Month: August 2023

Notice of Funding Opportunity – Early Hearing Detection and Intervention State/Territory Program

August 25, 2023

Notice of Funding Opportunity – Early Hearing Detection and Intervention State/Territory Program

This notice announces the opportunity to apply for funding under the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) State/Territory Program (HRSA-24-036).

The purpose of this program is to enhance the state/territory EHDI system infrastructure to improve language acquisition for deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) children up to age 3. Funding will support state and territory EHDI systems of services so that DHH newborns, infants, and young children up to age 3 receive appropriate and timely services, including hearing screening, diagnosis, and early intervention (EI).

Who Can Apply

  • Any state
  • District of Columbia
  • Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Guam
  • American Samoa
  • S. Virgin Islands
  • Micronesia
  • Republic of the Marshall Islands
  • Republic of Palau

In addition, you can apply if:

  • Your organization is in the United States and is:
    • Public or private, non-profit
    • Community-based
    • Tribal (governments, organizations, as those terms are defined at 25 U.S.C. § 450b)
    • Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) are eligible
    • Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments) are eligible.

Apply by November 6, 2023

Read Notice of Funding Opportunity

Apply Here

Updated Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Leadership Competencies

August 25, 2023

Updated Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Leadership Competencies

The Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) Division of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Workforce Development released updates to the Maternal and Child Health Leadership Competencies. The MCH Leadership Competencies support current and future MCH leaders by defining the knowledge and skills necessary to lead in this field.

The MCH Leadership Competencies describe the necessary knowledge, skills (foundational and advanced), and values within a framework designed to support and promote MCH leadership. Therefore, the Competencies can be used in a variety of ways, including:

  • As a framework for training objectives for MCH training programs. It is the responsibility of MCH training programs to ensure that graduates have the foundation necessary to work within a variety of professional settings to contribute to the health and well-being of mothers, children, and families – and to inspire others to do likewise.
  • To measure and evaluate MCH leadership training. The MCH Leadership Competencies can be used to guide measurement and evaluation of the impact of leadership training.
  • To cultivate, sustain, grow, and measure leadership within the current MCH workforce. The MCH Leadership Competencies can be used as a tool to strengthen the leadership abilities of current MCH professionals in national, state, and local health agencies, academia, and other MCH organizations. In particular, the framework can assist in orienting those new to the field to the goals and methods of MCH, assess and promote leadership capacity, and guide continuing education efforts.

Also important is the understanding that leadership (1) can be developed through learning and experience; (2) can be exerted at various levels within an organization and at the national, state, or local levels; and (3) opportunities change over time.

The document is intended to be a resource for MCH interdisciplinary training programs, national, state, and local health agencies, and other MCH organizations.

Click Here to Learn More

Extreme Weather, Finances Threaten Farmer Mental Health

August 25, 2023

Extreme Weather, Finances Threaten Farmer Mental Health

The drought sweeping through the Midwest has forced many farmers to make tough operational decisions, which can lead to mental health concerns. Stressors including extreme weather, financing, and familial struggles are associated with farmer anxiety and depression.

According to NRHA, the suicide rate among farmers is three-and-a-half times higher than the general population. A recent KFF report looks at suicide data and change over the last decade, with 20ss showing the highest number of deaths on record.

Join the discussion on strategies for behavioral health integration for RHCs and FQHCs with the experts at NRHA’s Rural Health Clinic Conference, September 26-27 in Kansas City.

Read Article on Suicide rate among farmers

KFF report

Register for NRHA Rural Health Clinic Conference

 

 

Life in Ambulance Desert: Sometimes Help Isn’t on the Way!

August 25, 2023

Life in Ambulance Desert: Sometimes Help Isn’t on the Way!

In rural areas where hospitals have shuttered, the nearest surviving facilities are long drives away, ambulance coverage is sparse, and residents experiencing medical emergencies often find their situations even more precarious. “Of all the poorly designed aspects of our health care system,” says NRHA CEO Alan Morgan, “EMS is tops.” Additionally, a new study from Maine Rural Health Research Center, an NRHA member, estimates startup and annual service costs for rural ambulance agencies, and EMS groups talk rural ambulance solutions. We’ll discuss key considerations for the REH designation with the experts at NRHA’s 22nd Critical Access Hospital Conference Sept. 27-29 in Kansas City.

