| Read this online. August 10, 2023 What's New Updated Medicare Fee-For-Service Telehealth Trends. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services examines telehealth visits by Medicare beneficiaries from 2019 through 2021, including urban and rural residence, Health Professional Shortage Area, visit specialty, health conditions, and state. Forecasted Opportunity: SAMHSA Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Regional Centers – Estimated Post Date February 2024. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) expects a $7.5 million investment in regional centers of excellence for training and technical assistance specific to rural communities. Partnership for Quality Management (PQM) Seeks Rural Health Experts for Committees – Submit Nominations by August 14. As previously mentioned in this newsletter, new committees are being formed by Battelle, as contracted by CMS, to make recommendations on health care quality measurement. Rural health experts are sought for all PQM committees (on the nomination form, one can check a box as a "rural health expert"). More information on PQM can be found here: Get Involved | Partnership for Quality Measurement (p4qm.org). The original July 30 deadline for nominations has been extended to August 14. 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 Learning About Long COVID & Fatiguing Illness – Thursday, August 10 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. 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 NIH Native Collective Research Effort Addressing Overdose, Substance Use, Mental Health, and Pain – November 1. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) provide funding for community-led research to enhance culturally grounded interventions addressing overdose, substance use, mental health, and pain in Native communities. Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellows – November 1. The annual fellowship starts with an immersive three-and-a-half-month orientation period, followed by placement working as a senior advisor to an elected or appointed federal government official. Individuals with diverse and unique perspectives are strongly encouraged to apply, and the foundation has an interest in rural. NTIA Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program – January 23. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) estimates 200 awards, each ranging from $1 million to $50 million. The funds are to be used for broadband infrastructure as well as projects promoting adoption and use of broadband services. 3RNET Recruitment and Retention Assistance – Ongoing. The organization originally formed as the National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network helps rural practices expand their reach for posting job vacancies. 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. Eight Postpartum Support Programs in Rural Communities Across the United States. This case study series from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center highlights local programs in Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, South Carolina, and Washington. Differences in Residential Stability by Rural/Urban Location and Socio-Demographic Characteristics. Among key findings from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center: rural residents are more likely than urban residents to have lived in their homes for more than 20 years (27 percent vs. 20 percent); more likely to have a disability (17 percent vs. 13 percent), and/or be in poor health (24 percent vs. 17 percent). Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. MedPAC 2023 Data Book released. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) recently published its annual data book with information on Medicare spending – including Medicare Advantage (Part C) – prescription drugs, alternative payment models, acute care and post-acute care, as well as demographic info that includes rural beneficiaries. Per the data book, 18 percent of the Medicare population is in rural areas, and Medicare Part C enrollment grew from just 26 percent in 2011 to 49 percent in 2022. Learning Events and Technical Assistance Medicaid and CHIP Renewals: Reaching Black American Populations – Thursday, August 10 at 3:00 pm ET. With publicly available data showing nearly 4 million people disenrolled from Medicaid to date, the Centers for Medicaid & 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. SAMSHA 2023 Tribal Recovery Summit – August 15-16. Register to attend online or in person in Dallas, Texas. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Office of Tribal Affairs and Policy and Office of Recovery will convene to share best practices and experiences to improve recovery-related outcomes. Save the Date: 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. Resource of the Week Strategies to Prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences in Ohio. The Health Policy Institute of Ohio includes county-level data and discussions centered on rural and/or Appalachian areas in their policy brief. Strategies focus on caregiver skills training, violence prevention programs, social-emotional learning in schools, and mentoring programs. Approaching Deadlines ACF Culturally Specific Family Violence Prevention – August 11 National Medical Fellowships Health Equity Leaders – August 11 Berkley Rural Public Health Master's Program – August 13 Dept of Transportation Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program – August 14 Partnership for Quality Management (PQM) Seeks Rural Health Experts for Committees – August 14 CMS Seeking Researchers for Health Data Access Program – August 15 Comments Requested: ACL Updates Older Americans Act – August 15 Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project – August 15 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 USDA Emergency Rural Health Care Grants (Track One only) – September 2023 or until funds run out 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 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 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 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 WWAMI Area Health Education Center Scholars Program 3RNET Recruitment and Retention Assistance | 
No comments:
Post a Comment