June 23, 2022 What's New HUD Commits $54.5 Million to Rural Housing and Social Supports. Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a broad, new initiative to connect individuals and families to housing, health care, and supportive services. Total funding of $322 million is a supplement to HUD's Continuum of Care (CoC) Program, with $43 million for incremental housing vouchers for at-risk households, and $54 million set aside for projects in rural areas. The Supplemental to Address Unsheltered and Rural Homelessness requires collaboration among housing authorities, health care organizations, and those that provide support for individuals and families facing issues that often lead to homelessness – such as domestic violence, youth trauma, and substance use disorder. HUD will hold a 90-minute Kick Off Webinar on Tuesday, June 28 at 2:30 pm ET. Next week, the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy will provide further details for rural health providers in a webinar on Thursday, June 30 at 2:00 pm ET. New Study: Trends in Access to Care among Rural Patients Served at HRSA-Funded Health Centers. Researchers found that rural patients seeking care at health centers funded by HRSA's Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) experienced lower unmet and delayed medical care and reported that that they were more likely to obtain a flu vaccine. At the same time, researchers identified decreases in Pap tests and mammogram screenings, and an increase in emergency department visits, indicating that health centers in rural areas may still face barriers to providing timely or accessible preventative services that would reduce their patients' need for acute medical care. Research findings highlight the importance of HRSA's continued investments to increase access to preventive and primary care services in rural areas. To read this article, and other articles about quality care delivered by health centers, visit BPHC's Health Center Library. Severe Weather Causing Serious Financial and Health Problems. A new poll asked U.S. adults about their experiences and found that 78 percent of those asked had recently experienced a severe weather event –tornado, hurricane or tropical storm, wildfire, major flooding, major drought, and severe cold/winter storms. More than half said that extreme heat was the most impactful weather in the last five years, and nearly a quarter of the survey respondents reported that climate change is threatening their health a great deal or a lot. The report is a joint project from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, National Public Radio, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. CDC Guidance on Monkeypox. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) alerted clinicians for signs and symptoms of the infection that, as of June 14, has appeared in 65 cases in the United States. No deaths have been reported globally from the current outbreak; for reporting purposes, the CDC clarifies criteria for suspected, probable, and confirmed cases that should be reported through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System. 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 COVID-19 Vaccines Available for Children Under 5. On Saturday, June 18, the federal committee that advises on all vaccines recommended that all children 6 months and older should receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Parents can reach out to their doctor, nurse, local pharmacy, health department, or visit vaccines.gov to learn more about vaccine safety and to find availability nearby. Guidance on COVID-19 Booster Shots. On May 19, 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 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. 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 Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program – August 15. To meet staffing needs, the Indian Health Service (IHS) offers to repay educational loans in exchange for two years of service in a full-time clinical practice at an IHS facility. Opportunities are based on staffing needs and the availability of funds. Eligible applicants must have a health profession degree or be in the final year of academic/post-graduate clinical training. 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. Social and Emotional Support during the COVID-19 Pandemic by Sexual Orientation and Rurality. Rural residents face distinct risks for social isolation and loneliness, as do lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults. This policy brief from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center examines nationally representative data on social and emotional supports during the COVID-19 pandemic by rurality and sexual orientation. Non-Metropolitan and Metropolitan Trends in Mental Health Treatment Availability in Community Health and Community Mental Health Centers. For this brief, HRSA provided historical data for community mental health centers (CMHCs) and community health centers (CHCs) – two types of federally funded sites that provide mental health care. Researchers at the Rural and Underserved Research Center found that the supply of CMHCs decreased substantially from 2000 to 2019 in non-metropolitan counties. However, the supply of CHCs offering mental health services increased substantially over the same time period. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. CMS Proposes Home Health Policies and Payment Updates for 2023 – Comment by August 16. Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule to update the rates and policies for the Home Health Prospective Payment System (PPS). CMS is also soliciting comments on the collection of telehealth data for these claims to analyze the characteristics of the beneficiaries using remote services. CMS Proposes ESRD Policies and Payment Updates for 2023 – Comment by August 27. Earlier this week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule to update payment rates and policies under the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS). Once finalized, the new rule would affect renal dialysis services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries on or after January 1, 2023. CMS projects that the updates would increase the total payments to all ESRD facilities by 3.1% over payments for calendar year 2022. For rural ESRD facilities, CMS projects an increase in total payments of 2.3 percent, and for urban facilities, CMS projects an increase in total payments of 3.2 percent. Learning Events and Technical Assistance Project ECHO Distance Training for Providers of Pediatric Dentistry – Friday, June 24 at 1:00 pm ET. Community providers will get expert knowledge in a virtual learning network with the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry. The online meetings are held on the 4th Friday of each month. Some upcoming topics: caries risk assessment, vaping and dental treatment for patients with special health care needs. COVID Medical Homes for Rural Health Clinics – Tuesday, June 28 at 2:00 pm ET. In an hour-long presentation, Learn how COVID medical homes can provide infrastructure for COVID-19-related education, prevention, testing, confidence, vaccine distribution, and mitigation strategies for Rural Health Clinics. BPC: Stabilizing Rural Health Care – Wednesday, June 29 at 1:00 pm ET. The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) is a think tank combining ideas and solutions from both of the two major political parties. This hour-long event will discuss BPC's report, The Impact of COVID-19 on the Rural Health Care Landscape, that includes recommendations for stabilizing rural health care and an examination of the Rural Emergency Hospital model. HRSA's Primary Care Innovation Challenge – Wednesday, June 29 at 3:00 pm ET. A total of $1 million in cash prizes is offered for low-cost, scalable solutions for improving access to primary care and social services. This information session will walk through judging criteria, submission requirements, timeline, and prize structure. Resource of the Week Telehealth for LGBTQ+ Patients. Telehealth appointments are a safe, convenient way for LGBTQ+ patients to access health care. They can also be a necessary lifeline for patients who do not have LGBTQ+ affirming health care available nearby. Approaching Deadlines ACF Demonstration Grants for Human Trafficking in Native Communities – June 25 Comments Requested: CMS Proposes Updates to Medicare Enrollment and Eligibility Rules – June 27 Comment on NQF Updates to Key Measures of Rural Health Quality – 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 Pacific Public Health Fellowship 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 HRSA Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program – July 7 ACF Regional Partnerships for Children/Families Affected by Substance Abuse - July 8 ACL Local Models for National Community Care Corps – July 8 CDC Social Determinants of Health Accelerator Plans - July 8 DOL Appalachian/Delta Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities – July 8 ACF Community Economic Development Projects – July 11 GAO Requests Nominations for Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee – Deadline July 11 HHS Reducing Maternal Deaths Due to Substance Use Disorder – July 11 USDA Rural Housing Preservation Grants – July 11 USDA Delta Health Care Services Grant Program – July 12 USDA Tribal Colleges Research Grants – July 13 SAMHSA Recovery Innovation Challenge – July 15 IHS Addressing Dementia in Indian Country: Models of Care – July 18 SAMHSA State Opioid Response Grants – July 18 SAMHSA Partnerships for Innovative Community Crisis Response – July 25 HRSA Rural Emergency Hospital Technical Assistance Center – July 27 CMS Minority Research Grant Program – July 28 HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program - Medication-Assisted Treatment Access – July 29 HRSA Primary Health Care Innovation Challenge – August 2 Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program – August 15 NIH Researching Social Connectedness for SUD Treatment – August 15 Comments Requested: CMS Home Health Policies and Payment Updates for 2023 – August 16 Comments Requested: CMS ESRD Policies and Payment Updates for 2023 – August 27 NTIA Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure – September 30 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 VA Rapid Retraining Assistance Program – December 2022 or Until Funds Run Out 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 Treasury Department Opportunity Zone Economic Development Program 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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