May 28, 2020 What's New FEMA: Pandemic Operational Guidance for the 2020 Hurricane Season. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing information and guidance for emergency managers and public health officials on FEMA plans to adapt hurricane response and recovery operations related to COVID-19. USDA State Fact Sheets on Rural Economy and Population. The Economic Research Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) frequently provides information on population, income, poverty, and food security, among other economic indicators. Data are available for all States, and for metro/non-metro breakouts within States. Links to county-level data are provided where available. The State Fact Sheets were updated May 13, 2020. Statistics on population and employment/unemployment have been updated with the latest available data (2019). CRS on Broadband Connectivity and COVID-19: The FCC's Response. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) provides objective policy and legal analysis to committees and members of the U.S. House and Senate. For this report, researchers examine regulatory actions taken by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to promote internet connectivity during the pandemic. The State of Senior Hunger in America: An Annual Report. Feeding America is a national nonprofit researching and responding to insufficient food resources. In this annual report, the organization provides rates of food insecurity among Americans age 60 or older, with data breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan settings. A separate report examines food insecurity among adults aged 50-59. A National Transportation Research Nonprofit (TRIP): Challenges and Opportunities in Rural America. TRIP is a nonprofit organization researching and evaluating economic and technical data on surface transportation issues. For this report focused on rural America, TRIP examines deficiencies and identifies needed improvements. Federal Office of Rural Health Policy FAQs for COVID-19. A set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) from our grantees and stakeholders, updated regularly. COVID-19 FAQs and Funding for HRSA Programs. Find all funding and frequently asked questions for programs administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). CDC COVID-19 Updates. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides daily updates and guidance, and ongoing Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA). Confirmed COVID-19 Cases, Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Counties. The RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis provides up-to-date data and maps on rural and urban confirmed cases throughout the United States. An animated map shows the progression of cases beginning January 21. Rural Response to Coronavirus Disease 2019. The Rural Health Information Hub has created a guide to help you learn about activities underway to address COVID-19. Funding and Opportunities Please note that many deadlines for Federal funding opportunities have been extended. See Approaching Deadlines section below. CDC Strategies to Maintain HIV Viral Suppression Among Released State Prison Inmates – June 29. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will make three awards with total funding of $9 million to support continuity of care for Persons with HIV (PWH) released from state prisons into the community. USDA Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program – June 29. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide grants for scholarship programs leading to either baccalaureate degrees within the Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Human (FANH) Sciences or Doctors of Veterinary Medicine in order to meet national and international needs for training scientists and professionals in the FANH and veterinary science fields. Eligible applicants are private institutions of higher education; state-controlled colleges and universities; Hispanic-serving institutions; as well as 1862 Land-Grant Institutions, 1890 Land-Grant Institutions, and 1994 Land-Grant Institutions. ACF Community Services Block Grant – Waste/Wastewater Technical Assistance – June 30. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will make eight awards of up to $1 million provide training and technical assistance on water and wastewater management systems to small, low-income, rural communities. Eligible applicants are multi-state, regional, private, non-profit organizations, that can provide training and technical assistance to small, low-income, rural communities concerning their community facility needs. EPA State Environmental Justice Cooperative Agreement Program – June 30. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enters into cooperative agreements to support or create new models for state activities leading to measurable environmental or public health results in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms and risks. New Sites for National Health Service Corps (NHSC) – July 21. NHSC sites provide outpatient, primary health care services to people in Health Professional Shortage Areas, and receive assistance recruiting, hiring, and retaining clinicians. Eligibility includes health care sites that provide outpatient, ambulatory and primary health care services (medical, dental, and behavioral health) to populations residing in high-need urban and rural areas. Additional eligible site types include facilities providing general substance use disorder (SUD) Treatment, a Medication Assisted Treatment Program or an Opioid Treatment Program. DRA Delta Leadership Institute Executive Academy – August 18. The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) was established by the U.S. Congress to improve economic opportunity in the eight states of the Delta region. The DRA seeks individuals from diverse backgrounds, sectors, and industries for a year-long leadership development opportunity. USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – August 28. