| View this in your browser August 1, 2024 What's New Strategies to Eliminate Inequity in PrEP Services in the U.S. South and Rural Communities. While pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a key tool to ending the global HIV and AIDS epidemic by 2030, recent data show that only 30 percent of the 1.2 million Americans who are candidates for the medication proven to reduce the risk of getting HIV are actually taking it. A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed substantial differences in uptake by geography, race and ethnicity; what scientists call "PrEP deserts" are most commonly found in the rural South, where more than half of new HIV infections in the U.S continue to occur. In this study, researchers recognize that inequity in care is likely attributed to social determinants of health and structural issues beyond individuals' control. They describe three approaches to potentially improve access in the South and in rural communities: 1) normalizing where providers prescribe PrEP routinely as a standard of care; 2) digitalizing, i.e., using technology, such as telehealth, as recommended in 2020 by the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services; and 3) streamlining care using guidelines from the World Health Organization and the U.S. Public Health Service to explore different approaches, such as on-demand PrEP and HIV self-testing. See Learning Opportunities below for upcoming event addressing stigma in the rural Southeast. New Digital Inclusion Grants Commit $1 Billion to Local Communities – Apply by September 23. The U.S. Department of Commerce seeks applications from state and local entities for grants aimed at putting affordable, high-speed internet in communities where it is not available. The funding is part of the "Internet for All" initiative, formally known as the Digital Equity Act, legislation that was passed by Congress in 2021. This initiative includes special provisions for rural communities, tribal organizations and more covered entities to assist in the costs associated with hardware and construction of broadband. Urban residents were more likely than rural residents to have a broadband internet subscription (91% of urban households vs. 87% of rural households). Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration will hold a Digital Equity Grants 101 Webinar on Wednesday, August 7 at 3:00 pm Eastern. 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 $756,842 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 Provider Relief Fund Reporting Period 7. The Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Portal opened July 1 and will remain open until September 30, 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 January 1 to June 30, 2023 must report on their use of funds during Reporting Period 7 to comply with PRF Reporting Requirements. More information and resources can be found on the PRF Reporting webpage. Learn About Long COVID & Fatiguing Illness – Thursday, August 8 at 3:00 pm Eastern. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funds this monthly webinar-style Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) 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 DOL YouthBuild Grants – September 6. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) estimates 75 awards, each ranging from $700,000 to $1.5 million for skills training and employment services for at-risk youth, ages 16-24. Eligible applicants are public and private nonprofit organizations that can provide hands-on, meaningful activities related to education, training, and employment. Applications from rural, urban, and Native American organizations are encouraged. AmeriCorps Senior Corps Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) – September 18. Applications from rural communities are encouraged for this funding to develop and support Retired and Senior Volunteer Program projects for volunteers 55 years and older. NRHA Rural Health Fellows Leadership Program – September 12. The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) provides a year-long, intensive fellowship program designed to develop a community of rural health leaders that will be able to step forward to serve in key positions in NRHA, affiliated advocacy groups, and local and state legislative bodies with health equity as a main focus. 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. The Low-Volume Hospital Adjustment Before and During COVID-19. This brief from the North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center provides an update to a 2016 analysis of the profitability of low-volume and non-low-volume rural Prospective Payment System hospitals under the Affordable Care Act's qualifying criteria. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. Medicare Finalizes Updates for Hospice Payment Rule. On July 30th, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule that provides updates to the fiscal year (FY) 2025 Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP). This rule finalizes new HQRP quality measures; finalizes a new data collection instrument, the Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation (HOPE); summarizes responses to a request for information regarding potential social determinants of health (SDOH) elements; and provides updates on Health Equity activities, future quality measures, and public reporting requirements. The rule also finalizes changes to the Hospice Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (Hospice CAHPS) Survey. This rule is effective October 1, 2024. CMS Oral Health Cross-Cutting Initiative. On July 23rd, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its first fact sheet highlighting the CMS's Oral Health Cross-Cutting Initiative (CCI). The Oral Health CCI, led by the CMS Chief Dental Officer, is committed to ensuring equitable access to oral health care, eliminating disparities, expanding dental service availability, and effectively engaging stakeholders. The fact sheet provides an overview of the CMS's work to improve access to oral health services across CMS programs, including strengthening coverage for Medicare, Medicaid, and Marketplace beneficiaries, and how it's using data to identify