January 27, 2022 What's New More Provider Relief Funds Being Distributed. This week, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) is making more than $2 billion in Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 General Distribution payments to more than 7,600 providers across the country. These payments come on the heels of nearly $9 billion in funding released in December 2021. With this announcement, HHS has distributed a total of nearly $11 billion in PRF Phase 4 payments to providers in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and five territories. Health Workforce Fact Sheet – 2021 HRSA Highlights (pdf). Learn more about HRSA's health workforce efforts to help recruit and retain personnel during the pandemic, promote health equity, and support and build the health workforce, including funding that went to rural residency programs and Teaching Health Centers in rural communities. Spread the Word About Vaccine Boosters. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services released new resources – posters, flyers, videos, and talking points – to help promote the extra protection from COVID-19 boosters. All vaccinated adults aged 18+ are eligible for a booster. A few weeks ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expanded booster eligibility to include adolescents ages 12 to 17, recommending that they receive a booster shot five months after their initial vaccination. The CDC also released a new resource, based on input from rural health departments and organizations, with 12 strategies to increase vaccine uptake in rural communities (pdf). Search by zip code to find nearby locations providing adult and pediatric vaccines and boosters for COVID-19 and the flu at vaccines.gov. HHS Reports to Congress on Federal Diabetes Programs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 37 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, and another 88 million have prediabetes. In addition to its health impact – increased risk of stroke, heart attack, blindness, kidney failure, and lower limb amputations – the economic cost was estimated to be $327 billion in 2017. In this report to Congress, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) examined the efficacy of federal diabetes programs, detailing the challenges that remain, particularly in rural areas. Alaska Native Elders Assess Government Social Services. Researchers share insights voiced by Alaska Native Elders in the Yukon-Kuskowkwim region and their perceptions of regulations, assistance, and the impact that government programs have had on their culture. Prescription Drug Affordability Among Medicare Beneficiaries. The report examines the characteristics of Medicare beneficiaries who had difficulty affording their medications in 2019, including race/ethnicity, gender, family income, presence of certain chronic conditions, and urban vs. rural counties. Overall, women, people with lower incomes, and beneficiaries diagnosed with chronic conditions such as diabetes had higher rates of affordability problems. 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 Provider Relief Fund (PRF). The reporting portal is open for providers required to report on PRF payments during Reporting Period 2, and will remain open until March 31, 2022. NARHC Assistance with Federal Programs for COVID-19 Testing, Vaccine Distribution, and Provider Relief Fund. The National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) has background information and guidelines 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. Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation. The new resources help 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. 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 COVID-19 Vaccination Trainings (pdf) for new and experienced providers, and Tips for Talking with Patients about COVID-19 Vaccination. New: Updated Guidelines on Quarantine and Isolation, and Rural Considerations for Vaccine Confidence and Uptake Strategies (pdf). 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 Grant 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. 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 NIH Preventing Opioid Misuse by Intervening on Social Determinants – March 2. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will fund research to build an evidence base for multi-level interventions. Projects should seek to reduce health inequities in a population affected by the opioid crisis by studying the effects of theory driven, multi-level interventions on the prevention of opioid misuse and co-occurring conditions. Conditions could include mental health conditions and/or suicide, and may also include other substance use and substance use-related outcomes. NIH Evaluating Pandemic-related Food/Housing Policies on Disparity Populations – April 7. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will fund research to identify and evaluate policy and programmatic actions during the pandemic that address two specific social determinants of health: food/nutrition security and housing security. Applications should examine how these policies impacted health disparity populations, including Blacks/African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, underserved rural populations, and sexual and gender minorities. HRSA Health Workforce Research Centers – April 14. HRSA will make nine awards with $4.9 million in funding for research to strengthen understanding of issues and trends in health workforce and to inform policy and planning at all levels. Eligible applicants are state-level workforce investment boards, health professions schools, related nonprofit organizations, and tribes or tribal organizations. DOT RAISE Grants for Transportation Infrastructure – April 14. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will make grants of up to $25 million each for capital investments in unmet surface transportation needs. Emphasis is on rural and tribal areas for projects that support public transportation; highway, bridge, and other road projects; and passenger and freight rail transportation, among other needs. USDA Rural Business Development: Technical Assistance for Rural Transportation Systems – April 14. