July 13, 2022
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July 13, 2022
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Date: July 13, 2022
The Hypertension Control Challenge is now accepting applications! The challenge identifies and spotlights health care professionals, practices, and systems that have achieved nationally laudable hypertension control rates.
You and your team are encouraged to join this stellar group of high performers by submitting your application for the 2022 Million Hearts® Hypertension Control Challenge. The Challenge is open to solo and group practices, in addition to health systems, that have achieved hypertension control rates of at least 80% for a 12-month period. The deadline to apply is September 7, 2022.
In other news, the National Association of Community Health Centers has sent out the SMBP At-A-Glance Comparison Tool. If you have a SMBP or Healthy Heart Ambassador – Blood Pressure Self-Management program, this is a nice reference tool to take a quick look at device features as well as data/technology features.
Date: July 12, 2022
Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project – Accepting Applications through September 30, 2022 (for hospitals and clinics)
Applications are being accepted to receive free technical assistance through the Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project (RHPTP). This program is designed to assist small rural hospitals and certified rural health clinics strengthen their foundation in key elements of value-based care including, but not limited to, efficiency, quality, patient experience, and safety of care. Eligible small rural hospitals and certified rural health clinics are eligible to apply. Applications must be received by 11:59 PM CST on Friday, September 30, 2022. Please contact the RHPTP Team at rhptp@ruarlcenter.org with questions regarding the project or application process. They are available to answer any and all questions to help make the application process easy and accessible.
Technical assistance for this project will begin January, 2023.
Eligible Applicants:
If unsure of rural eligibility, please check the FORHP Eligibility Analyzer.
Date: July 12, 2022
Vulnerable Rural Hospital Assistance Program — Accepting Applications through July 31, 2022 (for hospitals)
Applications are being accepted to participate in the Vulnerable Rural Hospital Assistance Program (VRHAP). The purpose of VRHAP is to provide targeted, in depth free technical assistance to vulnerable rural hospitals within communities struggling to maintain health care services. The goal is for residents in rural communities to continue to have access to essential health services. Technical assistance will begin September, 2022. The application deadline is July 31, 2022. For additional information see the attached flier and contact the Center for Optimizing Rural Health at: corh@tamu.edu or call 855-234-0712. They are available to answer any and all questions to help make the application process easy and accessible.
Eligible Applicants:
If unsure of rural eligibility, please check the FORHP Eligibility Analyzer.
Date: July 12, 2022
Registration is now open for ASTHO’s Health Equity Summit: Action with Intention!
Join ASTHO on July 27, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET for a national convening of state and island jurisdiction health officials, federal and local partners, and stakeholders committed to advancing health equity. The summit will feature examples of how health officials are building upon lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and promoting antiracism by transforming systems to achieve racial equity and eliminate health disparities.
From 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM ET, the summit will reconvene for a special session on Centering Island Member Definitions and Approaches to Improve Human Rights. This session builds on recent discussions with the eight Island jurisdictions at ASTHO’s Atlantic and Pacific COVID-19 Health Equity Action Institutes.
Date: July 12, 2022
Being pregnant in rural America means facing interconnected challenges: a greater risk of pregnancy related complications or death and declining access to maternity care during pregnancy and childbirth. Rural residents who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) experience even poorer pregnancy-related health outcomes. Racial disparities in rural maternal and infant health outcomes may be related to limited accessibility of clinical care and pregnancy/postnatal support programs and services in rural communities. This policy brief describes these differences between majority-BIPOC versus majority-white rural counties’ available maternal and infant health evidence-based supports.
Katy Kozhimannil, PhD, MPA
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Phone: 612-626-3812
kbk@umn.edu
July 11, 2022
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) officially launched the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline on Mother’s Day, May 8, 2022.
Available 24/7, the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides free, confidential support, resources, and referrals from professional counselors to pregnant and postpartum individuals facing mental health challenges. Counselors offer support in English and Spanish and interpreter services are available in 60 additional languages.
In a press release announcing the hotline, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said, “This new Maternal Mental Health Hotline will not only advance our priorities of tackling the nation’s mental health crisis, but also support our efforts to ensure healthy pregnancies and support new parents.”
HRSA provides promotional materials for use, including social media graphics, printable wallet cards, and newsletter copy. These materials are also available in Spanish.
If you have any questions about the hotline service please see the online Frequently Asked Questions, also available in Spanish, or contact hotline@postpartum.net. This email address should not be distributed to help-seekers. It will not connect anyone to the 24/7 hotline service. It is for informational questions only.
For help when it’s needed, call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262). TTY Users can use a preferred relay service or dial 711 and then 1-833-943-5746.
Date: July 8, 2022
Registration is OPEN
2022 National Training Program Virtual Workshops
Registration for the 2022 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) National Training Program (NTP) virtual workshops is open. Session dates are listed below.
