October 31, 2019 What's New Understanding the Dynamics of Rural Communities in America. A report from the RAND Corporation "describes a basic, multi-level framework for mapping the system of factors and mechanisms that most influence positive and negative outcomes in rural communities." Researchers sought to go beyond data and statistics on national trends and investigate variables at the local level. The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization researching solutions to public policy challenges. Open Enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace Begins November 1. The six-week period during which consumers may enroll in a health insurance plan using the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace begins tomorrow and ends on Sunday, December 15. Those without an employer-based plan may visit HealthCare.gov and CuidadodeSalud.gov to shop for plans that will begin coverage on January 1, 2020. Twelve states and the District of Columbia have their own state-based websites for enrollment in individual/family or small business health coverage, or both. Some consumers may qualify for Medicaid coverage or a lower cost Marketplace plan depending on their state of residence and household size. Young Adults Who Inject Drugs at Risk for Hepatitis C Virus. Young adults aged 18-29 years old who live in rural areas and self-report injection drug use are at risk for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Researchers in New Mexico identified gaps in knowledge about risk and prevention, screening, treatment, and reinfection as a source of this risk and highlight the importance of risk reduction counseling by frontline public health providers. The study was published earlier this year and is now available in the library of the National Institutes of Health. HHS Awards Grants for HIV/AIDS Care. Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced $2.27 billion in Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program grants were awarded to cities, counties, states, and local community-based organizations to support a comprehensive system of primary medical care, medication, and essential support services for people with HIV in the United States. The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP), administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration's HIV/AIDS Bureau, plays a leading role in the Administration's new Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative. According to most recent data, there are more than 12,000 RWHAP clients who visited only rural providers. Of these, 85.5 percent were virally suppressed, meaning that HIV levels have an "undetectable" status following consistent use of daily antiretroviral therapy. See the Events section below for an upcoming webinar on HIV/AIDS in Rural America. Funding Opportunities SAMHSA Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals with SUD – December 16. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) will make 13 awards of up to $400,000/year for a five year project. The purpose of this program is to support the development and/or expansion of local implementation of a community infrastructure that integrates substance use disorder treatment, housing services and other critical services for individuals (including youth) and families experiencing homelessness. Eligible applicants are domestic public and private nonprofit entities, including tribal organizations, public or private universities and colleges, an community and faith-based organizations. Policy Updates Visit the FORHP Policy page to see all recent updates and send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. Comments Requested: Rural Eligibility for FORHP Funding – EXTENDED to November 23. As part of an ongoing effort by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) to assess the extent to which FORHP-administered grant programs align with the needs of rural communities, HRSA has published a Request for Information (RFI) soliciting public comment. Respondents are asked to comment on whether and how the eligibility criteria governing FORHP's community-based grant programs affect rural communities' ability to leverage grant funding through FORHP. RFI responses must be provided via email to RFIComments@hrsa.gov and must reference "Rural Health Grants Eligibility RFI" in the title. Submissions are due no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 23, 2019. HRSA will not accept hard-copy responses or other formats. HHS Request for Information: PreventionX – December 13. Health care for preventable non-communicable diseases, including heart disease and stroke, diabetes, and obesity costs the overall US healthcare system over $580 billion annually. More than 30 million Americans are now living with diabetes, 75 million are hypertensive, and nearly 40% of American adults are obese. There is need to transform chronic disease prevention in the US by identifying and scaling effective and innovative community-wide prevention strategies and increase financial investment in prevention. To help the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) better understand the barriers to effective chronic disease prevention, email your responses to preventionx@hhs.gov , with the subject line "PreventionX RFI Comment" by December 13, 2019. Participate in Kidney Care Choices Model – January 22. Last week, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation announced the Kidney Care Choices (KCC) Model Request for Applications. The voluntary payment model consists of four payment options: the Kidney Care First and three Comprehensive Kidney Care Contracting options. The KCC Model builds upon the existing Comprehensive End Stage Renal Disease Care Model to help providers improve the quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries with late-stage chronic kidney disease, to delay the onset of dialysis and incentivize kidney transplantation. Rural providers may be eligible to participate if requirements are met for the respective KCC Model option. Applications will be accepted through January 22, 2020 and the Model is expected to run from January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2023. Participate in Primary Care First Model Options – January 22. Last week, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation announced the Primary Care First Model Options Request for Applications (RFA). Primary Care First Model Options is a set of voluntary five-year payment options that reward value and quality by offering an innovative payment structure to support delivery of advanced primary care, based on the underlying principles of the existing CPC+ model design. The general Primary Care First payment model option is designed for primary care practices with advanced primary care capabilities that are prepared to accept increased