| Read this online. November 16, 2023 National Rural Health Day What's New Let's Celebrate National Rural Health Day – Thursday, November 16, 2023. Today, at 11:00 am Eastern, HRSA's Federal Office of Rural Health Policy will be joined by federal partners from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Indian Health Service. Leaders will discuss federal programs that promote new approaches to increase access to health services for patients in rural areas. See the full agenda – including events taking place later today and tomorrow – plus more information about the history and purpose of this annual celebration, a deeper look at one of FORHP's biggest programs, and a review of historic policies made in the last three years. New Funding Opportunity for Planning Rural Residencies – Apply by February 12. The FORHP-supported Rural Residency Planning and Development Program provides start-up funding for new residency programs to address physician workforce shortages in family medicine, internal medicine, psychiatry, general surgery, preventive medicine, or obstetrics and gynecology. Eligible applicants are rural hospitals and graduate medical education consortiums that may include universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and/or Tribal organizations. A maximum of 15 awardees will receive up to $750,000 for a three-year grant period to develop new and sustainable programs approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, especially programs specifically designed for underserved areas and populations. Research has shown that physicians from a rural background and those trained in rural settings are more likely to continue practicing in rural areas after completing their residencies. The federal RRPD program helps organizations start new rural residencies that have plans to be sustainable over the long-term through viable and stable funding mechanisms such as Medicare, Medicaid, and other public or private funding sources. FORHP will hold a technical assistance webinar via Zoom for applicants on Friday, November 17 at 1:00 p.m. ET. New Partnership Creates Rural Health Equity Roadmap. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health have joined with two philanthropic organizations with experience in minority communities – Well-being and Equity (WE) in the World and Well Being In the Nation (WIN) Network – to collaborate on guidelines for what it will take to bring health equity to rural areas. 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 are still required to register with the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to prescribe controlled medications. On 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 Learning About Long COVID & Fatiguing Illness – Thursday, December 14 at 3:00 pm Eastern. 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. 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 HRSA Nurse Faculty Loan Program – February 5. HRSA's Bureau of Health Workforce provides funding to accredited schools of nursing to provide student loans to students enrolled in advanced nursing degree programs who are committed to becoming nurse faculty. In exchange for up to four years of full-time nurse faculty employment in an accredited school of nursing, the program authorizes cancellation of up to 85 percent of the original student loan amount. The program also encourages Advance Practice Registered Nurses to serve as full-time preceptors within an academic-practice partnership framework. RWJF Summer Health Professions Education Program – February 5. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) provides a free summer enrichment program to college students. Eligible students include, but are not limited to, individuals who identify as African American/Black, American Indian and Alaska Native and Hispanic/Latino, and those who are from communities of socioeconomic and educational disadvantage. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. Proposed Updates: Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans – Comment by January 5. Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a proposed rule outlining new policies for Medicare Advantage (MA) and Prescription Drug (Part D) plans for Contract Year 2025. The proposals would set guidelines on compensation for agents and brokers, add a range of behavioral health providers to the current list that MA plans must contract with, require plans to notify enrollees mid-year of any supplemental benefits that are available to them but have not been used yet, conduct annual health equity analyses of prior authorization policies, and offer more enrollment opportunities in plans that integrate Medicare and Medicaid for dually eligible managed care enrollees. Enrollment in MA has been growing in recent years, especially in rural areas where 45.1 percent of beneficiaries were enrolled in MA plans as of January 2023. Updated Catalog of Value-Based Initiatives for Rural Providers. The Rural Health Value team recently added two new policy models to their catalog that summarizes federal programs that may help rural providers shift to value-based programs. These programs and models are primarily created by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and its Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation. One of these, the States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD) Model seeks to transform state-level policy with the goal of improving health outcomes at a lower cost. CMS will begin accepting applications in late Fall 2023 with a deadline set for Spring 2024. A second program, Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model will establish dementia care programs that aim to improve quality of life for people with dementia, help them remain in their homes, and reduce strain on their unpaid care givers. Applications for the GUIDE Model are due on January 30; participants will start in July 2024 and run the program for eight years. The Rural Health Value team is funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. New Birthing Friendly Hospital Designation Available on Care Compare Website. On November 8th, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) began displaying the Birthing-Friendly icon on CMS's online tool, Care Compare. This new designation identifies hospitals and health systems that participate in a statewide or national perinatal quality improvement program and that implement evidence-based care to improve maternal health. Along with the Care Compare tool, the public can use an interactive map to find the Birthing-Friendly designation at a hospital or health system nearby. With growing closures of obstetric units in rural hospitals, finding high quality care in rural areas has become increasingly important. Learning Events and Technical Assistance *Indicates HRSA-sponsored National Rural Health Day events. *HRSA Federal Rural Partners