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September 28, 2023
What's New
FY23 Rural Maternity Obstetrics Management Strategies Program. Nearly $2 Million in grant funding was awarded to two rural health networks in Mississippi and New Hampshire through the FORHP-supported Rural Maternity Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) Program. The awarded projects are designed to increase access to maternal and obstetrics care and are a part of a federal investment through the Department of Health & Human Services totaling nearly $90 Million to Address Maternal Health Crisis across the Nation in awards to support the White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis, a whole-of-government strategy to combat maternal mortality and improve maternal and infant health, particularly in underserved communities.
New Report on Rural SUD Stigma and Treatment. In June 2023, the three FORHP-supported Rural Centers of Excellence on Substance Use Disorders - University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction, University of Rochester, and the Fletcher Group - collaborated to conduct an online survey of practitioners affiliated with grant sites of FORHP’s Rural Communities Opioid Response Program.
Will the Availability of OTC Narcan Increase Access? The national nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation highlights state policies and recent research related to over-the-counter (OTC) access to naloxone, a drug that rapidly reverses opioid overdose. A clue may be provided by a 2022 study linked in the brief that examines how pharmacies decided to stock the prescription version of the drug. The study identified that independent pharmacies, those in rural areas, and pharmacies in states with lower overdose rates or without expanded Medicaid were less likely to have it available.
Addressing Social Needs Through Medicaid: Lessons from North Carolina. This report examines what was learned from North Carolina’s Healthy Opportunities Pilots, a project launched in 2021 with $650 million in Medicaid funding that focused on the health-related social needs of enrollees living in three primarily rural regions of the state.
USDA ERS to host a public Data Training Webinar about their new Area and Road Ruggedness Scales – September 28 at 1:00 pm ET. The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Economic Research Service (ERS) recently developed and published detailed measures of rugged terrain with full nationwide coverage down to the census tract level. Rugged terrain, defined as any location with significant variation in elevation, provides numerous benefits to residents and visitors alike but may also impose barriers to travel and restrict economic development. ERS researchers developed two national representations of rugged terrain for census tracts. The Area Ruggedness Scale characterizes overall ruggedness in each census tract area while the Road Ruggedness Scale characterizes ruggedness along roads to help study the impact of rugged terrain on travel by car. The data is available in their Area and Road Ruggedness Scales data product. USDA ERS will host a one-hour webinar on Thursday, September 28 at 1pm ET to discuss the data.
Ongoing: Updates to 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 will still be required to register with the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to prescribe controlled medications. On June 27, 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
Provider Relief Fund Reporting Period 5. The Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Portal is open from July 1 to September 30, 2023 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, 2022 to June 30, 2022, must report on their use of funds during Reporting Period 5 to comply with PRF Reporting Requirements. More information and resources can be found on the PRF Reporting webpage.
HHS/DoD National Emergency Tele-Critical Care Network. A joint program of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is available at no cost to hospitals caring for COVID-19 patients. Teams of critical care clinicians - critical care physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other specialized clinical experts – are available to deliver virtual care through telemedicine platforms, such as an app on a mobile device. Hear from participating clinicians, and email to learn more and sign up.
Mobilizing Health Care Workforce via Telehealth. ProviderBridge.org was created through the 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
HUD Lead Hazard Control Older Adults Home Modification Grants – October 16. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will provide funding to make home modifications and limited repairs to meet the needs of low-income elderly homeowners. The overall program goal is enabling elderly persons to remain in their homes by reducing fall risk, improving general safety, increasing accessibility, and improving functional abilities in the home. At least one third of the funding is set aside for communities with substantial rural populations.
DOT Assistance for Communities through the Thriving Communities Program – Letters of Interest November 15. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will provide technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support for underserved communities to help them compete for federal aid and deliver quality infrastructure projects. Priority will be given to communities and organizations that have had limited past success in applying for or receiving federal transportation funding, or in successfully delivering integrated infrastructure and community development projects.
NIH Research to Improve Native American Health – October 2024. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will fund research designed to improve health in Native American populations. Proposed research may address health promotion, disease prevention, treatment, recovery, or services research to inform intervention implementation and dissemination, and it must engage tribal partners and communities.
Policy Updates
Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov.
Request for Input on Rural Participation in Value-Based Care Models – October 20. The Physician‐Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC), an independent federal advisory committee, seeks public input to inform their report to the Secretary with recommendations to encourage rural participation in value-based payment (VBP) models. They request information on what definitions of rural are most relevant for VBP, what are the needs of rural providers, what are the barriers to rural participation in VBP models, and what non-medical interventions do rural populations need. Send questions or comments to PTAC@HHS.gov.
Final Rule: Simplified Enrollment in the Medicare Savings Programs. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule that simplifies eligibility and enrollment processes for the Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs), a collection of programs that provide qualifying, low-income Medicare beneficiaries with state-based assistance paying for Medicare premiums and cost-sharing. For several years, estimates have shown low enrollment in these programs. In response, this rule requires States to simplify policies and procedures with the goal of enrolling more eligible Medicare beneficiaries. In 2020, over 1 million rural Medicare beneficiaries had limited Medicaid benefits through these programs.
