The USDA Farm Bill is a critical piece of legislation that impacts rural health, health care access and community development across the country. While often associated with agriculture, the Farm Bill also supports rural hospitals, child nutrition programs and essential services that shape quality of life in rural communities.

Typically renewed every five years, the last Farm Bill was passed in 2018. As Congress works toward the next version, there is an opportunity to strengthen investments in rural health care and economic development. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed its version, while the Senate’s proposal is still pending.

The Tennessee Charitable Care Network is strengthening communities across the state through its support of Community Health Workers. These trusted professionals serve as a bridge between patients and the health care system, helping individuals navigate services, access resources and receive culturally responsive care.

Community Health Workers play a critical role in improving health outcomes, increasing access to care and addressing barriers that often prevent people from getting the help they need. Through funding, training and workforce development, TCCN ensures these frontline workers are equipped to make a lasting impact.

The Rural Health Association of Tennessee is delighted to announce that our 2026 Annual Conference Sponsorship Prospectus is now available.

Each year, our Annual Conference brings together 350+ rural health leaders, providers, policymakers, educators and advocates from across Tennessee to collaborate on solutions that strengthen rural communities. This event creates a space for meaningful conversations, innovative ideas and partnerships that help move rural health forward.

March 3rd, 2026, Rural Health Association of Tennessee Members met with our State Representatives and Senators to talk about the Rural Health Transformation Program, the Rural Health Safety Net, AI "Downcoding" and Certificate of Need.

A special thanks to the follow state Representatives for meeting with us:

The Rural Health Association of Tennessee will host its second of three regional events on March 26, 2026, in Sevierville, TN. We are grateful to Walters State Community College for hosting this meeting, which will bring together health care professionals, community leaders, public health advocates and rural health champions.

This East Tennessee regional event will focus on building the rural health care ecosystem, with an emphasis on workforce development, partnerships, and access to care across the region.

The Rural Health Association of Tennessee will host the first of three regional events on March 17, 2026 in Humboldt, TN. We are grateful to Humboldt Medical Center for hosting this meeting which will bring together health care professionals, community leaders, public health advocates and rural health champions.

This event will focus on maternal health and food security. You can learn more about the sessions and speakers by reviewing the agenda below.

February 12, 2026, Rural Health Association of Tennessee members from across Tennessee traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the National Rural Health Association Policy Institute.

While we were there we had the opportunity to talk about rural health priorities with the following:

February 10, 2026, Rural Health Association of Tennessee staff joined Maternal Health Advocates from around the state to talk about the importance of early intervention and education for new and expecting mothers.

A special thanks to the follow state Representatives for meeting with us:

The Tennessee Hospital Association’s Physician Workforce Landscape report offers a detailed look at the state’s physician supply, current and projected demand, and the capacity of medical education programs through 2035. It finds that Tennessee is facing a significant physician shortage, with the number of practicing doctors about 13 % below the national per-capita average.

The report also highlights a widening gap between the number of medical school graduates and available residency training slots in the state, a trend projected to grow over the next decade. To address these challenges, the study outlines potential strategies for strengthening the physician pipeline and supporting recruitment and retention efforts across specialties and geographic areas. The report is part of THA’s broader workforce research aimed at supporting hospitals’ workforce planning and advocacy as Tennessee’s population continues to grow and age.

Learn More

The Tennessee Department of Health’s State Office of Rural Health has released its FY25 Annual Report on the Uninsured Adult Healthcare Safety Net Program, providing a comprehensive look at the program’s reach, impact and outcomes across the state.

Covering the period from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, the report was submitted to the Tennessee General Assembly and highlights how state funding was distributed to support care for uninsured adults. It also outlines the scope of the provider network, demonstrating how clinics and partners across Tennessee are working together to ensure access to essential healthcare services for some of the state’s most vulnerable populations.

Rural Health Association of Tennessee celebrated National Rural Health Day on November 20th in Seiverville, Tennessee at our 31st Annual Conference, "Connecting Care, Strengthening Communities". The conference was a dynamic and engaging three days of learning from experts in rural health fields across the state, bringing together professionals within the healthcare field. It provided a platform for the exchange of knowledge, ideas and experiences, fostering growth and collaboration. 

