Missouri Immunization Coalition Survey – Assessing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Health Equity and Disparities: Perspectives from Missouri Healthcare Providers

October 31, 2023

Missouri Immunization Coalition Survey – Assessing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Health Equity and Disparities from Missouri Healthcare Providers

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed persistent drivers of inequities and health disparities that exist within the US healthcare system. Research suggests that COVID-19 has disproportionately affected groups that face discrimination and historical injustices the most and that support systems that should have been geared to respond to the crisis proved inadequate.

This survey aims to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health disparities and inequalities from the perspective of Missouri healthcare providers’ by focusing on your experiences, observations, and recommendations related to the pandemic’s effects on the health of your patients and communities.

“Assessing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Health Equity and Disparities from Missouri Providers” aims to identify valuable insights into the experiences and perspectives of healthcare providers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic in Missouri. Data collected will inform healthcare policies, interventions, and strategies to build health equity and address health disparities, especially in regions where disparities have been particularly exacerbated by the pandemic.

The survey should take 7-10 minutes to complete. Please respond by Monday, November 13, 2023. Your response is greatly appreciated!

Have questions about the survey? Please contact:

Nicole Williams, Director of Programs, Missouri Immunization Coalition nwilliams@moimmunize.com

Take Survey Now

2024 Missouri Immunization Conference – Call for Presentations

October 31, 2023

2024 Missouri Immunization Conference – Call for Presentations

The Missouri Immunization Coalition (MIC) invites you to submit a proposal to present at the 2024 Missouri Immunization Conference: Building Immunity in Missouri Communities, April 25-26 at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia, MO.

The Missouri Immunization Conference brings together bright minds to give talks that are action-oriented on a wide range of subjects related to immunizations to foster learning and inspiration and provoke conversations that matter and actions leading to increased vaccination rates for Missourians. The aim is to empower the public health workforce by offering a stage of stakeholders to share innovative ideas, equitable solutions, and their personal experiences promoting immunizations.

Presentations are being sought that have a statewide appeal to the multi-disciplinary group of professionals working across the immunization landscape in Missouri. Applications should be submitted by Friday, December, 2023.

The 2024 Missouri Immunization Conference planning committee will review all proposals.

Topics must:

Address conference theme, target audience, and challenge attendees to think creatively
Be clear, well-organized, interactive, and actionable
Feature speaker(s) with significant experience on presentation topic

Deadline for submissions: Friday, December 1, 2023

Selected Presenters will be notified by Friday, December 15, 2023

Learn more and submit application

Optimizing Missouri’s Managed Care Plan Benefits for Maternal & Infant Health

October 31, 2023

Optimizing Missouri’s Managed Care Plan Benefits for Maternal & Infant Health

Please join the MO HealthMet Division (MHD) and meet the MHD Managed Care Health Plan Representatives. This is a unique networking opportunity to showcase valuable benefits, incentives, and resources available to perinatal patients and families including individualized Gestational Care Management for eligible patients.

When: November 13, 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Where: Governor’s Office Building, 200 Madison Street, Jefferson City, Conference Room 450

Note – Parking is available at the Governor’s Office Building, across the street. You may use cash, debit or credit:

$0.50/hr for first 2 hours
1:00/hr thereafter
$6.00 max per day

There are also meters available.

Each attendee should register individually, for this meeting. All registered persons will receive a confirmation email prior to the meeting.

Providers and Community Health Workers (CHWs) are encouraged to join the in-person networking opportunity.

Agenda

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 35^th 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

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

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