Read Estimates Study

EMS Organizations Discuss Solutions for Rural Ambulance Struggles

Register for NRHA’s Critical Access Hospital Conference

Reduce Your Debt: Get Up to $120,000 in Tax-free Loan Repayment!

August 25, 2023

Reduce Your Debt: Get Up to $120,000 in Tax-free Repayment!

Are you burdened with student loans? Don’t miss out on the chance to receive up to $120,000 in tax-free loan repayment with the National Health Service Corps Students to Service Loan Repayment Program (S2S LRP). In return, you provide at least three years of service at an NHSC-approved site in a designated Health Professional Shortage Area.

Do you meet these basic eligibility requirements?

  • A United States (U.S) citizen or U.S. national
  • Enrolled as a full-time student in the last year of a fully accredited medical, physician assistant, nursing, or dental school

Additional $40K available to eligible disciplines

New to this year’s application! The Maternity Care Target Area (MCTA) Supplemental Award is available to physicians specializing in obstetrics, gynecology, or family medicine physicians who practice obstetrics on a regular basis, as well as certified nurse midwives.

Get Ready to Apply

 

 

Rural Monitor Article – Workforce Opportunities for Rural Communities Project

August 24, 2023

Rural Monitor Article – Workforce Opportunities for Rural Communities Project

A new article – RPHWTN Grantees Help Rural Healthcare Facilities Keep Local Talent – has been published in the Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub). The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) Rural Public Health Workforce Training Network works to expand public health capacity in rural and tribal areas through job development, training, and placement. Three grantees – a career ladder program in Missouri, a respiratory therapy program in Texas, and a health IT program in Virginia – share stories of changing individuals’ lives as well as keeping local talent in their healthcare facilities and communities.

Read Article

Click Here to read more articles for Missouri

Subscribe to RHIhub Here

USDA Invests Connecting Rural America to High-Speed Internet

August 23, 2023

USDA Invests Connecting Rural America to High-Speed Internet

On August 21, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development and Missouri State Director Kyle Wilkens announced $76 million in grants and loans to connect thousands of rural residents, farmers, and business owners across rural Missouri to affordable high-speed internet through the ReConnect Program, funded by President Biden’s Infrastructure Law. This funding opportunity is designed to fund high-speed internet projects in the most rural, remote, underserved, and unserved communities.

“I am excited to announce that Missouri is receiving nearly $76 million from the ReConnect program as part of President Biden’s Investing in America to rebuild the economy,” Wilkens said. “Access to high-speed internet is crucial to rural communities in Missouri. These projects will provide vital opportunities to bring local business to global markets, connect rural communities to healthcare without a long drive into the nearest city, and offers new tools for farmers and ranchers to expand their business. Finally, these projects are crucial for helping to bring our younger generations back home after college to continue the family legacy.”

Today’s investments will help to increase access and usage of broadband infrastructure in rural areas lead to growing jobs, population growth, and higher rates of new business opportunities for rural businesses, agricultural producers, digital skills, online education, and job search opportunities for rural residents. With the ReConnect program, many rural America will have the benefit of having high-speed internet.

Missouri’s three projects in this announcement include:

  • Northeast Missouri Rural Telephone Company is receiving a $8.8 million loan to benefit 1,188 people, 15 businesses and 256 farms in Schuyler and Scotland counties in Missouri.
  • Mountain View Rural Fiber LLC is receiving a $24.8 million loan to benefit 5,519 people, 298 businesses, 46 farms and 29 educational facilities in Howell, Shannon, and Texas counties in Missouri.
  • Aptitude Internet LLC is receiving a $42.3 million grant to benefit 18,982 people, 480 businesses, 1,452 farms and 15 educational facilities in Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Maries, Osage and Phelps counties in Missouri.

Background: ReConnect Program  

Applicants to ReConnect Program funding must serve a rural area that lacks access to service at speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 20 Mbps upload. Applicants must also commit to building facilities capable of providing high-speed internet service with speeds of 100 Mbps (download and upload) to every location in the proposed service area. Additionally, to ensure that rural households that need internet service can afford it, all awardees will be required to apply to participate in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The ACP offers a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service to qualifying low-income households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal Lands.

