Month: August 2022

New Funding Opportunities

Date: August 18, 2022

Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education AND Teaching Health Center Planning and Development 

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), through the American Rescue Plan, will invest in two new funding opportunities that will launch soon. 

The Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) program will support the training of residents in primary care residency programs in community-based ambulatory patient care centers. Program recipients will prepare physician and dental residents to provide high quality care, particularly in rural and underserved communities, and develop competencies to serve these diverse populations.   

The Teaching Health Center Planning and Development (THCPD) program will fund community-based health centers to create new accredited primary care residency programs to increase the physician and dental healthcare workforce in rural and underserved communities. 

Eligible community-based primary care/fellowship programs for both funding opportunities include: family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine-pediatrics, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology, general dentistry, pediatric dentistry, or geriatrics.

Have questions? 

Join the Informational Webinar 

Attend this pre-launch webinar to learn about these programs.

Date: Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET 

Join Here

For dial-in only: 

Meeting ID: 161 444 5277
Phone: 833 568 8864  
Passcode: 39402097

Changes in the Provision of Health Care Services by Rural Critical Access Hospitals and Prospective Payment System Hospitals

Date: August 18, 2022

Changes in the Provision of Health Care Services by Rural Critical Access Hospitals and Prospective  Payment System Hospitals in 2009 compared to 2017

The purpose of this brief is to explore changes in the availability and provision of different health care services among rural Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals in 2009 compared to 2017. We analyzed data regarding the availability of different health care services from the American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Survey DatabaseTM.

Key Findings:

  • Of the 29 services considered, most increased by 2017. Twenty-three services increased among rural CAHs, and 21 increased among rural PPS hospitals.
  • One service remained the same among rural CAHs (assisted living), and three services remained the same among rural PPS hospitals (assisted living, emergency department, and adult general medicine/surgery). These also changed very little among rural CAHs.
  • The percentage of hospitals offering four service specialties—birthing/postpartum services, medical/surgical intensive care, obstetrics, and skilled nursing— declined in both rural CAHs and rural PPS hospitals when comparing 2009 to 2017.
  • In addition to the aforementioned services, rural CAHs were less likely to offer adult general medicine/surgery and home health services in 2017 than they were in 2009.
  • Rural PPS hospitals were less likely to offer pediatric general medicine/surgery in 2017 than in 2009.

Contact Information:

George H. Pink, PhD
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Phone: 919.843.2728
gpink@email.unc.edu

Additional Resources of Interest:

National Minority Donor Awareness Month

Date: August 18, 2022

August is National Minority Donor Awareness Month! A time when to come together with one voice and one vision to address the main challenge in transplantation: the gap between the need for organ transplants and the supply of donated organs. Minority communities have disproportionately higher rates of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease which contribute to organ failure and the need for an organ transplant. Over 100,000 people are currently on the national transplant waiting list, with more than 60% representing racial and ethnic minorities.

This National Minority Donor Awareness Month, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): 1) demonstrates the need for more organ, eye, and tissue donors within multicultural communities; 2) provides donation education; 3) encourages donor registration; and, 4) promotes healthy living and disease prevention to decrease the need for transplantation.

Join HRSA in celebrating this vital effort to deliver positive messages that help minority communities make the decision to support organ, eye, and tissue donation. Add your diversity to the online donor registry today, and encourage your stakeholders to do the same with the sample messaging below.

Sample Social Media Messages

Twitter

  • #DYK: Minorities make up 60% of those awaiting an organ transplant. Together, we can diversify the donor pool so everyone on the transplant waiting list can have a second chance at life. Register as an organ, eye, and tissue donor today. #NMDAM organdonor.gov/sign-up

Facebook

  • #DYK: Minorities make up the majority of those on the waitlist for an organ transplant. Together, we can diversify the donor pool so everyone on the organ transplant waiting list can have a second chance at life. Register as an organ, eye, and tissue donor today. #NMDAM gov/2mx8/inscribase

2022 Missouri Harm Reduction Conference

Date: August 17, 2022

2022 Missouri Harm Reduction Conference

Wednesday, September 21, 2022, and Thursday, September 22, 2022, 12:30 PM – 5:00 PM

Join the Department of Health and Senior Services this September for the second annual Missouri Harm Reduction Conference! This year’s conference will be provided at no cost and held via ZOOM. The conference sessions will be recorded and available for viewing after the event.

NASW-Continuing Education Credits and Missouri Credentialing Board-Contact Hour applications are pending approval – eligibility for credit requires live attendance of the entire conference and completion of the post-session evaluations.

To register or find more information, please CLICK HERE. Questions can be answered by emailing: MOHarmReduction@loginplan.events.

Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project Technical Assistance

Date: August 17, 2022

Apply for one year of virtual and onsite technical assistance.

Supported by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, the National Rural Health Resource Center provides small rural hospitals and certified rural health clinics one year of focused technical assistance (TA) through the Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project (RHPTP). 

