Author: taylot10

Northern Border Regional Commission State and Region Chartbooks – A Health-Focused Landscape Analysis

Date: June 7, 2022

Upcoming Webinar: Northern Border Regional Commission State and Region Chartbooks – A Health-Focused Landscape Analysis

Date: June 21, 2022
Time: 10:00 AM Pacific, 11:00 AM Mountain, 12:00 PM Central, 1:00 PM Eastern
Duration: Approximately 60 minutes
Website: ruralhealthresearch.org/webinars/northern-border-region-chartbooks

During this webinar, Dr. Katherine Ahrens will describe a project compiling the most recent publicly available data related to health and healthcare access at the county-level and state-level for the Northern Border Region: ME, NH, NY, and VT. Dr. Ahrens will discuss healthcare professional shortage areas and will highlight counties with worse health outcomes, as compared to the rest of the counties in the region.

Registration is free and required. Attendance of the live webinar is limited to 500 persons. If you are unable to attend, you will be able to access the recording, archived on the Gateway website.

Registration

Presenters

Katherine Ahrens, PhD, MPH

Additional Resources of Interest:

Click to view Research Alert.

Racial and Ethnic Diversity of the Family Physician Workforce in Non-Metropolitan and Metropolitan Counties

Date: June 6, 2022

The Racial and Ethnic Diversity of the Family Physician Workforce in Non-Metropolitan and Metropolitan Counties

In general, physicians are disproportionately White and male compared to the U.S. workforce and population, but little is known about racial and ethnic distribution of family physicians (FPs) according to rurality and how this compares to urban FPs. The objective was to determine the distribution of FPs in rural areas by race/ethnicity and also whether rural minority physicians were more likely to be in underserved rural areas.

Key Findings

  • The family physician workforce is becoming more racially diverse; however, non-metropolitan family physicians are not.
  • Early career family physicians are more diverse than later career physicians.
  • Minority non-metropolitan family physicians, particularly Black and Native American/Alaska Native physicians, are more likely to practice in persistent poverty counties.

Contact Information:

Lars E. Peterson, MD, PhD
Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
Phone: 859.538.7180
lpeterson@theabfm.org

Additional Resources of Interest:

Click to view Research Alert.

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) Announcements

Date: June 2, 2022

TODAY at 2:00 pm ET: White House and HRSA on Test-to-Treat for COVID-19. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) invites you to join a webinar to share the White House’s call to action around Test-to-Treat as a strategy to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. The webinar will feature HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson and White House COVID-19 Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha as well as a moderated panel exploring safety-net provider perspectives. If you prefer to join by phone: 833-568-8864; Webinar ID: 161 896 3980.

Clarifying Information: HRSA Community Health Worker Training Program. HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW) issued new information for applicants to this funding opportunity. Through the Community Health Worker Training Program, HRSA will provide funding to health professions schools, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and community-based organizations to train 13,000 community health workers for underserved communities. See BHW’s website for more help with applications due on June 14. 

Rural America Placemaking Toolkit. A collaborative community process to define a town by what it offers the people who live there is the short way to describe the work of placemaking. This digital toolkit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the University of Kentucky’s Community and Economic Development Initiative includes examples of rural placemaking projects along with technical assistance providers, funders, and guides to resources. 

2020 Census: Growing Racial Diversity in Rural America. The most recent Census count revealed that, between 2010 and 2020, rural population declined to just 14 percent of the U.S. total, the smallest percentage of the population to reside in rural areas in U.S. history. At the same time, racial diversity increased with Hispanics representing 9 percent of the rural population, followed by non-Hispanic Black people, representing 7.7 percent. Nearly one-third of all rural children (32.5 percent) come from racial or ethnic minority populations, compared to 28.1 percent in 2010. More about these changes can be found in the report from the University of New Hampshire Carsey School of Public Policy. 

New HHS Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) – Comment by June 18. On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced a new office created to  address environmental injustices and health inequities for people of color and disadvantaged, vulnerable, low-income, marginalized, and indigenous populations. The OEJ is seeking public comment on a draft outline for strategy and implementation.

Sign the Health Care Sector Climate Pledge by Friday, June 3. The initiative, launched in April, asks hospitals, health systems, and other industry stakeholders to make efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase their communities’ climate resilience. The pledge is one part of a larger HHS effort to consider the impact that climate change has on the entire country and take steps toward sustainability. A recent article in The Appalachian Voice describes the impact of climate change in rural mountain communities. Watch a video that explains what the health care sector can do and sign the pledge by Friday, June 3.