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide funding to improve passenger transportation services and/or facilities in rural communities. Eligible applicants are organizations with expertise in transportation and experience in providing technical assistance and training. Grantees will develop training materials, provide on-site assistance, and advance key priorities: assisting rural areas recovering from the pandemic, ensuring equitable access to USDA's Rural Development programs and benefits, reducing climate pollution. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. Comments Requested: Changes to Graduate Medical Education Payments – Due by February 25. Among other changes to support physician training in rural areas, the final rule establishes policy to distribute 1,000 new Medicare-funded physician residency slots to qualifying hospitals serving underserved populations. The final rule requests comments on the use of Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) for two uses: 1) as a proxy for health disparities in prioritizing additional full-time equivalent (FTE) cap slots, and 2) for the review process to determine eligibility for per resident amount (PRA) or FTE cap resets in situations where a hospital disagrees with the information on cost reports that are no longer within the three-year reopening period. The deadline for comments is February 25, 2022. See the Events section below for an upcoming webinar about this change. Medicare-Funded Residency Slots Available – Apply by March 31. Hospitals interested in additional slots for graduate medical education (GME) funding for Fiscal Year 2023 must apply through the electronic application system by March 31. Under Section 126 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, hospitals in rural areas (or treated as rural area under the law) may qualify for these additional slots if they are: 1) training a number of residents in excess of their GME cap, 2) located in states with new medical schools or branch campuses, or 3) serving areas designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area. CMS provides more information about the application process in this pdf document. Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program Resources for 2022. Recently, CMS posted a number of Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program Specification sheets (ZIP) updated for 2022. The information provided is for eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) attesting to CMS for their participation in the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program in 2022. The specification sheets include information about reporting, e-Prescribing, and providing patient electronic access to health information, among other topics. ONC Seeks Public Input on Electronic Prior Authorization – Comment by March 25. On January 24, the HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) released a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input from the public regarding electronic prior authorization standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria that could be adopted within the ONC Health IT Certification Program. Responses to this RFI will be used to inform potential future rulemaking. This RFI includes specific questions on the impact on providers, and rural stakeholders may wish to provide their feedback on the effect on rural providers. CMS Issues Guidance for Health Care Worker Vaccination in Texas. On January 20, CMS issued Texas-specific guidance for compliance with the requirements regarding COVID-19 vaccine immunization of staff among Medicare- and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers. Other states are expected to continue under the timeframes and parameters identified in either the December 28, 2021 or January 14, 2022 memoranda. Learning Events and Technical Assistance Patient-Centered Medical Home Health Equity Technical Assistance Symposium – Monday, January 31 at 11:00 a.m. ET. HRSA's Bureau of Primary Health Care, home to Community Health Centers, is holding a two-day symposium on health equity in the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH). Participants will hear about and discuss best practices and lessons learned from peers and experts in the fields of health equity, quality improvement, and accreditation/recognition. The symposium will run from 11:00 am to 4:30 pm over two days, January 31st and February 1st. Building Tomorrow's Virtual Healthcare with Today's Technology – February 2-3. HRSA's National Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center will host a free, two-day virtual event featuring several telemedicine case scenarios where patients, caregivers, and providers present virtual care models such as emergency services, behavioral health, school-based care, remote patient monitoring and direct to consumer patient care. Attendees will have an opportunity to discuss the various telehealth technologies used in the telemedicine scenarios with the vendors and other leaders in the industry who are developing and implementing innovative ways of using technology to enhance patient care. Cultural Literacy to Improve Diabetes Care – Wednesday, February 2 at 2:00 pm ET. The nonprofit National Center for Farmworker Health will share strategies for addressing language barriers, cultural differences, and other barriers to diabetes care. Application Assistance for RCORP Behavioral Health Funding – Thursday, February 3 at 1:00 pm ET. FORHP staff will provide information for a successful application to the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Behavioral Health Care Support. Call-In number: 1-833-568-8864; participant Code: 66603797. Registration is not required to attend the 90-minute session; for those who cannot, a recording can be obtained by writing to ruralopioidresponse@hrsa.gov. Impact of CMS Rule Changes on Rural GME – Tuesday, February 8 at 12:00 pm ET. In this one-hour webinar session, the FORHP-supported Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) -Technical Assistance Center will discuss several Medicare graduate medical education (GME) policy changes and the impact on health care workforce training in rural areas. (See Policy Updates above.) Registration is required. HRSA: Community Health Workers Expanding Services via Telehealth – Tuesday, February 8 at 12:00 pm ET. The four-part webinar series will focus on the role of Community Health Workers in team-based care in rural communities, how telehealth expands these services, and lessons learned in implementing these programs. Learn more about HRSA's Office