| Read this in your browser March 13, 2025 What's New Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) Program Now Accepting Applicants – Apply by April 10. The RRPD program is accepting applications and has released frequently asked questions for interested applicants. The technical assistance webinar via Zoom for applicants has been rescheduled to Friday, March 14 at 1:00 pm Eastern. Applicants may also benefit from the resources and tools available in the Rural GME Development Portal at RuralGME.org. Application Assistance for HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Pathways – Wednesday, March 19 at 2:00 pm Eastern. First announced in January, this funding is part of HRSA's targeted efforts to address the opioid epidemic in rural communities. The new RCORP-Pathways is designed to tackle behavioral health care challenges amongst rural youth while building career pathways in the behavioral health workforce. The initiative will support community networks in developing and expanding opportunities for youth in the behavioral health care field through engagement and training. The goals of this funding opportunity include the creation of innovative, youth-focused, peer-driven behavioral health care support programs and the development of career pathways to bolster the rural workforce. HRSA plans to make up to 12 awards and recipients can receive up to $400,000 per year over a three-year period of performance. Read more details about the RCORP-Pathways Notice of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov and apply by April 14. For questions, write to ruralopioidresponse@hrsa.gov. If you are not able to join the technical assistance session via Zoom, you can call in: - Phone number: 833 568 8864
- Passcode: 52993684
Learn About Federal Funding for EMS Agencies – Wednesday, March 19 at 2:00 pm Eastern. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies have an opportunity to secure grants for planning and demonstration projects for the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program. Administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the estimated $1 billion SS4A funding round will provide resources for regional, local and Tribal initiatives focused on preventing roadway deaths and serious injuries. Rural communities are especially encouraged to apply for funds to address roadway safety. The one-hour webinar is hosted by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration's Office of EMS and will feature a successful SS4A applicant; attendees are encouraged to submit questions during any point of the discussion. National Poison Prevention Week, March 16-22. NPPW is recognized annually to teach about the risks of poisonings and increase everyone's involvement in poison prevention. Research has shown that poisonings are the second leading cause of fatal unintentional injury in rural areas, where distance to emergency care is a factor in outcomes. Visit HRSA's Poison Control Program's website for more information and resources on how to prevent and respond to a poison emergency. Funding and Opportunities HRSA Regional Telehealth Resource Center Program – Apply by April 14. HRSA's Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (OAT) will make up to 12 awards to organizations that will provide expert technical assistance in the development of telehealth services and region-specific resources in locations around the country. OAT will also make two awards for the National Telehealth Resource Center Program (applications also due on April 14) to support the regional centers and health care providers across the country. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. CMS Reminds Hospitals about Price Transparency and Enforcement. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) alerted hospitals that the agency is planning a more systematic monitoring and enforcement approach to non-compliance with the Hospital Price Transparency requirements and, consistent with current policies, non-compliance will be addressed with swift enforcement. CMS posted a list of enforcement actions to date as well as a Hospital Price Transparency Enforcement Activities and Outcomes dataset with information related to enforcement actions taken by CMS. All hospitals, including Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Emergency Hospitals, and hospital-based departments, which may include some Rural Health Clinics, are required to post their standard charges prominently on a publicly available website. CMS Rescinds Medicaid Guidance on Health-Related Social Needs. Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced rescission of previous guidance for Center Information Bulletins (CIBs) related to services and supports addressing health-related social needs (HRSN) for Medicaid and state Children Health Insurance Programs (CHIPs). The rescinded guidance includes the 2023 CIB, Coverage of Services and Supports to Address Health-Related Social Needs in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, and the 2024 CIB, Coverage of Services and Supports to Address Health-Related Social Needs in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. Rescinding this guidance does not negate programs that are currently approved. Rather, it informs States and the public that CMS will review applications to cover HRSN services on a case-by-case basis. Proposed Updates to ACA Marketplace Rules Released by CMS – Expect comments to be due early April. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the "Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Proposed Rule," which proposes additional safeguards to protect consumers from improper enrollments and changes to their health care coverage, as well as establish standards to ensure the integrity of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplaces. Key proposals include revising standards for income verification processes; modifying eligibility redetermination procedures; revising actuarial value standards for health plans; requiring Marketplaces to deny eligibility for advance payments of the premium tax credit (APTC) upon a tax filer's failure to reconcile APTC for one year; shortening the annual Open Enrollment Period to November 1 through December 15; and eliminating the special enrollment period for persons with annual household incomes below 150% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Since 2018, the number of Marketplace plans in rural areas has grown, although the number of issuers in rural areas still lags behind the number in urban areas. Once CMS displays the proposed rule in the public Inspection section of the Federal Register, the public will have 30 days to submit comments. Resource of the Week Rural Clinical Integrated Networks. The team at Rural Health Value released a new resource, Introduction to Rural Clinically Integrated Networks (CINs), that defines CINs, describes common CIN characteristics, and explores the unique value-based care advantages a rural CIN may bring to its members. The conclusion of the brief is that a collaboration of independent rural health care organizations, incorporated as a CIN, can achieve the scale and develop the infrastructure necessary to successfully participate in value-based care and payment opportunities. The Rural Health Value team is funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. Approaching Deadlines U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Health Professional Scholarship Program – March 15 HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Education/Training for Paraprofessionals – March 18 HRSA Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Part C – Capacity Development – March 18 HRSA Primary Care Training/Enhancement Residency Training in Street Medicine – March 20 USDA Rural Development: Economic Development Loans & Grants – March 31 Federal Communications Commission via Universal Service Administrative Company: Rural Health Care Program – Health Care Connect Fund – April 1 U.S. Department of Transportation Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program – April 3 HRSA Rural Residency Planning and Development Program – April 10 HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Northern Border Rural Workforce – April 11 HRSA National Telehealth Resource Center Program – April 14 HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program - Pathways – April 14 HRSA Regional Telehealth Resource Center Program – April 14 HRSA Telehealth Rapid Response Center – April 15 HRSA Telehealth Research Center – April 15 USDA Rural Development: Community Connect Grants – April 21 Ongoing Opportunities Bold indicates HRSA- and/or FORHP-funded opportunities. Administration for Children & Families: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency – Technical Assistance for Rural EMS Communications Delta Regional Authority: Community Infrastructure Fund Delta Region Community Health Systems Development Program Federal Emergency Management Agency/Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Post-Disaster Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program General Services Administration: Federal Surplus Property Available for Public Use HRSA Needs Rural Reviewers for Grant Applications HRSA National Health Service Corps/SAMHSA: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Training HRSA Technical Assistance for Look-Alike Initial Designation for the Health Center Program Indian Health Service SOAR Health Training on Human Trafficking Indian Health Service/Department of Defense: Medical Supplies and Equipment for Tribes (Project TRANSAM) Licensure Portability: the Multi-Discipline Licensure Resource Project National Rural Health Resource Center: Rural Hospital Stabilization Program ProviderBridge: Mobilizing Health Care Workforce via Telehealth Rural Graduate Medical Education Planning and Development Small Business Administration Guaranteed Loans for Small Business Small Business Administration Rural Initiative Pilot Program Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals Program USDA: America's Healthy Food Financing Initiative USDA: National School Lunch Afterschool Snack Program USDA: Summer Food Service Program USDA/National Rural Health Association: Rural Hospital Technical Assistance USDA Rural Development: Circuit Rider Program – Technical Assistance for Rural Water Systems USDA Rural Development: Community Facilities Program USDA Rural Development: Economic Development Loans & Grants – Ongoing with deadlines every quarter USDA Rural Development: Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants USDA Rural Development: Grants for Rural and Native Alaskan Villages USDA Rural Development: Intermediary Relending Program – Ongoing with deadlines every quarter USDA Rural Development: Multifamily Housing Loan Guarantees USDA Rural Development: Rural Business Investment Program USDA Rural Development: Economic Development Loan & Grants Programs – Ongoing with deadlines every quarter USDA Rural Development: Rural Energy Savings Program USDA Rural Development: SEARCH – Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households (for Water/Waste Projects) USDA Rural Development: Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans and Loan Guarantees U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Office of Hospital Facilities Funding U.S. Department of Justice: Jail-Based Medication-Assisted Treatment Mentoring Initiative U.S. Department of Transportation: Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (R.O.U.T.E.S) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Drinking Water State Revolving Fund | 
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