December 10, 2020 What's New CDC Recommendation for Allocating COVID-19 Vaccine. In its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide guidance for federal, state, and local jurisdictions. HRSA Funds Additional RHCs to Expand COVID-19 Testing. On December 7, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) disbursed $9.3 million to support COVID-19 testing at Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). HRSA used updated data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to identify 188 previously unsupported RHCs and calculate more than $49,000 per site for the December 2020 payment. The terms and conditions for recipients of this round of funding remain the same as those for RHCs previously funded in May 2020. Recently posted Frequently Asked Questions about the program provide more details. GAO: Urgent Actions Needed for Federal Response to Pandemic. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent, nonpartisan agency that examines how taxpayer dollars are spent and reports to Congress with information to help the government work more efficiently. In a report released last week, the GAO listed a number of findings about challenges across the nation and made 11 specific recommendations for improving the federal response. HHS National Plan to Improve Maternal Health. Last week, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced an action plan with three specific targets: 1) reduce maternal mortality in the U.S. by 50 percent, 2) reduce low-risk cesarean deliveries by 25 percent, and 3) achieve blood pressure control in 80 percent of women of reproductive age with hypertension. In its announcement HHS highlighted recent maternal health activities, including winners of a competition launched earlier this year by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Cross-Sectional Innovation to Improve Rural Postpartum Mental Health Challenge. GHPC Report: Promoting Access to Maternal Care for Women with SUD in Rural Communities. The Georgia Health Policy Center (GHPC) reviews the challenges in rural areas to caring for women with mental health challenges and substance use disorder (SUD). Among the state- and federal-level innovations currently improving access to care is the HRSA/FORHP-supported Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) program initiated last year. HHS Request for Information: Novel Technologies for Chronic Disease Management in Aging Underserved Populations – December 22. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) seeks innovative technology solutions to chronic disease management for aging populations in underserved areas. 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. 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). CARES Act Provider Relief Fund Frequently Asked Questions. Includes information on terms and conditions, attestation, reporting and auditing requirements, general and targeted distributions, and how to report capital equipment purchases. 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, and a Toolkit for Tribal Communities. New: A new tab added to the CDC's COVID-19 Data Trackers allows users to view COVID-19 cases, deaths, and tests by county. And the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released last week gives new information on the disproportionate impact on Hispanic/Latino individuals. CMS Coronavirus Stakeholder Calls. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) hosts recurring online sessions to provide updates, share best practices among peers, and offer attendees an opportunity to ask questions of CMS. HHS Coronavirus Data Hub. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) website includes estimated and reported hospital capacity by state, with numbers updated daily. COVID-19 Data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The site provides access to demographic and economic data, including state and local data on at-risk populations, poverty, health insurance coverage, and employment. 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. The FORHP-supported 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 on rural and urban confirmed cases throughout the United States. An animated map shows the progression of cases beginning January 21 to the present. Rural Response to Coronavirus Disease 2019. The Rural Health Information Hub has a compendium of rural-specific activities and guidelines, including Rural Healthcare Surge Readiness, a tool with resources for responding to a local surge in cases. 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. 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. Online Resource for Licensure of Health Professionals. Created by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, the site provides up-to-date information on emergency regulation and licensing in each state for psychologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists assistants, and social workers. Funding and Opportunities NIH Interventions for Individuals at Highest Risk of HIV Infection – January 15. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will support research projects that test the effectiveness of multi-level interventions to prevent HIV in one or more geographic areas with a high rate of new infections. Individuals form rural areas are considered a health disparity population for this research. Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project – January 16. The National Rural Health Resource Center provides technical assistance to small rural hospitals and rural health clinics to strengthen their foundation in key elements for transitioning to value-based care. HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program – January 21. The Health Resources and Services Administration will make 92 awards with total funding of $44.2 million to increase the supply and distribution of behavioral health professionals. Eligible applicants are accredited professional training and education programs with internships/field placement in behavioral health. ACL Empowering Communities Through Chronic Disease Self-Management – February 2. The Administration for Community Living (ACL) will make eight awards with a total investment of $2 million to increase the number of older adults and adults with disabilities who participate in self-management education for chronic disease. Elible applicants are state, local, and Tribal governments; public and private institutions of higher education; and non-profit organizations. ACL Small Business Innovation Research for Community Living with Disability – February 2. The Administration for Community Living (ACL) places emphasis on women, economically-disadvantaged populations, and underrepresented or rural areas for this program to improve the role of small businesses in Federal research and development. Eligible applicants are small businesses with 500 or fewer employees that can conduct research and/or improve community living for people with disabilities. SAMHSA Grants for Campus Suicide Prevention – February 5. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will invest $2.4 million in enhanced mental health services for college students, including those at risk for suicide, depression, and substance use disorders. Eligible applicants are public and private colleges and universities, including minority-serving institutions and community colleges. HRSA Capacity Development for Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part C – February 19. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will make 60 awards with total funding of $8 million to increase access to HIV primary health care services for low-income, uninsured, and underserved people with HIV. Eligible applicants include public and nonprofit private entities, faith-based and community-based organizations, and Tribes and tribal organizations; priority will be given to primary care services in rural areas. NIH: Social/Behavioral Research for Cancer Intervention in Rural Populations – March 15. The National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will provide funding to develop, adapt, and test interventions to address risk factors for cancer in rural populations. Examples of research include disparities in behavioral risk factors such as diet, alcohol consumption, and tobacco use; and social determinants of health such as rural identity that influence trust in and attitudes toward medical providers and government-sponsored programs. See the Events section below for assistance for applicants to this program on Friday, December 11. 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. Emergency Obstetric Training Needed in Rural Hospitals without Obstetric Units. Hospitals that remain open after obstetric services close may encounter challenges providing emergency births or managing other obstetric complications. As part of a larger survey to understand local capacity for emergency obstetric services, researchers at the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center asked nurse manager and emergency department administrators to describe the types of trainings and/or resources that would be needed to help better prepare their hospitals to handle obstetric emergencies. Policy Updates Visit the FORHP Policy page to see all recent updates and send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. CMS Final Medicare Outpatient Payment Rule. Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized Medicare policies and payment updates for hospital outpatient departments and ambulatory surgical centers for calendar year 2021. It continues past payment methods for participants of the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which allows hospitals and other providers to purchase certain covered outpatient drugs from manufacturers at discounted prices, revises the methods used to calculate the Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating, and includes Critical Access Hospitals and Veterans Health Administration Hospitals in the Star Ratings. Learning Events and Technical Assistance CMS: Understanding the 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule – Thursday, December 10 at 1:30 pm ET. During this 90-minute session, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will briefly cover provisions from the Physician Fee Schedule Rule released last week and address providers' questions. NCTRC Telehealth Hack Webinar Series – Thursday, December 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 setting up telemental health programs on college campuses. CMS-CDC Fundamentals of COVID-19 Prevention for Nursing Homes – Thursday, December 10 at 4:00 pm ET. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will answer questions during an hour-long session. MATRC: Answering questions About Telehealth and Telemental Health – Second and Fourth Fridays at 12:00 pm ET. The Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center (MATRC) holds a live, one-hour event to answer questions about the basics. The MATRC is one of 14 FORHP-Supported Telehealth Resource Centers. NIH: Social/Behavioral Research for Cancer Intervention in Rural Populations – Friday, December 11 at 1:00 pm ET. The National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will provide assistance, including a Q&A session for applicants to program funding, Research to Address Modifiable Risk Factors for Cancer in Rural Populations. Third Session on CMMI CHART Model – Monday, December 14 at 1:00 pm ET. The Rural Health Value team is hosting its third 90-minute virtual discussion