The Rural Health Awards Luncheon is RHA's distinguished event designed to recognize and honor outstanding achievements, exemplary contributions and noteworthy accomplishments across rural health in Tennessee. It brings together individuals, professionals and organizations deserving of recognition for their exceptional work, innovation, and dedication. We are honored to host this event to showcase excellence and highlight the positive impact of individuals in the healthcare field.

Congratulations to our 2025 Poster Contest Winners!

RHA's 11th Annual Poster Contest included submissions for the following divisions: 

Undergraduate and Masters Student

Rural Americans are more likely to be self-employed or work for small employers that do not offer insurance. More than one third (35.2 percent) of rural adult workers are not offered employer sponsored coverage, compared to 29.1 percent of urban workers. Without access to employer plans, rural residents depend heavily on the Marketplace and the affordability provided by premium tax credits.

RHA is joining forces with the National Rural Health Association and others across the nation to advocate for the support of the ACA Marketplace and the protection of enhanced premium tax credits (ePTCs).

Accepting Nominations 

Modeled after the National Rural Health Association’s policy congress, the Tennessee Rural Health Policy Congress will be the policymaking body that determines the Rural Health Association of Tennessee’s (RHA) positions regarding public policy. 

The responsibilities of the members are to:

• Identify topics and provide technical expertise on the development of Association policies.
• Create, review, and approve Association policy recommendations and positions.
• Ensure the Association’s guiding principles and mission are promoted through all policies.
• Develop policy papers to communicate the Associations priorities and recommendations.

Membership

To be eligible to serve on the Policy congress, individuals must be an active member of the association and in the greater rural health community. Members should review the orientation document (below), review the attendance requirement for 2026, and complete the nomination form by Monday, January 5th.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced that the State has submitted its application to access federal grant funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), which is designed to improve healthcare access, quality, and outcomes in rural communities nationwide.

“Tennessee has an historic opportunity to invest in and strengthen healthcare for rural communities for generations to come,” said Gov. Lee. “We know what works, because supporting at-risk and underserved Tennesseans has been a priority of my administration since day one. I’m grateful to the Trump Administration for their partnership to ensure better care, closer to home, for every Tennessean.”

We are saddened to share the passing of Hal Leftwich, a long-time member of Rural Health Association of Tennessee and an active member of our Legislative Committee. 

Hal had more than 40 years of experience in healthcare leadership, serving the last seven years as CEO of Big South Fork Medical Center in Oneida. He worked in hospitals large and small but had a special love for rural hospitals.

Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHA) is working hard to ensure that the federal Rural Health Transformation Program dollars made available by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, enacted into law on July 4, 2025, are directed to rural hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) as intended. 

These funds are an attempt to offset losses that rural health providers will experience associated with other health provisions in the legislation, particularly the Medicaid program. Rural Health Association of Tennessee is advocating that 90% of funds go directly to the Rural Facility types named in the CMS Request for Proposals (100% minus 10% administration).

For additional information about this program, we recommend:

• National Rural Health Association - Rural Health Transformation Program
  
• Tennessee Department of Health - Rural Health Access Page

RHA's Rural Health Transformation Recommendations

Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHA) is accepting proposals for the following: 

Rural Health Dashboard Rebuild

Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHA) invites proposals from qualified individuals and/or organizations to update and rebuild our Tennessee Rural Health Dashboard. The purpose of the dashboard is to answer the common question “What is rural” and serve as a comprehensive data source of rural facilities in Tennessee. We often see this dashboard referenced in presentations on rural health, grant applications, and policy papers.

The Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHA) is excited to launch a 6-part webinar series focused on strengthening aging services across rural communities in Tennessee. Beginning Oct. 2, these webinars will be held on Thursdays weekly at 12:00 PM CST and are open to healthcare providers, community leaders, advocates and anyone interested in improving the lives of older adults.

Why This Series Matters

Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHA) has been awarded a grant from Tennessee Department of Health (Z-25-314278) intended to help grantees deliver integrated, high-quality, comprehensive prevention and healthcare services, and innovative care delivery models that are evidence-informed throughout rural areas in the state. These investments may include innovative projects that improve access to health and healthcare services for rural populations, and funding to support transition to alternative care models to address community need.

Scope of Work

As part of this historic opportunity, RHA is in process of closing on a building located at 159 Court Square, Huntingdon, TN. The following Request for Proposals is to seek a contractor/s for the following.