February 9, 2023 What's New USDA's New Rural Data Gateway. Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a new online tool showing its rural investments, overall and for each state, going back to 2012. USDA's Rural Development division offers a wide range of loans, grants, and loan guarantees (many in our Ongoing Opportunities section, below) that provide essential services, help create jobs, and support economic development. With the Rural Data Gateway, USDA shows where and how Rural Development has supported local and regional economies in the last 11 years through 69 programs. HUD Awards $315 Million in First Rural Investment. On February 2, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced 46 communities that will receive grants and vouchers to help people experiencing homelessness in rural areas. With this funding, the awarded communities will develop an approach that involves coordination with health care providers, housing agencies, and people with lived experience. It is the first time the federal agency has targeted the issue in rural areas. It is also the first push of a broader Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, launched in December 2022, that aims to reduce all homelessness by 25 percent by 2025. February is National Children's Dental Health Month. To bring awareness, the Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign is reminding families that dental services are covered for children and teens who are eligible for Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP is open year-round; however, coverage must be renewed annually. Parents and caregivers should enroll their child today, or if already covered, call their health care provider to schedule an appointment. Visit the "Find Coverage for Your Family" map on InsureKidsNow.gov to access information by state or call 1-877-KIDS-NOW (1-877-543-7669). It's also a critical time to remind families enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP to update their contact information with their state Medicaid office so they can receive information about Medicaid Unwinding – an end to expanded public health insurance coverage that was allowed during the pandemic. Ongoing: HRSA Payment Program for RHC Buprenorphine-Trained Providers. As announced by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in January 2023, clinicians no longer need DATA 2000 Waiver training to prescribe buprenorphine; however, the payment program to defray earlier training costs is still active. Launched in June 2021, the initiative pays for providers who previously received a waiver 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 previously trained to obtain the waiver necessary to prescribe buprenorphine after January 1, 2019. Approximately $900,000 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. COVID-19 Resources Rural Health Clinic Vaccine Distribution (RHCVD) Program. Under the program, Medicare-certified Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) receive direct COVID-19 vaccines in addition to their normal jurisdictions' weekly allocation. Webinar recordings explaining RHC vaccine programs are available on the National Association of Rural Health Clinics website. *New: As a reminder, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 bivalent vaccine for people 12 years of age and older is available to order through the RHCVD program in both single and multi-dose vials. The single-dose option responds to widespread requests to allow greater flexibility for RHCs that may not have the demand or capacity to store multi-dose vials. Contact RHCVaxDistribution@hrsa.gov for more information. Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Portal – Report by March 31 for RP4. The PRF Reporting Portal is open from January 1, 2023 to March 31, 2023 for Reporting Period 4 (RP4). Providers who received one or more PRF (General or Targeted) and/or American Rescue Plan Rural payments exceeding $10,000, in the aggregate, from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, must report on their use of funds during RP4. Resources are available to assist providers with completing their reports. For a quick glance at all PRF reporting-related resources, visit the PRF Reporting Resources Page. **NEW: Phase 4 and ARP Rural Payment Reconsiderations Deadline: Providers who believe their Phase 4 and/or ARP Rural payment was calculated incorrectly have an opportunity to submit a payment reconsideration request by February 21, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. ET. All providers have had at least 45 days from the date of their Phase 4 and/or ARP Rural payment determination notification to submit a reconsideration request. The February 21 deadline reflects the final opportunity to submit a request. For more information visit the Payment Reconsideration webpage. Updated Guidance on COVID-19 Vaccines. In December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended updated (bivalent) COVID-19 vaccines for children down to 6 months of age. This expands earlier guidance announced in October. Current recommendation is that people aged 6 months and older receive one updated (bivalent) dose if it has been at least 2 months since their last COVID-19 vaccine dose, whether that was: - Their final primary series dose, or
- An original monovalent dose
People who have gotten more than one original (monovalent) dose are also recommended to get an updated (bivalent) dose. In September, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services announced that people with public, private, or no insurance coverage can get COVID-19 vaccines at no cost, for as long as the federal government continues purchasing and distributing them. To find nearby locations for vaccines, masks, testing, and treatment, visit COVID.gov. 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. 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 COMPASS Initiative HIV Capacity Building Grants for 12 Southern States – February 20. Emory University COMPASS - COMmitment to Partnership in Addressing HIV/AIDS in Southern States – provides capacity building grants and technical assistance in 12 southern states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Applicants must be HIV community-based organizations, with a substantial budgetary investment in HIV-related programs. First Nations Development Institute GATHER Food Sovereignty Grants – February 26. The national nonprofit will provide grants, each up to $32,000, for projects that lead to self-directed, well-resourced food systems in Native communities. SAMHSA First Responders – Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act – March 14. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will make 34 awards, each up to $800,000 per year for a four-year project. The program supports first responders with a federally approved drug that reverses opioid overdose. Grant recipients will train and provide resources to first responders and other key community sectors. Eligibility is limited to states, local governments, and Tribal organizations. RWJF Health Policy Research Scholars – March 15. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) offers a four-year national leadership development program for full-time doctoral students from nonclinical, research-focused disciplines in which policy is a key lever for change (e.g., urban planning; political science; economics; anthropology; education; social work; sociology). The program places special focus on communities with disproportionate health disparities and seeks candidates with this background. Mayo Clinic Native American Pathways Summer Program – March 15. The Mayo Clinic joins with the Association of American Indian Physicians to provide a four-week summer curriculum for American Indian/Alaska Native undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students who are MD or MD/PhD-seeking and preparing to enter medical school in the next two years. DOJ Second Chance Act Pay for Success Initiative – March 21. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will make six awards, each up to $1 million for services that support individuals with substance use/mental health needs who are leaving incarceration and returning to their communities. NIH Addressing the Impact of Structural Racism and Discrimination – March 24. This funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) supports research into structural racism and discrimination (SRD) that goes beyond interpersonal interactions, examining instead the effect of SRD embedded in institutional, organizational, and governmental structures that limit opportunities and resources to segments of the population. This is the first of four application cycles through October 9, 2025. A separate, but related, opportunity from NIH seeks Innovations for Improving Minority Health/Eliminating Health Disparities – March 24. NIH aims to stimulate partnership between small business concerns and nonprofit research institutions to develop products, processes, and services that can be used to reduce health disparities for any of its priority disparity populations, which includes people in rural areas. HRSA HIV/AIDS Intervention Services – New Geographic Areas – April 3. HRSA's Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program will make 10 awards, each up to $350,000 per year, for HIV testing, counseling, intervention, and treatment in areas that have not previously received federal funding. Eligible are public and nonprofit private entities that include Rural Health Clinics, Tribes and Tribal organizations, and community-based organizations that provide early intervention services for intravenous drug use. HRSA gives priority to rural areas with increased number/rate of HIV cases and lack of intervention services. EPA Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving – April 10. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gives special consideration to rural areas, socially disadvantaged communities, and areas affected by persistent quality. Total program funding of $30 million will go to 83 awards for community-driven solutions addressing environmental and/or public health issues. Five million dollars will be set aside for up to 33 awards to community-based non-profit organizations that propose projects of up to $150,000 each and that have five or fewer full-time employees on staff. DOT Bus and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Program – April 13. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will invest more than $469 million dollars to help finance buses and bus facilities projects, including: replacing, rehabilitating, purchasing, or leasing buses/facilities or related equipment. A minimum of 15 percent of the total funding will be awarded to rural areas. DOT's Federal Transit Administration will hold a Q/A session focused on questions from rural and tribal applicants on February 28 at 2:00 pm ET. DOJ Violence Against Women Grants to Indian/Tribal Governments – April 25. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will make 60 awards, up to $1 million each, to improve outreach and criminal justice response to violence against women in Tribal communities. ACF Community Economic Development Projects – May 8. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) expects to make 15 awards, each up to $800,000 for projects that develop business and job creation in areas with chronic unemployment. Seventy-five percent of jobs created with this funding must be filled by individuals with low incomes. Eligible applicants are private, non-profit community development corporations with demonstrated ability to manage low-income projects. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. No updates this week. Learning Events and Technical Assistance Learning About Long COVID & Fatiguing Illness – Thursday, February 9 at 3:00 pm ET. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention fund this monthly webinar-style ECHO learning session to rapidly disseminate Post-COVID Conditions (PCC) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) findings and emerging best practices. The series offers didactic presentations by subject matter experts, examples of emerging best practices and models of care, and a facilitated Q&A. This program is intended primarily for providers who care for patients with PCC and ME/CFS but is open to all healthcare professionals and all Long COVID and ME/CFS patient-lived experience experts interested in learning more about treatment. Expand GME Training at Your Hospital: How to Apply for Section 126 Positions – Monday, February 13 at 11:00am ET. In this joint webinar led by the FORHP-funded Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) -Technical Assistance Center and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), attendees will learn about the application process for the second round of 200 Medicare residency slots available to eligible hospitals (e.g., rural hospitals, hospitals that serve areas designated as HPSAs) interested in expanding residency training. Applications for Fiscal Year 2024 residency slots must be submitted through the Medicare Electronic Application Request Information (MEARIS™) by March 31, 2023. Application Assistance for HRSA Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program – Wednesday, February 15 at 2:00 pm ET. The second of two informational webinars for the federal program that pays up to 85 percent of unpaid nursing education debt in exchange for work in an underserved area or nursing school. Office Hours for the FCC Rural Health Program – Wednesday, February 15 at 2:00 pm ET. Registration is required for this hour-long session about the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rural Health Program for broadband and telecommunications services. The session is hosted by the program's administrator, the Universal Service Administrative Company. How to Apply for ARC Funding – Various