April 7, 2022 Provider Relief Fund - Request to Report Late Due to Extenuating Circumstances. HRSA has established a process that accounts for extenuating circumstances that may have prevented providers from submitting a completed Provider Relief Fund report. From Monday, April 11 to Friday, April 22, 2022 at 11:59 pm ET, providers will have the opportunity to submit a request for Reporting Period 1 reports. Medicare Covers Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Tests. Starting April 4, 2022 through the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), Medicare will cover up to eight over-the-counter COVID-19 tests each calendar month at no cost to beneficiaries. Beneficiaries can get over-the-counter COVID-19 tests at any pharmacy or health care provider that participates in this initiative. HRSA March News Round-Up. In March, HRSA recognized the anniversaries of the American Rescue Plan, Affordable Care Act, and Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program, worked to implement President Biden's National Mental Health Strategy, promoted access to gender affirming care and treatment, and distributed an additional $413 million in Provider Relief Fund payments. HHS Brings Focus to Climate Change and Health Equity. In an open access article in the New England Journal of Medicine, top officials at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) describe the rationale and approach for a newfound focus on climate change. The effort began with an executive order in January 2021 that created the new Office of Climate Change and Health Equity, charged with acting on health threats caused by extreme weather and prioritizing vulnerable populations. According to the Fourth National Climate Assessment, increasingly severe events – rising temperatures, fire, flooding, land erosion – will affect every region of the country and have an outsized impact on rural residents and economies. GAO Recommends Assessing Impact of Telehealth on Quality of Care in Medicaid. Last week, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released findings from five selected states showing a sharp increase in services delivered via telehealth to Medicaid beneficiaries following from the COVID-19 pandemic. From March 2020 through February 2021, 32.5 million services were delivered via telehealth to about 4.9 million beneficiaries in the five states, compared with 2.1 million services to about 455,000 beneficiaries in the 12 months prior to the pandemic. The study looks at telehealth utilization in both urban and rural areas. 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 $1.2 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 One Stop Online for COVID Prevention and Treatment in Every County. Visitors to the site can enter their county and map nearby locations for masks, respirators, vaccines, boosters, and all testing and treatment options. Spread the Word About Vaccine Boosters. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) provides resources – posters, flyers, videos, and talking points – to help promote the extra protection from COVID-19 boosters. 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. Teams of critical care clinicians - critical care physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other specialized clinical experts – 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. Online Resource for Licensure of Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Psychologists and Social Workers. The site provides up-to-date information on emergency regulation and licensing in each state. 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. Webinar recordings explaining RHC vaccine programs are available on the National Association of Rural Health Clinics website. Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Resources for COVID-19. A set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) from our grantees and stakeholders. 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 ACF Social and Economic Development Strategies for Tribes – April 19. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will invest up to $400,000 per year for each of 48 projects that promote economic and self-sufficiency for Native American communities. Eligible applicants include tribes, tribal consortia, public and private native-serving organizations in the United States and its territories. Gilead COMPASS Initiative Transformative Grants for HIV Care – May 2. The funding helps organizations in the southern United States to build capacity for high quality and accessible HIV education and care. Priority is given to nonprofit organizations located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. EPA Hazardous Waste Management Grants for Tribes – May 12. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will make five awards of up to $100,000 each to address hazardous waste management on tribal lands. Eligible applicants are federally-recognized tribes and tribal consortia. Great Plains Grants for Agricultural Health/Community Outreach - May 13. This opportunity provides funding for community-based nonprofit organizations that are working to prevent agricultural injury and illness through training and educational campaigns. Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations and state, local, or tribal governments in Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin. HRSA Transforming Pediatrics for Early Childhood – May 23. HRSA will invest $4 million for up to four cooperative agreements. The program will establish resource hubs supporting the placement of childhood development experts into pediatric practices, with a focus on Patient-Centered Medical Homes and similar settings. Priority service will be to young children (prenatal through five years old) and their families who are underinsured, eligible for Medicaid, or eligible for the Children's Health Insurance Program. SAMHSA Providers' Clinical Support System – Universities – May 27. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will fund six projects for up to $245,000 per year for graduate-level education for students in health professions that treat and prescribe medications for opioid use disorder. Eligible applicants are public or private schools for medical, physician assistant, or nursing; minority-serving educational institutions; consortia of tribes and/or tribal organizations. 