July 2, 2020 What's New FORHP Awards Rural Health Network Development Program. The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) is recently announced that 44 rural health networks were awarded approximately $13 million for the new competitive funding cycle of the Rural Health Network Development (RHND) Program. The RHND Program is a three-year grant program designed to provide support to integrated health care networks who address the health care needs of their rural communities. Recipients are expected to achieve efficiencies, expand access to and improve the quality of essential health care services, and strengthen the rural health care system as a whole. Awarded applications range in a variety of focus areas including care coordination, value based care, chronic disease management, and behavioral health services. As FORHP continues to focus on sharing program outcomes, the identification and dissemination of rural evidence-based models maintains a priority. The Rural Health Information Hub (RHI hub) consists of a number of resources, including successful program models and evidence-based toolkits. COVID-Related Provider Relief Funds for Medicaid and CHIP Providers – July 20. Providers participating in state programs for Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) may still apply for emergency funding related to the pandemic distributed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to support the health care safety net. The initial Medicare-targeted General Distribution of funds through the CARES Act and the Payment Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act provided payments to nearly 320,000 providers who bill for Medicare fee-for-service. The Medicaid and CHIP Targeted distribution will make the Provider Relief Fund available to an additional 800,000 providers. The payment to each provider will be at least two percent of reported gross revenue from patient care; the final amount each provider receives will be determined after the data is submitted. Applicants must submit their data in the online portal created for this purpose by July 20. See the Events section below for an upcoming webinar about the process. ONDCP Rural Community Toolbox. The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) developed this resource to serve as a clearinghouse for funding, technical assistance, and other information from 16 Federal departments and agencies to support local action against opioid use disorder (OUD) in rural America. The toolbox also houses a Community Assessment Tool, which gives county-specific data about overdose deaths and factors that may make a community more vulnerable to OUD, and a Rural Community Action Guide, providing rural leaders with recommended action steps to address OUD in their communities. NACo: Nursing Homes & COVID-19. The National Association of Counties (NACo) gives an overview of COVID-19 cases in nursing home facilities across the U.S., many of which are county-owned and operated. The brief is a resource for counties on federal guidance, policies, and data and includes a case study on expanding testing in rural Linn County, Oregon. Request for Information: NIH Seeking Input on Health Disparities in Neurological Disease and Care – July 15. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) seek input from scientists, clinicians, patients, families, caregivers, advocates, and the broader community on the most important knowledge gaps, health and research needs, and promising opportunities to help guide the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke's (NINDS) research. These disparities and inequities may exist across several demographic factors, including race/ethnicity, food/housing insecurity, socioeconomic status, geographic location, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, educational attainment, age, disability, etc. Responses are encouraged from all interested stakeholders. 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). New this week: a COVID data tracker map includes county-level data on cases and deaths 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 IHS Tribal Management Grant Program – August 24. The Indian Health Service (IHS) will make 16 awards of up $150,000 each to improve Tribal health management capabilities through four project types: 1) feasibility study, 2) planning, 3) evaluation study, and 4) health management structure. NRHA Rural Health Fellows Program – September 3. The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) will select 10 to 15 participants to meet in person for three intensive session for leadership and advocacy training. Eligible applicants are members of the NRHA who have demonstrated a strong commitment to improving rural health. ACL Innovation Challenge: Technology for Social Isolation – September 8. The Administration for Community Living (ACL) will award prizes at varying amounts up to $550,000 for solutions that assess social isolation and match individuals with technology tools and social engagement programming. The winning solution will become part of a campaign to reach up to 10 million socially isolated older adults, people with disabilities, racial and minority populations, and veterans. NIH Digital Interventions to COVID-19 Secondary Effects – December 30. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will support research into the role and impact of digital health interventions to address access, delivery, and effectiveness of health assessments and interventions for secondary effects during and following the pandemic, particularly in populations who experience health disparities and vulnerable populations. Rural Health Research Research in this section is provided by the HRSA/FORHP-supported Rural Health Research Gateway. Sign up to receive alerts when new publications become available. The Supply and Rural-Urban Distribution of the Obstetrical Care Workforce in the U.S. This brief from the WWAMI Rural Health Research Center describes the supply and geographic distribution of four types of OB care clinicians – obstetricians, advanced practice midwives, midwives (not advanced practice), and family physicians – using data from the 2019 National Plan and Provider Enumeration System and the American Board of Family Medicine. Supporting the Health and Wellbeing of Middle-Aged Adults Living Alone in Rural Counties. This report from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center shares insights from healthcare providers in 14 rural counties with the highest rates of middle-aged adults living alone in order to inform policy and practice in how best to support the health and well-being of this demographic. Policy Updates Visit the FORHP Policy page to see all recent updates and send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. Comments Requested: CMS Proposed Rule for Home Health Providers – August 31. On June 30, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a proposed rule for the FY 2021 Home Health Prospective Payment System (PPS). The proposed rule includes a payment increase for fiscal year (FY) 2021 of 2.7 percent ($540 million total), which rural areas will experience as 2.3 percent. CMS also included a summary of the methodology for