Participate in NRHA’s Latest Rural Health Advocacy Campaigns

October 26, 2023

Participate in NRHA’s Latest Rural Health Advocacy Campaigns

Are you interested in advocating on behalf of rural health? Your first step should be participating in the National Rural Health Administration’s (NRHA’s) rural health advocacy campaigns – and then registering for NRHA’s 35th Rural Health Policy Institute to take your rural voice to Capitol Hill February 13 – 15 in D.C.

The goal of the NRHA campaigns is to make your advocacy even easier by supplying pre-filled, editable information for you to work with. This means you can reach your members of Congress with one click while customizing content as needed. The current NRHA campaigns call on Congress to invest in a robust rural health workforce, reduce burden in rural health clinics, and invest in rural communities in the 2023 Farm Bill.

Learn More about Rural Health Policy Institute

Read More about NRHA’s Rural Health Advocacy Campaigns

Sign up to amplify your voice today

Upcoming Webinar: RHC Emergency Preparedness 101 – Tuesday, November 7

October 26, 2023

Upcoming Webinar: RHC Emergency Preparedness 101 – Tuesday, November 7

Independent and provider-based Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) are require to develop and implement emergency preparedness policies and procedures at least every two years. During this free webinar FORHP-supported National Association of Rural Health Clinics will share an overview of RHC emergency preparedness requirements found in CMS regulations and guidance, important components of an emergency preparedness manual, learn sample exercises, and provide time for Q&A. Advanced registration is required.

Speaker

Scott Robbins, Practice Manager for the Southeast Pediatric Clinic in Cape Girardeau, Missouri

When: Tuesday, November 7, 3:00 p.m. ET

Cost: No Charge

Register Here

New Funding Opportunity: Rural Health Network Development Planning Program – HRSA-24-007

October 26, 2023

New Funding Opportunity: Rural Health Network Development Planning Program – HRSA-24-007

The purpose of the Rural Health Network Development Planning Program (“Network Planning Program”) is to plan and develop integrated health care networks that collaborate to address the following legislative aims:

  • Achieve efficiencies
  • Expand access to and improve the quality of basic health care services and health outcomes
  • Strengthen the rural health care system

This program supports one year of planning and brings together members of the health care delivery system, particularly those entities that may not have collaborated in the past, to establish and/or improve local capacity in order to strengthen rural community health interventions and enhance care coordination.

The Network Planning Program uses the concept of developing networks as a strategy toward linking rural health care network members together to address local challenges, and help rural stakeholders achieve greater collective capacity to overcome challenges related to limited economies of scale for individual hospitals, clinics or other key rural health care stakeholders.

Eligible Applicants

  • Nonprofits that do have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • Independent school districts
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
  • State governments
  • Small businesses
  • County governments
  • For profit organizations other than small businesses
  • City or township governments
  • Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)
  • Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • Special district governments

Additional Information on Eligibility

You can apply if your organization is in the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau, and represents one or more of the following entity types:

  • Public or private
  • Non-profit or for-profit Community-based
  • Tribal governments (governments, organizations)

The applicant organization may be located in a rural or urban area, but must have demonstrated experience serving, or the capacity to serve, rural underserved populations, as communicated in the applicant organizations Project Abstract section of the application, describing in detail the applicant organizations experience and/or capacity to serve rural populations.

Approximately 30 awards, each up to $100,000, will allow networks to conduct planning activities over the course of one year with the goal of expanding access and improving quality of care in the rural communities they serve.

The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) will host a one-hour webinar for applicants via Zoom on Tuesday November 14 at 3:00 ET.

Click to Join Webinar

Applications Due January 26, 2024

Grantor Contract Information:

Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

Nikem Osian (301) 443-2751 or email nosian@hrsa.gov

Learn More

Apply Here

Mobilizing Health Care Workforce via Telehealth

October 26, 2023

Mobilizing Health Care Workforce via Telehealth

ProviderBridge.org was created through the CARES Act by the Federation of State Medical Boards and HRSA’s Office for the Advancement of Telehealth. The site provides up-to-date information on emergency regulation and licensing by state as well as a provider portal to connect volunteer health care professionals to state agencies and health care entities.

Provider Bridge facilitates mobilizing verified health care providers to health care entities and communities where they are needed most.

  • Healthcare Professionals – get your verified digital licensure passport
  • Healthcare Entities – Find verified health care providers
  • Verify credentials
  • Up-to-the-minute verification and critical emergency resources
  • Learn the latest about ongoing national, state, and local Public Health Emergencies and gain access to crucial tools that help deliver necessary care when and where it matters most

Learn more about Provider Bridge

Additional Resources

HHS/DoD National Emergency Tele-Critical Care Network

October 26, 2023

HHS/DoD National Emergency Tele-Critical Care Network

A joint program of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is available at no cost to hospitals caring for COVID-19 patients. Teams of critical care clinicians – critical care physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other specialized clinical experts – are available to deliver virtual care through telemedicine platforms, such as an app on a mobile device. Hear from participating clinicians, and email to learn more and sign up.

