HRSA Updates HPSA Designations

January 12, 2024

HRSA Updates HPSA Designations

The Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA’s) Bureau of Health Workforce has released the current list of Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) – which can be geographic areas, populations or facilities – that have a shortage of primary, dental, or mental health care providers.

The designations are used to determine eligibility for federal programs that support the health workforce, such as the National Health Service Corps, as well as safety net programs such as HRSA’s Health Centers and CMS’s Rural Health Clinics.

For more details on the information used to determine HPSAs, visit the HRSA Data Warehouse.

Click Here to see complete list of HPSA Designations

Health Workforce Shortage Areas

Medicare Interoperability Deadlines and New Requirements for Hospitals

January 12, 2024

Medicare Interoperability Deadlines and New Requirements for Hospitals

Eligible hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) participating in the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program have until February 29 to complete a self-assessment in the safe use of electronic health records (HER) for the reporting period ending December 31, 2023.

The Safety Assurance Factors for EHR Resilience (SAFER) Guides are recommended practices for hospitals to reduce patient safety risk related to EHRs. For this reporting requirement, participants can attest yes or no to whether they have completed their self-assessment.

New for 2024, eligible hospitals and CAHs will be required to attest ‘yes’ to the self-assessment.

Contact Information

2024 Provider Compensation Survey

January 12, 2024

2024 Provider Compensation Survey

Stroudwater has partnered with the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) and the National Organization for State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) for the Second Annual Rural Provider Compensation Survey to analyze rural provider compensation.

Last year’s results illustrated the enormous variability in provider pay across rural organizations and the pressing need for rural healthcare to align its provider pay to the organization’s goals.

This year’s survey will continue to build on the data uncovered by last year’s results. Your participation and input are crucial for this survey and will help rural healthcare organizations make more informed decisions surrounding provider compensation.

Please Note:

  • The survey will close at midnight EST on February 26th
  • The survey should take less than 30 minutes to complete
  • If needed, you can save your progress and resume the survey before it closes.

The survey is completely anonymous, your input is appreciated!

Click Here to Take Survey

Request for Additions to CY2025 Medicare Telehealth Services List

January 11, 2024

Request for Additions to CY2025 Medicare Telehealth Services List

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is accepting Calendar Year (CY) 2025 requests for the Medicare Telehealth Services List.

Submissions for the current cycle are due by February 10 and should include supporting documentation.

Each request for adding a service to the list of Medicare telehealth services must address the items outlined below:

  • Contact information of the requestor
    • Name
    • Title
    • Organization
    • Email address
    • Phone number
      • Co-signers should include the same
      • Collaborative submissions are encouraged
  • The HCPCS code(s) that describes the service(s) proposed for addition or deletion to the list of Medicare telehealth services
  • A description of the type(s) of medical professional(s) providing the telehealth service at the distant site.
  • A detailed discussion of the reasons the proposed service should be added to the definition of Medicare telehealth
  • An explanation as to why the requested service cannot be billed under the current scope of telehealth services
    • For example, the reason why the HCPCS codes currently on the list of Medicare telehealth services would not be appropriate for billing the service requested
  • Evidence that supports adding the service(s) to the list on either a permanent or provisional basis as explained in the section labeled “CMS Review Criteria”.

Requests are due to the CMS Telehealth Review Process mailbox no later than February 10, to be considered for the current cycle of annual notice and comment rulemaking.

Find out More and submit a Request

Technical Assistance Webinar, January 17 – Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) Evidence Based Telehealth Network Program (EB-TNP)

January 11, 2024

Technical Assistance Webinar, January 17 – Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) Evidence Based Telehealth Network Program (EB-TNP)

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released a new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to integrate behavioral health services into primary care settings using telehealth technology (HRSA-24-010).

The purpose of this program is to integrate behavioral health services into primary care settings using telehealth technology through telehealth networks and evaluate the effectiveness of such integration.

The goal for the BHI is to support evidence-based projects that utilize telehealth technologies through telehealth networks in rural and underserved areas. Applicants are encouraged to propose novel ways to achieve equity in access to affordable, high-quality, culturally and linguistically appropriate telebehavioral care for rural and underserved patients across the U.S.

HRSA will award approximately $8.75 million to up to 25 grantees over a period of five years.

Join the technical assistance webinar on January 17 at 3:30 p.m. EST to learn about this funding opportunity.

View Grant Opportunity

2024 CityMatCH Leadership & MCH Epidemiology Conference Now Calling for Abstract, Workshop & Symposia Submissions

January 9, 2024

2024 CityMatCH Leadership & MCH Epidemiology Conference Now Calling for Abstract, Workshop & Symposia Submissions

Conference submissions are now LIVE!

Would you like to share your work with fellow maternal and child health professionals? Would you like to teach a new skill to other MCH leaders?

Join the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for the 2024 CityMatCH Leadership & MCH Epidemiology Conference and Reach New Heights by Strengthening MCH Across Generations.

If you would like to present your work to peers in the field, HRSA is accepting submissions for abstracts, workshops, symposia, and facilitated discussions via the online submission system between now and March 4, 2024.

Submissions that are welcome and encouraged:

  • Parent and child health topics, including but not limited to:
    • Data use
    • Equity
    • Policy & advocacy
    • Intersectionality
    • Ongoing MCH issues
    • Community based doula and birth workers

Who should submit a presentation:

  • Professionals from local health departments
  • Health systems
  • Academic institutions
  • Community members
  • Community-based organizations
  • Students

See More about CityMatCH

See More about 2024 CityMatCH Leadership & MCH Epidemiology Conference

Click here for descriptions of each type of submission, timeline for submissions, and sample topics.

