Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Announcements – April 14

April 14, 2022
7:25 pm

April 14, 2022

What’s New

Preview New Opportunity for Delta Workforce Training Program. Next Thursday, April 21, join the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy for a preview of a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that will be released soon. The Delta Region Rural Health Workforce Training Program will train future and current health professionals in critical administrative support professions, preparing them for high-quality jobs in the rural counties and parishes of the federal Delta Regional Authority. Jobs supported by this funding include medical coding and billing, insurance claims processing, health information management, clinical documentation, business operations for healthcare organizations, and supply chain and materials management. The hour-long call will take place on Zoom at 2:00 pm ET. The program coordinator will highlight key changes to the NOFO that make it easier for interested applicants to apply.

Rural Playbook for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The new legislation promises billions of dollars for high-speed internet, improvements to roads and bridges, clean drinking water, and modernized wastewater systems. The playbook is intended to help communities understand the available funding set aside for rural areas and how to apply for these federal dollars.

Successful Federal Efforts to Address SDOH. Social determinants of health (SDOH) include factors such as housing, food and nutrition, transportation, social mobility, and environmental conditions as having significant impact on health outcomes. In this series of policy briefs, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services describes the Department’s strategic approach to SDOH and provides successful examples of current federal programs.

The Persistence of Poverty in Rural America. The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) is a national nonprofit focused on improving conditions in the poorest rural places. In this policy brief, HAC identifies 377 persistent poverty counties in the United States – those classified by the Census Bureau as having poverty rates of 20 percent or more for three consecutive decades. Approximately 81 percent of these counties are outside of metropolitan areas.

Earth Day Brings Federal Focus to Climate Change. Over three days next week, the newly formed federal Office of Climate Change and Health Equity will host experts speaking about the impact that climate change has on health and well-being. Each hour-long event will take place at noon on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, April 19-21. See the link to learn details about speakers and the topics that will be covered, and contact [email protected] with questions.

Ongoing: HRSA Payment Program for RHC Buprenorphine-Trained Providers. In June 2021, HRSA launched an effort to improve access to substance use disorder treatment by paying for providers who are waivered to prescribe buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder. Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) still have the opportunity to apply for a $3,000 payment on behalf of each provider who trained to obtain the waiver necessary to prescribe buprenorphine after January 1, 2019. Approximately $1.2 million in program funding remains available for RHCs and will be paid on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. Send questions to [email protected]. There is ongoing availability of a free online course for waiver eligibility training from the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine and the Providers Clinical Support System.

COVID-19 Resources

Provider Relief Fund. HRSA supports health care providers facing solvency challenges that affect their ability to respond to emerging health crises in an equitable manner. New: HRSA recently announced an opportunity for providers to submit a Request to Report Late Due to Extenuating Circumstances for Reporting Period 1. All requests must be submitted by Friday, April 22 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

One Stop Online for COVID Prevention and Treatment in Every County. Visitors to the site can enter their county and map nearby locations for masks, respirators, vaccines, boosters, and all testing and treatment options.

Spread the Word About Vaccine Boosters. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) provides resources – posters, flyers, videos, and talking points – to help promote the extra protection from COVID-19 boosters.

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.

Mobilizing Health Care Workforce via Telehealth. ProviderBridge.org was created by the Federation of State Medical Boards through the CARES Act and the FORHP-supported Licensure Portability Grant Program. 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.

Online Resource for Licensure of Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Psychologists and Social Workers. The site provides up-to-date information on emergency regulation and licensing in each state.

Rural Health Clinic Vaccine Distribution (RHCVD) Program. Under the program, Medicare-certified RHCs will receive direct COVID-19 vaccines in addition to their normal jurisdictions’ weekly allocation. Contact [email protected] for more information. Webinar recordings explaining RHC vaccine programs are available on the National Association of Rural Health Clinics website.

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Resources for COVID-19. A set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) from our grantees and stakeholders.

Reaching Farm Communities for Vaccine Confidence. The AgriSafe Network is a nonprofit organization that provides information and training on injury and disease related to agriculture. Their health professionals and educators created a social media toolkit that aims to provide clear messages about COVID-19 vaccination for agriculture, forestry, and fishing workers.

Funding and Opportunities

DOJ Violence Against Women Grants to Tribal Governments – May 19. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) expects to make 60 awards of up to $1 million each to assist tribal governments in responding to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking.

DOT Public Transportation on Indian Reservations – May 25. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) support planning, capital, and operating assistance for tribal public transit services in rural areas. An estimated 60 awards of up to $25,000 each will go to federally recognized tribes, groups, or communities. Applicants must be located and provide service in a rural area with a population of less than 50,000. A service area can include some portions of urban areas as long as rural areas are also served.

SAMHSA Building Communities of Recovery – June 3. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimates 13 awards, each up to $300,000 per year to connect community-based resources for long-term recovery for people with substance use disorders (SUD). Special consideration will be given to applicants serving rural and/or under-resourced communities greatly impacted by SUD.

