Date: March 31, 2022

HRSA Public Health Scholarship Program – Applications due June 1. The Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Bureau of Health Workforce will invest $39 million for 26 awards. Awarded recipients will provide scholarships to individuals for public health training in professional, graduate, and/or certificate programs. Eligible applicants are government entities, nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions with an existing public health training program and partnerships that can transition students into employment.  

One Stop Online for COVID Prevention and Treatment in Every County. The new website, COVID.gov, asks visitors to enter their county and then provides nearby locations for masks and respirators, vaccines and boosters, and all testing and treatment options. The site also maps out clinics and pharmacies with a test-to-treat option, where one can get tested and, if positive, immediately receive anti-viral pills. According to the White House, there are now more than 2,000 test-to-treat locations; the new website, announced yesterday, makes it easier to find them. 

Provider Relief Fund Reporting Period Closes Today. The Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Portal will close on March 31 for Reporting Period 2. Providers who received one or more PRF payment exceeding $10,000, in the aggregate, during the second Payment Received Period must report on their use of funds no later than March 31, 2022. Providers who fail to submit a completed report by the March 31 deadline will be subject to further enforcement actions such as repayment or exclusion from receiving and/or retaining future PRF payments. For more details, review the Reporting Non-Compliance Fact Sheet. To get started, providers must register in the Portal (if not yet completed). More information and resources can be found on the PRF Reporting web page.

Take Telehealth Technology Survey Today. Every two years, the HRSA-funded National Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center (TTAC)  asks a variety of questions about the types of technologies, roles, and future plans of organizations and individuals using telehealth technology. TTAC uses this data to 1) identify technologies of interest for future evaluations, toolkits, video series and other resources; 2) understand trends that are affecting the telehealth landscape regionally and nationwide; and 3) o determine how TTAC can better engage with its stakeholders. The survey takes less than 10 minutes and closes, Thursday, March 31^st.

Census Bureau Updates Criteria for Defining Urban Areas. Last week, the U.S. Census Bureau published its final criteria for defining urban areas based on the results of the 2020 Decennial Census. Rather than distinctions for urbanized area or an urban cluster, all areas with a population of at least 5,000 and containing at least 2,000 housing units will be designated urban areas. The notice defines rural as territory not defined as urban. Some federal and state agencies use the Census Bureau’s urban-rural classification for allocating funds, setting standards, and implementing aspects of their programs. Stakeholders should be aware that the changes to the urban area criteria also might affect the implementation of these programs.

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.

Date: March 24, 2022

Twelve Years of the Affordable Care Act. March 23^rd marked the anniversary of the landmark law that has helped millions of Americans gain access to health coverage. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has issued a series of briefs over the last year analyzing how that coverage affected different segments of the population, including rural residents, older adults, immigrants, and ethnic/racial minorities.

Provider Relief Fund Reporting Period Closes Soon. The Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Portal will close on March 31 for Reporting Period 2. Providers who received one or more PRF payment exceeding $10,000, in the aggregate, during the second Payment Received Period must report on their use of funds no later than March 31, 2022. Providers who fail to submit a completed report by the March 31 deadline will be subject to further enforcement actions such as repayment or exclusion from receiving and/or retaining future PRF payments. For more details, review the Reporting Non-Compliance Fact Sheet. To get started, providers must register in the Portal (if not yet completed). More information and resources can be found on the PRF Reporting web page.

FCC Requests Comments on Promoting Telehealth in Rural America – Respond by April 14. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeks comment on revisions to its initiatives to fund access to broadband and telecommunication services for rural health care providers. FCC proposes to modify the way the internal funding cap applies to upfront costs and multi-year commitments in the Healthcare Connect Fund Program, and to streamline the invoice process in the Telecommunications Program. The rule also seeks comment on ways to further increase the speed of funding commitments.

Tobacco Use Down; Still High For Certain Groups. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 47.1 million U.S. adults (19%) reported that they were currently using any commercial tobacco product in the 2020 National Health Interview Survey.  The prevalence of cigarette smoking was higher in rural areas than urban areas among adults who were non-Hispanic Black (38% higher), Hispanic (38% higher) and non-Hispanic White (62% higher).

