Author: dianawinder

Funding Opportunity: Rural Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) Planning and Development, HRSA-25-101, Apply by April 17

February 5, 2025

Funding Opportunity: Rural Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) Planning and Development, HRSA-25-101, Apply by April 17

The purpose of this Rural Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) Planning and Development Program is to improve health care in rural areas, including expanding access to medical care and long-term services, for rural aging populations by expanding PACE programs into rural areas.

Eligible Applicants:

  • City or township governments
  • Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • For profit organizations other than small businesses
  • Small businesses
  • Independent school districts
  • Special district governments
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) IRS status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
  • County governments
  • State governments
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments.
  • Public Institutions of higher education
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • For profit organizations
  • Hospitals, including rural emergency hospitals
  • Community-based organizations
  • FQHCs
  • RHCs

Apply by April 17.

Click Here to Learn More and Apply

Funding Opportunity: Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) Program, HRSA-25-007, Apply by April 10

February 5, 2025

Funding Opportunity: Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) Program, HRSA-25-007, Apply by April 10

The purpose of the Rural Residency Planning and development (RRPD) program, HRSA-25-007, is to improve and expand access to health care in rural areas by developing new sustainable rural residency programs, including rural track programs (RTPs). These residency programs must achieve accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

Newly created rural residency programs will increase the number of future physicians training in rural areas, and ultimately the number of physicians practicing in rural areas with the goal of addressing the physician workforce shortages in rural communities.

The RRPD program provides start-up funding to create new rural residency programs in qualifying medical specialties that will be sustainable long-term through viable and stable funding mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and other public funding sources.

Qualifying medical specialties are:

  • Family medicine
  • Internal medicine
  • Preventive medicine
  • Psychiatry
  • General surgery
  • Obstetrics and gynecology

Eligible Applicants:

  • Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Public or private institutions of higher education
  • Rural Hospitals
  • Rural community-based ambulatory patient care centers

Apply by April 10.

Click Here to Learn More and Apply

NRHA Webinar: How Critical Access Hospitals like Grand River Health are Overcoming Staffing and Compliance challenges with CDM Outsourcing, February 25

February 5, 2025

NRHA Webinar: How Critical Access Hospitals like Grand River Health are Overcoming Staffing and Compliance challenges with CDM Outsourcing, February 25

Grand River Health, a Critical Access Hospital with two Rural health Clinics and one Long-Term Care Center, recognized an opportunity in the changes they faced when their tenured CDM expert retired.

Weighing the impact of recruiting qualified talent and managing the cost of training and retaining resources, Grand River Health leaned on their partners to guide their exciting transformation.

Join this webinar to explore how outsourcing their Charge Description Master (CDM) process provided a sustainable solution. Hear from Grand River Health Controller, Theresa Wagenman, and industry expert Melissa Burris as they share insights on overcoming these challenges, achieving compliance, and improving financial sustainability. Discover the tangible benefits of proactive CDM management through expert led strategies and innovative technology.

This session is perfect for rural healthcare leaders and financial professionals looking to enhance comp0liance, efficiency, and financial health through sustainable CDM practices.

Cost: Free

When: Tuesday, February 25, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

New JRH Articles on Physical Therapy Utilization and More

February 5, 2025

New JRH Articles on Physical Therapy Utilization and More

The National Rural Health Association’s (NRHA’s) Journal of Rural Health (JRH) published articles on the following topics:

These are the Top 5 Policies to Transform Rural Health

February 5, 2025

These are the Top 5 Policies to Transform Rural Health

As a new administration takes the reins in Washington, the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is mobilizing to work with policymakers to implement transformative policy changes to improve rural health care and other hospital leaders are also expressing their concerns.

Top 5 Policies to Transform Rural Health

  • Reduce regulator burden on small rural providers.
  • Secure key rural health care programs.
  • Make Medicare Advantage work for rural health care.
  • Stop implementation of payment policies harmful to rural providers.
  • Sustain rural health care infrastructure.

NRHA CEO Alan Morgan has released a statement as a rebuttal to the troublesome findings in a recent OIC report on CAH swing bed reimbursement. We can address the needs of rural communities and their hospitals through direct advocacy.

Click Here to Read “The top 5 policies to transform rural health”.

Click Here to Read “What hospitals want from Donald Trump and the new Congress”.

Click Here to Read “NRHA statement on OIG swing bed report”.

Click Here to Read “Cut swing-bed pay rates to match skilled nursing reimbursement and save billions, OIG tells CMS”.

