| Read this online. November 2, 2023 What's New HRSA Celebrates National Rural Health Day. Mark your calendars and join us on Thursday, November 16, at 11 a.m. ET for a discussion with federal leaders highlighting innovations in rural health care delivery. Other events throughout the week include a virtual HRSA rural job fair, a podcast discussion highlighting a successful rural program and much more. Rural Emergency Hospitals (REH) Assistance – TODAY, Thursday, November 2 at 2:00 pm Eastern. The FORHP-funded Rural Emergency Hospital Technical Assistance Center (the Rural Health Redesign Center and Mathematica) will be sharing information about the REH provider type, considerations for converting, and conditions of participation requirements during an hour-long webinar. Attendees will also learn about no-cost technical assistance for hospitals considering a conversion. 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. Since January 2023, 17 hospitals have converted to REH status. Marketplace for Health Insurance Enrollment is Open. Beginning Wednesday, November 1, consumers are able to sign up for high-quality, affordable health insurance or change their existing plan on HealthCare.gov. Anyone who enrolls by midnight December 15 can get full-year coverage that starts on January 1, 2024. For those who enroll by the January 16 deadline, coverage begins on February 1. Data from 2019 show that uninsured rates were higher in non-metropolitan areas (13.3 percent) than in metropolitan areas (10.8 percent) for the population under age 65. FCC Seeks Feedback on Mapping Broadband for Maternal Health – Comment by November 20. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking public comment on its interactive map that allows users to visualize broadband and health data at the national, state, and county levels. A special focus on maternal health was added earlier this year with the Data Mapping to Save Moms' Lives Act, directing the FCC to incorporate publicly available data on maternal mortality. The Commission hopes to get feedback from the public on ways to further expand, refine, and enhance the platform. Read more details in FCC's Notice of Inquiry and find comment procedures on page 18. The FCC provides a recording of its hour-long webinar to explain the map platform that took place on September 27. 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." White House Kicks Off Investing in Rural America Event Series. This week, the White House began a tour around the country with cabinet officials to discuss key federal investments in rural communities in agriculture, infrastructure, water, energy, food and health care access, and job creation. CORRECTION: Facilities Selected for Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project. Five facilities have been selected to participate in the fourth cohort of FORHP's program that helps small rural hospitals prepare for value-based care: Byrd Regional Hospital in Louisiana; Jaynes Family Practice in Kentucky; Mee Memorial Healthcare System in California; Family Medical Centers in Texas, a consortium of three independent rural health clinics with locations in Stockdale, Floresville, and La Vernia*; and Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic in Iowa. Participants will receive targeted technical assistance provided by the National Rural Health Resource Center to strengthen their foundation in key elements of quality, efficiency, patient experience and patient safety. The application for the next cohort opens in early January 2024. *Last week, this facility was listed as La Vernia Family Medical Center. 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. 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, November 9 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 DOJ/CDC Reaching Rural: Collaborative Solutions for Substance Misuse – December 15. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide a one-year training and technical assistance initiative to address substance use in rural communities. ACL Small Business Innovation Research Program – December 18. The Administration for Community Living (ACL) provides funding for research and/or development that improves the abilities of individuals with disabilities to perform activities of their choice in the community. The program places particular emphasis on helping women, socially/economically disadvantaged individuals, and applicants from underrepresented or rural areas. Udall Foundation Native American Congressional Internship – January 24. The national nonprofit offers a summer internship for Native American and Alaska Native students who wish to learn more about the federal government and issues affecting Indian country. The internship will take place from May 29 – August 3, 2024. To be eligible, applicants must be currently enrolled or recent graduates of a two- or four-year accredited nonprofit institution of higher learning in the U.S. EPA Small Communities, Big Challenges Competition – January 31. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeks local governments in rural communities to identify innovative ways to address environmental health issues. 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. Key Informant Perspectives on Rural Housing and Health. This policy brief from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center presents findings from interviews with representatives of national organizations working in the housing sector. Using content analysis of interview data, researchers share rural-specific housing barriers, including those that are related to health, as well as policy recommendations for addressing them. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. Advisory Committee Seeks Input on Rural Participation in Alternative Payment Models – Comment Period Extended to November 17. The Physician‐Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC), an independent federal advisory committee, seeks public input to inform their report to the Secretary with recommendations to encourage rural participation in population-based total cost of care (TCOC) models. They request information on what definitions of rural are most relevant for TCOC, what are the needs of rural providers, what are the barriers to rural participation in TCOC models, and what non-medical interventions do rural populations need. Send questions or comments to PTAC@HHS.gov. Comments Request: No Surprises Act Federal Independent Dispute Resolution Operations for FY 2024 – Comment by January 2, 2024. The US. Department of Health and Human Services issued a proposed rule that would create certain new requirements for group health plans and health insurance issuers; providers, facilities, and providers of air ambulance services (also known as "providers"); and certified Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) entities as they relate to the Federal IDR process under the No Surprises Act. The No Surprises Act provides Federal protections against surprise billing by limiting out-of-network cost sharing and prohibiting balance billing in many of the circumstances in which surprise bills most frequently arise. Section 103 of the No Surprises Act established a Federal IDR process that plans and issuers and nonparticipating providers and facilities may utilize to resolve certain disputes regarding out-of-network rates. The goals of this proposed rule are to improve communications between payers, providers, and certified IDR entities who make payment determinations; adjust Federal IDR timelines; establish new batching criteria; create a more efficient IDR process; and change the administrative fee structure to improve accessibility of the process. A 2017 study cited in a recent report from the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) found that "emergency visits in urban areas (18 percent) are somewhat more likely to result in at least one out-of-network charge than are visits in rural areas (14 percent)." Comments Requested: Disincentives for Health Care Providers that Commit Information Blocking – Comment by January 2, 2024. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a proposed rule for public comment that would establish disincentives for health care providers found by the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) to have committed information blocking. Information blocking by a healthcare provider means they engaged in a practice they know is likely to interfere with the access, exchange, or use of electronic health information. The HHS Office of the Inspector General is responsible for determining whether a provider committed information blocking. In this proposed rule, hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals, and Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) providers determined to have committed information blocking would not be able to be meaningful electronic health record users, which would impact their quality scores and their payments. Accountable Care Organization providers or suppliers would be removed from, or denied approval to participate, in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. 340B Registration Requirements for Off-site, Outpatient Hospital Facilities. HRSA is releasing a Federal Register Notice to inform and remind stakeholders of the registration requirements for off-site, outpatient hospital facilities to participate in the 340B Drug Pricing Program. As part of the government's efforts to respond to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, HHS allowed various flexibilities across many of the Department's programs, including the 340B Program. This Federal Register Notice specifies requirements for covered entities' offsite, outpatient hospital facilities to continue purchasing 340B drugs. Learning Events and Technical Assistance RHC Emergency Preparedness 101 – Tuesday, November 7 at 3:00 pm Eastern. Independent and provider-based Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) are required to develop and implement emergency preparedness policies and procedures at least every two years. During this free webinar FORHP-supported National Association of Rural Health Clinics will share an overview of RHC emergency preparedness requirements found in CMS regulations and guidance, important components of an emergency preparedness manual, learn sample exercises, and provide time for Q&A. Advanced registration is required. Rural Definitions and Data: Changes after the 2020 Census – Wednesday, November 8 at 1:00 pm Eastern. Experts from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy will review how rurality is defined by the federal government, what changes in these definitions were made recently, and how this may affect rural areas' eligibility for federal funding. SAMHSA Tribal Listening Session on Behavioral Health/SUD Resources – Thursday, November 9 at 4:00 pm Eastern. Scroll to "Upcoming Events" to see details of this session hosted by The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Officials will meet to discuss funding and implementation for a new federal program under development, Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Resources for Native Americans. SAMHSA Tribal Listening Session on the Use of High Dose Buprenorphine – Monday, November 13 at 2:30 pm Eastern. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will hold a 90-minute session to hear from providers treating opioid use disorder in Tribal clinical settings. The information will be used to inform federal guidance and activities on buprenorphine dosing in the context of fentanyl. Application Assistance for New FORHP Funding – Tuesday, November 14 at 3:00 pm Eastern. FORHP will hold a one-hour webinar for applicants of the Rural Health Network Development Planning Program, that will provide 30 grants to help communities develop integrated health networks. A separate webinar for Tribes and Tribal organizations will be held on Monday, November 20. See details and registration information in the headline link. How Does the Definition of "Rural" Impact Research? – Wednesday, November 15 at 2:00 pm ET. The FORHP-supported Rural Health Research Gateway will show how different federal definitions of rural affect their research and health policy. Resources of the Week State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Policies Report, Fall 2023. The HRSA-supported National Telehealth Policy Resource Center provides an overview of state telehealth policies as of September 2023. The report covers Medicaid reimbursement, private payer laws, and professional requirements. Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention for LGBTQIA2S+ Youth: A Resource Guide for Professionals, Families, and Communities. The Suicide Prevention Resource Center and NORC at the University of Chicago provide strategies and discussions specific to American Indian/Alaska Native Two-Spirit Youth and rural communities. New Data Map: Addressing Barriers to Care in Rural Health. The National Institute for Health Care Management's latest infographic explores the state of rural health and health care access in the US, including barriers to care and how telehealth services can be utilized to improve health care access. Approaching Deadlines NIH Researching Social Networks to Promote Behavior Change – November 3 Comments Requested: CMS Proposes Minimum Staffing Standards for Nursing Homes – Comment by November 6 EPA Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program – November 6 NIH Researching Firearm Injury Prevention in Community Healthcare Settings – November 7 IHS Small Ambulatory Program for American Indians and Alaska Natives – November 10 EPA Funding One Entity Providing Technical Assistance for Tribal Nations and Entities Addressing Brownfields – November 13 NIH Build UP Trust Challenge – November 14 DOT Assistance for Communities through the Thriving Communities Program – Letters of Interest November 15 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 AmeriCorps State and National Grants – January 4 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 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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