Rural Spotlight

Notice of Funding Opportunity – Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) Evidence Based Telehealth Network Program (EB-TNP) – HRSA-24-010

January 3, 2024

Notice of Funding Opportunity – Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) Evidence Based Telehealth Network Program (EB-TNP) – HRSA-24-010

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

The goal for the BHI-EB-TNP Program is to support evidence-based projects that utilize telehealth technologies through telehealth networks in rural and underserved areas to:

  • Improve access to integrated behavioral health services in primary care settings
  • Expand and improve the quality of health information available to health care providers by evaluating the effectiveness of integrating telebehavioral health services into primary care settings and establishing an evidence-based model that can assist health care providers.

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.

Eligibility

  • Independent school districts
  • Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • Small businesses
  • City or township governments
  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • Special district governments
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
  • For profit organizations other than small businesses
  • County governments
  • State governments

Additional Eligibility:

  • You can apply if your organization is in:
    • United States
    • Guam
    • Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
    • Northern Mariana Islands
    • American Samoa
    • U.S. Virgin Islands
    • Federated States of Micronesia
    • Republic of the Marshall Islands
    • Republic of Palau, and is:
      • A public or private, non-profit or for-profit entity
      • Domestic faith-based or
      • Community based organization

Applicants can be located in an urban area, but the proposed telehealth network must include at least two originating sites located in rural and underserved areas.

Applications are due March 22, 2024

If you have questions or need additional assistance, please contact Carlos Mena at (301) 443-3198 or email cmena@hrsa.gov.

Apply Now

American Institute of Healthcare Compliance Trainings

January 3, 2024

American Institute of Healthcare Compliance Trainings

The Department of Justice obtained more than $2.2 billion in settlements and judgments from civil cases involving fraud and false claims against the government in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022. As we look to what the future holds in 2024, it is important to get back to the basics when it comes to mitigating risk.

The American Institute of Healthcare Compliance (AIHC) is available to support organizations with free resources, online and live training programs offered at a reasonable cost.

Short Coding & Documentation Compliance Courses for 2024:

Please click on title of course for complete description and registration information

  • Auditing Chiropractic Records for Compliance – 2024 – $75
    • Designed as continuing education for auditors, insurance carrier SIU auditors, compliance officers and employers of Chiropractors
    • Highly recommended for Chiropractic Providers, Office managers, coders, billers and Chiropractic Billing Companies
  • Capturing & Coding Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) for Physicians and Hospitals – $45
    • Introduces the importance of addressing, documenting, and coding Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) within our healthcare system to improve the quality of care and health outcomes in our communities
  • E/M Coding & Documentation 2024 – $75
    • This training is designed for those coding, billing and documenting evaluation and management (E/M) services in a patient’s medical records and highly recommended for Electronic Health Record Vendors, Health Plans and Special Investigation Unit (SIU) Auditors
  • Psychiatric Coding & Documentation Compliance – 2024 – $75
    • Designed for:
      • Coders
      • Outpatient clinical documentation improvement professionals
      • Medical billers
      • Providers
      • Compliance Officers
      • Payers
      • Auditors and Investigators

Webinar – Resources for Planning Rural Training for Doctors – Wednesday, January 17 at 12:00 pm ET

January 2, 2024

Webinar – Resources for Planning Rural Training for Doctors – Wednesday, January 17 at 12:00 pm ET

In this one-hour session, experts will provide background information on Section 126 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 – the federal legislation that creates positions (also known as slots) for physician residencies in underserved areas. The hospitals selected for these federally paid positions are being determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in a five-year process that will distribute 200 new residency slots each year.

This session, hosted by the FORHP-supported program that helps hospitals plan and develop rural residencies will feature representatives from CMS to discuss the application process for Round Three, with a focus on considerations for rural hospitals interested in expanding rural residency training.

Recently, researchers from FORHP’s program released analysis of the 99 hospitals that were awarded slots in Round Two to determine rural location of new physician placements – whether sites were rural as defined by CMS or by FORHP – and the time they are planning to train in these locations. Only three programs were found to be training their residents for 50 percent of the time or greater, in a CMS or FORHP rurally located area.

When: Wednesday, January 17, 12:00 p.m. ET

Register Here

New Pricing Transparency Tool for Hospitals

January 2, 2024

New Pricing Transparency Tool for Hospitals

To empower decision-making for patients, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) made new requirements and provided tools for making standard charges for all items and services available to the public. Beginning January 1, 2024, institutions that are licensed as hospitals will be required to update their websites with a link labeled “Price Transparency” that goes directly to a machine-readable digital file.

