CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE !!!

 

Now accepting UME programs to be participating programs!

Interested UME programs can complete and submit the 2024-2025 application HERE.

 

Click HERE for information on our 2025 Annual Meeting!!!

 

Our Participating Programs and Sponsors

Ohio University HCOM
Central Maine Medical Center Family Medicine Residency – Swift River Rural Training Track
Colorado Family Medicine Residencies
Ohio University RUSP
Cahaba Medical Care
Spokane Teaching Health Center
Family Medicine Residency of Idaho
Oregon Health & Science University-Cascades East Family Medicine Residency
Family Medicine Residency of Western Montana
Providence Oregon Family Medicine Hood River Rural Training Program
Hidalgo Medical Services Family Medicine Residency Program
Wayne County Hospital RESST Program
UND Bismarck/Center for Family Medicine-Hettinger RTT & UND Minot/Williston Medical Center-Rural Residency
Wisconsin Rural Physician Residency Assistance Program
University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson Family Medicine Residency

Featured News Story

Annual Rural Photo Contest

Posted on:

The Rural Medical Training Collaborative (formerly RTT Collaborative) invites you to participate in our annual rural photo contest.  Each year we hold a “bragging rights” competition for the shutter bugs associated with our organization to showcase their best photos that represent rural healthcare and training.  The deadline for submission is the end of April, but this year, for the first time ever, all entries that are submitted prior to the start of our annual meeting on April 10th, will be featured at the meeting and eligible to win the new “Rural Educators” award, to be selected by the attendees at the annual meeting in Asheville,
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Latest News

News stories via the Rural Health Information Hub News stories of interest to rural health, with information provided via the Rural Health Information Hub

  • Submit Nominations for Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM) Committees
    on April 15, 2025 at 5:00 am

    Nominations are being accepted for the Endorsement & Maintenance (E&M), Pre-Rulemaking Measure Review (PRMR), and Measure Set Review (MSR) committees. Eligible committee members include clinicians, healthcare facilities, purchasers, policymakers, researchers, patients, caregivers, and more. E&M committee members review and endorse clinical quality and cost/resource use measures to ensure effectiveness, safety, and that they are evidence-based. PRMR committee members recommend quality and efficiency measures to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid. MSR committee members review measures for continued use in CMS programs and are selected from the PRMR committee. Nominations are due May 15, 2025.

  • Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation of the Medicare Program (Executive Order 14192) - Request for Information
    on April 14, 2025 at 5:00 am

    Requests feedback from healthcare providers, researchers, stakeholders, health and drug plans, and the public on potential changes to Medicare regulations in line with Executive Order 14192 "Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation" issued on January 31, 2025, which requires agencies proposing new legislation to identify at least 10 existing regulations to be repealed. Comments are due June 10, 2025.

  • CMS Refocuses on its Core Mission and Preserving the State-Federal Medicaid Partnership
    on April 10, 2025 at 5:00 am

    Summarizes the mission of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) and highlights changes to Medicaid program allowances related to designated state health programs (DSHPs) and designated state investment programs (DSIPs). Includes examples of program costs that will no longer be allowed.

  • Dr. Mehmet Oz Shares Vision for CMS
    on April 10, 2025 at 5:00 am

    Highlights the priorities for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) and new Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. Provides information on how the priorities will align with the President's Make America Healthy Again initiative.

  • Social Factors Help Explain Worse Cardiovascular Health among Adults in Rural Vs. Urban Communities
    on March 31, 2025 at 5:00 am

    Summarizes recent National Institutes of Health (NIH) research comparing geographic differences in cardiovascular health and the factors contributing to the disparity including income, education, food security, and home ownership. Notes the potential impact of study findings on public health and policy related to the health of rural residents.

  • Reducing Barriers to Participation in Population-Based Total Cost of Care (PB-TCOC) Models and Supporting Primary and Specialty Care...
    on March 25, 2025 at 5:00 am

    Request for input regarding barriers to participation in population-based total cost of care (PB-TCOC) models from the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC). Topics of interest include business decisions impacting participation for different organization types, streamlining models, and incentivizing participation for both primary and specialty care. Asks for feedback regarding types of organizations best positioned to serve rural and other communities. Comments can be emailed to PTAC@HHS.gov by April 18, 2025.

  • Secretary Kennedy Renews Public Health Emergency Declaration to Address National Opioid Crisis
    on March 18, 2025 at 5:00 am

    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announces the renewal of the public health emergency (PHE) regarding opioid use. The renewal extends the PHE for 90 days. Outlines federal coordination allowed by the PHE and highlights recent successes in decreasing overdose deaths.

  • 2025 Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Proposed Rule
    on March 10, 2025 at 5:00 am

    Offers an overview of a proposed Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rule implementing changes to the Health Insurance Marketplaces. Changes include premium payment guidelines, enrollment, eligibility guidelines, services offered, and compliance regulation.

