Rural Health Paperwork Gets a Smarter Makeover—Comments Welcome!
Published Date: 4/20/2026
Notice
Summary
HRSA is updating how it collects info to help rural health groups plan better care networks. This affects rural health providers working to improve local health services and coordination. You’ve got until May 20, 2026, to share your thoughts before the new system gets the green light—no big costs, just smarter planning!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Higher Estimated Reporting Burden Hours
HRSA estimates the total annualized reporting burden will be 281.25 hours across grantees, with 25 respondents each spending about 11.25 hours to complete the form. HRSA says this estimated burden increased compared to the prior package to account for new awardees and differences in data-collection capacity.
New or Large Networks Face Higher Burdens
HRSA says new awardees funded under the 1-year Network Planning Program and larger networks with many member organizations may face higher reporting burdens because they must build data collection processes and coordinate between partners. Networks with established partnerships and systems may report lower burdens.
Fewer Reporting Measures (24 → 15)
If you are a Rural Health Network Development Planning Program grantee, you will report 15 performance measures instead of 24. HRSA will remove the Network Infrastructure, Network Collaboration, and Network Assessment sections and replace them with two sections: Capacity/Organizational Information (10 measures) and a smaller Sustainability section (5 measures).
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Key Dates
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