May 26, 2022 What's New Preparing for Medicaid/CHIP Unwinding. In March 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) temporarily waived certain eligibility requirements for Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to help people keep their health coverage during the pandemic. However, with the public health emergency ending, states will soon be required to restart eligibility reviews for this public health insurance covering more than 83 million beneficiaries of Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Plan. Nearly a quarter of individuals under age 65 who live in rural areas are covered by Medicaid. When the eligibility waivers end, some estimates count up to 15 million people will lose their coverage through a process called "unwinding." To help states prepare for the change, CMS will host a monthly learning series from May through October of this year. The Communications Toolkit, linked in the headline above, has information to help beneficiaries understand the steps to renew their coverage. White House and HRSA on Test-to-Treat for COVID-19 - Wednesday, June 1 at 2:00 pm ET. HRSA invites you to join a webinar to share the White House's call to action around Test-to-Treat as a strategy to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. The webinar will feature HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson and White House COVID-19 Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha as well as a moderated panel exploring safety-net provider perspectives. If you prefer to join by phone: 833-568-8864; Webinar ID: 161 896 3980. The Implications of Long COVID for Rural Communities. Researchers from the Center for Rural Health Research at East Tennessee State University report that higher rates of infection and lagging vaccinations mean that the lingering effects, now called long COVID, are likely to have a disproportionate effect on rural communities. While symptoms and severity of long COVID can range from mild to severe, the potential impact on mental health, social function, and the ability to keep working can be substantial. Watch a presentation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on evaluating and supporting patients with cognitive symptoms following COVID. Updated Chartbook Focuses on Rural Border Health. With facts and figures about health status, behavioral risk factors, mortality, and access to care, the resource aims to inform rural health policy for four states – Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas – along the U.S. southern border. The chartbook is a collaboration between the FORHP-supported Rural & Minority Health Research Center and the National Rural Health Association. Answer the call: 988 Lifeline Suicide & Crisis Network Jobs. On July 16, 2022, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) will transition to an easy-to-remember, 3-digit number (988). To strengthen and expand the existing network of over 200 locally operated and funded crisis centers across the country, the Lifeline suicide & crisis network is looking to bring on new volunteers and paid employees to receive training to answer calls, chats, and texts from people in crisis. Since 1999, suicide rates in rural areas have been consistently higher than those in metropolitan areas. Updated Guidance on COVID-19 Booster Shots. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recommended a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 who completed their primary vaccination more than five months ago. The booster shot is 10 micrograms, the same dosage as the primary series for this age group. The CDC also strengthened its recommendation that those 12 and older who are immunocompromised and those 50 and older should receive a second booster dose at least four months after their first. Visit COVID.gov to find nearby locations for masks, testing, vaccines, and treatment. CMS Advancing Rural Maternal Health Equity. The Office of Minority Health at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provides a high-level summary of its Rural Maternal Health Initiative implemented between June 2019 and November 2021. The effort comes from the CMS Rural Health initiative, established in 2016 to meet the needs specific to these areas. Heat-Related Illness: Know the Signs. As temperatures rise, the newly formed federal Office of Climate Change and Health Equity is tracking areas of the country expected to experience a high number of extremely hot days over the next few months. The health impacts of a heat wave like the one that hit states in the Northwest last summer, go beyond dehydration and heat stroke to include: increased hospitalizations for heart disease, worsening asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and even an increase in violence, crime, and suicide. Last month, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services awarded $385 million to help households lower cooling and heating costs. Learn more online about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. 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 Provider Relief Fund. HRSA supports health care providers facing solvency challenges that affect their ability to respond to emerging health crises in an equitable manner. New: the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services updated the state-by-state table of rural payments from the American Rescue Plan (ARP), as well as the ARP rural public data set reflecting payments to providers and suppliers serving rural Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Medicare beneficiaries from January 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020. 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 HRSA Rural Northern Border Region Healthcare Support Program – July 1. HRSA will make one award of up to $1,800,000 for the Rural Northern Border Region Healthcare Support Program. The successful applicant will provide technical assistance – enhancing access to care, behavioral health, clinician recruitment/retention – to rural health care providers in the region of the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC). The program grantee will also assist rural hospitals and clinics taking part in health care value efforts. Eligible applicants include state, local, and tribal governments and organizations, independent school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations. SAMHSA Recovery Innovation Challenge – July 15. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will make up to ten awards with a total of $400,000 in cash prizes. The challenge seeks innovative practices developed by individuals, groups, and organizations or within state systems that advanced recovery in the decade since SAMHSA established its working definition of recovery. SAMHSA is seeking to use the challenge vehicle to directly engage with a larger and more diverse number of organizations providing recovery services throughout the continuum of care for behavioral health. SAMHSA State Opioid Response Grants – July 18. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will make 59 awards with total funding of $1.5 billion for a two-year project to support prevention, treatment, and recovery services for opioid use disorder. Eligibility is limited to Single State Agencies and territories. FEMA/SAMHSA Post-Disaster Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program – Ongoing. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides grants and technical assistance to help communities recover from natural and human-caused disasters through community outreach and access to mental health services. Eligible applicants include state, territory, and tribal mental health authorities. 