October 28, 2021 What's New New Federal Strategy for Overdose Prevention. Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services announced a new focus prioritizing four objectives: primary prevention, harm reduction, evidence-based treatment and recovery support. Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined that the rate of rural overdose deaths from 1999 to 2019 rose from 4.0 to 19.6 per 100,000 people. In 2019, rates in rural counties were higher than in urban counties in California, Connecticut, North Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia. Open Enrollment for Health Insurance Begins November 1. Plans and pricing are already available for preview and consumers may use the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace or one of 18 state-based websites. This year the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services took steps to increase the number of Marketplace-registered agents and assisters – especially in underserved communitiess – to help consumers review options and to understand their benefits and rights. The boosted effort is the result of a series of research briefs on health insurance access for underserved populations, including racial/ethnic minorities and those living in rural areas. New Funding and Resources for State Medicaid Agencies. Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services launched a new "one stop shop" for home and community-based services. State-level stakeholders can learn about innovative models for care delivered to Medicaid beneficiaries outside of an institution, such as in their own home. These services, which can be particularly challenging in rural areas, include personal hygiene, nutrition, home health, and transportation. Funding from the American Rescue Plan provides qualifying states with a temporary 10 percentage point increase for certain expenditures for home and community-based services. HHS Announces New Plan for Health Workforce. On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) released a new strategy for expanding supply, ensuring equitable distribution, and improving the quality of the nation's health workforce. The plan is one of the requirements of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and will be implemented by the Health Resources and Services Administration and several other operating divisions of HHS (see Appendix D). CDC Seeking Public Input on Work-Related Stress for Health Workers – Comment by November 26. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) seeks information on best practices and promising practices for the positive mental health and well-being of health workers. The feedback will be used to inform interventions under development by the CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The request includes feedback about first responders and emergency services personnel experiencing higher levels of stress during the pandemic. Case Study: Barriers to Hub and Spoke Model for OUD Treatment. Originating in Vermont, the Hub and Spoke model provides a point of care at each stage of recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD), from the intense beginning to long-term treatment. This case study examines what happened in Montana, designated as a Frontier and Remote state by the federal government. Earlier this year, the HRSA-supported Center on Rural Addiction at the University of Vermont conducted a baseline needs assessment (pdf) in that state of rural and non-rural practitioners during two separate one-month periods in 2020. Both rural and non-rural practitioners named stigma and patient time/transportation as top barriers to treatment. A majority of rural providers also named medication diversion as a top concern. Place-Based Patterns in Youth Suicide Rates. An analysis of public-use data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed rural-specific trends in suicide for Americans aged 10 to 24 over the last 20 years. The study from the American Communities Project and the Center on Rural Innovation found that rural communities have seen some of the highest rates in the age group. Two of the geography types studied, Hispanic Centers and the African American South, had lower rates than the national average. However, rates for Native American communities were far above all others, in some cases more than double other types. Reaching Farm Communities for Vaccine Confidence. The AgriSafe Network is a nonprofit organization that provides information and training on injury and disease related to agriculture. Their health professionals and educators created a social media toolkit that aims to provide clear messages about COVID-19 vaccination for agriculture, forestry, and fishing workers. Ongoing: HRSA Payment Program for RHC Buprenorphine-Trained Providers. 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 providers 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 on behalf of each provider 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. COVID-19 Resources The deadline to initiate an application for both Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Rural payments has passed. Applicants who submitted their Tax Identification Number (TIN) for validation prior to the deadline now have until November 3, 2021 at 11:59 PM EST to submit a completed application via the Provider Relief Fund Application and Attestation Portal. 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 USDA Farm to School Grants – January 10. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make 200 awards of up to $500,000 each for planning, developing, and implementing programs that bring local foods to schools. The National School Lunch Act calls for equal distribution of grants in rural, tribal, and urban communities. NIH Practice-Based Research for Primary Care Suicide Prevention – June 2022. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will support evaluation of existing suicide prevention practices and/or pilot clinical trials aimed at developing interventions. Proposals that seek to reduce disparities in outcomes for racial and ethnic minority groups, individuals limited by language or cultural barriers, sexual and gender minorities, individuals living in rural areas, socioeconomically disadvantaged persons, and other underserved groups are encouraged. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. No updates this week. Learning Events and Technical Assistance 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 1:00 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. Read the recent press release to watch a recording of the September 30 meeting of the meeting and learn about their recommendations. Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences and SUD – Tuesday, November 2 at 2:00 pm ET. Experts will discuss the link between childhood trauma/stress and substance use disorder, as well as practical, trauma-informed strategies to improve outcomes. This event is hosted by the Technical Assistance Program of the FORHP-supported Rural Communities Opioid Response Program. Abuse of AI/AN Elders: What LTSS Program Staff Should Know – Wednesday, November 3 at 2:00 pm ET. Experts will describe signs of abuse and explain how to file reports with investigating agencies. The Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Program provides technical assistance for care of older adults and people with disabilities in American Indian/Alaska Native communities. CDC Vaccine Confidence Bootcamp – Tuesday, November 2 at 3:00 pm ET. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) will share success stories from local health departments and facilitate brainstorming sessions for building vaccine demand. The two-hour event is co-hosted by the National Association of County and City Health Officials. 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. Rural Family Physicians: Training, Distribution, Scope of Practice – Tuesday, November 9 at 1:00 pm ET. The FORHP-supported Rural Health Research Gateway will host an hour-long presentation on what is considered the most prevalent physician specialty in rural America. Emergency Preparedness for Maternal and Child Health – Wednesday, November 10 at 2:00 pm ET. HRSA will host community leaders and advocates for a discussion about their experiences during recent wildfires. Weather-related disasters that also include tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods are expected to become more frequent and severe as a result of climate change, with more challenges to preparedness and response in rural areas. The HHS Maternal-Child Health (MCH) Emergency Planning toolkit includes considerations for rural populations and highlights promising practices. Approaching Deadlines 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 NIH Research for AI/AN End-of-Life Care – January 8 USDA Farm to School Grants – January 10 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 Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health – May 2022 NIH Practice-Based Research for Primary Care Suicide Prevention – June 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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