May 27, 2021 What's New Rural Health Clinic (RHC) Vaccine Confidence Program Will Fund All That Are Eligible. This week, the Health Resources and Services Administration announced that all eligible RHCs that apply may receive funding to increase confidence in vaccines for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. The deadline to apply is June 23rd. For questions about the program, email RHCVaxConfidence@hrsa.gov. New Funding Available for the HRSA Telehealth Technology-Enabled Learning Program. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) expects to make nine awards of up to $475,000 each to connect specialists at academic medical centers with primary care providers in rural areas to improve patient care in their communities. More specifically, these learning opportunities will address unmet needs for their target population, which could include populations who have historically suffered from poorer health outcomes. Applications from public, private, and nonprofit entities are due on June 25th. FDA Approves Storage of Pfizer Vaccine for Up to One Month. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated its guidance for healthcare providers administering the vaccine and allows for undiluted, thawed Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine vials to be stored in refrigeration for up to one month. The previous time span was up to five days. See COVID-19 Resources section below for new guidelines from the CDC for how to handle waste in vaccine programs. COVID-19 Resources New: Expanded Resources for Rural Health Clinics. Three new programs help more than 4,600 Rural Health Clinics in 45 states meet the needs of their communities. New: HHS/DoD National Emergency Tele-Critical Care Network. A joint program of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is available at no cost to hospitals caring for COVID-19 patients and struggling with access to enough critical care physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and other specialized clinical experts. Teams of critical care clinicians are available to deliver virtual care through lightweight telemedicine platforms, such as an app on a mobile device. Hear from participating clinicians and email to learn more and sign up. FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created this temporary program to help eligible individuals and households afford internet service during the pandemic. Eligible households can enroll through an approved broadband service provider or by visiting GetEmergencyBroadband.org. The program will end when the fund runs out of money, or six months after the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services declares an end to the COVID-19 health emergency, whichever is sooner. HRSA COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will provide claims reimbursement at the national Medicare rate for eligible health care providers administering vaccines to underinsured individuals. This may be particularly helpful in rural communities given higher rates of uninsured and underinsured. 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: The Rural Communities Toolkit provides resources for building vaccine confidence. 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. HHS 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. New: HHS to Dedicate $4.8 Billion from American Rescue Plan to COVID-19 Testing for the Uninsured. 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 vaccine locator by state, and COVID-19 Vaccination Trainings for new and experienced providers. New: Guidance for Identification, Disposal, and Reporting of COVID-19 Vaccine Wastage. 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. NIH Community Engagement Alliance Against COVID-19 Disparities. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) created a collection of online resources with information for communities hit hardest by the pandemic, such as African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and American Indian/Alaska Natives. 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. New: The Impact of Rural Residence on COVID-19 Disparities. 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 HRSA Community-Based Workforce to Increase Vaccine Access – June 9. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) expects 121 awards with total funding of $121 million to expand the public health workforce at the local level in response to COVID-19. This includes mobilizing community health workers, patient navigators, and social support specialists to conduct face-to-face outreach to community members. Eligible applicants are local and/or regional community-based organizations applying as a single entity or as a network of partnering organizations. NACCHO COVID-19 Prevention/Mitigation for Refugee, Immigrant, Migrant Communities – June 11. The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) will provide funding and technical assistance to local health departments to support COVID-19 education, testing, contact tracing, vaccination, and other prevention and mitigation strategies. Applicants can request up to $250,000 depending on the strategies implemented. DOJ Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program – June 22. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will make 18 awards with total funding of $10 million to create a collaborative response to crime and mental illness at the local level. Eligible applicants include state, local and Tribal governments proposing projects that will be administered jointly by law enforcement and a mental health agency. Application for New NHSC-Approved Sites – July 1. Apply now to be approved as a new National Health Service Corps (NHSC) site and recruit from the largest class of Corps clinicians and scholars. This year, NHSC-approved sites with an inactive status may also apply to recertify their approved status during the open cycle. Your rural site may be eligible if you provide outpatient, ambulatory and primary health care services (medical, dental, and behavioral health) to populations residing in high-need urban and rural areas. Additional, eligible site types include facilities providing general substance use disorder treatment, a medication-assisted treatment program, or an opioid treatment program. CDC Social Determinants of Health Accelerator Plans – July 5. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expects to make 20 awards of up to $125,000 each to accelerate action in state, local, territorial, and tribal jurisdictions that lead to improved chronic health conditions among disparity populations. ACF Head Start University Partnerships/Building ECE Workforce Well-Being – July 6. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) encourages Tribally Controlled Land Grant Colleges and Universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and faith-based institutions of higher education for this program to improve retention of the early childhood education (ECE) workforce. DOJ Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative – July 6. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will make an estimated 45 awards with total investment of $5.5 million to address the violent crime in rural areas. One program requirement is a strategy for crisis intervention for individuals affected by mental health and/or substance use disorders. HRSA Pediatric Mental Health Care Access – New Area Expansion – July 6. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will make an estimated 32 awards of up to $445,00 each to promote pediatric health care via telehealth, especially in rural and hard-to-reach frontier areas. Eligible applicants are states, Tribes and tribal organizations not currently funded under the Pediatric Mental Health Care Access program. NIDA American Indian/Alaska Native Youth Projects to Stand Against Substance Misuse – July 7. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is holding two separate challenges to award youth-led projects. These call for creative submissions from youth 14-25 years old for a community-driven effort to address substance misuse. NIH Researching COVID-19 Testing Interventions in Underserved Populations – July 7. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will use authorized emergency funding to support Phase II of the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) initiative. These two-year research projects will expand the scope of RADx-UP testing interventions to reduce COVID-19 disparities among vulnerable populations. FEMA/SAMHSA Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP) – Ongoing. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provide grants and technical assistance to help individuals and communities recover from natural and human-caused disasters through community outreach and access to mental health services. 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. Success Among Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Awardees: Barriers and Facilitators. In this policy brief from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center, researchers identify the barriers to and facilitators of success for rural organizations implementing the FORHP-supported Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant. Policy Updates Visit the FORHP Policy page to see all recent updates and send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. No updates this week. Learning Events and Technical Assistance Stress Issues and Solutions for African American Farmers – Thursday, May 27 at 3:00 pm ET. The nonprofit AgrAbility will discuss stressors unique to African American farm owners and workers during this hour-long presentation. MATRC: Answering Questions About Telehealth and Telemental Health – Friday, May 28 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. Meeting of the HHS COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force – Friday, May 28 at 2:00 pm ET. The virtual meeting, lasting four hours, is open to the public and will be live-streamed. Pre-registration is required for those who want to provide public comment during the meeting. To provide a public comment during the meeting, send an email with your name and organization to COVID19HETF@hhs.gov no later than close of business on Friday, May 21. HRSA's HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day Twitter Thread Campaign – June 1-5. You are invited to join the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) on Twitter next week in honor of HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day. Over those five days, we ask you to comment on, like, and retweet the posts using the hashtag #HRSAHonorsHIVSurvivors, as well as post stories about your own organization supporting the lives of HIV survivors. The national effort toward Ending the HIV Epidemic focuses on 57 priority jurisdictions, including seven states where 10 percent or more of new diagnoses in 2016 and 2017 were in rural areas. NCSL Increasing Access to Rural Behavioral Health – Friday, June 4 at 