Our Participating Programs and Sponsors
Registration is open for our 2024 Scholarly Intensive Seminar Series! Click HERE for more information!
The RTT Collaborative is excited to announce that we are hiring a part-time Associate Director!
More information can be found here: Associate-Director-open-position.pdf (185.78 KB pdf) !
Featured News Story
Annual Rural Photo Contest
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
- The South Was the Center of Rural Population Growth Last Yearon April 30, 2024 at 5:00 am
Discusses population growth in the rural southeast, based on an analysis of 2023 Census data. Highlights factors associated with population growth, including recreational opportunities.
- Students From Across the State Emphasized the Need for Mental Health Resources in Rural Alaska During a Conferenceon April 30, 2024 at 5:00 am
Summarizes the proceedings of the Alaska Association of Student Government Spring Conference, held in the remote community of Utqiagvik. Highlights student resolutions, including support for Naloxone training and increased mental health resources in rural schools.
- How HHS SUD Confidentiality Regulations Will Impact Rural Providerson April 26, 2024 at 5:00 am
Describes the changes to substance use disorder (SUD) confidentiality regulations under 42 CFR Part 2 and the impact of the rule change on rural healthcare providers. Discusses services offered by Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers.
- VA Announces Expansion of "Close to Me" Cancer Program as Part of the Cancer Moonshot, Bringing Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Closer to...on April 25, 2024 at 5:00 am
Announces the expansion of a cancer care program for veterans. Program clinicians improve access to cancer care by traveling to outpatient clinics in rural and other places. Expansion of the program is expected to bring cancer care to 9,000 additional veterans.
- Navajo Psychiatrist Bridges Gaps Between Native American Culture and Behavioral Health Careon April 24, 2024 at 5:00 am
Profiles the only psychiatrist in Navajo Nation who blends Western behavioral healthcare and cultural practices in his delivery of care. Discusses mental healthcare access, diabetes, recruiting healthcare workforce, and the impact of COVID-19.
- Biden-Harris Administration Releases National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and First-Ever Federal Action Planon April 23, 2024 at 5:00 am
Announces the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (National Strategy) and the associated Federal Action Plan, a plan developed by 10 federal departments. The National Strategy offers recommendations for addressing needs for at-risk populations. Highlights suicide rate disparities for various race and ethnicities. Includes links to the National Strategy, the Federal Action Plan, and other resources for mental healthcare access and substance abuse services.
- Rural Communities Face Primary Care Physician Shortageon April 22, 2024 at 5:00 am
Discusses recent research finding the shortage of primary care physicians is greater in rural areas. Includes analysis of findings by study authors, discussing rural-specific needs, Medicare reimbursement, and recruiting rural residents into healthcare.
- Rural Jails Turn to Community Health Workers To Help the Newly Released Succeedon April 22, 2024 at 5:00 am
Describes the role community health workers play in re-entry for recently incarcerated rural Utah residents. Discusses the role of addiction in incarceration and how the program is funded.
- Biden Administration Sets Higher Staffing Mandates. Most Nursing Homes Don't Meet Them.on April 22, 2024 at 5:00 am
Offers review of a new rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding staffing minimums in nursing homes. The new standard is expected to require most nursing homes to increase staff. Discusses the rural-specific timeline for meeting the standard in addition to the impact on wages, workforce shortages, and Medicaid reimbursement.
- Biden-Harris Administration Takes Historic Action to Increase Access to Quality Care, and Support to Families and Care Workerson April 22, 2024 at 5:00 am
Announces three rules from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services establishing national standards and increasing access to care. "Minimum Staffing Standards for Nursing Homes" aims to improve healthcare quality by setting minimum staffing standards for nursing staff, collecting and reporting on workforce compensation data, and offering incentives for the nurse workforce to work in nursing homes. The 2 remaining rules work together to establish national appointment wait time standards, address payment transparency, and create payment standards for workers providing home and community based services.
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
- North Carolina Medicaid Expansion: A Rural Perspectiveon May 1, 2024 at 4:09 pm
Reports on expanded Medicaid coverage in rural North Carolina using state-level monthly enrollment data. Compares expansion enrollment in rural, suburban, and urban counties, and evaluates whether enrollment is associated with poverty at the county level. -- North Carolina Rural Center
- Primary Care Spending in Medicare Fee-for-Service: An Illustrative Analysis Using Alternative Definitions of Primary Careon May 1, 2024 at 3:13 pm
Discusses the importance of primary care to promote positive health outcomes and how reimbursement rates illustrate what healthcare areas are given priority. Utilizes Medicare fee-for-service data to estimate primary care spending and provides data breakdowns according to sex, race, age, insurance status, rural versus urban location, and more. -- HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
- The State of Medicare Supplement Coverage: Trends in Enrollment and Demographicson May 1, 2024 at 3:10 pm
Provides an overview of Medicare Supplement, or Medigap, coverage and coverage options. Examines the demographics of Medicare enrollees with Medicare Supplement policies and enrollment trends. Includes demographic data on rural Medicare Supplement policyholders. -- AHIP
- Preventable Early Deaths in the United States, 2010-2022on May 1, 2024 at 2:45 pm
Using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Vital Statistics System data, offers state level rural and urban data for preventable deaths in people younger than 80. Death causes include unintentional injury, chronic lower respiratory disease, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Child Nutrition Program Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic, July 2020 through December 2021 School Meals Operations Study, Year 2...on May 1, 2024 at 2:18 pm
Describes trends in Child Nutrition (CN) Program program participation during the COVID-19 pandemic, from July 2020 through December 2021. Builds on a previous report that presents data on the number of meals served, operational and financial challenges of state agencies and local program operators, and the use of COVID-19 Child Nutrition nationwide waivers. -- USDA Economic Research Service
- Voices of Experience: Lay Perspectives on Severe Maternal Morbidity in Appalachiaon April 30, 2024 at 9:53 pm
Highlights the perspectives of 10 rural Appalachian women interviewed about their experiences with severe maternal morbidity, social determinants of health, the healthcare system, and access to quality healthcare. Offers potential interventions based on interview themes.
- Characteristics and Outcomes of a Hospitalized Cohort with Reduced Mortality from COVID-19, White Mountain Apache Tribal Lands, April 1 –...on April 30, 2024 at 9:34 pm
Analyzes factors affecting COVID-19 patient outcomes among 2262 American Indian people living on or near White Mountain Apache tribal lands, with data from April 1 to Jul 31, 2020. Highlights the significance of reduced mortality in the study population, and discusses possible impacts of a home visit referral program.
- United States Department of Health & Human Services: Plan for Promoting Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Automated and...on April 30, 2024 at 8:45 pm
Offers guidance from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) for the use of artificial intelligence in public benefits and services funded by HHS. Discusses areas of opportunity and concerns for underserved communities including rural residents throughout. -- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- How Americans View Infrastructure in Their Communityon April 30, 2024 at 8:23 pm
Examines survey data on residents' perspectives on their own neighborhood infrastructure for 15 community types as defined by the American Communities Project. Discusses infrastructure condition, funding, amount of use, access to infrastructure, and environmental hazards due to infrastructure. -- American Communities Project
- Arizona Rural Maternity Careon April 30, 2024 at 8:02 pm
Offers data on rural maternity healthcare access and mortality in Arizona. Highlights rural and urban comparisons of healthcare access and health insurance coverage. Includes recommendations for improving access and mortality rates. -- Arizona Center for Rural Health