HRSA News Round-Up for May. Last week, HRSA and leaders across the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services issued a joint letter to states, tribes, and jurisdictions encouraging them to maximize their efforts to strengthen children’s mental health and well-being. Earlier in the month, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau launched a new, toll-free hotline for expecting and new moms experiencing mental health challenges. The Office for the Advancement of Telehealth convened its first National Telehealth Conference. See all News & Announcements on HRSA.gov

Ongoing: HRSA Payment Program for RHC Buprenorphine-Trained Providers. In June 2021, HRSA launched an effort to improve access to substance use disorder treatment by paying for providers who are waivered to prescribe buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder. Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) still have the opportunity to apply for a $3,000 payment on behalf of each provider who trained to obtain the waiver necessary to prescribe buprenorphine after January 1, 2019. Approximately $1.2 million in program funding remains available for RHCs and will be paid on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. Send questions to DATA2000WaiverPayments@hrsa.gov. There is ongoing availability of a free online course for waiver eligibility training from the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine and the Providers Clinical Support System.

Safe Storage and Safe Disposal Educational Video Series

Date: May 31, 2022

Safe Storage and Safe Disposal Educational Videos

Coming off another successful Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) wants to keep the momentum going in raising awareness on the importance of safe medication storage and disposal.

CADCA’s partnership with the AmerisouceBergen Foundation has led to the creation of a series of videos on Safe Storage, Safe Disposal and Best Practices in Communities for Safe Storage and Disposal! 

These videos provide engaging, storytelling-based lessons on safe storage and disposal strategies that individuals and families can implement in their communities.

Video 1: Safe Storage Tips and Strategies

Video 2: Safe Disposal Tips and Strategies

Video 3: Safe Storage And Disposal Best Practices

New Funding Opportunity! Up to 3 Grants Totaling $1 Million for Health Equity Researchers at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs)

Date: June 2, 2022

New Funding Opportunity!

Up to 3 Grants Totaling $1 Million for Health Equity Researchers at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs)

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health’s (CMS OMH) Minority Research Grant Program (MRGP) is proud to release a notice of funding opportunity for researchers at minority-serving institutions (MSIs).

The funding opportunity supports researchers at MSIs who are investigating or addressing health care disparities affecting racial and ethnic minority populations, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. CMS can award 3 grants of up to $333,000 each to eligible institutions.

Review the notice of funding opportunity CMS-1W1-22-001. The deadline to submit applications is Thursday, July 28, 2022, at 3:00 PM ET.

Eligible MSIs include:

  • Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
  • Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs)
  • Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)
  • Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs)

To learn more about CMS OMH and the MRGP, visit go.cms.gov/minorityresearch, watch the MRGP overview video, or email HealthEquityTA@cms.hhs.gov.

May in Brief: HRSA Increases Equitable Access to Health Care

Date: May 31, 2022

May in Brief: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Increases Equitable Access to Health Care

In May—National Mental Health Awareness Month—many of HRSA’s efforts bolstered President Biden’s National Mental Health Strategy and underscored a key HRSA priority: addressing the mental health needs of children and families in underserved communities across the country. HRSA awarded nearly $25 million to improve and strengthen access to school-based health services, launched a maternal mental health hotline, and urged states to strengthen support for children’s mental health. In addition, HRSA announced the availability of $5 million to advance equity in cancer screening at health centers. HRSA leaders were also recognized for their remarkable service to the nation.

This month, key HRSA leaders were recognized for their service to the nation:

HRSA Deputy Administrator Diana Espinosa, winner of the 2021 Distinguished Executive Award, introduced President Biden at the White House ceremony announcing the Presidential Rank Awards and marking Public Service Recognition Week.

Suma Nair, Director of the Office of Quality Improvement, in the HRSA Bureau of Primary Health Care was named a Finalist for the 2022 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal for COVID-19 Response and a Top 12 Finalist for People’s Choice Award. Known as the Sammies, the service awards are administered by the Partnership for Public Service. Cast your vote for Suma!

HHS Leaders Urge States to Maximize Efforts to Support Children’s Mental Health
Last week, HRSA and leaders across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a joint letter (PDF – 584 KB) to states, tribes, and jurisdictions encouraging them to prioritize and maximize their efforts to strengthen children’s mental health and well-being. As part of the National Tour to Strengthen Mental Health, Administrator Johnson also joined other HHS leaders to host a roundtable discussion to support President Biden’s whole-of-government strategy and take up the Secretary’s charge to strengthen mental health. Watch their remarks.

HHS Awards Nearly $25 Million to Expand Access to School-Based Health Services
HRSA awarded nearly $25 million to improve and strengthen access to school-based health services in communities across the country. Awards will support local partnerships between schools and health centers to provide children and youth the comprehensive physical and mental health care they need. HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson met with children and health center staff at Quincy Jones Elementary School in Los Angeles, CA, where the Universal Community Health Center operates a school-based health center. While there, she heard from students on the benefits of easy and convenient access to quality health care.

HHS Launches New Maternal Mental Health Hotline
On Mother’s Day, HRSA launched the Maternal Mental Health Hotline, a new, confidential, toll-free hotline for expecting and new moms experiencing mental health challenges. Moms can call or text 1-833-9-HELP4MOMS and connect with counselors for mental health support.