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. Racial/Ethnic Differences in Adverse and Positive Childhood Experiences Across Rural Communities. This study from the Rural and Minority Health Research Center examined whether adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and positive childhood experiences (PCEs) varied by race/ethnicity among rural children. Among the findings: there were higher rates of four or more ACEs among racial/ethnic minority children living in rural areas; Asian/Pacific Islander rural children had the highest rates of three out of six ACEs: parental death, witnessing neighborhood violence, and economic hardship. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. HRSA Publishes Criteria for Determining Maternity Care Health Professional Target Areas. On May 19, HRSA finalized the criteria to identify Maternity Care Target Areas (MCTA). MCTAs are geographic areas within health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) that have a shortage of maternity care health professionals, for the purpose of providing maternity health care assistance to such health professional shortage areas. As of 2017, 59 percent of HPSAs were in rural areas. Learning Events and Technical Assistance White House Weekly Rural Stakeholders Call – Thursday, May 26 at 3:00 pm ET. On this week's call, the White House Office of Public Engagement will be joined by Department of the Interior Senior Advisor and Infrastructure Coordinator Winnie Stachelberg who will provide an overview of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Abandoned Mine Land Grant Program. There will also be an update on Operation Fly Formula, an effort launched to speed up the import of infant formula to address the supply shortage. AgriSafe: QPR Mental Health for Farmers and Farm Families – Each Thursday in May. Over the last decade, farmers and farm families have experienced increasing pressures resulting in high levels of stress, mental health, and suicide. QPR training teaches laypeople and professionals to recognize and respond to mental health crises using the approach of Question, Persuade, and Refer. White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, & Health: Regional Listening Sessions – Various Dates June 1 – 13. Virtual listening sessions will happen by region, allowing the public to share ideas and experiences with hunger-related disease. The feedback will inform a White House Conference on Hunger to be held in September. HRSA-NETRC: Enhancing Pediatric Behavioral Health – Tuesday, June 7 at 12:00 pm ET. HRSA Region 1 and the Northeast Telehealth Resource Center (NETRC) will focus on leading programs in the New England area for advancing mental health of pregnant and postpartum women. HIV Prevention and Treatment for People Who Use Drugs – Tuesday, June 7 at 2:00 pm ET. Continuing Medical Education credits are provided for those attending this hour-long webinar on challenges and best practices, including screening, testing, and pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis medications. Building Rural Recovery Ecosystems Summit – June 8-10. Registration is now open for the upcoming Summit that will take place over two days in Memphis, TN. The event will bring together rural recovery housing operators, owners, and other rural recovery champions to learn about the latest innovations and best practices that will expand the capacity and effectiveness of recovery housing in rural America. This event is supported by the Fletcher Group, one of three FORHP-funded RCORP-Rural Centers of Excellence on Substance Use Disorders. Resources of the Week Best Practice Guide on Telehealth for Rural Areas. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services recently posted the guide on Telehealth.HHS.Gov. Strategy for developing a rural telehealth program includes how to get started, developing a telehealth workflow, billing, preparing patients for a new way to get health care, and gaining access to internet. New Playbook for Building Healthy Rural Places. The national nonprofit Build Healthy Places Network (BHPN) created an action-oriented guide to investment models for health care partnerships with local community and economic development sectors in rural areas. After interviewing dozens of experts, BHPN shares case studies from all over the country highlighting core strategies used by rural healthcare entities as examples for future multi-sector partnerships to follow. Approaching Deadlines 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 SAMHSA Building Communities of Recovery – June 3 Delta Regional Authority States Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP) – June 5 CDC Expansion of Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Across the U.S. – June 6 USDA Higher Education Challenge Grants – June 6 New Sites for National Health Service Corps – extended to June 7 Apply to Provide Technical Assistance for Rural Health Workforce Training – June 8 Comment Requested: Updates to Medicare Policies and Rates for Skilled Nursing Facilities – June 10 HRSA Rural Behavioral Health Workforce Centers – Northern Border Region – June 10 DOJ Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-Based Program – June 13 SAMHSA Strategic Prevention Framework for SUD/Partnerships for Success - June 13 HRSA Community Health Worker Training Program – June 14 SAMHSA Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Regional Centers – June 14 Comments Requested: CMS Proposes Medicare Inpatient Hospital Payment Rules – June 17 Comments Requested: CMS Proposes "Birthing-Friendly" Hospital Designation – June 17 CMS Requests Information on Issues of Health Equity – June 17 Department of Interior Indian Business Incubator Grants – June 17 HRSA Delta Region Rural Health Workforce Training Program – June 17 IHS Ending the HIV/HCV Epidemics in Indian Country – June 17 DOJ Second Chance Act Pay for Success Initiative – June 21 NIH Practice-Based Research for Primary Care Suicide Prevention – June 21 ACF Demonstration Grants for Human Trafficking in Native Communities – June 25 Comments Requested: CMS Proposes Updates to Medicare Enrollment and Eligibility Rules – June 27 DOI Native American Business Development Institute – June 27 DOJ Alaska Native Youth Training and Technical Assistance - June 27 SAMHSA Tribal Opioid Response Grants – June 27 HUD Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program – June 28 HRSA Faculty Loan Repayment Program – June 30 USDA: The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program - Produce Prescription Program – June 30 HRSA Rural Northern Border Region Healthcare Support Program – July 1 Indian Health Service Coordinating Center for Zero Suicide Initiative – July 6 NIH Cancer Control Research in Persistent Poverty Areas – July 6 ACF Regional Partnerships for Children/Families Affected by Substance Abuse - July 8 CDC Social Determinants of Health Accelerator Plans - July 8 DOL Appalachian/Delta Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities – July 8 SAMHSA Recovery Innovation Challenge – July 15 SAMHSA State Opioid Response Grants – July 18 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 SAMHSA 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Volunteer and Job Opportunities ACF Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program AgriSafe Mental Health Training for Agricultural Producers & Families AgriSafe Nurse Scholar Program – March 2023 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 Post-Disaster Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program 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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