Category: HRSA

CMS Resource Documents – Understanding and Using New Payment Codes

March 11, 2024

CMS Resource Documents – Understanding and Using New Payment Codes

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released two new resources to assist providers and stakeholders in understanding and using new payment codes.

Notice of Funding Opportunity RCORP – Impact: HRSA-24-014

March 11, 2024

Notice of Funding Opportunity RCORP – Impact: HRSA-24-014

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently released the Notice of Funding Opportunity for Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Impact (RCORP-Impact) HRSA-24-014.

The purpose of RCORP Impact is to improve access to integrated and coordinated treatment and recovery services for substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD), in rural areas.

Ultimately, RCORP-Impact aims to address the SUD/OUD crisis in rural communities and promote long-term, sustained recovery.

Eligible Applicants:

  • State governments
  • For profit organizations other than small businesses
  • Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  • Special district governments
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • Small business
  • City or township governments
  • County governments
  • All domestic public or private, non-profit, and for-profit entities

Each grantee will receive up to $750,000 per year for a four-year project that meets the following goals:

  • Goal 1: Service Delivery
    • Establish and/or expand coordinated and comprehensive SUD treatment and recovery services
  • Goal 2: Workforce
    • Develop a responsive SUD workforce, which includes both peers and clinical providers with diverse scopes of practice
  • Goal 3: Supportive Services
    • Establish and/or enhance coordination with supportive social services to ensure that rural individuals and families affected by SUD have the greatest opportunity possible for sustained, long-term recovery
  • Goal 4: Sustainability
    • Develop innovative, multi-sectoral approaches to ensure the continued availability of services supported by RCORP-Impact in the target rural service area

Have questions or cannot access the full announcement electronically?

Please contact:

Sarah O’Donnell, HRSA, (301) 443-0298, sodonnell@hrsa.gov

Applications Due: May 6, 2024

Learn More

Apply Here

Funding Opportunity: Advanced Nursing Education – Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (ANE-SANE) Program

February 20, 2024

Funding Opportunity: Advanced Nursing Education – Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (ANE-SANE) Program

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released a new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to increase the number of qualified sexual assault nurse examiners.

The Advanced Nursing Education-Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (ANE-SANE) Program will expand advanced nursing education and training to improve access to sexual assault forensic examination. The ANE-SANE Program aims to provide better access to mental and physical care for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.

The purpose of this program is to increase the supply, distribution and quality of the sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) workforce and aims to provide access to mental and physical care for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.

HRSA will award approximately $14.2 million to up to 28 grantees over a period of three years through this funding opportunity.

Eligible Applicants:

  • Accredited schools of nursing
  • Nursing centers
  • Academic health centers
  • Nurse-managed health clinics
  • Rural health clinics
  • HRSA-supported health clinics
  • Federally Qualified Health Centers
  • Public or non-profit hospitals and emergency health care service providers
  • State and local health departments
  • Non-profit community-based and faith-based
  • Federally recognized Tribal Government and Native American organizations

View Grant Opportunity

Applications are due by April 2, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. ET

Questions? Please contact

Michael Clark, ANE-SANE@hrsa.gov, (301) 594-4203

New COPD Videos available: Getting Started with Pulmonary Rehab in Rural Communities

.February 20, 2024

New COPD Videos available: Getting Started with Pulmonary Rehab in Rural Communities

Two new educational videos now available from the National Rural Health Resource Center highlight the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the country’s rural communities and the steps that critical access hospitals and other small rural hospitals can take to improve access to  much-needed pulmonary rehabilitation services.

The first video, Understanding COPD and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, provides an overview of COPD – its symptoms ad causes – and explains how rural-based pulmonary rehabilitation services help to restore independence and quality of like in COPD patients.

