August 17, 2023 What's New HHS Declares Public Health Emergency for Hawaii. Last week, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE) for the state of Hawaii to address the health impacts of the wildfires. Following from the PHE declaration, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is providing health care providers and suppliers with greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. These actions and flexibilities are retroactive to August 8, 2023. CMS Requests Applications for New Primary Care Model. This week, the Innovation Center at the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a Request for Applications detailing policies and requirements for the Making Care Primary Model. Interested applicants may apply later this month when the Application Portal opens. The model will launch July 1, 2024, in eight states: Colorado, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Washington, and will operate over a ten-year period. This model aims to strengthen coordination between patients' primary care clinicians, specialists, social service providers, and behavioral health clinicians, to drive improved chronic disease prevention, fewer emergency room visits, and better health outcomes. While Rural Health Clinics are not eligible, other rural primary care providers (including Federally Qualified Health Centers) may seek to participate. A Look at the Latest Suicide Data and Change Over the Last Decade. The Kaiser Family Foundation examines newly released provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing a record high of 49,369 suicide deaths in 2022. Rates were highest among American Indian and Alaska Native people, males, and people who live in rural areas. Suicide by firearm is identified as the primary driver of the increase – up by 8 percent from 2020 and another 3 percent in 2022, while deaths from other suicide methods remained more stable. An Analysis of Newly-Released Federal Data on Hospital Ownership. The office for evaluation at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services analyzed data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The report covers all U.S. hospitals enrolled in Medicare with data on hospital type, rural/urban location, organizational structure, and types of ownership – organizational and hospital chains, and individual owners. Heat-Related EMS Activation Surveillance Dashboard. An interactive map shows county-level Emergency Medical Services (EMS) activations related to heat illness. Selecting the Disparity Explorer tab shows patient data related to EMS response time, rate of EMS activation, number of deaths, and EMS transportation for patients at the urban, suburban, rural, and frontier levels. Updated weekly, the dashboard is sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. In a Maternity Desert, a New Kind of Home Visitation Program Brings Care to At-Risk Mothers. The latest feature article in the Rural Health Information Hub's Rural Monitor features Project Swaddle, a community paramedic program that provides education, support, and medical care to pregnant and postpartum patients in rural Indiana. Rural/urban differences in rates of screening pregnant/postpartum people for intimate partner violence. More than 200,000 self-reported experiences of perinatal intimate partner violence (IPV) were analyzed. FORHP-funded researchers conclude IPV is more common among rural birthing people, who are less likely to be screened for abuse compared with their urban peers. 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 December 29, 2022 (when Congress eliminated the waiver requirement). Approximately $889,000 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 Provider Relief Fund Reporting Period 5. The Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Portal is open from July 1 to September 30, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Providers who received one or more PRF (General or Targeted) and/or American Rescue Plan Rural payments exceeding $10,000, in the aggregate, from January 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022 must report on their use of funds during Reporting Period 5 to comply with PRF Reporting Requirements. More information and resources can be found on the PRF Reporting webpage. 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 through the CARES Act by the Federation of State Medical Boards and HRSA's Office for the Advancement of Telehealth. 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 Harvard/Massachusetts General Hospital Fellowship Program in Rural Health Leadership – September 30. A full-time fellowship for early-career clinicians who have an interest in partnering with rural communities to improve health. The fellowship includes a Master's Degree in Public Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and focused clinical time in Rosebud, South Dakota at an Indian Health Service site. HHS Innovation Challenge: Preventing Human Trafficking/Women and Girls – February 1. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services is holding a national competition to identify existing innovative programs that address human trafficking of women and girls in the United States. The goal is to find sustainable practices that can be expanded and/or replicated. HRSA/SAMHSA Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Training and Mentoring – Ongoing. HRSA joins the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in this effort to increase the number of clinicians in high-need areas who are trained to prescribe buprenorphine and other medications to treat opioid use disorder. Eligible clinicians – physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified nurse midwives, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and medical students – must already have an active Drug Enforcement Administration number to dispense controlled substances. Completion of the 8-hour course will count toward meeting Drug Enforcement Administration requirements specific to prescribing MOUD. Western Region Public Health Training Center – Future Leaders Program – Ongoing. Field placements and faculty-student collaborative projects in rural and medically underserved communities in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Islands. 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. Distributional Analysis of Variation in Medicare Advantage Participation Within and Between Metropolitan, Micropolitan, and Noncore Counties. This brief from the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis identifies patterns and trends in Medicare Advantage participation (penetration rates, number of plans, and enrollment), both within and across metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties. A Consensus Panel Approach to Estimating the Start-Up and Annual Service Costs for Rural Ambulance Agencies. This brief from the Maine Rural Health Research Center serves to fill the information void on the costs of running ambulance services for three population-based service tiers and establishes a minimum access standard for ambulances servicing a 25-minute travel time radius from the ambulance station. The model enables policymakers and community stakeholders to develop strategic plans for the financing and provision of ambulance services. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. See New Primary Care Model under What's New. Learning Events and Technical Assistance Indian Health Service Listening Session 1: Advance Appropriations Implementation – Thursday, August 17 at 12:00 pm ET. The first of two listening sessions to share information and solicit input on federal funding that will become available on October 1. Medicaid and CHIP Renewals: Reaching Aging & Disability Populations – Thursday, August 17 at 3:00 pm ET. With publicly available data showing nearly 4 million people disenrolled from Medicaid to date, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is holding a series of webinars during the month of August to review strategies for reaching special populations at state and local levels. On Thursday, August 24, the topic will be reaching rural populations, with participating expertise from FORHP. Click the headline link to register. NOSORH State of the Healthcare Industry – Market Updates for Rural – Monday, August 28 at 3:00 pm ET. The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) will cover new regulations and market dynamics and explain their effect on rural providers. 3RNET System for Provider Recruitment Celebrates 10 Years – Wednesday, August 30 at 3:00 pm ET. The organization originally formed as the National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network helps rural practices expand their reach for posting job vacancies. Registration is required for this online event featuring their Provider Retention & Information System Management (PRISM) that collects and shares real-time data to enhance clinician recruitment and retention. Civic Engagement to Advance Health Equity – Wednesday, August 30 at 3:00 pm ET. The second in a two-part series from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine examines the role of voter participation as a core objective in Healthy People 2030. Earlier this year, the annual County Health Rankings identified civic health – the opportunities people have to participate in their communities – as an essential part of health equity. National Telehealth Conference – September 12. Join health care professionals, policymakers, and industry stakeholders from around the country at HRSA's virtual telehealth conference. Learn about the latest telehealth best practices, health equity, broadband, and more. Northeast Telehealth Resource Center Conference – September 18-19. The two-day event in Nashua, New Hampshire will feature networking opportunities over the course of 20 sessions with industry experts. The NETRC is one of 12 regional components of the HRSA-supported National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers. Resources of the Week A Rural Accountable Care Organization's Journey. The FORHP-supported Rural Health Value team recently released a new Rural Innovative Profile on the South East Rural Physicians Alliance Accountable Care Organization. A physician-led ACO that includes 16 physician-owned clinics in Nebraska has been leveraging health care payment and delivery models to provide high quality, comprehensive, coordinated and patient-centered care at a lower cost. ASTHO: Maintaining Patient Access to Care in Rural America. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) provide a recording of their hour-long webinar that discusses federal priorities and policy efforts related to rural health care. Approaching Deadlines DOT Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Programs – INFRA Grants – August 21 Comments Requested: CMS Updates Policy for End Stage Renal Disease – August 25 USDA Grants for Education and Research at 1890 Land-Grant Institutions – August 30 EPA Community-Based Research to Mitigate Environmental Health Disparities – August 31 Comments Requested: Remedy for 340B Medicare Drug Payment Policy – September 5 NIH Research to Improve Native American Health (AIDS Related) – September 7 NIH Tobacco Control Policies to Promote Health Equity – September 8 Comments Requested: Proposals to Update Medicare Outpatient Payments and Other Policies – September 11 Comments Requested: Proposals to Update Medicare Clinician Payment and Other Policies – September 11 NRHA Rural Health Fellows Program – September 14 Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health: Wilderness and Austere Medicine Fellowship – September 15 NIH Clinical and Translational Science Award – September 15 USDA Empowering Rural America Program – Letters of Intent September 15 USDA Small Business Innovation Research – Phase 1 – September 19 Institute of Museum and Library Sciences: Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program – Preliminary Proposals September 20 EPA Solar for All Competition – September 26 DOT Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program – September 28 PCORI Building Capacity for Patient-Centered Research/Clinical Effectiveness – Letters of Intent September 28 PCORI Dissemination Initiative – Letters of Intent September 28 PCORI Stakeholder Convening Support – Letters of Intent September 28 Harvard/Massachusetts General Hospital Fellowship Program in Rural Health Leadership – September 30 AHRQ Health Services Research Demonstration and Dissemination Grants – October 1 Comments Requested: Requirements Related to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act – October 2 NIH Assessing Real-World Effectiveness of Telehealth Guided Provider-to-Provider Communication in Rural Communities – 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 USDA Community Food Projects – October 30 NIH Native Collective Research Effort Addressing Overdose, Substance Use, Mental Health, and Pain – November 1 Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellows – November 1 NIH Researching Social Networks to Promote Behavior Change – November 3 NTIA Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program – January 23 HHS Innovation Challenge: Preventing Human Trafficking/Women and Girls – February 1 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 SAMHSA 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Volunteer and Job Opportunities USDA Disaster Repair Grants for Rural Community Facilities – Ongoing while funds last USDA Water Infrastructure Grants for 2022 Disaster Areas – Ongoing while funds last ACF Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program ACF Rural Community Development Program for Rural Water Systems Addiction Policy Forum: Sites for Anti-Stigma Pilot AgriSafe Mental Health Training for Agricultural Producers & Families 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 Community Fund Technical Assistance Grants Appalachian Regional Commission J-1 Visa Waivers for Doctors ASA Rural Access to Anesthesia Care Scholarship 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 Act Program FEMA/SAMHSA Post-Disaster Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program GPHC & RWJF: Rapid Cycle Research and Evaluation Grants for Cross-Sector Alignment HRSA/SAMHSA Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Training and Mentoring 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 NRHA Chief Nursing Officer Certification Program for Rural Hospitals 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 Intermediary Relending Program USDA Multifamily Housing Loan Guarantees USDA National School Lunch Afterschool Snack 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 Western Region Public Health Training Center – Future Leaders Program WWAMI Area Health Education Center Scholars Program 3RNET Recruitment and Retention Assistance | 
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