Notices. Notice
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/register/2026/04/29/2026-08300·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
BILLING CODE 4164-01-P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Health Resources and Services Administration Rural Hospital Provider Assistance Program AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: HRSA's Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), within HHS, will administer the Rural Hospital Provider Assistance Program for fiscal year
(FY)2026, a new formula grant program authorized under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026. This notice is being issued prior to the publication of the Rural Hospital Provider Assistance Program Notice of Funding Opportunity to allow eligible hospitals enough time to prepare and submit applications through *www.grants.gov,* and for HRSA to process applications. $25,000,000 will be available for HRSA to make payments to eligible hospitals within FY 2026. DATES: Completed applications must be submitted electronically through *www.grants.gov* by July 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. ADDRESSES: Questions should be submitted to *RuralHospitals@hrsa.gov.* FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Krista Mastel, Public Health Analyst, Hospital State Division, FORHP, HRSA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20852, 1-301-443-0491, and *RuralHospitals@hrsa.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Section 711 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 912) directs FORHP to advise the Secretary of HHS on policies affecting rural hospitals and health care and coordinating activities within HHS that relate to rural health care. Since the 1990s, FORHP has administered grants that support activities related to increasing access to health care in rural areas. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, Public Law 119-75, H.R. 7148, authorized $25,000,000 for making payments to eligible hospitals for the maintenance of health care providers. This program will be administered by FORHP. Eligible hospitals will apply directly to HRSA, and funds will be awarded directly to hospitals. Eligibility Information As set forth in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, eligible hospitals must meet the following criteria to receive payments:
(1)have no more than 50 inpatient beds and
(2)have an established wage index values of less than 0.90 as determined by the Secretary of HHS under section 1886(d)(3)(E) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(3)(E)). The payment amounts will be determined by dividing total available funding equally among eligible hospitals. Up to 10 percent of the funds may be used by eligible hospitals for administrative expenses. For the purposes of this grant program, HRSA will use the following methodology and best and most current data available at the time of this notice to determine eligible hospitals: 1. *Inpatient Beds:* the number of inpatient beds will be determined by the number of acute care inpatient beds reported in the Medicare cost report provided in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(CMS)Healthcare Cost Report Information System Quarterly Update for FY 2025 as of December 31, 2025. Acute care inpatient beds are derived from the Medicare cost report, Worksheet S-3, Part I, Line 14, column 2, which represents staffed beds and excludes beds paid under separate psychiatric or rehabilitation payment systems. 2. *Hospital Wage Index:* HRSA will use the wage index values published in Table 2, as finalized in the FY 2026 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System final rule (or correction notice, if applicable), which reflect the full application of all relevant policies and adjustments to determine whether a hospital had an established wage index value of less than 0.90. Table 2 is available on the CMS website at *https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/prospective-payment-systems/acute-inpatient-pps.