November 5, 2020 What's New HRSA Celebrates National Rural Health Day. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will recognize the annual event with online activities on Thursday, November 19. HRSA Administrator Tom Engels will kick off the day, along with a welcome from Jeff Colyer, Chair of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services. HRSA will host a variety of events throughout the week which are open to the public, including a virtual rural job fair and webinars focused on the rural response to COVID-19, social determinants of health, and telehealth. USDA: The Meatpacking Industry During COVID-19. The Economic Research Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides data on rural counties where meatpacking is the primary employer, and where confirmed cases are higher than in other rural areas. States Turn to Telehealth During the Pandemic. With funding support from the Health Resources and Services Administration, the National Conference of State Legislatures provides details of more than 79 bills changing telehealth policies in 36 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. ONC Interim Final Rule on Pandemic-Related Health IT. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) is accepting comments on an Interim Final Rule, effective on December 4, pertaining to Information Blocking and the ONC Health IT Certification Program that were outlined in the ONC Cures Act Final Rule released in March 2020. 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. New: Updated FAQ for Rural Health Clinics (RHC)Testing Program, including a link to the RHC COVID-19 Reporting Portal, where tests and spending categories must be reported monthly. 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: Association Between Social Vulnerability and a Risk for Becoming a COVID-19 Hotspot 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. It also links to the weekly list of hospitals completing their daily COVID-19 data reporting. 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. Mobilizing Health Care Workforce via Telehealth. 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. Funding and Opportunities Site Registration for the Next HRSA Virtual Job Fair – November 6. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) holds regular events to connect health care sites with job-seeking primary care trainees and practicing clinicians. Health care facilities approved by the National Health Service Corps and/or NURSE Corps hoping to interview candidates in this rural-focused event must register by tomorrow to participate. See more information about the Virtual Job Fair in the Events section below. National Environmental Health Public Health Internship – January 22. The National Environmental Health Association provides credentials, training, and resources for professionals in the field that promotes a healthful environment. Current junior, senior, or graduate students in higher education must possess a minimum grade-point average of 2.8, among other eligibility requirements, to be selected for a 10-week internship at sites in local, state, or tribal health departments. The organization also seeks public health departments to serve as host sites if they can provide multiple environmental health activities for students. The application deadline for both internship and site hosting is January 22. FEMA Grants for Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities – January 29. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will invest $500 million in up to 125 grants for local-level preparation projects that lessen the impact of future natural disasters. Funding of $20 million is specifically set aside for resilient infrastructure projects for Tribal communities. Policy Updates Visit the FORHP Policy page to see all recent updates and send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. Comments Requested: Medicare Advantage Advance Notice Part II – November 30. Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released Part II of the Calendar Year 2022 Advance Notice of Methodological Changes for Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies for public comment. It includes estimates of changes in payments to MA plans and requests input on future quality measures and concepts for the MA and Prescription Drug plan Star Ratings system, which helps beneficiaries to compare plans. New Toolkit for Long-term Services and Supports. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) developed this toolkit to supporting states' efforts to rebalance long-term services and supports (LTSS), so there is an equitable balance between services and supports delivered in home and community-based settings relative to institutional care. The kit includes strategies to increase the share of LTSS provided in community-based settings; tools to assist with policy and programmatic changes; case studies of innovative programs; and links to relevant resources. Final Rule on Price Transparency for Private Insurance. In this final rule, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Labor, and the Department of the Treasury are requiring individual and group health insurers, by 2023, to offer online tools for consumers to estimate how much they will have to pay out-of-pocket for health care items and services before receiving care. The rule also requires that by 2022 insurers publically display their negotiated rates for in-network providers; their historical payments to out-of-network providers; and their in-network negotiated rates and historical net prices for prescription drugs. CMS Finalizes CY2021 Payment Rules for Home Health. On November 4, CMS finalized