March 20, 2026

Today is the Spring Equinox, marking the first day of spring!

So much to look forward to!

Fawn in the Northwoods by Tom Tallant.

Apple blossoms in Mauston by Cheryl Toeller.

Flex Program

We are gearing up for the new fiscal year of the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program, and we need your input for allocating these federal dollars in Wisconsin. 

We are obliged to consider MBQIP measures, financial health indicators, community health needs assessments, and other sources of data to identify the areas with the most urgent need for intervention. Without your feedback, however, it's impossible to put together a coherent and impactful program to work in your nuanced environment. 

To that end, we are asking you to help us understand your needs, priorities, ideas, barriers to participation, excitement, and dread!

Check out the Flex Program Overview and please share your feedback and suggestions with us in one or more of the following ways: 

Flex Program Feedback Session

Friday, April 3, 10:00 a.m.

Some of you have been invited to smaller, more role-specific feedback groups related to the grant's focused areas for work. We strongly encourage you to join those groups if you're able. If you haven't received a direct invitation, or are unable to make it to your given time, we'd love to hear from you in this open session! 

Flex Program Suggestion Survey

Share your feedback on existing programs and help us align our priorities with your needs.

Survey open through April 1.

Quality Corner

Q4 2025 HCAHPS data due via HQR on April 8, 2026.

• HCAHPS is a core MBQIP measure for CAHs.

Photo by Jeff Lendrum in New London.

SHIP Grant Reminders

New invoicing process

With changes to UW Madison's administrative system and our own SHIP simplification efforts, hospitals can now send SHIP invoices for HCAHPS and other pre-approved expenses* directly to the UW's Research and Sponsored Programs team for reimbursement using the invoice template below.

Invoicing tips

• Reference this Example SHIP Invoice for instructions on completing the invoice.
• The Purchase Order (P.O.) Number is found in the first line of your Funding Award Agreement with UW Madison and appears as #CON-0000xxxx.

*SHIP expenses

Hospitals that selected the direct funding option must use their funds for purchasing HCAHPS first. Any leftover funding can be used for other pre-approved expenses discussed with Samantha Peck.

Learn

$ Health Profession Scholarships & Loan Assistance Programs - free webinar

Friday, March 20, 12:00 p.m.

• Discover scholarships and loan assistance programs that can help your career as a current or future health professional.
• Learn about: National Health Service Corps, Health Professions Loan Assistance Program, Rural Provider Loan Assistance Program.

American Hospital Association Next Generation Leaders Fellowship

• A fellowship program designed to empower healthcare leaders to bring about lasting change in the hospital and health systems in which they serve. Rural applicants are encouraged.
• Application deadline: March 31.

NEW! Practical Workforce Solutions for Rural Hospitals and Clinics - free webinar

Monday, April 13, 1:00 p.m.

• Practical, financial, and operational solutions for the workforce challenges unique to rural healthcare providers.
• Session led by Wintergreen and Gingham Solutions; hosted and sponsored by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH).

Rural Oncology Conference - Rural Cancer Institute - CEUs available

Saturday, April 18, 7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

• Conference will feature expert-led educational sessions, research presentations, and opportunities for collaboration focused on addressing disparities, advancing rural oncology research, and strengthening care delivery across rural settings.
• Location: Minneapolis, MN.
• Cost: $75.

NEW! Surgical Collaborative of Wisconsin's 2026 Annual Meeting - CMEs available

Saturday, May 16, 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

• Join surgeons and quality leaders from across Wisconsin for a day of learning, discussion of challenging cases, and sharing innovative approaches to patient care.
• Location: Glacier Canyon Lodge, Wisconsin Dells.
• Cost: Registration is FREE and includes all meals on Saturday.

CDC Rural Public Health Training - CEUs available

Free, online, self-paced

• Specialized training for public health professionals to work with rural communities.
• Topics include an introduction to rural public health, partnering with rural communities for rural public health communications, and responding to public health emergencies.
• For more information, contact ruralhealth@cdc.gov.

Grants

T-Mobile Hometown Grant

• Amount: Up to $50,000.
• Application due date: March 31.
• Who can apply: Elected officials, town managers/employees, tribal leaders, and nonprofit community leaders from small towns with population less than 50,000.
• Description: Funding for community projects that are shovel-ready and would not be possible through local government/municipal funding. Eligible uses include construction, equipment, labor costs, etc.

DentaQuest/Sun Life Health Access Hero Grant

• Amount: Multiple grants, $25,000 to $100,000.
• Application due date: March 31.
• Who can apply: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.
• Description: Grants for organizations working to address diabetes prevention, oral healthcare, and wellness initiatives.

NEW! Community-Track Pilot Project Grant - Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health 

• Amount: Up to $30,000.
• Application due date: Letter of Intent due April 1, application June 8.
• Who can apply: All people with an interest in agricultural health or safety and appropriate knowledge, skills, and resources are invited to submit an application, including local government, for- and non-profit organizations, and faith and community organizations.
• Description: Providing funding for community-based projects working to prevent agricultural injury and illness through training and educational campaigns. 

Healthcare Connect Fund - Federal Communications Commission

• Amount: 65% discount on eligible advanced telecommunications and information services and equipment.
• Application due date: April 1.
• Who can apply: A public or nonprofit health care entity located in a rural area.
• Description: Eligible products and services include broadband services, network equipment, network security, and provider-constructed and owned network facilities.

NEW! Drug-Free Communities Support Program - CDC

• Amount: $125,000/year for five years.
• Application due date: April 14.
• Who can apply: Variety of organizations including government entities, Native American Tribal governments, for- and non-profit organizations, public school districts, etc. Applicants must meet additional criteria, such as a minimum six months working together on substance abuse issues, among others.
• Description: Funding to establish and strengthen community coalitions working to prevent and reduce substance use among youth ages 18 and younger. 

NEW! Implementing Zero Suicide in Health Systems - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

• Amount: $400,000/year for up to five years.
• Application due date: April 20.
• Who can apply: Community-based primary care or behavioral healthcare settings, emergency departments, public health agencies. There is a separate grant for state agencies.
• Description: Grants to health systems to implement the Zero Suicide framework, a comprehensive, multi-setting approach to child and youth suicide prevention. 

NEW! Helping Hands Grant - American Psychiatric Association

• Amount: $5,000.
• Application due date: May 1.
• Who can apply: Medical schools on behalf of medical students.
• Description: Grants for community mental health and substance use disorder projects that are initiated and managed by medical students in partnership with community agencies or in conjunction with ongoing medical school outreach activities. 

Please contact Kevin Jacobson, WORH Loan Assistance Program Manager, for help identifying grant opportunities to support your important work or go to the WORH website.

Review

NEW! Rural Health Science Tip Sheets - CDC Office of Rural Health

• Resources designed for public health professionals and others working with data. 
• Tip sheets provide guidance and examples for selecting and applying rural-urban classification variables, accounting for demographic differences, and strengthening the rigor and relevance of rural data analyses. 

Photo Features

Send us your pictures of rural Wisconsin life to be featured in Rural Health Radar!

Email pictures to Megan and include a brief description, where the photo was taken, and the name of the photographer.

Wood violets in Coon Valley by Timothy Kufahl.

Looking for past issues of Rural Health Radar? Perhaps you saw something important, and need a reminder of the registration or application deadline? We've got your back. See past issues on our website near the newsletter sign-up section.

Your feedback on this newsletter and our overall communication efforts are always welcome, too.