* To access it, select the link for the applicable final rule on the left-hand side of the page or navigate to “Acute Inpatient Files for Download.” With each Inpatient Prospective Payment System final rule (or correction notice, if applicable), CMS publishes Table 2: Case-Mix Index and Wage Index by CMS Certification Number. This table reflects the final wage index assigned to each hospital for the upcoming fiscal year at the time of the development of the final rule. The wage index values incorporate all applicable policies and adjustments, including reclassifications, wage index floors, caps, and other statutory or regulatory requirements. 3. *Rural Status:* eligible hospitals must be located in a HRSA-designated rural area ( *https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/about-us/what-is-rural* ). The Rural Health Grants Analyzer ( *https://data.hrsa.gov/topics/rural-health/rural-health-eligibility* ) identifies all counties and census tracts that are considered a HRSA-designated rural area. Preliminary analysis identified 167 hospitals across 13 states that met the criteria established in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, and located in HRSA-designated rural areas. Based on this analysis, HRSA estimates awarding $24,750,000 to 167 eligible hospitals in the amount of approximately $148,000 per hospital assuming all eligible hospitals apply. All eligible hospitals must apply for grant funding in order to receive payment. The final per hospital award amount will be adjusted based on the total number of eligible hospitals that apply for funding. Further information on the identified hospitals is provided under “Preliminary List of Hospitals Meeting Eligibility Criteria” section. Applications and Submission Information HRSA anticipates releasing the Rural Hospital Provider Assistance Program (HRSA-26-105) Notice of Funding Opportunity in May 2026. Applicants can find more information on *Grants.gov: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/361524.* Eligible hospitals are encouraged to subscribe to the funding forecast to receive updates on the application release and an upcoming informational webinar, where applicants can ask questions on the program and application process. For general information about federal grants, applicants can visit *https://www.grants.gov/learn-grants/grants-101/.* Applications must be submitted through *Grants.gov* by July 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Since registration can take several weeks, eligible hospitals are strongly encouraged to begin the process of registering with *SAM.gov* and *Grants.gov* as soon as possible to avoid delays and ensure timely submission. For additional guidance, applicants can refer to the Quick Start Guide for Applicants ( *https://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants* ) and How to Apply for Grants ( *https://www.grants.gov/applicants/grant-applications/how-to-apply-for-grants* ). Preliminary List of Hospitals Meeting Eligibility Criteria The table below is provided for informational purposes only and is based on preliminary analysis to identify hospitals that may meet the eligibility criteria set forth in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, and are located in HRSA-designated rural areas ( *https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/about-us/what-is-rural* ). This includes hospitals with no more than 50 acute care inpatient beds and a FY 2026 wage index of less than 0.90, including hospitals that may have converted to a Critical Access Hospital or Rural Emergency Hospital. For questions, please contact *RuralHospitals@hrsa.gov.