  • Rural America Faces Growing Shortage of Eye Surgeons
    on January 22, 2025 at 6:00 am

    Summarizes recent research finding that rural areas have a shortage of ophthalmic surgeons despite a higher need for ophthalmic surgery for rural residents. Discusses trends in access to eye surgeons and specialists between 2012 and 2022 and regional access disparities.

  • Comments Requested on Mobile Crisis Team Services: An Implementation Toolkit Draft
    on January 21, 2025 at 6:00 am

    Request for comments on a draft of the Mobile Crisis Team Services: An Implementation Toolkit. The document offers guidance and resources to plan, implement, and maintain mobile crisis teams supporting mental health and substance use-related behavioral health crises and includes rural-specific considerations. Comments are accepted through March 21, 2025.

Helpful Resources

Rural resources via the Rural Health Information Hub Resources, reports, and other documents on rural health topics from a variety of sources, with information provided via the Rural Health Information Hub

  • Characteristics of Adults Age 18 and Older Who Took Prescription Medication for Depression: United States, 2023
    on April 17, 2025 at 3:40 pm

    Provides 2023 data on the characteristics of adults who took prescription medication for depression. Includes a breakdown by region and urbanization level, including nonmetropolitan, medium and small metropolitan, large fringe metropolitan, or large central metropolitan area. -- National Center for Health Statistics

  • April 2025 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
    on April 16, 2025 at 3:24 pm

    Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) April 2025 meeting. Covers physician fee schedule updates and improving the accuracy of relative payment rates; structural differences between the stand-alone prescription drug plan (PDP) and Medicare Advantage–Prescription Drug plan (MA–PD) markets; the utilization and delivery of Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits; the effect of Medicare Advantage on rural hospitals; paying for software technologies in Medicare; access to hospice and certain services under the hospice benefit for beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease and beneficiaries with cancer; and regulations, star ratings, and fee-for-service Medicare policies aimed at improving nursing home quality. -- Medicare Payment Advisory Commission

  • Ethics for Behavioral Health Professionals in Rural Areas
    on April 15, 2025 at 9:48 pm

    Webinar recording discusses ethics in behavioral health delivery in rural areas. Provides guidance for behavioral health professionals on shaping care through ethical decision-making models and highlights topics relevant to rural communities. -- Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network

  • Food Security Status Across the Rural-Urban Continuum Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
    on April 15, 2025 at 7:48 pm

    Examines food insecurity across the rural-urban continuum and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food access in various locations. Utilizes 2015-2019 and 2020-2021 Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement (CPS FSS) data to analyze food security according to urban, large rural city/town, small rural town, or isolated rural town/area. -- U.S. Census Bureau

  • Telehealth ROCKS: 2024 Annual Report
    on April 15, 2025 at 3:39 pm

    Provides an overview of the Telehealth ROCKS program and related community stories and impacts. Includes information on the team members and collaborative efforts, social determinants of health, school-based community health workers, training and funding opportunities, and more. Discusses initiatives in rural areas. -- Heartland Telehealth Resource Center, Telehealth ROCKS

  • Fiscal Year 2026 Medicare Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Prospective Payment System and Quality Reporting Updates Proposed Rule CMS-1831-P...
    on April 14, 2025 at 2:53 pm

    Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) fiscal year 2026 inpatient psychiatric facility (IPF) prospective payment system (PPS) proposed rule. Covers proposed annual updates to the prospective payment rates, outlier threshold, and wage index. Also describes proposed changes to facility-level adjustment factors for teaching status and rural location. -- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

  • Initiating Research in Indian Country: Lessons From the Strong Heart Study
    on April 11, 2025 at 1:49 pm

    Discusses the process of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) initiating studies to examine cardiovascular disease in rural and remote areas, isolated populations, and sovereign nations. Discusses the steps in conducting research with a focus on building trust, transparent implementation, and mutual feedback and results sharing.

  • Are HHC Scores a Reliable Health Status Indicator Across Rural and Urban Areas?
    on April 10, 2025 at 8:39 pm

    Examines differences in Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) risk scores between rural and urban Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) beneficiaries and analyzes which factors drive observed differences. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated rural areas for 4 chronic conditions in 2019-2020. -- ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center

  • Data Gem: Are You in an Urban or Rural Area?
    on April 10, 2025 at 5:47 pm

    Video highlighting 3 ways to identify a location as either urban or rural using U.S. Census Bureau tools. Transcript linked underneath the video player. -- U.S. Census Bureau

  • Notes from the Field: Suicidal Thoughts and Knowing Someone Who Died by Suicide Among Adults — United States, 2023
    on April 10, 2025 at 5:12 pm

    Estimates the number of U.S. adults who had suicidal thoughts during the past 12 months and the number who personally knew someone who died by suicide. Includes data by metropolitan and nonmetro areas. -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention