August 31, 2023 What's New Rural Emergency Hospitals Model Legislation and Considerations for States. FORHP funded the National Academy for State Health Policy to learn from states who expressed early interest in the REH provider type and national experts and develop a guide. This guide allows states to follow their own regulatory processes in drafting and enacting legislation and covers various decision points to consider should they decide to move forward to allow the REH designation. The REH provider type is designed to address concerns that some rural hospitals would not be able to sustain operations and could be at risk of complete closure. So far, approximately 20 states have REH licensure or regulations in place so this guide can help the remaining states that are considering adding REH licensure or regulations. First Medications for Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Announced. On August 29, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the first 10 medications covered by Medicare Part D that have been selected for negotiation through the Inflation Reduction Act. CMS will work with pharmaceutical manufacturers to settle on new prices that will take effect in 2026. This first round of drugs includes those that are used for one or multiple health problems including diabetes, heart failure, preventing and treating blood clots, chronic kidney disease and other conditions. New pricing may result in increased access and lower cost for rural beneficiaries, who tend to have higher rates of certain chronic illnesses like diabetes. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that diabetes is about 17% more prevalent in rural areas. Medicaid and CHIP Renewals: Reaching Children and Families in School-Based and Early Education and Care Settings. As pandemic-era protections for Medicaid coverage end, the Centers for Medicaid & Medicaid Services created materials and resources to help people with Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) take steps to renew their health coverage or find other coverage options. Education and early education professionals can use this toolkit to reach parents and families about what is happening right now with Medicaid and CHIP, and community groups are encouraged to use this slide deck and talking points for outreach. 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. One June 27, the DEA began to require that registration applicants – both new and renewing – 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. Watch this 11-minute video that explains the changes. 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 Northwest Public Health and Primary Care Leadership Institute – October 13. The Northwest Center for Public Health Practice and the Northwest Regional Primary Care Association provide a seven-month leadership and learning opportunity in the following states: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The program will run from March to September 2024. Participants will experience group and individual assignments, panels, lectures, and webinars, and use problem-based learning to explore real-life situations at the intersection of public health and primary care. People of color and other underrepresented groups and professionals working in rural areas or with medically underserved populations are strongly encouraged to apply. IHS Small Ambulatory Program for American Indians and Alaska Natives – November 10. The Indian Health Service (IHS) will provide funding to construct, expand, and/or modernize tribal owned small ambulatory health care facilities. Facilities must serve American Indian/Alaska Natives and can be operated pursuant to a health care services contract or compact entered into under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. NIH Build UP Trust Challenge – November 14. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will award a total of up to $1.25 million for solutions that increase research participation and the adoption of existing and new tools and approaches to detect, treat, and monitor diseases, conditions, and disorders by improving engagement with minority health populations and populations with health disparities. HRSA National Health Service Corps Students to Service Loan Repayment Program – December 7. Medical, dental, nursing and physician assistant students in their final year of school can receive awards up to $120,000 in exchange for a three-year commitment providing primary care services at NHSC-approved sites in high-need rural and other provider shortage areas. This year, HRSA added an additional $40,000 supplement for medical students who commit to providing OB/GYN services in a maternity care target area. 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 Recap on the Rural Behavioral Health Workforce. The Rural Health Research Gateway examines the behavioral health workforce supply, including the distribution of counselors, psychiatric nurse practitioners, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers. Policy Updates Visit the FORHP Policy page to see all recent updates and send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. See What's New for updates on the Rural Emergency Hospital designation and the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. Learning Events and Technical Assistance HRSA Rural Behavioral Health Workforce Virtual Summit – Wednesday, September 6 at 10:00 am ET. Over 2.5 hours, HRSA's Region 5 will give an overview of federal workforce programs targeting rural communities. National Academies Committee on Unequal Treatment Revisited – Wednesday, September 6 at 11:00 pm ET. This is the third public workshop examining federal efforts and initiatives aimed at reducing racial and ethnic inequities in health care access, utilization, and quality. The workshop series is part of a consensus study conducted by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. Enhancing Care for Black/African American Health Disparities in Rural Areas – Wednesday, September 6 at 3:00 pm ET. The National Council for Mental Wellbeing and the Morehouse School of Medicine's African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence will hold an hour-long roundtable discussion. Medicaid and CHIP Renewals: Reaching American Indian and Alaska Native Populations – Thursday, September 7 at 3:00 pm ET. With publicly available data showing more than 5 million people disenrolled from Medicaid to date, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is holding a series of webinars to review strategies for reaching special populations at state and local levels. 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 Rural Disaster Behavioral Health - A Guide for Outreach Workers and Crisis Counselors. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides a guide that considers risk factors, strengths, and common disaster reactions unique to rural communities. Approaching Deadlines 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 PFund Foundation Promoting Rural Interconnections for Sexual Minorities (PRISM) Grant – 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 National Board for Certified Counselors Minority Fellowship for Addictions Counselors – September 30 3RNET Recruiting for Retention Academy – October 1 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 – October 10 Northwest Public Health and Primary Care Leadership Institute – October 13 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 IHS Small Ambulatory Program for American Indians and Alaska Natives – November 10 NIH Build UP Trust Challenge – November 14 HRSA National Health Service Corps Students to Service Loan Repayment Program – December 7 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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