CMS provides resources and tools to support these new requirements and provides details on enforcement measures for hospitals that do not comply.

Hospital Pricing Transparency Tool

CMS Resources and Tools

Enforcement Measures

FentAlert: Empowering Youth for Safer Choices – SAMHSA Fentanyl Awareness Youth Challenge

January 2, 2024

FentAlert: Empowering Youth for Safer Choices – SAMHSA Fentanyl Awareness Youth Challenge

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is conducting this challenge under the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science (COMPETES) Reauthorization Act of 2010, as amended [15 U.S.C. § 3719].

In this challenge the best ideas from U.S. youth, aged 14-18, on a community strategy to increase youth awareness, education, and prevention around the dangers of fentanyl, especially the hidden dangers of fake pills and other contaminants that can lead to drug overdose deaths.

These are the facts:

  • Among adolescents aged 10-19, from 2019 – 2021:
    • Monthly drug overdose deaths increased 109%
    • Deaths involving illicitly manufactured fentanyls increased 182%
    • About 90% of these deaths involved opioids and 84% involved illicitly manufactured fentanyls
    • Counterfeit pills present in nearly 25% of these deaths
    • Two-thirds of those who died had one or more potential bystanders present
      • most didn’t provide overdose response
      • many bystanders were in another room or didn’t know that drugs were being used
  • Criminal drug networks are mass-producing fake pills, and falsely marketing them as legitimate prescription pills.
    • Look just like prescription drugs such as:
      • oxycodone (Oxycontin®)
      • Percocet®)
      • hydrocodone (Vicodin®)
      • alprazolam (Xanax®)
      • or stimulants like amphetamines (Adderall®).
  • 7 out of 10 fake prescription pills (seized by the DEA) contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl
  • Xylazine (often known as “tranq”), is a central nervous system depressant and animal tranquillizer that has been showing up in combination with fentanyl and has been involved in a growing number of overdose deaths.

SAMHSA wants to hear ideas, pitched by community, that educates youth in their communities (among friends, at school or within an organization to which they belong) about fentanyl and fake pills, and prevents overdose. Ideas could include any innovative ways to reach youth on this topic like social media posts, vlogs, podcasts, video journals, etc.

View the Challenge Here

How to Participate:

Awards:

  • Top 6 ideas – $5,000 prize
  • $2,000 to up to 25 youth for honorable mention

Submissions accepted December 1, 2023 – February 26, 2024

Mobilizing Health Care Workforce via Telehealth

January 2, 2024

Mobilizing Health Care Workforce via Telehealth

ProviderBridge.org was created through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act by the Federation of State Medical Boards and HRSA’s Office for the Advancement of Telehealth.

The site provides up-to-date information on emergency regulation and licensing by state as well as a provider portal to connect volunteer health care professionals to state agencies and health care entities.

Go to ProviderBridge.org

HHS/DoD National Emergency Tele-Critical Care Network

January 2, 2024

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

Email matthew.t.quinn3.civ@mail.mil to learn more and sign up

New Information for Rural Emergency Hospitals

January 2, 2024

New Information for Rural Emergency Hospitals

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated their fact sheet on the new provider-type designation that allows hospitals at risk of closure to remain in operation with Emergency Department services, observation care and a limited number of outpatient services. CMS recently added details for:

  • Indian Health Service and other tribal-operated hospitals making the change to Rural Emergency Hospital (REH);
  • Changes to monthly payment amounts to REHs and how they’re reported
  • The HRSA supported REH Technical Assistance Center that is helping hospitals meet the requirements for converting to this new provider type.

Click Here to View Fact Sheet

REH More Information

 

Upcoming MBQIP Deadlines and Reporting Reminders

December 28, 2023

Upcoming MBQIP Deadlines and Reporting Reminders

Please see the schedule below for upcoming MBQIP deadlines and reporting:

  • January 3, 2024 – HCAHPS Q3 encounters (7/1/23 – 9/30/23)
    • Submission is through the HQR Secure Portal-Vendor
  • January 31, 2024 – EDTC Q4 2023 encounters (10/1/23 – 12/31/23
  • February 1, 2024 – OP-18 Q3 encounters
    • Submission is through the HQR Secure Portal-Outpatient
  • February 29, 2024 – Safe Use of Opioids – Concurrent Prescribing measure for CY 2023 encounters (1/1/23 – 12/31/23)
    • This measure is not currently being submitted for MBQIP but is available for reporting to CMS

MBQIP Data Submission deadlines can be found in the Technical Assistance & Services Center (TASC) MBQIP Toolkit