Month: March 2021

Ten New Health Care Organizations Join the DRCHSD Program

The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) and the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) announced on February 17, 2021, ten additional health care organizations were chosen to participate in the Delta Region Community Health Systems Development (DRCHSD) Program, which enhances health care delivery in the Delta through intensive, in-depth, and long-term technical assistance to rural health care organizations.

In 2017, DRA partnered with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the DRCHSD program. With the support of the DRA and FORHP, the National Rural Health Resource Center provides selected rural Delta hospitals, clinics, and their communities with a multipronged three-year technical assistance approach while positioning them for population health. Moreover, Community Champions are supported as a liaison to foster and sustain community health system development.

The purpose of the DRCHSD Program is to assist leaders and providers in identifying and addressing health care needs while strengthening the local health care system. Intensive technical assistance supports capacity building for financial, operational, and quality improvement, telehealth, and integration of social services to help health care organizations increase financial viability and operational efficiency.

For more information, visit the DRCHSD Website

New Flex Monitoring Team Webinar on Opioid and Substance Use Strategies for Critical Access Hospitals

Substance use is a significant public health issue in rural communities. The opioid epidemic in particular continues to have a devastating impact in rural areas disproportionately affected by a lack of infrastructure to provide treatment for substance and opioid use disorders.

Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), often the hubs of local systems of care, can play an important role in addressing substance use disorders.

This webinar, featuring Flex Monitoring Team member John Gale, makes the case for why CAHs should address substance use, provides a framework to support CAHs in doing so, and describes examples of substance use activities undertaken by CAHs to substantiate the framework.

NOW OPEN 2021 NHSC Scholarship Program Application Cycle

Accepting applications through 
May 11, 2021 at 7:30 PM ET

The 2021 National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program (NHSC SP) awards scholarships to students pursuing an education in eligible primary care health professions. 

About the Program: 

The NHSC Scholarship Program applicants include health professional students studying to become physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives or physician assistants with a commitment to practice in underserved communities. In exchange, they commit to serve a minimum of two years in high-need, underserved communities. Scholars receive one year of financial support (up to four years) for each year of service at an NHSC-approved site.

Click here to Apply!

BPHC Bulletin: Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

You have an exciting opportunity to help health center patients obtain the internet access they need to connect with virtual health care, jobs, and education. Eligible health center patients may apply for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program when it opens in late April. This bulletin provides background information, ideas on how you can prepare to help, and resources.

Background

The EBB program lowers the cost of high-speed internet service to ensure people have the connectivity they need during the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency. By the end of April 2021, $3.2 billion in funding will be available to provide qualifying households discounts on their internet service bills and an opportunity to receive a discount on a computer or tablet. The EBB program is similar to the Lifeline program with expanded eligibility, vendors, and subsidies. This benefit is available directly to eligible consumers on a first come, first served basis. For more information, see the recorded technical assistance webinars and other materials from the FCC-supported technical assistance provider Universal Service Administrative Company.

How You Can Help

  • Share information about the EBB program with patients.
  • Provide access to the internet at your health center and basic technical support so that patients can complete the application.

You are encouraged to develop your plan now to support patients to apply promptly after the application period is announced; funds are expected to go quickly. Health Center Program strategic partners (Health Center Controlled Networks, National Training and Technical Assistance Partners, and Primary Care Associations) can support health centers in their efforts.

Resources

The FCC is creating a community of outreach partners to whom they will send important resources and information to be shared with consumers (i.e., health center patients). If you are interested, fill out and submit the “Become an Outreach Partner” form on the FCC’s EBB webpage. When possible,  resource materials will be included in the weekly Primary Health Care Digest. Your help is appreciated in ensuring your patient populations are aware of this valuable opportunity.

Direct your questions about the EBB program and how you can support health center patients with enrollment to your regional Telehealth Resource Center.

