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September 12, 2024
What's New
AHRQ State-Based Healthcare Extension Cooperatives – Apply by December 12. With major funding from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR) Trust Fund, the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) will award up to 15 grants. Representing an historic investment and initially focused on behavioral health, the Healthcare Extension Cooperatives will disseminate and implement PCOR findings to improve healthcare policy at the state level, especially for people who receive Medicaid, are uninsured, or are medically underserved. The official Notice of Funding Opportunity lists rural as a priority population, naming CMS Medicare-certified Rural Health Clinics among safety net health care delivery organizations expected to play a role in this initiative.
HRSA Primary Care Residency Fair for Medical and Dental Students – Wednesday, September 25 at 6:00 pm Eastern. Calling all mission-driven medical and dental students: Find your next residency and training opportunity! Join HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce to learn about the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program and the available opportunities to advance your career. Attendees will be able to network with recruiters from Teaching Health Centers, many of which are located in rural health clinics. These sites are embedded in the communities they serve, providing primary care, dental, and behavioral health services in areas of the country that often lack access to quality care.
Suicide Rates and Selected County-Level Factors, 2022. In the latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that rates were lowest in the counties with the highest health insurance coverage, broadband Internet access, and household income. In 2022, the overall suicide rate was 14.2 per 100,000 population; rates were highest among non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native persons, (27.1), males (23.0), and rural residents (20.0).
AHRQ Stats: Sepsis Treatment Locations 2019 to 2021. A recent publication examines differences across rural and urban hospitals in the rates of sepsis cases as well as attributes such as length of stay, cost of care, and death rates. The report, from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), looked at the over 2 million admissions each year with sepsis as a primary diagnosis and found distinctions between rural and urban facilities in the proportion of admissions for this reason as well as additional differences based on facility ownership status. Of note, rural hospitals admitted proportionately fewer sepsis cases, had lower costs and length of stay, and experienced a rise in death rates, from 7.5 to 10.3 percent, over the three years studied.
ERS on Household Food Security in the United States in 2023. The Economic Research Service (ERS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that 13.5 percent (18 million) of U.S. households were food-insecure, meaning they were uncertain of having, or unable to acquire, enough food to meet the needs of all their members because they had insufficient money or other resources for food. Last week, the ERS updated State Fact Sheets for rural economic factors including population, income, poverty, food security, education, employment, and more.
COVID-19 Resources
Learn About Long COVID & Fatiguing Illness – Thursday, September 12 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.
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.
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
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Funding: Broad Pragmatic Studies – Letters of Intent October 1. The national nonprofit research organization provides funding for patient-centered research designed to improve patient care and health outcomes. PCORI considers residents of rural areas among its populations of interest.
CDC Research Grants to Rigorously Evaluate Innovative and Promising Strategies to Prevent Firearm-Related Violence and Injuries – December 2. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expect to make 10 awards for research that strengthens the evidence base for strategies to keep communities safe from firearm-related violence, injuries, deaths, and crime.
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.
Financial Performance of Rural and Urban Hospitals in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. This brief from the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis presents financial performance trends of hospitals who participated in Medicare's Shared Savings Program (SSP) from 2011 to 2018. Trends in six financial outcomes are compared between SSP and non-SSP hospitals over time and between rural and urban hospitals.
Policy Updates
Visit the FORHP Policy page to see all recent updates and send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov.
Updated Guidance for Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated its guidance regarding the REH enrollment and conversion process for eligible facilities as well as the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Congress established REHs as a new type of Medicare provider that cannot have acute care inpatient beds, must provide emergency and observation care, and may provide other outpatient services. In 2022, CMS published a final rule codifying the Conditions of Participation (CoPs) that REHs must meet in order to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs along with payment policies, quality measures and enrollment policies. This revised guidance addresses questions that have been raised since that time. For example, it includes a question clarifying that meeting the FORHP definition of rural will not meet the statutory requirements for converting to an REH. Final interpretive guidance for REHs is pending and will be provided in a future release.
