Rural Spotlight

HHS/DoD National Emergency Tele-Critical Care Network

October 26, 2023

HHS/DoD National Emergency Tele-Critical Care Network

A joint program of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is available at no cost to hospitals caring for COVID-19 patients. Teams of critical care clinicians – critical care physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other specialized clinical experts – are available to deliver virtual care through telemedicine platforms, such as an app on a mobile device. Hear from participating clinicians, and email to learn more and sign up.

Mental Health Resources for Rural Residents

October 24, 2023

Mental Health Resources for Rural Residents

A large part of caring for one’s physical health and well-being is mental health. Access to mental health care in rural areas can be a challenge, though.

The rural lifestyle is very different from the way people live in more urban areas. The pace of life in less densely populated areas is slower and more solitary, and these areas have been particularly impacted by the declining agricultural industry and often face financial hardship. Factors such as these are directly correlated with an increased risk of suicide in rural communities.

Over 6 million rural individuals struggle with mental illness or other psychiatric disorders, and it can be difficult to find and receive treatment for these conditions in rural areas. Oftentimes, people who live in these areas have minimal or no insurance coverage for mental illness. They may also have fewer options for mental health care providers or have to travel long distances to see one.

The Missouri Office of Rural Health is dedicated to informing rural communities about and emphasizing the importance of mental health, while also providing information on mental health resources across the state. Taking care of your mental health is part of caring for your overall health. Conditions such as depression or anxiety are legitimate illnesses, like diabetes or arthritis.

Rural residents can visit online resources like LiveAnotherDay for help with locating mental health resources and providers across the state of Missouri. Please visit the resources linked below for more information related to rural mental health in Missouri and nationwide.

Missouri Mental Health Resources

Nationwide Mental Health Resources

Don’t Miss The Celebration – 2023 Missouri Rural Health Day

October 24, 2023

Don’t Miss The Celebration – 2023 Missouri Rural Health Day

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Office of Rural Health and Primary Care is honored to host the 3rd Annual Missouri Rural Health Day Celebration.

Join us to interact with others and engage on rural health topics impacting Missourians.

November 16, 2023

8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Governor’s Office Building

200 Madison Street, Jefferson City, MO

Please Register by November 7, 2023

                                         

Improving Access to Rural Healthcare – Vizient Shares Feedback

October 23, 2023

Improving Access to Rural Healthcare – Vizient Shares Feedback

Vizient, a National Rural Health Association (NRHA) Platinum Partner, has responded to the House and Ways Means Committee’s Request for Information (RFI) on enhancing rural healthcare. They highlighted the challenges rural health providers face and suggested policy changes to improve care delivery, financing, reimbursement, and the healthcare workforce. Vizient emphasized the importance of supporting the financial viability of rural healthcare providers, avoiding damaging payment policies, protecting key healthcare programs, and investing in the healthcare workforce. They also suggested using their Vizient Vulnerability Index™ to understand social determinants of health in rural areas.

Read Full Story

Patient and Provider Featured Telehealth Resources

October 17, 2023

Patient and Provider Featured Telehealth Resources

Want to learn more about telehealth? Need resources to guide your organization towards telehealth? Telehealth.HHS.gov shares trusted telehealth resources for patients and providers.

Resources for Providers Include:

  • Getting started with telehealth
    • How to evaluate telehealth vendors and begin offering care through telemedicine
  • Planning your telehealth workflow
    • How to set up and manage a workflow for virtual visits
  • Health equity in telehealth
    • How health care providers can improve access to telehealth for all populations
  • Preparing patients for telehealth
    • From scheduling to privacy, learn how to prepare your patients for virtual appointments to ensure their comfort and high quality care
  • Telehealth policy
    • Telehealth policy resources for health care providers and organizations
  • Billing for telehealth
    • Reimbursements for telehealth continue to evolve. Find resources on billing and reimbursement for Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers
  • Licensure
    • Telehealth licensure requirements vary at the federal, state, and cross-state levels for health care providers
  • Legal considerations
    • Read about the legal considerations for providing care through telehealth, including information on privacy and security, informed consent, and liability and malpractice
  • Best practice guides
    • Learn how to incorporate telehealth into your practice. Get resources and tips focused on different specialties and delivery models including telebehavioral health, telehealth for direct-to-consumer care, and telehealth for emergency departments.

Resources for Patients Include:

Prescribing Controlled Medications via Telehealth

October 17, 2023

Prescribing Controlled Medications via Telehealth

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), jointly with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has extended the full set of telemedicine flexibilities regarding the prescribing of controlled medications as were in place during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), through December 31, 2024.

