November 24, 2021 What's New Reports for Round One of Provider Relief Funding Due by November 30. Providers who received funds prior to June 30, 2020 still have time to complete their reporting until this coming Tuesday, November 30. Providers who fail to meet this deadline will be required to return their PRF payments by December 30, 2021. American Rescue Plan Includes $7.5 Billion in Rural Payments. On November 23rd, HRSA began distributing $7.5 billion in American Rescue Plan (ARP) Rural payments to health care providers and suppliers who serve rural Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program, and Medicare patients. More than 40,000 providers are receiving payments. Many ARP Rural payment recipients will also be eligible for additional funding through the $17 billion Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 opportunity that used the same application; Phase 4 payments will be announced in the coming weeks. Health care organizations can use these payments to make up for the lost revenues and increased expenses caused by the pandemic. CMS Focuses on Rural Health. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) added two new reports to its Rural Health Strategy to achieve health equity for rural, frontier, tribal, and island communities. Improving Health in Rural Communities: FY 2021 Year in Review (pdf) outlines CMS' activities in 10 focus areas that include: payment and policy for Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program; maternal health; mental health and substance use disorders; and COVID-19. Examining Rural Hospital Bypass for Outpatient Services (pdf) explores what happens to financial viability when patients seek services beyond their local facilities and providers. Annual Rural America at a Glance: 2021 Edition. Each year, the Economic Research Service (ERS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports on population and economic trends in rural areas. This edition focuses on factors affecting the resiliency and recovery of rural communities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, including population and employment change, intensity of infection, vaccination rates, and broadband internet availability and adoption. Last week, ERS economist Eliabeth Dobis presented the findings in an hour-long webinar that is available for viewing. Ongoing: HRSA Payment Program for RHC Buprenorphine-Trained Providers. In June 2021, 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 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. New: Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation. The new resource asks for participation from individuals, teachers, school administrators, librarians, faith leaders, and health care professionals to understand, identify, and stop the spread of misinformation. The toolkit includes common types of misinformation and a checklist to help evaluate the accuracy of health-related content. 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. 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 CDC Research on Telehealth Strategies for PrEP and ART – January 18. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will make two awards with total funding of $3.6 million for research evaluating the effectiveness of telemedicine for adherence to HIV prevention and treatment medication. Even before the pandemic, HIV care agencies were implementing telehealth services for delivering pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and antiviral therapy (ART) to small urban and rural locations. Applicants should propose formal partnerships with these participating clinics, which include those located in seven states with a substantial number of HIV diagnoses in rural areas (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and South Carolina). Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. GAO Findings on Rural Provider Transitions to New Payment Models. On November 17, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a new report, Information on the Transition to Alternative Payment Models by Providers in Rural, Health Professional Shortage, or Underserved Areas. GAO's analysis of CMS data found that a smaller percentage of rural providers than urban providers participated in these payment models in each of the years studied (2017-2019). Barriers to participation included financial and technological challenges. Learning Events and Technical Assistance Strategies for Preventing Farm/Ranch Suicides – Tuesday, November 30 at 3:00 pm ET. Darla Tyler-McSherry is the founder and visionary of Ask in Earnest, an initiative designed to address mental health, depression, and suicide in farm and ranch populations. During this hour-long session she will provide an overview of risk factors and daily strategies that can be used to improve mental health. The session is hosted by AgrAbility, a nonprofit aiming to improve quality of life in agricultural communities. Building Opportunity and Development in Rural and Tribal Communities – Tuesday, November 30 at 3:30 pm ET. Over 90 minutes, the Aspen institute will host a conversation with community development experts under the theme This is What Capacity Looks Like: Building Development Muscle in Rural and Native Communities. Call to Action To Address Social Isolation and Telehealth Adoption for the Rural Elderly in Region 8 – Tuesday, November 30 at 4:00 pm ET (2:00 pm MT). This hour-long webinar developed in partnership by HRSA's Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs in Region 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY), and the HRSA-funded Graduate Workforce Education Programs and Quality Improvement Organizations in the Region, is a Call to Action for rural communities to reach out to their elderly population to promote telehealth adoption and address social isolation. The Geriatric Workforce Education Programs and QIOs will present resources and best practices that are currently available for rural/frontier communities. Presentations will include actions that can be taken to access these resources and engage with established programs to improve outcomes for older adults. Social and Structural Determinants of Mental Health, Substance Use and Treatment – Wednesday, December 1 at 12:00 pm ET. The University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction (UVM CORA) will identify ways that social determinants impact substance use and treatment in this hour-long session. UVM CORA is one of three Rural Centers of Excellence on Substance Use Disorders, part of the FORHP-supported Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP). Apply to the Nurse Corp Loan Repayment Program – Wednesday, December 1 at 1:30 pm ET. HRSA's Bureau of Health Workforce will hold a 90-minute webinar to assist applicants. Applications for the program that offers payment toward educational loans for registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, and nurse faculty are due January 13. Resource of the Week Thunder Valley Forges a Pathway to Healing, Hope, and Liberation. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation awarded its 2020-2021 Culture of Health Prize to the Lakota Valley Community Development Corporation for its Lakota-centric practices for wellness and healing. Approaching Deadlines 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 Commonwealth Fund/Harvard Univ. Fellowship in Minority Health Policy – December 1 Department of Commerce Pilot Program: Connecting Minority Communities – December 1 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grants – December 1 EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grants – December 1 National Health Service Corps Students to Service Loan Repayment Program – Extended to December 2 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 Community-Based Workforce to Build COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence – December 10 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 FEMA Grants for Firefighters/EMS Organizations – December 17 HRSA Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) Program – extended to December 21 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 CDC Grants for New Investigators/Research for Interpersonal Violence Impacting Children/Youth – January 4 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 CDC Research on Telehealth Strategies for PrEP and ART – January 18 Comments Requested: DEA Regulation of Telepharmacy Practice – January 18 NIH Researching Behavioral Risk Factors for Cancer in Rural Populations – January 18 ACL Empowering Communities for Chronic Disease Self-Management – January 25 ACL Empowering Communities to Deliver and Sustain Falls Prevention Programs – January 25 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 HHS Technology Challenge for Racial Equity in Postpartum Care – January 31 HRSA Centers of Excellence for Training Minorities in Health Professions – January 31 HRSA Leadership Education in Adolescent Health – February 1 Indian Health Service Forensic Healthcare Services for Domestic Violence Prevention – February 2 Indian Health Service Substance Abuse and Suicide Prevention Program – February 2 Indian Health Service Zero Suicide Initiative – February 2 CDC Research to Prevent Firearm-Related Violence and Injuries – February 4 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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