For more information about, please visit: ReConnect Loan and Grant Program | USDA

Contact USDA Rural Development

Information on programs available through USDA Rural Development is available by visiting www.rd.usda.gov/mo, by calling (573) 876-0976, or by emailing RDMissouri@usda.gov. Stay current by following @RD_Missouri on Twitter.

USDA Rural Development has 25 offices across the state to serve the 2.2 million residents living in rural Missouri. Office locations include a state office in Columbia, along with local offices in Butler, Charleston, Chillicothe, Clinton, Dexter, Eldon, Farmington, Higginsville, Houston, Kennett, Kirksville, Maryville, Mexico, Moberly, Neosho, New London, Poplar Bluff, Richmond, Rolla, Sedalia, Springfield, St. Joseph, Troy, and West Plains.

If you’d like to subscribe to Missouri USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.

 

Maternal and Infant Health Engagement Survey for MO HealthNet Providers

August 22, 2023

Maternal and Infant Health Engagement Survey for MO HealthNet Providers

The MO HealthNet Division (MHD) and the managed care health plans are collaborating on a project to educate and inform providers and participants/members on benefits and opportunities available to them during and after their pregnancy.

Please take a quick five minute Maternal and Infant Health Engagement Survey to help us collect data to improve policies, payment methodologies and most importantly outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women and infants.

 The survey will close on September 8, 2023.

Large Health Care System Suffers Rhysida Attack

August 21, 2023

Large Health Care System Suffers Rhysida Attack

Rhysida is an emerging threat group, targeting many critical infrastructure sectors including the Healthcare and Public Health (HPH) sector. It is a ransomware-as-a-service group which deceitfully describes itself as a “cybersecurity team” projecting themselves as helping victims highlight potential security issues and secure their networks. While not much is known about the group’s origins or country affiliations, Rhysida ransomware is deployed in multiple ways.

On August 3, 2023 Rhysida attacked a health care system which operates 16 hospitals and more than 165 clinics and outpatient centers in four states.

According to reports, the attack resulted in “emergency departments to close, ambulances to be diverted, and other medical services to cease operations” in what appeared to be a ransomware attack.

The attack required the hospitals to take their systems offline to protect their patient data and to revert to using paper records. In some states, the health system’s blood draw stations and medical imaging locations were also impacted. Areas saw emergency departments, as well as some primary and specialty locations closed until further notice. As a result, impacted entities were contacting patients individually due to the various effects to patient care.

Read the 2-page August 16, 2023 Brief released by the HHS 405(d) Task Group which also recommends that your IT department implement the following best practices found in their FREE resources, such as the Health Industry Cybersecurity Practices (HICP) Technical Volumes 1&2 and Knowledge on Demand to protect your valuable health information from such threats.

Low-cost resources offered by the American Institute of Healthcare Compliance (AIHC) – a non-profit organization:

 

 

Registration Open for Missouri Telehealth Summit

August 21, 2023

Registration Open for Missouri Telehealth Summit

The Missouri Telehealth Summit brings together leaders, policymakers, providers and payers for in-depth conversations around telehealth.

The 2023 summit will focus on sustainable telehealth integration, value-based care mo9dels, training the workforce, remote patient monitoring and more.

This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Eric Wallace, MD, FASN. Dr. Wallace is a professor of Nephrology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is the UAB Medical Director of Telehealth, Co-Director of the UAB Home Dialysis Program, and Director of the Rare Genetic Kidney Disease Clinic. Since becoming faculty, he has sought to eliminate geographic and socioeconomic barriers which prevent patients from accessing specialized care. He has overseen the creation and scaling of ambulatory and inpatient telehealth programs, E-Consults, tele-ICU, and remote patient monitoring. He is focused on using these tools to help re-design healthcare.

The pre-summit workshop will focus on in-depth detail around telehealth AIMS (adoption, implementation, monitoring, and sustainability).

Target Audience

  • Physicians
  • Nurses
  • Social workers
  • Counselors
  • Psychologists
  • Administrators

When:

  • Pre-Summit – Thursday, September 7, 2023
  • Summit – Friday, September 8, 2023

Cost:

  • Pre-summit workshop – $115
  • Summit (virtual or in-person) – $35

Click here to register

             OR

Scan the QR Code below: