2026 Conference Prospectus Available Now!

The Rural Health Association of Tennessee is excited 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.

RHA is Coming to East TN!

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.

RHA is Coming to West TN!

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.

Announcing the Age-Friendly in Rural Tennessee Webinar Series

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

Start planning your conference experience.

The Rural Health Association of Tennessee invites you to join us in Sevierville, Tennessee, Nov. 19–21, for our 31st Annual Conference. We’re excited to share the draft agenda, giving you an early look at the sessions and opportunities planned for this year.

This conference serves a diverse array of rural health stakeholders, offering educational content and insights relevant to healthcare providers, advocates and professionals across the field. This year’s program features five specialized tracks designed to meet the unique needs of rural health professionals:

Save the Date: 2025 Tennessee Grand Regions Tour

The Rural Health Association of Tennessee invites you to join us in 2025 Grand Regions Tour. These spring regional events will give members an opportunity to learn from prominent speakers in rural communities and esteemed universities as we explore critical topics in behavioral health. These events are perfect for healthcare providers, educators, advocates, and anyone passionate about rural health.

Join us for a valuable Community Resource Event hosted by Purpose Point Community Health, Mount Canaan, and the Rural Health Association of Tennessee!

Come and learn about various community resources and get expert information/assistance with: TennCare Redetermination; Medicare Counseling; Marketplace Health Insurance Counseling; Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP); and more.

to become a Rural Health - Coding & Billing Specialist (RH-CBS), we urge clinical personnel (MD, DO, NP, PA, RN) to attend as well since clinical documentation is key to everything, as is building a shared foundation of knowledge.

Who needs training on RHC documentation, coding, billing, and quality reporting? Do your providers, managers, and coding/billing/quality staff have a shared foundation of knowledge?

Get ready for 2025's amazing lineup of Rural Health Clinic specific Lunch and Learn webinars! These webinars are specifically tailored for RHCs to get the most knowledge they can about the topic. 

January 15, 2025 : RHC Network Lunch and Learn: Unlocking the Potential of CCM: How Care Coordination Transforms Patient Care and Clinic Revenue

Rural Health of Association of Tennessee celebrated National Rural Health Day on November 21st in Knoxville, Tennessee at our 30th annual conference, "30 Years Strong: Honoring our Past, Shaping our Future" 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. Attendees were able to benefit from a diverse range of presentations and panel discussions delivered by leaders in Tennessee. Networking opportunities allowed attendees to establish valuable connections, share insights, and explore potential collaborations. 

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 the awardees who are presented below.

Join RHA Regional Liaisons for our May findhelp 101 and 102 trainings. The two part training will teach nonprofits, government, healthcare, and education sectors how findhelp is working to connect people seeking help with services across Tennessee.

• How to search for and connect people to resources
• How to send and track your referrals
• How to claim your program and join the findhelp network
• How to become findhelp.org certified

Tuesday, April 23rd, we had the opportunity to host our last regional event of the season at Fall Creek Falls State Park and see our middle region members. Members had the opportunity to hear from professionals on topics including MAT in Emergency Department Settings, current drug trends, social drivers of health, and more!

The presentation topics and speakers can be found below:

• Addressing Social Drivers of Health findhelp This presentation discusses why addressing social drivers of health and why understanding social determinants are essential for creating equitable health systems and fostering healthier communities overall. Access full presentation here.
• Naloxone Training Suzanne Angel, ROPS Join us to learn from the Middle Regional Overdose Prevention Specialist about administering naloxone and further prevention efforts. Access full presentation here.
• MAT in Emergency Department Settings Kayla Mehr, TDMHSAS Join us as we talk with Kayla Mehr about MAT in the Emergency Department Settings. Access to full presentation can be found here.
  
• Suicide Prevention Melissa Alardo, TDH Join us as we talk about suicide prevention and its correlation to SUD. Access full presentation here. 
• TDH & RHA Programs and Updates Join us as we go over current program updates with not only the Rural Health Association but the Tennessee Department of Health. Access full presentation here.

May 22, 2024 RHC Lunch and Learn: Moving the Needle of Change - Caring for Patients with Opioid Use Disorder in Tennessee 

Speaker: Kayla Williams Mehr, PMHNP | MOUD Clinical Specialist with Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS)

Rural Health Association of Tennessee is excited to host the Tennessee Rural Health Clinic (TN-RHC) Network Annual Meeting on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The meeting will cover RHC specific topics such as TennCare Updates, Emergency Preparedness, Compliance (Survey Tips and Strategies), Social Determinants of Health (data collection, coding and reporting), Quality Improvement projects, and more!

Location: The View at the Fountains, Murfreesboro, TN
Time: 8:30am - 4:15pm CST
Cost: Free for RHC Network Members/$50 for Non-Members.

Regional events are an opportunity to learn more about our RCORP program. Register for your region to hear more about substance use disorder, mental health, and Rural Health Association program updates. Lunch will be provided to in-person attendees. 

Cost: Free for members | $25 for non-members; a networking lunch will be included.

The Rural Health Association of Tennessee's Call for Proposals for our 2024 Annual Conference is now open!

Join RHA as we celebrate 30 years of advocating for rural health in Tennessee. Submit proposals on your research, experience, collaborations, and projects related to the following: 

Join us February 28th, 2024 at 12:00 PM CST, for our monthly Rural Health Clinic lunch and learn webinar. This month's guest will be Kia Weaver, Outreach Specialist, with Kepro. 

Kepro is the Beneficiary and Family Centered Care Quality Improvement Organization (BFCC-QIO) for the 29 states. Beneficiaries and families can call Kepro to talk about healthcare-related questions such as whether they are ready for discharge from a hospital, rehabilitation facility, home health agency, or hospice.

Join us for an eight-week webinar series, "Health for All: A Language Inclusion Webinar Series," to discuss varying populations within our rural communities that experience a larger gap in health disparities. This webinar series will be held weekly beginning on February 29th at 11am CST and go through April 25th.

Presentations will include the following: Rural Populations, Family Structure, Age and Ability, Domestic Violence Survivors, Gender and Sexual Orientation, Body Size and Weight, Substance Use Disorder, and Race and Ethnicity. Register for the webinars below, or email [email protected] to register for all.

In partnership with Ovation Healthcare we've curated a series of virtual webinars specifically aimed toward Hospitals. Webinar Series - Click Each One for Details and Registration:

Conference Overview

Join us this fall as we welcome a variety of professionals in their field from across Tennessee to present on topics effecting rural Tennessee. Find the agenda for this event here. 

Registration

Registration for RHA of TN's 29th Annual Conference is now open!