July 15, 2021 What's New HHS Boosts Funding for COVID-19 Response in Rural Areas. On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced $398 Million for COVID-19 testing and mitigation. The funds will be distributed by State Offices of Rural Health to 1,540 rural hospitals through the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program. One Month Left to Enroll in, or Change, Health Insurance Marketplace Coverage. Last week, HHS released a report on current trends and challenges to accessing affordable health care in rural America. Analysts found that, although uninsured rates have fallen in rural areas, other barriers to care such as geographic distances, infrastructure limitations, and provider shortages contribute to rural health disparities. The report comes one month before the special enrollment period for qualified individuals and families ends on August 15. As noted in the HHS brief, 65 percent of the 1.9 million rural uninsured individuals in HealthCare.gov states may be able to find a zero-premium plan on the platform. NOSORH Accepting 2021 Community Star Nominations. The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) seeks nominations until August 2 of individuals, organizations, or consortia making a big difference in the health of rural communities. COVID-19 Resources 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. 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. New Resources for Provider Relief Fund Reporting. HRSA has released a number of new resources to help recipients of Provider Relief Funds (PRF) comply with reporting requirements. Those who received funds prior to June 30, 2020, can access the portal through September 30 for reporting purposes. There is a fact sheet, frequently asked questions specific to new reporting, and a recording of the July 8 webcast explaining the new reporting portal. 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. Don't miss the 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. 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 Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program (STAR LRP) – July 22. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will provide up to $250,000 in loan repayment to eligible health professionals in exchange for a six-year, full-time service commitment in rural and underserved areas. The program expands access to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment by adding several new disciplines such as bachelor's-level SUD counselors, behavioral health paraprofessionals, and clinical support staff. CORRECTED DATE: USDA Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge – July 26. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest $3 million to help community planning efforts that support local economies and quality of life. Eligible applicants are public and private entities that can provide technical assistance to rural areas for up to two years. USDA encourages applications that support communities designated as economically distressed and/or planning projects that enhance capacity for broadband infrastructure and deployment. Last week, this was incorrectly listed with a link to the 2020 listing with a deadline of September 10. ARC Technical Assistance from the Appalachia Nonprofit Resource Center – August 6. The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) will provide no-cost technical assistance that is open to all non-profits with a minimum annual operating budget of $100,000 and at least two full-time employees. Eligible organizations are in counties served by the ARC. HHS Promoting Vaccine Confidence in Local Communities – August 17. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) will make up to eight awards with a total investment of $750,000 for community-level partnerships in areas with low vaccination rates. These areas and populations include: African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans; residents in rural communities; medical assistants (when compared to other medical professions); some immigrant and refugee communities; young adults and teens. Eligible applicants are public and private nonprofit entities, including American Indian/Alaska Native organizations and faith-based organizations. HHS Demonstration Projects for Addressing Health Disparities – August 23. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) expects to make four awards of up to $375,000 each to develop policies and programs that will improve the health of racial and ethnic minorities. Eligible applicants are any public or private nonprofit entity located in the United States and its territories. Under the same effort, HHS will identify one Coordinating Center to Address Health Disparities; application for this opportunity will also deadline on August 23. See Events section below for application assistance webinars next week. Northern Border Regional Commission Forest Economy Partnership – Letters of Intent September 10. The Federal-State partnership for economic and community development will invest $4 million for workforce development and new technologies to bolster the region's foresting industry. Eligible applicants are state, local, tribal, and nonprofit entities in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy will begin a new program for Rural Behavioral Health Workforce Centers in the region later this year. 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. How Many Hospitals Might Convert to a Rural Emergency Hospital? The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 establishes a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation under the Medicare program. It is difficult to predict rural hospital interest in conversion to REH because conditions of participation through rulemaking and guidance have yet to be established by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. However, some first estimates of the number and type of rural hospitals that might convert to REHs will assist policymakers as they prepare for implementation of the REH model. In this study from the North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, three measures were used to predict the number of rural hospitals with 50 beds or less that are likely to consider conversion to an REH: 1) three years negative total margin; 2) average daily census (acute + swing) less than three; and 3) net patient revenue less than $20 million. Policy Updates Visit the FORHP Policy page to see all recent updates and send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. Comments Requested: Updates to Medicare Physician Payment Policies for CY 2022 – September 13. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requests comments on proposed changes to Medicare physician payment policies for calendar year 2022. This rule also includes proposals regarding telehealth services, Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers, pulmonary rehabilitation, ground ambulance service data collection, coverage for opioid use disorder treatment services, and the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Medicaid Coverage of Certain Medical Transportation. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a Center Informational Bulletin highlighting important details of section 209 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 on Medicaid coverage of certain medical transportation, including specifications that beneficiaries have necessary transportation to and from covered services, provider and driver requirements for non-emergency medical transportation, and state plan amendment submission requirements. Learning Events and Technical Assistance Surgeon General: Confronting Health Misinformation – Thursday, July 15 at 1:00 pm ET. In a webinar hosted by Stanford University, the U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek H. Murthy, will discuss how misinformation can undermine public health efforts and ways to slow the spread. NAMI Promoting Mental Health Equity in Black Churches – Thursday, July 15 at 4:00 pm ET. The National Alliance on Mental Illness will host an expert talk on partnerships with faith-based organization to bring cultural awareness to mental health in this 90-minute webinar. Application Assistance for HHS Health Disparities Demonstration Projects – July 20 and 21. HHS will hold a webinar to assist with applications for the Coordinating Center to Address Health Disparities on Tuesday, July 20 at 1:00 pm ET. A separate webinar for HHS Demonstration Projects for Addressing Health Disparities will take place on Wednesday, July 21 at 1:00 pm ET. See Funding section above for more information on these programs. HUD/HHS Faith-Based Outreach for Healthy Homes in Underserved Communities – Tuesday, July 20 at 1:00 pm ET. The U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Health & Human Services (HHS) will hold a two-hour webinar to explore the HHS Promoters and Faith-Based Institution Model for hard-to-reach audiences. The event will be in English and Spanish and focus on HUD's Healthy Homes grant program. Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) Program Highlights and Lessons Learned from the Planning Year – Wednesday, July 21 at 12:00 ET. This one hour webinar will present findings from the first evaluation report on the RMOMS program. FORHP funded three awardees in Missouri, New Mexico, and Texas to create innovative maternal healthcare delivery networks to improve maternal and infant health outcomes in their rural service regions. This webinar will provide an overview of the program, describe awardees' network models and planning year activities, and highlight baseline characteristics of the maternal health population prior to implementation of the RMOMS program. HRSA Telebehavioral Health Webinar Series: SUD Treatment in South Dakota – Wednesday, July 21 at 1:00 pm ET. HRSA's Offices of Regional Operations in Boston and Denver will join the Northeast Telehealth Resource Center to host part 4 of this series, focusing on substance use disorder services in rural South Dakota. Viewers from any part of the country are welcome to learn more about the START-SD (Stigma, Treatment, Avoidance, and Recovery in Time) Program and the Face It TOGETHER peer coaching model. 2020 Health Center Data Trends – Wednesday, July 21 at 1:00 pm ET. The Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) at HRSA invites you to join a staff webinar to get a first look at 2020 data trends in health center patient demographics, staffing, and clinical quality measures. National Indian Health Board COVID-19 Vaccine Listening Session – Wednesday, July 21 at 3:00 pm ET. Over 90 minutes, the NIHB will discuss challenges and best practices for vaccine hesitancy in Indian Country. MATRC: Answering Questions About Telehealth and Telemental Health – Friday, July 23 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 AHRQ Building Vaccine Trust Among Certified Nursing Assistants. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) created this guide to help nursing home leaders build confidence in COVID-19 vaccination among staff. The resource explains vaccine hesitancy among CNAs and includes a conversation guide, posters, and information cards. Vaccine Outreach to Refugee, Immigrant, and Migrant Communities. Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants supports local health departments and community organizations working in communities that have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Approaching Deadlines 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 USDA Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge – 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 NOSORH 2021 Community Star Nominations – August 2 USDA Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grants – August 2 ARC Technical Assistance from the Appalachia Nonprofit Resource Center – August 6 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 Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity – August 16 HHS Minority Leaders Development Program – August 17 HHS Promoting Vaccine Confidence in Local Communities – August 17 HHS Coordinating Center to Address Health Disparities – August 23 HHS Demonstration Projects for Addressing Health Disparities – August 23 NIH Research to Address Racism and Discrimination on Minority Health – August 24 ACF Independent Living Services for AI/AN Communities – August 27 Comments Requested: Proposed Changes to Medicare Home Health Program – August 27 DOC Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program – September 1 HRSA Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project – September 10 Northern Border Regional Commission Forest Economy Partnership – Letters of Intent September 10 Comments Requested: Updates to Medicare Physician Payment Policies for CY 2022 – September 13 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 Payment Program for Buprenorphine-Trained Clinicians – Until Funds Depleted 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 Researching the Role of Work in Health Disparities – Various Dates Until September 2024 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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