September 1, 2022 What's New New Awards for Maternal and Infant Health. On Monday, the U.S. Department of Health & Human services announced approximately $4 million to four awardees through its Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies Program to enhance access to and coordination of obstetric and maternal care in rural communities. This announcement is part of $200 million in support for a range of maternal and infant health funding to help reduce disparities in maternal and birth outcomes, expand and diversify the workforce caring for pregnant and postpartum individuals, and support states in tackling inequities in maternal and infant health. September is National Recovery Month. Since 1989, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has increased efforts to raise awareness, promote new evidence-based treatment and practices, and celebrate individuals during their long-term recoveries. Promotional materials, including social media content, are available on SAMHSA's National Recovery Month website. At HRSA, nearly every bureau and office has a program focused on the opioid crisis, including an array of ongoing projects in the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program. Creating a Roadmap for the End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. With the eventual end of the Medicare Public Health Emergency (PHE), many of the waivers and broad flexibilities CMS provided to healthcare providers during this time will terminate, as they were intended to address the acute and extraordinary circumstances of a rapidly evolving pandemic and not replace existing requirements. To help healthcare facilities and providers understand the coming changes, CMS has developed a roadmap for the eventual end of the Medicare PHE waivers and flexibilities. Similar to the guidance CMS has made available to states, CMS is releasing fact sheets that will help the health care sector transition to operations once the PHE ends, whenever that may occur. For information on waivers and flexibilities applicable to rural healthcare facilities and providers, please see the rural crosswalk CMS published in May 2021. DOL, HHS, and Treasury Finalize Surprise Billing Policies. On August 19, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury issued final rules concerning standards related to the arbitration process implementing the No Surprises Act, a bipartisan law to protect consumers against surprise medical bills. The increased transparency required under these final rules is designed to help providers, facilities and air ambulance providers engage in more meaningful open negotiations with plans and issuers and will help inform the offers they submit to certified independent entities to resolve claim disputes. Parties or providers (including air ambulance providers), facilities, plans and issuers may use an arbitration process known as the Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process to determine the total payment amount for out-of-network healthcare services for which the act prohibits surprise billing. The final rules include guidance for certified IDR entities on how to make payment determinations and instructs these entities that they must provide additional information and rationale in their written decisions. CMS Funds Navigator Organizations for 2023 Open Enrollment. Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services CMS awarded $98.9 million in grant funding to help consumers navigate enrollment through the Marketplace, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Navigator organizations will focus on outreach to people who identify as racial and ethnic minorities, people in rural communities, the LGBTQ+ community, American Indians and Alaska Natives, refugee and immigrant communities, low-income families, pregnant women and new mothers, people with transportation or language barriers or lacking internet access, veterans, and small business owners. The Navigator funding can play a key role in addressing coverage gaps in rural areas. An HHS report shows that while the uninsured rate in rural areas has fallen in recent years, it continues to be about 2-3 percentage points higher than in urban areas over the 2018-209 period. Extended Shelf Life for COVID At-Home Tests. While the federal program for free at-home tests will be suspended on Friday, September 2, the Food and Drug Administration provides a list of authorized testing products that are still available over the counter. In some cases, the expiration date for a test may be extended, meaning the manufacturer provided data showing that the shelf life is longer than was known when the test was first authorized. 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 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 Age 5. In June, 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. 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 3RNet Recruiting for Retention Academy – October 3. The National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network (3RNet) will hold six live webinars from October 4 – December 13 sharing expertise and resources for finding and hiring primary clinicians in rural facilities. The 3RNet network is formed by member organizations, including State Offices of Rural Health, primary care offices and associations, and university programs. According to their 2020 – 2021 annual report, the organization made more than 2,000 placements, for an economic impact of $1.8 billion. BIA National Tribal Broadband Grant – October 17. The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) will make 15-27 awards, each up to $175,000 to support consultants and feasibility studies for high-speed internet deployment or expansion in tribal communities. FORE Community-Driven Response to OUD and Overdose Mortality - October 21. The national nonprofit Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE) will provide grants of $75,000/year for a two-year project. Among many eligible projects, community-based organizations addressing opioid use disorder (OUD) may use the funds to enhance their efforts, stabilize finances, and collaborate to expand services and coverage area. NIH Researching Social, Behavioral, and Economic Impact of COVID-19 in Underserved/Vulnerable Populations – September 8, 2024. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will support projects to understand the response to the pandemic and better prepare for future public health emergencies. Rural, racial/ethnic minorities, and communities with low adoption of public health mitigation are among the populations of special interest for this research. ACF Rural Community Development Program for Rural Water Systems – Ongoing. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) provides technical assistance to help regional and tribal organizations manage safe water systems in rural communities. Oweesta Native CDFI Loan Funds and Technical Assistance – Ongoing. The national nonprofit Oweesta Corporation is an intermediary organization of the federal Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) fund. Their goal is to assist with small businesses, affordable housing, food sovereignty and community development through Native CDFIs. 