| Read this in your browser February 20, 2025 What's New Northern Border Regional Commission Catalyst Program Funding – Pre-application due March 7. The Federal Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) provides funding to projects that will improve health outcomes in the rural NBRC service area. NBRC service area includes counties in Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. Eligible applicants include state and local government and nonprofit organizations. Two types of awards given: 1) Up to $500,000 can be awarded under the non-infrastructure category, and 2) up to $3,000,000 can be awarded under the infrastructure category. HHS Poverty Guidelines for 2025. Recently, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services published the guidelines on household income that determine eligibility for Medicaid and a number of other Federal programs. Funding and Opportunities U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Health Professional Scholarship Program – March 15. The Health Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP) provides financial assistance to students receiving education or training in a direct or indirect health-care services discipline and assists in providing an adequate supply of such personnel for the Department of Veterans Affairs. HPSP helps the Veterans Health Administration meet its need for qualified health care professionals for which recruitment or retention is difficult. U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development: Economic Development Loan & Grants Programs – March 31. The program provides funding to promote economic development and job creation projects. Federal Communications Commission via Universal Service Administrative Company: Rural Health Care Program – Health Care Connect Fund – April 1. The Universal Service Administrative Company is an independent not-for-profit designated by the FCC. The program provides assistance to healthcare providers for eligible expenses related to broadband connectivity at a flat discounted rate of 65 percent. Participants can apply as a member of a consortium or a stand-alone entity. U.S. Department of Transportation Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program – April 3. The Department's Build America Bureau will award up to $27 million in no-match grants on a first-come, first-served basis, with applications accepted beginning March 2 at 2:00 pm Eastern. The funding supports legal, technical, and financial advisors to help advance infrastructure projects. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. Updated CMS Payment for Medicare Part B Preventive Vaccines & Their Administration for Rural Health Clinics & Federally Qualified Health Centers. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released updated information on vaccine payment policies for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Effective January 1, 2025, CMS Hepatitis B vaccines are paid like other Part B preventive vaccines. New claim-based payments for Part B preventive vaccines and their administration are effective July 1, 2025. RHCs and FQHCs will need to annually reconcile payments with the facilities' actual vaccine and vaccine administration costs on their cost reports. Get more information from CMS.gov. Approaching Deadlines CMS Proposed Collection for Updated PACE Audit Protocol – Comment by February 21 HRSA Nurse Faculty Loan Program – February 24 HRSA Maternal and Child Health Secondary Data Analysis Research – February 25 U.S. Department of Energy Demonstration Funding for Energy Improvement in Rural/Remote Areas – Letters of Intent February 27 HRSA Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program – February 28 USDA Rural Business Development Grants – February 28 USDA Rural Utilities Service High Energy Cost Grants – February 28 CMS Rural Community Hospital Demonstration – Apply by March 1 CMS Connecting Kids to Coverage – March 7 HIPAA Security Rule Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Strengthen Cybersecurity for Electronic Protected Health Information – Comment by March 7 HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Overdose Response – March 10 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Health Professional Scholarship Program – March 15 HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program for Paraprofessionals – March 18 U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development: Economic Development Loans & Grants – March 31 Federal Communications Commission via Universal Service Administrative Company: Rural Health Care Program – Health Care Connect Fund – April 1 U.S. Department of Transportation Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program – April 3 HRSA Rural Residency Planning and Development Program – April 10 HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Northern Border Rural Workforce – April 11 HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program - Pathways – April 14 HRSA Telehealth Rapid Response Center – April 15 HRSA Telehealth Research Center – April 15 Ongoing Opportunities - Updated February 2025 Bold indicates HRSA- and/or FORHP-funded opportunities. Administration for Children & Families: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency – Technical Assistance for Rural EMS Communications Delta Regional Authority: Community Infrastructure Fund Delta Region Community Health Systems Development Program Federal Emergency Management Agency/Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Post-Disaster Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program General Services Administration: Federal Surplus Property Available for Public Use HRSA Needs Rural Reviewers for Grant Applications HRSA National Health Service Corps/SAMHSA Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Training and Mentoring HRSA RCORP Rural Center of Excellence on SUD Prevention: Developing a Rural Community Approach to Overcoming Stigma HRSA Technical Assistance for Look-Alike Initial Designation for the Health Center Program Indian Health Service SOAR Health Training on Human Trafficking Indian Health Service/Department of Defense: Medical Supplies and Equipment for Tribes (Project TRANSAM) Licensure Portability: the Multi-Discipline Licensure Resource Project National Rural Health Resource Center: Rural Hospital Stabilization Program ProviderBridge: Mobilizing Health Care Workforce via Telehealth Rural Graduate Medical Education Planning and Development Small Business Administration Guaranteed Loans for Small Business Small Business Administration Rural Initiative Pilot Program Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals Program USDA: America's Healthy Food Financing Initiative USDA: National School Lunch Afterschool Snack Program USDA: Summer Food Service Program USDA/National Rural Health Association: Rural Hospital Technical Assistance USDA Rural Development: Circuit Rider Program – Technical Assistance for Rural Water Systems USDA Rural Development: Community Facilities Program USDA Rural Development: Economic Development Loans & Grants USDA Rural Development: Grants for Rural and Native Alaskan Villages USDA Rural Development: Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants USDA Rural Development: Intermediary Relending Program – Ongoing with deadlines every quarter USDA Rural Development: Multifamily Housing Loan Guarantees USDA Rural Development: Rural Business Development Grants USDA Rural Development: Rural Business Investment Program USDA Rural Development: Economic Development Loan & Grants Programs – Ongoing with deadlines every quarter USDA Rural Development: Rural Energy Savings Program USDA Rural Development: SEARCH – Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households (for Water/Waste Projects) USDA Rural Development: Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans and Loan Guarantees U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Office of Hospital Facilities Funding U.S. Department of Justice: Jail-Based Medication-Assisted Treatment Mentoring Initiative U.S. Department of Transportation: Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (R.O.U.T.E.S) U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Health Professional Scholarship Program U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Drinking Water State Revolving Fund | 
