Month: November 2021

What is the NRHA Rural Hospital CEO Certification Program?

Date: November 29, 2021

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) Rural Hospital CEO Certification Program:

What is it?

What impact does it have?

To learn this and more, join us for our next Webinar! NRHA will answer these questions and more:

  • NRHA will share the preliminary data on the impact this program is making
  • You can hear from and talk to graduates of the program
  • Is it worth it?

There are two dates to choose from:

  • December 1st at 1:30 PM EST
  • December 10th at 1:00 PM EST

Register by clicking here!

The next cohort starts in February, and NRHA has already started accepting participants, so don’t delay!

What is the NRHA Rural Hospital CNO Certification Program?

Date: November 29, 2021

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) Rural Hospital CNO Certification Program:

What is it?

What impact does it have?

To learn this and more, join NRHA for the next Webinar! NRHA will answer these questions and more:

  • NRHA will share the preliminary data on the impact this program is making
  • You can hear from and talk to graduates of the program
  • Is it worth it?

There are two dates to choose from:

  • December 3rd at 11:00 AM EST
  • December 8th at 12:00 PM EST

Register by clicking here!

The next cohort starts in February, and NRHA has already started accepting participants, so don’t delay!

Webinar Recording – The State of Oral Health: Increasing Access & Reducing Disparities

Date: November 24, 2021

Listen to the NIHCM Foundation November 9th webinar to hear leading experts discuss the importance of oral health and approaches to reduce disparities in access to and quality of care. During the event, webinar panelists explored the impact of poor oral health on the rest of the body, barriers to achieving optimal oral health, and the impact of COVID-19. Speakers discussed:

  • The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ evidence and data-driven approach to achieving better health, equity, and fiscal responsibility
  • A health plan’s dedication to supporting school-based oral health models to increase access to care in communities 

The importance of integrating an inter-professional approach to oral health care into education and practice.

View Recording

View NIHCM’s related infographic:

Oral Health & Health Equity

COVID-19 Medicaid and CHIP Data Snapshot through May 2021

Date: November 24, 2021

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is highlighting the impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) on families and individuals enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) through the COVID-19 data snapshot release.

The snapshot includes data from March 2020 through May 2021 for reproductive health services; services delivered via telehealth; service use among beneficiaries who are 18 years of age and under; services for mental health; substance use disorders (SUD); and COVID-19 testing, treatment, and care services.

Many Medicaid and CHIP services have returned to pre-pandemic levels. but there are still services needed to make up for those missed during the COVID-19 PHE. CMS continues to partner with states to monitor data to ensure families and individuals have the access they need to critical health care services such as perinatal, mental health, and pediatric services.

To view the Medicaid and CHIP Data Snapshot, please visit https://www.medicaid.gov/stateresource-center/downloads/covid19-data-snapshot-11122021.pdf

New Notice of Funding Opportunity (Deadline: 1/24/2022)

Date: November 29, 2021

On November 18th, 2020, the Division of Diabetes Translation (DDT) released a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), real-world effectiveness of structured lifestyle interventions in preventing type 2 diabetes. The cooperative agreement will fund approximately six recipients (up to $900,000 annually) for five years to assess the long-term effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and barriers to enrollment in or completion of structured lifestyle interventions as implemented by the National DPP. DDT encourages partners to learn more about this NOFO and to view details on eligibility and how to apply.

The application deadline is January 24, 2022.

If you have any questions regarding this cooperative agreement or how to apply, please contact the grantor of this cooperative agreement, Dionne Godette-Greer, at (qal6@cdc.gov).

