| Read this newsletter online. June 15, 2023 What's New FORHP Makes Awards for the Rural Health Network Development Planning Program The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy awarded $2 million to 20 awardees for this one-year, community-driven program designed to assist in the planning and development of an integrated health care network at the local level. By emphasizing the role of networks, the program creates a platform for both rural and urban medical care providers, social service providers, and community organizations to coalesce key elements of a health care delivery system for the purpose of improving local capacity and coordination of care in rural communities. Administered by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) at HRSA, the Network Planning program is an opportunity for health care providers to implement new and innovative approaches to care that may in turn serve as a model for other rural communities. The incoming cohort of Network Planning grantees have projects that focus on care coordination, health information technology/data analytics, behavioral health (including mental health and substance use disorder), health equity, and telehealth. Visit the Rural Health Information Hub online to learn more about successful program models and evidence-based toolkits that have come from the work of FORHP-funded projects. Over $700 Million to Connect Rural Areas to High-Speed Internet. On Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced awards made in 19 states under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Grantees and loan recipients of USDA's ReConnect Program must serve a rural area that lacks access to service at speeds of 100 megabits per second, and must also commit to building infrastructure that can deliver service at that speed to every location in the area. Additionally, to ensure that rural households that need internet service can afford it, all awardees will be required to participate in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The ACP offers a discount of up to $30 per month towards internet service to qualifying low-income households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal Lands. New Flexibilities for States to Minimize Medicaid and CHIP Coverage Losses. In a letter to governors this week, the Secretary of Health & Human Services announced several new options states can use to help eligible individuals and families maintain their Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage as requirements change with the end of the public health emergency. The new flexibilities include allowing managed care plans to assist people with completing their Medicaid renewal forms and allowing pharmacies and community-based organizations to facilitate reinstatement of coverage for those who were recently disenrolled for procedural reasons based on presumptive eligibility criteria. A complete list of flexibilities available to states can be found here. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has created outreach and educational resources. The Kaiser Family Foundation Medicaid Enrollment Tracker reports that at least 1,027,000 Medicaid enrollees had been disenrolled as of June 12, 2023, based on the most current data from 20 states. There is also a call to action for community organizations, employers, providers and others can help in this effort. GAO on Child Care Networks. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) examines the federal Child Care and Development Fund and its efficacy at increasing access to quality child care for low-income families. The fund supports 142 family child care networks, primarily through coaching, training, and peer-to-peer networking opportunities for child care providers at the community level. Most of these are licensed providers, though many of the networks serve license-exempt family, friend, and neighbor providers. Earlier this year, the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health & Human Services recommended creation of a Childcare Shortage Area designation similar to the Health Professions Shortage Area designation. 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 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 HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training – Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults Program for Professionals – July 14. Funding from HRSA's Bureau of Health Workforce aims to address the behavioral health needs of children, adolescents, and young adults by increasing the supply and distribution of behavioral health providers in rural and underserved communities. Eligible applicants include accredited institutions of higher education, Tribes and Tribal organizations, and community-based organizations. HRSA Maternity Care Nursing Workforce Expansion Program – July 14. HRSA's Bureau of Health Workforce will provide funds to accredited schools of nursing, nursing centers, and academic health centers (among other eligible applicants) to increase the number of certified nurse midwives, diversify the maternal and perinatal health workforce, expand maternal health training and curriculum, and strengthen community-based partnerships. Recent research shows that significant disparities exist between rural and urban areas in the supply of clinicians who provide obstetric services. DHS Rural Emergency Medical Communications Demonstration Project – July 28. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provides funding for demonstration projects addressing rural medical communications in order to gain an understanding of barriers and best practices to coordinate emergency response across multiple jurisdictions. ACF Alaska Native Tribal Resource Center on Domestic Violence – July 31. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will fund a single Alaska Native Tribal Resource Center on Domestic Violence that will focus on the intervention and prevention of family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence by offering culturally sensitive statewide information, training, and technical assistance. HHS Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity – August 1. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) will fund two cooperative agreements to establish a national Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity to address health disparities at the community level for American Indian and Alaska Native populations, and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations. Department of Education Full-Service Community Schools Program – August 8. The U.S. Department of Education gives priority to high poverty rural schools for this funding to create or expand full-service community schools that integrate services for children and families. ACL Alzheimer's Disease Programs Initiative – State/Community Grants – August 7. The Administration for Community Living (ACL) will enter cooperative agreements for dementia-capable home and community-based services. NIH Tobacco Control Policies to Promote Health Equity – September 8. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) provides funding for observational or intervention research focused on reducing disparities in tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure. Populations of focus include older individuals, black Americans, Hispanics, people with low socioeconomic status, and people living outside metropolitan areas. NRHA Rural Health Fellows Program – September 14. The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) offers a year-long, intensive fellowship program to create leaders focused on health equity in the NRHA, affiliated advocacy groups, and local and state legislative bodies. NIH Native American Research Centers for Health – Various Dates Until July 2026. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) offers grants for new or continued Native American Research Centers for Health, which support research and research training to meet the health needs of Tribal communities. AmeriCorps American Connection Corps for Rural Broadband – Ongoing. AmeriCorps, the federal agency that matches volunteers with projects for economic and social development at the community level, provides a one-year fellowship program that trains and mobilizes leaders for broadband development in rural areas. National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence Technical Assistance – Ongoing. The national nonprofit Futures Without Violence offers technical assistance and other resources on an ongoing basis. CORH Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals Program – Ongoing. The FORHP-supported Center for Optimizing Rural Health (CORH) offers assistance to help hospitals improve quality of care, maintain access to care, and address the challenges that are unique to small hospitals and the towns they serve. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Rural Health Research Research in this section is provided by the HRSA/FORHP-supported Rural Health Research Gateway. Sign up to receive alerts when new publications become available. New Articles Published on Cancer, Hospital Finance, Obstetrics, Occupational Distress, and Rural Healthy People 2030. Among new policy briefs posted by the Rural Health Research & Policy Centers: COVID-19 pandemic impact on Rural Health Clinic's operations, and a look at barriers to rural obstetric training for family physicians. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. New Voluntary Advanced Payment Model for Primary Care. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center announced their next advanced primary care model, the Making Care Primary (MCP) Model. Launching in eight states on July 1, 2024, the 10.5-year model seeks to improve care management and care coordination; equip primary care clinicians with tools to form partnerships with health care specialists; and leverage community-based connections to address patients' health and health-related social needs (HRSNs), such as housing and nutrition. Eligible participants include Federally Qualified Health Clinics, Indian Health Service facilities, and Tribal clinics in Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and Washington. Eligible organizations will be able to apply when the Request for Applications is released later this summer. Notice of Meeting and Request for Information: ICD-11 Transition – June 30. The National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS) advisory committee, part of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), seeks feedback on the upcoming ICD-11 transition. The information received via the RFI and meeting will provide advice to HHS to inform ICD–11 policy. The meeting will be held Thursday, August 3, 2023, 10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. EDT and is open to the public. Instructions are posted on the Committee website: https://ncvhs.hhs.gov/meetings-meeting/. To submit comments in response to the RFI, please send by close of business June 30, 2023, to NCVHSmail@cdc.gov, and include on the subject line: Response from [your organization or name] regarding ICD–11 RFI. Learning Events and Technical Assistance Application Assistance for SUD Workforce Funding – Thursday, June 15 at 10:00 am ET. Ask questions as ahead of the July 17 application deadline for HRSA's Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program. Eligible substance use disorder (SUD) treatment clinicians and community health workers can apply to receive up to $250,000 in educational loan repayment in exchange for working full-time for six years at an approved facility. Annual Report on Federal Food and Nutrition Assistance Landscape – Wednesday, June 21 at 1:00 pm ET. In this one-hour webinar, the Economic Research Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will