October 29, 2020 What's New 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 on Sunday and ends on Tuesday, 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, 2021. Fourteen 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. Expanded Provider Relief Fund Eligibility and Updated Reporting Requirements. Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) expanded the types of providers that are eligible for Phase 3 Provider Relief Funds (PRF) to include residential treatment facilities, physician assistants, and advanced practice nursing providers, among others. Providers may submit applications until November 6. HHS also updated the reporting requirements and auditing instructions in response to stakeholder feedback. This new guidance now allows providers to apply PRF payments against all lost revenues without limitation. COVID-19 Hospital Data Coverage Report – Updated Weekly. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is providing weekly updates to the data set tracking whether hospitals, including rural and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), are completing their COVID-19 data reporting. As specified in recent guidance, hospitals and CAHs must report daily to the federal government, or to their state if they receive a written release from the state, a set of required data elements. Failure to do so will result in a series of enforcement actions over several weeks that could result in termination of the Medicare provider agreement. CRS: Medicaid Telehealth Policies in Response to COVID-19. 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 examined how states have increased the number of services, provider types, and other telehealth options under Medicaid. Request for Information: Maternal and Child Health Bureau Strategic Plan – Respond by December 18. The Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) at the Health Resources and Services Administration supports research and federal grant programs that ensure the health and well-being of mothers, children, and families. The bureau seeks feedback from the public about future plans for their work, including how MCHB can support efforts to eliminate disparities based on race, income, disability, and geography. New Telehealth Platform to Mobilize Health Care Workforce During COVID-19. ProviderBridge.org was created by the Federation of State Medical Boards through the CARES Act and the FORHP-supported Licensure Portability Program. The site provides up-to-date information on emergency regulation and licensing by state as well as a provider portal to connect volunteer health care professionals to state agencies and health care entities. COVID-19 Resources 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, including a section specific to rural health care, a daily tracker of new cases by urban/rural county classification, and a Toolkit for Tribal Communities. New: a report on Excess Deaths Associated with COVID-19, by Age, Race, and Ethnicity; new data and guidance for monitoring pregnant women; updates for children and teens during Halloween. CMS Coronavirus Stakeholder Calls. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) hosts recurring online sessions to share information related to COVID-19. These sessions are open to members of the health care community and are intended to provide updates, share best practices among peers, and offer attendees an opportunity to ask questions of CMS and other subject matter experts. HHS Coronavirus Data Hub. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) launched a website in July with data on the COVID-19 response at federal, state, and local levels. The hub includes estimated and reported hospital capacity by state, with numbers updated daily. ATTC Network COVID-19 Resources for Addictions Treatment. The Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network was established in 1993 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The online catalog of COVID-related resources includes regularly-updated guidance and trainings for professionals in the field. GHPC's Collection of Rural Health Strategies for COVID-19. With support from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), the Georgia Health Policy Center (GHPC) provides reports, guidance, and innovative strategies gleaned from their technical assistance and peer learning sessions with FORHP grantees. 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 posted a guide to help you learn about activities underway to address COVID-19. The online resource now includes Rural Healthcare Surge Readiness, a tool with resources for healthcare systems preparing for and responding to a COVID-19 surge in their communities. SAMHSA Training and Technical Assistance Related to COVID-19. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) created this list of resources, tools, and trainings. Funding and Opportunities CDC Foundation: Strengthen Vaccine Confidence Pilot Project – November 16. The CDC Foundation (CDCF) is an independent, nonprofit organization created by Congress to support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with philanthropic and private-sector resources. For this project, the organization will fund up to six community-based organizations to increase confidence in vaccines among groups at risk for outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. CDCF intends make awards between the range of $31,541-$35,000 per funded project. CDC Viral Hepatitis Surveillance and Prevention – December 1. