| View this email in your browser June 6, 2024 What's New CDC: What Rural Clinicians Should Know about Influenza A(H5N1) – Tuesday, June 18 at 3:00 pm Eastern. Join to hear experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discuss clinical features of influenza A(H5N1), recommendations and considerations for influenza testing and treatment, and strategies for culturally competent patient evaluations for possible exposure to influenza A(H5N1). Assistance for Rural Emergency Hospital Conversion – Thursday, June 6 at 2:00 pm Eastern. The FORHP-funded Rural Emergency Hospital Technical Assistance Center (the Rural Health Redesign Center) will be sharing information about a new federal designation, the Rural Emergency Hospital, a provider type designed to address concerns that some rural hospitals would not be able to sustain operations and could be at risk of closure. The REH TA Center provides free financial, clinical and operational assessments to facilities considering the REH designation to inform their decision making. Experts will explain eligibility, considerations for converting, and conditions of participation. This session will include a Fireside Chat where attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly from two CEOs that worked with the Technical Assistance Center and decided to convert and one CEO who went through the process and decided against converting. CMS-Driven Partnership for Quality Management (PQM) Seeks Rural Health Experts for Multiple Committees – Nominate by June 7. The PQM seeks expertise for 1) Pre-Rulemaking Measure Review (PRMR), and 2) Endorsement & Maintenance (E&M) as part of a consensus-based process to regulatory affairs for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Each of the committees requires different expertise – for example, clinicians and hospitals for PRMR; advanced illness and primary prevention for E&M. Rural health experts are sought for all PQM committees (on the nomination form, one can check a box as a "rural health expert" under "Primary Interested Party" or "Secondary Interested Party"). Learn more about the Partnership for Quality Measurement and submit nominations by June 7. Medicare ACO Primary Care Flex Model Request for Applications – Deadline August 1. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is now accepting applications for the ACO Primary Care Flex Model (ACO PC Flex Model). This voluntary model focuses on improving primary care delivery in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Accountable Care Organizations (ACO)s participating in the ACO PC Flex model will receive monthly prospective primary care payments, replacing traditional fee-for-service reimbursement, for primary care services for all participating primary care providers, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and Rural Health Clinics. They will also receive an upfront Advanced Shared Savings Payment of $250,000. Organizations interested in participating must first apply to the Shared Savings Program by June 17 then submit a supplemental ACO PC Flex application questionnaire. CMS will host a webinar TODAY, June 6 at 2:00 pm Eastern to provide an overview of the ACO PC Flex Model's application process. Help USDA Promote Summer Nutrition Programs for Kids. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced a new suite of SUN Programs (Summer Nutrition Programs), with more choices and convenient ways to get summer nutrition support for children and teens. To get the word out, USDA developed digital, brand and print materials - available in English, Spanish, and additional languages - that can be used to promote SUN programs. Assistance for Rural Emergency Hospital Conversion – Thursday, June 6 at 2:00 pm Eastern. The FORHP-funded Rural Emergency Hospital Technical Assistance Center (the Rural Health Redesign Center) will be sharing information about a new federal designation, the Rural Emergency Hospital, a provider type designed to address concerns that some rural hospitals would not be able to sustain operations and could be at risk of closure. The REH TA Center provides free financial, clinical and operational assessments to facilities considering the REH designation to inform their decision making. Experts will explain eligibility, considerations for converting, and conditions of participation. This session will include a Fireside Chat where attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly from two CEOs that worked with the Technical Assistance Center and decided to convert and one CEO who went through the process and decided against converting. New Occupations Added to Guide for Licensure Portability. The Multi-Discipline Licensure Resource Project is an effort supported by HRSA to improve licensure portability for health care professions working between states and for people who are geographically isolated. Previously, the site provided guidance for four disciplines: Psychology, Social Work, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy. New disciplines have been added: Counseling, Dentistry, Dietitians, Emergency Medical Services, Physician Assistants, Nursing, Advanced Practice Nursing, and School Psychologists. Take the HRSA Grantee Satisfaction Survey – Deadline Extended. Each program director of active HRSA grants has received an invitation to take our new and improved Grantee Satisfaction Survey. With the highest possible response rate through June 10, we can pinpoint crucial areas for action. For general questions about the survey, contact HRSAGranteeSurvey@hrsa.gov 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, June 13 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. 