Rural Spotlight

June 4, 2021

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the 2021 Navigator Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which will make $80 million in grant funding available to Navigators in states with a Federally-Facilitated Marketplace (FFM) for the 2022 plan year. This is the largest funding allocation CMS has made available for Navigator grants to date.

About Navigator’s Mission:
A Navigator’s mission is to increase awareness among the uninsured about affordable health care coverage options available and assist consumers through and beyond the Marketplace enrollment process.

Who Should Apply?
With the additional funding, CMS encourages current and past Navigators to apply, especially those that focus on education, outreach and enrollment efforts to underserved and diverse communities. The increased grant funding is available to applicants seeking to serve as Navigators in states with an FFM. The application details the eligibility requirements, required duties and the available funding amount to applicants for this Navigator grant cycle.

What is different about the 2021 Navigator NOFO Applications?
Also, as part of the application, 2021 Navigator NOFO applicants will be asked to outline their outreach and enrollment efforts to the underserved or vulnerable population they plan to target, while still being prepared to assist any consumer seeking assistance.

Other Information
State Marketplaces that leverage the federal eligibility and enrollment platform are responsible for facilitating their own Navigator funding and awards to ensure consumers in their states have access to the assistance they need when enrolling in Marketplace coverage through HealthCare.gov.

How can I find out more about applying?
CMS will hold two sessions designed to provide technical assistance for potential applicants. These sessions will provide applicants with an overview of this project, relay budget guidance, and review the instructions for applying outlined in this Funding Opportunity. Applicants are encouraged to submit questions in advance of each session to Navigatorgrants@cms.hhs.gov.

Technical Assistance Session #1
Wednesday, June 9, 2021 from 3:00 to 4:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time
https://goto.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1418490&tp_key=a3299cfc8e

Technical Assistance Session #2
Monday, June 28, 2021 from 3:00 to 4:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time
https://goto.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1470197&tp_key=d748689859

For More Information
To view the Notice of Funding Opportunity, visit: https://www.grants.gov, and search for CFDA # 93.332.  To view the Frequently Asked Questions on the grant process, visit: https://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Programs-and-Initiatives/Health-Insurance-Marketplaces/assistance.

Applicants are encouraged to submit questions in advance of each session to Navigatorgrants@cms.hhs.gov.

June 1, 2021

Rural Health Clinic Vaccine Confidence Program:

The Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) will be making grant awards to all eligible RHCs that apply and have a complete and acceptable application through the Rural Health Clinic Vaccine Confidence (RHCVC) Program to expand the response to COVID-19 in rural communities. RHCs may use this grant funding to increase vaccine confidence, improve health care in rural areas, and reinforce key messages about prevention and treatment of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Interested RHCs should review the Notice of Funding Opportunity and start the process to register to apply for a HRSA grant.

FORHP will hold a webinar for applicants on the following days:

Wednesday, June 2, 2021 from 10:00 – 11:00 am ET. Zoom Link: https://hrsa-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1604108840 Dial-in: 833 568 8864 Webinar ID: 160 410 8840

A recording will be made available for those who cannot attend.

For questions about the program, email RHCVaxConfidence@hrsa.gov.

View on Grants.gov: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=333783

Telehealth Technology- Enable Learning Program:

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) published a new Notice of Funding Opportunity. The Telehealth Technology-Enabled Learning Program (TTELP) will support up to 9 public or private, non-profit or for-profit, entities to connect specialists at academic medical centers with primary care providers in rural areas to improve patient care in their communities. More specifically, address unmet needs for their target population which could include populations who have historically suffered from poorer health outcomes, health disparities and other inequities. HRSA expects to invest approximately $4.275 million for this program that aims to improve the quality of rural health care through an evidence-based approach to primary care that has proven effective in rural areas. Objectives for this five-year program include improved health outcomes, better engagement of patients and their caregivers, and continuous improvement to focus areas such as infectious diseases, or HIV/AIDs, behavioral health, substance use disorder (including opioid use disorder), prenatal care, maternal care, and those recovering from COVID-19 and facing longer-term health care challenges. Recipients are also encouraged to implement quality improvement activities that measure value by outcomes.

View on Grants.gov: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=333185