Mental Health Resources for Rural Residents

October 24, 2023

Mental Health Resources for Rural Residents

A large part of caring for one’s physical health and well-being is mental health. Access to mental health care in rural areas can be a challenge, though.

The rural lifestyle is very different from the way people live in more urban areas. The pace of life in less densely populated areas is slower and more solitary, and these areas have been particularly impacted by the declining agricultural industry and often face financial hardship. Factors such as these are directly correlated with an increased risk of suicide in rural communities.

Over 6 million rural individuals struggle with mental illness or other psychiatric disorders, and it can be difficult to find and receive treatment for these conditions in rural areas. Oftentimes, people who live in these areas have minimal or no insurance coverage for mental illness. They may also have fewer options for mental health care providers or have to travel long distances to see one.

The Missouri Office of Rural Health is dedicated to informing rural communities about and emphasizing the importance of mental health, while also providing information on mental health resources across the state. Taking care of your mental health is part of caring for your overall health. Conditions such as depression or anxiety are legitimate illnesses, like diabetes or arthritis.

Rural residents can visit online resources like LiveAnotherDay for help with locating mental health resources and providers across the state of Missouri. Please visit the resources linked below for more information related to rural mental health in Missouri and nationwide.

Missouri Mental Health Resources

Nationwide Mental Health Resources

Don’t Miss The Celebration – 2023 Missouri Rural Health Day

October 24, 2023

Don’t Miss The Celebration – 2023 Missouri Rural Health Day

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Office of Rural Health and Primary Care is honored to host the 3rd Annual Missouri Rural Health Day Celebration.

Join us to interact with others and engage on rural health topics impacting Missourians.

November 16, 2023

8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Governor’s Office Building

200 Madison Street, Jefferson City, MO

Please Register by November 7, 2023

                                         

Improving Access to Rural Healthcare – Vizient Shares Feedback

October 23, 2023

Improving Access to Rural Healthcare – Vizient Shares Feedback

Vizient, a National Rural Health Association (NRHA) Platinum Partner, has responded to the House and Ways Means Committee’s Request for Information (RFI) on enhancing rural healthcare. They highlighted the challenges rural health providers face and suggested policy changes to improve care delivery, financing, reimbursement, and the healthcare workforce. Vizient emphasized the importance of supporting the financial viability of rural healthcare providers, avoiding damaging payment policies, protecting key healthcare programs, and investing in the healthcare workforce. They also suggested using their Vizient Vulnerability Index™ to understand social determinants of health in rural areas.

Read Full Story

Patient and Provider Featured Telehealth Resources

October 17, 2023

Patient and Provider Featured Telehealth Resources

Want to learn more about telehealth? Need resources to guide your organization towards telehealth? Telehealth.HHS.gov shares trusted telehealth resources for patients and providers.

Resources for Providers Include:

  • Getting started with telehealth
    • How to evaluate telehealth vendors and begin offering care through telemedicine
  • Planning your telehealth workflow
    • How to set up and manage a workflow for virtual visits
  • Health equity in telehealth
    • How health care providers can improve access to telehealth for all populations
  • Preparing patients for telehealth
    • From scheduling to privacy, learn how to prepare your patients for virtual appointments to ensure their comfort and high quality care
  • Telehealth policy
    • Telehealth policy resources for health care providers and organizations
  • Billing for telehealth
    • Reimbursements for telehealth continue to evolve. Find resources on billing and reimbursement for Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers
  • Licensure
    • Telehealth licensure requirements vary at the federal, state, and cross-state levels for health care providers
  • Legal considerations
    • Read about the legal considerations for providing care through telehealth, including information on privacy and security, informed consent, and liability and malpractice
  • Best practice guides
    • Learn how to incorporate telehealth into your practice. Get resources and tips focused on different specialties and delivery models including telebehavioral health, telehealth for direct-to-consumer care, and telehealth for emergency departments.

Resources for Patients Include:

Prescribing Controlled Medications via Telehealth

October 17, 2023

Prescribing Controlled Medications via Telehealth

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), jointly with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has extended the full set of telemedicine flexibilities regarding the prescribing of controlled medications as were in place during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), through December 31, 2024.

Authorized providers are able to prescribe controlled substances via telehealth if they meet certain criteria.

Telemedicine flexibilities regarding prescription of controlled medications as were in place during the COVID-19 public health emergency include:

  • A practitioner can prescribe a controlled substance to a patient using telemedicine, even if the patient isn’t at a hospital or clinic registered with the DEA.
  • Qualifying practitioners can prescribe buprenorphine to new and existing patients with opioid use disorder based on a telephone evaluation.

For more information, see:

Prescribing Controlled Substances via Telehealth

Second Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications – from the Federal Register

Interstate licensure resources for health care providers, states, and health care organizations

Telehealth Policy Updates