If you have any questions please contact citymatchconference@unmc.edu

Technical Assistance Webinar Today, January 9 – Primary Care Training and Enhancement: Physician Assistant Rural Training in Behavioral Health (PCTE-PARB) HRSA-24-019

January 9, 2024

Technical Assistance Webinar Today, January 9 – Primary Care Training and Enhancement: Physician Assistant Rural Training in Behavioral Health (PCTE-PARB) HRSA-24-019

The Primary Care Training and Enhancement: Physician Assistant Rural Training in Behavioral Health – HRSA-24-019 aims to address the need to train primary care physician assistants to prevent, identify, diagnose, treat and refer services for behavioral health conditions.

Eligible Applicants:

  • Only an academically affiliated physician assistant training program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) may apply
  • To be eligible, your organization must be in:
  • The United State
  • The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
  • The Northern Mariana Islands
  • American Samoa
  • Guam
  • The U.S. Virgin Islands
  • The Federated States of Micronesia
  • The Republic of the Marshall Islands
  • The Republic of Palau

Applicants must meet the following program objectives:

  • A three-month minimum integrated behavioral health clinical rotation(s) in a rural primary car setting(s).
  • Develop program curriculum to address behavioral health and substance use disorders.
  • Establish strategic partnerships that support primary care behavioral health integration in rural areas.

Application deadline is March 15, 2024

View grant opportunity

When: Today, January 9 at 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. ET

Join the Webinar

HRSA Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals – Apply by January 31

:January 5, 2024

HRSA Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals – Apply by January 31

Applications are being accepted to receive two years of technical assistance through this Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) supported program for rural hospitals struggling to maintain health care services. The Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals Program (TTAP) offers comprehensive technical assistance to rural hospitals to address financial and operational challenges and assist rural communities with maintaining essential health services.

Selected hospitals are supported through a systematic and evidence-based process for identifying, prioritizing and implementing short-term, mid-range and long-term strategies for positioning their organizations for financial sustainability.

During their tenure in the program, hospitals receive comprehensive technical assistance in:

  • financial and operational assessment,
  • financial sustainability planning,
  • strategy implementation,
  • monitoring and evaluation.

Application Process:

  • applications accepted on a rolling basis until the program is at capacity
  • applicants not selected may be considered for future cohorts
  • cohorts of 4-6 hospitals enrolled annually
  • each cohort will participate in the program for a 2-year period with an additional year of follow-up

Technical assistance for this project is provided by the Center for Public Health Practice and Research at the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University and will begin March 2024.

Learn More

Apply Now

State of the Healthcare Industry: Markey Updates for Rural Strategy

January 5, 2024

State of the Healthcare Industry: Markey Updates for Rural Strategy

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH), in partnership with Stroudwater Associates is conducting a series of quarterly market updates for rural healthcare stakeholders to stay current on the changes in the healthcare marketplace and 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:

  • State Offices of Rural Health
  • Rural Hospitals
  • Primary care practices
  • Non-profit organization
  • Rural philanthropy organizations
  • Policymakers
  • Government agencies
  • Other rural health stakeholders

When:

  • January 18, 2024, 3 pm ET

Register Here

New Funding Opportunity – State Maternal Health Innovation – HRSA-24-047

January 3, 2024

New Funding Opportunity – State Maternal Health Innovation – HRSA-24-047

The Health Resources and Services Administration announces the opportunity to apply for funding under the State Maternal Health Innovation (State MIH) program.

The purpose of the State MIH program is to reduce maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity (SMM) 3 by:

  • Improving access to care that is comprehensive, high-quality, appropriate, and on-going throughout the preconception, prenatal, labor and deliver and postpartum periods,
  • Enhancing maternal health surveillance and data capacity, and
  • Identifying and implementing innovative interventions to improve outcomes for populations disproportionately impacted by maternal mortality and SMM.

The program objectives to be accomplished during the period of performance to support programs goals are:

  • By September 29, 2025 (Project Year 1), each recipient will develop a draft 5-year Maternal Health Strategic Plan (MHSP) to improve maternal health
  • By September 29, 2025 (Year 1), award recipients will identify core measures to assess and report on program activities, including innovations, throughout the period of performance
  • By September 29, 2026 (Year 2), each recipient and their established MHTF will submit a final MHSP
  • By September 29, 2029 (Year 5), each recipient will increase the number of community members from populations with the highest rates of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity that participate on the state’s Maternal Health Task Force and in the implementation of the MHSP activities
  • Recipients will release a public Maternal Health Annual Report each year of the period of performance about maternal health topics relevant to the state
  • By September 29, 2029 (Year 5), identify and share the innovations with potential for replication, scale-up, and sustainability to improve maternal health

Eligibility

  • Non-profits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • Special district governments
  • City or township governments
  • County governments
  • Small businesses
  • Independent school districts
  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments
  • For profit organizations other than small businesses
  • State governments

Additional Information on Eligibility:

  • You can apply if your organization is in the United States and is:
    • Public or private
    • Non-profit Community-based Tribal (governments, organizations)

For questions, please contact Sarah Meyerholz at (301) 443-1702 or email wellwomancare@hrsa.gov

View Grant Opportunity

Apply Now