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will make 58 awards with total funding of more than $341 million to increase testing, reporting, and treatment of viral hepatitis at the local level. Depending on funding, these activities may include referral to syringe services programs, and/or substance use disorder treatment centers. Eligible applicants are state, local, and special district governments. HRSA Regional Telehealth Resource Center Program – January 21. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will make 12 awards with total funding of $3.9 million for a three-year project. The Regional Telehealth Resource Center Program advances effective telehealth technologies that help health care organizations and providers serving rural areas. Eligible applicants are public, private, and non-profit entities, including community-based organizations, tribes, and tribal organizations that can serve as a collective resource for information on telehealth policy and technology. HRSA also funds the National Telehealth Resource Center Program – January 21, to support the 12 regional centers. Two awardees will be funded up to $325,000 annually for up to three years. Housing Assistance Council: Housing Loans for Low-Income Rural Communities – Ongoing. The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) is a certified Community Development Financial Institution providing short-term loans at below market interest rates to local nonprofits, for-profits, and government entities that are working to develop affordable housing for low-income, rural communities. Loan amounts vary and can be used for a variety of housing development purposes. See the Events section below for an upcoming webinar on mixed-use development in small towns. Policy Updates Visit the FORHP Policy page to see all recent updates and send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. CMS Announces Fourth COVID-19 Interim Final Rule with Comment Period. On October 28, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its fourth Interim Final Rule with Comment Period (IFC) in response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). Highlights of interest to rural stakeholders in this rule include vaccine-related provisions; flexibilities for states maintaining Medicaid enrollment during the COVID‑19 PHE; enhanced Medicare payments for new COVID-19 treatments; and price transparency for COVID-19 tests. Comments will be due 60 days after the date of display in the Federal Register. New CMS Rural Health Listserv. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has a new rural health care listserv dedicated to sharing information about programs, policies and resources. To subscribe to the new topic, click on the link above for CMS Email Updates, then look for Outreach and Education, then Rural Health. For more information on rural health activities at CMS, visit go.cms.gov/ruralhealth or contact RuralHealth@cms.hhs.gov. Delayed Start Date for the Radiation Oncology Payment Model. In response to stakeholder feedback, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is changing the start date of the Radiation Oncology Model to July 1, 2021, instead of January 1. Participation in this model is required for all providers of radiotherapy treatment. It creates a single, bundled payment system that is the same across providers, regardless of whether care occurs in an outpatient department or in a physician's office. CMS Releases Frequently Asked Questions for the CHART Model. Last week, CMS released a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document addressing stakeholder questions regarding the Community Health Access and Rural Transformation (CHART) Model. The FAQs are posted on the CHART website. Learning Events and Technical Assistance FCC Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee Meeting – October 29-30 at 11:00 am ET. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will hold a two-day, online meeting that is open to the public. The Committee will consider and vote on reports and recommendations for expanding broadband availability in low-income communities. Housing Assistance Council: Affordable Housing Development – Thursday, October 29 at 2:00 pm ET. The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) is a nonprofit that promotes home ownership for low-income rural families. In this hour-long program, HAC will discuss mixed-use development (commercial and residential buildings) in the downtown area of small and rural communities. HRSA Introduction to Grant Writing – Thursday, October 29 at 4:00 pm ET. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will hold a 90-minute webinar with tips and techniques for completing most private and public grant applications. For more information, contact Valerie Gallo at vgallo@hrsa.gov. NIH: Telehealth for Rural Cancer Care During COVID-19 – Friday, October 30 at 12:00 pm ET. The National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will hold an hour-long discussion on sustained cancer control for rural populations during the pandemic. The session is part of the Healthcare Teams (HTC) Cyber Discussions Series. NACo: Rural Peer Learning Network for Early Childhood Services During COVID-19 – Friday, October 30 at 2:00 pm ET. The National Association of Counties (NACo) will hold an hour-long discussion with rural county leaders on ways to connect families to services during the pandemic. MHTTC: A Trauma-Informed Approach in Behavioral Health – Tuesdays, November 3 – December 5 at 2:00 pm ET. The Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) will hold a 90-minute session each Tuesday