Rural Spotlight -

April 25, 2024

Why are Rural Americans – Especially Women- Dying Younger?

Rural Americans aged 25 to 54 are dying of natural causes such as chronic diseases and cancer at wildly higher rates than their urban peers, according to a recent report.

The disparity was significantly worse for women, and for Native American women in particular.

The gap highlights how persistent difficulties accessing health care and a dispassionate response from national leaders can eat away at the fabric of rural communities.

The National Rural Health Association’s (NRHA’s) Government Affairs team has produced policy briefs on rural women’s health and American Indian and Alaska Native health.

Read Rural Women’s Health policy brief

Read American Indian and Alaska Native Health policy brief

April 25, 2024

Webinar – New Medicare Behavioral Health Providers: Incorporating MHCs and MFTs Into Your RHC – May 9, 1:00 p.m. ET

The National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) is hosting a free, Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP)-supported webinar with information on incorporating Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) and Mental Health Counselors (MHCs) into Rural Health Clinics (RHCs).

Medicare coverage of Marriage and Family Therapists and Mental Health Counselors in RHCs began January 1, 2024. This webinar will feature representatives from the National Board for Certified Counselors and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, who will provide information to ensure RHCs are equipped to consider expanding behavioral health services. Additional time for Q&A will be provided. Advanced registration is required.

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, May 9, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. CT

April 25, 2024

Rural Health Research Gateway – Research Recap: LGBTQ+ Health: Rural vs Urban Inequities

From 2019-2020, rural lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults were more likely to report poor/fair self-rated health than rural heterosexual adults.

This Recap summarizes several policy briefs from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center examining self-rated health, chronic conditions, mental health, and social and emotional support systems for LGBTQ+ populations.

Click Here to View Research Recap

April 25, 2024

Missouri Medicaid Tests New Transformation of Rural Community Health (ToRCH) Model

This new program aims to address social determinants of health and will have hospitals serve as community-based hubs, or regional leads, to direct strategy and coordinate the efforts of health care providers, community-based organizations (CBOs), and social service agencies within a designated rural community.

Medicaid funds will support hub activities:

Leadership
Data analysis
Management of community partnerships

Community partners may request funds to pay for:

Additional space
Purchase IT or other equipment
Purchase a vehicle
Obtain new training for staff

Funds will also be available to reimburse CBO partners for approved health related social needs services identified in the ToRCH communities, such as:

Supplemental health-related transportation
Food and nutrition education
Home-delivered medically appropriate meals
Housing remediation to address health risks

The first cohort of six hospitals will begin on July 1 of this year.

Click Here to learn more about ToRCH

April 25, 2024

HRSA Funding: Delta Health Systems Implementation Program – Apply by June 24

This program, administered by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), supports hospitals in the Mississippi Delta region with projects that will improve their financial sustainability and allow for increased access to care in rural communities.

Approximately $2,000,000 across 5 awards will be aimed at financial and operational improvement, quality improvement, telehealth, and workforce development.

Interested applicants may attend a live webinar on Wednesday, May 1 at 2:00 pm Eastern.

Apply Here

April 25, 2024

New National Strategy for Suicide Prevention

On Wednesday, April 24, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services released details of a plan for more than 200 actions across the federal government to address high rates of suicide.

Populations in the United States disproportionately impacted by suicide include non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native youth, middle-aged and older adults, non-Hispanic White males, rural populations, and veterans, among others.

In particular, rural communities continue to see increases in suicide rates. According to 2023 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicides in non-urban environments increased 46 percent between 2000 and 2020.

Click Here for Full Details

April 25, 2024

Upcoming Webinar: Financial and Operational Benchmarking Trends and Techniques – May 1, 1:00 p.m. CT

This webinar will provide a framework for identifying financial strengths and challenges for health center performance improvement.

The presenters will utilize benchmarking and comparative metrics from Capital Link’s audited financial database and data from the federal UDS reporting system to highlight the variances between rural, urban, and national FQHC performance, as well as selected target benchmarks that support long-term sustainability.

Cost: No Cost

When: Wednesday, May 1, 1:00 p.m. CT

April 25, 2024

Funding Opportunity: Supporting Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Screening and Intervention – HRSA-24-046 – Apply by 6/21/24

The Supporting Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Screening and Intervention program helps reduce alcohol use during pregnancy and improves outcomes for children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), especially in communities where there’s a high rate of binge drinking during pregnancy.

The program focus is on educating Primary Care Providers (PCPs) and increasing the use of screening, intervention, and referral processes for high-risk pregnancies.

Program goals include increasing PCPs’ knowledge of the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy as well as promoting recommended screenings, interventions, and referral approaches.

Eligibility:

All domestic public or private, nonprofit and for profit entities
Institutions of higher education
Public institutions of higher education
Private institutions of higher education nonprofit entities
Nonprofits having a 501 (c)(3) IRS status
Nonprofits with an IRS status other than 501(c)(3)
Private for profit entities
For profit organizations
Small businesses

Click here to see complete list of eligible applicants

Learn More and Apply

Still have questions: Please contact M. Sonsy Fermin, wellwomancare@hrsa.gov, (301) 443-1702

April 25, 2024

Partner Resources: Medicaid Redetermination Process

With more than 35 million redeterminations yet to be completed, beneficiaries still need accurate information about the Medicaid Redetermination process.

The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP), Family Voices and the Catalyst Center at Boston University has created fact sheets to provide important information for families and professionals.

For Patients and Families:

We lost Medicaid coverage: Now what?

For Providers:

Millions are at risk of coverage loss: What can MCH professionals do now to support families in the Medicaid redetermination process?

Rural Spotlight

Why are Rural Americans – Especially Women- Dying Younger?

Webinar – New Medicare Behavioral Health Providers: Incorporating MHCs and MFTs Into Your RHC – May 9, 12:00 p.m. CT

Rural Health Research Gateway – Research Recap: LGBTQ+ Health: Rural vs Urban Inequities

Missouri Medicaid Tests New Transformation of Rural Community Health (ToRCH) Model

HRSA Funding: Delta Health Systems Implementation Program – Apply by June 24

New National Strategy for Suicide Prevention

Upcoming Webinar: Financial and Operational Benchmarking Trends and Techniques – May 1, 1:00 p.m. CT

Funding Opportunity: Supporting Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Screening and Intervention – HRSA-24-046 – Apply by 6/21/24

Partner Resources: Medicaid Redetermination Process

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