| Read this online. March 7, 2024 What's New New Funding for Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Apply by May 6. This week, HRSA announced a funding opportunity that is part of the agency's rural-specific response to the opioid epidemic. RCORP – Impact kicks off a new rural opioid treatment and recovery initiative under the umbrella of RCORP, which will focus on establishing new comprehensive substance use disorder treatment and recovery services in rural communities. The program is intended to grow and strengthen a rural network of integrated care for substance use disorder with a requirement that clinical services be coordinated with social support that may include housing assistance, food access, and employment training and placement. See the link above for information about a webinar for applicants on Thursday, March 21 at 1:00 pm Eastern, and send questions to ruralopioidresponse@hrsa.gov. Rural Maternal Health Series, Part 1 – Tuesday, March 12 at 2:00 pm Eastern. FORHP launches a four-part webinar series hosted by the Rural Health Information Hub and focused on the needs of rural facilities with and without birthing units. The first hour-long session will explain aspects of the new Birthing-Friendly Hospital Designation from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Free COVID-19 Test Program Will Be Suspended on Friday. The federal program providing free at-home tests to households will end on March 8. Though the official public health emergency ended in May 2023, the HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response re-started the program in November. Each household has been allowed a total of eight tests since the fall start; orders placed on or before Friday will be delivered at no cost by the U.S. Postal Service. ASPE Brief Projects the Impact of the Inflation Reduction Act for Rural Medicare Enrollees. The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Analysis (ASPE) released a new brief that highlights the potential impacts of the newly implemented Medicare prescription drug (Part D) policies authorized in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Signed into law in 2022, the IRA aims to strengthen the Medicare program by providing meaningful financial relief for beneficiaries and improving access to affordable treatments. Benefits of the IRA policies for Medicare include opportunities for CMS to negotiate Medicare drug prices, a requirement that drug companies pay inflation rebates, changes in Part B drugs, and a redesigned prescription drug program that expands eligibility for full Part D low-income subsidy (LIS) benefits to individuals between 130 and 150 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), also known as partial LIS subsidy. About 23 percent of partial LIS enrollees live in rural areas, which is higher than the share of Part D (non-LIS) enrollees who live in rural areas (15 percent). ASPE estimates all LIS enrollees could experience a reduction of $300 in average annual out of pocket costs for Part D covered medications. With rural, non-LIS Part D enrollees are estimated to see more than $1,000 savings in out-of-pocket Part D costs in 2024 and $2,450 in 2025. 2024 Physician Fee Schedule Webinar Recording. RHIhub posted a recording of the hour-long webinar from February 27 where experts from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reviewed rural-relevant policy updates from the Calendar Year 2024 Physician Fee Schedule final rule. The new rule makes policy updates that may increase accessibility of behavioral health services, telehealth services, and other vital health services in rural areas. Presentation materials, video recording, and audio recording are also now available. Additional documents from CMS that may be helpful in understanding these updates: 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 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. 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 CDC Million Hearts Hypertension Control Challenge – April 5. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) seeks to recognize health care professionals, practices, and health systems that have achieved exceptional hypertension control rates of at least 80 percent. According to the CDC, heart disease is one of five leading causes of death for people who live in rural areas. SAMHSA Building Communities of Recovery – April 29. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) expects to make 20 awards with total funding of $6 million to increase the availability and quality of long-term recovery support for persons with substance use disorder and co-occurring substance use and mental disorders. USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants – April 29. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest approximately $60 million in funding to digitally connect remote parts of the country to education, training, and health care resources. HRSA Nurse Corps Scholarship Program – May 2. The Nurse Corps Scholarship Program provides scholarships to nursing students in exchange for a minimum two-year, full-time service commitment (or part-time equivalent) at a health care facility located in a designated Health Professional Shortage Area. 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. Examining the Burden of Public Stigma Associated with Mental Illness – Tuesday, March 12 at 1:00 pm Eastern. Researchers of this study used a nationally representative survey to find differences in stigmatizing attitudes and beliefs in rural versus non-rural communities. During this session, speakers will introduce their latest study exploring rural suicide mortality rates. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. New Report Assesses Impact of CMS Quality Programs. The report from the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) analyzes the performance of nearly 500 quality measures used in CMS's quality and value-based incentive payment programs. It provides patients and families, clinicians, measure developers, federal partners, and researchers with updates on progress toward reducing disparities across the measure portfolios. For example, rural/urban disparities were most often detected in quality measures addressing Wellness and Prevention and Chronic Conditions; however, several measures of Person-Centered Care no longer show rural/urban disparities. Findings from focus groups underscore the need to develop measures that address bias in care delivery, deficits in cultural competence, and social drivers of health relative to unmet health needs, poor access, and low health literacy. Help shape the future of the Marketplace Quality Rating System (QRS) and Qualified Health Plan (QHP) Enrollee Experience Survey - Comments due March 28. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requests comment on proposed refinements to the QRS and QHP Enrollee Survey to advance health equity. These programs are part of the Marketplace Quality Initiative, which provides information to help individuals and small businesses select Marketplace health plans. According to the RUPRI Health Insurance Chartbook, the number of Marketplace plans available in rural areas has grown in recent years and has become an important source of health coverage for rural residents. Submit comments to Marketplace_Quality@cms.hhs.gov and reference "Marketplace Quality Initiatives (MQI)-Draft 2024 QRS Call Letter" in the subject line. 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) 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 3RNET's Free Training for Employers – Tuesday, March 12 at 2:00 pm Eastern. Formerly known as the National Rural Recruitment & Retention Network, 3RNET is holding a live training session explaining how to post jobs and find job seekers on its site. 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 Talking Points and FAQs About Long Covid. The Vaccine Resource Hub is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve vaccine confidence and access. The talking points are available in English and Spanish and describe long COVID symptoms and populations that are at greater risk. Vaccine Billing Guide for Skilled Nursing Facilities. Summarizes billing guidance for long-term care facilities and pharmacies, including information on billing for influenza, pneumococcal, COVID-19, Tdap, shingles, and RSV vaccines. Approaching Deadlines 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 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 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 DOJ Adult Treatment Court Site-Based Program – May 2 HRSA Nurse Corps Scholarship Program – May 2 HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Impact – May 2 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 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 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 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 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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