State of the Healthcare Industry: Market Updates for Rural Strategy

October 17, 2023

State of the Healthcare Industry: Markey Updates for Rural Strategy

The National Organization for State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH), in partnership with Stroudwater Associates, invites you to participate in a series of quarterly market updates for rural healthcare stakeholders to stay current on the changes in the healthcare marketplace in order to strategize responses to ensure vital services for rural communities.

By the end of these sessions, participants will be able to:

  • Understand new regulations and laws that have occurred during the last 90 days
  • Describe the current market dynamics of the healthcare industry
  • Evaluate the effects of these trends on rural providers
  • Apply this understanding to their own organization

Who should attend?

  • Rural hospitals
  • Primary care practices
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Rural philanthropy organizations
  • Policymakers, government agencies and other rural health stakeholders

When:

Monday, October 30, 3:00 p.m. ET

Register Here

Rural Health Clinics Still Have the Opportunity to Apply

October 16, 2023

Rural Health Clinics Still Have the Opportunity to Apply

As announced by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in January 2023, clinicians no longer need a federal waiver to prescribe buprenorphine for treatment of opioid use disorder. Clinicians will still be required to register with the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to prescribe controlled medications. On June 27, the DEA began to require that registration applicants – both new and renewing – affirm they have completed a new, one-time, eight-hour training. Exceptions for the new training requi8rement are practitioners who are board certified in addiction medicine or addiction psychiatry, and those who graduated from a medical, dental, physician assistant, or advanced practice nursing school in the U.S. within five years of June 27, 2023.

Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) still have the opportunity to apply for a $3,000 payment on behalf of EACH provider who trained between January 1, 2019 and December 29, 2022 (when Congress eliminated the waiver requirement). Approximately $889,000 in program funding remains available for RHCs and will be paid on a first-come, first-served basis until the funds are exhausted.

How to Apply

  • RHCs will need a System for Award Management (SAM) account in order to apply
    • For information on how to create a SAM account, visit gov
    • For help on setting up a SAM account, you can watch this helpful video
  • RHCs will also need a HRSA Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) account in order to apply
  • Apply through HRSA EHBs

Watch this 11-minute video that explains the changes.

Please send questions to DATA2000WaiverPayments@hrsa.gov.

Upcoming Webinar – Innovating Rural Health: Technology as a Catalyst for Change – October 18, 2023

October 3, 2023

Upcoming Webinar – Innovating Rural Health: Technology as a Catalyst for Change – October 18, 2023

The Rural Telementoring UnConference 2023 is a FREE, virtual event that will feature an array of brief presentations on rural health and Telementoring, followed by group discussion, idea generation, and collaboration.

Unlike traditional conference, where the agenda is predetermined and there is limited opportunity for interaction and conversation, an UnConference provides structure that facilitates sharing experiences, idea generation, and partnership building in pursuit of shared goals.

The overall intent of this UnConference is to foster new, collaborative teams and networks and generate ideas to improve rural health. If you have any questions, please contact RTTCinfo@uthscsa.edu.

When: Wednesday, October 18, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Register Here

Now Open – National Health Service Corps Students to Service Loan Repayment Apply Now

September 26, 2023

Now Open – National Health Service Corps Students to Service Loan Repayment Apply Now

The 2024 National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Students to Service Loan Application cycle is open through December 7, 2023.

If you are a student in your last year of medical, nursing, or dental school, you may be eligible to receive loan repayment assistance from the NHSC Students to Service Loan Repayment Program (NHSC S2S LRP).

In return, you provide at least three years of service at an NHSC approved site in a designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA).

Benefits of the S2S LRP:

  • Service
    • By joining thousands of NHSC participants across the country, you have an opportunity to provide primary health services to communities in need.
  • Loan Repayment
    • You will receive funds to repay your outstanding, qualifying, educational loans.
      • NHSC loan repayment funds are exempt from federal income and employment taxes.
      • You will receive up to $120,000 in loan repayment funds payable in four annual installments (up to $30,000 per year) as long as you meet program requirements.
      • In return, you agree to provide three years of full-time clinical practice at an NHSC approved site in a HPSA. (Full time clinical practice means at least 40 hours per week, for at least 45 weeks of service each service year.)
  • Complete Repayment of Qualifying Loans
    • Once you complete the initial three-year service contract, you may be eligible to apply for additional loan repayment funds to pay any remaining educational loans through one-year continuation service contracts.
      • There is no guarantee that you will receive a continuation contract.

Application and Program Guidance

Application Process, Requirements and Guidance

Learn More

Start Your Application

 

Funding Opportunity – Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program Applications – HRSA-24-051 – Due by October 10

September 22, 2023

Funding Opportunity – Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program Applications – HRSA-24-051 – Due by October 10

The Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program HRSA-24-051 is an opportunity to apply for continuation awards to support maintenance of filled resident Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) positions that are funded by HRSA under announcement HRSA-20-011 for an additional four years.

The purpose of the THCGME opportunity is to provide funding to support the training of residents in primary care residency training programs in community-based ambulatory patient care centers.

