbmNlaWQ9MTIyNzg0NTgmc3Vic2NyaWJlcmlkPTExNTIwNDM1MTU=

03/04/2026

NRHA’s 49th Annual Rural Health Conference, 11th Rural Hospital Innovation Summit, and associated events constitute the largest gathering of rural health professionals in the country May 18-22 in San Diego, Calif. Registration is now open: https://portal.ruralhealth.us/atlas/events-v4/register/4539

03/03/2026

The Rural Health Redesign Center is hosting a rural emergency hospital educational webinar and fireside chat at 1 p.m. CDT March 5. Learn more and register now: https://web.cvent.com/event/0d0738a6-3d0d-435c-81f8-4f1e257d4210/summary

03/02/2026

“Health care has always been about humanity and relationship," says NRHA President Carrie Henning-Smith. "If your first and only provider is an avatar, we're removing trust, comfort, and continuity." Read more: https://www.npr.org/2026/02/14/nx-s1-5704189/dr-oz-ai-avatars-replace-rural-health-workers

Dr. Mehmet Oz, who heads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is advancing a $50 billion plan to modernize rural health care.