April 20, 2023 What's New NASHP Proposes State Strategies for Rural Behavioral Health. This brief from the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) considers strategies drawn from states that participated in NASHP's Policy Academy on Rural Mental Health Crisis Services. KFF on HealthCare.gov Marketplace Plan Selections by Rural Status. The policy research organization, Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), uses FORHP's definition of rural to count the number of consumers who selected or were automatically re-enrolled into a health insurance plan found through the federal Marketplace as of the end of the open enrollment period. 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. Ongoing: The University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction, a HRSA Rural Center of Excellence on Substance Use Disorders, offers an incentive to help defray previous training costs of $750 to each qualifying provider who obtained a DATA-Waiver. To qualify, providers must be practicing in a HRSA-designated rural county in Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, or Northern New York. To apply for the $750 payment, providers should contact cora@uvm.edu. COVID-19 Resources Rural Health Clinic COVID-19 Distribution Programs - Vaccines, Testing Supplies, Therapeutics. As a reminder, CMS-certified Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) can receive COVID-19 vaccines, testing supplies, and COVID-19 antivirals directly from HRSA. Please reference the linked websites for additional information and enrollment instructions. Technical assistance resources for these programs are available through the National Association of Rural Health Clinics. Note: The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 bivalent vaccine for people 12 years of age and older is available to order through RHC Vaccine Distribution 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. 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. Funding and Opportunities SAMHSA Grants for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics – May 22. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides two opportunities for CCBHC expansion, totaling $123.6 million in funding. The CCBHC Planning, Development, and Implementation grant will make 62 awards, each up to $1 million, to help organizations meet CCBHC certification criteria. The second program, aiming to transform community behavioral health systems, is the CCBHC Improvement and Advancement grant that will also make 62 awards of up to $1 million each. SAMHSA SUD Treatment for Racial/Ethnic Minorities at High Risk for HIV/AIDS – May 22. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will make 42 awards, each up to $500,000 per year. States and territories, Tribes and tribal organizations, health facilities, and public or private nonprofits are included in eligibility to provide substance use disorder (SUD) treatment for racial and ethnic minority individuals receiving services for HIV. SAMHSA Promoting the Integration of Primary and Behavioral Health Care – May 22. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) makes rural and tribal communities a priority for this program that supports integrated care models. Only states are eligible to apply, but grantees are required to partner with community providers, including Rural Health Clinics. HRSA Integrated Maternal Health Services – May 24. HRSA's Maternal and Child Health Bureau will make five awards, each up to $1.8 million per year for a 5-year project. The program aims to develop/demonstrate an integrated maternal health services model to support comprehensive care for pregnant and postpartum people with limited access to basic social and health care services. USDA Healthy Meals Incentives Grants for Small/Rural School Food Authorities – May 26. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest $30 million for 200 awards to small and rural school food authorities participating in the National School Lunch or Breakfast Programs. The program aims to improve the nutritional quality of school meals. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. CMS Announces Health Insurance Marketplace Policies for 2024. This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the final Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2024, which specifies requirements for issuers, agents, brokers, and Assisters, to offer qualified health plans (QHPs) through the Federal Marketplace, Healthcare.gov. The final rule includes policies pertaining to plan options, health equity, risk adjustment, and consumer experience. It also expands the network adequacy requirements by adding Mental Health Facilities and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Centers as new categories of Essential Community Providers (ECPs) and rural emergency hospitals as a new provider type in the Other ECP Category. The number of QHPs offered in rural areas has been growing but still lags urban areas. Learning Events and Technical Assistance Innovations in Rural Syringe Services Programs – Friday, April 21 at 12:00 pm ET. The national nonprofit, Opioid Response Network (ORN), sponsors a review of models and innovations from rural Massachusetts. The hour-long webinar is hosted by OPN's partner, the National Alliance for HIV Education and Workforce Development. HRSA Health Equity: Better Health Through Better Understanding – April 25 at 1:00 pm ET. HRSA's Office of Health Equity hosts this hour-long event in recognition of National Minority Health Month. Speakers will highlight the importance of improving health outcomes for racial and ethnic minority communities through culturally and linguistically appropriate healthcare, information, and resources. USDA Rural Workforce Innovation Network Workshop – Tuesday, April 25 at 2pm ET. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development hosts virtual workshops to connect and share information and resources to develop the rural workforce. Please join USDA and members of the Rural Workforce Innovation Network (RWIN) to learn about opportunities for Rural Healthcare workforce development with presentations from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Heath Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and Arkansas Rural Health Partnership. HRSA on Emerging Threat of Congenital Syphilis – Friday, April 28 at 12:00 pm ET. HRSA's Bureau of Primary Health Care and Maternal and Child Health Bureau will explore treatment and care models in response to a dramatic rise in the rate of congenital syphilis – reported to be an increase of 291 percent between 2015 and 2019, and related to illicit drug use. Technical Assistance for Rural Emergency Hospital Conversion – Monday, May 1 at 11:00 am ET. The Rural Health Redesign Center and Mathematica will host a 60-minute webinar to provide an overview of the REH program. Participants will learn about the REH provider type, conversion and participation requirements, and no-cost technical assistance available through the Rural Emergency Hospital Technical Assistance Center for hospitals considering a conversion. Preparing for and Delivering Value-Based Care in Rural Communities – Tuesday, May 2 at 10:30 am ET. This four-part series will provide an in-depth overview of the required competencies necessary for achieving success in a value-based environment. The FORHP-funded series is primarily intended for healthcare organizations located in Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont, but is open to all healthcare organizations interested in learning more about value-based care. Save the Date: AHA Rural Health Summit for Southwest Region – Friday, May 12, Dallas, TX. The American Heart Association (AHA) may provide scholarship for those who need financial assistance to attend this conference of rural health leaders from Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming. Register for Rural Suicide Prevention Workshops – May 23, and July 25. This comprehensive training for service providers in rural communities includes special focus on youth, substance use, and Indigenous communities. The interactive workshop features video demonstrations, active discussion groups, and access to the latest research on best practices. Attendees will get free, ongoing support – including online discussion forums and monthly Q&A video calls – for one year after the workshop. This opportunity is provided by the University of Rochester Recovery Center of Excellence (COE), one of three COEs in FORHP's rural opioid programming. Resource of the Week Rethinking How CMS Approaches Health Equity for American Indians and Alaska Natives. A Summary of three events in 2022 between the National Indian Health Board, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and CMS Tribal Technical Advisory Group to discuss health equity. Approaching Deadlines DOJ Expanding Access to Sexual Assault Forensic Examinations – April 20 Citizen's Institute on Rural Design: Request for Applicants – April 21 FCC Publishes Request for Comment on Proposed Changes to the Universal Service Rural Health Program – April 24 CDC National Cardiovascular Health Program – April 25 DOJ Violence Against Women Grants to Indian/Tribal Governments – April 25 HRSA National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Programs – April 25 SAMHSA American Indian/Alaska Native Behavioral Health Center of Excellence – May 26 HRSA National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program – April 27 HRSA Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention – Pathway to Registered Nurse Program – April 27 DOJ/JBS International Building Capacity for Children Impacted by Drug Crisis – April 28 HUD Section 4 Capacity Building Grants: Rural and Tribal Communities – April 28 NIH RAD-xUP CDCC Community Collaboration Mini-Grant Program – April 28 SAMHSA Historically Black Colleges and Universities Center for Excellence – April 28 USDA Rural Health and Safety Education Grants – April 28 American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Health Policy Fellowship – April 30 ACF Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program – Development and Implementation Grants – May 1 DOJ Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program – May 1 HRSA Nurse Faculty Loan Program – May 1 NIH Evaluating Pandemic Era Food/Housing Policies on Disparity Populations – May 1 SAMHSA Mental Health Awareness Training Grants – May 1 SAMHSA Rural Emergency Medical Services Training – May 1 USDA Farmers Market Promotion – May 2 DOJ Mentoring for Youth Affected by Opioid and Other Drug Misuse – May 4 HRSA Nurse Corps Scholarship Program – May 4 SAMHSA Developing Infrastructure for Mental Health of Children/Families in AI/AN Communities – May 5 ACF Community Economic Development Projects – May 8 CDC Overdose Data to Action: Limiting Overdose in Localities – May 8 CDC Overdose Data to Action in States – May 8 SAMHSA Cooperative Agreements to Implement Zero Suicide – May 8 SAMHSA Implementation Research in Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics – May 8 SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program – May 9 HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health – May 12 HRSA Rural Health Care Coordination Program – May 15 SAMSHA National Strategy for Suicide Prevention – May 15 SAMHSA Tribal Behavioral Health Program – May 15 Department of Justice Tribal Researcher Capacity Building Grants – May 16 USDA Produce Prescription Program (Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program) – May 16 NIH Research to Improve Native American Health – May 17 HRSA Delta Health Systems Implementation Program – May 18 ACF Child Care Dissertation Grants – May 19 VA Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grants – May 19 ACL Funding One Rehabilitation Research Center for Minority Entities – May 22 SAMHSA Community Behavioral Health Clinics - Improvement and Advancement Grants – May 22 SAMHSA Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics - Planning, Development, and Implementation Grants – May 22 SAMHSA Promoting the Integration of Primary and Behavioral Health Care – May 22 SAMHSA SUD Treatment for Racial/Ethnic Minorities at High Risk for HIV/AIDS – May 22 SAMHSA Cooperative Agreement for the Hispanic/Latino Behavioral Health Center of Excellence – May 23 HRSA Health Careers Opportunity Program – May 24 HRSA Integrated Maternal Health Services – May 24 AHRQ Safety Program for Telemedicine – May 25 USDA Healthy Meals Incentives Grants for Small/Rural School Food Authorities – May 26 Comments Requested: CMS Proposed Hospice Payment Rate Update for FY 2024 – May 30 Comments Requested on Proposed Medicare Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Payment Rates – June 2 Comments Requested on Proposed Medicare Inpatient Psychiatric Payment Rates – June 5 Comments Requested: CMS Releases Proposed Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System for FY 2024 – June 5 Comments Requested on Proposed Medicare Hospital Payment and REH Updates – June 9 AHRQ Small Research Projects to Advance the Science of Primary Care – June 16 USDA Rural Utilities Service Community Connect Grant Program – June 20 Berkley Rural Public Health Master's Program – August 13 UMMC Caregiver University for Alzheimer's Support – Quarterly deadlines October 10 | 
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