(July 2, 2026) – HRSA Opens Rural Residency Development Grant Opportunity
The Health Resources and Services Administration released the Rural Residency Planning and Development Program under funding opportunity number HRSA-26-047, supporting hospitals and health systems in developing sustainable training infrastructure for long-term physician practices in medically vulnerable communities.
HRSA expects to award 15 grants of up to $750,000 each over a three-year project period through two pathways: General Primary Care and High-Need Specialty or Maternal Health and Obstetrics. Applications are due by Wednesday, July 8.
Applicants should follow updated program timelines, use the term “medically vulnerable” rather than "underserved" throughout their submission and consult ACGME rural track standards to ensure accreditation compliance. Organizations also must notify their state office early of their intent to apply.
Judge Temporarily Blocks Student Loan Limits for Health Care Professionals
In its 2025 reconciliation package, Congress capped aggregate student borrowing at $200,000 for professional degrees and $100,000 for graduate degrees. The U.S. Department of Education's proposed rule implementing the caps narrowly defined professional degree programs, excluding nurses and other allied health professionals. Several trade groups filed suit.
On Wednesday, July 1, the court granted a preliminary injunction preventing the department from implementing the rule. The judge found the department's definition of "professional degree" was more stringent than the statutory text of H.R. 1. A similar lawsuit filed by several Democratic state attorneys general remains pending.
CMS Releases Medicaid Community Engagement Guidance
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released information on community engagement requirements for certain Medicaid participants. The PDF is available for review, and the official publication is scheduled to be posted in the Federal Register on Monday, June 29.
The Medicaid community engagement requirements were enacted in Public Law 119-21, which President Donald J. Trump signed into law on July 4, 2025. States are required to implement these requirements by Jan. 1, 2027.
CMS Issues CY 2027 Proposed Medicare ESRD PPS Payment and Policy Updates
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued the Medicare End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System proposed payment updates for calendar year 2027. CMS estimates that the total increase in payments for CY 2027 to both freestanding and hospital-based ESRDs will be approximately 1.1 percent.
CMS is also proposing changes to low-volume payment adjustments, pediatric patient adjustments and updates to the ESRD quality incentive program. Comments will be due 60 days from the date of filing for public inspection in the Federal Register.