| Read this email in your browser May 9, 2024 What's New Webinar on the Role of Primary Care in the AHEAD Model – Thursday, May 9 at 1:00 pm Eastern. During this webinar, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will provide more about the new CMS Innovation Center model: States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD) Model. Topics will include provider eligibility, opportunities for participating State Medicaid Agencies to boost participation and increase statewide primary care investment, and the relationship between the hospital and primary care components of the AHEAD Model. CMS encourages participants to submit questions to the AHEAD mailbox (AHEAD@cms.hhs.gov) in advance of this webinar. Rural Hospitals' Perspectives On Health System Affiliation. Researchers at RUPRI Rural Policy Research Institute examine the risks and challenges rural hospitals face in the current trend of affiliating with large regional health systems. While RUPRI is one of nine FORHP-supported Rural Health Research Centers, this policy brief was funded by the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. CMS's New Resource of Health Equity-related Data. The Office of Minority Health at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) offers a table of suggested definitions, standards, and stratification practices for nine health equity-related data elements. The resource can help providers, states, community organizations, researchers, and others collecting and/or stratifying data to align with CMS's Framework for Health Equity. It may also clarify differences in results that may arise when different data standards are used. Ongoing: 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, May 9 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. 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 Regional Centers for Public Health Preparedness and Response – May 23. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) seeks to establish and maintain a network of Regional Centers to improve public health preparedness and response, as informed by the needs of the communities involved. Eligible applicants are nonprofits and institutions of higher education, including accredited schools of public health. There will be an open competition within each of the 10 regions of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. USDA Micro-Grants for Food Security – May 28. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest $5 million for agricultural agencies in Alaska, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Hawaii, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the United States Virgin Islands. The funding is intended to increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food through small-scale gardening, herding, and livestock operations. Appalachian Community Fund General Fund – May 31. The nonprofit will make grants to community-based organizations that address underlying causes of economic and social distress in in West Virginia and the Appalachian counties of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. Association of Clinical Research Organizations Diversity and Inclusion Site Resource Grants – May 31. ACRO encourages rural and tribal research sites to apply for grants aimed at improving the reach of clinical research into underrepresented communities. ACL Elder Justice Innovation Grants – June 18. The Administration for Community Living (ACL) will fund projects contributing to the improvement of the field of elder abuse prevention and intervention through programs that can be widely disseminated and contribute to the evidence-base of knowledge. Opportunity Finance Network/Partners for the Common Good – Economic Justice Partnership Fund – Ongoing. The fund provides flexible loan funds for small and medium sized Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) that have difficulty accessing sufficient capital for larger transactions. Funds may be used for acquisition, construction, and mini-permanent loans for affordable housing and community facilities supporting low- to moderate-income communities. The focus is on smaller CDFIs, minority-led borrowers, projects in rural areas, and projects on native lands. 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. Medicare Advantage Plan Growth in Rural America: Availability of Supplemental Benefits. Researchers at the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis examined the growth rate of enrollment in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans offering expanded health benefits such as in-home support services, meals, and transportation. Among the findings: MA plans providing any supplemental benefit were less commonly offered in noncore counties. Policy Updates Visit the FORHP Policy page to see all recent updates and send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. Final Rule Clarifying Marketplace Eligibility for DACA Recipients. Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a final rule to modify the definition of "lawfully present" to include those under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). This modification will make DACA recipients eligible for enrollment in a Qualified Health Plan (QHP) through the Health Insurance Marketplace and a Basic Health Program starting November 1, 2024. CMS is not finalizing a definition of "lawfully present" for Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), but they are updating the definition of "qualified noncitizen" for Medicaid and CHIP to clarify the categories of noncitizens that states must cover in these programs. Marketplace coverage and Medicaid/CHIP are important sources of health insurance in rural areas. CMS has created several resources to help consumers enroll in the Marketplace or apply for Medicaid/CHIP, including partner toolkits, multimedia information, and materials in multiple languages. Veterans Affairs: CHAMPVA Coverage of Audio-Only Telehealth, Mental Health Services, and Cost Sharing for Certain Contraceptive Services. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced a final rule amending its medical regulations regarding Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) coverage. This rule expands mental health and telehealth services by removing the exclusion of audio-only telehealth visits, removing the previous limit on the number of outpatient mental health visits covered and removes cost-sharing requirements for contraceptive services and contraceptive products approved, cleared, or granted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The VA's Office of Rural Health, estimates 4.7 million Veterans live in rural communities across the United States, and more than 2.8 million rural Veterans rely on VA for their health care. This rule is effective May 30, 2024. New Medicare Behavioral Health Providers: Incorporating MHCs and MFTs Into Your RHC – Thursday, May 9 at 1:00 pm Eastern. The National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) will host the free, FORHP-supported webinar with information on incorporating Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) and Mental Health Counselors (MHCs) into Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Medicare coverage of Marriage and Family Therapists and Mental Health Counselors in RHCs began January 1, 2024. This webinar will feature representatives from the National Board for Certified Counselors and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, who will provide information to ensure RHCs are equipped to consider expanding behavioral health services. Additional time for Q&A will be provided. Advanced registration is required. Learning Events and Technical Assistance AgriSafe: Using a Total Worker Health/Total Farmer Health Approach to Assessing Ag Worker Wellbeing – Tuesday, May 14 at 1:00 pm Eastern. This presentation will describe worker wellbeing through measures of job satisfaction, coworker support, work affect, work fatigue, overall health status, chronic health conditions, individual stress, general mental health status, substance use, work injury, social support, anxiety, and depression. 