| Read this online. February 22, 2024 What's New 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 this 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. Support for Vulnerable Rural Hospitals: Lessons Learned. An overview of state and federal programs and models designed to support Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and other rural hospitals describes challenges – including chronic workforce shortages, high operating and staffing costs, inadequate reimbursement, operational and regulatory issues, and the diverse demographics of rural communities. The information comes from the FORHP-supported Flex Monitoring Team, a consortium of researchers evaluating the effectiveness of the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program. 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 COMPASS Initiative SPARK! Grants for HIV/AIDS in Southern States – March 15. The nonprofit Gilead COMPASS (COMmitment to Partnership in Addressing HIV/AIDS in Southern States) Initiative provides grants for community-led campaigns that reduce stigma and change knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors around HIV and AIDS. With priority given to rural applicants, the initiative's geographic coverage includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Technical Assistance Grant – March 15. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) expects to make 200 awards to organizations that can provide technical assistance to rural businesses applying for funding from USDA's energy efficiencies program. RWJF Healthy Eating Research for Children and Adolescents – Letters of Intent April 3. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) provides funding for research on policies and programs that improve nutrition and health outcomes. Populations of focus include families that are low-income, Black, Hispanic, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander. SAMHSA Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment Program – April 12. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides grants to implement an evidence-based approach to early intervention for substance use disorder. SAMHSA estimates 10 awards, each up to $995,000 per year for a five year project. SAMHSA First Responders-Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act – April 15. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides resources to support first responders on training, administering, and distributing naloxone and other Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved overdose reversal medications or devices. HRSA Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part C Capacity Development – April 16. HRSA's HIV/AIDS Bureau provides Part C grant funding to community-based health care facilities – including Rural Health Clinics – to strengthen infrastructure and enhance high-quality HIV care in low-income and/or rural communities. CDC Drug Free Communities – New Grants – April 17. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expects to make 100 awards for community-based coalitions addressing youth substance use that have not yet previously received a grant for this program. DOJ Office on Violence Against Women: Strengthening Tribal Advocacy Responses Track (START) – April 24. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) provides grants to Tribal governments to respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking. START grantees will receive additional training and technical assistance to plan and implement their projects. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. CMS Changing Policy for Research Data Access – Comment by March 29. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plans to change the way that data is made available to researchers and seeks feedback from stakeholders who may be affected. Currently, CMS offers researchers two options for accessing CMS data: 1) have physical Research Identifiable File (RIF) data shipped to their institution, and 2) a secure online resource called the Chronic Conditions Warehouse Virtual Research Data Center (CCW VRDC). Because of growing concerns about data security, CMS will no longer ship physical data for new research. Beginning on August 19 of this year, researchers will be required to use the CCW VRDC. CMS will accept feedback on these plans via email at VRDCRFI@cms.hhs.gov until March 29. 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. Webinar: Policy Updates to the Physician Fee Schedule – Tuesday, February 27 at 3:00 pm Eastern. Subject matter experts with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will present highlights of policy updates from the Calendar Year 2024 Physician Fee Schedule final rule in a webinar produced by the Rural Health Information (RHI) Hub. Covered topics will include behavioral health services, telehealth services, the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program, and more. The webinar is free, and you must register to attend. 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. HRSA Virtual Job Fair for Health Professions – Wednesday, February 28 at 6:00 pm Eastern. HRSA's Bureau of Health Workforce holds regular online job fairs for clinicians and health care employers in underserved areas. Resource of the Week Improving Access to Pulmonary Rehab Programs. Two new educational videos from the National Rural Health Resource Center highlight the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the country's rural communities and the steps that Critical Access Hospitals and other small rural hospitals can take to improve access to much-needed pulmonary rehabilitation services. The first video, Understanding COPD and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, provides an overview of COPD — its symptoms and causes — and explains how rural-based pulmonary rehabilitation services help to restore independence and quality of life in COPD patients. The second video, How to Launch a Pulmonary Rehab Program, highlights the benefits — to hospitals and their communities — of operating pulmonary rehab programs, and shares practical advice and tips. Approaching Deadlines 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 COMPASS Initiative SPARK! Grants for HIV/AIDS in Southern States – March 15 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 USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Technical Assistance Grant – 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 RWJF Healthy Eating Research for Children and Adolescents – Letters of Intent April 3 HRSA Licensure Portability Grant Program – April 8 DOJ Office on Violence Against Women – Rural Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program – April 12 SAMHSA Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment Program – April 12 SAMHSA First Responders-Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act – April 15 HRSA Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program – April 16 HRSA Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part C Capacity Development – April 16 CDC Drug Free Communities – New Grants – April 17 DOJ Office of Violence Against Women – Grants to Indian Tribal Governments – April 24 DOJ Office on Violence Against Women – Strengthening Tribal Advocacy Responses Track (START) – 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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