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VIRGINIA STATE OFFICE
OF RURAL HEALTH
June Newsletter
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Thank you, Nancy Bell, for this beautiful image from Patrick County, VA.
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Call for Participation
National Study on Maternity Care in Rural Communities. We are sharing an important opportunity to participate in a national study titled:
“A Mixed Methods Evaluation of Midwifery Workforce Expansion and Maternal Healthcare Capacity for Rural and Underserved Communities.”
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Principal Investigator: Denise C. Smith; COMIRB No: 24-0443
The study aims to better understand the challenges and opportunities surrounding maternity care access in rural hospitals and clinics across the U.S. If you are a healthcare provider or healthcare leader serving rural communities, we encourage you to participate by completing the appropriate survey below:
Healthcare Provider Survey For clinicians providing direct patient care in rural areas: Take the Provider Survey
Healthcare Leader Survey For health system administrators, practice directors, or unit managers in rural areas: Take the Leader Survey
Your insights will help inform future improvements to rural maternal healthcare systems. Thank you for supporting this vital research!
HRSA is looking for grant reviewers
How can I become a grant reviewer? If you work or have experience in health care, register via our Reviewer Recruitment Module (RRM).
We look for people who are experts in these areas:
- Behavioral health
- Health workforce training
- HIV/AIDS
- Maternal and child health
- Primary care delivery
- Rural health
- Health equity and more!
Visit our website for details: How to Become a Grant Reviewer | HRSA
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Healthcare Workforce
 Find Mission-Minded Health Professionals
3RNET is the Nation’s Most Trusted Resource for Health Professionals Seeking
Careers in Rural and Underserved Communities. No matter the position you’re
looking to fill, we’re here to help. Benefits of Rural
3RNET is the job board when it comes to rural and underserved opportunities for over
300 different health care professions & specialties.
Log in and create your account, it is FREE. Then start posting your jobs —it’s easier than ever! Once you do, you’ll start receiving personalized referrals of qualified professionals who match the exact roles and specialties you’re looking for.
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FORHP Rural Hospital Technical Assistance Finder
The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) works with six programs to provide free technical assistance (TA) to rural hospitals and Rural Health Clinics. This tool can help you identify the services available for your facility that match your TA needs.
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Rural Health Policy
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New Guidance for Hospital Price Transparency
The Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) released new guidance on how hospitals should calculate the estimated allowed amount values for their online machine-readable files as part of the Hospital Price Transparency requirements. Whenever possible, hospitals should use electronic remittance data to determine the average dollar amount received over the last 12-month period. If there is no historic data, hospitals should use the expected payment amount, encoded as a dollar figure. Hospitals will no longer be able to use a code of nine number nines to signify that there was not sufficient historic data for that item or service over the last year. CMS also seeks public input by July 21, 2025 to identify challenges and improve compliance and enforcement processes related to the reporting of complete, accurate, and meaningful pricing data by hospitals..
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CMS Is Now Accepting Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO Applications
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers who collaborate with the aim of coordinating high-quality care to people with Medicare. When an ACO succeeds in both delivering high-quality care and spending health care dollars more wisely, the ACO may be eligible to share in the savings it achieves for the Medicare program (also known as performance payments). In Phase 1 of the application process, ACOs must submit applications through the Accountable Care Organization Management System. Certain new ACOs, including those in rural areas, may be eligible for Advance Incentive Payments, which include an upfront payment of $250,000 and two years of quarterly payments. The Application Toolkit provides detailed information for the upcoming application submission cycle and questions can be emailed to SharedSavingsProgram@cms.hhs.gov.dit this placeholder text.
Phase One submission May 29 - June 12, Noon EST
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Resources
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Rural Opportunity Dashboard
Statewide locality statistics and opportunities to enable planning decisions for Rural Virginia.
Developed by the Virginia Rural Center, the Opportunity Dashboard provides comprehensive, data-driven insights into critical sectors such as demographics, housing, education, business, and health. The platform features interactive asset maps that highlight essential infrastructure and community resources, helping local leaders visualize opportunities and challenges in their regions.
- Celebrate Rural Strengths and Assets
- Clear, Data-Driven Insights, Opportunities
- Easily Accessible Funding Opportunities
- Starting Point for Funding Proposals
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Celebrating Three Years of Support: The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
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HRSA is proud to celebrate the third anniversary of the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-TLC-MAMA). Since its launch in May 2022, our counselors have provided life-changing services, helping more than 62,000 new and expecting mothers and their families before, during, and after pregnancy.
Counselors are available 24/7, providing free support, resources, & referrals to parents who need it.
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HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) Find
Find data on the geographic, population, and facility HPSA designations throughout the United States.
Use this tool to:
- Search HPSAs by location or HPSA ID
- Filter HPSAs by discipline, status, type, score, and rural status
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Virginia Department of Health- Primary Care Office (PCO)
Virginia Department of Health, Office of Health Equity supports the primary care workforce in the state through shortage designations, recruitment and retention activities, and administration of scholarship and loan repayment programs.
Visit the Virginia HPSA dashboards for Virginia Mental Health, Virginia Dental Care and Virginia Primary Care.
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CDC - Rural Public Health Strategic Plan
CDC's Rural Public Health Strategic Plan represents the agency's inaugural blueprint outlining key priorities, objectives, and outcomes for working internally and with external and federal partners to improve the health of people living in rural America.
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Rural America at a Glance
The Economic Research Service (ERS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports on recent data showing that the number of rural people of working age (between 15 and 64 years old) has fallen in recent years, dropping to 28 million in 2023 from more than 30 million in 2010. At the same time, the number of rural residents aged 65 and over grew from 7.4 million in 2010 to 9.7 million in 2023.
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Additional Resources
Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency – Technical Assistance for Rural EMS Communications
Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals Program
National Rural Health Resource Center: Rural Hospital Stabilization Program
ProviderBridge: Mobilizing Health Care Workforce via Telehealth
Rural Graduate Medical Education Planning and Development
USDA Rural Development: SEARCH – Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households (for Water/Waste Projects)
Suicide in Rural America | Rural Health | CDC
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Virginia Department of Health Resources
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Training Opportunities & Upcoming Events
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VAFCC's Virtual Summit,
June 9 - 13, 2025
Building off the success of previous virtual events that provided increased access to online learning and educational opportunities for volunteers and staff within our member clinics, the VAFCC's Virtual Summit will offer a diverse array of content tracks. Free and open to all clinic staff and volunteers.
Registration closes June 6!
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3RNET Employer Training- New Website Updates!
The latest webinar highlights some of the website improvements and new features. A few of the new features we showcase include:
- The ability for health professionals to add multiple profession choices to their profile
- A better way for health professionals to refer themselves to employers
- Added ability to link accounts together (e.g. – two employer accounts in the same facility)
- And many more!
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Virginia State Office of Rural Health (VA-SORH) has a new YouTube Channel featuring 3RNET
Learn how to utilize the 3RNET platform to build your healthcare team. VA-SORH provides the 3RNET resource for FREE.
Also, learn from our team how to utilize the Virginia HPSA profiles found on Health Workforce Incentive Programs – Health Equity webpage.
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Governor Glenn Youngkin Reopens Route 58 in Washington County Following Hurricane Devastation
Governor Glenn Youngkin announced the reopening of the 1.5-mile section of Route 58 between Damascus and Konnarock that was destroyed by Hurricane Helene last fall. This project completed five months ahead of schedule and at a vastly lower cost than first projected restores a critical lifeline for residents, businesses, visitors and emergency services.
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Big News for Maternal Health in Virginia!
Governor Glenn Youngkin has signed SB 1279 and HB 2573, mandating all hospitals, birthing centers, and emergency departments to implement standardized "safety bundles" to better identify and respond to obstetric emergencies. This legislation aims to enhance care for mothers and babies, especially in rural communities.
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Rappahannock General Hospital unveils community-funded cancer & infusion facility
Friday, Bon Secours Rappahannock General Hospital held a dedication event for its 100% community funded cancer clinic and outpatient infusion center (OPIC). This new element is designed to save Northern Neck residents time and spare them additional stress by offering comprehensive cancer care closer to home.
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Health & Lifestyle
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NIH News in Health- Addressing Childhood Obesity- Give Kids a Healthy Start
Obesity affects about 1 out of every 5 kids. Carrying too much body fat can affect almost every system in your body. It can contribute to many long-term health problems. These include heart disease, diabetes, and mental health issues.
“Prevention and detection of childhood obesity is important because the longer you have it, the more at risk you are of developing related complications,” explains Dr. Stavroula Osganian, an NIH scientific advisor on childhood obesity.
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Follow Us!
"Like" us on Facebook and visit our website to receive updates on Virginia rural health issues and important messages from our community partners.
Visit the VA-SORH Facebook Page | Visit our VA-SORH Website
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