July 21, 2022 What's New U.S. Overdose Deaths Hit Record During First Year of Pandemic. The latest count from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) went up to 93,000 deaths in 2020, an increase of 29 percent over the previous year. Disparities between different population groups widened: black people 15-24 years old experienced the largest rate increase, 86 percent, seven times that of white men in the same age group; overdose rates for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women 25-44 years were nearly two-times that of white women. Surprisingly, overdose rates in 2020 were higher in areas with higher availability in opioid treatment programs, particularly among black and AI/AN people. The known differences in access, barriers to care, and health care mistrust could play a role in exacerbating inequities even when treatment is available in the community. Rural-urban data cuts were not included in this study. HHS Renews Public Health Emergency for Another 90 Days. On July 15, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) extended the current Public Health Emergency declaration to October 15, 2022. The extension means the continuation of flexibilities for health care providers, such as the Coronavirus Waivers issued by CMS. Measuring Adverse Childhood Experiences. Researchers used claims and enrollment data from Tennessee's Medicaid program to develop an algorithm measuring five types of ACEs: maltreatment and peer violence, foster care and family disruption, maternal mental illness, maternal substance use disorder, and abuse of the mother. Recent recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health & Human Services included stronger data collection that analyzes rural-urban differences. 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 Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Portal is now open for reporting on use of funds in Reporting Period 3. Providers who received one or more PRF payments exceeding $10,000, in the aggregate, during the third Payment Received Period (January 1 to June 30, 2021) must report on their use of funds by September 30, 2022. New users can get started by registering in the PRF Reporting Portal (if not yet completed). If a reporting entity has previously reported, they do not need to register again and may log into the portal with their username, TIN, and password. For more information visit the PRF Reporting web page. COVID-19 Vaccines Available for Children Under 5. In June, the federal committee that advised 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. New: Research identifies the most effective messages for parents. Guidance on COVID-19 Booster Shots. On May 19, the Centers for Disease Control and 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. 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 HUD Veterans Housing Rehabilitation/Modification Pilot Program – August 24. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) gives priority to areas affected by persistent poverty for its program to renovate the primary residence of veterans who are low-income and living with disabilities. Approximately 10 awards of up to $1 million each will go to organizations that provide statewide or nationwide programs serving veterans and/or low-income individuals. Almost a quarter of all veterans in the U.S., about 4.7 million, return from active military careers to live in rural communities. Department of Education Full Service Community Schools Program – September 12. Rural, high-poverty school districts are given priority for funding to coordinate academic, social, and health services through partnerships between local public schools and community-based organizations. Each applicant must provide at least three services from a list of eligible programming that includes high-quality early childhood education, out-of-school time programs and strategies, and social/health supports. Letters of Intent to Apply are not required but strongly encouraged by August 12. Department of Education Promise Neighborhoods Program – September 27. The federal program targets schools in the most distressed communities for grants to improve educational and developmental outcomes for children. Rural and tribal communities are funded under the category of "absolute priority". Awards of up to $6 million per year for a five-year project will require 50 percent in matching funds or in-kind donations. HRSA Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program – October 12. HRSA's Maternal and Child Health Bureau will oversee community-based partnerships that increase access to health care for children, youth, and families in rural and other underserved communities. Nine awards of up to $450,000 each will go to eligible applicants that include state, local, and tribal governments; independent school districts; and public or private institutions of higher education. EPA Water Infrastructure and Innovation Program – Ongoing. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides secured, direct loans and loan guarantees for projects that enhance, repair, or replace water infrastructure. Technical assistance may be provided to prospective borrowers, especially small and disadvantaged communities. The minimum project size for communities of fewer than 25,000 residents is $5 million and loan amounts may not exceed 49 percent of a project's eligible costs. Rural Community Assistance Corporation Community Facility Loans for Western States and Pacific Islands – Ongoing. The non-profit offers loans to develop and improve essential community facilities that primarily serve populations with low-income in the rural West. Projects must be located in rural areas with populations of 50,000 or less in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii and other Pacific islands, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. 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. Nursing Homes in Rural America: A Chartbook. Researchers at the RUPRI Center for Rural Policy Analysis document nursing home availability at the county level, evaluate the supply of beds per 1,000 population aged 65 and older, and describe nursing home characteristics including occupancy levels, payer mix, demographics, and health care needs. Policy Updates Visit the FORHP Policy page to see all recent updates and send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. Comments Requested: CY2023 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Proposed Rule – September 13. Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released proposals to update payment policies for the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System for calendar year 2023. In addition, CMS seeks public input on proposed quality, payment, and enrollment policies for the new provider type, Rural Emergency Hospitals. They address how they will responds to the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding the 340B prescription drug program. CMS also seeks comment on designating mental health services furnished remotely to beneficiaries in their homes as a covered outpatient service for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals. Learning Events and Technical Assistance AgriSafe: Health and Safety Learning Opportunities for Agricultural Communities – Thursday, July 28 at 1:00 pm ET. AgriSafe continues its QPR Training each Thursday to help laypeople and professionals recognize and respond to mental health crises using the Question, Persuade, and Refer method. CMS Rural Health Open Door Forum – Thursday, July 21 at 2:00 pm ET. The next forum for rural-related issues at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will cover policy updates for the new Rural Emergency Hospital designation, among other topics. Increasing Provider Supply Through Licensing and Interstate Compacts – Thursday, July 21 at 2:00 pm ET. To ensure safety and quality of care, states continually examine their licensing requirements for health care providers. This webinar hosted by the National Conference of State Legislatures will explain licensure requirements broadly, including policy options that legislators may choose to use to improve access to care. Interstate compacts will also be discussed with state respondents discussing how they have used compacts in their state to increase access to a variety of providers. HRSA: Respectful and High-Quality Maternal Care – Thursday, July 21 at 11:00 am. HRSA's Office of Global Health launches its new Global Health Forum series by joining with the Maternal and Child Health Bureau and Office of Women's Health as well as the World Health Organization and U.S. Agency for International Development. This session will explore respectful maternity care principles, inequities, and equalities for improved programs in maternal health. For more information, contact Tanchica West at HRSA. Project ECHO Distance Training for Providers of Pediatric Dentistry – Friday, July 22 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. This session will cover dental treatment for patients with special health care needs. Evaluating Rural Maternity Program – Monday, August 1 at 1:00 pm ET. This presentation discusses lessons learned from the planning and first implementation years of the HRSA-funded Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies Program. Presentation topics include network facilitators and barriers, successful strategies to improve access to care, and overviews of awardee populations and health outcomes. Save the Date | NRTRC 2022 Telehealth Conference – September 26-28. The Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center (NRTRC) invites participants to its annual conference virtually or in person Salt Lake City, Utah. The agenda includes opportunities to network and learn about innovative telehealth models, policy, and what's to come. Apply by August 15 for a limited number of scholarships available for employees at Indian Health Services facilities, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rural Health Clinics, or Critical Access Hospitals. Early Bird registration for the conference ends August 1. Resources of the Week Guidance for Audio-Only Telehealth. Guidance from the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) helps health care providers understand how they can use remote communication technologies for audio-only telehealth after the COVID-19 public health emergency ends. Strategies for Excessive Alcohol Use. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that, during 2015-2019, excessive alcohol use led to more than 380 deaths per day. Get more fast facts on this page, along with community strategies and a new online self-assessment tool. Approaching Deadlines SAMHSA Partnerships for Innovative Community Crisis Response – July 25 Treasury Equitable Recovery/Community Development Financial Institutions Fund – July 26 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 USDA Rural Decentralized Water Systems Grant Program – July 31 USDA Water and Waste Disposal Revolving Loan Funds – July 31 Vulnerable Rural Hospital Assistance Program – July 31 Comments Requested: HHS Initiative to Strengthen Primary Care – August 1 Delta Region Community Health Systems Development Program – August 1 HRSA Primary Health Care Innovation Challenge – August 2 AARP Foundation Grants for Medicare Savings Program Outreach – August 3 NIH Research – Alcohol and Other Substance Use – August 10 CDC Strengthening Public Health Infrastructure – August 15 DOJ Supporting Vulnerable Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care – August 15 Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program – August 15 NIH Researching Social Connectedness for SUD Treatment – August 15 USDA Rural Placemaking Challenge – 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 22 EPA Training/Technical Assistance for Rural Wastewater Treatment – August 22 HUD Veterans Housing Rehabilitation/Modification Pilot Program – August 24 National Center for American Indian Health Professions Pre-Admissions Workshops - August 24 Comments Requested: Rural Emergency Hospital Conditions of Medicare Participation – August 29 USDA Capacity Building for Historically Black 1890 Land-Grant Institutions – August 31 Comments Requested: Medicare Updates Physician Payment and Other Policies for 2023 – September 6 Department of Education Full Service Community Schools Program – September 12 Comments Requested: CY2023 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Proposed Rule – September 13 Department of Education Promise Neighborhoods Program – September 27 CMS New Model for Cancer Care in Medicare – September 30 NTIA Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure – September 30 HRSA Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program – October 12 DOT Reconnecting Communities Pilot Discretionary Grant Program – October 13 HUD Supplemental Funding to Address Unsheltered and Rural Homelessness – October 20 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 EPA Water Infrastructure and Innovation Program 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: 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 Community Assistance Corporation Community Facility Loans for Western States and Pacific Islands 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 Multifamily Housing Loan Guarantees 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) | 
Connect with HRSA
No comments:
Post a Comment