April 6, 2023 What's New County Health Rankings for 2023. The annual ranking of health for nearly every county in the nation takes a closer look at the way health relates to opportunities people have to participate in their communities. The analysts examined two elements of civic health: 1) civic infrastructure, which includes the spaces such as schools, parks, and libraries; and 2) civic participation, which includes the ways people engage in community life. While their research found examples of rural towns with a strong sense of community, there was more evidence that policies and practices that disconnect people from each other, from opportunity, and from the land – for example, racial segregation and legal action to terminate Tribal rights – were more often happening in rural areas. The report devotes a lot to voting, volunteering, and responding to the Census as important examples of civic participation and provides the data to show a direct link between civic health and population health. See Policy Updates below for recent changes brought by the 2020 Census. Telephone vs Video Virtual Visits Among Medicare Beneficiaries. In this survey study of 4,691 Medicare beneficiaries, 17 percent receiving care from practices offering both video and telephone visits reported that they were personally offered telephone visits only; 43 percent of those who were personally offered both video and telephone visits chose telephone visits. Being offered and choosing telephone visits were associated with less technology access and lack of video experience; those with Hispanic ethnicity or limited English proficiency were more likely to be offered telephone visits but not more likely to choose them. Patients Treated with Buprenorphine in EDs More Likely to Continue After Discharge. In this cohort study of 17,428 Medicaid-enrolled adults with an emergency department encounter for opioid use disorder, the buprenorphine treatment Opioid Hospital Quality Improvement Program (O-HQIP) pathway was associated with significantly increased prescription fills for buprenorphine within 30 days of discharge. Department of Labor Seeks Feedback About Mental Health in the Workplace. The State Exchange on Employment & Disability (SEED), a U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy initiative, launched a series of four online dialogues to explore and advance workforce mental health policies. Through April 14, anyone may join these conversations by submitting ideas, as well as commenting and voting on ideas submitted by others. The dialogues cover four priority topic areas, including state and local policies to address mental health disparities in rural, racial, and ethnic communities. 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. **New and 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 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. 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 DOJ/JBS International Building Capacity for Children Impacted by Drug Crisis – April 28. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will make 10 awards, each up to $125,000, for services to address the needs of child and youth crime victims of America's drug crisis, and their families/caregivers. Priority will be given to applicants with experience providing direct service to children and youth in underserved communities. Funding for the program comes from the DOJ's Office for Victims of Crime and is administered by JBS International. HUD Section 4 Capacity Building Grants: Rural and Tribal Communities – April 28. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will invest about $1.4 million in approximately 30 awards to enhance the administrative and technical capacity for housing development in rural and Tribal communities. NIH RAD-xUP CDCC Community Collaboration Mini-Grant Program – April 28. Duke University in partnership with the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, is serving as the Coordination and Data Collection Center (CDCC) for the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-supported Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics- Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) program. The program goal is to improve access to and uptake of diagnostic COVID-19 testing in communities of underserved and vulnerable populations. The Community Collaboration Mini-Grant Program will provide grants to support community partners working to advance capacity, training, support, and community experience with COVID-19 testing initiatives. American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Health Policy Fellowship – April 30. Full cost of sessions that include a four-day academic orientation and nine weekend seminars will be covered by the fellowship, including most meals. Eligible applicants are practicing or teaching osteopathic physicians and other individuals with an established connection to the osteopathic profession. DOJ Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program – May 1. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) expects to make 15 awards, each up to $525,000, to expand sexual assault services in Indian country and Alaska Native villages. Services may include 24-hour crisis hotlines, advocacy through medical and/or legal systems, and short-term intervention and support. Veterans Affairs Health Professional Scholarship Program – Ongoing. Applicants from rural, Tribal, and other underserved communities are encouraged for these scholarships for health professions that will cover 100 percent of tuition and required fees for health professions education and training, plus a monthly stipend of $1,200. Applicants must be currently enrolled or be accepted for full-time enrollment in an accredited academic program. Policy Updates Visit the FORHP Policy page to see all recent updates and send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. Interim Location Determinations for CMS Rural Health Clinics. In response to a change in the way the Census Bureau defines rural and urban areas, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an interim process for determining locations of new Rural Health Clinics. For now, CMS will use both the 2010 and 2020 Census urban criteria when determining rural location, and locations meeting either standard will be eligible. The 2010 criteria defined two types of urban areas: 1) urbanized areas with a population of 50,000 or more; and 2) urban clusters with at least 2,500 but fewer than 50,000 people. So under the 2010 criteria, a rural location is one that is not in an urbanized area, but might be in an urban cluster. Under the 2020 criteria, the Census Bureau no longer subdivides urban areas by population size so all developed areas are simply called urban areas – and housing density, not population, is the primary determining factor. Population is still considered at the lower end: the minimum population for an urban area designation increased from 2,500 people to 5,000 people, or at least 2,000 housing units. The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy is housed in a different agency (HRSA) under the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, and uses different measures to define rural for its grant programs. Learn more details about eligibility for FORHP grants on the HRSA website. 