HRSA Funding, Featured Topic: Workforce, Upcoming Events, and Resources

November 24, 2021

FUNDING

Community-Based Workforce to Build COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence – December 10. The purpose of the program is to strengthen vaccine confidence, provide further information and education on the vaccines and improve rates of vaccination across the country. This program will mobilize community outreach workers, which includes community health workers, patient navigators and social support specialists to the most vulnerable and medically underserved communities, including racial and ethnic minority groups. Community outreach workers will educate, and assist individuals in receiving the COVID-19 vaccination. This includes activities such as reaching out directly to community members to educate them about the vaccine, assisting individuals in making a vaccine appointment, providing resources (e.g. convenient vaccine locations, information for individuals impacted by COVID-19 and its long-term health effects), and assisting individuals with transportation or other needs to get to their vaccine appointments. Specifically, the program will aim to build vaccine confidence in order to get people vaccinated in a quick and efficient manner. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will fund applicants that have demonstrated experience and expertise in implementing public health programs across broad geographic areas.

Delta Region Community Health Systems Development Program – December 15. Applications are currently being accepted from small and rural hospitals, rural health clinics, and other health care organizations located in the 252 counties and parishes served by the Delta Regional Authority (a federal agency and HRSA partner) to receive technical assistance. Activities will support quality improvement, financial and operational improvement, telehealth, community care coordination, workforce, emergency medical services, and population health. Learn more about the application process and submit an application now through December 15thto be considered for the next cohort starting activities this winter.

Rural Health Network Development Planning Program – January 28. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will make approximately 20 awards of $100,000 each for a one-year period of performance to promote the development of integrated health care networks in order to (i) achieve efficiencies; (ii) expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of basic health care services; and (iii) strengthen the rural health care system as a whole. Eligible applicants are domestic public and private, nonprofit and for-profit entities that can deliver services in HRSA-designated rural area, particularly for populations that have historically been underserved and have poorer health outcomes. The applicant organization must represent a network that includes at least three or more health care provider organizations. HRSA’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy will hold an hour-long webinar for applicants on Wednesday November 17th  at 3:00 pm ET.  (Meeting ID: 161 864 4747; Participant Code: 81822150). A recording will be made available for those who cannot attend. 

Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (Implementation) – January 13. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will make approximately 50 awards of $1 million each to rural communities to enhance prevention, treatment, and recovery from substance use disorder. Eligible applicants are domestic public, private, and nonprofit entities that can deliver services in HRSA-designated rural areas, particularly for populations that have historically suffered from poorer health outcomes. The applicant organization must be part of an established network or consortium that includes at least three other separately-owned entities.

HRSA Access to HIV Services for Women and Children – January 28. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) expects to make 114 awards with a total investment of $75 million to expand family-centered care for low-income women, infants, children, and youth with HIV. Eligible applicants are existing grantees of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part D and new community-based organizations that can provide services in areas where current projects are ending. (See Appendix B in Related Documents, Notice of Funding Opportunity.) The amount for this round of funding has been increased to address areas, primarily rural, with limited resources.

 

FEATURED TOPIC: WORKFORCE

Health Workforce Strategic Plan – Provides a framework for health workforce improvements and addresses long-standing barriers to strengthening the health workforce. Focuses on recruiting and training health professionals from underserved communities to build a diverse, representative health workforce; ensuring equitable distribution of the workforce across geographic areas and health professions; strengthening the ability of the workforce to deliver high-quality care, including through strengthening cultural and linguistic competency of professionals; and using evidence and data to make better decisions about health workforce education and training investments.

3RNET provides services to those seeking employment in health care professions with the desire to improve rural and underserved communities’ access to quality health care.  If you’re a health care employer and you’d like to post your jobs on 3RNET, please fill out the employer application form which will be sent to the appropriate state Network Coordinator.

HRSA Health Workforce Loan Repayment Programs Open – Application Due Date: Thursday, December 16, 7:30 p.m. ET.  The Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) National Health Service Corps (NHSC) opened its application for three of its loan repayment programs and plans to award a significant number of eligible providers. With an additional $800 million made available through the Biden-Harris Administration’s American Rescue Plan (ARP), this year’s awardees will add to the largest number of NHSC clinicians in history. 

Eligible clinicians providing primary medical, dental, behavioral health care services, or evidence-based substance use disorder treatment can qualify for loan repayment of up to:

HRSA Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) Program – December 20. The RRPD program aims to increase opportunities for physicians to train in rural residencies. A total of $10.5 million will develop 14 new rural residency programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Eligible applicants include rural hospitals, GME consortiums, and tribal organizations.

