March 11, 2024

MRHA Releases 2023 Needs Assessment

The Missouri Rural Health Association (MRHA) recently released the 2023 Needs Assessment.

The assessment brings to light an alarming health crisis. Rural Missourians are overrepresented in every leading cause of death and the number of health providers is insufficient.

The findings reveal rural Missourians face greater mortality rates than their urban counterparts in all 10 leading causes of death. The data highlights a 127% increase in fatal drug overdoses and a 26% increase in suicide compared with their urban counterparts.

View Assessment Here

January 11, 2024

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

In recognition of January as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, telehealth can increase access to cancer care when used along with in person services.

From practical applications to billing, learn the best practices for using telehealth with cancer patients.

Guides:

• Getting started: telehealth and cancer care
• Preparing patients for telehealth cancer care
• Billing for cancer care via telehealth
• Telehealth and cancer treatment

January 9, 2024

Grants 101 Virtual Workshop for Organizations Serving Hispanic/Latino Communities

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will host a Grants 101 Virtual Workshop for organizations serving Hispanic/Latino communities.

Topics at a Glance:

• HRSA programs and funding opportunities
• Federal grants application process
• Where to find funding opportunities
• Tips and strategies for putting together a strong application
• Resources to support their grant-writing efforts

Who should attend:

• Health and Social Services Providers
• CEOs
• Program Directors
• Community Health Workers
• Health Centers
• Public Health Departments
• Hospitals
• Faith and Community-Based Organizations
• Community colleges
• Universities

All workshop sessions will be broadcast in Spanish with live interpretation to English.

For more information, contact Nancy Rios at NRios@hrsa.gov

When:

January 16 – 18, 12:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET

Register Here

January 5, 2024

Upcoming Webinar: Latest CMS Updates and the Most Frequent Findings in Rural Health Care, Tuesday, January 16

CMS Certification is not only necessary for CAHs and RHCs to receive Medicare and Medicaid payments, but also for payment from many private insurers and participation in Federal grants.

Preparation for a CMS survey is critically important for CAHs and RHCs, as adverse CMS survey outcomes can result in termination of your CMS Certification.

Rural hospitals and rural health clinics have unique challenges, such as limited resources.

Set your organization up for a successful survey and join this webinar on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, to hear from a former CMS surveyor about the latest updates affecting rural hospitals and rural health clinics and the most cited CMS CfCs and CoPs.

After attending, participants will be able to:

• Discuss CMS QSO Memos and Notifications affecting rural hospitals
• Most frequent CMS findings in CAHs
• Most frequent CMS findings in RHCs

When: Tuesday, January 16, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. CST

Register Here

December 28, 2023

RQITA Monthly Edition: December 2023

The December issue of RQITA monthly has been released. Each issue includes a wealth of information on the MBQIP Program including:

• Questions from the field
  • Where common questions or challenges are discussed
• Resources and Tools
  • Find the newest resources available to help you navigate the MBQIP program
• Upcoming MBQIP Deadlines & Reporting Reminders
  • Upcoming deadlines are listed here
• Upcoming Events
  • Find upcoming events, trainings and learning events by RQITA

December 28, 2023

Washington University Currently Recruiting Study Participants

Washington University, in St. Louis, is currently recruiting study participants to take part in a 60 – 90-minute interview. Participants will be compensated with a $200 e-gift card upon completing the interview.

Purpose:

• To examine the implementation of evidence-based interventions for increasing engagement in substance use treatment and HIV care for patients in the state of Missouri.
  • This study will provide critical insights into understanding the delivery of medication treatments for opioid use disorders, HIV prevention, and other resources.

Recruiting for the following groups:

• Health Center Staff and Providers (MD, DO, PA, APRN)
  • Must be working at an FQHC, RHC, or facility eligible for HRSA funding
  • Must be working in a rural county of Missouri
• People with lived experience with Opioid Use Disorder
  • Either actively using or not
  • Must be currently living or working in a rural county of Missouri
• Community Advocates
  • Must have work or volunteer experiences as an advocate for those receiving support or treatment for substance use disorder
    • Examples include but are not limited to:
      • Mobile outreach,
      • Harm Reduction,
      • Leading a peer support group,
      • Community organizing
      • Public speaking
• Regional Leaders
  • Must have work or volunteer experience in a leadership capacity seeking to address issues related to substance use disorder within your community
    • Examples include but are not limited to serving in public office, as a faith leader, or as program director/executive director

If interested, please complete the eligibility screener here

*The Institute of Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis and the National Institutes of Health are funding this research study, grant #R21DA057136. If you have any questions about this study, you may contact Phillip Marotta directly at phillip.marottaWwustl.edu or you may contact the Human Research Protection Office at 1 800 438-0445 or hrpo@wustl.edu.

December 11, 2023

Rural Horizons Spotlight is Now Available Online

The latest issue of NRHA’s Rural Horizons, the association’s quarterly magazine, is now available online featuring three new articles on topics including how students choose rural health.

For three rural medical and public health students who recently spoke with NRHA about their career choice, finding their “reason to care” was a huge deciding factor in pursuing small town practice – but they also believe exposure can help more students become interested in rural medicine, and rural living has a lot to offer the younger generation.

Rural Horizons features articles carefully selected to engage and inform everyone working to improve rural health care. You can subscribe by becoming an NRHA member.

Become an NRHA Member

Read NRHA’s Rural Horizons

December 5, 2023

Webinar – Safe by Design: ER Designs to Accommodate Behavior Issues

Emergency rooms serve as a single entry point for a variety of patients into a hospital. From sick children and expecting mothers to victims of violent crime and traumatic incidents, the ER has to accommodate a wide range of needs, and increasingly, this includes behavioral health patients. Intentional design is critical to the overall safety of hospital staff, patients and visitors.

When designing Emergency Rooms for behavioral health patients, preserving security for patients and staff security should be the number one priority. Crucial security considerations during design include:

• The direct linking of the ED to the behavioral health ward
• Controlling access to all spaces, anti-ligature and tamper-proof features
• Limiting or enhancing patient privacy with clear sight lines depending on patient acuity
• Administration of bathroom access
• Designing nurse stations close by the ED holding rooms

These elements and more will be discussed in this lecture by two subject-matter experts:

• Connor Crist
• Megan Vaeth

When: Tuesday, January 23, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. CST

Register Here

October 31, 2023

Optimizing Missouri’s Managed Care Plan Benefits for Maternal & Infant Health

Please join the MO HealthMet Division (MHD) and meet the MHD Managed Care Health Plan Representatives. This is a unique networking opportunity to showcase valuable benefits, incentives, and resources available to perinatal patients and families including individualized Gestational Care Management for eligible patients.

When: November 13, 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Where: Governor’s Office Building, 200 Madison Street, Jefferson City, Conference Room 450

Note – Parking is available at the Governor’s Office Building, across the street. You may use cash, debit or credit:

• $0.50/hr for first 2 hours
• 1:00/hr thereafter
• $6.00 max per day

There are also meters available.

Each attendee should register individually, for this meeting. All registered persons will receive a confirmation email prior to the meeting.

Providers and Community Health Workers (CHWs) are encouraged to join the in-person networking opportunity.

Agenda

Register Here