trends, challenges, and opportunities in oral health care. 2025 Proposed CMS Rules - What's in the Rules for RHCs & How You Can Get Involved in Regulatory Advocacy – Thursday, August 15 at 2 pm Eastern. The National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) will host the free webinar with details on the recently released Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Calendar Year 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) proposed rule. This annual regulatory update contains Rural Health Clinic (RHC) specific proposals to eliminate productivity standards, remove hemoglobin/hematocrit from the six required lab services, reform care management billing, and allow RHCs to bill for administration of part B preventive vaccines at time of service, among others. Additional time for Q&A will be provided. Advanced registration is required. Learning Events and Technical Assistance Health Care Professionals: Find Your Dream Job at the HRSA Virtual Job Fair – Wednesday, August 7 at 6:00 pm Eastern. Register now for the next Virtual Job Fair connecting health care professionals seeking employment with representatives from 50 health care facilities serving high-need rural and urban communities across the country. From 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm speak directly to health center recruiters, learn about the community, and learn how you can apply to hundreds of open positions. Ending HIV in the Southeast: Strategies to Increase PrEP Uptake in Rural and Underserved Communities – Friday, August 9 at 12:00 pm Eastern. This is a two-part series designed for primary care clinicians, pharmacists, social workers/case managers, and other members of the health care team who serve patients in rural and underserved areas in the Southeast. The AIDS Education & Training Center is a federally funded program administered by HRSA's Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. Part two will take place on Friday, August 16. Northeast Telehealth Resource Center 10th Annual Conference – September 16-18. Registration is open for this in-person event taking place in Nashua New Hampshire, bringing together stakeholders from across New England, New York, and beyond. The Agenda includes two pre-conference workshops, and more than 15 sessions on key topics in telehealth led by regional and national thought leaders. The Northeast Telehealth Resource Center (NETRC) is one of twelve regional resource centers and two national centers supported by HRSA's Office for the Advancement of Telehealth. Reach out to the NETRC team at netrc@mcd.org with any questions. Resource of the Week Rural Center of Excellence on SUD Prevention: Reducing Stigma Rural Care Settings. This campaign from the University of Rochester (UR) Recovery Center of Excellence developed an awareness campaign to address stigmatizing beliefs around substance use disorder (SUD) that can pose a barrier to care in rural communities. The resource features perspectives of people in recovery from SUD as well as providers. UR has one of three FORHP-supported Rural Centers of Excellence on Substance Use Disorder. Rural Community Health Worker Programs: Proving Value and Finding Sustainability. The latest feature article in The Rural Monitor features four rural health care organizations describing the impact of their community health worker programs and strategies for sustaining them. Approaching Deadlines Medicare ACO Primary Care Flex Model Request for Applications – August 1 CDC Rural Public Health Communications Fellowship – August 2 HRSA Delta Region Maternal Care Coordination Program – August 2 HRSA Technology-Enabled Collaborative Learning Program – August 2 Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE) Opioid Crisis Innovation Challenge – August 8 DHS Funding One Entity for Rural Emergency Medical Communications Demonstration Project – August 9 USDA Native Community Development Financial Institution Relending Demonstration Program – August 9 National Medical Fellowships – Health Equity Leaders Program for Underrepresented Professionals – August 12 USDA Rural Business Cooperative Service – Delta Health Care Services Grants – August 12 DOJ Grants to Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions – August 13 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 Delta Regional Authority Leadership Institute Executive Academy – August 16 DOL Mine Health and Safety Grants – August 20 USDA Broadband Technical Assistance Program – August 20 CMS Announces Proposed Changes to Medicare Home Health Program – Comment by August 26 Payment Updates in CY 2025 End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS) Proposed Rule – Comment by August 26 HHS Proposal to Improve Patient Engagement, Information Sharing, and Public Health Interoperability – Comment by September 1 HRSA Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program (for Academic Year (for Academic Year 2024-2025) – September 5 DOL YouthBuild Grants – September 6 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 CMS Innovation in Behavioral Health Model – September 9 Proposed Updates to Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Payments for Calendar Year 2025 – Comment by September 9 Proposed Updates to Medicare Outpatient Payments for Calendar Year 2025 – Comment by September 9 NRHA Rural Health Fellows Leadership Program – September 12 AmeriCorps Senior Corps Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) – September 18 CMS Transforming Maternal Health Model – September 20 HRSA Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program (for Academic Year 2025-2026) – September 20 Dept of Commerce Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program – September 23 AHRQ TeamSTEPPS®: No Cost Training for Patient Safety – Sessions through November 2024 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 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 California Department of Health Care Access – Small and Rural Hospital Relief Program 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) Licensure Portability: the Multi-Discipline Licensure Resource Project 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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