| Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a webpage May 11, 2023 What's New FORHP Commits To Supporting Benefits Counseling Activities. On May 10th, the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy awarded approximately $1 million in supplemental funding to the Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Program recipients to support community benefits counseling activities and related work to meet community need through the unwinding of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). The twenty-one (21) award recipients will establish effective, equitable, and inclusive strategies around outreach, education, and benefits counseling to rural residents who may be disenrolled from Medicaid due to the unwinding of the COVID-19 PHE. Federal Agencies Extend Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescribing Controlled Medications. In response to a record 38,000 comments from the public, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Drug Enforcement Agency will extend the full set of telemedicine flexibilities adopted during the COVID-19 public health emergency that ends today, May 11. The temporary rule will allow providers to prescribe controlled medications, such as buprenorphine for opioid use disorder (OUD), via telemedicine until November 11, 2023. For patient-provider relationships established by that date, flexibilities will extend another year to November 2024. While rates for OUD are similar in both rural and urban areas, the availability of medication-assisted therapies has been disproportionately located in urban areas. New Website for Mental Health and Substance Use. A new online resource from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration was designed for the general public to help people Find Support for issues related to mental health, drugs, or alcohol. GAO on Midwifery. Among other findings, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports that the number of midwives and midwifery students has increased; in 2021, midwives attended 12 percent of births in the U.S. Access is still a concern, however. Students may have trouble with the cost of education and a limited number of training opportunities, while insurance coverage is spotty – leaving some people interested in having a midwife unable to afford one. Recent data show that, in 2019, more than 30 percent of rural counties had no obstetric clinicians of any type. The GAO reported on this shortage last year, with data supporting an increase in Medicaid reimbursement to close the gap in maternity care for rural areas. Guidance to States on Ending COVID-19 PHE Medicaid Flexibilities. This Center for Medicaid & CHIP Services (CMCS) Informational Bulletin (CIB) lists the end dates of certain COVID-19-related Medicaid and CHIP coverage and enhanced federal funding if the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) ends on May 11, 2023, as expected. As part of their response to the COVID-19 PHE, states adopted many temporary flexibilities to support providers and individuals enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP, such as coverage of COVID-19 testing, treatment, and vaccinations. The bulletin provides key dates to assist states with returning to routine Medicaid and CHIP operations. About a quarter of rural adults under age 65 are covered by Medicaid. KFF Tracking State Medicaid Enrollment and Disenrollment. During the COVID-19 PHE, states could receive enhanced federal payments for halting Medicaid disenrollments, also known as the Medicaid continuous enrollment provision. As of April 1, 2023, states are resuming operations to redetermine Medicaid eligibility for all enrollees. The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) created a tracker to monitor changes in Medicaid enrollment during this unwinding period. It presents the most recent Medicaid enrollment data available for each state as well as any unwinding data on monthly renewals, disenrollments, and other measures that may be available for a state. An Important Notice for HRSA Grantees. On May 26, HRSA will follow a federal requirement to upgrade security measures for online systems requiring a login for external users. The new multi-factor login procedure will affect those who access HRSA's Electronic Handbook (EHB) system, including grantees, grant applicants, service providers, and consultants. To avoid issues with upcoming application and reporting deadlines, it is important to set up the new login procedure ahead of the change on May 26. HRSA is hosting a one-hour webinar session on May 12th at 1:00 pm ET to walkthrough the new process. Participants will need to register in advance; the webinar only has 3000 slots available, but the session will be recorded and made available to users. Ongoing: Updates to Requirements for Buprenorphine Prescribing. As announced by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in January 2023, clinicians no longer need a federal waiver to prescribe buprenorphine for treatment of opioid use disorder. Clinicians will still be required to register with the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to prescribe controlled medications. Beginning on June 27, the DEA registration will require applicants – both new and renewing – to affirm they have completed a new, one-time, eight-hour training. Exceptions for the new training requirement are practitioners who are board certified in addiction medicine or addiction psychiatry, and those who graduated from a medical, dental, physician assistant, or advanced practice nursing school in the U.S. within five years of June 27, 2023. Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) still have the opportunity to apply for a $3,000 payment on behalf of each provider who trained between January 1, 2019 and January 25, 2023 (when Congress eliminated the waiver requirement). 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 **New: Updates to Coverage for COVID-19 Tests. The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) will end on May 11, 2023. The ending of the PHE may impact an individual's coverage of COVID-19 tests. To help providers and the public understand these changes, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has developed a new Consumer Fact Sheet on COVID-19 tests in both English and Spanish. If you have any type of health insurance, you can get up to eight over-the-counter tests per month with no out-of-pocket costs through May 11, 2023. After that date, laboratory tests for COVID-19 ordered by providers will still be covered with no out-of-pocket costs for people with Medicare. Over-the-counter tests will still be available, but there may be out-of-pocket costs. Rural Health Clinics can continue to access free testing supplies directly from HRSA. (See more information below.) 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 ACF Tribal Maternal/ Childhood Home Visiting Program: Implementation and Expansion Grants – May 31. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) provides funding to implement and expand evidence-based home visiting services in tribal communities. Funds will be used to support planning efforts as well as high-quality, culturally relevant services to expectant families, parents, and primary caregivers of young children. The American Indian College Fund Full Circle Scholarships – May 31. The national nonprofit provides scholarships for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Indigenous Canadian students seeking technical, undergraduate, and graduate degrees at tribal colleges and universities and nonprofit, accredited schools in the United States. Applicants must be registered as an enrolled member of a federal or state recognized tribe, or a descendant of a parent or immediate grandparent that is/was an enrolled member of a state or federally recognized tribe or Alaska Native village. CDC Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research Centers – June 23. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides funding for academic research centers to participate in the network of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research Centers (PRCs). Eligible applicants are accredited schools of public health, medicine, and osteopathy that offer a preventive medicine residency program. The following institutions of higher education are encouraged to apply: Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native- and native Hawaiian-serving institutions. DOT Tribal Transit Program – June 26. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) provides funding to support planning, capital, and operating assistance for tribal public transit services in rural areas with a population of fewer than 50,000 people. Priority consideration is given to projects that create significant community benefits related to healthcare, education, the economy, or the environment. SAMHSA Addressing Dementia in Indian Country: Models of Care – June 27. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will provide funding to support the development of models of dementia care and services in tribal and urban Indian communities. Economic Development Assistance - Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs – Ongoing. Economic Development Assistance (EDA) funding is provided in rural, tribal, and urban communities in distressed regions to support the implementation of regional economic development. The goal is to spur job creation, leverage private capital investments, and strengthen America's ability to compete in a global marketplace. Past projects have included funding for water and wastewater projects in hospitals and healthcare facilities and road infrastructure projects that would support the expansion of healthcare facilities. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. See What's New for information related to the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Learning Events and Technical Assistance Become a New Site for the NHSC – Thursday, May 11 at 12:00 pm ET. Eligible rural health care facilities can expand clinician recruitment by applying to become an approved site for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). Eligibility includes health care sites providing outpatient, ambulatory, and primary health care services (medical, dental, and behavioral health) in high-need areas, including rural communities. Eligible site types also include facilities providing general substance use disorder treatment or an opioid treatment program. Get help with applications in this 90-minute webinar. Learning About Long COVID & Fatiguing Illness – Thursday, May 11 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. Increasing Housing Options for People with Disabilities – Thursday, May 11 at 4:00 pm ET. The Administration for Community Living hosts this 90-minute webinar on community-based housing options for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). The second in a three-part series exploring the barriers that people with I/DD face in securing housing, the webinar will share information about federal resources and funding. The Rural Health Research Gateway recently released a report finding that nearly a third of rural adults with disabilities are housing cost burdened, meaning they spend 50 percent or more of income on housing costs. Save the Date: American Heart Association 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. New Recommendations for Hepatitis B Screening – Tuesday, May 16 at 1:00 pm ET. In recognition of Hepatitis Awareness Month, HRSA's Bureau of Primary Health Care is hosting a webinar to brief clinicians and other health care providers about the release of new recommendations for screening and testing. For rural communities, the rise in prevalence has been linked to injection drug use, with data showing a substantial number of people are unaware they're infected. Register for a National Women's Health Week Webinar – Wednesday, May 17 at 1:00 pm ET. Join HRSA's Office of Women's Health, Bureau of Health Workforce, Bureau of Primary Health Care, and the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy for a one-hour webinar, "Connecting Women to Healthcare Through HRSA's Programs." The webinar will showcase how HRSA-supported health care settings are increasing access to women's health providers in high need and underserved areas. HRSA's Maternal Health Webinar Series – Thursday, May 18 at 12:00 pm ET. HRSA's Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (HRSA IEA) invites you to a webinar highlighting Maternal Mental Health Month. This webinar is part of HRSA IEA Region 5 and 7's Maternal Health Webinar Series. The series' goal is to highlight HRSA programs and resources, as well as innovations and promising practices to promote and further maternal health and well-being across the lifespan. For more information about the webinar, contact Curtizia Alexander at calexander@hrsa.gov. RHC Billing 101 – Monday, May 22 at 2:00 pm ET. During this free webinar, the National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) will discuss the basics of Rural Health Clinic (RHC) Medicare billing and provide time for Q&A. This webinar will be applicable to both independent and provider-based RHCs, covering the core nuances of RHC billing, including a review of common scenarios and Medicare telehealth billing rules currently in effect. Advance registration is required. 2023 Virtual Biennial Workforce Summit – May 23-24 at 12-5pm ET. The Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU) STAR2 Center, the Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC) and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) will be hosting a free virtual workforce summit on May 23rd and May 24th, 2023, from 12-5pm ET on each day. Attendees will learn about promising practices that health centers and their partners may apply to overcome and meet local and regional workforce challenges. 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. Approaching Deadlines 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 SAMHSA American Indian and Alaska Native Behavioral Health Center of Excellence – May 26 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 ACF Tribal Maternal/ Childhood Home Visiting Program: Implementation and Expansion Grants – May 31 The American Indian College Fund Full Circle Scholarships – May 31 DOJ Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Formula Program – June 1 Comments Requested: Proposed Medicare Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Payment Rates – June 2 HRSA Screening and Treatment for Maternal Mental Health and SUD – June 2 HRSA State Maternal Health Innovation Program – June 2 Comments Requested: Two Proposed Rules to Improve Access to Care in Medicaid and CHIP – July 3 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 SAMHSA Partnerships for Success for Communities, Local Governments, University, Colleges, and Tribes/Tribal Organizations – June 5 SAMHSA Partnerships for Success for States – June 5 USDA Rural Housing Preservation Grants – June 5 CDC Strengthening Public Health Systems and Services in Indian Country – June 6 Indian Health Service Produce Prescription Pilot Program – June 8 Comments Requested on Proposed Medicare Hospital Payment and REH Updates – June 9 CDC Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences through Data to Action – June 12 U.S. Dept of Education Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions Program – June 12 HRSA Maternal Health Research Collaborative for Minority-Serving Institutions – June 12 HRSA Maternal Health Research Collaborative for Minority-Serving Institutions - Coordinating Center – June 12 DOL Workforce Opportunities for Rural Communities (WORC) for Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border Regions – June 13 AHRQ Small Research Projects to Advance the Science of Primary Care – June 16 IHS Tribal Self-Governance Program Planning – June 20 USDA Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant – June 20 USDA Rural Utilities Service Community Connect Grant Program – June 20 HRSA New Sites for the National Health Service Corps – June 22 CDC Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research Centers – June 23 DOT Tribal Transit Program – June 26 SAMHSA Addressing Dementia in Indian Country: Models of Care – June 27 ACF Demonstration Grants to Strengthen the Response to Victims of Human Trafficking in Native Communities Program – June 30 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 Regional Authority Community Infrastructure Fund 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 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 NIH Research to Address Vaccine Hesitancy in Health Disparity Populations – June 2026 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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