The Implications of Long COVID for Rural Communities. While the definition of post-COVID-19 effects has evolved, experts have identified a range of health conditions that may include shortness of breath, chronic fatigue, tachycardia, exercise intolerance, and cognitive dysfunction. In an open access article from The Journal of Rural Health, researchers report an estimated 7 to 22 million individuals in the U.S. may experience long COVID, with greater implications for rural economies and health delivery systems. 

National Poison Prevention Week  March 20 – 26. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funds 55 poison control centers across the nation and the Poison Help Line (1-800-222-1222). This week provides an opportunity to highlight the dangers of poisonings for people of all ages and promote community involvement in poisoning prevention. Over 2,000,000 poisonings occur annually, with nearly 43% of all exposures involving children younger than age 5. Two-thirds of calls to the Poison Help line are successfully resolved over the phone, preventing unnecessary visits to the hospital and reducing medical costs.

Ongoing: HRSA Payment Program for RHC Buprenorphine-Trained Providers. In June 2021, the Health Resources and Services Administration (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 $1.5 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.

Date: March 17, 2022

Medical Education for African American Communities in the Rural South: What to Consider. An open access article in The Journal of Rural Health reports on findings from focus groups of medical educators and alumni discussing recruitment and retention strategies and challenges. The researchers discovered multiple factors contribute to rural racial minority recruitment and success, including mentorship, culturally competent faculty, and financial concerns. 

Comments Requested: CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids – Deadline April 11. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is in the process of updating the 2016 guidelines and values feedback from health care professionals and members of the public who experience acute or chronic pain. 

Ongoing: HRSA Payment Program for RHC Buprenorphine-Trained Providers. In June 2021, the Health Resources and Services Administration (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 $1.5 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.

Date: March 10, 2022

New Data on Rural-Urban Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported last year that, in the first four months of the vaccine’s availability, coverage for adults overall was lower in rural than in urban counties. New data released last week show that the rural-urban gap in COVID-19 vaccination coverage has more than doubled since April 2021. 

Provider Relief Fund Reporting Period Closes Soon. The Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Portal will close on March 31 for Reporting Period 2. Providers who received one or more PRF payment exceeding $10,000, in the aggregate, during the second Payment Received Period must report on their use of funds no later than March 31, 2022. To get started they must register in the Portal (if not yet completed). More information and resources can be found on the PRF Reporting web page.

Suicide Rates Decline, But Remain High for Certain Groups. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released data showing suicide rates were inversely related to county urbanization level, with the most rural (noncore) counties experiencing the highest rate (20.6 per 100,000). Overall, there was a three percent decline in the suicide rate in 2020, a downward trend that started in 2019. While the rate is 13.9 per 100,000 in the general U.S. population, disparities persist. The rates were highest among persons who were non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native (23.9 per 100,000), followed by non-Hispanic White (16.9 per 100,000). 

Ongoing: HRSA Payment Program for RHC Buprenorphine-Trained Providers. In June 2021, the Health Resources and Services Administration (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 $1.5 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.

Date: March 3, 2022

Historic Investments to Build Wealth in Rural America. A White House fact sheet details billions of dollars for rural communities through the American Rescue Plan and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The funding includes short term investments made in response to the pandemic, such as $398 million in funding to support COVID-19 testing and mitigation for over 1,500 small rural hospitals. Proposals for longer term investments include revitalization in coal, oil and gas, and power plant communities; support for local workforce programs and small businesses; and increasing the health care workforce and access to telehealth. 

