Announcements
Training: Advancing Value-Based Care - Leading from the MiddleThe Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project's upcoming Leadership Learning Collaborative, focused on Advancing Value-Based Care: Leading from the Middle, is designed to support middle managers and other leaders in rural health care settings as they facilitate value-based care initiatives in their organizations and improve health outcomes in their communities. Register Here |
Rural Health Care Services Outreach ProgramApplications are due January 25, 2025 The Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program is now open and accepting applications for the program’s 4-year period of performance (May 1, 2025, to April 30, 2029). Up to 50 awards will be made to support rural communities’ ability to expand the delivery of health services. Examples of previously funded projects can be found here. Grant Opportunity |
Rural Hospital Stabilization ProgramAccepting Applications The Rural Hospital Stabilization Program (RHSP) offers assistance to rural hospitals, at no cost to them, to help them improve their financial stability by enhancing or expanding health care services that meet community needs. This may include everything from pulmonary rehabilitation to outpatient behavioral health services to expanded primary care and keep care close to home. The program’s ultimate goal is to strengthen rural health care delivery nationwide. More Information |
The National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers Conference: Call for AbstractsThe National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers (National Forum) is excited to host our 2025 Annual Conference, “Showcasing, Innovating and Strengthening the Nursing Workforce” on June 2-4, 2025, at the Marriott Philadelphia Downtown, 1201 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA. More Information |
Iowa Primary Care Provider Loan Repayment Program
Applications are due April 8th, 2025
Purpose: The purpose of this funding opportunity is to improve access to primary health care among rural and/or underserved populations by providing educational loan repayment assistance to eligible primary care medical, dental, and mental health practitioners in exchange for a service obligation located within federally designated health professional shortage areas (HPSA) in Iowa.
Funding Opportunity
IMPORTANT: Registering in IowaGrants and starting an application:
New applicants registering in IowaGrants:
To register for the first time, please follow the guidance at https://dom.iowa.gov/iowa-grants-login.
Applicants already registered with IowaGrants under an organization:
If you are already registered under an organization, do not register a second time. Instead, contact the IowaGrants Helpdesk for assistance to create your individual registration.
[email protected].
Starting your application:
There are three places at the beginning of the application that applicants need to put their first and last name:
Purpose: The purpose of this funding opportunity is to improve access to primary health care among rural and/or underserved populations by providing educational loan repayment assistance to eligible primary care medical, dental, and mental health practitioners in exchange for a service obligation located within federally designated health professional shortage areas (HPSA) in Iowa.
Funding Opportunity
IMPORTANT: Registering in IowaGrants and starting an application:
New applicants registering in IowaGrants:
To register for the first time, please follow the guidance at https://dom.iowa.gov/iowa-grants-login.
Applicants already registered with IowaGrants under an organization:
If you are already registered under an organization, do not register a second time. Instead, contact the IowaGrants Helpdesk for assistance to create your individual registration.
[email protected].
Starting your application:
There are three places at the beginning of the application that applicants need to put their first and last name:
- For Authorized Official, the applicant's first and last name goes under “Name”.
- For Authorized Official, the applicant's first and last name goes under “Organization”. Do not put Employer Information here.
- For Fiscal Officer/Agent, the applicant’s first and last name goes under “Name”. Do not put Employer’s Fiscal Officer/Agent here.
AmeriCorps Members and Host Sites WANTEDThe Iowa Community Corps is a new, Public Health AmeriCorps program at the Iowa Department of Health & Human Services. AmeriCorps members serve directly with community-based organizations and government agencies to tackle our state’s most pressing challenges. Members receive a living allowance and education award for their service, while gaining a professional network, skills, and professional development to forge a successful career in public health. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Learn More & Apply |
Blood Pressure & Beyond Grant OpportunityApply by January 31, 2025 The American Heart Association is offering up to $2000 to each of five Midwest rural health care organizations to lead evidence-based policy and practice changes. Funding can be used to:
More Information Questions: Contact Tim Nikolai, Sr. Rural Health Director, American Heart Association, Midwest. |
Community Health Worker Registered Apprenticeship Program
In partnership with Iowa Health and Human Services, Health TeamWorks, and the Des Moines Area Community College, grant funding is available for Iowa residents and individuals employed in Iowa to receive scholarships and stipend support for apprenticeship community health work (CHW) training opportunities. Partners are recruiting participation now for the third and final year of this grant funding. The registered apprenticeship training cohort will start later this fall.