examine recent developments in USDA's largest food and nutrition assistance programs along with trends in program participation and spending. CDC/USDA Tribal Listening Session: National One Health Framework – Monday, June 26 at 2:00 pm ET. Federal agencies that include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Department of the Interior request feedback from Tribal organizations on the National One Health Framework to Address Zoonotic Diseases and Advance Public Health Preparedness in the United States. Expanding Harm Reduction for Rural/Underserved Populations – Wednesday, June 28 at 12:00 pm ET. Over one hour, experts will discuss novel approaches for syringe services and other harm reduction efforts in rural areas. The event is hosted by the FORHP-supported Center on Rural Addiction at the University of Vermont. HRSA OWH: Improving Cervical Cancer Prevention, Screening, and Management – Thursday, June 29 at 1:00 pm ET. HRSA's Office of Women's Health (OWH) and the National Cancer Institute will hold a one-hour webinar to advance equitable cervical cancer care in safety-net settings and showcase two new resources: a Toolkit to Build Provider Capacity and a Federal Opportunities Report. Download these resources from OWH's Cervical Cancer webpage. Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that rural areas have higher incidence and death rates for certain cancers – such as colorectal and cervical cancers – that can be prevented by screening. Approaching Deadlines 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 Delta Regional Authority States Economic Development Assistance Program – June 25 DOT Tribal Transit Program – June 26 SAMHSA Addressing Dementia in Indian Country: Models of Care – June 27 CMS Seeks Nominations for Air Ambulance Committee – June 28 HRSA Faculty Loan Repayment Program – June 29 ACF Demonstration Grants to Strengthen the Response to Victims of Human Trafficking in Native Communities Program – June 30 USDA Tribal Colleges Extension Program: Special Emphasis – June 30 Notice of Meeting and Request for Information: ICD-11 Transition – June 30 HRSA Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention Simulation Education Training Program – July 3 HRSA Primary Care Training and Enhancement-Language and Disability Access – July 3 SAMHSA Family Counseling/Support for LGBTQ+ Youth – July 3 USDA Delta Health Care Services Grant Program – July 3 HRSA Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies Program – July 7 NIH Community Level Interventions to Improve Minority Health – July 7 NIH Emergency Award: RADx-UP Research on COVID-19 Interventions – July 10 CDC Social Determinants of Health Accelerator Plans – July 11 CMS Minority Research Grant Program – July 12 HRSA Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program – July 13 HRSA Sites for Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program – July 13 HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training – Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults Program for Professionals – July 14 HRSA Maternity Care Nursing Workforce Expansion Program – July 14 ACL Tribal Long Term Services and Support Resource Center – July 17 DOL Critical Sector Job Quality Grants – July 17 HRSA Enhanced Healthy Start Initiative – July 17 USDA Native Community Development Financial Institution Relending Demonstration Program – July 17 HHS Healthy Families Community-Based Perinatal Health Initiative – July 18 HRSA Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program – July 20 DHS Rural Emergency Medical Communications Demonstration Project – July 28 ACF Alaska Native Tribal Resource Center on Domestic Violence – July 31 HHS Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity – August 1 EPA Brownfields Job Training Grants – August 2 ACL Alzheimer's Disease Programs Initiative – States and Community Grants – August 7 Department of Education Full-Service Community Schools Program – August 8 Berkley Rural Public Health Master's Program – August 13 NIH Research to Improve Native American Health (AIDS Related) – September 7 NIH Tobacco Control Policies to Promote Health Equity – September 8 NRHA Rural Health Fellows Program – September 14 NIH Notice of Special Interest: Provider-to-Provider Telehealth Grant – October 5 UMMC Caregiver University for Alzheimer's Support – Quarterly deadlines until October 10 American Psychological Foundation Grant for Rural First Responders Mental Health Interventions – October 15 NIH Pilot Interventions to Integrate Social Care and Medical Care for Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases – October 19 Ongoing Opportunities HRSA Needs Rural Reviewers for Grant Applications 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 AmeriCorps American Connection Corps for Broadband in Rural Areas 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 CORH Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals Program 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 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 National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence Technical Assistance 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 Native American Research Centers for Health – Various dates until July 2026. NIH Project Talk Initiative Host Site Applications 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 RTT Collaborative: Rural Training Track Directors University RWJF Investigator-Initiated Research to Build a Culture of Health RWJF Pioneering Ideas Brief Proposals SAMHSA Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program for Communities Post-Disaster 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 Veterans Affairs Virtual Living Room - Using Technology to Address the Critical Healthcare Needs of Veterans in Rural Areas WWAMI Area Health Education Center Scholars Program | 
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