ORHPC News Update November 2022 - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care

 

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Office of Rural Health and Primary Care News

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November 2022

Update Index


MDH news

National Rural Health Day, Thursday November 17, 2022

2022 NRHD

In one week, we will be joining the 49 other State Offices of Rural Health as well as our rural health stakeholders from across the country in celebrating National Rural Health Day. It is an opportunity to celebrate the #PowerOfRural by spotlighting the dedicated individuals and organizations that are driving change and going the extra mile for rural Americans. Following are links to materials you can use and events you can participate in.

NRHD ToolkitRural Stakeholder Tools

The National Rural Health Day Tools can help  rural stakeholders engage in the #PowerOfRural movement! These free materials are available for you to use to engage with public health agencies, rural health clinics, broadband companies and organizations, philanthropy organizations, and many others. Share them with your rural networks!

#RuralHealthChat: Addressing Health Literacy in Rural America

2022 Twitter Chat

On November 16, at 2:00 pm ET, join RHIhub and the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) to discuss health literacy in rural America. They will use the hashtag #RuralHealthChat to tweet with experts who are excited to share their knowledge. Everyone is welcome to provide comments, questions, or just follow along!

2022 NIH Rural Health Day Seminar

Join the National Institute of Nursing Research on November 17, 12:00 p.m. ET, for the 2022 NIH Rural Health Day Seminar: Improving Rural Health through Research Dissemination and Implementation. The seminar will center on the intersection of rurality and other factors that impact how research is implemented with rural populations. The event features expert insights into the effects of social determinants of health, culture, race and ethnicity, sexuality and gender, chronic complex conditions, and the lived environments. Register for this free event.

Collaboration Carpool: Conversations with mission-minded rural stakeholders

Collaboration carpool

You are invited to reserve your complimentary spot and come along for the ride during "Carpool Collaboration: Conversations with Mission-Minded Rural Stakeholders" on November 17, at 2:00 pm ET.  The National Organization for State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) will welcome a dynamic group of guests, each driving change and sharing stories about the work they are doing to go the extra mile through collaboration.

Key messages and data points e-book

Key Messages e-book

As a part of the ongoing #PowerofRural movement, the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health gathers essential information in the Key Messages & Data Points E-book that can help educate various stakeholders about the realities of rural health through stories and data. This e-book is free and can be downloaded.

2022 NRHD toolkitNRHD Promotional Materials

National Rural Health Day promotional materials are designed and available for community stakeholders, including hospitals, clinics, first responders, public health and elected officials, and others who serve and support the health needs of rural communities. 

MNsure

MNsureGet Started! The 2023 enrollment period for MNsure, Minnesota's private health insurance plan, is OPEN. Free in-person support is available from MNsure-certified navigators and brokers around the state to help you enroll. Avoid online scams and make sure you are clicking on: https://www.mnsure.org/ 

Minnesota Rural Health Conference 2023

The Minnesota Rural Health Conference will return to an in-person event in 2023! Make plans now to join rural health leaders from across the state on June 12-13 at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC). Registration for the event is expected to open in April.

Conference updates can be found online at the conference website. You may also want to subscribe to the conference e-mail list.

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Grants and other funding

OPEN: Rural Family Medicine Residency Grant

The Rural Family Medicine Residency Grant assists Family Medicine Residency programs outside the 7-county metropolitan area by funding costs associated with training eligible residents. A Letter of Intent is due December 9. For more information, please contact: Joanne Madrid, 651-201-3895.

OPEN: MN Health Care Loan Forgiveness Program

The Minnesota Office of Rural Health and Primary Care awards loan forgiveness to various health care professionals serving in high-need areas. View the MN Health Care Loan Forgiveness Programs webpage for a listing of eligible professions as well as program information specific to each including eligibility, award amounts, service obligation, timelines, etc. Applications are due 11:59 PM, January 6, 2023. For more information, please contact: health.loanforgiveness@state.mn.us.

OPEN: Minnesota Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)

Minnesota's Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) is for primary care providers practicing in rural and urban Health Professional Shortage Areas in Minnesota. Applications are due January 13, 2023. For more information, please contact: brenda.flattum@state.mn.us, 651-201-3870.