Medicare payment policy updates for home health providers that are effective January 1, 2021. The rule includes an overall payment rate increase of $410 million that rural areas will experience as 1.5 percent greater than last year. Other policy updates are related to rural add-on payments, remote patient monitoring, and the home infusion therapy benefit. CMS finalized using the September 14, 2018 OMB Bulletin for delineations for Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs), so several counties changed status as to whether they are rural or urban. CMS included a transition period to mitigate any potential decreases in payments. Learning Events and Technical Assistance CDC Foundation: Role of CBOs in COVID-19 Messaging – Thursday, November 5 at 3:30 pm ET. The CDC Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization created by Congress to support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with philanthropic and private-sector resources. In this hour-long webinar, experts will discuss the role of community-based organizations (CBOs) in promoting prevention efforts. NACo: County Spending Strategies for Coronavirus Relief Fund – Friday, November 6 at 2:00 pm ET. The National Association of Counties (NACo) will discuss local allocation of pandemic-related funding provided by the CARES Act as the December 30 deadline for spending approaches. CDC Overview of COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution – Monday, November 9 at 3:00 pm. As part of its regular COVID-19 Partner Updates, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will discuss the basics of vaccine distribution and safety. Rural specifics for this topic were covered in a call earlier this week. NCTRC Telehealth Hack Webinar Series – Tuesday, November 10 at 2:00 pm ET . In this hour-long learning session hosted by the National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers (NCTRC) experts will familiarize attendees with Licensure and the Patient-Provider Relationship. MHTTC: A Trauma-Informed Approach in Behavioral Health – Tuesdays at 2:00 pm ET, until December 15. The Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) will hold a 90-minute session each Tuesday to help behavioral health professionals recognize trauma in individuals. COVID-19 and Native American Health – Monday, November 9 at 1:00 pm ET. The publication U.S. News and World Report brings together Native American leaders to discuss the impact of the pandemic. 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. Rural Opportunity and Development (ROAD) Session – Tuesday, November 10 at 3:00 pm ET. The collaborative that includes the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Aspen Institute will hold an hour-long virtual exchange to discuss health and equity in rural places. 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. NAM Opioid Collaborative Fall 2020 Virtual Symposium – Thursday, November 12 at 9:00 am ET. The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) holds a five-hour event to present tools and resources created by its Action Collaborative on opioid use disorder. HRSA: Introducing Telehealth to Rural and Indigenous Communities – November 18-19. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will hold a two-day training event, including information about successful programs. For more information, contact Alisha Acker at AAcker@hrsa.gov Training for MAT Waiver Eligibility – Saturday, November 14 at 8:00 am ET. The American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine offers a free online training series for physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants that satisfies some of the requirements to obtain a waiver for prescribing buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder. HRSA Virtual Job Fair for Rural Communities – Wednesday, November 18 at 6:45 pm ET. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will hold its next job fair to connect primary care clinicians to approved health care sites in rural areas. While there is no registration deadline for medical, nursing, dental, and mental/behavioral health clinicians, job-seekers may want to build a searchable professional profile on the Health Workforce Connector. See Funding and Opportunities section above to register as site. NIH Rural Health Seminar – Thursday, November 19 at 1:00 pm ET. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will host a four-hour event online with a focus on challenges during COVID-19. Resource of the Week CDC Foundation COVID-19 Communications Toolkit. The non-profit supporting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers this collection of resources that help local public health agencies communicate about the pandemic. Approaching Deadlines National Health Service Corps Students-to-Service Loan Repayment Program – November 5 HHS: Phase 3 of Provider Relief Funds – November 6 NHSC/NURSE Corps Site Registration for HRSA Virtual Job Fair – 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 Comments Requested: Medicare Advantage Advance Notice Part II – November 30 Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Meaningful Use Hardship Exception – 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 Open Enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace – 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 National Environmental Public Health Internship – January 22 Host Site Application for National Environmental Public Health Internship – January 22 FEMA Grants for Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities – January 29 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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