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. Funding and Opportunities HUD Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program – July 18. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) expects to make 20 awards with total funding of $115 million to support affordable rental housing for low-income persons aged 62 or older. HUD seeks applicants that are nonprofit organizations that will produce housing physically designed to promote long-term wellness and can provide a robust packages of services support health and social well-being. HRSA New Access Points for Health Center Program – August 15. HRSA's Health Center Program is now accepting applications to add to new locations that provide affordable, high-quality primary health care in underserved communities. Applicants may be currently funded health centers, look-alikes, or new organizations not yet part of the Health Center Program. Note that HRSA will only be able to make awards if Congress appropriates additional funds for the Health Center Program in fiscal year 2025. AgriSafe FarmResponse: On-Demand Training for Mental Health in Agricultural Communities – Ongoing. FarmResponse® is 3.5-hour continuing education course developed by national experts for health care professional. Clinicians licensed to practice in the following states may be eligible to take the course for free: Connecticut, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania. 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. Rural/Urban Differences in Housing Quality and Adequacy: Findings From the American Housing Survey, 2019. Among the key findings in this policy brief from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center: - Rural housing units had higher rates of several specific housing quality issues, including heating problems, utility interruptions, missing roofing or external building materials, and broken windows.
- Urban housing units had higher rates of flush toilet breakdowns, electric wiring problems, and indoor water leakage, compared to rural units.
- The prevalence of signs of mice or rats inside homes in rural areas was approximately double that observed in urban clusters and urbanized areas.
Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. CMS Extending Medicaid Unwinding Data Reporting. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued this letter to inform Medicaid agencies that CMS is extending current state reporting requirements for certain metrics contained in the Unwinding Data Report. Monthly state reporting about renewal actions occurring on or after July 1, 2024, and fair hearing requests that have been pending for more than 90 days, will continue on an ongoing basis. CMS will continue reporting data publicly to maintain transparency into Medicaid and CHIP renewal outcomes at the national and state levels. Medicaid is an important source of insurance coverage in rural areas. The unwinding of the continuous Medicaid coverage provision has resulted in over 22 million enrollees being disenrolled as of May 23, 2024 and over 49 million have had their coverage renewed. CMS posts FAQs on Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program coverage of peer support services. Learning Events and Technical Assistance HRSA Advancing Health Equity among Hispanic/Latino Populations – Monday, June 10 at 1:00 pm Eastern. In this 90-minute webinar featuring insights clinicians in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) will share first-hand experiences navigating the application process for NHSC scholarship and loan repayment programs. Additionally, grantees from the HRSA Rural Public Health Workforce Training Network Program and the Health Careers Opportunity Program will showcase their HRSA-funded projects aimed at developing and nurturing the future Hispanic/Latino Health Workforce. The first in a learning series centering Hispanic/Latino populations, the session will be broadcast in Spanish with live interpretation to English. Tools and Resources for Developing Rural Residencies – Tuesday, June 11 at 12:00 pm Eastern. This webinar is open to anyone with an interest in learning more about developing programs for Rural Graduate Medical Education (RuralGME) and Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME). It is hosted by RuralGME.org, a FORHP-funded technical assistance center created to assist grantees of FORHP's Rural Residency Planning and Development Program. CDC Foundation Introduces Weaving a Violence Intervention Ecosystem (WEAVE) Framework – Tuesday, June 11 at 2:00 pm Eastern. The non-profit organization created by Congress to support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is behind a new toolkit to support the WEAVE Framework for community gun violence intervention. WEAVE's mission is to support survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and sex trafficking – an issue research has found to be higher in rural areas. UVM Center on Rural Addiction Community Rounds Webinar – Wednesday, June 12 at 12:00 pm Eastern. This hour-long session will provide an overview of the public health implications of xylazine and offer harm reduction strategies that can be used in rural communities. The UVM Center on Rural Addiction is one of three Rural Centers of Excellence on Substance Use Disorders in FORHP's Rural Communities Opioid Response Program. USDA: Annual Report on the Food and Nutrition Assistance Landscape – Wednesday, June 12 at 1:00 pm Eastern. The Economic Research Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides an overview of USDA's 16 domestic food and nutrition assistance programs that account for roughly two-thirds of its annual budget. Resources of the Week Preparing Behavioral Health Clinicians for Success and Retention in Rural Safety Net Practices. A study published by the Journal of Rural Health assesses how training in rural communities relates to confidence in skills important in their work settings, successes in jobs and communities, and anticipated retention. Here, a summary of the study is provided by 3RNET, a national nonprofit that helps rural practices expand their reach for posting job vacancies. With New EMS Quality Measures, Florida Aims to Have a National Impact on Rural Care. A feature article in The Rural Monitor features the Feasible, Actionable, Impactful and Relevant (FAIR) EMS Measurement Project, an initiative by the Florida Department of Health which developed rural-relevant EMS quality measures for use in the state and nationally. Center of Excellence for Telehealth and Aging: Creating Access to Care in Rural America. A recording of a May 2024 webinar describing how CAMC Greenbrier Valley Medical Center utilized telemedicine hubs to ensure access to care in rural West Virginia communities. The presentation discusses lessons learned, development of the program, and future plans. There's also a panel discussion with telehealth, geriatric care, and rural health experts on improving healthcare delivery in rural areas. The Center for Excellence in Telehealth and Aging is a collaboration that includes the HRSA-supported Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center. Approaching Deadlines HRSA Cervical Cancer Learning Series for Safety-Net Settings in US-Affiliated Pacific Islands – June 7 Natl Aging / Disability Transportation Center: Rural Transportation Planning Grants – June 7 Proposed Updates to Medicare Hospital Payment for FY2025 – Comment by June 10 NIH Innovations for Healthy Living – Improving Minority 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 Alaska Community Foundation Suicide Prevention Grant – June 14 DOJ Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Formula Program – June 14 Rocky Mountain Power Foundation Grants – June 15 CMS Medicare Shared Savings Program, Phase 1 – June 17 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 CMS Seeks Public Comment On Shared Claims Matching Program with Department of Veterans Affairs – Comment by June 24 HRSA Delta Health Systems Implementation Program – June 24 Become a New Site for the National Health Service Corp – June 25 HRSA Rural Northern Boarder Region Outreach Program – June 25 HRSA Faculty Loan Repayment Program – June 27 HRSA Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program – June 27 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 Native Americans in Philanthropy/Common Counsel Foundation – Native Voices Rising Grants – June 28 DOJ Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Site-Based Program – July 1 USDA Improving WIC Workforce – Implementation Projects – July 1 USDA WIC State Agency General Infrastructure Grants – July 5 HRSA Center for Maternal and Child Health Medicaid Partnerships – July 10 HRSA Maternal and Child Health Policy Innovation Program – July 10 CMS Increasing Organ Transplant Model – Comment by July 16 IHS Addressing Dementia in Indian Country: Enhancing Sustainable Models of Care – July 16 ACF Community Economic Development Project – July 17 HUD Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program – July 18 Telehealth Resource Centers: Telehealth Implementation Bootcamp – July 18 Call for Rural Health Papers - CDC's Preventing Chronic Disease Journal – July 19 DoD announces Removal of Certain Temporary Regulation Changes Made in Response to COVID-19 for TRICARE – Comment by July 23 DHS 2024 Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grants – July 25 Medicare ACO Primary Care Flex Model Request for Applications – August 1 NIH Advancing HIV Service Delivery Through Pharmacies and Pharmacists – August 13 HRSA New Access Points for Health Center Program – August 15 HRSA Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project – August 15 NIH Health Care Models for Persons with Multiple Chronic Conditions from Populations that Experience Health Disparities: Advancing Health Care towards Health Equity – September 7 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 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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