Select the hyperlinked event title(s) to register for each event you’re interested in attending. You’ll be prompted to login to the NTP virtual workshop webpage. To login, use the same email address and password you use to register for all NTP webinars. If you don’t have an account, you’ll need to create one before registering. After you register for an event, you’ll get an email confirmation which will include a calendar appointment. Please email NTPHelp@cms.hhs.gov if you need help with your account or registration. Sessions will start at 1:00 PM and conclude no later than 3:30 PM (ET). Sessions will be recorded for later viewing.
August 2022
2nd – Social Security
Description: This workshop will explain retirement, disability, supplemental security income, and survivors benefits and how they can affect Medicare.
3rd – Medicare Enrollment, Eligibility, Part A and Part B
Description: This workshop will explain Medicare coverage—who’s eligible, how and when to enroll, Medicare Part A and Part B, the services they cover, and associated costs.
4th – Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)
Description: This workshop will discuss how Medicare Supplement Insurance policies (also known as Medigap) work with Medicare, what Medigap policies cover, how they’re structured, and when to buy a Medigap policy.
9th – Medicare Drug Coverage
Description: This workshop will explain drug coverage under the different parts of Medicare and describe how Medicare drug coverage (Part D) works, coverage rules, eligibility, enrollment, and Extra Help.
10th – Medicare Advantage
Description: This workshop will explain Medicare health plan options other than Original Medicare with a primary focus on Medicare Advantage (sometimes called Medicare Part C).
11th – Preventing Medicare & Medicaid Fraud, Waste, & Abuse
Description: This workshop will define health care fraud, waste, and abuse, identify causes of improper payments, and discuss the processes and organizations in place to prevent and detect Medicare and Medicaid fraud.
16th – Coordination of Benefits
Description: This workshop will explain different payers’ responsibilities when people have both Medicare and certain other types of health and/or prescription drug coverage.
17th – Where Do I Find? (Online Resources)
Description: This workshop will identify key websites, like Medicare.gov, associated resources, and tools to help our partners, stakeholders, not-for-profit professionals, and volunteers (who work with consumers and their families) help others make informed health care coverage decisions.
18th – Medicaid & the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
Description: This workshop will explain Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and review considerations for those with both Medicare and Medicaid (sometimes called dual eligibles or duals).
23rd – Medicare Scenarios (Casework Session)
Description: This workshop will walk through examples of Medicare coverage scenarios in a casework format to evaluate the case, review possible resources and options, and discuss appropriate solutions.
24th – CMS and SAMHSA: Federal Partners addressing Behavioral Health
Description: This workshop will outline the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) new Behavioral Health Strategy from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) which covers multiple elements including access to prevention and treatment services for substance use disorders, mental health services, crisis intervention, and pain care. The workshop will also include program updates from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
25th – Medicare Plan Finder
Description: This workshop will demonstrate how to shop and compare Medicare plan options using the Plan Finder tool on Medicare.gov.
30th – Medicare Current Topics
Description: This workshop will explain some of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) current priorities, initiatives, and recent programmatic updates.
31st – The Public Health Emergency (PHE) and CMS Programs (this topic is subject to change)
Description: This workshop will explain temporary flexibilities to CMS Programs in response to the Public Health Emergency (PHE) declaration for COVID-19, coverage for COVID-19-related treatments, vaccination efforts, and transition activities to prepare for the end of the PHE.
September 2022
1st – Marketplace to Medicare: What You Can Expect
Description: This workshop will focus on considerations if you’re enrolled in a Health Insurance Marketplace® plan and qualify for Medicare. It will explain the programs that can help you pay for Medicare, Periodic Data Matching (PDM), and Medicare and the Marketplace resources.
Session materials will be available for download at the time of the event.
NOTE: Registration requests will be considered on a first-come, first-serve basis until each session reaches capacity. The number of attendees from the same organization may be limited. If any session reaches capacity, we’ll work to schedule an additional offering for a later date.
Please send all correspondence to cms@seiservices.com
Date: July 8, 2022
In this chartbook, the Rural Health Research & Policy Centers document nursing home availability at the county level and identify counties without nursing homes. The Rural Health Research & Policy Centers also evaluate the supply of nursing home beds per 1,000 population aged 65 and older. In addition, the Rural Health Research & Policy Centers identify county-level nursing home availability for counties with and without hospitals with swing beds. Finally, the Rural Health Research & Policy Centers describe the resident and nursing home characteristics including occupancy levels, payer mix, demographics, and health care needs. The Rural Health Research & Policy Centers summarize data for the noncore, micropolitan, and metropolitan counties.
Key Findings
Hari Sharma, PhD
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Phone: 319.384.4368
hari-sharma@uiowa.edu
Date: July 6, 2022
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