U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Dr. Basil Gooden announced that USDA is accepting applications for grants to build community-oriented, high-speed internet networks for people in rural areas.

The Department is making up to $26 million in grants available under the Community Connect Program. This program provides funds to establish high-speed internet networks that will foster economic growth and deliver enhanced educational, health care and public safety benefits.

To learn more, read the full Stakeholder Announcement.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Dr. Basil Gooden invited grant applications to improve access to remote education and health care in rural and Tribal communities.

USDA is making approximately $40 million in funding available under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program.

This program funds distance learning and telemedicine equipment, like audio and video equipment. These funds will help digitally connect people to education, training and health care resources that are otherwise unavailable or limited in remote parts of the country.

To learn more, read full Stakeholder Announcement.

If you would like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Dr. Basil Gooden announced that USDA is seeking applicants to provide technical assistance to enhance rural transportation systems that will connect people to more economic resources in their communities.

The grants are part of the Rural Business Development Grant program. Eligible applicants should be qualified, experienced national organizations seeking to provide rural communities with training and technical assistance to improve passenger transportation services and facilities.

Organizations receiving funding typically support Tribal, local and regional governments; public transit agencies; and related nonprofit and for-profit organizations in rural areas.

To learn more, read full Stakeholder Announcement.

Live, informational webinars happening soon!

January 8: Rural-Serving PHAP Host Site Panel Discussion

2 – 3 pm ET  Register for the meeting here

January 23: General PHAP Host Site Technical Assistance Call

2 – 3:30 pm ET  Register for the meeting here

Are you looking for ways to fill workforce gaps to assist your organization’s delivery of public health services? Did you know CDC has a unique program that places motivated early-career public health professionals with public health organizations?

CDC’s Public Health Associate Program (PHAP) helps recent college graduates jump start their careers in public health with a CDC-funded two-year fellowship that offers hands-on, real-life experience in the day-to-day operations of public health programs in local communities. PHAP opportunities are also available with rural-serving organizations to help address the public health needs in rural communities.

Register below for the Rural-Serving PHAP Host Site Panel Discussion about the 2025 application process and the General PHAP Host Site Technical Assistance (TA) Call.

• TA calls are open to all organizations interested in applying to host a CDC public health associate in early 2025. Discussion topics include new resources for host organizations to use when applying and an overview of the updated application system.
• The rural host site sessions are for rural-serving organizations interested in applying to host a CDC public health associate in early 2025. These calls will feature a panel of rural-serving PHAP host site supervisors who will share their experience applying to host an associate.

For more information about CDC’s PHAP, visit PHAP Overview.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that USDA is seeking applications from energy providers to lower costs for people in rural areas. The grants will help providers offset costs for people whose household energy expenses total 275% of the national average or higher.

USDA is making the funding available through the Rural Utilities Service’s High Energy Cost Grant program.

To learn more, read the full Stakeholder Announcement.

The SCAN Foundation offers 10 steps for developing a master plan for aging with rural focus, covering leadership development, community engagement, implementation planning, evaluation, and sustainability. Highlights rural-specific challenges for aging in rural communities.

– Thursday, January 30 at 2:00 pm Eastern. Subject matter experts from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will present highlights of policy updates from the Calendar Year 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule in a webinar produced by the Rural Health Information Hub.  Covered topics will include: general care management, Advanced Primary Care Management, telehealth, policy updates for Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers, behavioral health, dental services, and more. The webinar is free, and you must register to attend.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a Medicare Learning Network (MLN) summary for Calendar Year 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule. Specifically, this MLN provides updates on changes that apply to services provided in 2025 including, telehealth, caregiver training, therapy, cardiovascular risk assessment and management, evaluation and management, behavioral health, Advanced Primary Care Management, global surgery payment, and dental and oral health.

Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released information on billing Medicare for Advanced Primary Care Management (APCM). ACPM services combine elements of several existing care management and communication technology-based services you may have already been billing for patients. Starting January 1, 2025, providers may use a new payment bundle that reflects the essential elements of advanced primary care.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated their Fact Sheet on Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) to include new information on Indian Health Service REHs and 2025 payment information.  Congress created REHs to preserve access to emergency and outpatient services in rural areas.  FORHP funds the Rural Health Redesign Center to provide 1:1 technical assistance to help hospitals and communities make informed decisions about converting to this model of care.