rural add-on payments. The rule also adopts the most recent Office of Management and Budget (OMB) statistical area delineations with 34 urban counties becoming rural and 47 rural counties becoming urban. Learning Events and Technical Assistance UMD: Indigenous Perspectives on COVID-19 – Tuesday, July 7 at 6:00 pm ET. Indigenous epidemiology experts from the U.S. and Australia will present in this one-hour webinar hosted by the University of Maryland (UMD) School of Public Health. IHS: COVID-19 Support for Parents and Caregivers – Wednesday, July 8 at 12:00 pm ET. The Indian Health Service (IHS) will discuss how the pandemic has impacted children and adolescents and examine strategies to support parents and caregivers. PTTC Web Series: AI/AN and Hispanic Cultural Competence – Wednesday, July 8 at 2:00 pm ET. The Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) will hold four online sessions through August 5 to address culturally and linguistically appropriate prevention services for Native American/Alaska Native (AI/AN) and Latinx communities. Webcast for Provider Relief Fund Medicaid & CHIP Distribution – Wednesday, July 8 at 4:00 pm ET. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will host this webinar to help Medicaid/CHIP providers understand the application process for relief fund payments related to the pandemic. (See announcement in the What's New section above.) IHS: Social Determinants of Health and COVID-19 – Thursday, July 9 at 12:00 pm ET. The Indian Health Service (IHS) will hold a one-hour webinar to discuss challenges to housing, food, employment, etc., and the importance of community resources for high-risk populations. MHTTC: Mental Health Telehealth for Farming/Rural Communities – Thursday, July 9 at 1:00 pm ET. The Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) will discuss telehealth specifically for these communities and provide resources. This is the third in a three-part series about farm stress and mental health. NIHB: COVID-19 Contact Tracing in Indian Country – Friday, July 10 at 3:00 pm ET. Contact tracing is used to identify and alert people of potential contact with a person infected with the novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19. This webinar hosted by the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) will explore how contact tracing is being carried out in Indian Country. Touchless Naloxone Delivery in Rural Communities – Monday, July 13 at 11:00 am ET. In an hour-long webinar, experts will discuss touchless distribution of the medication that counteracts the effects of opioid overdose. Host University of Rochester Recovery Center of Excellence is supported by the HRSA-funded Rural Communities Opioid Response Program. ASTHO: Sustainable Financing for Rural Hospitals – Tuesday, July 14 at 3:00 pm ET. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) will hold a virtual town hall meeting to discuss how COVID-19 has shifted long-term sustainability for rural hospitals. Resource of the Week Rural Resilience: Farm Stress Training. A self-paced online course for groups that work with farmers and ranchers to learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of stress and suicide, ways to effectively communicate with people under stress, and how to reduce stigma related to mental health concerns. The training is sponsored by the American Farm Bureau Federation, Farm Credit, Michigan State University Extension, National Farmers Union, University of Illinois Extension. E-learning Program: Improving Cultural Competency for Behavioral Health Professionals. A five-hour, on-demand e-learning program to help behavioral health professionals increase their cultural and linguistic competency. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the program is accredited for contact hours for many behavioral health professionals. Approaching Deadlines DOL National Emergency Grants for Dislocated Workers – Ongoing FEMA Public Assistance Program: COVID-19 Response – Ongoing Small Business Administration Coronavirus Relief Programs – Ongoing Payment Deferrals: USDA Guaranteed Loans for Rural Development – Until September 30 ACF Basic Center Program for Runaway/Homeless Youth – July 3 Accepting Applications: CMS Direct Contracting Professional and Global Options – July 6 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 Dept. of Education School-Based Mental Health Services – July 13 HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Planning – July 13 USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants – July 13 Request for Information: NIH Seeking Input on Health Disparities in Neurological Disease and Care – July 15 COVID-Related Relief Funds for Medicaid and CHIP Providers – July 20 HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program - Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome – July 20 Rural Health Equity Postdoctoral Program – July 20 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 ACL Transit Planning for All Mobility on Demand Projects – July 31 Request for Information: Clinical Experience in Suicide Prevention in Primary Care Settings – August 7 DRA Delta Leadership Institute Executive Academy – August 18 DOT Funding Public Transportation on Indian Reservations – August 24 IHS Tribal Management Grant Program – August 24 NIH Community Interventions to Address COVID-19 Pandemic – August 28 USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – August 28 AHA Rural Hospital Leadership Team Award – August 31 Comments Requested: CMS Proposed Rule for Home Health Providers – August 31 NRHA Rural Health Fellows Program – September 3 NIH Researching Long-Term Effects of Disasters on Systems Serving Disparity Populations – September 7 ACL Innovation Challenge: Technology for Social Isolation – September 8 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 BIA Native American Business Development Institute Grant – 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 IHS Tribal Injury Prevention Program – October 1 FCC High Speed Broadband/Rural Opportunity Fund – October 22 NIH Digital Interventions to COVID-19 Secondary Effects – December 30 Ongoing Opportunities AHRQ Research to Improve Patient Transitions through HIT – December 2022 ASA Rural Access to Anesthesia Care Scholarship CDC Training Pediatric Medical Providers to Recognize ACEs CMS Hardship Exception for Hospital Interoperability – September 1, 2020; November 30 for CAHs Dept of Commerce: Economic Development Assistance Programs DRA Technical Assistance for Delta Region Community Health Systems Development – Ongoing EPA Drinking Water State Revolving Fund HUD Hospital Mortgage Insurance Program IHS Tribal Forensic Healthcare Training NARHC Certified Rural Health Clinic Professional Course NIH Pilot and Feasibility Studies for Drug/Alcohol Prevention Trials – January 7, 2021 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 Rural Business Development Grants USDA Rural Energy Savings Program USDA Summer Food Program USDA Technical Assistance for Healthy Food Financing Initiative USDA Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans USDA Funding for Rural Water and Waste Disposal Projects | 
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