| Read this online. February 16, 2023 What's New New Funding for Licensure Portability Grant Program – Apply by April 8. HRSA's Office for the Advancement of Telehealth will award approximately $500,000 to up to four grantees each year over a period of five years. The program helps state licensing boards for health professions to cooperate and reduce statutory and regulatory barriers to telehealth. CMS Webinar: Overview of the Transforming Maternal Health Model – Wednesday, February 28 at 1:00 pm Eastern. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will release a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the new model in Spring 2024. During the 90-minute webinar, state Medicaid agencies and other maternal health stakeholders can learn about a whole-person approach to care that addresses physical, mental health, and social needs that come before, during, and after childbirth. The model is formed around a health equity strategy, and will offer tailored, state-specific technical assistance to support providers and other partners in rural, Tribal, and other high-need areas. This assistance may include establishing regional partnerships and receiving guidance for including rural providers in the care delivery and payment model. Preparing Behavioral Health Clinicians for Success and Retention in Rural Safety Net Practices. The researchers of this study analyzed survey data from licensed clinicians working in rural safety net practices across 21 states from 2015 to 2022. They found nearly two-thirds of the 778 survey respondents had formal educational experiences with medically underserved populations in rural counties. These results support the integration of clinicians within these communities for longer retention in rural safety net practices. CMS Creates New Prescription Drug Resource Hub. Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a new resource to get the word out about the agency's efforts to reduce costs through Medicare drug price negotiation and other measures brought by the Inflation Reduction Act. The site explains a new $35 insulin cap and other savings, inflation rebates, health care cost savings by state, and other sharable details in fact sheets, social media messaging, and videos that explain the changes. 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, 2023 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 **New: CDC's COVIDVaxView Dashboard. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to share weekly COVID-19 vaccination data using a variety of data sources. A new resource, COVIDVaxView Interactive, goes deeper with a look at variations in vaccine confidence by demographics and geography. Provider Relief Fund Reporting Period 6. The Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Portal opened January 1 and will remain open until March 31, 2024 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 July 1 to December 31, 2022 must report on their use of funds during Reporting Period 6 to comply with PRF Reporting Requirements. More information and resources can be found on the PRF Reporting webpage. Learn About Long COVID & Fatiguing Illness – Thursday, March 14 at 3:00 pm Eastern. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention fund this monthly webinar-style ECHO learning session to rapidly disseminate findings about Post-COVID Conditions (PCC) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). The series offers 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. COVID-19 Home Tests Available. Every home in the U.S. is again eligible to receive four (4) free at-home tests ordered at www.covid.gov. Delivery is free through the U.S. Postal Service. Home Test to Treat is a new program funded by the National Institutes of Health focused on providing COVID-19 care and treatment for adults who are at greater risk of being affected by COVID-19. Adults who do not currently have COVID-19 or flu may enroll and receive free tests if they are uninsured or are enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, the Veterans Affairs health care system, or the Indian Health Services. Individuals who are currently positive for COVID-19 can enroll to receive telehealth services for COVID-19 and treatment (if prescribed) at no cost. Enrollees may also be invited to participate in a completely optional research component of the program. Informational flyers are available in English and Spanish. Mobilizing Health Care Workforce via Telehealth. ProviderBridge.org was created through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (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 NOSORH Rural Health Capital Resources Master Class – March 13. The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) will provide a live, online master class designed for working professionals who want to learn more about accessing and utilizing capital from federal, state, and private sources for rural health development projects. The first two sessions offer introductory information and are available at no cost to all who wish to attend. There is a fee for three remaining sessions running March 13 through 27. NIH/NIMH Health Disparities Research Institute – March 14. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) provide an intensive training experience to support the career development of promising minority health/health disparities research scientists early in their careers. The training is sponsored by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities and will be held in-person August 5-9 on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland. DOJ Office on Violence Against Women – Rural Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program – April 12. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) expects to make 55 awards with total funding of $36.4 million. The program supports cooperative efforts between law enforcement officers and victim service providers. The DOJ has two separate but related funding opportunities: DOJ Office on Violence Against Women Grants for Outreach and Services to Underserved Populations – March 26, and DOJ Office of Violence Against Women Grants to Indian Tribal Governments – April 24. USDA Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program – April 1. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides funding to Land Grant Institutions and other colleges and universities with significant minority enrollments. The schools in turn offer scholarships intended to increase the multicultural diversity of the food and agricultural scientific and professional workforce. EPA Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants – November 21. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) anticipates 170 awards for a cooperative agreement program. The grants will fund community-driven projects on two tracks: Track I will fund approximately 150 large, collaborative projects at $10-20 million each; Track II will fund approximately 20 meaningful engagement grants of $1-3 million. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the November deadline. Recently, the National Institutes of Health identified rural areas as uniquely vulnerable to the effects of climate change – where people, businesses, and safety net health organizations pay disproportionately high costs to recover from storms, heat waves, and wildfires. CDC Direct Assistance: Assigning CDC Staff to State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Health Agencies – Ongoing. The Direct Assistance Program offers funding for staff from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to be assigned to provide direct, individualized technical assistance for state, tribal, local, and territorial health agencies that have been awarded grants and cooperative agreements made under specific CDC programs. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. CMS Seeks Public Input on Medicare Interoperability Reporting – Comment by March 7. In the FY 2024 Inpatient Hospital Final Rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized several changes to the information that eligible hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals report under the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program. CMS does not expect that these changes will increase the burden of collecting this information; however, they are required to give the public a second opportunity for public comment. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the estimated burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected. Updated Guidance on Texting Patient Information and Orders. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has updated guidance to now allow hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals to text patient information and orders to the electronic health records (EHR) using a HIPAA-compliant secure platform. Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) continues to be the preferred method of order entry by a provider, but CMS recognizes there have been significant improvements in the encryption and interface capabilities of texting platforms to transfer data into EHRs since their last guidance was issued in 2018. Proposed Changes to Oversight of Accrediting Organizations – Comment by April 15. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeks public input on proposals intended to strengthen oversight of the nine-accrediting organization (AOs) that survey Medicare and Medicaid certified health care providers for compliance with health and safety requirements. CMS proposes to prohibit AOs from giving a hospital or other health care facility advance notice of a survey; penalize hospitals that receive a condition-level citation during a validation survey; and require AOs to use CMS's Conditions of Participation as their minimum accreditation standards. Updated Medicaid and CHIP Telehealth Toolkit. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services updated the resource that provides a compilation of telehealth policies for state Medicaid agencies. It includes flexibilities, requirements, and best practices for states to consider when using telehealth to deliver Medicaid and CHIP benefits and services, including in rural communities. There is information about telehealth platforms; billing best practices; best practices during and after the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency; strategies to promote accessible and culturally competent care via telehealth; strategies for telehealth in value-based care; evaluation strategies to understand how telehealth affects quality, outcomes, and cost; and strategies for communicating, training, and providing resources on telehealth for providers and for beneficiaries. Rural providers interested in learning more about telehealth policies, visit the National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers. Key Application Dates and Deadlines for Medicare Shared Savings Program. Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) interested in participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (SSP) starting January 1, 2025 can follow this one-pager from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. SSP ACOs are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers who collaborate to give coordinated high-quality care to people with Medicare. Phase 1 of the application process opens May 20th and closes June 17th. Certain new ACO entities in rural and underserved areas may be eligible for Advance Investment Payments (AIPs), which are upfront and quarterly payments that can be used to build infrastructure and promote equity by addressing beneficiary needs. AIPs are recouped from earned shared savings in current and subsequent agreement periods. Mobile Units and Your RHC - Is This a Good Fit? – Wednesday, February 21 at 3:00 pm Eastern. The National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) will host the free, FORHP-supported webinar with details about operational considerations for expanding RHC services and patient access opportunities through mobile unit, either as an extension of their current clinic or through a stand-alone unit. This webinar will feature representatives from Baptist Health in Kentucky who will share their successes and lessons learned in opening a mobile RHC, include information from RHC accreditor, Kate Hill, and provide additional time for Q&A. Advanced registration is required. Webinar: 2024 MIPS Annual Call for Quality and Cost Measures – Thursday, February 22 at 3:00 pm Eastern. In this webinar, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will provide an overview of the development, criteria, and evaluation of Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) quality and cost measures that align with CMS priorities. It will also provide details on the 2024 MIPS Annual Call for Quality and Cost Measures, which provides clinicians, researchers, consumers, and others an opportunity to identify and submit candidate quality measures for consideration in MIPS. Rural providers interested in submitting candidate quality measures must do so by May 10, 2024. CMS Rural Health Open Door Forum – Thursday, February 29 at 2:00 pm Eastern. The Rural Health Open Door Forum addresses Rural Health Clinic, Critical Access Hospital, and Federally Qualified Health Center issues as well other topics relevant to rural providers. Agenda coming soon. Learning Events and Technical Assistance Opportunities through HHS Catalytic Program for the Climate – Thursday, February 22 at 12:00 pm Eastern. The Office of Climate Change and Health Equity within the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) holds the next information session about funding, tax credits, grants and other supports made available through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Health care organizations – especially safety net providers – can learn more about clean energy programs, building efficiencies, and other efforts to reduce the impact of the health care industry on the environment. AgriSafe: Suicide Prevention through QPR – Thursday, February 22 at 12:00 pm Eastern. This 90-minute training teaches an approach to mental health crisis known as Question, Persuade, and Prefer. AgriSafe: Addressing Substance Use and Aging in Agricultural Communities – Thursday, February 22 at 1:00 pm Eastern. The AgriSafe Network examines the factors that contribute to substance use among older adults in the agricultural sector. SAMHSA: Expanding Harm Reduction through Increased Syringe Access – Wednesday, February 28 at 2:00 pm Eastern. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) host a 90-minute webinar featuring the Cherokee Nation Harm Reduction Program in Oklahoma and Migrant Health Center, Inc. in Puerto Rico. Speakers will discuss development and implementation of syringe access programs across a variety of strategies and settings. Resource of the Week No Kid Hungry Summer Meals Eligibility Map 2024. An interactive map from the national nonprofit allows the user to search eligible summer 2024 locations for reduced priced meals at meal site or day care homes. The map also shows qualifying rural areas that may provide non-congregate summer meals according to rural definitions used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Approaching Deadlines Department of Treasury Community Development Financial Institutions – February 15 USDA Sustainable Community Projects for Children, Youth, and Families At-Risk – February 15 ARC Investments Supporting Partnerships in Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE) Grants for the Appalachian Region – Letters of Intent February 16 NOSORH Rural Health Grant Writing Institute – February 16 HHS Assistance for Tribal Self-Governance Negotiation – February 19 USDA Rural Utilities Service – Community Connect Grants – February 20 HRSA School-Administered Loans for Public Schools – February 21 SAMHSA Strategic Prevention Partnerships for Communities – February 21 SAMHSA Strategic Prevention Framework/Partnerships for States – February 21 CMS' Proposed Rule Addresses Appeals Rights for Certain Changes in Patient Status – Comment by February 22 Input to CMS on Burden of Information Collection Requirements – Comment by February 26 HRSA Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program – February 26 SAMHSA FentAlert Challenge: Empowering Youth for Safe Choices – February 26 HRSA Continuation Contracts for National Health Service Corps Loans – February 27 Indian Health Service Scholarship Programs – February 28 USDA Produce Prescription Program – February 28 USDA Rural Business Development Grants – February 28 ARC Appalachia READY Local Governments Training – February 29 Become a Host Site for the CDC Public Health Associate Program – February 29 CMS Seeking Public Input on Updates to Medicare Advantage and Part D Prescription Drug Coverage – Comment by March 1 Institute Museum/Library Sciences Native American Library Services Basic Grants – March 1 AHRQ Seeks Public Input on Severe Maternal Morbidity Measurement – Comment by March 4 CMS Seeks Public Input on Medicare Interoperability Reporting – Comment by March 7 HRSA Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program – March 7 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Research Scholarships – March 7 NOSORH Rural Health Capital Resources Master Class – March 13 NIH/NIMH Health Disparities Research Institute – March 14 USDA Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants – March 14 FTA Seeks Proposals for Mobility, Access, and Transportation Insecurity (MATI) Program – Express interest by March 15 HRSA Physician Assistant Rural Training in Behavioral Health – March 15 CMS Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD) Model – March 18 SAMHSA Rural Emergency Medical Services Training – March 20 NIHB/CDC Strengthening Tribal Public Health Systems – March 21 Department of Commerce Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program – March 22 HRSA Behavioral Health Integration Evidence Based Telehealth Network Program – March 22 NIH National Institute of Nursing Research Bridge-to-Care Initiative/Community Partnerships to Address SDOH – March 22 DOJ Office on Violence Against Women – Grants for Outreach and Services to Underserved Populations – March 26 CMS Accepting Applications for New Physician Residency Slots – March 31 HRSA Provider Relief Reporting Period 6 – March 31 USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) – March 31 CDC Strengthening Public Health Systems Through National Partnerships – April 1 SAMHSA Grants to Expand SUD Capacity in Treatment Drug Courts – April 1 USDA Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program – April 1 HRSA Advanced Nursing Education – Sexual Assault Examiners Program – April 2 HRSA State Maternal Health Innovation – April 2 New Funding for Licensure Portability Grant Program – April 8 DOJ Office on Violence Against Women – Rural Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program – April 12 HRSA Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program – April 16 DOJ Office of Violence Against Women – Grants to Indian Tribal Governments – April 24 HRSA Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program – Supplement Funding for Rural Emergency Services – April 25 Department of Veterans Affairs Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grants – April 26 CMS Request for Information on Medicare Advantage Data – Comment by May 29 AHRQ Safety Program for Telemedicine: Improving Antibiotic Use – June 2024 NIH Researching Barriers to Care and Risk of HIV-Associated Comorbidities Among Vulnerable Population Groups – June 28 EPA Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants – November 21 Ongoing Opportunities HRSA Needs Rural Reviewers for Grant Applications Resources for Medicaid/CHIP Renewals 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 Special Interest Research – Pandemic Impact on Vulnerable Children and Youth – May 2024 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 Addressing the Impact of Structural Racism and Discrimination – Various dates until October 2025 NIH Researching Firearm Injury and Mortality Prevention – February 2026 NIH Research to Address Vaccine Hesitancy in Health Disparity Populations – June 2026 NIH Planning Grants for Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) – various dates until July 2026 NIH Research to Understand Disparities in Maternal Morbidity and Mortality – Various dates until October 2026 NIH Data Informed, Place-Based Community-Engaged Research to Advance Health Equity – January 2027 NIH/UVA Seeking Rural Individuals to Participate in Weight Loss Study (iREACH) – until 2027 NIH Project Talk Initiative Host Site Applications 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 Rural Grocery Transition Specialist Program 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/NRHA Rural Hospital Technical Assistance 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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