OPEN: Rural Health Network Development Planning Funding Opportunity

The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) has announced a funding opportunity that supports the planning and development of integrated health care networks seeking to expand access and improve quality of care in rural communities. Successful award recipients will receive up to $100,000 for a one-year period to conduct planning activities that support at least one of the following: achieving efficiencies; expanding access to, coordinating, and improving the quality of basic health care services; and/or strengthening the rural health care system as a whole. Applications are due January 6, 2023. For more information, please contact Nkem Osian at (301) 443-2751 or email nosian@hrsa.gov

OPEN: Department of Labor Nursing Expansion Grants

Nursing Expansion Grants The U.S. Department of Labor will invest $80 million to expand and diversify the pipeline of qualified nursing professionals on two tracks: 1) increasing the number of nursing educators, and 2) training frontline professionals and paraprofessionals to attain postsecondary credentials needed for middle- to high-skilled nursing jobs. Applications are due January 6, 2023. For more information, please contact: petchik.daniela.m@dol.gov

REMINDER: J1 Visa Waiver 

J-1 Visa and Waiver The J-1 Visa Waiver program administered by MDH is committed to improving access to health care in underserved areas of the state. The current application process is open and will close 4:30 p.m. CT, November 30, unless fewer than 30 applications have been received. Please submit your questions to MN_health.J1NHW@state.mn.us

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Opportunities

Upcoming webinar: It's not easy being a rural pharmacy - services, payments, closures, and deserts

Pharmacies are subject to a range of financial pressures and many rural pharmacies have closed over the past 15 years. These closures can create critical gaps in health care services available in rural areas. Speakers will share recent research from the Rural Policy Research Institute Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis and discuss key findings on the availability of pharmacy services, payment models, the impact of pharmacy closures, and the creation of new pharmacy deserts. The free webinar will be held November 14, 12:00 Central Time. Registration is required.

RHIhub Rural Health Equity Toolkit

Developed in collaboration with the NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis with funding from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), the Rural Health Equity Toolkit contains information and resources that emphasize developing, implementing, evaluating, and sustaining successful rural health equity programs. The toolkit compiles evidence-based frameworks and promising strategies and resources to support organizations working toward health equity in rural communities across the United States.

Nursing Workforce Dashboard

The Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Bureau of Health Workforce released a new nursing workforce dashboard. Users can access data from the latest National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses through multiple visualizations that can be customized by nurse type, status, and area (that includes viewing data by state). 

DOT Assistance for Transportation Projects /Underserved Communities

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will provide technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support to help underserved communities compete for federal aid. The Thriving Communities Program will select 30 participants – state, local, and tribal governments; U.S. territories, transit agencies, and planning organizations – to receive assistance for up to two years and be part of a Community of Practice advancing policies, practices, and projects. For more details on applying for this opportunity, visit the How to Apply webpage. Submit your Letter of Interest by 11:59 p.m. ET, December 6, by using DOT’s online webform.

Input on establishing a National Directory of Health Care Providers and Services

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public input on the creation of a National Directory of Healthcare Providers and Services (NDH). Health care directories can serve as an important resource for patients, helping them locate providers who meet their individual needs and preferences and allowing them to compare health plan networks. Rural stakeholders may consider commenting to ensure CMS receives input on considerations for rural providers and patients. Please provide your input by December 6.

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Read/listen to this

A conversation with Alexa McKinley: Rural Health Leadership Podcast. Alexa McKinley, Government Affairs & Policy Coordinator for the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), discusses the Rural Emergency Hospital model and how it can be a beneficial tool for rural health providers. 

An insurance profile of rural America: Chartbook, RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis. This chartbook covers findings on overall coverage (insured and uninsured rates), employer sponsored insurance, marketplace coverage, and Medicare and Medicaid coverage. The demographic and economic characteristics of rural persons and their coverage rates are described, as well as how coverage impacts health status, access to care, and costs.

Factors Predicting Swing Bed Versus Skilled Nursing Facility Use (PDF), Rural Health Research & Policy Centers. This study examines differences between patients discharged to swing beds versus skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), stratifying by admitting hospital type (i.e., rural Critical Access Hospital [CAH] versus rural Prospective Payment System [PPS] hospital).

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Save the date

National Nurse Practitioner Week is November 13 - 19. View the National Nurse Practitioner Week Resource Guide 

November is Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month. Read the White House Proclamation

This year's National Rural Health Day is Thursday, November 17.

National Rural Health Day

The virtual NOSORH 2023 National Rural EMS & Care Conference will be held April 18-20.

 

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