The second video, How to Launch a Pulmonary Rehab Program, highlights the benefits – to hospitals and their community – of operating rural pulmonary rehab programs, and shares practical advice and tips on how critical access hospitals and small rural hospitals can successfully build and sustain their own pulmonary rehab programs. The video includes a look at two critical access hospitals – Sparta Community Hospital in Illinois and Hood Memorial Hospital in Louisiana – that opened pulmonary rehab programs in 2023.

Additional Resources

 

2024 NOSORH Rural Health Grant Writing Institute: Register by Friday, February 16

February 9, 2024

2024 NOSORH Rural Health Grant Writing Institute: Register by Friday, February 16

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) invites you to a unique learning experience where you can enhance your grant writing skills, turn rurality to your advantage, learn to connect with funders and more.

This virtual learning series is tailor-made for beginners aiming to develop the skills needed to research and draft winning program proposals from various funders.

The institute runs March 4 – April 29, 2024. Virtual learning sessions will take place Mondays from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. ET

Curriculum Highlights:

  • Getting Started on Writing a Proposal
  • Developing a Strong Evaluation
  • How to Use Data to Make the Case for Rural
  • Finding Funding and other Resources to Support Your Proposal

Participants will benefit from:

  • Tools, templates and tips to assist in grant writing
  • Opportunities for
  • One-on-one support
  • Peer review
  • Discussion with other new and experience grant writers

Interested persons must register by Friday, February 16.

Cost: $750

Register Here

Request for Information (RFI) on Severe Maternal Morbidity Measurement

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

CMS Request for Information on Medicare Advantage Data – Comment by May 29

February 2, 2024

CMS Request for Information on Medicare Advantage Data – Comment by May 29

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeks feedback on enhancing Medicare Advantage (MA) data capabilities and increase public transparency.

With over half of Medicare beneficiaries and 45% of rural beneficiaries enrolled in MA, transparency about the program has become increasingly important.

CMS is seeking information on common challenges and experiences in the MA program for which limited data are currently available.

  • Feedback may include:
    • Data-related recommendations related to beneficiary access to care
    • Prior authorization and utilization management strategies
    • Cost and utilization of supplemental benefits
    • All aspects of MA marketing and consumer decision making
    • Care quality and outcomes
    • Health equity
    • Market competition
    • Special populations
  • Who Should Comment:
    • Beneficiaries
    • Beneficiary advocates
    • Plans
    • Providers
    • Community-based organizations
    • Researchers
    • Employers
    • Unions
    • Public at large

Click Here to Learn More

Submit a Formal Comment

Open for Comment: Input to CMS on Burden of Information Collection Requirements – Comment by February 26

February 2, 2024

Open for Comment: Input to CMS on Burden of Information Collection Requirements – Comment by February 26

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on the information collection requirements in two key areas for rural stakeholders:

  1. CMS Plan Benefit Package and Formulary 2025
    • Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan organizations are required to submit plan benefit packages for all Medicare beneficiaries residing in their service area
      • Includes information on:
        • Premiums
        • Formularies
        • Cost sharing
        • Prior authorizations
        • Supplemental benefits
    • Allows beneficiaries to access and compare Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug plans
  1. Satisfaction of Nursing Homes, Hospitals, and Outpatient Clinicians Working with the CMS Network of Quality Improvement and Innovation Contractors Program
    • Seeking input on revisions to its data collection requirements for several health care provider-focused quality improvement surveys
      • Changes are to inform CMS on evaluation of technical assistance provided to nursing homes and outpatient clinicians in community settings

Submit Comment Here

HRSA Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program – Apply by March 7

February 2, 2024

HRSA Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program – Apply by March 7

This program provides funds to repay a portion of their outstanding qualifying educational loans.

Eligible Applicants

  • If employed in an eligible public or private Critical Shortage Facility
  • Registered Nurses
  • Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
  • If employed at an eligible school of nursing
  • Nurse Faculty

Have Questions?

Join this two-hour webinar, on Tuesday, February 13, 2:30 for answers and assistance in completing the application.