April 22, 2021 What's New Awards for the Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program. On Tuesday, the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy awarded more than $12.7 for this four-year program for improved health services tailored to the specific needs of local communities. For the first time, awarded funding includes more than $3.7 million to the Healthy Rural Hometown Initiative to address the underlying factors related to the five leading causes of avoidable death (heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury/substance use, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke). Program funding will also support improving social determinants of health, chronic disease management and prevention, care coordination, telehealth, dental care, and behavioral health, among other areas. Visit the Rural Health Information Hub online to learn more about successful program models and evidence-based toolkits that have come from the work of FORHP-funded projects. Facts About COVID Care for the Uninsured. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) helps uninsured individuals find no-cost COVID-19 testing, treatment and vaccines. The HRSA Uninsured Program provides claims reimbursement to health care providers generally at Medicare rates for testing, treating, and administering vaccines to uninsured individuals, including undocumented immigrants. There are at-a-glance fact sheets for providers and for patients in English and Spanish. ACL Strategies for Helping Older Adults and People with Disabilities Access COVID-19 Vaccines. The Administration for Community Living (ACL) offers examples and promising practices for states, municipalities, community-based partners and anyone else working to ensure access to vaccination. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services released an issue brief on potential barriers to vaccination for homebound older adults. CDC Launches New Website on Racism and Health. On April 8, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched a new Racism and Health website that will be a hub for CDC's activities on disparities and the factors that cause them. Celebrating One Year of Telehealth.HHS.gov. Today marks the one-year anniversary of the website, a one-stop resource on telehealth for patients and providers. Visit to get the latest information, including telehealth tips (in English and Spanish) for patients, to telehealth best practice guides for health care providers. COVID-19 Resources New: We Can Do This: COVID-19 Public Education Campaign. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services announced a national effort to help community partners promote COVID-19 vaccine confidence. The campaign includes educational materials targeted to specific audiences and seeks volunteers for the COVID-19 Community Corps. New: Volunteer to Administer COVID-19 Vaccines. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has expanded its definition of persons authorized to give the vaccine. These include, among others, current and retired traditional and non-traditional health care professionals, and students in health care programs. 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 COVID-19-related 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, a Toolkit for Tribal Communities, and a vaccine locator by state. New: COVID-19 Vaccination Trainings for new and experienced providers. CMS Coronavirus Partner Resources. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provides information for providers, health plans, state Medicaid programs, and Children's Health Insurance Programs and holds regular stakeholder calls to provide updates. 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 March 26, 2020 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 for behavioral health and recovery providers. 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. 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 CDC Drug Free Communities – Extended to May 17. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will make 100 awards of up to $125,000 each to support efforts to prevent and reduce substance abuse among youth. Eligible applicants are community coalitions that have not previously received a Drug Free Communities grant. Cross-Jurisdictional Sharing in Public Health: Small Grants Program – May 17. The Center for Sharing Public Health Services will make grants of up to $10,000 each to state, local, and tribal public health agencies and nonprofit organizations that wish to explore, plan, implement, or improve the sharing of services across jurisdictions. Priority topic areas include addressing structural racism and/or social determinants of health, implementing a community health improvement plan, and public health modernization. DOJ Training/Technical Assistance Providers for Violence Against Women – May 27. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will invest $36 million for 70 awards to national, tribal, state, and nonprofit organizations that can help criminal justice system professionals respond effectively to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. EPA Environmental Justice Small Grants Program – June 1. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will make 100 awards of up to $75,000 each to improve the public health conditions of low-income communities and communities of color. Special emphasis is on projects addressing diesel pollution, residential areas near ports and railyards, COVID-19 impacts, and climate and disaster resilience. Approximately half of the funding is reserved for small, nonprofit organizations with 10 or fewer full-time employees. A separate program from the EPA, Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program now has an additional $6 million in funding and an application deadline extended to June 1. Native American Agriculture Fund Grants – June 1. The charitable nonprofit Native American Agriculture Fund provides grants of up to $200,000 to support farmers and ranchers. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, state and federally recognized tribal governments, and Community Development Financial Institutions. A separate program, Native American Agriculture Fund Grants for Youth – May 25, supports education and training pathways. Eligible applicants may apply for the General and the Youth grants by completing both applications. NIH Surgical Disparities Research – June 5. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will fund research projects focused on understanding and addressing disparities in surgical care and outcomes, including factors that influence the disparities. Projects must include a focus on one or more NIH-designated populations that experience health disparities in the US, which include Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Asian-Americans, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, underserved rural populations, and sexual and gender minorities. Delta Regional Authority States Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP) – June 6. Grants to help economic development in the 252 counties and parishes served by the Delta Regional Authority. Eligible applicants are state and local governments, other public entities, and nonprofit organizations. RWJF Systems and Services Research to Build a Culture of Health – June 9. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) seeks proposals for research that evaluates the impact of innovative potential solutions for payment in public health, medical, and social service systems. FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance – Ongoing. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will provide financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. NIH Project Talk Initiative Host Site Applications – Ongoing. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) seeks individuals and organizations to host local events that bring together a diverse range of locals for a community conversation about values, goals, and beliefs about end-of-life issues. Hosts from minority, rural, and low-income areas must agree to recruit a minimum of 20 underserved adults. Of seventy-five sites to be selected for the first cohort, 15 will involve Spanish-speaking communities. 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. Changes in Provision of Selected Services by Rural and Urban Hospitals Between 2009 and 2017. During the past decade, access to healthcare services provided by rural hospitals has changed in two major ways. First, there has been a substantial increase in the number of rural hospitals that have closed or converted (provide some healthcare services but not inpatient care). Secondly, and less understood, many rural hospitals have reduced or terminated services historically considered to be essential hospital services. This brief from the North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center describes and compares these changes. Policy Updates Visit the FORHP Policy page to see all recent updates and send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. No policy updates this week. Learning Events and Technical Assistance Northwest Telehealth Resource Center (NRTRC) Annual Conference – April 21-22. Presented virtually again this year, the conference will feature speakers and panel discussions on the impact of the pandemic. Application Assistance for NHSC Loan Repayment Programs – Thursday, April 22 at 8:00 pm ET. Applicants for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) can join a 90-minute session on Facebook to learn more about the application process, eligibility requirements, and choosing from three loan repayment programs. See these under Approaching Deadlines, May 6. FCC: Emergency Broadband Benefit Program for Tribal Partners – Thursday, April 22 at 4:00 pm ET. The Office of Native Affairs Policy at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will provide an overview of the Emergency Broadband Benefit, an FCC program helping households pay for internet service during the pandemic. Get information about other webinars for the Emergency Broadband Benefit. CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Emergency meeting – Friday, April 23 at 11:00 am ET. The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine will be discussed at the six-hour meeting. National Conference on Health and Domestic Violence – April 27-30. Hosted by the National Health Network on Intimate Partner Violence and Human Trafficking, the three-day conference will conference seeks to advance partnerships between the healthcare field, the anti-violence field, and affiliated social justice movements. HRSA's Office of Women's Health serves on the Steering Committee for this event and CEU/CMEs will be provided. Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) INSPIRE Initiative Applicant Webinar – Tuesday, April 27 at 11:00 am ET. ARC's INvestments Supporting Partnerships In Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE) Initiative funds community projects that lead to workforce re-entry for individuals experiencing substance abuse. This event will provide background and assistance for applicants; registration closes at 5:00 pm ET on Friday, April 23rd. A follow-up Q&A session will take place on Tuesday, May 4 at 11:00 AM ET. CMS Forum: Examining Structural Racism – Tuesday, April 27 at 1:00 pm ET. The Office of Minority Health at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will hold a forum over two days. Guest speakers from various federal and partner agencies will discuss the impact of COVID-19 and initiatives to promote health equity. The second half of the forum will begin on Wednesday, April 28 at 1:00 pm ET. Registration, required for both sessions, is limited. MATRC: Answering Questions About Telehealth and Telemental Health – Friday, April 30 at 12:00 pm ET. The Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center (MATRC) holds a live, two-hour event to answer questions about the basics. The MATRC is one of 14 FORHP-Supported