3RNET Monthly Employer Training – Wednesday, May 15 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. Getting Started in GME Through AHEC Partnerships – Wednesday, May 15 at 3:00 pm Eastern. The FORHP-supported technical assistance center for Rural Graduate Medical Education is a co-host of this session on setting up programs with Area Health Education Centers. USDA Rural Workforce Innovation Network: Mental Health in the Rural Workplace – Tuesday, May 21 at 1:30 pm Eastern. For Mental Health Awareness Month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) hosts experts sharing resources and experiences supporting employers and employees in rural workplaces. HRSA Rural Maternal Health Initiatives – Tuesday, May 21 at 2:00 pm Eastern. Registration is open for this update on HRSA activities related to maternal health. This webinar follows on the four part rural health webinar series presented by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy in collaboration with the Rural Health Information Hub. Participants will learn about recent HRSA funded activities supporting rural maternal health. Recordings and transcripts are available. Resources of the Week North Carolina Medicaid Expansion: A Rural Perspective. The North Carolina Rural Center uses state-level monthly enrollment data to compare expansion enrollment in rural, urban, and suburban counties and evaluates whether enrollment is associated with poverty at the county level. Implementing Harm Reduction Initiatives in Rural Communities. Recording of a 90-minute webinar hosted in April by the SAMHSA-supported Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network. Approaching Deadlines HRSA National Health Service Corps: Three Options for Loan Repayment Programs – May 9 NOSORH Purpose-Driven Leadership Institute – May 10 CMS Seeks Input on a New Beneficiary Disenrollment Survey – Comment by May 13 ACF Head Start Expansion, Early Head Start Expansion, and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership Grants – May 14 ACF Head Start Expansion for Migrant and Seasonal Families – May 14 Department of Education Demonstration Grants for Mental Health Service Professionals in Elementary and Secondary Schools – May 14 IHS American Indians Into Medicine – May 14 Indian Health Service Grants for Native Public Health Resilience – May 14 USDA Farmers Market/Local Food Promotion Program – May 14 USDA Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program – May 14 HHS Community Level Innovations for Improving Health Outcomes – May 15 FEMA Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention Grants – May 17 NIH Strategies to Improve Health Outcomes/Advance Health Equity in Rural Populations – May 17 OMB Seeks More Public Participation in Government Decision-Making – Comment by May 17 ACF Social and Economic Development Strategies for Native Communities – May 20 ACF Social and Economic Development Strategies for Native Communities in Alaska – May 20 USDA Micro-Grants for Food Security – May 21 USDA Rural eConnectivity Broadband Loan and Grant Program (ReConnect) – May 21 AHRQ Safety Program for Telemedicine: Improving Antibiotic Use – May 23 CDC Enhancing Reviews and Surveillance to Eliminate Maternal Mortality – May 23 CDC Regional Centers for Public Health Preparedness and Response – May 23 HRSA Rural Health Research Program – May 23 HRSA Modifications to the Definition of Rural for FORHP Grants – Comment by May 28 Medicare Proposes Updates for SNF, IRF, and Hospice Payment Rules – Comment by May 28 Medicare Proposes Updates to Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Payment Policies – Comment by May 28 ONC Seeks Feedback on Federal IT Strategic Plan – Comment by May 28 USDA Micro-Grants for Food Security – May 28 CMS Request for Information on Medicare Advantage Data – Comment by May 29 HRSA Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program – May 29 Appalachian Community Fund General Fund – May 31 Association of Clinical Research Organizations Diversity and Inclusion Site Resource Grants – May 31 Dept of Ed Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grants –May 31 Administration for Children and Families – Next Generation Child Support Employment Services Demonstration – June 3 CMS Minority Research Grant Program – June 3 FTA Seeking Comments on Updates to Rural Areas Formula Grant Programs – Comment by June 3 CISA Seeking Comments on New Covered Cyber Incidents for Covered Entities such as Critical Access Hospitals – Comment by June 4 National Aging and Disability Transportation Center: Rural Transportation Planning Grants – June 7 Proposed Updates to Medicare Hospital Payment for Fiscal Year 2025 – Comment by June 10 NIH Innovations for Healthy Living – Improving Minority Health/Eliminating Health Disparities – June 10 SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program – June 10 ACL Alzheimer's Disease Programs Initiative – Grants to States and Communities – June 11 CMS Updates to the Low-Income Beneficiaries through Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition Program – Comment by June 11 IHS Tribal Self-Governance Program Planning Cooperative Agreement – June 12 IHS Tribal Self-Governance Program Negotiation Cooperative Agreement – June 12 DOJ Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Formula Program – June 14 ACL Elder Justice Innovation Grants – June 18 Department of Labor Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) for Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border Regions – June 20 HRSA Delta Health Systems Implementation Program – June 24 HRSA Rural Northern Boarder Region Outreach Program – June 25 CDC: A Cultural Approach to Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country – June 28 NIH Researching Barriers to Care and Risk of HIV-Associated Comorbidities Among Vulnerable Population Groups – June 28 Telehealth Implementation Bootcamp – July 18 HRSA Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project – August 15 NIH Notice of Special Interest: Telehealth Strategies for Individuals with HIV and Substance Use Disorders – September 7 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 Tribal Environmental Impact Network Call for Technical Assistance Providers 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 NOSORH Rural Primary Care Institute Nominations for Federal Advisory Commission on HIV, Viral Hepatitis, and Sexually Transmitted Diseases NRHA Chief Nursing Officer Certification Program for Rural Hospitals Opportunity Finance Network/Partners for the Common Good – Economic Justice Partnership Fund 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 Circuit Rider Program – Technical Assistance for Rural Water Systems 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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