to help behavioral health professionals recognize trauma in individuals. Capacity for Rural Cancer Care Research – Monday, November 9 at 3:00 pm ET. In an hour-long webinar, National Cancer Institute (NCI) experts will present findings on a project mapping the capacity of the NCI Community Oncology Research Program to conduct research on cancer care delivery in rural communities. SEARCH 2020: National Telehealth Research Symposium – November 11-13. The Society for Education and the Advancement of Research in Connected Health (SEARCH) will hold a virtual conference to showcase connected health efforts and partnerships, specifically those that focus on the research of telemedicine, telehealth, eHealth, mHealth, and other healthcare technologies. The three-day agenda includes networking, discussions, and presentations on topics including mental health, pediatric care, and perspectives on the pandemic. Resource of the Week Preparing for a Community Surge in COVID-19 Cases. This web portal, housed on the Rural Health Information Hub, aims to provide the most up-to-date and critical resources for rural health care systems preparing for and responding to a COVID-19 surge. It was developed by the COVID-19 Healthcare Resilience Working Group, a partnership with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and other federal agencies to support health care delivery during the pandemic. Approaching Deadlines FCC High Speed Broadband/Rural Opportunity Fund – October 29 Comments Requested: CMS Policy and Regulatory Revisions in Response to COVID-19 – November 2 USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) – November 2 USDA Training for Regional Wastewater Treatment Solutions – November 4 National Health Service Corps Students-to-Service Loan Repayment Program – November 5 HHS: Phase 3 of Provider Relief Funds – November 6 HRSA National Research Service Award Grants – November 9 RWJF Health Policy Fellowship – November 9 NIH Research for Tobacco Control Policies – November 12 Comments Requested: Part I of the CY 2022 Advance Notice of Medicare Advantage and Part D Payment Policies—November 13 DOL H-1B Rural Healthcare Grant Program – November 13 CDC Foundation: Strengthen Vaccine Confidence Pilot Project – November 16 HRSA Rural Health Network Development Planning Program – November 16 Sites for Rural Home Hospital Randomized Controlled Trial – November 16 Treasury: New Markets Tax Credit Program – November 16 California Tribal Fund: COVID-19 Recovery Grants – November 20 CDC Community-Based HIV Prevention Programs – November 20 NIH Extramural Loan Repayment Program – November 20 NIH Research to Improve Health Disparities – November 27 Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Meaningful Use Hardship Exception Applications – November 30 Delta Region Community Health Systems Development Program – November 30 CDC Viral Hepatitis Surveillance and Prevention – December 1 HRSA Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program – December 1 Comments Requested: Proposed DATA 2000 Training Payment Application – December 7 HUD Indian Housing Block Grant Program – December 10 HRSA Rural Policy Analysis Program – December 14 EPA Research to Reduce Wildland Fire Smoke Exposures – December 15 Indian Health Service (IHS) Community Opioid Intervention Pilot Project – December 15 NBCC Minority Fellowship Program for Mental Health Counselors – December 15 Request for Information: Maternal and Child Health Bureau Strategic Plan – December 18 USDA Community Connect Grants – December 23 NIH Digital Interventions to COVID-19 Secondary Effects – December 30 FCC Extends Purchasing Deadline for COVID-19 Telehealth Program – December 31 USDA Solid Waste Treatment Grants – December 31 AmeriCorps State and National Grants for Community Service – January 6 NIH Pilot and Feasibility Studies for Drug/Alcohol Prevention Trials – January 7 USDA Farm to School Grant Program – January 8 USDA Tribal Colleges Research Grants – January 13 HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program (BHWET) – January 21 HRSA National Telehealth Resource Center Program – January 21 HRSA Regional Telehealth Resource Center Program – January 21 Indian Health Service (IHS) Loan Repayment Program – February 15 NIH Research on Biopsychosocial Factors of Connectedness/Isolation – March 17 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 Community Health Access and Rural Transformation Model (CHART) – Letters of Intent January 28, 2022 Delta Region Community Health Systems Development Program Dept of Commerce: Economic Development Assistance Programs DRA Technical Assistance for Delta Region Community Health Systems Development EPA Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Housing Assistance Council: Housing Loans for Low-Income Rural Communities HUD Hospital Mortgage Insurance Program IHS Tribal Forensic Healthcare Training IHS/DOD Medical Supplies and Equipment for Tribes (Project TRANSAM) 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 on Minority Health/Health Disparities – September 8, 2022 NIH Research on Palliative Care in Home/Community Settings – September 8, 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 Southeast Rural Community Assistance Loans 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 Intermediary Relending Program USDA Rural Business Development Grants USDA Rural Business Investment Program 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 USDOT Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (R.O.U.T.E.S) | 
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