October 21, 2021 What's New New Funding Available for Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – applications due January 13. The Health Resources and Services Administration will be making approximately 50 awards of $1 million each to rural communities to enhance prevention, treatment, and recovery from substance use disorder. Eligible applicants are domestic public, private, and nonprofit entities that can deliver services in HRSA-designated rural areas, particularly for populations that have historically suffered from poorer health outcomes. The applicant organization must be part of an established network or consortium that includes at least three other separately-owned entities. HRSA's Federal Office of Rural Health Policy will hold a 90 minute-long webinar for applicants on Wednesday, November 10th at 12:30 pm ET. A recording will be made available for those who cannot attend. Please see "Related Documents" for the full announcement that includes dial-in information for the webinar. For questions, write to ruralopioidresponse@hrsa.gov. HRSA Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) Program – applications due December 20. Yesterday, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced two funding opportunities to expand the rural health workforce. The RRPD program aims to increase opportunities for physicians to train in rural residencies. A total of $10.5 million will develop 14 new rural residency programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Eligible applicants include rural hospitals, GME consortiums, and tribal organizations. For questions, email RuralResidency@hrsa.gov. A second opportunity, the HRSA Delta Region Rural Health Workforce Training Program – applications due January 25, expects to make three awards with total investment of $1.4 million for training critical administrative support in the rural counties and parishes of the Mississippi Delta Region. These occupations include medical coding and billing, claims processing, information management, and clinical documentation. Join the technical assistance webinar on November 10, 2021 at 2 p.m. ET. For questions, email jleger@hrsa.gov. CDC: Binge Drinking Among Adults by Select Characteristics and State. The study analyzed data from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to determine prevalence of binge drinking by select demographic characteristics (age, gender, race, income level) and by state. The finding that the prevalence of binge drinking was lower in the most rural counties than in the most urban counties is consistent with earlier reports. However, adults in the most rural counties who binge drank did so more frequently and at higher intensity than did adults in the most urban counties. The report points to recommendations from the Community Preventive Services Task Force to regulate alcohol sales as a population health approach. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends increased screening and counseling in primary care settings. HIV Prevention Among Persons Who Inject Drugs: Rural and Urban Differences. In an open access article, researchers examined how stigma operates in rural and urban settings in relation to PrEP, a medicine for people who are at high risk for HIV from sex or injection drug use. The investigation showed willingness to use PrEP in both urban and rural settings. However, stigma against drug use, HIV, and sexualities were identified as barriers to PrEP uptake, particularly in the rural setting. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence and health care are closely linked. According to a survey of contacts with the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 53 percent of respondents reported [pdf] that an abusive partner has also controlled and/or restricted access to health care. In rural areas, the prevalence of emergency department (ED) visits has been found to be higher than in non-rural areas; rural patients admitted to the ED with an IPV-related diagnosis were 10 percent more likely to report multiple injuries than urban patients. Studies have shown that a gap in providers' knowledge around screening and direct patient care is common across rural and urban areas. HRSA's Office of Women's Health and Bureau of Primary Healthcare are working with the Administration of Children and Families and the National Domestic Violence Hotline to address these issues. Learn about other HRSA intimate partner violence work or view last year's webinar, Sheltering in Place, Intimate Partner Violence, and the Healthcare Response. For more information and resources specific to rural areas, visit the Rural Health Information Hub. HHS Seeks Public Input on Four-Year Strategic Plan – Comment by November 7. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) released a draft of high-level strategic goals that each of 11 operating divisions will aim for over the next four years. As with previous plans, the overarching strategy is improving health and well-being in the U.S. and abroad; new goals emphasize equity for underserved populations and building trust in science and public health. Comments can be submitted by mail, email, or fax. COVID-19 Resources COVID-19 Provider Funding Application Portal Open through October 26. Health care providers can apply for $25.5 billion in provider relief funds. The package includes $8.5 billion in American Rescue Plan (ARP) resources for those who serve rural patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and $17 billion for Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 for a broad range of providers experiencing changes in operating revenues and expenses. Providers may apply for both programs with a single application, and applications must be completed and submitted by October 26 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Sign up for our last technical assistance webcast taking place TODAY, October 21 at 3:00 p.m. ET. NARHC Assistance with Federal Programs for COVID-19 Testing, Vaccine Distribution, and Provider Relief Fund. The National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) includes a review of the application process for the new round of Provider Relief Funding in its collection of technical assistance webinars for all COVID-related programs designated for Rural Health Clinics. Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Resources 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. 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. Round 1 Provider Relief Fund Reporting – Grace Period for Submitting Until November 30. Provider Relief Fund (PRF) recipients who received funds prior to June 30, 2020, should have completed reports by September 30. Resources on the Reporting and Auditing web page will help PRF recipients comply with reporting. Last month, HHS announced a grace period to support those facing natural disasters and the Delta variant surge. While the September 30 deadline for reporting has not changed, recoupment or other enforcement actions will not be initiated during the grace period, lasting October 1 – November 30, 2021. 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, COVID-19 Vaccination Trainings for new and experienced providers, and Tips for Talking with Patients about COVID-19 Vaccination. New: COVIDVaxView: A Data Dashboard. 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 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 RWJF Researching COVID-19 Socioeconomic Recovery/Children's Health – Letters of Intent November 17. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is partnering with Duke University to fund research into how COVID-19 recovery-related social and economic programs impact child obesity, diet quality, food security, and other health outcomes among lower-income and families of color. Populations of focus include Black, Latinx, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander. Concept papers must be submitted by November 17; applicants will be notified in December if they are invited to submit a full proposal. EPA Technical Assistance for Small Public Water Systems – December 3. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expects to make nine awards from an investment of more than $21 million to provide training and technical assistance for small public water systems. Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations, nonprofit private universities and colleges, and public institutions of higher education. For-profit organizations are not eligible to apply. States, municipalities, or tribal governments are not eligible to apply. HRSA Graduate Psychology Education (GPE) Program – December 9. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will invest $25 million to increase the mental and behavioral health workforce in high-need areas of the country. The funding will go to doctoral, internship, and post-doctoral residency programs accredited by the American Psychological Association. The program also supports faculty development of health service psychology. HRSA Nurse Faculty Loan Program – January 13. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will make 80 awards from a $25 million investment into increasing the number of qualified nursing faculty nationwide. Eligible applicants are accredited schools of nursing with advanced education nursing programs. Grantees will establish and operate a loan fund for students committed to becoming nurse faculty. For those students who go on to full-time employment in a nursing school faculty, the program authorizes cancellation of up to 85 percent of the original student loan amount. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. New Strategy for CMS Innovation Center. Yesterday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a strategy refresh for its center that develops and tests new models for payment and delivery of health care. Five strategic objectives guide the new plan: 1) drive accountable care, 2) advance health equity, 3) support care innovations, 4) address affordability, and 5) partner to achieve system transformation. Read the details of this plan [pdf] in a newly released white paper, and sign up for the CMS Innovation Center listserv to receive regular updates, including opportunities to participate in listening sessions. As part of its Health Equity objective, the CMS Innovation Center will address barriers to participation for providers that serve a high proportion of underserved and rural beneficiaries. Learning Events and Technical Assistance HRSA Guidance on New COVID-19 Provider Relief Funding – Thursday, October 21 at 3:00 pm ET. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will hold the last of its webinars for rural applicants of Phase 4 and American Rescue Plan funding, featuring guidance on how to navigate the application portal. The application window will close on October 26, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. ET. CMS All Tribes Webinar on Rural Emergency Hospitals – Thursday, October 21 at 2:00 pm ET. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Division of Tribal Affairs will host an All Tribes Webinar on Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs), a new Medicare provider type [pdf], established by section 125 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (see page 1779 of the linked PDF). In this 90-minute call, CMS seeks input on any unique circumstances for Indian health care providers. USDA on New Funding for Rural Workforce – Thursday, October 21 at 3:00 pm ET. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will hold a 90-minute session to discuss new federal funding opportunities. The National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services – October 25-27. The panel of experts will meet over three days to discuss behavioral health and primary care integration and make recommendations to the Secretary on designation of a new type of provider, the Rural Emergency Hospital. Members of the public are invited to attend, but must register by 12:00 pm ET on Sunday, October 24. Rural Telementoring Training Center's Virtual Launch Week – October 25-29. The Rural Telementoring Training Center, through a cooperative agreement with FORHP, will host a virtual event to release of an array of tools and resources to support telementoring for rural health care. Events will highlight the theme of Emerging Voices in Rural Telementoring, including micro lectures from leaders in telementoring and stories from community members and rural health workers. This event is open to all interested individuals and is free of charge. Advanced registration is required. Latest from CDC on COVID-19 Booster Vaccines – Tuesday, October 26 at 2:00 pm ET. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will hold a one-hour session with the most recent recommendations for administering COVID-19 boosters. For those unable to attend, a recording will be available for viewing a few hours after the live event ends. CMS Resources for Open Enrollment Season – Wednesday, October 27 at 12:00 pm ET. The 11-week period to sign up for 2022 health insurance begins on November 1. To help community partners, assisters, and others who help consumers enroll or change their health plan, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will provide an overview of their Coverage to Care initiative in this hour-long session. HRSA's Vaccine Distribution Program for Rural Health Clinics – Thursday, October 28 at 2:00 pm ET. HRSA's technical assistance team from the Georgia Health Policy Center will answer questions about the federal program that distributes COVID-19 vaccines directly to Rural Health Clinics. Topics to be covered during the 90-minute session include: program enrollment, vaccine ordering and storage, inventory management, vaccine administration, data collection, and reporting. Meeting of the HHS COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force – Thursday, October 28 at 2:00 pm ET. The virtual meeting, lasting three 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, October 22. Read the recent press release to watch a recording of the September 30 meeting of the meeting and learn about their recommendations. SEARCH 2021: The National Telehealth Research Symposium – November 8-10. Registration is open for the annual event that supports health researchers, academicians, and visionaries in telehealth with a virtual venue to share findings and foster research partnerships. This year's agenda includes keynotes and panel presentations designed to promote federal research resources and priorities, and will feature discussions pertaining to health disparities and development of digital health research programs within academic medical centers. Over 50 experienced and graduate researchers will present their work and share innovative studies. Resource of the Week Ongoing: HRSA Payment Program for Buprenorphine-Trained Clinicians. In June of this year, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) launched an effort to improve access to substance use disorder treatment by paying for clinicians who are waivered to prescribe buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder. Rural Health Clinics still have the opportunity to apply for a $3,000 payment for each clinician who trained to obtain the waiver necessary to prescribe buprenorphine after January 1, 2019. Approximately $1.5 million in program funding remains available for RHCs and will be paid on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. Send questions to DATA2000WaiverPayments@hrsa.gov. There is ongoing availability of a free online course for waiver eligibility training from the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine and the Providers Clinical Support System. Approaching Deadlines HRSA COVID-19 Provider Relief Funding, Phase 4 – October 26 USDA Farm Labor Housing Direct Loans and Grants – November 1 Combating Opioid Overdose Through Community-Level Intervention – November 1 AmeriCorps VISTA Requesting Concept Papers – November 3 USDA Small Business Innovation Research, Phase 1 – November 3 National Health Service Corps Students to Service Loan Repayment Program – November 4 HHS Seeks Public Input on Four-Year Strategic Plan – November 7 AmeriCorps State and National Public Health AmeriCorps – November 8 Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellows – Letters of Intent November 12 RWJF Researching COVID-19 Socioeconomic Recovery/Children's Health – Letters of Intent November 17 CDC Seeking Public Input on Work-Related Stress for Health Workers – November 26 Comments Requested: Criteria for Determining Maternity Care Health Professional Target Areas – November 26 End of Grace Period for Round 1 Provider Relief Fund Reporting – November 30 Department of Commerce Pilot Program: Connecting Minority Communities – December 1 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grants – December 1 EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grants – December 1 EPA Technical Assistance for Small Public Water Systems – December 3 Comments Requested: Requirements Related to Surprise Billing – December 6 HRSA Physician Assistant Rural Training Program – December 9 HRSA Graduate Psychology Education Program – December 9 HRSA New Geographic Service Areas for HIV/AIDS Early Intervention – December 10 RADx-UP Mini-Grant Program for COVID-19 Testing Initiatives – December 10 HRSA Primary Care HIV Prevention in Health Centers – December 14 HRSA Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) Program – December 20 Department of Labor Stand Down Grants for Veterans Services – December 31 COVID-19 Extension for Medicare Graduate Medical Education (GME) Affiliation Agreement – January 1 HRSA Family-to-Family Health Information Centers (F2F HICs) – January 5 HRSA Nurse Faculty Loan Program – January 13 HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program - Implementation – January 13 NIH Researching Behavioral Risk Factors for Cancer in Rural Populations – January 18 HRSA Delta Region Rural Health Workforce Training Program – January 25 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 HRSA Payment Program for Buprenorphine-Trained Clinicians – Until Funds Run Out 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 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 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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