The CHW Registered Apprenticeship program is available through Health TeamWorks and requires a partnership between the employer and participating apprentice. The program includes:
Learn more
Point of Contact:
Deb Kazmerzak at [email protected] or 515.554.2788.
The CHW Registered Apprenticeship program is available through Health TeamWorks and requires a partnership between the employer and participating apprentice. The program includes:
- One year of on-the-job-learning
- Completion of CHW classroom training (live, virtual)
- National CHW credential earned from the US Department of Labor
Learn more
Point of Contact:
Deb Kazmerzak at [email protected] or 515.554.2788.
News
Dental patients are plagued by a growing shortage of Medicaid providers in rural IowaOfficials with the Iowa Dental Association want state lawmakers to address a major shortage of dentists who accept Medicaid patients. Health officials in northwest Iowa say children and the poor are especially impacted. Article |
Iowa’s troubling physician shortage is expected to get worse. Doctors are advocating for solutionsIowa is among the worst states in the country for physician-to-patient ratio. It ranks 44th in United States for physicians per capita, according to the Iowa Medical Society. The problem is especially acute for patients in rural areas seeking specialized care. Article |
Mercy Cedar Rapids Named to U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Hospitals for Maternity CareU.S. News & World Report has once again recognized Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids as a High-Performing Hospital for Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy) in its 2025 rankings. This distinction represents the highest recognition in U.S. News’ annual evaluation of maternity care, reinforcing Mercy’s commitment to delivering exceptional care to its patient families. Article |
Iowa groups share 2025 legislative priorities with Gov. Reynolds, includes maternal careHeading into 2025, experts predict the state will make less money than they spent this past year. While that means lawmakers could have less revenue to work with, there's still a $2 billion budget surplus and other reserve funds they could dip into. Article |
Findings from Latest Community Health Needs Assessment ReleasedThe Central Iowa CHNA Planning Committee is proud to release the findings from the most recent Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). This comprehensive assessment is the result of a collaborative effort among leading health organizations and community partners to better understand and address the health needs of residents in Dallas, Polk, and Warren counties. Article |
Four Iowa hospitals considered high performing for maternity careU.S. News & World Report looked at 817 hospitals that submitted data across the country to analyze which are the best for expecting parents. Measures include C-section rates for low-risk pregnancies, severe unexpected newborn complication rates, exclusive breast milk feeding rates, birthing-friendly practices and reporting on racial and ethnic disparities. Article |
Sibley Hospital Named Five-Star FacilityThe Osceola Regional Health Center won 13 Breakthrough Awards at the 2024 HealthCare Service Excellence Conference Nov. 6 for excellent customer care. Article |
Rural Iowa is a mental health care desert so many seek help onlineMental health experts say Iowa is facing a critical shortage of providers, especially during the stressful holiday season, though some patients are turning to telehealth for care. Article |
Skilled International Nurses Are Key to Solving Rural America’s Critical Healthcare ShortageIn the face of a deepening shortage of trained nurses serving rural populations, Congress has an opportunity to address the problem by passing the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act and bringing 25,000 international health workers to America. Article |
Rural telepsychology program spanning across Iowa
UI Telepsychology Training Clinic works to provide mental health care access to rural individuals.