Authorized providers are able to prescribe controlled substances via telehealth if they meet certain criteria.

Telemedicine flexibilities regarding prescription of controlled medications as were in place during the COVID-19 public health emergency include:

  • A practitioner can prescribe a controlled substance to a patient using telemedicine, even if the patient isn’t at a hospital or clinic registered with the DEA.
  • Qualifying practitioners can prescribe buprenorphine to new and existing patients with opioid use disorder based on a telephone evaluation.

For more information, see:

Prescribing Controlled Substances via Telehealth

Second Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications – from the Federal Register

Interstate licensure resources for health care providers, states, and health care organizations

Telehealth Policy Updates

Free Training: Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in Primary Care

October 17, 2023

Free Training: Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in Primary Care

Nine modules on topics that include pregnancy care for patients with substance use disorder and the increasing rates of Hepatitis C are provided by the University of Rochester Recovery Center of Excellence, one of three FORHP-supported Rural Centers of Excellence on Substance Use Disorders.

These educational modules are available at no cost and carry continuing education credits.

To register, please click on the module title, in the list below:

 

COPD in Rural Communities: A Learn More Breathe Better® Webinar

October 17, 2023

COPD in Rural Communities: A Learn More Breathe Better® Webinar

Ahead of National COPD Awareness Month in November, HRSA’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy will join the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Learn More Breathe Better® program and guest speakers to discuss this chronic lung disease and its impact in rural areas.

In this webinar, the Learn More Breathe Better® program will highlight resources you can use during National COPD Awareness Month in November and beyond. Guest presenters will speak about the impact of COPD on rural populations and how their programs address this disparity.

Guest speakers include:

  • Kristen Dillon, MD, FAAFP, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP)
  • Sally T. Buck, MS, FACHE, National Rural Health Resource Center (NRHRC)
  • Hilary Payne, MPH, Appalachian Pulmonary Health Project

For educational resources, visit Learn More Breathe Better’s National COPD Awareness Month page.

Register to learn about efforts to address health disparities and improve the lives of those with COPD in rural communities.

When: Wednesday, October 18, 2:00 p.m. ET

Register Here

If you have any questions about the webinar or registration, please email Greta Gorman at greta.gorman@nih.gov.

Funding Opportunity – Healthy Start Initiative: Eliminating Disparities in Perinatal Health – HRSA-24-033

October 17, 2023

Funding Opportunity – Healthy Start Initiative: Eliminating Disparities in Perinatal Health – HRSA-24-033

This notice announces the opportunity to apply for funding under the Healthy Start Initiative: Eliminating Disparities in Perinatal Health (Healthy Start or HS) Program. The purpose of HS is to improve health outcomes before, during, and after pregnancy and reduce the well-documented racial/ethnic differences in rates of infant death and adverse perinatal outcomes. HS is intended to support projects in communities and populations experiencing the greatest disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes.

HS has two focus areas:

1) providing direct and enabling services (for example, screening and referrals, case management and care coordination, health and parenting education, and linkage to clinical care) to enrolled HS participants; and

2) convening Community Consortia (formerly known as Community Action Networks or “CANs”) comprised of diverse, multi-sector partners to advise and inform HS activities as well as to develop and implement plans to improve perinatal outcomes within the selected project area.

HS continues to have an increased emphasis on addressing social determinants of health, such as:

  • access to adequate food
  • housing and
  • transportation

to improve disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes.

Based on stakeholder feedback, this FY 2024 HS competition also provides recipients with increased flexibility to tailor interventions to the unique needs of their community and/or target population.

The goals of HS are to:

1) Continue reducing infant mortality rates in the United States, and

2) Decrease disparities in infant mortality and poor perinatal health outcomes in  areas where those rates are high.

You can apply if your organization is in the United States and is:

  • Public or private Community-based Tribal (governments, organizations)

Additional Notes:

  • If you are a recipient of the Healthy Start Initiative – Enhanced (HRSA-23-130) (HSE) you are still eligible to apply for this grant if you are proposing a new project area, that is, an area not currently served by your or an existing HSE award. HSE grant project areas have been settled and it is not HRSA’s intent to alter or reset existing HSE project areas. Therefore, if you propose to serve a project area that fully overlaps with your own award or another HSE award, your application will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered.
  • Please see Appendix H for a list of Healthy Start Initiative – Enhanced project areas.

Still have questions? Please contact Mia Morrison: MCHBHealthyStart@HRSA.gov

Applications due by December 15, 2023

View Grant Opportunity

Apply Here