July 29, 2021 What's New HHS Sends Additional Support for COVID-19 Vaccinations. On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced an additional $121 Million for community-based efforts to build confidence in vaccines, share factual information, and answer questions about vaccination in rural and underserved communities. COVID-19 Cases on the Rise Again. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) report outbreaks of new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in counties with low vaccination coverage. To reduce the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus, the CDC updated guidance to recommend that fully vaccinated people wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas with high levels of community transmission. Rural Healthy People 2030 Survey. The Southwest Rural Health Research Center at Texas A&M University wants to hear from individuals who live or work in rural communities for a 20-minute survey on the most important Healthy People 2030 objectives for rural health. The project is supported by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy through its Rural Health Research Centers program. GAO's July Report on Federal Response to COVID-19. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) researches Federal government operations and reports fact-based, non-partisan information. The July 19 analysis reports a decline in the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths due primarily to vaccination of more than 150 million people. The report includes details on efforts and allocations specific to rural areas such as funding for Rural Health Clinics, but also on some shortcomings such as meal distribution for children unable to attend school. HHS Reviews Health Insurance Coverage and Access to Care for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). The issue brief from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) presents data showing the AI/AN population continues to have the highest uninsured rate compared to other populations, with higher rates of death from chronic diseases, suicides, and accidents. County Health Rankings: Children Living in Poverty. The annual report ranks counties to determine how healthy they are, collecting data on factors such as social well-being, chronic disease, and access to care. The federal government calculates the poverty threshold for a family of four at $26,500 annually, regardless of where that family lives. While about 17 percent of children across the country live below the poverty line, the county-level data show large disparities for Black, Hispanic, and Native American children that are hidden in national averages. More research and data on rural child poverty can be found at the Rural Health Information Hub. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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, vaccine data and resources, and COVID-19 Vaccination Trainings for new and experienced providers. 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. 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. 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. 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. ATTC Network COVID-19 Resources for Addictions Treatment. The online catalog of COVID-related resources includes regularly-updated guidance and trainings for professionals in the field. The Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network was established in 1993 by SAMSHA. 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 HHS Partnerships to Reduce Maternal Deaths Due to Violence – August 12. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) will make as many as 15 awards with total funding of $4.3 million to create community-level projects that identify and reduce violent maternal deaths due to homicide and suicide. Eligible applicants include public and private entities including faith-based organizations, Tribal organizations and governments, and public institutions of higher education. Research has shown an increased risk of violence during pregnancy, with higher contributing factors such as poverty, mental illness, and substance use disorder in rural areas. HRSA Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program – September 21. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will make approximately 85 awards with total funding of $46 million to support new medical and dental residency positions in rural and underserved communities. In a separate opportunity, HRSA will grant a total of $25 million to as many as 50 ambulatory patient care centers through the Teaching Health Center Planning and Development Program – August 30. This funding supports new residency programs in primary care, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, dentistry, and geriatrics and is intended to address workforce shortages in rural and underserved communities. HRSA will hold a technical assistance webinar for organizations applying for this program on August 5th; see Events section below for details. Finally, one entity will be selected for a $5 million cooperative agreement to assist these grantees through a program offering Teaching Health Center Planning and Development Technical Assistance – August 30. Policy Updates Visit the FORHP Policy page to see all recent updates and send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. Comments Requested: Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Requirements – September 24. The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) seeks comments from Provider Relief Funds (PRF) recipients on the burden and utility of the information collected through the PRF Reporting Portal. HRSA is undergoing the clearance process to continue to collect information beyond the public health emergency and has estimated the time it takes for recipients to report into the portal. HRSA requests comments on (1) the necessity and utility of the proposed information collected, (2) the accuracy of their estimate of time to report, (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and (4) the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden. Learning Events and Technical Assistance NARHC Assistance for RHCs Applying to DATA 2000 Waiver Training Payment Program – Thursday, July 29 at 2:00 pm ET. The National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHCs) will share information about the federal program that offers $3,000 payment for each eligible employed provider who attained a Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA 2000) waiver on or after January 1, 2019. NTIA Grant Program for Broadband Infrastructure – Wednesday, August 4 at 2:30 pm ET. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, continues its series of webinars to help with applications to three new broadband grant programs authorized and funded by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021: The Broadband Infrastructure Program, the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, and the Connecting Minority Communities Program. The webinars are 90 minutes each and will occur several times each month through October. Application Assistance for Teaching Health Center Planning and Development Program – Thursday, August 5 at 2:00 pm ET. Organizations applying for the Teaching Health Center Planning and Development Program (due August 30) can get more information about the requirements for a successful application in this 90-minute session. MATRC: Answering Questions About Telehealth and Telemental Health – Friday, August 6 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. HRSA Maternal Health Webinar Series: Focus on Racial Equity – Thursday, August 12 at 3:00 pm ET. The Office of Regional Operations at HRSA continues its series on promising best practices to further maternal health. Resource of the Week HIV Care Tools App. This new resource provides the most up-to-date HIV treatment recommendations for clinicians, pharmacists, and health profession students at the point of care. The free download includes quick guides for HIV prevention, screening, testing and treatment, and can be used online or offline in areas where internet access is unstable or unavailable. This tool was created by the AIDS Education & Training Center Program, fully supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration's HIV/AIDS Bureau using Ending the HIV Epidemic funding. Among priority jurisdictions for the federal effort are seven states with a substantial number of HIV diagnoses in rural areas. Approaching Deadlines HUD Veterans Housing Rehabilitation and Modification Pilot Program – July 30 CDC National HIV Behavioral Surveillance – August 2 NOSORH 2021 Community Star Nominations – August 2 Call for Abstracts for the National Telehealth Research Symposium – 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 CMS State Planning Grants for Mobile Crisis Intervention Services – August 13 Special Enrollment Period for Health Coverage – Extended to August 15 (from May 15) HHS Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity – August 16 Request for Information: HHS Seeking Input on Advancing Sensitivity Toward Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders – due August 17 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 HRSA Health and Public Safety Workforce Resiliency Technical Assistance Center – August 30 HRSA Health and Public Safety Workforce Resiliency Training Program – August 30 HRSA Promoting Resilience and Mental Health for Health Professional Workforce – August 30 HRSA Teaching Health Center Planning and Development Program – August 30 HRSA Teaching Health Center Planning and Development Technical Assistance – August 30 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 Comments Requested: Updates to Medicare Outpatient Hospital Payments and RFI for New Rural Emergency Hospital – September 17 HRSA Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program – September 21 Comments Requested: Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Requirements – September 24 NIH Researching the Role of Work in Health Disparities – October 5 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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