2:00 pm ET. The National Conference of State Legislatures will highlight state policy options to improve crisis hotlines, increase access to opioid use disorder treatment and overdose prevention, and address gaps in the behavioral health workforce. Meet CEARH - The Center for Economic Analysis of Rural Health – Thursday, June 10 at 12:00 pm ET. RHIhub is hosting a webinar to introduce the University of Kentucky's Center for Economic Analysis of Rural Health (CEARH). This webinar provides an overview of CEARH and their work and includes information on their upcoming series of webinars intended to help familiarize leaders with economic development topics and equip and inspire attendees to participate in local development efforts. Resource of the Week Build and Assess Your Telebehavioral Health Strategy. Telehealth has helped behavioral health providers support patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. To support your telebehavioral offerings going forward, Telehealth.HHS.gov offers a best practice guide to help providers develop, evaluate, and improve your telehealth strategy. Approaching Deadlines Comments Requested: Proposed Changes to the Census Bureau Definition of Urban – May 20 CMS Primary Care First Model Cohort 2 – extended to 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 Nurse Corps Scholarship Program – extended to May 26 (from May 6) DOJ Training/Technical Assistance Providers for Violence Against Women – May 27 NHSC Loan Repayment Program – extended to May 27 (from May 6) NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program – extended to May 27 (from May 6) NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program – extended to May 27 (from May 6) DOL Mine Health and Safety Grants – May 28 NIH Research at Minority Serving Institutions to Address Disparities – May 28 ACL No Wrong Door Community Infrastructure Grants – June 1 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 DOJ National Tribal Clearinghouse on Sexual Assault – June 3 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 DOJ Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-Based Program – June 7 HRSA Community-Based Workforce to Increase Vaccine Access – June 9 RWJF Systems and Services Research to Build a Culture of Health – June 9 CMS Minority Research Grant Program – June 11 NACCHO COVID-19 Prevention/Mitigation for Refugee, Immigrant, Migrant Communities – June 11 HRSA Rural Northern Border Region Planning Program – June 14 DOJ Enhanced Collaborative Model to Combat Human Trafficking – June 15 DOJ Expanding Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Services – June 15 DOJ Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program – June 15 DOJ Second Chance Act Youth Offender Reentry Program – June 15 USDA Summer Food Service Program – June 15 USDA Local Food Promotion Program – June 21 USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program – June 21 HRSA Early Intervention Services for HIV/AIDS – June 21 DOJ Family Drug Court Program – June 22 DOJ Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program – June 22 DOJ Second Chance Act Adult Re-entry/Recovery Program – June 22 DOJ Second Chance Act Pay for Success Initiative – June 22 DOJ Strategies to Support Children Exposed to Violence – June 22 HRSA Rural Health Clinics Vaccine Confidence Program – June 23 NIH/IHS Native American Research Centers for Health – June 24 HRSA Telehealth Technology-Enabled Learning Program – June 25 Comments Requested: Proposed Changes to Medicare Payments to Hospitals – June 28 DOJ Opioid Affected Youth Initiative – June 28 HRSA Faculty Loan Repayment Program – July 1 Application for New NHSC-Approved Sites – July 1 NIH Practice-Based Research for Mental Health Interventions in Pediatric Primary Care Settings – July 1 CDC Social Determinants of Health Accelerator Plans – July 5 HUD Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS – July 6 Request for Information on Advancing Equity and Support for Underserved Communities – July 6 DOJ Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative – July 6 HRSA Pediatric Mental Health Care Access – New Area Expansion – July 6 HUD Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS – July 6 NIDA American Indian/Alaska Native Youth Projects to Stand Against Substance Misuse – July 7 HHS Family-Centered Approaches to Type 2 Diabetes Prevention and Control – July 13 NIH Research to Improve Health Care Quality and Outcomes Through HIT – July 17 NIH Research Education Programs for Alcohol and Other Substance Use – August 10 Special Enrollment Period for Health Coverage – Extended to August 15 (from May 15) Ongoing Opportunities HHS/DoD National Emergency Tele-Critical Care Network Extended Public Comment Period for FCC's COVID-19 Telehealth Program FCC Emergency Broadband for Individuals and Households FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance AgriSafe Nurse Scholar Program – March 2022 AHRQ Health Services Research Demonstration and Dissemination Grants – September 2022 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 FEMA/SAMHSA Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP) GPHC & RWJF: Rapid Cycle Research and Evaluation Grants for Cross-Sector Alignment HRSA Technical Assistance for Look-Alike Initial Designation for the Health Center Program 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 Project Talk Initiative Host Site Applications 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) | 
Connect with HRSA
No comments:
Post a Comment