North American HMS

09/01/2026

08/31/2026

🚨 Get Ready to !

Whether you’re a new Rural Health Clinic, preparing for accreditation, or have been serving your community for years, emergency preparedness testing is an important part of regulatory compliance and keeping your team ready.

The Great American ShakeOut is a worldwide preparedness exercise that gives RHCs an opportunity to test emergency response procedures, engage staff, and identify areas for improvement.

📅 October 15, 2026
Can’t participate that day? You can conduct a ShakeOut drill at your clinic anytime!

Resources are available to help you:
• Plan and conduct your drill
• Educate and train staff
• Access healthcare-specific preparedness materials
• Document your exercise
• Complete an After Action Report (AAR)

Depending on your clinic’s risk assessment and exercise design, participation may help support your Emergency Preparedness Program (EPP) testing requirements.

🔗 Learn more, register, and access resources:
https://www.shakeout.org/howtoparticipate

A simple drill today can help your team be better prepared when it matters most.

Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills help people in homes, schools, and organizations worldwide improve preparedness and practice how to be safe during earthquakes. Register to participate in your state or country's drill at www.ShakeOut.org.

08/26/2026

We are hiring! Send Resume or questions to Sonya.

08/22/2026

We are excited to see everyone in Texas!

08/18/2026

📢 **HRSA Extends Timeline for Certain HPSA Designations**

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has announced an important update regarding certain **Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designations**.

HPSAs identified for withdrawal through the **2025 National Shortage Designation Update (NSDU)** will remain in **“Proposed for Withdrawal” status** rather than being withdrawn as of July 1, 2026.

This extension gives State Primary Care Offices additional time to review updated data, evaluate designation boundaries, and submit revisions before HRSA makes final withdrawal decisions.

**Why does this matter for rural healthcare?** HPSA designations can impact access to important federal workforce resources, including **National Health Service Corps clinician placements and certain Medicare incentive payments**.

Communities affected by the NSDU will continue to be recognized as HPSAs while the review process continues, with the next annual Federal Register Notice scheduled on or before **July 1, 2027**.

Please note: This extension applies specifically to HPSAs identified through the NSDU process. Withdrawals specifically requested by State Primary Care Offices will continue as planned.

🔗 **Read the full HRSA announcement:**

State Primary Care Offices Will Have Additional Time to Review and Update Designations Before Final Withdrawal DecisionsThe Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) today announced that it will provide State Primary Care Offices (PCOs) additional time to review and update certain Health P...

08/13/2026

Free Risk Assessment Resource for Healthcare Organizations: RISC 2.0

The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) offers the Risk Identification and Site Criticality (RISC) 2.0 Toolkit, a free resource designed to help healthcare and public health organizations better understand and prepare for potential risks.

RISC 2.0 can help organizations:

• Identify threats and hazards
• Assess facility vulnerabilities
• Evaluate operational impacts
• Prioritize preparedness and mitigation efforts
• Strengthen emergency preparedness planning
• Assess cybersecurity risks and identify areas for improvement

For rural healthcare organizations, tools like RISC 2.0 can be especially valuable in helping identify vulnerabilities, prioritize limited resources, and strengthen organizational resilience.

💻 Learn more and access RISC 2.0:
https://aspr.hhs.gov/RISC/

A great resource to review as part of your organization's ongoing emergency preparedness and risk management efforts.

Stay informed with the latest updates from the ASPR, including vital resources for H5N1 bird flu preparedness, COVID-19 therapeutics, and BARDA's pandemic influenza initiatives and project Nextgen.

08/09/2026

Did you know Congress provides funding opportunities that could benefit your ?

From expanding facilities to upgrading technology, Congressionally Directed Spending (earmarks) has helped healthcare organizations secure millions in funding.

Join NARHC's exclusive members-only webinar to hear from Merchant McIntyre & Associates, LLC and learn how your RHC can pursue these opportunities.

📅 August 17 | 3:00 PM ET
👉 Register today: https://loom.ly/sWwzSz4

08/04/2026

We're gearing up for a busy few months on the road!

North American HMS will be exhibiting and presenting at several conferences this fall, and we look forward to connecting with rural health professionals from across the country. If you're attending one of these events, be sure to stop by our booth, attend one of our sessions, and say hello!

We can't wait to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new friends, and share ideas that help strengthen rural healthcare. See you soon!

07/29/2026

Don't miss your chance to join us this Friday, July 31 at 1:00 PM (ET) for a FREE webinar on the 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) proposed rule.

Learn about the proposed changes affecting , hear insights from 's Director of Government Affairs, Sarah Hohman, MPH and discover how you can help inform NARHC's comments to CMS.

Register today to reserve your spot! https://loom.ly/UA9fhic

07/22/2026

CMS 2027 Proposed Final Rule bars outsourcing for Remote Monitoring. We need to speak up on this. Outsourcing isn't for everyone, but it is essential for many.

Trade groups and health systems react to CMS' proposed ban on outside remote patient monitoring vendors, calling it "cutting off the arm to fix a broken nail."