Telehealth Resource Centers. This is a recurring session taking place every other Friday from 12:00 to 2:00 pm ET. Resources of the Week A Roadmap to Sharing Public Health Services. The guidebook helps local and county governments learn how they might collaborate regionally for more effective and efficient operations. See the Funding section above for more from the Center for Sharing Public Health Services. Telehealth Policy and Regulatory Considerations During a Pandemic. The National Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center provides this resource and the Pandemic Response Plan Toolkit. These documents examine critical areas of policy and need for healthcare delivery during a pandemic. Approaching Deadlines Pre-Admissions Workshops for AI/AN Students in Health Professions Training/Schools – April 23 CDC Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention and Surveillance – April 25 DOJ Tribal-Researcher Capacity Building Grants – April 26 DOL Grants for State Apprenticeship Programs – April 26 DOL Young Adult Reentry Partnership – April 26 SAMHSA: MAT for Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction – April 27 USDA Rural Health and Safety Education Grants – April 29 Delta Region Innovative Readiness Training Medical Missions – Letters of Intent April 30 NIH Firearm Injury/Mortality Prevention Research – April 30 CDC Preventing Violence Affecting Young Lives – May 1 John Hopkins Center for American Indian Health Scholarship – May 1 CDC National Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities – May 3 NIH Small Business Innovations for Improving Minority Health – May 3 HUD Older Adults Home Modification Grants – May 4 Scholarships for NRHA Annual Rural Health Conference – May 4 NHSC Loan Repayment Program – May 6 NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program – May 6 NHSC Scholarship Program – May 6 NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program – May 6 Nurse Corps Scholarship Program – May 6 Comments Requested: Rural Telehealth and Healthcare System Readiness for Disaster – May 7 NIH Research for End-of-Life and Palliative Care Health Literacy – May 7 Treasury Department Emergency Capital Investment Program – May 7 ACL Alzheimer's Disease Program Grants to States and Communities – Extended to May 10 (from April 26) CMS Community Health Access and Rural Transformation Model (CHART) – Extended to May 11 (from March 16) Enhancement Grants for Native American Library Services – May 11 ARC Investments Supporting Partnerships/Recovery Ecosystems – Letters of Intent May 17 CDC Drug Free Communities – Extended to May 17 (from May 10) Cross-Jurisdictional Sharing in Public Health: Small Grants Program – May 17 EPA Technical Assistance for Wastewater Treatment – May 17 SAMHSA Overdose Treatment for Use by First Responders – May 17 Comments Requested: Proposed Changes - Census Bureau Definition of Urban – May 20 CMS Primary Care First Model Cohort 2 – May 21 (from April 30) CDC Community Health Workers for COVID Response – May 24 New Sites for National Health Service Corps (NHSC) – May 25 Native American Agriculture Fund Grants for Youth – May 25 DOJ Training/Technical Assistance Providers for Violence Against Women – May 27 DOL Mine Health and Safety Grants – May 28 NIH Research at Minority Serving Institutions to Address Disparities – May 28 Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program –Extended to June 1 (from May 7) EPA Environmental Justice Small Grants Program – June 1 Native American Agriculture Fund Grants – June 1 HRSA Rural Maternity - Obstetrics Management Strategies Program (RMOMS) – June 4 USDA Grants for Distance Learning and Telemedicine – June 4 NIH Surgical Disparities Research – June 5 Delta Regional Authority States Economic Development Assistance Program – June 6 Comments Requested: Proposed Changes for Hospice Providers – June 7 Comments Requested: Proposed Changes for Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities – June 7 Comments Requested: Proposed Changes for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities – June 7 Comments Requested: Proposed Changes for Skilled Nursing Facilities – June 7 RWJF Systems and Services Research to Build a Culture of Health – June 9 CMS Minority Research Grant Program – June 11 USDA Summer Food Service Program – June 15 HRSA Early Intervention Services for HIV/AIDS – June 21 Special Enrollment Period for Health Coverage – Extended to August 15 (from May 15) Ongoing Opportunities Extended Public Comment Period for FCC's COVID-19 Telehealth Program FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance AHRQ Research to Improve Patient Transitions through HIT – December 2022 American Indian Public Health Resource Center Technical Assistance ASA Rural Access to Anesthesia Care Scholarship CDC Direct Assistance to State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Health Agencies CDC Training Pediatric Medical Providers to Recognize ACEs Delta Region Community Health Systems Development Program Department of Commerce: Economic Development Assistance Programs Department of Labor Dislocated Worker Grants Department of Labor Stand Down Grants for Veterans Services – through December 2021 DRA Technical Assistance for Delta Region Community Health Systems Development EPA Drinking Water State Revolving Fund GPHC & RWJF: Rapid Cycle Research and Evaluation Grants for Cross-Sector Alignment 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, 2021 NIH Project Talk Initiative Host Site Applications NIH Research to Improve Health Care Quality and Outcomes Through HIT – July 17, 2021 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 – Various 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 Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health – Various Dates Until September 2023 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 Tribal Grant Writing Training 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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