Funding through this opportunity will support maintenance of approved HRSA-funded resident positions for existing HRSATHCGME Program payment recipients only.

Applications seeking support for an expanded number of resident FTE positions and/or establishment of new resident FTE positions will not be considered under this notice.

Awards mad through this notice may be used to support the costs associated with resident FTE training only.

An eligible entity is a current THCGME Program payment recipient that was awarded funding under HRSA-20-011.

Applications are due by October 10, 2023.

Contact HRSA: Kristin Gordon, kgordon@hrsa.gov, (301) 443-0337

Learn More

Apply Here

Hotline Informational Webinar for Community-Based Organizations

September 19, 2023

Hotline Informational Webinar for Community-Based Organizations

Join the National Maternal Mental health Hotline webinar to hear how members of the community can benefit from this 24/7, free confidential service, and what can be expected when community members are referred or connected to the Hotline.

The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides 24/7, free, confidential support before, during, and after pregnancy. The hotline offers callers:

  • Phone or text access to professional counselors
  • Real-time support and information
  • Response within a few minutes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • Resources
  • Referrals to local telehealth providers and support groups
  • Culturally sensitive support
  • Counselors who speak English and Spanish
  • Interpreter services in 60 languages

Register Here

Don’t Miss the National Telehealth Conference

September 8, 2023

Don’t Miss the National Telehealth Conference

The National Telehealth Conference is less than a week away! Join health care professionals, policymakers and industry stakeholders from around the country on September 12 to hear about the latest in telehealth.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is hosting a virtual National Telehealth Conference that brings public and private sector leaders together to discuss telehealth best practices. The conference will examine the importance of integrating telehealth into standard care. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Administrator Carole Johnson and CMS Deputy Administrator Meena Seshamani, along with telehealth experts, are scheduled to attend.

Conference Topics Include:

  • The adoption of telehealth and expansion of broadband connectivity to improve health equity
  • Using tele-behavioral health as a successful model for integrating telehealth into the standard of care
  • Telehealth’s role in supporting the health care workforce and expanding services for patients
  • Implications of health policy to inform telehealth’s future in an evolving health care environment

When: September 12, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. EST

See Agenda and Register

 

Health Professional Students’ Loan Repayment Application Open Now

September 8, 2023

Health Professional Students’ Loan Repayment Application Open Now

Health Professions Students: Pay off school debt through this Federal Loan Repayment Program.

Are you approaching your final year of school and need help paying off your debt? Consider applying for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Students to Service Loan Repayment Program. Medical, Physician assistant, nursing and dental students can get money for school loans in exchange for serving in a community of need.

Receive up to $120,000 in addition to a competitive salary and benefits for three years of full-time service or part-time for six years. This year, there is an additional $40,000 supplement for medical students who commit to providing OB/GYN services in a maternity care target area.

Deadline to apply for this program is December 7, 2023. The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Students to Service Loan Repayment Program is a federal government program administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Learn More and Apply

Register for the National Telehealth Conference – September 12

August 29, 2023

Register for the National Telehealth Conference – September 12

Navigating the latest in telehealth? Attend the National Telehealth Conference on September 12 to hear from public and private sector leaders about the latest telehealth best practices.

HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson and CMS Deputy Administrator Meena Seshamani, along with telehealth experts, are scheduled to attend.

Conference Topics Include:

  • The adoption of telehealth and expansion of broadband connectivity to improve health equity
  • Using tele-behavioral health as a successful model for integrating telehealth into the standard of care
  • Telehealth’s role in supporting the health care workforce and expanding services for patients
  • Implications of health policy to inform telehealth’s future in an evolving health care environment

When: September 12, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Register Today

 

HRSA Needs Rural Reviewers for Grant Applications

August 25, 2023

HRSA Needs Rural Reviewers for Grant Applications

The Health Resources and Services Administration needs rural reviewers for grant applications. If you have expertise in certain subjects, you may be able to evaluate grant applications.

Grant reviewers are chosen based on their knowledge, education, and experience. They are also selected based on specific criteria in the HRSA Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

You can become a reviewer if you work or have experience in health care. If interested, register via the Reviewer Recruitment Module (RRM).

HRSA is looking for people with expertise in one of the following areas:

  • Behavioral health
  • Health workforce training
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Maternal and child health
  • Primary care delivery
  • Rural health
  • Working with or a member of underserved communities

Additional experience:

  • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)
  • Lived experience
  • Health equity
  • Social determinants of health

Note: HRSA is interested in reviewers who have expertise in social, cultural, or health care issues of people in rural areas, migrants, or Native Americans

What to Expect as a Reviewer:

  • Review eligible applications against published evaluation criteria
  • Input your scores and comments into an online portal, the Application Review Module (ARM)
  • Discuss your scores and evaluation with other reviewers on your panel

Compensation:

Non-federal participants are compensated

Questions:

Email RRMTechAssistance@hrsa.gov for assistance

Learn More