National Strategy to Address Mental Health Crisis. Three directives form the strategy announced by the White House earlier this week: 1) Strengthen system capacity to expand the supply, diversity, and cultural competency of the mental health workforce, particularly in rural and underserved areas. This effort will include training and opportunities for paraprofessionals such as community health workers and peer recovery coaches. 2) Connect patients to care by expanding and strengthening access to mental health and recovery services. The President’s budget for fiscal year 2023 will propose that all health plans cover robust behavioral health services with an adequate network of providers, including three behavioral health visits each year without cost-sharing. 3) Create healthy environments by addressing social determinants of health. This will involve adjustment to standards and practices for online marketing and social media, expansion of early childhood and school-based intervention services, and mental health resources for incarcerated individuals. According to the 2020 results from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 7.7 million nonmetropolitan adults reported having any mental illness, accounting for 20.5 percent of nonmetropolitan adults. At the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), our work to implement this strategy means taking action.

HRSA COVID-19 Testing Supply Program Includes At-Home Self-Tests, Point-of-Care Testing Supplies, and N95 Masks. Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) that are certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are among providers eligible to receive free N95 masks and at-home self-tests for COVID-19 to distribute at no cost to patients and members of the community. RHCs are also eligible to sign up to receive point-of-care testing supplies. For more information please email RHCTestKit@hrsa.gov.

HRSA February Roundup. In addition to more than $560 million for Provider Relief Fund payments, the agency awarded $66.5 million to increase confidence in COVID-19 vaccinations, and announced the availability of $19.2 million to expand training of primary care residents in rural and underserved communities. 

National Health Service Corps Celebrating 50 Years. The Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is gearing up to celebrate 50 years of commitment, compassion, and community in rural America, and invites you to join in by sharing your experiences. Established with the Emergency Health Personnel Act of 1970, the NHSC placed its first clinicians in 20 communities in 13 states, which included physicians, dentists, and nurses. Currently, rural areas of the country are served by 7,133 NHSC clinicians at more than 8,500 NHSC-approved sites.

Know Your COVID-19 Community Level. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adjusted its guidance for wearing masks to allow for personal decision-making based on three levels of risk – low, medium, and high – in each community, taking into account population immunity from both vaccinations and infections. A well-fitting mask is still recommended for indoor public venues, including in K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. The CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccination Equity tab shows vaccination trends by urban/rural status. As of February 23, 2022, 48.5 percent of people in rural counties are fully vaccinated, while the range of vaccination coverage in the 5 urban/metro counties ranged from 52.3 percent (micropolitan) to 66.0 percent (large central metro).

Spread the Word About Vaccine Boosters. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) released new resources – posters, flyers, videos, and talking points – to help promote the extra protection from COVID-19 boosters. All vaccinated adults aged 18+ are eligible for a booster. A few weeks ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expanded booster eligibility to include adolescents ages 12 to 17, recommending that they receive a booster shot five months after their initial vaccination. The CDC also released a new resource, based on input from rural health departments and organizations, with 12 strategies to increase vaccine uptake in rural communities (pdf). Search by zip code to find nearby locations providing adult and pediatric vaccines and boosters for COVID-19 and the flu at vaccines.gov.

Ongoing: HRSA Payment Program for RHC Buprenorphine-Trained Providers. In June 2021, the Health Resources and Services Administration (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 $1.5 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.

Date: February 24, 2022

New RMOMS Program Awardee Summaries. The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy released new Summaries of the FY2019 Cohort Award Recipients of the Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) Program – the Bootheel Perinatal Network in Missouri, the Rural OB Access and Maternal Services Network (ROAMS) in New Mexico, and the TX-RMOMS Comprehensive Maternal Care Network in Texas. The summaries describe the network structures and strategies awardees are using to expand care, such as telehealth and patient navigation. Applications for the next cohort are due on April 5.

HRSA Telehealth Learning Series: A Session on Innovative Rural Health Programs – Monday, February 28 at 3:00 pm ET. This session features two recipients from the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Telehealth Network Grant Program that delivers consultation services for Emergency Departments in rural areas. 

Comments Requested: CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids – Deadline April 11. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is in the process of updating the 2016 guidelines and values feedback from health care professionals and members of the public who experience acute or chronic pain. 

New Considerations for Assessing Seasonal Farmworker Communities (pdf). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an addendum to their Rapid Community Assessment (RCA) field guide. An RCA is a process for quickly collecting community insights – e.g., observations, surveys, listening session – about a public health issue to inform program design. The addendum was developed in partnership with the Oregon Health Authority, the National Center for Farmworker Health, CDC’s Global Migration Task Force, and Oregon and Yuma County Farmworker Deployment Teams.