* Hospital name City State ATMORE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL ATMORE AL BIBB MEDICAL CENTER CENTREVILLE AL BULLOCK COUNTY HOSPITAL UNION SPRINGS AL CLAY COUNTY HOSPITAL ASHLAND AL COMMUNITY HOSPITAL INC TALLASSEE AL CRENSHAW COMMUNITY HOSPITAL LUVERNE AL D W MCMILLAN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL BREWTON AL EAMC-LANIER VALLEY AL EVERGREEN MEDICAL CENTER EVERGREEN AL FAYETTE MEDICAL CENTER FAYETTE AL GROVE HILL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL GROVE HILL AL HIGHLANDS MEDICAL CENTER SCOTTSBORO AL HILL HOSPITAL OF SUMTER COUNTY YORK AL JACKSON MEDICAL CENTER JACKSON AL JOHN PAUL JONES HOSPITAL CAMDEN AL LAKE MARTIN COMMUNITY HOSPITAL DADEVILLE AL LAKELAND COMMUNITY HOSPITAL HALEYVILLE AL MARION REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER HAMILTON AL MIZELL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL OPP AL MONROE COUNTY HOSPITAL MONROEVILLE AL NORTH BALDWIN INFIRMARY BAY MINETTE AL NORTHWEST MEDICAL CENTER WINFIELD AL REGIONAL MEDICAL CTR OF CENTRAL AL GREENVILLE AL RUSSELL MEDICAL CENTER ALEXANDER CITY AL RUSSELLVILLE HOSPITAL RUSSELLVILLE AL ST. VINCENTS CHILTON CLANTON AL TROY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER TROY AL WHITFIELD REGIONAL HOSPITAL DEMOPOLIS AL WIREGRASS MEDICAL CENTER GENEVA AL BHMC-STUTTGART STUTTGART AR BHMC-DREW COUNTY MONTICELLO AR CHAMBERS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL DANVILLE AR FORREST CITY MEDICAL CENTER FORREST CITY AR GREAT RIVER MEDICAL CENTER BLYTHEVILLE AR MAGNOLIA REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM INC MAGNOLIA AR OUACHITA COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER CAMDEN AR SILOAM SPRINGS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL SILOAM SPRINGS AR WADLEY MEDICAL CENTER AT HOPE HOPE AR ADVENTHEALTH MURRAY CHATSWORTH GA APPLING GENERAL HOSPITAL BAXLEY GA BURKE MEDICAL CENTER WAYNESBORO GA DODGE COUNTY HOSPITAL EASTMAN GA DONALSONVILLE HOSPITAL DONALSONVILLE GA DORMINY MEDICAL CENTER FITZGERALD GA EMANUEL MEDICAL CENTER SWAINSBORO GA EVANS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL CLAXTON GA FLINT RIVER COMMUNITY HOSPITAL MONTEZUMA GA GRADY GENERAL HOSPITAL CAIRO GA JEFFERSON HOSPITAL LOUISVILLE GA NGMC HABERSHAM DEMOREST GA SGHS—CAMDEN CAMPUS ST. MARYS GA SGMC BERRIEN CAMPUS NASHVILLE GA SOUTHWELL MEDICAL ADEL GA STEPHENS COUNTY HOSPITAL TOCCOA GA UNION GENERAL HOSPITAL BLAIRSVILLE GA UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL MCDUFFIE THOMSON GA WASHINGTON CO REG MED CTR SANDERSVILLE GA ADVENTHEALTH OTTAWA OTTAWA KS COFFEYVILLE REG MEDICAL CENTER, INC COFFEYVILLE KS LABETTE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER PARSONS KS MCPHERSON HOSPITAL, INC MCPHERSON KS MIAMI COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER PAOLA KS PRATT REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER PRATT KS SAINT JOHN HOSPITAL LEAVENWORTH KS SALINA SURGICAL HOSPITAL SALINA KS STORMONT VAIL—FLINT HILLS JUNCTION CITY KS SUMMIT SURGICAL, LLC HUTCHINSON KS SUSAN B. ALLEN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL EL DORADO KS UKHS GREAT BEND CAMPUS GREAT BEND KS ADVENTHEALTH MANCHESTER MANCHESTER KY HARRISON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL CYNTHIANA KY MIDDLESBORO ARH MIDDLESBORO KY MONROE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER TOMPKINSVILLE KY MUHLENBERG COMMUNITY HOSPITAL GREENVILLE KY OWENSBORO HEALTH TWIN LAKES MEDICAL LEITCHFIELD KY PAINTSVILLE ARH HOSPITAL PAINTSVILLE KY PINEVILLE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER PINEVILLE KY ROCKCASTLE HOSPT. & RESPIR CARE CTR MT VERNON KY THE MEDICAL CENTER AT RUSSELLVILLE RUSSELLVILLE KY TJ HEALTH COLUMBIA COLUMBIA KY TUG VALLEY ARH SOUTH WILLIAMSON KY ACADIAN MEDICAL CENTER EUNICE LA ALLEN PARISH HOSPITAL KINDER LA AVOYELLES HOSPITAL MARKSVILLE LA BEAUREGARD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, INC DERIDDER LA BYRD REGIONAL HOSPITAL LEESVILLE LA CALDWELL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL COLUMBIA LA CITIZENS MEDICAL CENTER