Article
Article
Tools & Resources
New Health Workforce Projections Data AvailableHRSA released the latest projections for the national supply, demand, and distribution of health care workers. Dashboard |
Modification of the definition of “Rural Area” as defined by HRSAHRSA's Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) is modifying the definition of “rural area” for the purposes of determining geographic eligibility to apply for or receive services funded by FORHP's rural health grants. With a data-driven methodology, this update to the definition of rural area will integrate the new Road Ruggedness Score (RRS) released in 2023 by the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This notice responds to comments received on proposed modifications to HRSA's FORHP definition published in the Federal Register on April 26, 2024. More Information |
National Rural Health Day Episode: Addressing Rural Maternal Health DisparitiesCheck out the latest episode from Exploring Rural Health by RHIhub featuring Kristen Dillon, MD, Chief Medical Officer of the Federal Office for Rural Health Policy, in a discussion about the current state of rural maternal health and ways the Health Resources and Services Administration is working to improve outcomes for rural mothers. Podcast |
Share Your Rural Health StoryThe National Rural Health Association announced, “Rural Stories”. The most impactful advocacy tool you have is your story. Talking about your community and experience can help people identify with rural health issues and show how the impact legislation and policy have on rural residents across the country. NRHA encourages you to share your experiences in rural health, whether it is working in a rural hospital struggling with workforce shortages, traveling far distances to obtain healthcare access, experiencing the impact of rural hospital closures in your community, or explaining how specific rural programs and funding have benefited or harmed your rural community. Share Your Story |
Publications
Expanding options to recruit, grow, and retain the public health workforce
This study emphasizes the importance of transparent development, engaging front-line staff, offering advancement pathways, and providing insights to enhance workforce recruitment and retention.
Publication
Publication
Developing Employee Career Paths and LaddersThis article examines how public health leaders define and utilize career ladders, the facilitators and barriers to their use, as well as strategies to strengthen the use of career ladders in governmental public health. Publication |
The Availability of Midwifery Care in Rural United States CommunitiesAccess to pregnancy-related and childbirth-related health care for rural residents is limited by health workforce shortages in the United States. Although midwives are key pregnancy and childbirth care providers, the current landscape of the rural midwifery workforce is not well understood. The goal of this analysis was to describe the availability of local midwifery care in rural US communities. Publication |
Growing the Rural Physician Workforce: Decades of Federal Funding Impacts Rural Graduate Medical Education
In October 2023, the Bureau of Healthcare Workforce (BHW) released its physician workforce projections, noting that by 2036, metro areas will see a 6% shortage of physicians. In contrast, rural America is anticipating a 56% shortage.
Publication
Publication
Changing Medicare Payment to Strengthen Primary CareCMS has taken steps to recognize the importance of primary care and the time and effort required for care teams to develop long-lasting, trusting relationships with patients. Publication |
Mental Health America Launches Hub to Help Rural ResidentsThe tables provide comprehensive statistics on substance use, mental health, and treatment in the United States. Publication |
State of the Primary Care WorkforceThis recent report, published by HRSA, offers data on the current state and projected estimates of the future supply of physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants offering primary care. It includes demographics as well as current and projected shortages with comparison and metropolitan and nonmetropolitan projections. It includes state by state data on the primary care physician workforce. It also discusses challenges impacting the workforce and the impact of primary care on population health. Report |
Obstetric Care Access at Rural and Urban Hospitals in the United StatesMaternal mortality is on the rise in the US, while access to maternal health services continues to decline. This study examines the losses and gains of obstetric care at hospitals in the United States from 2010 to 2022. Publication |
NRHA Policy PapersOur policy papers present an in-depth assessment of an issue, with background information, status, impacts, proposed policy interventions, and recommendations for action relative to the position. Policy papers are used to discuss a longer-term vision for a rural health issue and NRHA’s role in advocacy. Policy papers are developed as a resource to draw from, serve as references, and use as background information on issues critical to rural health. Publication |
Health Care Affordability and Medical Debt: Differences by Rurality, Region, and Socio-Demographic CharacteristicsThe high cost of health care affects health at both the individual and population level, and rural residents experience inequities in health, access to care, and financial well-being. However, little research has examined how health care affordability differs by rural/urban residence, and how health care affordability varies along geographic and socio-demographic dimensions within rural areas. Brief |
The Maternal and Child Health Workforce: A Snapshot of Current and Future Needs from Public Health WINS 2021This publication summarizes and examines data collected from the first-ever Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey Maternal and Child Health (MCH) module. Publication |
Trends in the Health Workforce Supply in the Rural U.S.This report describes trends in the supply and distribution of clinicians in primary care, behavioral health, and obstetrical care, as well as dentists, surgeons, community health workers, and home health aides, in the rural vs. urban U.S. workforce nationally and regionally. Researchers examined the availability of current and historical workforce data for professions important for rural communities. Report |