for the Advancement of Telehealth at HRSA.gov. Enabling Dental Therapy Practice to Improve Access to Oral Health Services Webinar – Wednesday, February 9 at 2:00 pm ET. Join HRSA in a robust conversation ranging from origins of the workplace to training and practice to legislation and standardization. Long COVID ECHO Webinar Series – Thursday, February 10 at 3:00 pm ET. The Health Centers of San Diego, the ECHO Institute, University of Washington, and University of Colorado have collaborated to provide CDC-funded monthly webinar-style ECHO learning sessions to rapidly disseminate findings and best practices related to patients experiencing ongoing health challenges after COVID-19 infection, a condition generally known as "Long COVID." This is a monthly webinar series with sessions currently scheduled from February through June. Project ECHO began as an effort to support the management of patients with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in rural New Mexico, and has since been adapted to a number of other health conditions and settings. Resources of the Week Expanded Eligibility Allows More Rural Clinicians to Qualify for Loan Repayment. Recent funding increases make it much easier for rural clinicians to qualify for loan repayment programs under the National Health Service Corps. Hear details about the three loan repayment programs and the changes that expand eligibility during this 60-minute recording of a January 13 webinar. The deadline to apply is Thursday, February 3rd at 7:30 pm ET. The Rural Emergency Hospital (REH), a New Hospital Type – Wednesday, January 19 at 1:00 pm ET. In this recorded webinar from the Rural Health Information Hub, members of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services review their recent report on the new designation for hospitals that will provide 24-hour emergency services, but not inpatient care. Approaching Deadlines Comments Requested: Proposed Updates to Federal Health Insurance Exchanges – January 27 HRSA Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program – extended to January 27 HRSA Access to HIV Services for Women and Children – January 28 HRSA Rural Health Network Development Planning Program – January 28 HHS COVID-19 and Health Equity Impact Fellowship – extended to January 31 HHS Technology Challenge for Racial Equity in Postpartum Care – January 31 HRSA Centers of Excellence for Training Minorities in Health Professions – January 31 SAMHSA-American Psychiatric Association Diversity Leadership Fellowship – January 31 HRSA Leadership Education in Adolescent Health – February 1 Indian Health Service Behavioral Health Integration Initiative – February 2 Indian Health Service Domestic Violence Prevention Program – February 2 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 National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Programs – Extended to February 3 CDC Research to Prevent Firearm-Related Violence and Injuries – February 4 Comments Requested: NIH Draft Report on Priorities for Rural Telehealth – February 4 NTIA Request for Comment on Broadband Programs in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – February 4 RWJF Summer Health Professions Education Program for Underrepresented Minorities – February 5 HRSA Predoctoral Training in Public Health Dentistry and Dental Hygiene – February 7 SAMHSA Harm Reduction Program – February 7 VA Supportive Services for Veteran Families – February 7 USDA Farm and Food Worker Relief Grants – February 8 PCORI Funding for Broad Pragmatic Studies – Letters of Intent February 8 IHS Tribal Self-Governance Negotiation – February 10 IHS Tribal Self-Governance Planning – February 10 CDC Strengthening Infection Prevention – February 11 Rural Healthy People 2030 Survey – February 14 SAMHSA Grants for Rural Emergency Medical Services Training – February 14 CDC Public Health Associate Program Host Sites – February 18 CDC Evaluating Substance Use Prevention Incorporating ACEs Prevention – February 22 HRSA Mobile Health Training - Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention – February 22 USDA Rural eConnectivity Broadband Loan and Grant Program – February 22 DOL Employment Services for Homeless Vets – February 23 Comments Requested: Changes to Graduate Medical Education Payments – February 25 NIH Preventing Opioid Misuse by Intervening on Social Determinants – March 2 Comments Requested: 2023 Proposed Updates to Medicare Advantage (MA) and Prescription Drug Program – March 7 HRSA Rural Health and Economic Development Analysis Program – March 8 Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Behavioral Health Care Technical Assistance (RCORP-BHCTA) – March 9 CDC Rigorous Evaluation of Recovery Support Services – March 14 CDC Tribal Practices for Wellness in Indian Country – March 16 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Research Scholars Program – March 16 HRSA Rural Public Health Workforce Training Network Program – March 18 HRSA Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Program – March 21 ONC Seeks Public Input on Electronic Prior Authorization – Comment by March 25 Medicare-Funded Residency Slots – March 31 USDA Program for Women and Minorities in STEM Fields – March 31 FCC/USAC Rural Health Care Connect Fund – April 1 FCC/USAC Telecommunications Program – April 1 HRSA Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies Program – April 5 USDA Local Food Purchase Assistance Program – April 5 NIH Evaluating Pandemic-related Food/Housing Policies on Disparity Populations – April 7 DOT RAISE Grants for Transportation Infrastructure – April 14 HRSA Health Workforce Research Centers – April 14 USDA Rural Business Development: Technical Assistance for Rural Transportation Systems – April 14 HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) – Behavioral Health Care Support – April 19 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 Affordable Connectivity Program 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 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Seed Grants for Climate Change and Health – Quarterly through August 2023 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 Seeking Nominations for Migrant Health Advisory 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 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 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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