COLUMBIA LA DESOTO REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM MANSFIELD LA EAST CARROLL PARISH HOSPITAL LAKE PROVIDENCE LA FRANKLIN MEDICAL CENTER WINNSBORO LA HOMER MEMORIAL HOSPITAL HOMER LA LASALLE GENERAL HOSPITAL, INC JENA LA MERCY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER VILLE PLATTE LA MOREHOUSE GENERAL HOSPITAL BASTROP LA OAKDALE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL OAKDALE LA OCHSNER AMERICAN LEGION HOSPITAL JENNINGS LA OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS HOSPITAL MC BOGALUSA LA RICHLAND PARISH HOSPITAL SERVICE DIS RAYVILLE LA SABINE MEDICAL CENTER MANY LA SAVOY MEDICAL MANAGEMENT GROUP INC MAMOU LA SPRINGHILL MEDICAL CENTER SPRINGHILL LA WINN PARISH MEDICAL CENTER WINNFIELD LA GARRETT COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL OAKLAND MD ANDERSON REGIONAL MED CTR-SOUTH CAMP MERIDIAN MS BAPTIST MEM HOSPITAL BOONEVILLE BOONEVILLE MS BEACHAM MEMORIAL HOSPITAL MAGNOLIA MS CLAY COUNTY MEDICAL CORPORATION WEST POINT MS GEORGE COUNTY HOSPITAL LUCEDALE MS GREENWOOD LEFLORE HOSPITAL GREENWOOD MS HIGHLAND COMMUNITY HOSPITAL PICAYUNE MS HIGHLAND HILLS MEDICAL CENTER SENATOBIA MS JASPER GENERAL HOSPITAL BAY SPRINGS MS KINGS DAUGHTERS MEDICAL CENTER BROOKHAVEN MS MAGEE GENERAL HOSPITAL MAGEE MS MARION GENERAL HOSPITAL COLUMBIA MS NESHOBA COUNTY GENERAL HOSPITAL PHILADELPHIA MS SOUTH SUNFLOWER COUNTY HOSPITAL INDIANOLA MS TISHOMINGO HEALTH SERVICES IUKA MS UMMC-GRENADA GRENADA MS WAYNE GENERAL HOSPITAL WAYNESBORO MS WEBSTER HEALTH SERVICES EUPORA MS WINSTON MEDICAL CENTER LOUISVILLE MS YALOBUSHA GENERAL HOSPITAL WATER VALLEY MS DUPLIN GENERAL HOSPITAL INCORPORATED KENANSVILLE NC THE MCDOWELL HOSPITAL MARION NC ALLIANCE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL ALLIANCE OH KINGS DAUGHTERS MED CENTER OHIO PORTSMOUTH OH MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FREMONT OH MERCY HEALTH—TIFFIN HOSPITAL LLC TIFFIN OH POMERENE HOSPITAL MILLERSBURG OH THE BELLEVUE HOSPITAL BELLEVUE OH CHEROKEE MEDICAL CENTER GAFFNEY SC COASTAL CAROLINA MEDICAL CENTER HARDEEVILLE SC HAMPTON REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER VARNVILLE SC MCLEOD HEALTH CHERAW CHERAW SC MCLEOD HEALTH CLARENDON MANNING SC MCLEOD MEDICAL CENTER—DILLON DILLON SC MUSC HEALTH BLACK RIVER MEDICAL CENTER CADES SC MUSC HEALTH MARION MEDICAL CENTER MULLINS SC NEWBERRY COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL NEWBERRY SC PH LAURENS COUNTY HOSPITAL CLINTON SC ASCENSION ST THOMAS RIVER PARK MCMINNVILLE TN BAPTIST MEM HOSPITAL HUNTINGDON HUNTINGDON TN BAPTIST MEM HOSPITAL TIPTON COUNTY COVINGTON TN BAPTIST MEM HOSPITAL UNION CITY UNION CITY TN CLAIBORNE MEDICAL CENTER TAZEWELL TN HARDIN MEDICAL CENTER SAVANNAH TN HAWKINS COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL ROGERSVILLE TN HAYWOOD COUNTY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL BROWNSVILLE TN HENDERSON COUNTY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL LEXINGTON TN HENRY COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER PARIS TN LAFOLLETTE MEDICAL CENTER LAFOLLETTE TN LINCOLN MEDICAL CENTER FAYETTEVILLE TN MILAN GENERAL HOSPITAL MILAN TN NEWPORT MEDICAL CENTER NEWPORT TN SAINT THOMAS HIGHLAND HOSPITAL SPARTA TN SAINT THOMAS STONES RIVER HOSPITAL WOODBURY TN ST THOMAS DEKALB HOSPITAL SMITHVILLE TN UNITY MEDICAL CENTER MANCHESTER TN VANDERBILT BEDFORD COUNTY HOSPITAL SHELBYVILLE TN WEST TN HEALTHCARE VOLUNTEER HOSPITA MARTIN TN MON HEALTH MARION NEIGHBORHOOD HOSPI WHITE HALL WV PLEASANT VALLEY HOSPITAL POINT PLEASANT WV STONEWALL JACKSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WESTON WV WELCH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL WELCH WV WETZEL COUNTY HOSPITAL NEW MARTINSVILLE WV Thomas J. Engels, Administrator. [FR Doc. 2026-08300 Filed 4-28-26; 8:45 am]
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- Pub. L. 119-75
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