Dates/Locations, February 23 – March 2. The federal Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) will hold eight in-person workshops for prospective applicants of funding opportunities available in the 13-state ARC region. Annual Rx and Illicit Drug Summit – April 10-13. Federal policymakers from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the National Institute on Drug Abuse are among those sharing their expertise at this annual conference on substance use disorder. The summit takes place over four days in Atlanta, Georgia. Discounted registration fees are available until March 3rd. Resource of the Week Data Book: Beneficiaries Dually Eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. This resource from an agency that provides analysis and advice to the U.S. Congress gives an overview of dual-eligible beneficiaries who receive benefits from both Medicare and Medicaid. Data from calendar year 2020 depicts beneficiary demographics, eligibility pathways, utilization and spending patterns, and more. A table on page 35 includes a breakdown of beneficiaries based on urban or rural residence. Approaching Deadlines HRSA Nurse Anesthetist Traineeship Program – February 10 HRSA Maternal and Child Health Secondary Data Analysis Research – February 13 Comments Requested: Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D Updates – February 13 Comments Requested: Proposed Updates to Expand Access to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment – February 14 EPA Grants Supporting Technical Assistance for Brownfields Communities – February 14 ACL Rural HIV and Aging Challenge – Extended to February 14 CDC Researching Strategies to Prevent Firearm-Related Violence – February 16 (originally Feb 20) HRSA Funding One Provider: Rural Quality Improvement Technical Assistance – February 17 HRSA Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part C Capacity Development Program – February 17 NOSORH Rural Health Grant Writing Institute – February 17 COMPASS Initiative HIV Capacity Building Grants for 12 Southern States – February 20 Appalachian Regional Commission INSPIRE SUD Recovery to Work – Letters of Intent Required by February 21 HRSA Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program – February 23 First Nations Development Institute GATHER Food Sovereignty Grants – February 26 Become a Host Site for the CDC Public Health Associate Program – February 28 USDA Rural Business Development Grants – February 28 NIH Research Centers in Minority Institutions – March 1 National Center for Rural Health Professions Summer Preceptorships – March 5 SAMHSA Adult Offender Re-Entry Program – March 6 SAMHSA Expanding SUD Capacity in Adult and Family Drug Treatment Courts – March 6 USDA Emergency Food Assistance Program – Reach and Resiliency – March 6 CDC Advancing Health Equity for Priority Populations with or at Risk for Diabetes – March 7 HRSA Funding One Provider: Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals – March 7 SAMHSA Expanding MAT for Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction – March 7 HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response - Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome – March 8 Department of Transportation Planning for Areas of Persistent Poverty Program – March 10 Comments Requested: Proposed Updates for Interoperability – March 13 SAMHSA First Responders – Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act – March 14 Mayo Clinic Native American Pathways Summer Program – March 15 RWJF Health Policy Research Scholars – March 15 DOJ Second Chance Act Pay for Success Initiative – March 21 CDC High Obesity Program – March 21 HRSA Integrated Substance Use Disorder Training Program – March 21 SAMHSA Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children's Health – March 21 Treasury Department: Community Development Financial Institutions Capital Magnet Fund – March 21 Delta States Rural Development Network Grant Program – March 22 NIH Addressing the Impact of Structural Racism and Discrimination – March 24 NIH Innovations for Improving Minority Health/Eliminating Health Disparities – March 24 SAMHSA State Pilot Program - Treating Pregnant/Postpartum Women – March 27 CDC State Physical Activity and Nutrition Program – March 28 HUD Community Compass Technical Assistance for Federal Housing Programs – March 28 ACL Rehabilitation Research/Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities – March 31 Administration for Native Americans – Social/Economic Development Strategies – March 31 Medicare Graduate Medical Education (GME) Residency Positions Available – March 31 FCC Rural Health Care Telecommunications Program – April 1 HRSA HIV/AIDS Intervention Services – New Geographic Areas – April 3 EPA Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving – April 10 CDC Drug Free Communities Support Program – April 11 Comments Requested: OMB Updates to Race and Ethnicity Standards – April 12 DOT Bus and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Program – April 13 DOJ Violence Against Women Grants to Indian/Tribal Governments – April 25 ACF Community Economic Development Projects – May 8 AHRQ Small Research Projects to Advance the Science of Primary Care – June 16 UMMC Caregiver University for Alzheimer's Support – Quarterly Deadlines Until October 10 Ongoing Opportunities CDC Monkeypox Vaccine Equity Pilot Program 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 USDA Emergency Rural Health Care Grants (Track One only) – September 2023 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 American Association of Birth Centers (AABC) Foundation - Accreditation Grants American Heart Association Rural Health Care Outcomes Accelerator American Indian Public Health Resource Center Technical Assistance Appalachian Regional Commission J-1 Visa Waivers for Doctors 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 Delta Doctors J-1 Visa Waiver 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 Distressed Cities and Persistent Poverty Technical Assistance Program 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 Native Americans into Medicine Host Sites for National Environmental Public Health Internship NIH Addressing the Impact of Structural Racism and Discrimination – Various Dates Until October 2025 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 Community Assistance Corporation Environmental Infrastructure Loans for Western States 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 United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc Tribal Health Program Support 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 and Loan Guarantees USDA Funding for Rural Water and Waste Disposal Projects USDA Water and Waste Disposal Grants to Alleviate Health Risks on Tribal Lands and Colonias USDOT Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (R.O.U.T.E.S) WWAMI Area Health Education Center Scholars Program | 
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