Month: February 2022

2022 Infection Control and Prevention Webinar Topics

Date: February 7, 2022

Monthly Infection Control & Prevention Webinar Series:  What you Need to Know – – to keep you, your patients and community safe.

2nd Thursday of each month from 12:00 PM-1:00 PM CT beginning in June 2021 through November 2022.

Through participation in the Infection Control & Prevention Webinar Series, participants will gain a deeper knowledge of infection control principles and protocols necessary to protect themselves, their organization, their family, and their community from infectious disease threats, such as COVID-19. Each webinar is designed to increase the participant’s readiness to implement what they have learned throughout their practice, including during every patient care activity and healthcare interaction. Each live session will devote ample time for live Q/A with the speakers.

Cost: Free

Register Now for the Entire Series – attend as many or few as you need!

Reminders will be sent each month along with the Zoom link (2 business days prior). Handouts will be posted for registered participants. Sessions will be recorded for on-demand viewing for those who could not attend the live virtual sessions.

Target Audience:

Ambulatory, public health and LTC settings and other health care providers who might be interested. 

Webinar Series Schedule for 2022 (PDF).

Conflict of Interest:

Neither the speakers or planning committee members have any conflicts of interest.

Criteria for Successful Completion:

Participants must do the following:

  • Watch the entire recorded session.
  • Complete the session evaluation.

CE Credit

  • Nurses
    University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the Midwest Multistate Division, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
    • Midwest Multistate Division Provider Number MO1022-6
    • 1.0 Contact Hour per session
  • Nursing Home Administrators
    1 clock hour has been applied for from the Missouri Board of Nursing Home Administrators. Clock hours pending.
  • LPC, Social Work, Psychology, 50-minute hour CEUs
    MU Continuing Education for Health Professions (CEHP) is part of an accredited university in the state of Missouri. As such, this program meets the requirements for Licensed Professional Counselors, Psychologists, and Social Workers with Missouri licenses. CEHP attests that this program contains 1.0 clock hours of instructional time. Licensed professionals measuring CE credit based on a 50-minute hour may claim up to 1.2 Contact Hours for full attendance at this program.
  • Physician
    The University of Missouri – Columbia School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
    The University of Missouri – Columbia School of Medicine, designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

These continuing professional development activities are made possible through a contract with the MDHSS/CDC.

Registration Now Open: National Virtual Rural EMS & Care Conference 2022

Date: February 7, 2022

The 7th Annual National Virtual Rural EMS & Care Conference is going virtual! The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, the National Association of State EMS Officials, and the Joint Committee on Rural Emergency Care invite you to join them on April 19-21, 2022 for the 7th Annual National Virtual Rural EMS & Care Conference.

This conference is the only meeting of its kind for all rural EMS stakeholders: rural ambulance services, rural EMS directors, medical directors and officers, rural healthcare providers, ambulatory agencies and staff, state EMS officials, state rural health officials, hospital administrators, federal agency officials, and State Offices of Rural Health.

Click Here to Register

Registration deadline is April 8, 2022

Please visit the EMS Conference Web Page for additional details about the conference and to view the draft agenda.

If you have any questions about the Conference, please contact Matt Strycker at stryckerm@nosorh.org, or Trevor Brown at trevorb@nosorh.org.

NOFO Announcement: Dental Faculty Loan Repayment Program

Date: February 7, 2022

New Funding Opportunity Available!

Dental Faculty Loan Repayment Program: HRSA-022-046

The application deadline is March 22, 2022

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released this new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announcement to increase the number of dental and dental hygiene faculty in the workforce. This funding is designed to help attract and retain faculty to dental and dental hygiene training programs through the operation of a loan repayment program.

Up to eight grantees will receive a total of approximately $800,000 in funding.

Grant award preference will be given to applicants who:

  • Award loan repayment to pediatric dentistry faculty supervising residents at dental training institutions that provide clinical services at dental clinics located in dental schools, hospitals, or community-based affiliated sites.

Eligible applicants are CODA- accredited:

  • Programs of general, pediatric or public health dentistry in public or private nonprofit dental or dental hygiene schools.
  • Approved residency in general, pediatric, or public health dentistry.
  • Advanced education programs in the practice of general, pediatric, or public health dentistry.

Have questions?

Join the technical assistance webinar to learn about this opportunity including application requirements:

  • Date: February 8, 2022
  • Time: 2:00 – 3:30 PM ET

For dial-in only:

  • Phone Number: 833-568-8864
  • Meeting ID: 161 147 1277
  • Passcode: 82957452

Meeting the Behavioral Health Needs of Farm Families in Times of Economic Distress

Date: February 7, 2022

Meeting the Behavioral Health Needs of Farm Families in Times of Economic Distress

Economic fluctuations and periods of distress in farming cannot be eliminated, however, their impact on communities and individuals can be mitigated by improving access to behavioral health and other support services.

