July 1, 2021 What's New HRSA Payment Program for Buprenorphine-Trained Clinicians. Yesterday, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) launched an effort to improve access to substance use disorder treatment by paying for clinicians who are cleared to prescribe buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder. Clinicians working in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) or Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) who have the waiver necessary to prescribe buprenorphine may be eligible to receive this payment through their employer. Beginning June 30, 2021, FQHCs and RHCs may apply through HRSA's Electronic Handbook (EHB), the agency's online system for managing grants. HRSA will pay $3,000 for each eligible provider submitted on the application. Existing HRSA grantees should already have an EHB account; for those organizations that are not a grantee, instructions for creating a new EHB account can be found under "How to Apply" in the headline link above. There is no deadline to apply, but available funds are limited and will be paid on a first-come, first-served basis. The SUPPORT Act made $6 million available to FQHCs and $2 million available to RHCs under this program. HRSA will accept applications and process payments until all available funds are exhausted. For any additional questions about this program, please contact Data2000WaiverPayments@hrsa.gov. HHS Encourages Enrollment in Marketplace Health Insurance Coverage. As part of the Rural Week of Action, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) is encouraging qualified individuals and families to enroll in or change Health Insurance Marketplace plans through August 15, 2021 with the 2021 Special Enrollment Period for COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. More people may qualify for Marketplace savings that will lower the cost of premiums. It is estimated that 65 percent of uninsured rural adults could have access to a health plan with $0 premium on healthcare.gov. Enter your zip code to find local help or call the Marketplace Call Center. HHS Awards Grants for Health Literacy. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) awarded funds to local governments in 73 communities as part of an effort to improve the way information is received and understood by racial and ethnic minorities, including those in rural communities. The two-year projects will also focus on other populations considered vulnerable for misperceptions about COVID-19 and other information about public health. NIH Studies Mobile Clinics for Integrated HIV, SUD Treatment. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched a new clinical trial to determine whether using mobile clinics to treat both HIV and substance use disorder (SUD) at the same time can improve outcomes among individuals who inject drugs. USDA Seeks Public Input on Equity, Racial Justice in Rural Communities – July 15. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is requesting comments – from short feedback on a specific USDA program up to 20 pages of broader research – to inform its Racial Equity Commission that will be launched later this year. COVID-19 Resources 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. Federal Office of Rural Health Policy FAQs for COVID-19. A set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) from our grantees and stakeholders. Rural Health Clinic Vaccine Distribution (RHCVD) Program. Under the program, Medicare-certified RHCs will receive direct COVID-19 vaccines in addition to their normal jurisdictions' weekly allocation. Contact RHCVaxDistribution@hrsa.gov for more information. UPDATED: CARES Act Provider Relief Fund Frequently Asked Questions. Includes information on terms and conditions, attestation, general and targeted distributions, and how to report capital equipment purchases. Reporting and Auditing requirements FAQs were updated on June 11. Customizable COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Toolkit for Rural Communities. Easy access to customizable communication templates that include print ads, poster, brochure, social media posts, and an online resource guide. 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, including rural communities, and seeks volunteers for the COVID-19 Community Corps. New: The campaign launched a Spanish-language website, JuntosSíPodemos.HHS.gov. 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. 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: Statement on Vaccine Side Effects. 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. 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. 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. Funding and Opportunities HRSA Faculty Loan Repayment Program – Extended to July 8 (from July 1). The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awards individuals up to $40,000 to pay off their qualifying educational loans in exchange for two years of teaching service. Participants also receive a tax liability benefit equal to 39 percent of the loan repayment amount. Eligible applicants are faculty at an approved health professions school, holding a health professions degree or certificate, and from a disadvantaged background. NEA American Rescue Plan Support for Local Arts Organizations – August 12. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is a federal agency that supports teaching, learning, and preserving American culture through the arts. As part of the White House plan to stimulate the American economy, the NEA will make grants of up to $100,000 to eligible, local organizations – including nonprofits, school districts, and art service programs – to pay for day-to-day business expenses and operating costs. Cultural expression through art is thought to be an agent in improving social determinants of health, and an aide to mental health and well-being. USDA SEARCH – Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households (for Water/Waste Projects) – Ongoing. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services provides grants to eligible communities (population of 2,500 or less) to fund the pre-development costs of proposed water and waste disposal projects. 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. The Co-occurrence of HIV and Opioid Mortality in Rural and Urban America from 1999-2018. The current body of literature outlining connections between HIV and opioid use disorder does not account for differences in rural and urban areas. Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this brief from the Southwest Rural Health Research Center finds no positive relationship between opioid mortality and HIV mortality over time. Instead, the results show a consistent decline in HIV mortality rates and a troubling rise in deaths from opioids across the time period analyzed. Policy Updates Visit the FORHP Policy page to see all recent updates and send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. Comments Requested: Proposals to Update Payment Parameters for the 2022 Health Insurance Marketplace – July 28. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) seek comments on proposals to update the benefit and payment parameters for Health Insurance Marketplace for the 2022 plan year. Proposals include revising user fee rates, expanding the annual open enrollment period, expanding the Navigator duties, adding a new special enrollment period (SEP), and repealing the Direct Enrollment option, among others. Comments Requested: Proposed Changes to Medicare Home Health Program – August 27. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seek public comments on their proposals to update payment rates for the Medicare home health and home infusion services, modify measures reported through the home health quality reporting program, and make permanent selected regulatory blanket waivers related to home health aide supervision that were issued during the COVID-19. Learning Events and Technical Assistance VA: Disparities in Telehealth Use During COVID-19 – Wednesday, July 7 at 1:00 pm ET. In a one-hour session, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) will examine three sets of factors that account for differences in telehealth use during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATRC: Answering Questions About Telehealth and Telemental Health – Friday, July 9 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. ASTHO: Designing HIV Systems for the Margins – Monday, July 12 at 2:00 pm ET. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) will discuss promising practices for addressing disparities in HIV care in this hour-long webinar. HRSA: IPV and Maternal Care – Wednesday, July 14 at 11:00 am ET. The Office of Regional Operations at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) continues its Maternal Health Webinar Series with this hour-long session on HRSA's Strategy to Address Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and the barriers preventing access to care. Resources of the Week Podcast Addresses Political and Religious Sources of Doubt About the COVID-19 Vaccine. Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health provides some facts about vaccination that may inform conversations about vaccine hesitancy. The interview features a religious perspective as well during a 40-minute podcast on an online radio platform. For more resources like this one, visit the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and sign up for their weekly newsletter (Partnerships@hhs.gov). Identifying and Addressing Social Needs in Primary Care Settings. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality created a tool to help primary care practices screen and refer patients for social needs such as food or housing. It will be an additional resource on AHRQ's Social Determinants of Health site. A Primer for Multi-Sector Health Partnerships in Rural Areas and Small Cities. The tool helps community leaders understand and find opportunities for collaboration between the community development, finance, public health, and healthcare sectors. Approaching Deadlines HRSA 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 ACF Head Start University Partnerships/Building ECE Workforce Well-Being – July 6 DOJ Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative – July 6 Federal Funding for Health Insurance Marketplace Navigators – July 6 HRSA Pediatric Mental Health Care Access – New Area Expansion – July 6 HUD Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS – July 6 Request for Information on Advancing Equity and Support for Underserved Communities – July 6 NIDA American Indian/Alaska Native Youth Projects to Stand Against Substance Misuse – July 7 NIH Researching COVID-19 Testing Interventions in Underserved Populations – July 7 HRSA Faculty Loan Repayment Program – Extended to July 8 (from July 1) HRSA Delta Region Rural Health Workforce Training Program – July 9 NASHP Policy Academy on Rural Mental Health Crisis Services – July 9 HHS Family-Centered Approaches to Type 2 Diabetes Prevention and Control – July 13 ACF Grants for Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) – July 15 USDA Seeks Public Input on Equity, Racial Justice in Rural Communities – July 15 USDA Revolving Loan Fund for Rural Water/Waste Systems – July 16 NIH Research to Improve Health Care Quality and Outcomes Through HIT – July 17 USDA Delta Health Care Services Grants – July 19 USDA Rural Housing Preservation Grants – July 19 USDA Rural Decentralized Water System Grants – July 19 DOL Workforce Opportunity for Appalachian and Delta Regions – July 21 HRSA Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program (STAR LRP) – July 22 AmeriCorps State and National Tribal Grants – July 23 ACF Tribal Personal Responsibility Education Program for Teen Pregnancy Prevention – July 26 Comments Requested: Proposals to Update Payment Parameters for the 2022 Health Insurance Marketplace – July 28 HUD Veterans Housing Rehabilitation and Modification Pilot Program – July 30 CDC National HIV Behavioral Surveillance – August 2 USDA Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grants – August 2 NIH Research Education Programs for Alcohol and Other Substance Use – August 10 ONC Public Health Informatics & Technology Workforce Development – August 11 NEA American Rescue Plan Support for Local Arts Organizations – August 12 Special Enrollment Period for Health Coverage – Extended to August 15 (from May 15) HHS Minority Leaders Development Program – August 17 NIH Research to Address Racism and Discrimination on Minority Health – August 24 Comments Requested: Proposed Changes to Medicare Home Health Program – August 27 DOC Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program – September 1 COVID-19 Extension for Medicare Graduate Medical Education (GME) Affiliation Agreement – January 1 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 NIH Special Interest Research – Pandemic Impact on Vulnerable Children and Youth – May 2024 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 Healthy Food Financing Initiative Technical Assistance USDA Intermediary Relending Program USDA Rural Business Development Grants USDA Rural Business Investment Program USDA Rural Energy Savings Program USDA SEARCH – Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households (for Water/Waste Projects) 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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