on key components of a successful application for the Community Health Access and Rural Transformation (CHART) Model funding opportunity released in September by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Innovation Center (CMMI). This session is focused on transformation planning. Rural Health Research Gateway on SDOH – Tuesday, December 15 at 1:00 pm ET. Building on work conducted by the FORHP-supported Rural and Minority Research Center, this hour-long presentation will review key elements of social determinants of health (SDOH) such as education, income, and health facility availability. AgriSafe: Reducing the Risk of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes for Agricultural Producers - Wednesday, December 16 at 1:00 pm ET. The AgriSafe Network will host a one-hour webinar on risks to pregnancy and fertility for women in agricultural jobs, including pesticide and chemical exposures, zoonotic diseases, and heavy lifting. FCC Broadband Employment Advisory Committee Meeting – Thursday, December 17 at 11:00 am ET. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will make this meeting open to the public as they consider recommendations from the Increasing Broadband Investment in the Low Income Communities working group. Rural PREP: Data and Local Advocacy for Rural Medical Pipelines – Thursday, December 17 at 1:00 pm ET. The Collaborative for Rural Primary care, Research, Education, and Practice (Rural PREP) is a nonprofit promoting health professions training and research in rural communities. During this hour-long webinar, experts will discuss the role of "growing our own" health professionals, and evaluation studies that support strategies for rural medical education. NCSL Strategies to Reduce Maternal Mortality – Friday, December 18 at 2:00 pm ET. During this hour-long event, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) will explore the current state of maternal mortality in the United States, and review examples of state-level actions to reduce rates. Resource of the Week HRSA: Toolkit for Caring for Women with Opioid Use Disorder. This resource was created by HRSA's Office of Women's Health to help organizations develop or bolster coordinated care for women with opioid use disorder across the lifespan. It includes strategies for trauma-informed care from first appointment to longer-term recovery support, a self-assessment for organization leaders, and a list of resources for creating a path of coordinated care. Approaching Deadlines 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 HRSA Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program – Extended to 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 HHS Request for Information on Redundant, Overlapping, or Inconsistent Regulations – December 21 HHS Request for Information: Novel Technologies for Chronic Disease Management in Aging Underserved Populations – December 22 USDA Community Connect Grants – December 23 Comments Requested: Paperwork Reduction for the FCC –December 24 HHS Request for Information on Best Practices in Response to COVID-19 – December 24 NIH Digital Interventions to COVID-19 Secondary Effects – December 30 FCC Extends Purchasing Deadline for COVID-19 Telehealth Program – December 31 Medicare Extreme and Uncontrollable Exceptions Applications – December 31 NACCHO Model Practices Award – December 31 USDA Solid Waste Management Program – December 31 USDA Technical Assistance and Grants for Wastewater Management – December 31 CMS Value in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Demonstration – January 3 Comments Requested: CMS Fourth COVID-19 Interim Final Rule – January 4 AmeriCorps State and National Grants for Community Service – January 6 NIH Pilot and Feasibility Studies for Drug/Alcohol Prevention Trials – January 8 USDA Farm to School Grant Program – January 8 USDA Tribal Colleges Research Grants – January 13 NIH Interventions for Individuals at Highest Risk of HIV Infection – January 15 NIH Promoting HIV Viral Suppression Among Disparity Populations – January 15 Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project – January 16 CMS Community Health Access and Rural Transformation Model (CHART) – Letters of Intent January 18 HRSA Nursing Workforce Diversity Program – January 19 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 AAP Community Access to Child Health (CATCH) Grants – January 27 FEMA Grants for Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities – January 29 APA Minority Externship in Addiction Psychiatry – January 31 ACL Empowering Communities Through Chronic Disease Self-Management – February 2 SAMHSA Grants for Campus Suicide Prevention – February 5 CDC National Center for Prevention of Childhood Agricultural Injury – February 9 Indian Health Service (IHS) Loan Repayment Program – February 15 CMS Community Health Access and Rural Transformation Model (CHART) – February 16 CDC Research to Inform Pandemic Response for Displaced Persons – February 18 HRSA Capacity Development for Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part C – February 19 NIH: Social/Behavioral Research for Cancer Intervention in Rural Populations – March 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 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 Practice-Based Research for Mental Health Interventions in Pediatric Primary Care Settings – July 1 (Letters of Intent June 1) NIH Research for AI/AN End-of-Life Care – January 8, 2022 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 Primary Care Development Corporation Community Investment Loans 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 Economic Impact Initiative Grants 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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