November 12, 2021 What's New COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force Brings Public Health Focus to Rural Areas. On Wednesday, the White House announced a $785 million investment to respond to inequities in underserved communities that were exacerbated by the pandemic. The funding is based on recommendations from the Task Force that was created in January of this year to make specific recommendations for bolstering public health in rural areas and communities of color. The Task Force included rural representation in Tim Putnam, a former rural hospital administrator from Indiana who chaired the Healthcare Access and Quality Subcommittee. HRSA Celebrates National Rural Health Day. The public is invited to join us online on Thursday, November 18 at 11:30 am ET. Speakers and panelists from several agencies will share what we've learned from our efforts at the federal level and from collaboration with state- and community-level partners. Health equity is a priority focus, and Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) grantees will share best practices from their projects that consider social determinants of health to improve health outcomes. Wisconsin Project to Prevent Overdose Death Sees Results. The primary goal of the Prescription Drug/Opioid Overdose-Related Deaths Prevention Project – PDO for short – was to reduce the number of deaths and adverse events by 10 percent in three high-risk counties. Two counties targeted for the program are mostly metropolitan, one is rural. The report describes policy challenges to distributing Naloxone, a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose, through local public health agencies and the ways that officials were able to work through them. Although reducing stigma about addiction was not a stated goal of the PDO project, it was the first step in training as many people as possible to recognize an overdose and take action. CDC: Infant Mortality Rates for Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Counties. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report data showing that, in 2019, the infant mortality rate was highest for non-Hispanic Black mothers in both urban (10.60 infant deaths per 1,000 live births) and rural (10.85). Second highest was infant deaths for American-Indian or Alaska Native mothers; in urban areas, the rate was 5.95 infant deaths per 1,000 live births and in rural, the number was 9.78. How CAHs Address Social Needs in their Communities. Critical Access Hospital (CAH) is a designation given to eligible rural hospitals by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. This policy brief summarizes CAH initiatives addressing social needs – access to education, food security, stable housing, employment, and interpersonal violence – that significantly impact health outcomes and health care costs. Ongoing: HRSA Payment Program for RHC Buprenorphine-Trained Providers. In June of this year, 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 (RHCs) 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 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. In September, 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. 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. 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: Updated list of all available vaccines and their ingredients. 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. New: 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. Funding and Opportunities Delta Region Community Health Systems Development Program – December 15. Applications are currently being accepted from small and rural hospitals, rural health clinics, and other health care organizations located in the 252 counties and parishes served by the Delta Regional Authority (a federal agency and HRSA partner) to receive technical assistance. Activities will support quality improvement, financial and operational improvement, telehealth, community care coordination, workforce, emergency medical services, and population health. Learn more about the application process and submit an application now through December 15thto be considered for the next cohort starting activities this winter. USDA Community Food Projects Grant Program – December 20. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make grants of up to $400,000 each for projects that reduce food insecurity by connecting local food sources to low-income communities. Different funding levels will go to planning projects and to existing projects working toward sustainability. Applicants must match the federal award amount on a dollar for dollar basis. The Rural Health Information Hub has a topic page on rural hunger and access to healthy food that includes a toolkit for assessing community food security. Treasury Department New Markets Tax Credit Program – January 3. The U.S. Department of Treasury offers tax credits as incentive for investment in economic development projects in distressed rural and urban areas. Any taxpayer may receive a credit against federal income taxes equal to 39 percent of their investment in designated Community Development Entities that will in turn fund projects that include affordable housing, building or expanding health care facilities, supermarkets, and pharmacy retail stores. Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program – January 13. The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program offers funding to registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses and nurse faculty toward payment of their qualifying educational loans in exchange for a two-year service commitment at a health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses or at an eligible school of nursing in the case of nurse faculty. Additional loan repayment is available for a third year of service. HRSA Centers of Excellence for Training Minorities in Health Professions – January 31. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will make 15 awards with total investment of more than $10 million to recruit, train, and retain under-represented minority students and faculty at health professions schools. Eligible applicants are accredited allopathic schools of medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and graduate programs in behavioral or mental health. HRSA Leadership Education in Adolescent Health – February 1. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will make seven awards with total investment of more than $3 million to improve health services for adolescents and young adults (AYA). The funding will go to public and private nonprofit institutions of higher learning that will prepare leaders in AYA health through interdisciplinary training at the graduate and post-graduate levels. RWJF Summer Health Professions Education Program for Under-Represented Minorities – February 5. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) provides a free summer enrichment program for college students interested in health professions. Learning is expected to be in-person in 2022 and will include workshops and seminars designed to expose scholars to a larger view of health care, health systems, including financial concepts and strategies. Eligible applicants are currently enrolled college freshmen or sophomores with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Other factors for consideration include that a student identify with a group that is racially/ethnically underrepresented in the health professions, come from an economically disadvantaged background, and has a demonstrated interest in issues affecting underserved 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. Barriers to Aging in Place in Rural Communities: Perspectives from State Offices of Rural Health. To date there is limited information available about the ability to age in place in rural communities and what barriers may prevent older adults from safely doing so. This policy brief from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center presents findings from an online survey of State Offices of Rural Health describing barriers for older adults in successfully aging in place in rural communities, and recommendations for how to improve the ability to safely age in place in rural areas of their states. Policy Updates Visit the FORHP Policy page to see all recent updates and send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. Comments Requested: Development of the All-Cause Emergency Department (ED) Utilization for Medicaid Beneficiaries measure – December 8. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seek public input on the importance, usability, feasibility, and unintended consequences of a new quality measure that examines all-cause ED visits among Medicaid participants age 18 and older. Rural hospitals have experienced increased growth in ED utilization over the last decade, including among Medicaid enrollees, which can signal challenges in rural health care infrastructure. COVID-19 Vaccination Required for Workers in Medicare/Medicaid Facilities. On November 4, CMS issued an Interim Final Rule with Comment Period requiring COVID-19 vaccination of eligible staff at health care facilities that participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Facilities covered include rural hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals, and Rural Health Clinics, among a number of other provider types both rural and urban. Facilities covered by this regulation must establish a policy ensuring all eligible staff, prior to providing any care, treatment, or other services, have received the first dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine or a one-dose COVID-19 vaccine by December 5, 2021. All eligible staff must be fully vaccinated by January 4, 2022. For more information, CMS has published a list of frequently asked questions. Learning Events and Technical Assistance CMS on COVID-19 Vaccine for Rural Communities – Monday, November 15 at 1:00 pm ET. In recognition of National Rural Health Day, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health is hosting this session for community partners and providers working in rural areas. Learn About the Rural Health Clinic COVID Vaccine Program – Monday, November 15 at 3:00 pm ET. During the one-hour session, the FORHP-supported Georgia Health Policy Center will explain the program distributing vaccines directly to Rural Health Clinics. HRSA Advancing Health Equity Among Hispanic Population – Wednesday, November 17 at 1:00 pm ET. The first of a four-part webinar series on the factors that contribute to health disparities for Hispanic populations will focus on breaking down social barriers during the pandemic. The 2020 Census reported that Hispanics are the second largest racial/ethnic group in rural areas, comprising 10.4 percent of the rural population. Health Workforce Technical Assistance Center Webinar – November 17. Join HWTAC's upcoming webinar focused on how state governor directives changed healthcare workforce flexibility in response to the pandemic. The webinar will examine governor-issued executive orders that expanded scope-of-practice or reduced regulatory barriers for out-of-state healthcare practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicant Webinar for Rural Health Network Development Planning Funding Opportunity – Wednesday, November 17 at 3:00 pm. HRSA's Federal Office of Rural Health Policy will host a one-hour webinar to assist applicants of the program developing integrated health care networks in rural communities. Meeting ID for the Zoom meeting linked above is 161 864 4747. For dial-in: 833-568-8864; Participant Code: 81822150. Federal Efforts to Achieve Health Equity in Rural Communities – Thursday, November 18 at 11:30 am ET. HRSA is working towards eliminating disparities in health access, policy, and practice and its determinants for rural populations across the nation. As part of HRSA's observance of National Rural Health Day, this panel discussion will highlight federal engagement in rural health, sharing strategies, activities and resources related to the Administration's priority of health equity. Panelists from the White House Domestic Policy Council, CMS Office of Minority Health, and Indian Health Service (IHS) will join FORHP for this discussion. AgriSafe Update on COVID Vaccines and Boosters – Thursday, November 18 at 1:00 pm ET. The hour-long session is intended for agricultural communities. Dr. Lisa Morici will share trusted data on how the vaccines have been developed, and the safety and efficacy determined by clinical trials. She will provide updates on booster doses, and on vaccines for children. Listening Session #1 on CMS Innovation Center Strategy – Thursday, November 18 at 1:00 pm ET. In October, 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. Details of this plan have a focus on health equity and lowering barriers to participation for providers serving underserved and rural beneficiaries. This first listening asks about those barriers and will include a response from stakeholders about this and other areas objectives of the strategy. Addressing Health Disparities in Rural Communities: FORHP Grantee Highlights – Thursday, November 18 at 3:00 pm ET. Across the nation, recipients of FORHP grants are finding ways to use their grant funding to create equitable access to health care in their communities. During this panel discussion, hear from current FORHP grantees as they share their work and best practices in their projects focused on health equity. This presentation is part of HRSA's observance of National Rural Health Day. Addressing Social Isolation in Rural America – Friday, November 19 at 1:00 pm ET. The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults will provide background on rural aging and also host experts describing their engagement activities in rural and tribal communities. Approaching Deadlines Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellows – Letters of Intent November 12 Just Transition Fund: Grants/Technical Assistance for Coal Communities Applying for Federal Funding – November 15 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 COVID-19 Vaccination Required for Workers in Medicare/Medicaid Facilities – First Dose December 4 Comments Requested: Requirements Related to Surprise Billing – December 6 Comments Requested: Development of the All-Cause Emergency Department (ED) Utilization for Medicaid Beneficiaries measure – December 8 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 Delta Region Community Health Systems Development Program – December 15 National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Programs – December 16 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 Treasury Department New Markets Tax Credit Program – January 3 COVID-19 Vaccination Required for Workers in Medicare/Medicaid Facilities – January 4 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 Corps Loan Repayment Program – January 13 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 HRSA Access to HIV Services for Women and Children – January 28 HRSA Rural Health Network Development Planning Program – January 28 HRSA Centers of Excellence for Training Minorities in Health Professions – January 31 HRSA Leadership Education in Adolescent Health – February 1 RWJF Summer Health Professions Education Program for Underrepresented Minorities – February 5 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 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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