financial risk in exchange for flexibility and potential rewards based on practice performance. Primary Care First reflects a regionally-based, multi-payer approach to care delivery and payment. Primary Care First Model Options will be offered in 26 diverse regions across the country for a 2021 start date. During the first six weeks of this application period to December 6, 2019, payers will separately have the option to submit a non-binding Statement of Interest form (PDF) signaling their interest in partnering in Primary Care First. Learning Events and Technical Assistance HRSA Webinar: Domestic Violence Awareness Month – Thursday, October 31 at 1:00 pm ET. Experts from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will discuss state-level efforts to address intimate partner violence and provide strategies for implementing trauma-informed care during this 90-minute webinar. HRSA Webinar: Screening for Food Insecurity – Thursday, October 31 at 1:00 pm ET. The Office of Regional Operations at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will host a one-hour webinar to help identify patients experiencing food insecurity and connect them to resources. In rural areas, access to nutritious food is often limited by financial and transportation constraints. Engaging the Faith Community in Substance Use Prevention – Tuesday, November 5 at 11:00 am ET. The Prevention Technology Transfer Center Network (PTTC) is a resource supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that provides training and technical assistance services to the substance abuse prevention field. In this 90-minute webinar, PTTC explores the role of faith-based organizations in prevention efforts. This learning event and other resources are shared by the Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. HIVAIDS in Rural America – Thursday, November 7 at 11:00 am ET. The recent CDC report, HIV Incidence: Estimated Annual Infections in the U.S., 2010-2016, estimates that the decrease in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections has plateaued because effective HIV prevention and treatment are not adequately reaching individuals with the highest need for these services; such as those in rural areas. This hour-long webinar will provide an overview of the "Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America" initiative, discuss the distribution of HRSA-funded Ryan White HIV/AIDS medical providers in rural areas of the U.S., and highlight the work of a current Ryan White recipient working in rural Alabama. FCC Rural Health Care Program Kickoff – Thursday, November 7 at 2:00 pm ET. The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Rural Health Care Program supports telecommunications and broadband services to improve the quality of health care in rural communities. In this one-hour webinar they will provide application information for FY2020 funding. NIHCM Solutions to Address Rural Health Disparities – Wednesday, November 13 at 2:00 pm ET. This 90-minute webinar will explore federal strategies to improve rural health, as well as innovative initiatives to respond to unmet social needs, address provider shortages, and expand telehealth. The National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization awarding grants for research into health care policy. HHS Celebrates National Rural Health Day November 18-21. This annual observation that takes place on the third Thursday each November was created to increase awareness of rural health-related issues and challenges and to recognize those who are working to improve the health and wellbeing of the millions of people living in America's rural communities. During the week of November 18-21 there will be a special webcasted celebration featuring leaders of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, twitter chats, webinars, and a virtual job fair for rural healthcare sites. NEMSA Rural & Small Provider Committee Meeting – Tuesday, November 19 at 3:30 pm ET. The National Emergency Medical Services Management Association (NEMSMA) announces a new committee focused on small and rural providers. During this 90-minute webinar, NEMSMA will discuss objectives for the committee and ways to support smaller organizations. Approaching Deadlines Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas – October 31 National Health Service Corps Students to Service Loan Repayment Program – October 31 USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) – October 31 Reducing Harm in High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas – November 1 Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellowship – November 6 EPA Technical Assistance for Small Public Water Systems – November 14 CMS Health Equity Awards – November 15 MAT-LINK: Researching Outcomes for Maternal OUD – November 15 PCORI: Community Convening for Patient-Centered Research – November 15 EPA Student Design Competition for People, Prosperity and the Planet – November 19 Comments Requested: Rural Eligibility for FORHP Funding – November 23 Rural Health Network Development Program – November 25 HRSA Rural Health Network Development Planning Program – November 29 Bloomberg Public Health Fellows – December 1 Delta States Rural Development Grant Program - December 6 SAMHSA Tribal Behavioral Health Grant Program – December 10 NIH Strategies to Reduce Disparities in Rural – December 13 HHS Request for Information: PreventionX – December 13 Partnership to Promote Local Efforts To Reduce Environmental Exposure – December 15 SAMHSA Expanding Practitioner Education for SUD – December 16 SAMHSA Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals with SUD – December 16 SAMSHA Recovery Community Services Program – December 23 Participate in Kidney Care Choices Model – January 22 Participate in Primary Care First Model Options – January 22 HRSA Primary Care Residency Training Program – January 24 NIH: Research for Disparities Among Minority/Underserved Children – Cycles thru May 2020 Guaranteed Loans for Rural Rental Housing – Ongoing through 2021 Community Food Projects Technical Assistance – Ongoing SBA Guaranteed Loans for Small Business – Ongoing Drinking Water State Revolving Fund – Ongoing Seeking Nominations: National Advisory Committee on Migrant Health – Ongoing HUD Hospital Mortgage Insurance Program – Ongoing RWJF Investigator-Initiated Research to Build a Culture of Health – Ongoing Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans – Ongoing Funding for Rural Water and Waste Disposal Projects – Ongoing Drinking Water and Waste Disposal for Rural and Native Alaskan Villages – Ongoing HIT Strategies for Patient-Reported Outcome Measures – Ongoing HIT to Improve Health Care Quality and Outcomes – Ongoing Community Facilities Program – Ongoing Summer Food Service Program – Ongoing | 
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