HHS Announces $5 Million in Funding to Advance Equity in Cancer Screening at Health Centers
HRSA announced the availability of $5 million for community health centers to increase equitable access to life-saving cancer screenings. This funding supports President Biden’s Unity Agenda and his call to action on cancer screening and early detection as part of the Administration’s Cancer Moonshot initiative to end cancer as we know it.

HRSA Hosts National Telehealth Conference 
HRSA’s Office of Telehealth and telehealth.hhs.gov convened our inaugural national conference on telehealth, drawing an audience of nearly 4,000 and including leaders from across HHS, FCC, USDA and other agencies. View the conference sessions and a video about HRSA’s telehealth efforts and advances.

See News & Announcements on HRSA.gov.

HRSA and White House Test to Treat Webinar

Date: June 1, 2022

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and White House Test to Treat Webinar

While increasing rates of COVID-19 infections are concerning, tools are available to stop the spread and prevent severe disease. HRSA invites you to join a discussion on the role of HRSA and HRSA-supported organizations in reducing COVID-19’s impact on communities nationwide. This event includes the opportunity to hear directly from the White House on the importance of Test to Treat as a strategy to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.

The session will feature HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson, White House COVID-19 Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha, and a panel with HRSA-supported health centers, rural health clinics, and participants from HRSA’s Community Based-Workforce for COVID-19 Outreach program. This panel will share their best practices on community outreach, education, testing, and treatment. The session will conclude with an opportunity to ask HRSA experts your questions about COVID-19 programs and the Test to Treat model.

Date: Thursday, June 2
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET
Join the day of the session

If you prefer to join by phone: 833-568-8864
Webinar ID: 161 896 3980

Trends in Revenue Sources among Rural Hospitals

Date: June 1, 2022

Trends in Revenue Sources among Rural Hospitals

This study estimates changes in outpatient care as a source of revenue for rural hospitals. It uses 2011-2019 data from the Healthcare Cost Report Information System to analyze trends in the percent of patient revenue coming from outpatient care.

For the average hospital in the sample of 1,866 rural hospitals, the percent of revenue coming from outpatient services increased from 66.5% in 2011 to 74.2% in 2019. Furthermore, total outpatient revenue for the average rural hospital increased by 56.4% from 2011-2019, after inflation adjustment. Conversely, total inpatient revenue for the average rural hospital only increased by 9.3% from 2011-2019, after inflation adjustment.

The findings suggest that many rural hospitals now receive most of their revenue from outpatient sources.

Contact Information:

George H. Pink, PhD
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Phone: 919.843.2728
gpink@email.unc.edu

Additional Resources of Interest:

Click to view Research Alert.

Clarifying Information: CHW Funding Opportunity

Date: May 31, 2022

Clarifying Information: 
Community Health Worker (CHW) Training Program: HRSA-22-124

The application deadline is June 14, 2022.

The CHW Training Program is focused on expanding the public health workforce by training 13,000 CHWs, as well as building their knowledge and skills. The funding opportunity will provide education and on-the-job training to build the pipeline of CHWs. 

Approximately 75 grantees will receive a total of $226.5 million over a period of three years.

Additional information on requirement for approval of training programs

Applicants must demonstrate that their training or apprenticeship program is approved by a national, state, or local authority. There are several options for providing this information: 

  • Health professions schools and academic health center applicants must provide a copy of their active national accreditation. 
  • Certificate training program applicants or partners providing certificate training must provide either:
    • a copy of their accreditation by a nationally recognized accrediting agency, as specified by the U.S. Department of Education, or
    • proof of approval by their state or local government to provide a CHW or health support worker certificate training program.
  • Current Active Registered Apprenticeship sites must submit a copy of documentation such as a certificate of approved registration, from the U.S. Department of Labor or a state/local organization
  • Other applicants such as community-based organizations, community health centers, and FQHCs must provide:
    • proof of non-profit status and/or
    • proof of health center accreditation
  • If you are applying in a state that does not recognize or certify CHW training programs, you may provide a letter from a local public health department, which is considered a branch of local government, as proof of approval. 

You may apply for this funding opportunity if your program is in the process of becoming accredited or approved. However:

  • You must include supporting documentation demonstrating that you are in the process of seeking approval or gaining accreditation.
  • Provisional accreditation or approval must be finalized before the date of award.
  • Existing registered apprenticeship programs must provide documentation of registration from the U.S. Department of Labor or a state/local organizations.
  • New apprenticeship programs can become registered and stood up as part of the grant project.

Page 10 of the Notice of Funding Opportunity states “All other eligible entities must be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency, and provide a copy of their active accreditation or active approval from state government as specified by the U.S. Department of Education, or must be approved by the state or local government to provide a CHW, or public health-related health support worker certificate training program.”  For the purposes of this NOFO, “all other eligible entities” refers to those entities that will be providing the certificate training portion of the program. This can be the lead applicant or their partner.  

Learn more about this opportunity and watch the recorded Q&A session.