Spread the Word About Vaccine Boosters. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) released new resources – posters, flyers, videos, and talking points – to help promote the extra protection from COVID-19 boosters. All vaccinated adults aged 18+ are eligible for a booster. A few weeks ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expanded booster eligibility to include adolescents ages 12 to 17, recommending that they receive a booster shot five months after their initial vaccination. The CDC also released a new resource, based on input from rural health departments and organizations, with 12 strategies to increase vaccine uptake in rural communities (pdf). Search by zip code to find nearby locations providing adult and pediatric vaccines and boosters for COVID-19 and the flu at vaccines.gov.

Ongoing: HRSA Payment Program for RHC Buprenorphine-Trained Providers. In June 2021, the Health Resources and Services Administration (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 $1.5 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.

Date: February 10, 2022

HHS Effort to Boost Vaccine Confidence Sends $66.5 Million into Communities. On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced more American Rescue Plan funding for community-based outreach to build COVID-19 vaccine confidence. This latest push in the effort that began last summer will support eight grantees with networks that reach rural areas and communities with underserved minority populations. The funding will be used to support trusted local partners who know and understand their neighbors and are best positioned to deliver needed information. 

Medicare to Cover Free, Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Tests. Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that people in either Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage will be able to get over-the-counter COVID-19 tests at no cost starting in early spring. Under the new initiative, Medicare beneficiaries will be able to access up to eight over-the-counter COVID-19 tests per month for free. Tests will be available through eligible pharmacies and other participating entities. This policy will apply to COVID-19 over-the-counter tests approved or authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. For more information, CMS has posted a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

National Action Plan and Task Force on Human Trafficking. Twenty federal agencies will coordinate a government-wide effort to combat human trafficking, an issue that crops up in rural areas where secluded locations make it difficult for law enforcement to detect. Sometimes called a form of “modern day slavery,” human trafficking is estimated to generate illegal profits in the billions. The human toll is greatest on individuals with vulnerabilities such as recent migration, single motherhood, recent contact with the child welfare system, a substance dependency, or a mental health condition. A recent article from The Rural Monitor explains how rural providers are uniquely positioned to provide care for victims.

Spread the Word About Vaccine Boosters. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) released new resources – posters, flyers, videos, and talking points – to help promote the extra protection from COVID-19 boosters. All vaccinated adults aged 18+ are eligible for a booster. A few weeks ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expanded booster eligibility to include adolescents ages 12 to 17, recommending that they receive a booster shot five months after their initial vaccination. The CDC also released a new resource, based on input from rural health departments and organizations, with 12 strategies to increase vaccine uptake in rural communities (pdf). Search by zip code to find nearby locations providing adult and pediatric vaccines and boosters for COVID-19 and the flu at vaccines.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 $1.5 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.

Date: February 3, 2022

January 2022 Roundup. In addition to an historic level of funding for its rural programs in 2021, the agency’s focus on health equity and meeting the needs of the underserved during the pandemic brought more than $8 billion in grants and other resources to communities across the country and its territories last year. Among several actions taken in January 2022, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) welcomed new leadership, awarded funds to address burnout for the nation’s health care workforce, and continued to distribute Provider Relief Fund payments.

COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Lower in Rural America. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that on January 10, 2022, the overall vaccination rate in nonmetropolitan counties was lower than in metropolitan counties—48 percent in nonmetro areas versus 61 percent in metro areas. The Economic Research Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture compiled the data from the CDC and state health departments and reports substantial regional variations. Nonmetro counties in the Northeast, the northern Midwest, and the West have vaccination rates that are above national nonmetro average; meanwhile, a large proportion of counties in the South and southern Midwest have vaccination rates below the national nonmetro average. 