Learning Events and Technical Assistance
White House Rural Partners Update – Thursday, September 28 at 3:00 pm ET. The Office of Public Engagement will highlight the recent announcement of the American Climate Corps, provide an update on USDA's work to implement rural clean energy projects through the Inflation Reduction Act, and will introduce the new White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
Preventing Gender-Based and Intimate Partner Violence - Thursday, Oct. 12 from 2:00 - 3:00pm ET. Join HRSA's Office of Women's Health, the Bureau of Health Workforce, and the Director of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health for a one-hour webinar, "Preventing Gender-Based and Intimate Partner Violence." Attendees will learn about HRSA and HHS programs that address gender-based and intimate partner violence. This webinar is being held in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. View and download HRSA OWH's newly released Implementation Framework for Preventing and Responding to IPV.
Rural Definitions and Data: Changes after the 2020 Census – Tuesday, October 17 at 1:00 pm ET. Experts from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy will review how rurality is defined by the federal government, what changes in these definitions were made recently, and how this may affect rural areas’ eligibility for federal funding.
The Rural Telementoring UnConference – Wednesday, October 18 at 11:00 am ET. The HRSA-supported Rural Telementoring Training Center invites you to their 2nd Rural featuring an array of brief presentations on topics relevant to technology as a driving force for innovation in rural health care and practice. An UnConference is a participant-driven event that nurtures collaboration, participant interactivity, and idea incubation.
Resource of the Week
New Growth Transit: Community-Based Transit for Rural Communities. Video featuring West Central Missouri Community Action Agency's New Growth Transit volunteer driver network, which provides transportation for mobility-challenged clients living in nine rural counties in West Central Missouri.
Approaching Deadlines
DOT Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program – September 28
PCORI Building Capacity for Patient-Centered Research/Clinical Effectiveness – Letters of Intent September 28
PCORI Dissemination Initiative – Letters of Intent September 28
PCORI Stakeholder Convening Support – Letters of Intent September 28
NIHB Climate Ready Tribes Emergency Mitigation Planning Grants – September 29
Harvard/Massachusetts General Hospital Fellowship Program in Rural Health Leadership – September 30
National Board for Certified Counselors Minority Fellowship for Addictions Counselors – September 30
USDA Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program – September 30
3RNET Recruiting for Retention Academy – October 1
AHRQ Health Services Research Demonstration and Dissemination Grants – October 1
Comments Requested: Requirements Related to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act – October 2
Food Research & Action Center Grants to Research Equitable Access in Child Nutrition – October 3
NIH Assessing Real-World Effectiveness of Telehealth Guided Provider-to-Provider Communication in Rural Communities – October 5
UMMC Caregiver University for Alzheimer’s Support – October 10
National Aging and Disability Transportation Center/Creative Solutions to Rural Transportation Course – October 13
Northwest Public Health and Primary Care Leadership Institute – October 13
American Psychological Foundation Grant for Rural First Responders Mental Health Interventions – October 15
HUD Lead Hazard Control/Older Adults Home Modification Grants – October 16
NIH Pilot Interventions to Integrate Social Care and Medical Care for Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases – October 19
PTAC Solicits Public Input on Encouraging Rural Participation in Alternative Payment Models – October 20
USDA Community Food Projects – October 30
USDA Community Wildfire Defense Grants – October 31
NIH Native Collective Research Effort Addressing Overdose, Substance Use, Mental Health, and Pain – November 1
Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellows – November 1
NIH Researching Social Networks to Promote Behavior Change – November 3
Comments Requested: CMS Proposes Minimum Staffing Standards for Nursing Homes – November 6
EPA Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program – November 6
NIH Researching Firearm Injury Prevention in Community Healthcare Settings – November 7
IHS Small Ambulatory Program for American Indians and Alaska Natives – November 10
EPA Funding One Entity Providing Technical Assistance for Tribal Nations and Entities Addressing Brownfields – November 13
NIH Build UP Trust Challenge – November 14
DOT Assistance for Communities through the Thriving Communities Program – Letters of Interest November 15
NIH Extramural Loan Repayment Program – November 16
CMS Making Care Primary Model – November 30
CDC Rigorous Evaluation of Policy-Level Interventions to Prevent Overdose – December 1
Commonwealth Fund/Harvard Fellowship in Minority Health Policy – December 1
HRSA National Health Service Corps Students to Service Loan Repayment Program – December 7
NTIA Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program – January 23
HHS Innovation Challenge: Preventing Human Trafficking/Women and Girls – February 1
Ongoing Opportunities
HRSA Needs Rural Reviewers for Grant Applications
Economic Development Administration Public Works/Economic Assistance Program (CARES Act Funding)
Extended Public Comment Period for FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program
FCC Affordable Connectivity Program for Broadband Service
SAMHSA 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Volunteer and Job Opportunities
USDA Disaster Repair Grants for Rural Community Facilities – Ongoing while funds last
USDA Water Infrastructure Grants for 2022 Disaster Areas – Ongoing while funds last
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
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
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
Native Americans into Medicine
Host Sites for National Environmental Public Health Internship
NIH Addressing the Impact of Structural Racism and Discrimination – Various dates until October 2025
NIH Native American Research Centers for Health – Various dates until July 2026
NIH Project Talk Initiative Host Site Applications
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 Special Interest Research – Pandemic Impact on Vulnerable Children and Youth – May 2024
NIH Researching Barriers to Care for HIV-Associated Comorbidities – May 2025
NIH Research to Address Vaccine Hesitancy in Health Disparity Populations – June 2026
Nominations for Federal Advisory Commission on HIV, Viral Hepatitis, and Sexually Transmitted Diseases
NRHA Chief Nursing Officer Certification Program for Rural Hospitals
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
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
Tribal Grant Writing Training
Treasury Department Opportunity Zone Economic Development Program
United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc Tribal Health Program Support
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 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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