RHPTP is designed to help strengthen your organization’s foundation in the key elements of value-based care including but not limited to efficiency, quality, patient experience, and safety of care. RHPTP’s goal is to guide, prepare, and position your organization to be an effective participant in a health system focused on value. 

Watch this short video, and visit the RHPTP website for more information regarding eligibility and application process, benefits of participation, and FAQs.  

Please contact the RHPTP Team at rhptp@ruralcenter.org with any questions.

Submit your RHPTP application today!

 

2022 HRSA, OPA 340B Program Recertification

Date: August 17, 2022

The 2022 Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) 340B Program Recertification period for hospitals will be August 24-September 19, 2022. There will be a recertification webinar given by OPA on August 22, 2022 from 1:00-2:00 PM EST. Please see the webinar information below.

 Zoom Webinar link

Audio Conference details:

Computer audio is recommended (make sure computer speakers are “on”).

Attendees should click the above and select ‘Join with Computer Audio’. 

Attendees without computer access or computer audio can use the dial-in information below:

Dial-in Toll-Free #: 833-568-8864

Meeting ID: 160 623 3075 

Passcode:  54811118     

Prior to being able to recertify, Authorizing Officials(AOs) and Primary Contacts(PCs) must set up a user account in the 340B Office of Pharmacy Affairs Information System (340B OPAIS). Failure to set up user accounts will result in not being able to view accounts or conduct recertification, thus removal from the 340B Program. AOs and PCs must create individual user accounts, they will not be able to share access. All active 340B ID’s associated with an AOs user account must be updated in order for recertification to be completed by the established deadline

For assistance with the 340B OPAIS, it is strongly encourage to utilize the online help that is available for your convenience. HRSA also has information and tutorials available on the website. For further assistance please contact the 340B call center operated by the 340B Prime Vendor Program at apexusanswers@340bpvp.com or 1-888-340-2787 (Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM EST).

NHSC Site Recertification is Now Open

Date: August 16, 2022

NHSC Site Recertification is Now Open

As a valued partner of the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), the Health Resources and Services Administration wants to inform you that your site must recertify in order to extend your NHSC-approved site status beyond this calendar year. Start the process early — the deadline is Tuesday, October 11 at 11:59 PM ET.

As an NHSC-approved site, your clinicians can apply for one of the NHSC Loan Repayment Programs. You can also tap into recruitment benefits, including the Health Workforce Connector and HRSA Virtual Job Fairs.

How to submit your recertification application:

  1. Read the NHSC Site Reference Guide, which details site requirements and the recertification process.
  2. Access the Customer Service Portal.
  3. Enter your program information, including your site type and services provided.
  4. Gather your required documents, including sliding fee discount program policy, data tables, behavioral health checklist (if needed), and more. 
  1. Review and certify your compliance with the the NHSC Site Agreement. 

Note: Submitting a recertification application does not guarantee NHSC site approval.

Need help?

Having problems logging into the Customer Service Portal? Contact the Customer Care Center at 1-800-221-9393, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM ET (excluding federal holidays).

Missouri’s medical marijuana program publishes third annual report

August 16, 2022

Missouri’s medical marijuana program publishes third annual report

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has published its third annual report of the Missouri Medical Marijuana Regulatory Program. DHSS is required to annually submit a report to the Governor regarding the efficient discharge of its responsibilities under Article XIV Section 1 of the Missouri Constitution. Reported activities are based on the program year of December 6, 2020, through December 5, 2021.

DHSS is charged with providing safe and secure access to medical marijuana for qualifying Missouri patients. During the third program year, DHSS issued 119,894 patient licenses in addition to renewing 38,347 patient licenses and issuing 4,979 agent (facility employee) identification cards. DHSS also began facility annual inspections and completed 267 commencement inspections.

DHSS implemented many process improvements during the program year, including a new call management system and an electronic physician certification form. Both of these improvements helped patients successfully navigate the application process. The number of patients whose initial applications needed corrections reduced from 21.39% at the beginning of the program year to 13.02% at the end of the program year.

“We are proud of our team members’ hard work, from answering patient inquiries and processing applications to overseeing and guiding licensed facilities. In order to get facilities open for business, our inspectors averaged five commencement inspections per week in program year 2021, which was a monumental undertaking,” stated Lyndall Fraker, Director of the Section for Medical Marijuana Regulation.

In the current and upcoming program year, DHSS will continue to monitor facilities’ progress and ability to meet the needs of patients. This requires collaboration with Missouri’s licensed facilities and patients, balanced by fair and impartial application of the law.

“This program is not just about creating access to safe products for patients. It’s also about the veterans who served our country,” said Fraker. Every year, the legislature appropriates a transfer of funds from the program to the Missouri Veterans Commission. As of June 30, 2022, the department had transferred $13,987,820 and is approved to transfer $13,000,000 during the current fiscal year.

An electronic copy of the annual report can be viewed at medicalmarijuana.mo.gov.