Keynote Event – Thursday, November 16 at 11:00 am Eastern. The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy will host partners from across government to discuss innovations in rural health care delivery. USDA: Rural America at a Glance, 2023 Edition – Thursday, November 16 at 1:00 pm Eastern. The Economic Research Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) highlights the most recent indicators of social and economic conditions in rural areas, focusing on rural population and migration trends, poverty, housing insecurity, unemployment, and clean energy jobs. *The Power of Rural in Action: CDC and State Strategies for Rural Health – Thursday, November 16 at 3:00 pm Eastern. The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explore state and national strategies. White House Weekly Rural Partners Call – Thursday, November 16 at 3:00 pm Eastern. On this week's call, senior White House Advisor will provide talk about progress with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as it moves into its third year. There will also be discussion of the importance of the Affordable Connectivity Program and the Investing in Rural America Tour. Please note that this call is off-the-record and closed to press. *FCC Intersecting Maternal Health and Broadband Data – Friday, November 17 at 10:30 am Eastern. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will host a hybrid event – in person and online – to discuss a new focus on maternal health for its project, Mapping Broadband Health in America. The FCC is seeking comments from the public until November 20 on the interactive map that provides a cross-section of broadband availability with county-level data on factors that contribute to maternal mortality. University of Minnesota research from 2019 found that, when controlling for sociodemographic factors and clinical conditions, "rural residents had a 9 percent greater probability of severe maternal morbidity and mortality, compared with urban residents." CDC Invites Rural Sites for Public Health Associate Program – Friday, November 17 at 2:00 pm Eastern. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will soon open the application cycle for host sites of its Public Health Associate Program, a two-year experience that pays early-career public health professionals for experience in the field. This hour-long session will include host supervisors and associates from rural settings who will share their experience and answer questions. Contact ruralhealth@cdc.gov or phap@cdc.gov for more information. Assessing Opportunities to Fill the Gap for Health Care Services for Veterans in Rural and Highly Rural Areas - Tuesday, November 28th at 1:00 PM ET. The Office of Connected Care at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) created the Accessing Telehealth through Local Area Stations (ATLAS) program to establish telehealth access points for Veterans in rural areas According to the VA Office of Rural Health, there is an estimated 2.8 million rural Veterans who rely on the VA's heath care system. This new option reduces obstacles such as long travel times to appointments and poor internet connectivity at home. During this free webinar, moderated by the National Association of Rural Health Clinics and the National Rural Health Association, ATLAS will share an overview of the model, highlight opportunities for RHC participation, and provide time for Q&A. Advanced registration is required. Approaching Deadlines NIH Extramural Loan Repayment Program – November 16 Advisory Committee Seeks Input on Rural Participation in Alternative Payment Models – Comment Period Extended to November 17 Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health Scholarship – November 17 Veterans Health Administration Rural Scholars Fellowship – November 17 FCC Seeks Feedback on Mapping Broadband for Maternal Health – November 20 USDA Community Facilities Technical Assistance/2022 Disaster Areas – November 24 CDC Rape Prevention and Education – November 30 CMS Making Care Primary Model – November 30 HUD Fair Housing Initiatives Program – November 30 CDC Rigorous Evaluation of Policy-Level Interventions to Prevent Overdose – December 1 Commonwealth Fund/Harvard Fellowship in Minority Health Policy – December 1 HRSA National Health Service Corps Students to Service Loan Repayment Program – December 7 HRSA Healthy Start: Eliminating Disparities in Perinatal Health – December 15 DOJ/CDC Reaching Rural: Collaborative Solutions for Substance Misuse – December 15 ACL Small Business Innovation Research Program – December 18 NIH Research Centers in Minority Institutions – December 18 National Board for Certified Counselors Foundation Rural Scholarships – December 31 USDA Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program – December 31 Comments Requested: Disincentives for Health Care Providers that Commit Information Blocking – Comment by January 2 Comments Request: No Surprises Act Federal Independent Dispute Resolution Operations for FY 2024 – Comment by January 2 USDA Technical Assistance/Training for Rural Water and Waste Disposal Systems – January 2 AmeriCorps State and National Grants – January 4 Proposed Updates: Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans – Comment by January 5 CDC Community Health Worker Services for HIV in Rural Communities – January 5 NARHC Bill Finerfrock Health Policy Fellowship – January 5 NIDA Seeking Telemedicine/Remote-Based Platforms for SUD Treatment – January 8 Request for Information: Upcoming ICD-11 – Comment by January 12 NTIA Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program – January 23 Udall Foundation Native American Congressional Internship – January 24 Rural Health Network Development Planning Program – January 26 HHS Environmental Justice Community Innovator Challenge, Phase 1 – January 30 EPA Small Communities, Big Challenges Competition – January 31 HHS Innovation Challenge: Preventing Human Trafficking/Women and Girls – February 1 HRSA Nurse Faculty Loan Program – February 5 RWJF Summer Health Professions Education Program – February 5 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 National Indian Health Board Vaccination Event Funding – Ongoing while funds last 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 GSA Federal Surplus Property Available for Public Use 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 National Indian Health Board Vaccination Event Funding National Indigenous Women's Resource Center Technical Assistance for Domestic Violence Programs 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 Research to Improve Native American Health – October 2024 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 NIH Research to Understand Disparities in Maternal Morbidity and Mortality – Various dates until October 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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