HRSA Virtual Job Fair

Participate in the next HRSA Virtual Job Fair

Wednesday, November 18, 2020 
6:00 to 9:15 PM CT

Register Here.

Reach primary care trainees and clinicians who are eager to work in underserved rural communities. Connect with 1,000+ candidates searching for training and employment opportunities.

 

National Rural Health Day 100% Community Live Event

November 19, 2020 at 1:00 PM Central

Register Here!

On National Rural Health Day (NRHD), Katherine Ortega Courtney, Ph.D., and Dominic Cappello, authors of 100% Community: Ensuring 10 Vital Services for Surviving and Thriving, will discuss their groundbreaking research & roadmap they’ve created to help rural counties learn how to work together in new ways to create local systems of health, safety, education, & economic stability.

COVID-19 Funding Sources Impacting Rural Providers

The Technical Assistance and Services Center (TASC), in coordination with the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), are pleased to provide an update of the COVID-19 Funding Sources Impacting Rural Providers guide. This funding resource is intended to support rural health care providers, along with their state and local partners, navigate the availability of federal funds to support the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic response and recovery efforts. This guide is updated regularly to capture changes in funding sources.

Seven tables, or matrices, are provided for quick reference at the beginning of this resource. The tables can be used to check eligibility of participation in funding sources by provider types: rural prospective payment system (PPS) and critical access hospitals (CAH), rural health clinics (RHC), federally qualified health centers (FQHC), long-term care (LTC) or skilled nursing facilities (SNF), tribal facilities, and emergency medical services (EMS). The tables also provide an at-a-glance view for each provider type sharing the different types of funds that may be accessed from various funding sources dependent on their participation eligibility. Each funding source is described in its own section of this resource with an executive summary followed by further detail on the use of funds, reporting requirements, hyperlinks to the legislation and detailed information.

The guide can be found in COVID-19 Collection located on The National Rural Health Resource Center’s website. This collection consists of trusted and reliable resources, such as the COVID-19 Funding Sources Impacting Rural Providers Guide, along with standing links to additional organizations’ COVID-19 resources, FAQs, webinars, tools, and trainings. The Center aims to help direct the most up-to-date and relevant tools and resources to rural hospitals, clinics, and their communities. This Collection will be updated regularly to help assist with the abundance of circulating information relating to COVID-19.

HHS Expands Relief Fund Eligibility and Updates Reporting Requirements

October 22, 2020

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is announcing the latest Provider Relief Fund (PRF) application period has been expanded to include provider applicants such as residential treatment facilities, chiropractors, and eye and vision providers that have not yet received Provider Relief Fund distributions. On October 1, 2020, HHS announced it would be making up to $20 billion in new Phase 3 General Distribution funding available for providers on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic. HHS is also focused on ensuring the safe continuity of all types of health care delivery despite this pandemic. As such, the Administration is committed to providing relief resources in an equitable manner to assist the diverse health care provider community regardless of whether they accept Medicare or Medicaid payments. HHS is also announcing it will be updating its most recent PRF reporting instructions to broaden use of provider relief funds.

Click to view Full Article.

Missouri Women in Agriculture

Please help the University of Missouri Extension spread the word about this great opportunity for Missouri Women in Agriculture. See attached Promotional Flyer to learn more about registration and scholarships.

Dr. Temple Grandin and Amberley Snyder to offers practical tips, inspiration for women farmers, ranchers

The 2020 Pixels of Production — Women in Agriculture online conference will offer women farmers and ranchers a four-night opportunity to learn practical tips and be inspired. The online event, presented via Zoom, replaces the annual Pearls of Production face-to-face, hands-on conference. This is the conference’s 13th year. Topics range from ergonomics to silvopasture, according to University of Missouri Extension swine nutritionist Marcia Shannon.

The sessions run 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays from November 5-17. Each evening’s presentations include a session on practical tips and a headline speakers. Shannon noted the keynote speakers are sandwiched between other speakers, so “if people are still fixing supper or still doing chores and get on late, they won’t miss the keynoter.”

Sessions and topics include:

Nov. 5

  • “Ergonomic Tool Talk” with MU Extension health and safety specialist Karen Funkenbusch and livestock specialist Brenda Schreck.
  • “Livestock Identity and Tagging” with livestock specialists Kendra Graham and Rachel Hopkins.
  • Ashland farmer Caroline Sicht gives keynote address on “Building Bridges” to help farmers tell their stories. Visit TellYourFarmStory.com.

 Nov. 10

  • “Livestock in the Woods” with natural resources specialist Sarah Havens.
  • Keynote speaker Micah Jansen, a Zoetis Inc. veterinarian, will speak on “Vaccinology.” She gives an overview of basic pig immunology, how vaccines work, how vaccines can become less effective and how to properly vaccinate.
  • “Silvopasture” with Ashley Conway of the MU Center for Agroforestry. Conway talks about the integration of trees with animals and forages.

 Nov. 12

  • “ABCs of USDA” with USDA representatives.
  • Keynote speaker Temple Grandin, renowned author on animal behavior and autism.
  • “Grant Writing” with horticulture specialist Debi Kelly.

 Nov. 17

  • “Livestock Tools and Equipment” with livestock specialists Kendra Graham and Rachel Hopkins.
  • Keynote speaker Amberley Snyder on “There Is No Future in Giving Up.” She is the author of “Walk Ride Rodeo: A Story About Amberley Snyder.”
  • “Regenerative Agriculture” with Susan Jaster, farm outreach worker with Lincoln University.

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Announcements

October 22, 2020

HHS Awards Nearly $500 Million to Workforce Programs. Last week, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services announced a new round of funding to recruit and support primary care professionals and students for the National Health Service Corps, Nurse Corps, and other programs building the health workforce. Through these efforts, more than 16,000 clinicians provide care to 17 million patients in underserved areas nationwide.

Medicare Open Enrollment Has Begun. Medicare beneficiaries can review health and drug plans for 2021 and make changes between now and December 7. The online system helps beneficiaries compare pricing and benefits between Original Medicare (Parts A and B), Medicare prescription drug plans (Part D), Medicare Advantage plans (Part C), and individually-purchased Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policies. Free, personalized counseling on Medicare options is available through the nonprofit State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Free materials are also available to support rural providers, among others, with outreach activities.

New Data on Local Use of Rural Hospitals. This new data brief from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services explores the extent to which rural Medicare beneficiaries bypass their nearest rural hospital and which hospital services rural Medicare beneficiaries most often seek locally and at distant hospitals. Traveling to a distant hospital for services rather than using the local rural hospital, aka ‘rural bypass’, can increase financial pressure on rural providers, especially Tribal hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals. 

Report on U.S. Coal Industry. The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently released the Annual Coal Report, which includes information on the number of mines, their productive capacity, prices, employment, and consumption. Highlights for 2019 include a decrease in the production, productive capacity, and average number of employees at U.S. coal mines, as well as a decrease in U.S. coal consumption. The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy manages the Black Lung Clinics Program that provides predominantly rural miners with access to educational, screening, medical, and benefits counseling services with the goal to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with occupationally-related coal mine dust lung diseases.

Recorded Webinar: Telehealth and COVID-19

WATCH NOW

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) invites you to view the updated recorded session on Telehealth and COVID-19The content has been updated to reflect recent changes in telehealth policies as well as the Telehealth Centers of Excellence and Avera’s current successes in delivering health care through the use of technology.

Learning Topics:

  • Review current telehealth policies under COVID-19
  • Discuss successful telehealth approaches/models to address the unique challenges in health care delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., Virtual Screenings and Consultations, Remote Patient Monitoring, Tele-Emergency, Tele-ICU)
  • Highlight technical resources to assist in the development and expansion of telehealth programs

Featured Speakers:

  • Mei Kwong, JD, Executive Director, Center for Connected Health Policy
  • Dee W. Ford, MD, MSCR, Professor, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina Project Director, Telehealth Center of Excellence Medical Director, Tele-ICU & ICU Innovations
  • Richard L. Summers, MD, FACEP Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Billy S. Guyton Distinguished Professor, Professor and Chair Emeritus Department of Emergency Medicine, Previous Lead Scientist for NASA Digital Astronaut Project
  • Brian S. Skow, MD MBA CPE FACEP, Chief Medical Officer, Avera eCARE

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of PeerPoint Medical Education Institute and Health Resources and Services Administration. PeerPoint Medical Education Institute is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

PeerPoint Medical Education Institute designates the enduring material format for this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

To access archived sessions of the telehealth learning series, click on the links below. 

For more telehealth resources and tools, visit https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/telehealth/index.html and https://telehealth.hhs.gov/.     

CDC Webinar – COVID-19 Vaccination Implementation Planning Update for Rural Stakeholders

The CDC will be hosting a webinar the afternoon of Tuesday, October 27th, updating the rural health community on the plan for the COVID-19 Vaccination Implementation. Please see further details from the CDC below.

The COVID-19 Vaccination Implementation Planning Update for Rural Stakeholders will be presented by CDC subject matter expert, Dr. Amanda Cohn.

Date: Tuesday, Oct 27, 2020
Time: 4:00-5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (US and Canada)

CDC Speakers

  1. Dr. Amanda Cohn, Chief Medical Officer for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases and Chief Medical Officer for the Vaccine Task Force of the CDC COVID-19 Response
  2. Dr. Diane Hall, Senior Scientist for Policy and Strategy, Office of the Associate Director for Policy and Strategy, Office of the Director (Moderator)

This session is designed specifically for rural stakeholders. Please send your questions in advance to ruralhealth@cdc.gov and write “10/27 partner call” in the subject line.

Register in advance for this webinar: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_B_QqvXAtS1moZjb1GG_ezg

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

*This call is not for media. For those who have media questions, please contact CDC media relations at (404)639-3286, or send an email to media@cdc.gov.

Health Disparity in America: Dr. Uche Blackstock Talks About Advancing Health Equity

This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with Dr. Uche Blackstock, Founder and CEO of Advancing Health Equity, an organization dedicated to addressing racial disparities in American health care and in medical education. An Emergency Medicine physician and Medical Contributor to Yahoo News, Dr. Blackstock is a rising activist seeking to address inequities that greatly impact people of color and ethnic minorities – leading to poor health outcomes in the pandemic and across the healthcare spectrum. She’s also seeking to address a lack of diversity in medicine, addressing the challenges people of color often endure when entering the medical profession.

LISTEN HERE.

You can now access the show on your Amazon Echo smart speaker. Just ask Alexa to “play the program Conversations on Health Care.”