September 9, 2021 What's New Helping Families Sign Up for the Child Tax Credit. Representatives from the Department of Treasury will join HRSA for a brief training on advance payments of the Child Tax Credit, a part of the economic recovery effort that sends families monthly payments of $250 or $300 per child through December of this year. The payments are made automatically to families that filed tax returns for 2019 and 2020. Non-filers may also qualify; this training is for safety net providers in underserved areas that may be in a position to help those families sign up. More than 20 percent of rural children are living in families that are poor and data show a strong link between poverty and health. See the events section below to register for the one-hour session on September 28. AmeriCorps and CDC Launch New Organization for Public Health. AmeriCorps, the federal agency for volunteering and national service, has launched Public Health AmeriCorps, a new partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support the recruitment, training, and development of a workforce ready to respond to the nation's public health needs. The program, which is supported by a $400 million investment from the American Rescue Plan Act, is anticipated to fund up to 5,000 AmeriCorps positions over the next five years. See Funding and Opportunities section below for more on this program. First Annual Report of the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model [pdf]. The project was designed by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation to reduce the risk of rural hospital closures by giving them a predictable revenue stream. This report examines the experiences of participating hospitals and their financial performance in 2019, the first year of the project. JAMA: Paying for Telemedicine in Smaller Rural Hospitals. In an open-access opinion piece, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) discusses barriers to hospitals that could most benefit from telemedicine and potential policy solutions. 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. The National Association of Rural Health Clinics has a collection of resources for managing federal programs related to COVID-19. Online Resource for Licensure of Health Professionals. As telehealth usage increased during the pandemic, FORHP funded new work with the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards to reduce the burden of multi-state licensure. 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. 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. Resources for Provider Relief Fund Reporting – Submit by September 30. Provider Relief Fund (PRF) recipients who received funds prior to June 30, 2020, have through September 30, 2021, to complete reports in the PRF Reporting Portal. Resources on the Reporting and Auditing web page will help PRF recipients comply with reporting. In July, HRSA hosted three Technical Assistance webcasts related to reporting - watch the replays: July 8 - Reporting Introduction, July 14 – General Q&A, and July 20 – Lost Revenues. New: Reporting Resource Guide. 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. The Ad Council's Rural Resource Toolkit for Vaccinations [pdf]. The toolkit includes simple message elements for talking about vaccines and public service announcements that can be customized with your organization's logo and used in print, online, on the radio or television. 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. 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. 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, COVID-19 Vaccination Trainings for new and experienced providers, and Tips for Talking with Patients about COVID-19 Vaccination. New: Use of Rapid Antigen Testing in Remote Communities. 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 from 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 SAMHSA. 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 NIH Researching the Role of Work in Health Disparities – October 5. The National Institutes of Health will support population-based research in the ways work or occupation influences health outcomes and health status. Disparity groups, including underserved rural populations, are of particular interest. AmeriCorps State and National Public Health AmeriCorps – November 8. The federal agency for volunteering and national service will invest $400 million over five years to recruit and train a public health workforce at the community level. AmeriCorps members will serve primarily in state, local, Tribal, and territorial public health departments or in service to public health departments. Eligible applicants include state, local, and Tribal governments; public institutions of higher education; public housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations. NIH Research: Intervening with Cancer Caregivers to Improve Patient Outcomes – September 2022. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will fund research into intervention such as care training and coping skills for caregivers of adult cancer patients. Special consideration will be given for studies targeting under-represented populations, including racial/ethnic minorities, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and rural populations. 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. Medicare Covers a Lower Percentage of Outpatient Costs in Hospitals Located in Rural Areas. This brief from the North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center examines the difference in payments between rural and urban hospitals. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. Comments Requested: Updates to Medicare Outpatient Hospital Payments and RFI for New Rural Emergency Hospital – September 17. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeks public comment on its proposals for Medicare payment and policy updates for hospital outpatient and Ambulatory Surgical Center Services for calendar year 2022. Also, on page 665, CMS requests stakeholder input on issues to consider as they begin to develop Conditions of Participation, quality measures, and payment policies for the new provider type, Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs). The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 created REHs to preserve access to emergency care in rural areas. Stakeholders are encouraged to submit regulatory and operational barriers, challenges, and lessons learned, per instructions in this proposed rule, to assist CMS in developing future regulations for this new rural provider type. University of North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Center recently published a brief on the REH: Estimating the Number of Hospitals that Might Convert to Rural Emergency Hospitals. The Rural Health Value team recently released a brief to help prepare stakeholders to respond to requests for public comment on REH proposed rules and to outline considerations related to REH conversation for local rural leaders. Learning Events and Technical Assistance ACL: Social Isolation/Loneliness Among People with Disabilities – Thursday, September 9 at 2:00 pm ET. The Administration for Community Living (ACL) will hold an hour-long discussion with researchers on barriers to social participation for rural and urban people with disabilities. CDC Guidance for 2021-2022 Flu Vaccination – Thursday, September 9 at 2:00 pm ET. As part of its regular Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) Call, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will provide updates for the new season and guidance for co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines. Residency Planning and Development for Underserved Areas – Tuesday, September 14 at 12:00 pm ET. Guest speaker Laney McDougal is the Director of Medically Underserved Areas/Populations & GME at the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). She will give updates on ACGME's new Rural Track Program Designation. The webinar is hosted by RuralGME.org, the organization supporting the federal Rural Residency Planning and Development Program with technical assistance, resources, and tools to help grow graduate medical education programs in rural communities. Availability of Post-acute Care and Long-term Care Services in Rural Areas – Tuesday, September 14 at 1:00 pm ET. Researchers from the Rural Health Research Gateway will focus on nursing homes during the hour-long discussion. MATRC: Answering Questions About Telehealth and Telemental Health – Friday, September 17 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. NTIA Grant Program for Broadband Infrastructure – September 22 & 23 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. Northeast Telehealth Conference – September 23-24. Over two days, the Northeast Telehealth Resource Center (NETRC) will host stakeholders from across their 8-state region. The Region 1 office of HRSA's Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs will provide federal updates and offer a forecast of HRSA resources and opportunities. Register to attend online or in person. The Child Tax Credit: Ensuring Successful and Equitable Implementation – Tuesday, September 28 at 3:00 pm. HRSA has invited representatives from the Department of Treasury and White House to help awardees understand the Child Tax Credit, with a particular focus on enrolling families that may not usually file taxes. Join a one-hour session for an overview of the Child Tax Credit and instructions on how to help enroll families using the Non-Filer Portal. If you prefer to join by phone, dial: 833-568-8864; meeting ID: 161 456 3976. Resource of the Week Pandemic Action Plan Technology Toolkit. This Telehealth Technology Assessment Center (TTAC) toolkit provides a comprehensive review of how telehealth technology enhanced the patient/provider relationship during the COVID 19 Pandemic when providers and patients sought an alternative to providing in person patient care. The most recent section added to this comprehensive toolkit is the "Pandemic Action Plan Technology Deep Dive," offering technology examples that align to the eleven critical areas of need for healthcare delivery in a pandemic. Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Innovations in Native Communities. A report on the Tribal Opioid Response Program, a federal effort from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration bringing medication-assisted treatment into nearly 200 Native communities. The report is published by The Native Center for Behavioral Health at the University of Iowa College of Public Health. Approaching Deadlines 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 Hospital Recertification for 340B Drug Pricing Program – September 13 Comments Requested: Updates to Medicare Outpatient Hospital Payments and RFI for New Rural Emergency Hospital – September 17 Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts: Grants Engaging Family and Communities – September 20 HRSA Health and Public Safety Workforce Resiliency Technical Assistance Center – Extended to September 20 (from August 30) HRSA Health and Public Safety Workforce Resiliency Training Program – Extended to September 20 (from August 30) HRSA Promoting Resilience and Mental Health for Health Professional Workforce – Extended to September 20 (from August 30) HRSA Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program – September 21 OMH: Challenge to Reduce HIV Stigma and Disparities – September 23 Comments Requested: Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Requirements – September 24 Massachusetts General Hospital Fellowship in Rural Health – September 30 Submit Reports for Provider Relief Fund – September 30 3RNET Recruiting for Retention Academy – October 4 NIH Researching the Role of Work in Health Disparities – October 5 USDA Emergency Rural Health Care Grants – October 12 Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples: Thriving Women Program – October 16 HUD Indian Community Development Block Grant – Imminent Threat Funding – October 18 Department of Commerce/EDA American Rescue Plan Program for Community Development – October 19 National Health Service Corps Students to Service Loan Repayment Program – November 4 AmeriCorps State and National Public Health AmeriCorps – November 8 Department of Commerce Pilot Program: Connecting Minority Communities – December 1 COVID-19 Extension for Medicare Graduate Medical Education (GME) Affiliation Agreement – January 1 Ongoing Opportunities CFPB Rental Assistance Finder 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 American Rescue Plan Funding for Indigenous Communities – September 2022 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: Intervening with Cancer Caregivers to Improve Patient Outcomes – September 8, 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 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