Social Media Campaign on HRSA-Supported Health Centers Launches

On March 22, 2021, HRSA began a social media campaign to highlight and promote the HRSA-supported Health Center Program. The weekly Monday posts demonstrate the positive impact that health centers have on local and regional communities. HRSA encourages the use of the Find a Health Center website, where people can find a health center location near them

Follow the campaign on HRSA’s Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

For more information, contact: HRSAORORegion7@hrsa.gov

HRSA: Now Open! 2021 Nurse Corps Scholarship Program Application Cycle

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has opened the 2021 Nurse Corps Scholarship Program (SP) application cycle.

Nurse Corps SP provides financial support to students enrolled in nursing degree programs in exchange for a commitment to serve in high-need areas across the country. Scholarship support includes payment of tuition, required fees, other reasonable educational costs, as well as a monthly living stipend. After graduation, scholarship recipients fulfill their service commitment at an approved health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses.

HRSA has received a historic increase in funding this year under the American Rescue Plan. With this additional funding, Nurse Corps anticipates making significantly more awards overall, including in the following areas:

  • Up to 20 percent of total awards to nurse practitioners (NP) specializing in psychiatric mental health
  • Up to $5 million to women’s health NPs and certified nurse midwife advanced practice nurses and registered nurses (RNs) who wish to pursue a career in women’s health
  • Up to $2 million for career pathway/entry-level health professionals such as certified nursing assistants, home health aides, medical assistants, and licensed practical (vocational) nurses seeking degrees to become RNs
  • Visit the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program and Nurse Corps Facebook pages to learn more.Before applying, review the Application and Program Guidance (APG) for information on eligibility and requirements.

    The application cycle closes on May 6.

    Click here to Apply 

Post-acute Care Trajectories for Rural Medicare Beneficiaries: Planned versus Actual Hospital Discharges to Skilled Nursing Facilities and Home Health Agencies

Post-acute care services are designed to help patients transition from hospitalization in acute care facilities to their homes. Skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies provide the majority of post-acute care services to Medicare beneficiaries. This study used Medicare administrative data for rural, fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries to describe post-acute care trajectories following acute hospitalization and examine differences between planned discharge disposition from the hospital and actual post-acute care received.

The majority (56.3%) of rural beneficiaries did not receive post-acute care following hospital discharge, while about a quarter (26.1%) experienced at least one care transition. Transition to skilled nursing facility (23.7%), transition to home health agency (18.2%), and transition to a skilled nursing facility followed by an additional transition to a home health agency (6.9%) were the most common trajectories among rural beneficiaries who received post-acute care. Gaps exist between planned and actual receipt of post-acute care as 88.9% of rural beneficiaries who had a planned discharged to a skilled nursing facility received this care and 58.7% of rural beneficiaries who had a planned discharge to a home health agency received this care. Identification of the reasons for the gaps between planned versus actual discharge to post-acute care and the outcomes for those who did not receive planned care will be critical for determining appropriate supports to improve care transitions for rural beneficiaries.

The full study is available here.

Contact Information:

Tracy Mroz, PhD
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Phone: 206.598.5396
tmroz@uw.edu

Innovations and Workforce Challenges for CAHs during COVID-19

The Flex Monitoring Team (FMT) has released a new policy brief on Critical Access Hospital (CAH) operations, innovations, and workforce challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, using survey data collected by the FMT. This policy brief, Innovations and Workforce Challenges for CAHs during COVID-19, describes key findings from the survey including:

  • How CAH operations have changed as a result of COVID-19;
  • Innovative ways CAHs have overcome obstacles in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic;
  • Workforce challenges faced by CAHs during the pandemic; and
  • How CAHs have overcome these unique workforce challenges.

CAH Partnerships During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Flex Monitoring Team (FMT) has released a new policy brief on Critical Access Hospitals’ (CAHs’) strategic partnerships in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, using survey data collected by the FMT. This policy brief, CAH Partnerships during the COVID-19 Pandemic, describes key findings from the survey including:

  • How CAHs have partnered with local public health agencies; and
  • What support CAHs have received from State Flex Programs,