2024 Medicare Payment Policy Updates. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently published payment policy updates to Medicare Advantage (also known as Medicare Part C) and Medicare Prescription Drug Program (also known as Medicare Part D) for calendar year 2024. The updates include a payment increase of 3.32% compared to 2023, Star Rating updates, and finalized growth rates for Medicare Advantage, as well as alignment of Medicare Advantage plans with the Internal Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 system which has been in place since 2015 for many other payors in the U.S. The updates also include policies addressing Puerto Rico payment rates, prior authorization practices, access to behavioral health services, and marketing of Medicare Advantage plans. Part D updates for 2024 include elimination of cost-sharing in catastrophic phase coverage, expansion of the low-income subsidy program, elimination of deductibles for certain adult vaccines and insulin products, and limitation of a month's supply of covered insulin products to $35 per month. Medicare Advantage has continued to grow faster in rural areas, with enrollment growing at 13.4 percent between 2021 and 2022 in rural counties versus 7.9 percent in urban counties. Learning Events and Technical Assistance NHSC Loan Repayment Program: Q&A Session #3 – Thursday, April 6 at 10:00 am ET. Through April 24, several sessions are on offer to assist applicants to three loan repayment programs for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). One of these opportunities for practicing clinicians is the NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program that works with FORHP's rural opioid programming to provide substance use disorder treatment. 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. Webinar on understanding Medicare's new REH designation – Monday, April 10 at 1:00pm ET. States must take certain steps to allow eligible hospitals to have the option to convert to Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs). Several states already have taken action to implement this new REH provider designation. This one-hour HRSA-funded webinar led by the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) will allow participants to learn from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) about the new REH designation and hear from two states, Kansas and Michigan, about their experiences implementing this new designation. The webinar will include ample time for questions and answers. Solutions for Rural Homelessness: The Federal Strategic Plan and Local Implementation – Tuesday, April 11 at 3:00 pm ET. The national nonprofit, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), will be joined by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness for a 90-minute discussion of how rural communities fit into the Council's federal plan to prevent and end homelessness. Learning About Long COVID & Fatiguing Illness – Thursday, April 13 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 the treatment of Long COVID and ME/CFS. HRSA on National Donate Life Month – Tuesday, April 18 at 1:00 pm ET. HRSA's Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs in Regions 1, 5, and 7 in collaboration with HRSA Health Systems Bureau, Division of Transplantation, invite you to a webinar in observance of National Donate Life Month. During this session speakers will discuss healthy living and disease prevention, highlight the need for minority organ donors, and share personal experiences with organ donation. Participants will also learn about HRSA programs and resources available to Hispanic/Latino communities and organizations serving this population. Please note, this panel session is being offered entirely in Spanish with live English interpretation. NACRHHS Updates: PACE and Childcare Need in Rural Areas – Tuesday, April 18 at 2:00 pm ET. Members of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (NACRHHS) recently explored two topics of importance to rural areas. The first was the use of the Programs of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in rural areas. The second was childcare need and availability in rural areas. Please join us for a webinar that will highlight the rural context related to these to topics, and a discussion of the policy brief and recommendations submitted to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. HRSA Virtual Job Fair – Wednesday, April 19 at 6:00 pm ET. HRSA's Bureau Health Workforce hosts this free, online event over 3.5 hours to connect primary care clinicians and trainees with health care facilities that have job openings. To register, complete a clinician profile on the Health Workforce Connector. 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 Learn About RCORP Grantees. Information about the most recent Rural Communities Opioid Response Program grantee cohorts are now available on the Rural Health Information Hub at the following links: Approaching Deadlines HRSA Advanced Nursing Education Workforce Program – April 7 EPA Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving – April 10 CDC Drug Free Communities Support Program – April 11 CDC Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) – April 11 DOJ Adult Treatment Court – April 11 DOJ Rural Domestic/Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program – April 11 HRSA Advanced Nursing Education Residency and Fellowship Program – April 11 Comments Requested: OMB Updates to Race and Ethnicity Standards – April 12 DOT Bus and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Program – April 13 Comments Requested: Disclosure of Ownership for Nursing Facilities – April 14 Denali Commission Grants for Alaska Communities – April 14 DOE Energy Improvement in Rural/ Remote Areas – April 14 Department of Labor Seeks Feedback About Mental Health in the Workplace – April 14 EPA Environmental Justice Government-to-Government Program – April 14 NIH Strategies for Managing SUD in Primary Care and Ambulatory Settings – April14 Indian Health Service Zero Suicide Initiative Coordinating Center – April 17 HHS Advancing Equity Through Teen Pregnancy Prevention – April 18 DOJ Supporting Vulnerable/At-Risk Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care – April 19 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 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 Local Food Promotion Program – 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 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 HRSA Health Careers Opportunity Program – May 24 AHRQ Safety Program for Telemedicine – May 25 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 Ongoing Opportunities HRSA Needs Rural Reviewers for Grant Applications CFPB Rental Assistance Finder Economic Development Administration Public Works/Economic Assistance Program (CARES Act Funding) 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 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 NIH Researching Barriers to Care for HIV-Associated Comorbidities – May 2025 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) Veterans Affairs Health Professional Scholarship Program WWAMI Area Health Education Center Scholars Program | 
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