The strategies offered here to support the development of systems and improved integration of services across health care and community-based organizations include (1) leveraging select payment systems and demonstrations to support coordinated care for families in distress, and (2) aligning grant programs from multiple federal agencies to address mental health and substance use disorders among farm families. Further, the existing rural health care infrastructure is inadequate to meet ongoing rural behavioral health needs, and has limited capacity to respond to surges in demand. The strategies included here that relate to expanding behavioral health services in rural settings are: (3) integrating primary and behavioral care to provide initial treatment of mental health and substance abuse concerns, (4) expand the workforce to improve rural behavioral health services capacity, (5) increasing telehealth services and repurposing available space to expand access to behavioral health services, and (6) expanding private and public insurance coverage to improve access to essential behavioral health services.

Contact Information:

Keith J. Mueller, PhD
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Phone: 319.384.3832
keith-mueller@uiowa.edu

Additional Resources of Interest:

Click to view Research Alert.

Additional Provider Relief Fund Payments Distributed, Critical COVID-19 Resources for Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics, and more

Date: February 3, 2022

HHS Announces Availability of $19.2 million to Expand Training of Primary Care Residents in Rural and Underserved Communities

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is announcing the availability of $19.2 million in American Rescue Plan funding to support and expand community-based primary care residency programs. Awardees will use this funding to train residents to provide quality care to diverse populations and communities, particularly in underserved and rural areas. 

“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to expanding the pipeline of health care providers in areas that have been hit hard by the pandemic and are experiencing physician shortages,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “This funding provides our primary care workforce with opportunities to train in areas where they can make a profound impact, and is one of the many steps we’re taking to address long-standing health disparities.”

Read the press release.

New Funding Opportunity: Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program

Date: February 3, 2022

New Funding Opportunity Available:
Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program (HRSA-22-139)

The application deadline is March 31, 2022

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), through the American Rescue Plan, has invested in a new funding opportunity. The THCGME program will support the training of residents in primary care residency training programs in community-based ambulatory patient care centers. Programs will prepare residents to provide high quality care, particularly in rural and underserved communities, and develop competencies to serve these diverse populations and communities. 

Up to 30 recipients will receive a total of approximately $19.2 million to support new resident FTE positions at new and existing teaching health centers.   

Eligible Applicants: 

  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
  • All applicants that meet eligibility criteria, including those that applied through the FY 2022 THCGME NOFO (HRSA-22-105), may apply through this announcement for resident FTE positions as the baseline requirements (Academic Year 2018-2019) have changed and applicants may be eligible for additional resident FTEs.
  • Applicants that did not receive an award under announcement HRSA-22-105 may also apply through this announcement.

Have questions? 

Join our Technical Assistance Webinar 

Attend this informational webinar to learn more about this funding opportunity.

Date: Thursday, February 11, 2022

Time: 2:00 – 3:30 PM ET 

For dial-in only: 

  • Meeting ID: 160 572 5428
  • Phone: 833 568 8864  
  • Passcode: 73802436

February 7 is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Date: February 3, 2022

The federal website HIV.gov has an event planning guide and social media kit for the annual observance meant to increase HIV education, testing, community involvement, and treatment in Black communities. Most recent data show that Black American men and women make up the most-affected population for new HIV diagnoses. While most lived in a metropolitan area during the time of the study, about 6 percent of these new cases were in rural areas where access to care remains a challenge. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) continues to focus efforts on key populations that are disproportionately affected, including those in rural areas identified by the federal Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative. Last week, the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors delivered its latest annual report on funding and services delivered by states under RWHAP, including data for viral suppression in rural areas (section 3).

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Announcements

Date: February 3, 2022

January 2022 Roundup. In addition to an historic level of funding for its rural programs in 2021, the agency’s focus on health equity and meeting the needs of the underserved during the pandemic brought more than $8 billion in grants and other resources to communities across the country and its territories last year. Among several actions taken in January 2022, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) welcomed new leadership, awarded funds to address burnout for the nation’s health care workforce, and continued to distribute Provider Relief Fund payments.

COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Lower in Rural America. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that on January 10, 2022, the overall vaccination rate in nonmetropolitan counties was lower than in metropolitan counties—48 percent in nonmetro areas versus 61 percent in metro areas. The Economic Research Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture compiled the data from the CDC and state health departments and reports substantial regional variations. Nonmetro counties in the Northeast, the northern Midwest, and the West have vaccination rates that are above national nonmetro average; meanwhile, a large proportion of counties in the South and southern Midwest have vaccination rates below the national nonmetro average. 