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. Providing High-Quality Support to Pregnant People and Their Families in Racially Diverse Rural Communities. This case series from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center offers three examples of rural hospitals offering high quality support during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Policy Updates Visit the FORHP Policy page to see all recent updates and send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. See What's New section above for several policy updates. Learning Events and Technical Assistance AgriSafe: Health and Safety Learning Opportunities for Agricultural Communities – Wednesday, September 7 at 11:00 am ET. As part of its ongoing learning series, AgriSafe will hold its monthly Mental Health Innovations Exchange to engage farming and ranching communities on the subject. Learn about the HRSA Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program Funding Opportunity – Wednesday, September 7 at 1:00 pm ET. HRSA will be hosting a technical assistance webinar for potential applicants to the THCGME Program. This THCGME funding opportunity will support accredited residency programs that are currently training residents or will begin training residents by July 1, 2023. Eligible applicants include Federally-Qualified Health Centers, Community Mental Health Centers, Rural Health Clinics, and other community-based ambulatory patient care centers that either operate accredited residency programs or participate in a GME consortium that operates accredited residency programs. New THCGME applicants will receive priority points if their principal training site is in a health care shortage area, medically underserved community, and/or located in a rural area (defined as a nonmetro county). In addition to this THCGME funding opportunity, HRSA anticipates releasing a new Teaching Health Center Planning and Development (THCPD) Program funding opportunity in early October. THCPD funding supports organizations that seek to develop new community-based, primary care residency programs. Applying to the Rural Health Network Development Program – Wednesday, September 7 at 2:00 pm ET. FORHP will hold a one-hour webinar for applicants to the four-year program that supports integrated health care networks. Call-in number: 833-568-8864; Meeting ID: 14653038. Upper Midwest Telehealth Resource Center Conference - September 13-14. The 4th annual event taking place South Bend, IN, will be of interest to a wide range of professionals including clinicians, administrators, public health officials, rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, local health departments, universities/students, and others interested in the development and delivery of telehealth in their community. HRSA Virtual Job Fair – Wednesday, September 14 at 6:00 pm ET. From 6:00 to 9:30 pm ET, health care professionals can connect with representatives from facilities around the country recruiting for hundreds of medical, nursing, dental, and behavioral health job opportunities. Learn more about job opportunities, benefit packages, and how you can help underserved communities. Telemedicine Obstetrical Program: a Patient Centered Approach – Thursday, September 15 at 1:00 pm ET. In this webinar from the South Central Telehealth Resource Center, Dr. Melony Stokes describes a high-risk pregnancy workflow via telehealth. Health Center Program Research and Evaluation Webinar – Thursday, September 15 at 1:00 pm ET. Learn about recent Health Center Program research findings on health care access, equity, quality, and cost. This includes results from a study on access to care among rural patients at HRSA-funded health centers. Researchers will discuss how health centers have responded to emerging health priorities to better serve their communities. 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. Resources of the Week Implementing Full-Service Community Schools in a Rural Setting. The Edredesign Lab at Harvard Graduate School of Education reports on how Leslie County Schools in rural Kentucky implemented the federal program that blends social and health services with academics. The application cycle for the next cohort of the Full Service Community Schools program closes on September 12. (See link in Approaching Deadlines below.) NRHA on Rural Emergency Preparedness and Response. The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) guide provides federal, state, and local resources and an interactive map linking to each state's emergency response website. What Happens When a Hospital Closes? Over 28 minutes, the Freakonomics podcast examines the outcomes of rural hospital closures. Approaching Deadlines Comments Requested: Medicare Updates Physician Payment and Other Policies for 2023 – September 6 NIH Research: Intervening w/ Cancer Caregivers to Improve Outcomes – September 8 NIH Research on Minority Health/Health Disparities – September 8 NIH Research on Palliative Care in Home/Community Settings – September 8 Department of Education Full Service Community Schools Program – September 12 Comments Requested: 2023 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Proposed Rule – September 13 NRHA Rural Health Fellows Program – September 15 Comments Requested: Proposed Rule on Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities – September 26 Department of Education Promise Neighborhoods Program – September 27 Foundation for Appalachian Ohio African American Community Fund – September 27 PCORI Stakeholder Convening Support – Letters of Intent, September 29 PCORI Capacity Building for Small Organizations – Letters of Intent, September 29 CMS New Model for Cancer Care in Medicare – September 30 DOJ Reaching Rural: Advancing Collaborative Solutions for SUD – September 30 NTIA Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure – September 30 Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project – September 30 3RNet Recruiting for Retention Academy – October 3 AAPD Foundation Access to Pediatric Dentistry Grants – October 3 CDC Traditional Food Sovereignty/Tribal Workforce Development Fellowship – October 5 USDA Small Business Innovation Research, Phase 1 – October 6 HRSA Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program – October 12 DOT Reconnecting Communities Pilot Discretionary Grant Program – October 13 BIA National Tribal Broadband Grant – October 17 HRSA Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program – October 18 HUD Supplemental Funding to Address Unsheltered and Rural Homelessness – October 20 Comments Requested: CMS Proposals for Medicaid & CHIP Quality Reporting – October 21 FORE Community-Driven Response to OUD and Overdose Mortality - October 21 HRSA Geriatrics Academic Career Award Program – November 3 HRSA Rural Health Network Development Program – November 22 AmeriCorps State and National Grants – January 4 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 ACF Rural Community Development Program for Rural Water Systems AgriSafe Mental Health Training for Agricultural Producers & Families AgriSafe Nurse Scholar Program – March 2023 AHRQ Health Services Research Demonstration and Dissemination Grants – October 2023 AHRQ Research to Improve Patient Transitions through HIT – December 2022 American Heart Association Rural Health Care Outcomes Accelerator 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: 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 to Improve Native American Health – Various Dates Until September 2023 NIH Practice-Based Research for Primary Care Suicide Prevention – February 2023 NIH Researching Mental Health Practices in Low-Resource Settings – September 2024 NIH Researching Social, Behavioral, and Economic Impact of COVID-19 in Underserved/Vulnerable Populations – September 2024 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 Oweesta Native CDFI Loan Funds and Technical Assistance 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 SAMHSA Training to Provide Medication Assisted Treatment 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) | 
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