May 5, 2022 What's New Apply to Provide Technical Assistance for Rural Health Workforce Training by June 8. In response to pandemic-related workforce shortages, HRSA will make one award to strengthen training and certification programs in the following support roles for health care in rural areas: community health workers, health IT and/or telehealth technical support, community para-medicine and case management staff, and respiratory therapists. Eligible applicants are public and private, nonprofit entities that can assist networks formed by HRSA's Rural Public Health Workforce Network Training Program. To learn more about the program and application requirements, join a call with program staff today, Thursday, May 5th at 1:00 pm ET. County Health Rankings for 2022. The annual ranking of health for nearly every county in the nation takes a closer look at four specific social determinants that impact health outcomes: living wage, gender pay gap, childcare cost burden, and school funding adequacy. References to rural areas throughout the report highlight major geographic disparities before and after the pandemic. COGME Reports on Strengthening Rural Health Workforce. The Council on Graduate Medical Education, COGME, provides ongoing assessment of physician workforce trends and makes recommendations to federal policymakers. In this new report, COGME focuses on gaps in rural health care and makes six recommendations for federal policy and investment, including programs such as the National Health Service Corps, Rural Residency Planning and Development, and other training programs funded by HRSA. Evaluating the Million Hearts Model. In 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the Million Hearts Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Model. Designed by the CMS Innovation Center to test if health care costs could be lowered by prevention, the program called on participants to reduce the incidence of first-time heart attacks and strokes among Medicare beneficiaries. A little more than a third (36 percent) of the original participants – primary care and specialty practices, health centers, and hospitals – were rural providers. While this report only evaluates the first four years of a five-year program, results show improved preventive care for cardiovascular disease. HRSA News Round-Up for April. In case you missed it, HRSA announced investments to: support community-based doulas; strengthen home visiting supports for parents, infants, and children; expand investments in state responses to the maternal mortality crisis; launch the largest investment ever made in Community Health Worker training; and build new data tools to reduce health disparities through health centers. 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 New: CDC on Supporting Patients with Post-COVID Symptoms. On its weekly Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) call, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will discuss the wide range of health consequences that are present four or more weeks after infection. 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. 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 Apply to Become a New Site for the NHSC – Deadline extended to June 7. Eligible rural health care facilities can expand clinician recruitment by applying to become an approved site for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). Eligibility includes health care sites providing outpatient, ambulatory and primary health care services (medical, dental, and behavioral health) in high-need areas, including rural communities. Eligible site types also include facilities providing general substance use disorder treatment or an opioid treatment program. ACF Demonstration Grants for Human Trafficking in Native Communities – June 25. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will support culturally appropriate services for victims of severe forms of human trafficking. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, states, Tribes, and local governments that may receive up to $333,333 per year for a five year project. DOI Native American Business Development Institute – June 27. The U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) will make 20-35 awards of up to $75,000 each to conduct feasibility studies and form business plans for economic development. Eligible applicants include federally recognized tribes listed as entities recognized by and eligible to receive services from the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs. SAMHSA Tribal Opioid Response Grants – June 27. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration ( SAMHSA) will make 150 awards with total funding of $55 million. The funding is meant to support culturally appropriate prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support services for opioid use disorder. Indian Health Service Coordinating Center for Zero Suicide Initiative – July 6. The Indian Health Service will award one cooperative agreement to a tribe or tribal organization to establish a Zero Suicide Initiative Coordinating Center. The Center will provide Zero Suicide Initiative grantees with technical assistance in the areas of data collection, reporting, training, resources, and implementation. DOL Appalachian/Delta Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities – July 8. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) will make 30 awards of up to $1.5 million each for career training and support services. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to: state, local, and Tribal governments; public housing and education entities; and labor organizations or labor-management partnerships. Applicants do not need to be located within the service area as long as projects benefit people within the federal Appalachian Regional Commission and/or Delta Regional Authority. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. CMS Issues New Policies for MA and Part D Plans. Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D prescription drug programs. The final rule makes a number of changes, including rural-relevant provisions to support network adequacy. Network adequacy standards, requirements for health plans' provider networks, can support access to care in rural areas. In this rule, CMS is requiring that MA applicants demonstrate they have a sufficient network of contracted providers to care for beneficiaries before CMS will approve an application for a new or expanded MA contract. CMS Announces Health Insurance Marketplace Policies for 2023. Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)issued the Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2023 Final Rule to finalize standards for issuers and Marketplaces, as well as requirements for agents, brokers, web-brokers, and issuers assisting consumers with enrollment through Marketplaces that use the federal platform. The final rule includes policies pertaining to plan options, network adequacy, health equity, risk adjustment, and consumer experience. Recent rural-centric research on health insurance marketplaces is available on the Rural Health Research Gateway. Learning Events and Technical Assistance 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. HRSA Telehealth Learning Series: Tele-mentoring for the Health Workforce – Monday, May 9 at 3:00 pm ET. This session features details on several programs providing remote training for health workers delivering specialized care for opioid use disorder, dementia, and dentistry. CMS Rural Health Strategy Listening Sessions – Various Dates May 10-19. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is hosting public, virtual listening sessions for each CMS region to get feedback on its current Rural Health Strategy (PDF) . HRSA Funding Opportunities for Nurses and Nursing Students – Thursday, May 12 at 3:00 pm. HRSA's Bureau of Health Workforce will hold a two-hour session to discuss benefits of each program and eligibility requirements for training grants, student loans, scholarship programs, and loan repayment programs. Long COVID ECHO Webinar Series – Thursday, May 12 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. 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. 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 Medicaid Coverage of Community Health Worker Services. An issue brief from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission provides an overview of the positive impact that community health workers (CHW) have on health outcomes and costs and discusses state approaches to covering CHW services through Medicaid. Learn more about starting and sustaining a CHW program on the Rural Health Information Hub. Sign Up for the News from the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth for the latest in policy, best practices, funding opportunities, research and more. Approaching Deadlines 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 DOJ Tribal Victims Set-Aside Formula Program – May 11 EPA Hazardous Waste Management Grants for Tribes – May 12 ACL Native American Justice Initiative – May 13 Denali Commission Grants for Rural Development in Alaska – May 13 Great Plains Grants for Agricultural Health/Community Outreach - May 13 AACOM Osteopathic Health Policy Fellowship – May 15 RWJF/USDA Food and Health Research Using Consumer Food Data System – Letters of Intent May 16 NIH Research to Improve Native American Health – May 17 SAMHSA Certified Behavioral Health Clinics – Planning, Development, and Implementation Grants – May 17 SAMHSA Certified Behavioral Health Clinics – Improvement and Advancement – May 17 Comments Requested: New Questions for Census Survey – May 18 DOJ Violence Against Women Grants to Tribal Governments – May 19 DOJ Adult Drug Court Discretionary Grants – May 20 EPA Tribal Environmental Justice Small Grants – May 20 DOJ Mentoring for Youth Affected by Drug Misuse – May 23 HRSA Transforming Pediatrics for Early Childhood – May 23 USDA Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grants – May 23 DOT Public Transportation on Indian Reservations – May 25 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 Rural Public Health Workforce Training Network Technical Assistance Program – 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 SAMHSA Tribal Opioid Response Grants – June 27 HUD Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program – June 28 Indian Health Service Coordinating Center for Zero Suicide Initiative – July 6 NIH Cancer Control Research in Persistent Poverty Areas – July 6 DOL Appalachian/Delta Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities – July 8 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 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 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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