HRSA Delta Region Rural Health Workforce Training Program – January 25. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)  expects to make three awards with total investment of $1.4 million for training critical administrative support in the rural counties and parishes of the Mississippi Delta Region. These occupations include medical coding and billing, claims processing, information management, and clinical documentation.

Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program – January 13. The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program offers funding to registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses and nurse faculty toward payment of their qualifying educational loans in exchange for a two-year service commitment at a health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses or at an eligible school of nursing in the case of nurse faculty. Additional loan repayment is available for a third year of service.

 

UPCOMING MEETINGS / TRAININGS / WEBINARS

National Rural Health Day

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is hosting a webinar to celebrate National Rural Health Day on Thursday, November 18 at 10:30 a.m. CT | 11:30 a.m. ET. Federal speakers will share strategies, activities, and resources related to achieving health equity in rural communities, and HRSA grantees will share best practices in their projects focused on health equity during a panel discussion.

Register for the webinar

There are a variety of other events throughout the week. View the HRSA National Rural Health Day webpage for more information and a schedule of events.

HHS Region 7 Virtual Office Hours – December 1 | 9:00am – 9:45am CT. The Virtual Office Hours will provide partners and stakeholders the networking platform to engage with Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) leadership and subject matter experts to get answers to program and resource questions, request technical assistance and training, and share critical surveillance about emergent local, state, and regional healthcare issues/trends. Among the agencies that are scheduled to be in attendance are the Administration for Children and Families, Administration for Community Living, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. HHS will provide a few program updates, followed by a Q&A session.

To register for the office hours, go here.

To help prepare for the session, please send questions by COB November 26th to Catherine.Satterwhite@hhs.gov.

Let’s Talk Lunch and Learn…Count the Kicks – December 2, 2021 | 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm CT. Join the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Region 7 for a conversation on bringing systemic change to stillbirth prevention and the importance of tracking fetal movement.  Featured Speaker: Emily Price, Executive Director, Healthy Birth Day, Inc

Grant Writing Training: “Elements of a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)” – December 8th | 10am Central. Heather Zoromski, Executive Director of the Darr Family Foundation, will walk participants through the Rural Health Network Development Planning Program NOFO. Heather will highlight how to best structure a grant application, using the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) as an outline, as well as share other tips and tricks for success.

 

RESOURCES

NEW RHIhub Toolkit – Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Toolkit Created in collaboration with NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis, this newly released toolkit compiles evidence-based and promising models and resources to support programs implementing Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) in rural communities.

Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination Emergency Regulation (IFC-6)

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published an emergency regulation requiring staff vaccinations for COVID-19 across a variety of Medicare and Medicaid-certified health care providers. This emergency regulation requires staff vaccinations across 15 specific health care providers participating in the Medicare and Medicaid program to address the clear and present need to protect patients against COVID-19. The following health care provider and supplier types are included within this regulation and are expected to comply by ensuring staff are vaccinated:

  • Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Community Mental Health Centers, Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facilities, Critical Access Hospitals, End-Stage Renal Disease Facilities, Home Health Agencies, Home Infusion Therapy Suppliers, Hospices, Hospitals, Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, Clinics, Rehabilitation Agencies, and Public Health Agencies as Providers of Outpatient Physical Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs) Programs for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly Organizations (PACE), Rural Health Clinics/Federally Qualified Health Centers, and Long Term Care facilities.

 

More Information:

Proclamation on National Rural Health Day, 2021

President Joe Biden signed a proclamation for National Rural Health Day, November 18, 2021, which is the first ever Presidential Proclamation designating this important day celebrating and supporting our rural health care leaders, providers, and community members. The third Thursday of November has been recognized as National Rural Health Day for many decades to support and recognize all rural health care providers and stakeholders and the work they have put in to make all Americans healthy and safe.