New CMMI TEAM Participant Hospitals Announced. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Innovation Center (CMMI) published a list of urban and rural acute care hospitals located in one of the Core Based Statistical Areas selected for mandatory participation in TEAM, a new episode-based, alternative payment model, in which selected acute care hospitals will coordinate care for people with Traditional Medicare undergoing one of the surgical procedures included in the model and assume responsibility for the cost and quality of care from surgery through the first 30 days after the Medicare beneficiary leaves the hospital. CMS requests that a representative from each hospital on the list complete the online TEAM Primary Point of Contact Identification Form to identify points of contact for TEAM-related communications.
Request for Comment on New Tools for States to Report Data on Mental Health Parity. To improve implementation of parity in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeks comments on a new set of templates and instructional guides for state agencies to document how mental health and substance use disorder benefits provided through a state’s Medicaid managed care program, Medicaid alternative benefit plans, and/or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) comply with Medicaid and CHIP Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act Final Rule requirements. These new tools are intended to standardize, streamline, and strengthen the process for states to demonstrate, and for CMS to determine, compliance with, mental health/substance use disorder parity requirements in coverage and delivery of state Medicaid and CHIP benefits. Medicaid and CHIP are important sources of insurance in rural areas, and they play a key role in financing care for people with behavioral health needs.
CMS Issues Request for Information (RFI) for Updates to Medicare Administrative Contractor Jurisdictions – Comment by October 4. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is revisiting possible changes to Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) jurisdictions and contract duration. In this RFI, CMS seeks feedback from industry leaders about potentially combining 4 MAC jurisdictions into 2 and extending MAC contracts to 10 years. A CMS MAC is a primary health care insurer that has been awarded a geographic jurisdiction to process fee-for-service claims, e.g., Medicare Part A, Part B, and durable medical equipment claims. The MAC serves as the primary contact between Medicare and health care providers, and is a multi-state, regional contractor responsible for administering both Part A and Part B claims. To see if your MAC jurisdiction may be affected by CMS’ proposed updates, please review the RIF on SAM.gov.
Learning Events and Technical Assistance
NIH Maternal Mental Health Research: Elevating Women’s Voices to Improve Maternal Mental Health – Monday, September 16 at 12:00 pm Eastern. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will hold a 4.5 hour session to focus on high priority research areas related to women’s mental health during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
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.
Addressing Stigma at the Individual, Provider, and Community Levels – Wednesday, September 18 at 12:00 pm Eastern. For the next Community Rounds Workshop Session, the Center on Rural Addiction will cover strategies currently being implemented to address stigma in rural communities. Expertise in this session comes from two of three FORHP-supported Rural Centers of Excellence on Substance Use Disorders.
Elevating Rural Disability Data for Policy Impact – Tuesday, September 24 at 2:30 pm Eastern. The Urban Institute and the Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities are partnering to ensure that rural voices and experiences are included in ongoing data conversations with advocates, researchers, and policymakers.
Approaching Deadlines
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
DOL Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants – September 24
Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award: Capacity Building for Small Organizations – Letters of Intent September 26
PCORI Engagement Award: Dissemination Initiative – Letters of Intent September 26
Dept of Transportation Reconnecting Communities Pilot Grant Program – September 30
NBCC Foundation Minority Fellowship Program for Addictions Counselors – September 30
Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals Program –September 30
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Funding: Broad Pragmatic Studies – Letters of Intent October 1
CMS Issues Request for Information (RFI) for Updates to Medicare Administrative Contractor Jurisdictions – Comment by October 4
Annual Time Burden on CAHs for New Medicare Data Collection – Comment by October 7
Comments Requested on Information Collection for Hospital and CAH CoPs – Comment by October 7
HHS Acquisition Regulation: Acquisition of Information Technology; Standards for Health Information Technology – Comment by October 8
Criteria to Determine What Constitutes a New Residency Program – Comment by October 15
HRSA Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. – Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Parts A and B – October 22
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellows – November 3
HRSA National Health Service Corps Students to Service Loan Repayment Program – November 7
EPA Brownfield Clean-Up Grants – November 14
AHRQ TeamSTEPPS®: No Cost Training for Patient Safety – Sessions through November 2024
EPA Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants – November 21
CDC Research Grants to Rigorously Evaluate Innovative and Promising Strategies to Prevent Firearm-Related Violence and Injuries – December 2
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
Small Business Administration Guaranteed Loans for Small Business
Small Business Administration Certified Development Company (504) Loan Program: Rural Initiative Pilot Program
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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