February 7 is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The federal website HIV.gov has an event planning guide and social media kit for the annual observance meant to increase HIV education, testing, community involvement, and treatment in Black communities. Most recent data show that Black American men and women make up the most-affected population for new HIV diagnoses. While most lived in a metropolitan area during the time of the study, about 6 percent of these new cases were in rural areas where access to care remains a challenge. HRSA’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) continues to focus efforts on key populations that are disproportionately affected, including those in rural areas identified by the federal Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative. Last week, the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors delivered its latest annual report on funding and services delivered by states under RWHAP, including data for viral suppression in rural areas (section 3).

HHS on Trends in Telehealth Use: Disparities in Utilization. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) has released new findings on Medicare telehealth use that includes rural verse urban comparisons. ASPE has also released a companion brief that examines state Medicaid telehealth coverage and policies before and after the pandemic.

Milbank Fund Assesses Primary Care Access. The report assesses the evidence for policy interventions in five dimensions of primary care access. For example, Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics provide appointments more quickly and tend to have a higher and growing percentage of racially and ethnically diverse patients than private physician offices.

Spread the Word About Vaccine Boosters. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services released new resources – posters, flyers, videos, and talking points – to help promote the extra protection from COVID-19 boosters. All vaccinated adults aged 18+ are eligible for a booster. A few weeks ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expanded booster eligibility to include adolescents ages 12 to 17, recommending that they receive a booster shot five months after their initial vaccination. The CDC also released a new resource, based on input from rural health departments and organizations, with 12 strategies to increase vaccine uptake in rural communities (pdf). Search by zip code to find nearby locations providing adult and pediatric vaccines and boosters for COVID-19 and the flu at vaccines.gov.

Ongoing: HRSA Payment Program for RHC Buprenorphine-Trained Providers. In June 2021, the Health Resources and Services Administration (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 $1.5 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.

Date: January 27, 2022

More Provider Relief Funds Being Distributed. This week, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) is making more than $2 billion in Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 General Distribution payments to more than 7,600 providers across the country. These payments come on the heels of nearly $9 billion in funding released in December 2021. With this announcement, HHS has distributed a total of nearly $11 billion in PRF Phase 4 payments to providers in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and five territories.

Health Workforce Fact Sheet – 2021 HRSA Highlights (pdf). Learn more about the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) health workforce efforts to help recruit and retain personnel during the pandemic, promote health equity, and support and build the health workforce, including funding that went to rural residency programs and Teaching Health Centers in rural communities.

Spread the Word About Vaccine Boosters. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) released new resources – posters, flyers, videos, and talking points – to help promote the extra protection from COVID-19 boosters. All vaccinated adults aged 18+ are eligible for a booster. A few weeks ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expanded booster eligibility to include adolescents ages 12 to 17, recommending that they receive a booster shot five months after their initial vaccination. The CDC also released a new resource, based on input from rural health departments and organizations, with 12 strategies to increase vaccine uptake in rural communities (pdf). Search by zip code to find nearby locations providing adult and pediatric vaccines and boosters for COVID-19 and the flu at vaccines.gov.

HHS Reports to Congress on Federal Diabetes Programs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 37 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, and another 88 million have prediabetes. In addition to its health impact – increased risk of stroke, heart attack, blindness, kidney failure, and lower limb amputations – the economic cost was estimated to be $327 billion in 2017. In this report to Congress, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) examined the efficacy of federal diabetes programs, detailing the challenges that remain, particularly in rural areas. 

Alaska Native Elders Assess Government Social Services. Researchers share insights voiced by Alaska Native Elders in the Yukon-Kuskowkwim region and their perceptions of regulations, assistance, and the impact that government programs have had on their culture. 

Prescription Drug Affordability Among Medicare Beneficiaries. The report examines the characteristics of Medicare beneficiaries who had difficulty affording their medications in 2019, including race/ethnicity, gender, family income, presence of certain chronic conditions, and urban vs. rural counties. Overall, women, people with lower incomes, and beneficiaries diagnosed with chronic conditions such as diabetes had higher rates of affordability problems.

Ongoing: HRSA Payment Program for RHC Buprenorphine-Trained Providers. In June 2021, the Health Resources and Services Administration (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 $1.5 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.