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make direct payments of up to $250,000 per person and up to $750,000 for corporate entities. The assistance is to support agricultural producers of specified commodities that have suffered a 5% or greater price decline as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. NIH Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health – May 2022. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will fund research seeks to identify, develop, test, evaluate, and/or refine strategies to disseminate and implement evidence-based practices into public health, clinical practice, and community settings. This program is featured in the NIH's Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences Selected List of Funding Opportunities Relevant to Rural Cancer Control. DRA Technical Assistance for Delta Region Community Health Systems Development – Ongoing. The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) was established by the U.S. Congress to improve economic opportunity in the eight states of the Delta region. Through partnership with the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy and the National Rural Health Resource Center, the DRA will provide assistance to selected hospitals and clinics to make enhancements to community and regional health systems. Policy Updates Visit the FORHP Policy page to see all recent updates and send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. Executive Order to Provide Regulatory Relief. On May 22, the President issued an executive order allowing Federal agencies to address the economic emergency from the COVID-19 pandemic by rescinding, modifying, waiving, or providing exemptions from regulations and other requirements that may inhibit economic recovery, consistent with applicable law and with protection of the public health and safety, with national and homeland security, and with budgetary priorities. Agencies are also encouraged to promote economic recovery through non-regulatory actions. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has posted information online about recent waivers the agency has implemented, including those applicable to rural facilities like Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, and Federally Qualified Health Centers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Request for Information (RFI): Health Professional Shortage Area Scoring Criteria – September 18. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeks public input on the current scoring criteria for Geographic, Population, and Facility Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), including scoring criteria for the primary care, dental health, and mental health disciplines, as well as alternative approaches for future changes. Examples of input requested include: whether the primary care HPSA designation should replace the infant mortality rate (IMR) or low birth weight (LBW) rate criteria with a standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for all populations and how and to what extent they should consider incorporating rurality in HPSA scoring. Email responses to RFIComments@hrsa.gov and reference "Health Professional Shortage Area Scoring Criteria RFI" in the subject line. Request for Information (RFI): Maternity Care Health Professional Target Area Criteria – September 18. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeks public input to develop criteria for identifying Maternity Care Health Professional Target Areas (MCTAs), which are geographic areas within primary care HPSAs that have a shortage of maternity care health professionals. Examples of input requested include: whether to include a population-to-provider ratio, what populations and professions to include, what data points to use (i.e., maternal mortality, demographics, social determinants of health), and which data sources will ensure equitability and transparency. Email responses to RFIComments@hrsa.gov and reference "Maternity Care Health Professional Target Area Criteria RFI" in the subject line. CMS Recommendations for Reopening Nursing Homes. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a set of recommendations for state and local officials to determine the level of mitigation needed to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in nursing homes. These include considerations for the status of new cases in a community, staffing levels, and access to adequate testing. New Medicare Waivers to Address COVID-19. On May 19, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) added two new emergency declaration waivers providing the health care community with flexibilities needed to care for patients during the COVID-19 public health emergency. First, CMS is waiving certain physical environment requirements under the Medicare conditions of participation for surge capacity and patient quarantine at hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and critical access hospitals (CAHs) (page 4). Second, CMS is modifying the data collection and reporting periods for rural and urban organizations selected to participate in the Ground Ambulance Data Collection System (page 29). Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D 2021 Final Rule – Last week, CMS issued the first final rule for MA and Part D plan changes for 2021. The agency will issue a second final rule later this year. This first rule focuses on immediate regulatory actions for the contract year 2021 bid deadline in June, codifying several existing policies, and implementing other technical changes. The changes include reducing the required percentage of beneficiaries that must reside within the maximum time and distance standards for plans operating in rural counties and providing MA plans with a credit towards this percentage of beneficiaries when plans contract with specified specialty and primary care telehealth providers. Learning Events and Technical Assistance AgriSafe: COVID-19 Ag Task Force – Thursday, May 28 at 12:00 pm ET. The AgriSafe Network holds a weekly discussion with rural health and safety professionals to identify risks that farmers, farm workers, and ranchers face as it relates to COVID-19. Facing Pandemic as an Asian American/Pacific Islander Community – Thursday, May 28 at 7:00 pm ET. The Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) will hold a 90-minute virtual conversation to discuss issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA) COVID-19 Briefing Series – Thursday, May 28 at 7:00 pm ET. This is the first of three online sessions, each lasting two hours, to address lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic on managing Hispanic/Latinx chronic care patients, mental health and the future of health care delivery. ECHO Institute: Best Practices in Adoption of Telehealth – Monday, June 1 at 10:00 am ET. ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a telementoring program that brings healthcare providers together with subject matter experts using videoconference technology. This is the third session in a learning series for best practices in performing telemedicine consultations during COVID-19 and beyond. NCSL: COVID-19's Impact on States – Monday, June 1 at 2:00 pm ET. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) will discuss how the pandemic is impacting legislatures, the fiscal health of states, elections, and census. NCSL will also introduce its new online hub for COVID-19 resources. ONDCP Rural Stakeholder Call – Tuesday, June 2 at 3:00 pm ET. The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is a component of the Executive Office of the President working to reduce drug use. In this hour-long session, they will discuss the federal response to COVID-19 in support of care for substance use disorder. Primary Care Management of Suicidal Ideation – Tuesday, June 2 at 3:00 pm ET. In an online session specifically for rural primary care providers, the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center will discuss operational components of implementing suicide screening and referral to services. BPC on Telehealth and COVID-19 in Rural Areas - Thursday, June 4 at 10:00 am ET. The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) is a think tank combining ideas and solutions from both parties. In this one-hour session, the BPC will discuss the current state of telehealth in rural areas and highlight recommendations from their recent report on rural health. Resource of the Week ECHO Diabetes in the Time of COVID-19. The ECHO Model for health professions training uses interactive video technology to connect remote providers with specialists at centers of excellence in real-time collaborative sessions. The Stanford Center for Continuing Medical Education is providing credits for this series of free webinars using the ECHO model to support primary care providers and their patients with diabetes during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Approaching Deadlines Comments Requested: SBA Interim Final Rule on the Paycheck Protection Program – May 28 HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Implementation – Extended to May 29 NIH Addressing Racial Disparities in Maternal Mortality/Morbidity – May 29 Request for Comments: BPC Behavioral Health Integration – May 30 CDC Supporting Tribal Public Health Capacity/Coronavirus Response – May 31 Request for Information: Maternal/Infant Health Care in Rural – Extended to May 31 Delta Regional Authority Economic Development Assistance – May 31 USDA Grants for Household Water Well Systems – May 31 BPC Request for Rural Input: Integrating Care for Dual Eligibles – June 1 Comments Requested: Medicare Revisions in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency – June 1 HRSA Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention/Simulation Training – June 1 Native American Agriculture Fund Grants – June 1 SAMHSA Treatment, Recovery, and Workforce Support Grants – June 1 CMS Minority Research Grant Program – June 2 USDA Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program – June 3 DOT Helping Obtain Prosperity for Everyone Program – Extended to June 3 HRSA Nursing Workforce Diversity-Eldercare Enhancement Program – June 4 USDA Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program – June 4 Rural Training Track Program Director Development – June 7 NIH Utilizing Cohort Studies to Address Outcomes in Cancer Survivors – June 7 CDC Drug Free Communities – Extended to June 8 HRSA Nurse Practitioner Residency Integration Program – June 8 Comments Requested: Proposed Rule for Hospice Providers – June 9 Comments Requested: Proposed Updates for FY 2021 Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities – June 9 Comments Requested: Proposed Rule for Skilled Nursing Facilities – June 9 HRSA Supporting Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Screening and Intervention Program – June 9 DOJ Innovations in Community-Based Crime Reduction – June 11 AHRQ Evaluating Health System Response to COVID-19 – June 15 CDC Reducing the Burden of Parasitic Infections in the United States – June 15 Comments Requested: CMS Proposed Rule for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities – June 15 DOL Senior Community Service Employment Program – June 15 HRSA Demonstration Sites Focusing on Black Women with HIV – June 15 HRSA Telehealth Network Grant Program – Extended to June 15 Comments Requested: CDC Data Collection for COVID-19 Response – June 16 Comments Requested: Perspectives on Pain and Pain Management – June 16 HRSA Rural Telementoring Training Center – June 16 USDA Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network – June 23 DHS Rural Emergency Medical Communications Demonstration Project – June 24 IHS/NIH Native American Research Centers for Health – Letters of Intent June 24 HRSA Faculty Loan Repayment Program – June 25 ACL Alaska Native Tribal Resource Center on Domestic Violence – June 26 CDC Strategies to Maintain HIV Viral Suppression Among Released State Prison Inmates – June 29 USDA Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program – June 29 ACF Community Services Block Grant – Waste/Wastewater Technical Assistance – June 30 DOL Mine Health and Safety Grants – June 30 EPA State Environmental Justice Cooperative Agreement Program – June 30 HRSA Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) Program – June 30 HRSA Telehealth-Focused Rural Health Research Center Program – Extended to July 1 ACF Basic Center Program for Runaway/Homeless Youth – July 3 Comments Requested: CMS Issues Second COVID-19 Interim Final Rule – July 7 Comments Requested: Proposed Updates for FY2021 Medicare Inpatient and Long-term Care Hospital Payments - July 10 HRSA Rural HIV/AIDS Planning Program – July 10 CDC Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences – July 13 HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Planning – July 13 USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants – July 13 New Sites for National Health Service Corps (NHSC) – July 21 IHS/NIH Native American Research Centers for Health – July 24 DOL Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities – July 29 Request for Information: Clinical Experience in Suicide Prevention in Primary Care Settings – August 7 DRA Delta Leadership Institute Executive Academy – August 18 USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – August 28 AHA Rural Hospital Leadership Team Award – August 31 NIH Researching Long-Term Effects of Disasters on Systems Serving Disparity Populations – September 7 NIH Research on Minority Health/Health Disparities – September 8 USDA Capacity Building for 1890 Land-Grant Institutions – September 10 AHRQ Innovation Challenge for Rural Postpartum Mental Health – September 15 Request for Information (RFI): Health Professional Shortage Area Scoring Criteria – September 18 Request for Information (RFI): Maternity Care Health Professional Target Area Criteria – September 18 FCC High Speed Broadband/Rural Opportunity Fund – October 22 Ongoing Opportunities AHRQ Research to Improve Patient Transitions through HIT – December 2022 ASA Rural Access to Anesthesia Care Scholarship CMS Hardship Exception for Hospital Interoperability – September 1, 2020; November 30 for CAHs DRA Technical Assistance for Delta Region Community Health Systems Development – Ongoing EPA Drinking Water State Revolving Fund HUD Hospital Mortgage Insurance Program NARHC Certified Rural Health Clinic Professional Course NIH Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health – May 2022 NIH Research – Alcohol and Other Substance Use – Dates Through August 2022 NIH Research to Improve Health Care Quality and Outcomes Through HIT NIH Strategies for Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in HIT Nominations for Federal Advisory Commission on HIV, Viral Hepatitis, and Sexually Transmitted Diseases Nominations for National Advisory Committee on Migrant Health Opportunity Zones for Economic Development Rural Graduate Medical Education Planning and Development RWJF Investigator-Initiated Research to Build a Culture of Health RWJF Pioneering Ideas Brief Proposals SBA Guaranteed Loans for Small Business USDA Community Facilities Program USDA Community Food Projects Technical Assistance USDA Drinking Water and Waste Disposal for Rural and Native Alaskan Villages USDA Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants USDA Guaranteed Loans for Rural Rental Housing – through 2021 USDA Summer Food Program USDA Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans USDA Rural Energy Savings Program USDA Funding for Rural Water and Waste Disposal Projects | 
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