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  • Apr 18, 2026

    NRTRC April 2026 Newsletter

    NRTRC

    Join NRTRC and the Behavioral Health Institute for the 2026 Virtual Summit—AI in Behavioral Health: Promise, Practice and Responsibility

    The 2026 agenda is finalized, and FREE registration is open!

    Dates & Times

    Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (PT)

    Friday, April 24, 2026 | 10 a.m.–3:45 p.m. (PT)

    This free, virtual, two-day summit brings together national experts, clinicians, policymakers, and behavioral health leaders to explore the practical, ethical, and regulatory dimensions of AI in mental health and substance use care.

    Designed for clinicians, peer professionals, administrators, and system leaders, the summit focuses on real-world applications of AI that support safe, effective, and responsible integration into behavioral health practice.

    Join us for timely, frontline-focused education on what’s here now, what’s emerging, and how to stay grounded in an evolving digital care landscape.

    Continuing Education 

    Credit Offered: AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™; Nursing contact hours; Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE). Full accreditation information can be found at the BHI Continuing Education & Accreditation webpage.
    Register Today!

    Telehealth News

    The ABCs on FQHC State Medicaid Fee-For-Service Telehealth Policies

    The Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) has updated thier federally qualified health center (FQHC) section on its Policy Finder tool, an online database that helps providers investigate policy questions on relevant healthcare topics. The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) continues to support CCHP in providing this awesome information.

    Telemedicine Not Reaching Rural Psychiatric Patients

    Researchers at the Brown University School of Public Health in Providence, Rhode Island, recently found that greater use of telemedicine among mental health specialists treating Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries was associated with only modest increases in patient visits in rural, low-access, or distant communities. “Simply offering telemedicine will not address the barriers that many rural patients face in obtaining mental health care,” said investigator Ateev Mehrotra, professor in the Department of Health Services, Policy and Practice. Read more here.

    Not Too Late To Register For Tomorrow's Webinar!

    New federal rules, including Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) mandates under Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) and upcoming Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) changes, are accelerating health data sharing across organizations, but not necessarily improving comparability. Explore what these changes mean for telehealth, rural programs, and how to turn compliance into better outcomes.

    What to Know About Medicare Coverage of Telehealth

    Use of telehealth, which includes a range of healthcare services delivered to patients by providers at a separate location, has grown rapidly in recent years among both privately insured patients and Medicare beneficiaries. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth utilization in traditional Medicare was very low, but it rose dramatically in 2020 following temporary measures put in place at the start of the COVID-19 public health emergency that greatly expanded Medicare coverage for telehealth. (Source: KFF)

    Telehealth Treatment Program Helped Cut Depression, Anxiety Among MA Beneficiaries

    A study conducted by Vitalic, a telehealth-based, geriatric behavioral health platform, found encouraging results for Medicare Advantage (MA) beneficiaries. The MA beneficiaries showed significant improvement in depression and anxiety symptoms as well as lower rates of hospital admission and emergency department use compared to those who did not. The pilot study was conducted by Vitalic and VNS Health, a nonprofit home- and community-based health care organization. Read more here.

    REGIONAL NEWS

    NRTRC Board Member Highlight: Dr. Matt McCullough of Utah

    Dr. Matt McCullough is the Rural Hospital Improvement Director for the Utah Hospital Association. In this role, he serves as the Director of the Rural 9 Network and Flex Program Coordinator for the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. From 2020 to 2023, he was the Director of Telehealth Services for the Utah Telehealth Network (UTN), where he oversaw telehealth services, operations, strategic planning, and the development of new sites and services. He was also the principal investigator NRTRC during that time. 

    From 2017 to 2020, he was the Director of the State Office of Primary Care and Rural Health. In this role, he supported all of the rural hospitals and clinics in the state with federal and state resources to improve quality of care, financial and operational capacity, and workforce development. He also worked in local government at the City of Farmington.

    Learn more about NRTRC board members here.

    SUCCESS STORY

    NRTRC Helps Tech Company Better Serve Rural Providers

    By Madeline Long, Founder and CEO of Health Integration Systems, Inc.

    I believe my success story impacts so many people. As a technology company, we are considered the digital glue for healthcare providers and patients. I am so very happy I stumbled upon NRTRC. Although I was familiar with telehealth, they have been AWESOME! I find their workshops and telehealth resources to be extremely useful. The NRTRC staff provides more than basic information. They understand we are called upon to utilize technology to improve health outcomes, and they have provided the necessary tools to do so with excellence. I feel so very blessed to have them as a resource, and I am grateful that funds are available for companies in need of assistance! Hats off to the wonderful NRTRC staff!

    Has the NRTRC made an impact on your work? If so, please share your story here!

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