Announces $74 million in USDA grants to 143 rural healthcare organizations, including $32 million for rural healthcare organizations serving socially vulnerable communities. Highlights examples of funded projects and upgrades in Georgia, North Dakota, and Texas, and offers an overview of the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants program.

Announces nearly $60 million in funding to support rural health workforce growth and access to quality healthcare. Provides an overview of the funded efforts in healthcare job development, training, and placement, as well as funding for new rural medical residency programs and a $1 million award to 3 organizations working to increase access to healthcare for rural veterans.

Announces a presidential proclamation of the week of August 7-13 as National Health Center Week, highlighting the work of community health centers to increase access to medical care and public health services in underserved and rural areas. Describes federal investments in the Health Center Program.

Describes the challenges facing largely rural states and rural counties as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline rolls out the 988 phone number, which will take calls for behavioral health crises and connect callers to services, if needed. Notes that many rural counties rely on law enforcement to respond to crisis calls and that many rural callers may be required to travel to access mental health services.

Notice of proposed rule revising the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ACS) payment system for calendar year 2023. This proposed rule also outlines Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) payment policy, quality measures, and enrollment policy. Among other things, this proposed rule also updates and refines the requirements for the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR) Program, the ASC Quality Reporting (ASCQR) Program, and the Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting Program. Comments are due by September 13, 2022.

The American Institute of Dental Public Health (AIDPH) is accepting submissions for case presentations for the Rural Oral Health ECHO Hub. Monthly sessions focus on emerging topics in rural health in collaboration with, and supported by subject matter expertise from partners at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, Oral Health Progress and Equity Network, and the National Rural Health Association.

Reports on an Iowa State University study which found that in the past year expenses for rural Americans increased by 9.2% while their earnings increased by only 2.5%. Describes the effect that higher fuel prices have had on rural people, due to longer distances traveled for work, school, healthcare, and shopping for daily necessities, and the possibility that for this reason some might choose to move closer to larger cities.

Reports on a request by a bipartisan group of House of Representatives members for Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra to clarify by Sept. 9 whether and how the Administration plans to enforce the Medicare 96-hour payment rule and condition of participation for Critical Access Hospitals when the COVID-19 public health emergency ends.

Highlights a 3-week program for Native American students and graduates of tribal and community colleges to shadow physicians and train at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital. Describes the need for Native American physicians in rural tribal communities and the aims of the program to offer a pipeline to medical school and healthcare careers.

Highlights the work of rural nurse midwives to support prenatal care access in Iowa, noting issues for one pregnant woman related to reliable transportation to the remaining open birthing unit in her area and the impact of transportation on her delivery options. Describes a pilot project through the University of Iowa that utilizes a midwife team, serving more than 500 patients in the surrounding rural area.