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

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

February 7, 2024

Request for Information (RFI) on Severe Maternal Morbidity Measurement

The Agency for Healthcare, Research and Quality (AHRQ) released a Request for Information (RFI) on Severe Maternal Morbidity (SMM). AHRQ is seeking public input on the usability, feasibility and likely uptake of an SMM measure, produced through the Quality Indicators Program.

AHRQ invites stakeholders representing:

• Consumers
• State/Regional/Local Health Departments
• Accountable Care Organizations
• Community Health Centers
• Birthing Centers
• Providers/Health Systems
• Critical Access/Rural Hospitals
• Professional Associations
• Payers
• Rural and Community Groups
• Community Health Groups
• Community Health Workers
• Doulas
• Maternal Health Advocacy Groups
• Researchers
• Members of the Public

The comment period closes on March 4.

Still have questions? Please contact Judy George, Program Lead for AHRQ, judy.george@ahrq.hhs.gov

Submit comments to askahrq@ahrq.hhs.gov

January 30, 2024

Call for Questions – Physician Fee Schedule Webinar

The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) has coordinated with the Rural Health Information (RHI) Hub and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to hold a webinar on February 27, at 3 pm ET, to discuss the CY 2024 Physician Fee Schedule final rule.

This webinar will focus heavily on the community Health Integration Services and the Behavioral Health billing codes for Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)/Mental Health Counselors (MHC). CMS will also review telehealth policies outlined in the PFS final rule.

FORHP is working to gather questions from rural stakeholders as CMS is developing the webinar in response to questions that are received.

Additional Information

• Marriage and Family Therapists & Mental Health Counselors
• MLN Guidance for RHC & FQHC Intensive Outpatient Program Services
• CY 2024 Medicare PFS Final Rule

Please submit questions by close of business, Thursday, February 1.

Submit Questions to Jemima Drake: jdrake@hrsa.gov

Registration for this webinar will be available soon.

January 26, 2024

HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson, Joined by Representative Lauren Underwood, Launches New National Maternal Health Initiative

On Thursday, January 25, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Administrator Carole Johnson, joined by Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL), co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, launched a year-long Enhancing Maternal Health Initiative. The initiative will strengthen, expand, and accelerate HRSA’s maternal health work to address maternal mortality and maternal health disparities in partnership with mothers, grantees, community organizations, and state and local health officials across the country.

The kick-off event at the Kaiser Family Foundation in Washington, DC, included:

• HRSA maternal health grantees form 11 states
• District of Columbia
• Key national organizations
• Experts, providers, and individuals with lived experience
  • Attendees shared personal perspectives on maternal health care and support
  • Innovative ways HRSA grantees are making an impact on maternal health
  • How maternal mental health is addressed.

HRSA’s Enhancing Maternal Health initiative aims to:

• Achieve measurable progress in maximizing the impact of HRSA grants and programs to address maternal mortality and improve maternal health
• Foster new partnerships and collaborations among HRSA grantees in high need, high opportunity jurisdictions to address maternal mortality and improve maternal health
• Strengthen HRSA’s internal capacity to maximize the impact of HRSA’s maternal health grants, programs and resources

This initiative focuses on parts of the country where:

• HRSA has significant investments
• There are significant opportunities for new partnerships and collaborations
• There is high need
  • Arizona
  • Alabama
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Kentucky
  • Maryland
  • Michigan
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • North Carolina
  • Oregon
  • District of Columbia

HRSA brings grantees from across the states of focus to foster cross-program and cross-state relationships, to drive progress in maternal health and end the maternal mortality crisis.

Learn More about the HRSA Maternal Health work