February 7 is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The federal website HIV.gov has an event planning guide and social media kit for the annual observance meant to increase HIV education, testing, community involvement, and treatment in Black communities. Most recent data show that Black American men and women make up the most-affected population for new HIV diagnoses. While most lived in a metropolitan area during the time of the study, about 6 percent of these new cases were in rural areas where access to care remains a challenge. HRSA’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) continues to focus efforts on key populations that are disproportionately affected, including those in rural areas identified by the federal Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative. Last week, the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors delivered its latest annual report on funding and services delivered by states under RWHAP, including data for viral suppression in rural areas (section 3).

HHS on Trends in Telehealth Use: Disparities in Utilization. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) has released new findings on Medicare telehealth use that includes rural verse urban comparisons. ASPE has also released a companion brief that examines state Medicaid telehealth coverage and policies before and after the pandemic.

Milbank Fund Assesses Primary Care Access. The report assesses the evidence for policy interventions in five dimensions of primary care access. For example, Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics provide appointments more quickly and tend to have a higher and growing percentage of racially and ethnically diverse patients than private physician offices.

Spread the Word About Vaccine Boosters. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services released new resources – posters, flyers, videos, and talking points – to help promote the extra protection from COVID-19 boosters. All vaccinated adults aged 18+ are eligible for a booster. A few weeks ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expanded booster eligibility to include adolescents ages 12 to 17, recommending that they receive a booster shot five months after their initial vaccination. The CDC also released a new resource, based on input from rural health departments and organizations, with 12 strategies to increase vaccine uptake in rural communities (pdf). Search by zip code to find nearby locations providing adult and pediatric vaccines and boosters for COVID-19 and the flu at vaccines.gov.

Ongoing: HRSA Payment Program for RHC Buprenorphine-Trained Providers. In June 2021, the Health Resources and Services Administration (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.

Biden-Harris Administration Will Cover Free Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Tests Through Medicare

Date: February 3, 2022

CMS Developing Initiative to Enable Access to Eight Free Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Tests for Medicare Beneficiaries in Early Spring

As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing efforts to expand Americans’ access to free testing, people in either Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage will be able to get over-the-counter COVID-19 tests at no cost starting in early spring. Under the new initiative, Medicare beneficiaries will be able to access up to eight over-the-counter COVID-19 tests per month for free. Tests will be available through eligible pharmacies and other participating entities. This policy will apply to COVID-19 over-the-counter tests approved or authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

This is the first time that Medicare has covered an over-the-counter test at no cost to beneficiaries. There are a number of issues that have made it difficult to cover and pay for over-the-counter COVID-19 tests. However, given the importance of expanding access to testing, CMS has identified a pathway that will expand access to free over-the-counter testing for Medicare beneficiaries. This new initiative will enable payment from Medicare directly to participating pharmacies and other participating entities to allow Medicare beneficiaries to pick up tests at no cost. CMS anticipates that this option will be available to people with Medicare in the early spring.

Until then, people with Medicare can access free tests through a number of channels established by the Biden-Harris Administration. Medicare beneficiaries can:

  • Request four free over-the-counter tests for home delivery at covidtests.gov.
  • Access COVID-19 tests through healthcare providers at over 20,000 free testing sites nationwide. A list of community-based testing sites can be found here.
  • Access lab-based PCR tests and antigen tests performed by a laboratory when the test is ordered by a physician, non-physician practitioner, pharmacist, or other authorized health care professional at no cost. In addition to accessing a COVID-19 lab test ordered by a health care professional, people with Medicare can also already access one lab-performed test without an order, also without cost sharing, during the public health emergency.

In addition:

  • Medicare Advantage plans may offer coverage and payment for over-the-counter COVID-19 tests as a supplemental benefit in addition to covering Medicare Part A and Part B benefits, so Medicare beneficiaries covered by Medicare Advantage should check with their plan to see if it includes such a benefit. 
  • All Medicare beneficiaries with Part B are eligible for the new benefit, whether enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan or not.

For more information, please see these Frequently Asked Questions, https://www.cms.gov/files/document/covid-19-over-counter-otc-tests-medicare-frequently-asked-questions.pdf.

National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call

Date: February 1, 2022

National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call

Join the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for a National Stakeholder Call providing updates on COVID-19, revisions to nursing home guidance, and best practices. Additionally, subject matter experts from CDC and CMS will address frequently asked questions.

Date: Wednesday, February 2, 2022

Time: 3:00 PM-3:45 PM ET

Zoom link will be provided following registration.

Panelists:

  • Lee Fleisher, CMS Chief Medical Officer and Director, Center for Clinical Standards and Quality (CMS)
  • Jean Moody Williams, Deputy Director, Center for Clinical Standards and Quality (CMS)
  • Kara Jacobs-Slifka, Long Term Care Lead, Prevention and Response Branch (CDC)
  • Evan Shulman, Director, Division of Nursing Homes (CMS)

Who should attend: Long term care providers, facility staff and resident advocates.

Registration is required