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. Rural Hospital Administrators' Beliefs About Safety, Financial Viability, and Community Need for Offering Obstetric Care. This study, published in JAMA Health Forum, offers results from a national survey of a sample of 292 rural hospitals that provided obstetric services in 2021. Obstetric unit administrators shared about their experiences, the challenges they face, and the decisions that factor into providing labor and birth care for their rural communities. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. CMS Proposes Updates for Psychiatric Facilities – Comment by May 31. This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a proposed update to the prospective payment rates, the outlier threshold, and the wage index for Medicare hospital services provided by Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities (IPF), which include psychiatric hospitals and certain psychiatric units at acute care hospitals and critical access hospitals. Compared to payments in 2022, total payments to IPFs are estimated to increase by 1.4 percent for urban facilities and 1.7 percent for rural facilities in FY 2023. CMS Proposes Updates for Rehabilitation Facilities – Comment by May 31. Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule that would update Medicare payment policies and rates under the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) Prospective Payment System and the IRF Quality Reporting Program for fiscal year (FY) 2023. IRF payments per discharge are estimated to increase by 2.0 percent in urban areas and 1.8 percent in rural areas, compared with estimated FY 2022 payments. Additionally, CMS is soliciting comments on the methodology used to update the IRF facility level adjustments (specifically, the rural, low-income, and teaching status adjustments). CMS Proposes Updates for Hospice – Comment by May 31. On Monday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a proposed rule that would update the hospice wage index, payment rates, and aggregate cap amount for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. CMS estimates that hospices in urban areas will experience, on average, a 2.7 percent increase in estimated payments compared to FY 2022; while hospices in rural areas will experience, on average, a 2.6 percent increase in estimated payments compared to FY 2022. CMS Announces 2023 Rates for Medicare Advantage and Part D. This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)released the Announcement of Calendar Year (CY) 2023 Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies (the Rate Announcement). In the CY 2023 MA and Part D Advance Notice, CMS solicited comments on a variety of topics, including seeking input on promoting health equity in Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. Learning Events and Technical Assistance New Initiative to Improve Pediatric Care in EDs – Friday, April 8 at 2:00 pm ET. The National Pediatric Readiness Quality Initiative (NPRQI), a free, open-access quality improvement platform, is the implementation arm of the National Pediatric Readiness Project. Over 80% of children (24 million/year) are seen in general emergency departments (EDs) located in rural and community settings. Funded by Emergency Medical Services for Children, part of HRSA's Maternal Child Health Bureau, NPRQI was created to support low-resourced EDs in implementing quality improvement efforts targeting pediatric emergency care delivery. Impact of CMS Rule Changes on Rural GME, Part III: A Deeper Dive into Section 131 – Tuesday, April 12 at 12:00 pm ET. In this one-hour webinar session, the FORHP-supported Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) -Technical Assistance Center will continue to share information about Medicare graduate medical education (GME) policy changes on a one-time opportunity to test low FTE resident caps and low or zero per resident amounts that may impact rural hospitals who plan to train physicians in Medicare-supported residency programs. This webinar is the third in a series on recent Medicare GME policy changes to expand physician training in hospitals serving rural and underserved communities (view previously recorded Part I and Part II). CDC Bootcamp for STI Guidelines – Wednesday, April 13. HRSA's Bureau of Primary Health Care hosts Dr. Laura Bachman of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The hour-long session will cover recent trends in sexually transmitted infection (STI), with an emphasis on syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. Studies have shown higher rates of STI-related behaviors in rural areas, but also barriers to treatment that lead to negative health outcomes. For Rural Facilities: How to Become a National Health Service Corps Site – Wednesday, April 13 at 3:00pm ET. Facilities that provide outpatient, ambulatory, and primary health care services in high-need areas may apply through May 10 to become an approved site of the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). Eligible site types include facilities providing substance use disorder treatment, and facilities with prior NHSC status that is currently inactive. During this hour-long session hosted by the Rural Health Information Hub, federal and national experts will discuss the importance of this program for clinician recruitment and retention in rural areas. For general application assistance, HRSA's Bureau of Health Workforce will hold two upcoming Q&A sessions for applicants: one on Thursday, April 14 and another on Wednesday, April 27. Assistance for Nurse Corps Scholarship Applicants – Thursday, April 14 at 3:00 pm ET. HRSA's Bureau of Health Workforce supports eligible nursing students with tuition, fees, and other educational costs in return for a minimum of two years' service at a critical shortage facility in rural and underserved areas. Program experts will answer questions about what goes into a successful application during this 90-minute webinar. Long COVID ECHO Webinar Series – Thursday, April 14 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 (pdf) began as an effort to support the management of patients with the hepatitis C virus in rural New Mexico, and has since been adapted to a number of other health conditions and settings. CMS April Public Webinars on Rural Health Quality – Wednesday, April 20 at 3:00 pm ET. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is hosting an upcoming webinar: "Rural Health Quality: How CMS Initiatives Improve How We Measure and Address Gaps in Care." This presentation will highlight the unique challenges surrounding quality measurement in rural settings, and how CMS is working to address these issues to ensure equitable care is provided to all Americans regardless of where they reside. CMS will host this presentation again on Thursday, April 21 at 12:00 pm ET and requests registration in advance, as space will be limited. If you have questions on how measurement can support rural health quality that you would like addressed during the presentation, please contact MMSSupport@battelle.org. National Telehealth Conference – May 16 & 17. Register now to join HRSA for the inaugural event. Experts and leaders in the field will examine the evolution of telehealth, discuss its place in an integrated health care delivery model, and review the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic to inform the future of telehealth. National Rural Substance Use Disorder Health Equity and Stigma Summit – May 18-20. Registration is open. The event will focus on the challenges that are brought on by substance use disorder (SUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD) and equip rural providers, community-based organizations, and other recovery champions with actionable strategies and information on how to successfully address barriers to those seeking SUD/OUD care. This event is supported by the University of Rochester RCOE, one of three FORHP-funded RCORP-Rural Centers of Excellence on Substance Use Disorders. Resource of the Week Billing for Telehealth Encounters: An Introductory Guide on Fee-for-Service. In this guide, the HRSA-supported Center for Connected Health Policy presents an overview of how to bill fee-for-service Medicare and Medicaid for telehealth encounters, including information on originating and distant sites, virtual healthcare, and coding telehealth services. Approaching Deadlines DOJ Rural Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Assistance Program – April 7 NIH Evaluating Pandemic-related Food/Housing Policies on Disparity Populations – April 7 HRSA State Loan Repayment Program – April 8 Comments Requested: CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids – April 11 CDC Drug Free Communities New Areas – April 11 NQF Core Set of Rural Health Measures – April 12 Fuel Up to Play 60: School Funding for Healthy Eating and Physical Activity – April 13 DOT RAISE Grants for Transportation Infrastructure – April 14 FCC Requests Comments on Promoting Telehealth in Rural America – April 14 HRSA Health Workforce Research Centers – April 14 USDA Rural Business Development: Technical Assistance for Rural Transportation Systems – April 14 ACF Early Childhood Home Visiting Program for Tribal Communities – April 15 ACF Social and Economic Development Strategies for Tribal Communities – April 15 ED Small Rural School Achievement Grants – April 15 Request for Information: Access to Care and Coverage for People Enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP – April 18 ACF Social and Economic Development Strategies for Tribes – April 19 DOJ Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program – April 19 HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) – Behavioral Health Care Support – April 19 USDA Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) – April 19 USDA Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grants – April 19 National Center for American Indian Health Professions Pre-Admissions Workshops – April 20 DOJ Grants for Culturally Specific Sexual Assault Services – April 21 CMS Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Realizing Equity, Access, and Community Health (REACH) Model – April 22 NOSORH Rural Health Data Institute – April 22 IHS Tribal Management Grant Program – April 25 SAMHSA Strategic Prevention Framework for Prescription Drugs – April 25 SAMSHA Medication Assisted Treatment – Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction – April 29 SAMHSA SUD Treatment for Minority Populations at High Risk for HIV/AIDS – April 29 USDA Rural Health and Safety Education Grants Program – April 29 Gilead COMPASS Initiative Transformative Grants for HIV Care – May 2 SAMHSA Navigator Program for SUD/HIV Prevention for Minorities – May 2 ACL Elder Justice Innovation Grants for Cases Involving Opioids/SUD – May 3 HRSA Nurse Corps Scholarship Program – May 5 National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program – May 5 DOL Employment and Training Grants for Native Americans – May 6 NIH Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health – May 8 SAMHSA Grants for Substance Use Treatment Capacity in Drug Courts – May 9 New Sites for National Health Service Corps – May 10 EPA Hazardous Waste Management Grants for Tribes – May 12 Great Plains Grants for Agricultural Health/Community Outreach - May 13 AACOM Osteopathic Health Policy Fellowship – May 15 DOJ Adult Drug Court Discretionary Grants – May 20 EPA Tribal Environmental Justice Small Grants – May 20 NIH Research to Improve Native American Health – May 17 HRSA Transforming Pediatrics for Early Childhood – May 23 USDA Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grants – May 23 SAMHSA Providers' Clinical Support System – Universities – May 27 Comments Requested: CMS Proposes Updates for Hospice – May 31 Comments Requested: CMS Proposes Updates for Psychiatric Facilities – May 31 Comments Requested: CMS Proposes Updates for Rehabilitation Facilities – May 31 DOT Bus and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Program – May 31 HRSA Public Health Scholarship Program – June 1 NIH Practice-Based Research for Primary Care Suicide Prevention – June 21 NIH Cancer Control Research in Persistent Poverty Areas – July 6 Ongoing Opportunities CFPB Rental Assistance Finder Extended Public Comment Period for FCC's COVID-19 Telehealth Program FCC Affordable Connectivity Program for Broadband Service FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance HRSA Payment Program for Buprenorphine-Trained Clinicians – Until Funds Run Out AgriSafe Nurse Scholar Program 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 Host Sites for National Environmental Public Health Internship NIH Project Talk Initiative Host Site Applications 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 Practice-Based Research for Primary Care Suicide Prevention – February 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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