Registration Now Open: Missouri Rural Health Workforce Development Conference, April 1-2

February 3, 2025

Registration Now Open: Missouri Rural Health Workforce Development Conference, April 1-2

The Missouri Rural Health Association in partnership with the University of Missouri School of Medicine and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) are hosting the Rural Health Workforce Conference Tuesday, April 1st – Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025, at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia, Missouri.

Revitalizing Workplace Culture for Rural Healthcare Professionals

  • Growth: Strategies for expanding ad developing the rural health workforce.
  • Innovation: Implementing cutting-edge approaches and technologies in developing, recruiting, and retaining a high-quality rural health workforce.
  • Renewal: Techniques for enhancing workplace culture, morale, and retention among rural healthcare professionals.

The Rural Health Workforce Development Conference is ideal for:

  • health care employers,
  • administrators,
  • students,
  • HR professionals,
  • nonprofit organizations, and
  • any business with a vested interest in attracting and retaining qualified healthcare professionals to serve rural Missouri.

When: April 1 – 2, 2025

Click Here to Register

Free Webinar Series for RHC Leaders

February 3, 2025

Free Webinar Series for RHC Leaders

Join the Missouri Association of Rural Health Clinics (MARHC) for this three-part webinar series designed to empower you with actionable strategies to optimize revenue cycle management.

Presented by industry experts from Wintergreen, this training will provide insights into enhancing financial performance, boosting operational efficiency, and improving patient satisfaction.

Options available to attend live or on-demand.

Cost:

  • Full Series
    • MARHC Members: $100
    • Non-Members: $150
  • Single Sessions
    • MARHC Members: $50
    • Non-Members: $75

When:

  • February 13, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
    • Strategy Management – Learn how to develop and implement effective strategies for comprehensive revenue cycle management to drive growth and sustainability.
  • May 29, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
    • Front-End Improvement  – Explore best practices for front-end processes, including patient registration, insurance verification, and point-of-service collections.
  • August 14, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
    • Back-End Improvement – Delve into methods to streamline back-end processes, such as claims management, billing, and accounts receivable follow-up, to enhance cash flow and minimize denials.

Click Here to Register

Register Now: NARHC 2025 Spring Institute

January 30, 2025

Register Now: NARHC 2025 Spring Institute

Join the National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) for 19 educational sessions tailored specifically for Rural Health Clinics.

From RHC Management to Regulatory and Legislative Updates, this is a must-attend conference to get the education, knowledge, and policy updates you need to successfully run your RHC.

NARHC Institutes are put on by the only national association dedicated strictly to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). A wide range of rural health professionals will be in attendance including:

  • CEOs,
  • CFOs,
  • Physicians,
  • PAs,
  • NPs,
  • Clinic Managers,
  • Billers & Coders

Earn Continuing Education Credits – Average continuing education credits range from 14-16.

  • CME from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) – for MDs, Pas, NPs, and some RNs
  • CEUs from American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) – for coders
  • If CRHCP certified, you can earn your conference attendance maintenance requirement if your certification expires at the end of the conference year.

When: 3/17/25 – 3/19/25

Where: Oklahoma City, OK

Click Here to Learn More and Register

Webinar: Faith and Health: Purple Sundays Offer Education and Support for Memory Loss, February 26

January 30, 2025

Webinar: Faith and Health: Purple Sundays Offer Education and Support for Memory Loss, February 26

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Office of Minority Health and Health Equity is partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Missouri to offer this free webinar.

You are invited to join this webinar to learn how to access free care and support services, engage in research and educate members of the faith community about Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, February 26, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Click Here to Register

MRHA Webinar: Remote Patent Monitoring and Chronic Care Management, January 30

January 29, 2025

MRHA Webinar: Remote Patent Monitoring and Chronic Care Management, January 30

This session will provide an in-depth exploration of Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and Chronic Care Management (CM) – defining these emerging care programs, unpacking their core benefits, and navigating the complexities of CMS reimbursement.

Attendees will understand how RPM in particular can uniquely advantage Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in enhancing patient outcomes and care delivery. The session will also equip participants with the knowledge ot assess their own facility’s needs, helping them choose the right RPM/CCM partner for success.

Finally, the session will shed light on potential pitfalls to avoid when implementing these transformative care programs. By the end, attendees will be well-equipped to leverage RPM and CCM to drive measurable improvements in their practice.

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, January 30, 12:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register