Please view and share the Presidential Proclamation with others accessed from this link: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/11/17/a-proclamation-on-national-rural-health-day-2021/

Count Kicks Campaign Information & Resources

November 24, 2021

Health Resources and External Affairs (HRSA) is partnering with Count the Kicks to let you know about FREE stillbirth prevention materials and resources available to share with expectant parents you serve. Count the Kicks is an evidence-based stillbirth prevention campaign that teaches the method for, and importance of, tracking fetal movement daily in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Visit CountTheKicks.org to get your FREE materials, including brochures, posters and app reminder cards in English and Spanish. In addition to their printed educational materials, Count the Kicks has a FREE kick counting app that is available in 12 languages in the iOS and Google Play app stores.

The Count the Kicks public health campaign was created by Healthy Birth Day, Inc., a nonprofit founded by five Iowa moms who each experienced a stillbirth or infant death in the early 2000s. In the first 10 years of Count the Kicks in Iowa, the state saw a nearly 32% reduction in their stillbirth rate while rates in the rest of the country remained relatively stagnant. Within that, the African American stillbirth rate fell by a promising 39% in just five years.

Visit Count the Kicks Academy for Providers (www.countthekicks.org/provideracademy/ ) to find digital tools and resources, including a childbirth ed lesson plan and educational videos (for internal training and patient education).

Lastly, HRSA invites you to join a conversation on bringing systemic change to stillbirth prevention and the importance of tracking fetal movement on December 2nd at 12:30pm CT. Emily Price, Executive Director of Healthy Birth Day, Inc, will be our featured speaker.

Let’s Talk Session:

Date: December 2, 2021

Time: 12:30P.M. – 1:00P.M. CT

To register, go to https://hrsa-gov.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsfuuvrj8vEuzB6pmiJtXXDequVHBHRLE.

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Announcement

Date: November 24, 2021

Reports for Round One of Provider Relief Funding Due by November 30. Providers who received funds prior to June 30, 2020 still have time to complete their reporting until this coming Tuesday, November 30. Providers who fail to meet this deadline will be required to return their PRF payments by December 30, 2021.

American Rescue Plan Includes $7.5 Billion in Rural Payments. On November 23rd, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) began distributing $7.5 billion in American Rescue Plan (ARP) Rural payments to health care providers and suppliers who serve rural Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Medicare patients. More than 40,000 providers are receiving payments. Many ARP Rural payment recipients will also be eligible for additional funding through the $17 billion Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 opportunity that used the same application; Phase 4 payments will be announced in the coming weeks. Health care organizations can use these payments to make up for the lost revenues and increased expenses caused by the pandemic.

CMS Focuses on Rural Health. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) added two new reports to its Rural Health Strategy to achieve health equity for rural, frontier, tribal, and island communities. Improving Health in Rural Communities: FY 2021 Year in Review (pdf) outlines CMS’ activities in 10 focus areas that include: payment and policy for Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program; maternal health; mental health and substance use disorders; and COVID-19. Examining Rural Hospital Bypass for Outpatient Services (pdf) explores what happens to financial viability when patients seek services beyond their local facilities and providers. 

Annual Rural America at a Glance: 2021 Edition. Each year, the Economic Research Service (ERS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports on population and economic trends in rural areas. This edition focuses on factors affecting the resiliency and recovery of rural communities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, including population and employment change, intensity of infection, vaccination rates, and broadband internet availability and adoption. Last week, ERS economist Elizabeth Dobis presented the findings in an hour-long webinar that is available for viewing. 

Ongoing: HRSA Payment Program for RHC Buprenorphine-Trained Providers. In June 2021, HRSA launched an effort to improve access to substance use disorder treatment by paying for providers who are waivered to prescribe buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder. Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) still have the opportunity to apply for a $3,000 payment on behalf of each provider who trained to obtain the waiver necessary to prescribe buprenorphine after January 1, 2019. Approximately $1.5 million in program funding remains available for RHCs and will be paid on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. Send questions to DATA2000WaiverPayments@hrsa.gov. There is ongoing availability of a free online course for waiver eligibility training from the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine and the Providers Clinical Support System.