| Read this online. March 14, 2024 What's New Application Assistance for Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Impact – Thursday, March 21 at 1:00 pm Eastern. FORHP will hold a session to detail application requirements for the latest program for opioid treatment and recovery under the RCORP umbrella. The deadline for RCORP-Impact is May 6. USDA Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program – Apply by May 14. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) expects to make 15 awards to fund and evaluate projects for the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, also known as GusNIP, a USDA initiative established in 2018 to increase the purchase of locally produced fruits and vegetables for low-income families. GusNIP projects are intended to reach individuals and families participating in the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the United States Virgin Islands, as well as income-eligible consumers participating in the USDA Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP) in Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands. USDA encourages projects that serve underserved communities, such as tribal, rural, LGBTQIA+, and communities of color. They are also seeking projects for geographies underrepresented in GusNIP, such as Alaska, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, Connecticut, Delaware, Guam, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Year 3 Impact Findings show that, of nearly 3,000 sites at food retail outlets, 16.3 percent served rural populations. The total amount available for grants in FY 2024 is approximately $36,300,000, depending on legislation that authorizes funding. The range of individual awards is $10,000 - $15,000,000. Federal Agencies Seek Input on the Effects of Consolidation in Health Care – Comment by May 6. The Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, and Federal Trade Commission seek public comment on the effects of private equity funds' acquisition of health care providers, mergers involving providers and health systems, and private payers' purchase of physician practices. There is concern about patients' health, workers' safety, quality of care, and the rising cost of health care for patients and taxpayers. The Departments are particularly interested in receiving input on the effects of consolidation on patients and health care providers, including any differences between rural and urban areas. How Medicaid Can Help Enrollees Quit Smoking. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an informational bulletin with strategies that states have used to improve delivery of tobacco cessation services to beneficiaries of Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). States are required to cover certain services for certain groups. For example, counseling and pharmacotherapy for enrollees who are pregnant must be covered. Coverage for other services, such as over-the-counter medications, is optional. All recommended tobacco cessation services – including individual, group and telephone counseling, and all seven FDA-approved cessation medications – are Medicaid or CHIP-coverable services, and the bulletin provides resources and strategies states can use to increase quit rates. Medicaid is an important source of health coverage in rural areas, where smoking rates are often higher than in urban areas. The Nature of the Rural-Urban Mortality Gap. Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers at USDA's Economic Research Service find that the age-adjusted natural-cause mortality rate for the prime working age population was 43 percent higher in rural areas than in urban areas. Reauthorizing the Older Americans Act – Comment by March 21. First signed into law in 1965, the Older Americans Act (OAA) provides critical services that address the social drivers of health for older adults such as nutrition, transportation, senior centers, elder rights protections, caregiver support, and health promotion. The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee issued a Request for Information (RFI) from stakeholders on policies the Committee should consider during the reauthorization of the OAA. Responses to the RFI must be submitted to OAA@help.senate.gov by March 21, 2024. 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 Learn About Long COVID & Fatiguing Illness – Thursday, March 14 at 3:00 pm Eastern. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funds 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. 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. 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 National Rural Health Association – Residency in Healthcare Executive Leadership Development – March 31. The national nonprofit offers a 12-month, virtual residency opportunity for rural health care executives to develop skills and knowledge. The internship will begin in May 2024. HRSA National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program – April 25. Medical, dental, and nursing students interested in practicing in high-need communities are eligible to receive payment for tuition, fees, and other educational costs as well as a stipend for living costs. After completion of their health professions program and any approved postgraduate training, providers serve at least two years at NHSC-approved sites in underserved rural, urban, and tribal communities. Funding is available for up to four years. HRSA Opioid-Impacted Family Support Program – May 6. HRSA's Bureau of Health Workforce provides funding to support training programs that expand the number of peer support specialists and other behavioral health-related paraprofessionals trained provide services to children whose parents or guardians are affected by opioid use disorders and other substance use disorders. Eligible applicants are state-licensed mental health non-profit and for-profit organizations, including academic institutions, community-based organizations, and tribal organizations. NIH Strategies to Improve Health Outcomes/Advance Health Equity in Rural Populations – May 17. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will support research to develop, adapt, or implement intervention strategies addressing social determinants of health. This funding opportunity encourages a wide range of methodological approaches, such as community-engaged research. 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. Nonmetropolitan Premiums, Issuer Participation, and Enrollment in Health Insurance Marketplaces in 2022. This policy brief from the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis describes differences in unsubsidized and net-of-subsidy premiums in 2022 between nonmetropolitan and metropolitan counties in Health Insurance Marketplace plan design and availability. Features statistics with breakdowns by metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. Updated CMS Guidance on Prospective Payment System for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Demonstration. In 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provided a forum for states, providers, and other stakeholders to comment on proposed changes to payment for services for individuals experiencing a crisis related to substance use and/or mental health. In response to that feedback, CMS updated Prospective Payment System (PPS) guidance for the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Demonstration addressing the high-cost and specialized care delivered through mobile and on-site crisis intervention. This guidance was effective on January 1, 2024 for existing CCBHC Demonstration states, and on July 1, 2024 for newly selected states added to the program in 2024 and 2026. Requests for technical assistance may be submitted to CCBHCDemonstration@cms.hhs.gov. CMS Provides Flexibilities in Response to Cyber Attack. Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced increased flexibilities for processing claims as well as guidance to help providers serve patients. Hospitals affected by the cyber attack reported difficulties providing patient care, filling prescriptions, submitting insurance claims, and receiving payment for the essential health care services they provided in the weeks since the attack. The CMS guidance is intended to remove or relax prior authorization and other filing requirements for Medicare Advantage and Part D programs, as well as offer waivers or extensions to Medicare providers. Providers should contact their Medicare Administrative Contractors for details. Updated Medicare Learning Network Information for Rural Health Clinics. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released an updated MLN booklet entitled, Information for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) which provides updates on RHC patient services, care management services. Specifically, this MLN provides updated billing information for the following new RHC provider types and services: Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs), Mental Health Counselors (MHCs), remote physiologic monitoring (RPM), remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM), community health integration (CHI) services, principal illness navigation (PIN), PIN-peer support (PIN-S) and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) services. Expanding Medicaid Skilled Professional Medical Personnel and Nurse Advice Lines. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued guidance allowing State Medicaid Directors to expand the pool of skilled professional medical personnel (SPMP) they may employ to include certain additional behavioral health professionals, such as Marriage and Family Therapists, Mental Health Counselors, and Professional Counselors. This expansion will allow states to claim higher administrative federal match and help bolster state resources to provide appropriate behavioral health care coverage and service delivery. The guidance also informs states that they may claim administrative federal match dollars for nurse advice lines, a tool that builds a lifeline between coverage and critical health services, particularly in rural areas. Information Session on CMS Interoperability and Prior Authorization Final Rule – Tuesday, March 26 at 1:00 pm Eastern. In January, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule to enhance access to health information and streamline prior authorization processes for medical items and services. CMS's Office of Burden Reduction & Health Informatics is hosting an online session to educate patients, providers, and administrative, health IT, and government affairs professionals about the provisions in final rule and how it builds on current CMS interoperability policies. Questions can be submitted beforehand via the registration form. If you register and receive a message that the event is full, you will receive an email after the event with a link to both a recording and transcript of the presentation. The use of various electronic exchange methods among hospitals and physicians has increased in recent years, but use among small and rural hospitals is lower than that of other hospitals. Please reach out to CMSInteroperability@cms.hhs.gov with questions. Learning Events and Technical Assistance AgriSafe: Mental Health and Suicide on US Farms: Muckville Movie Viewing and Conversation – Thursday, March 14 at 1:00 pm Eastern. The 20-minute documentary will be followed by a live question and answer session with the director and the people featured in the film. AgriSafe: Navigating the Impact of COVID-19, Influenza, & RSV on Agricultural Workers – Tuesday, March 19 at 1:00 pm Eastern. The AgriSafe Network names agricultural workers and producers as its intended audience for this overview of the risks posed by viruses and resources for workplace safety. Resources of the Week Catalog of Value-Based Initiatives for Rural Providers: 2024 Update. This annual update features one-page summaries of federal value-based payment programs that are appropriate for rural participation. The catalog was created by the team at Rural Health Value, an initiative funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy to provide analysis, technical assistance, and strategy for rural health care delivery. engAGED Social Engagement Innovations Hub. The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults created this collection of social engagement programs including description of program, outcomes, resources needed, program contact, and more. The profiles can be filtered by intervention type, population served, organization type, and geographic population including rural, urban, suburban, and frontier. Approaching Deadlines 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 Request for Information: Reauthorizing the Older Americans Act – Comment by 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 Help shape the future of the Marketplace Quality Rating System (QRS) and Qualified Health Plan (QHP) Enrollee Experience Survey – Comment by March 28 CMS Changing Policy for Research Data Access – Comment by March 29 CMS Accepting Applications for New Physician Residency Slots – March 31 HRSA Provider Relief Reporting Period 6 – March 31 National Rural Health Association – Residency in Healthcare Executive Leadership Development – 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 DOJ Sexual Assault Services – Culturally Specific Grant Program – April 4 CDC Million Hearts Hypertension Control Challenge – April 5 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 Department of Treasury Capital Magnet Fund for Affordable Housing – April 16 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 USDA Rural eConnectivity Program – April 22 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 SAMHSA Building Communities of Recovery – April 29 USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants – April 29 DOJ Adult Treatment Court Site-Based Program – May 2 HRSA Nurse Corps Scholarship Program – May 2 Federal Agencies Seek Input on the Effects of Consolidation in Health Care – Comment by May 6 HRSA Opioid-Impacted Family Support Program – May 6 HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program - Impact – May 6 USDA Farmers Market/Local Food Promotion Program – May 14 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 Medicaid and CHIP Renewal and Transition Resources for Partners Extended Public Comment Period for FCC's COVID-19 Telehealth Program 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 Communities USDA Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants 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 Association of American Indian Physicians Tribal Grant Writing Training 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 Tribal Environmental Justice Technical Assistance Center 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 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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