Delta Regional Authority States Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP) – June 5. Public and nonprofit entities within the eight states served by the federal Delta Regional Authority may apply for grants supporting job creation and infrastructure at the community level. Information on the calculation of the allocation by state is available in the program manual. The 2022 manual is still being updated. Potential applicants have been advised to consult the 2021 manual until the new one is posted.

CDC Expansion of Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Across the U.S. – June 6. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will make six awards, each up to $1 million per year for a five year suicide prevention project. Priority populations include rural, tribal, veterans, and other disproportionately affected groups. Successful applicants will convene multi-sector partners to implement the CDC’s comprehensive suicide prevention strategies.

Rural Health Research

Research in this section is provided by the HRSA/FORHP-supported Rural Health Research Gateway. Sign up to receive alerts when new publications become available.

Predictors of Hospital Choice Among Rural Patients Seeking Elective Surgery: A Scoping Review. Hospital choice for surgery affects both patient outcomes and hospital viability; a greater understanding of rural patients’ surgical care-seeking behavior could enhance rural health and rural hospital financial stability. Conducted by the North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, this brief identifies literature describing determinants of hospital choice among rural patients seeking elective surgery.

Policy Updates

Visit the FORHP Policy page to see all recent updates and send questions to [email protected].

Comment Requested: Updates to Medicare Policies and Rates for Skilled Nursing Facilities – June 10. A new proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) would update prospective payment rates for skilled nursing facilities (SNF) for fiscal year 2023. To maintain the accuracy, increase the predictability and mitigate instability and significant negative impacts to providers resulting from any future changes to the wage index, CMS is proposing to apply a permanent five percent cap on any decrease to a provider’s wage index from its wage index in the prior year, regardless of the circumstances causing the decline. CMS also proposes requirements for the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program and Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing, including a proposal to adopt influenza vaccination coverage among health care personnel. This proposed rule also requests information from the public on revising the requirements for long-term care facilities to establish mandatory minimum staffing levels.

Learning Events and Technical Assistance

Applying to Become a National Health Service Corps Site: Q&A Session 1 – Thursday, April 14 at 2:00pm ET. Facilities that provide outpatient, ambulatory, and primary health care services in high-need areas may apply through May 10 to become an approved site of the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). Eligible site types include facilities providing substance use disorder treatment, and facilities with prior NHSC status that is currently inactive. During this two-hour Q&A session, HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce will answer questions from applicants. A second Q&A session will take place on Wednesday, April 27.

Assistance for Nurse Corps Scholarship Applicants – Thursday, April 14 at 3:00 pm ET. HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce supports eligible nursing students with tuition, fees, and other educational costs in return for a minimum of two years’ service at a critical shortage facility in rural and underserved areas. Program experts will answer questions about what goes into a successful application during this 90-minute webinar.

Long COVID ECHO Webinar Series – Thursday, April 14 at 3:00 pm ET. The Health Centers of San Diego, the ECHO Institute, University of Washington, and University of Colorado have collaborated to provide CDC-funded monthly webinar-style ECHO learning sessions to rapidly disseminate findings and best practices related to patients experiencing ongoing health challenges after COVID-19 infection, a condition generally known as “Long COVID.” This is a monthly webinar series with sessions currently scheduled from February through June. Project ECHO began as an effort to support the management of patients with the hepatitis C virus in rural New Mexico, and has since been adapted to a number of other health conditions and settings.

CMS April Public Webinars on Rural Health Quality – Thursday, April 21 at 12:00 pm ET. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is hosting an upcoming webinar: “Rural Health Quality: How CMS Initiatives Improve How We Measure and Address Gaps in Care.” This presentation will highlight the unique challenges surrounding quality measurement in rural settings, and how CMS is working to address these issues to ensure equitable care is provided to all Americans regardless of where they reside. CMS requests registration in advance, as space will be limited. If you have questions on how measurement can support rural health quality that you would like addressed during the presentation, please contact [email protected].

Preview the New Delta Workforce Training Program – Thursday, April 21 at 2:00 pm ET. Join the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy for a preview of a funding opportunity that will be released soon. The Delta Region Rural Health Workforce Training Program will train future and current health professionals in critical administrative support professions, such as medical coding and billing, insurance claims processing, and health information management – to prepare them for high-quality jobs in the rural counties and parishes of the federal Delta Regional Authority. During the hour-long call, the program coordinator will highlight key changes to the NOFO that make it easier for interested applicants to apply.

HRSA Tribal Workforce Listening Session – Thursday, April 21 at 2:00 pm ET. HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce seeks insight from the public on how to improve retention of physicians serving tribal communities after completing training. Participants will provide expertise on physician workforce issues impacting health care in Indian County and discuss what types of medical fellowships would benefit tribal health systems in the delivery of health care to American Indian and Alaska Natives.

National Telehealth Conference – May 16 & 17. Register now to join HRSA for the inaugural event. Experts and leaders in the field will examine the evolution of telehealth, discuss its place in an integrated health care delivery model, and review the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic to inform the future of telehealth.

National Rural Substance Use Disorder Health Equity and Stigma Summit – May 18-20. Registration is open. The event will focus on the challenges that are brought on by substance use disorder (SUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD) and equip rural providers, community-based organizations, and other recovery champions with actionable strategies and information on how to successfully address barriers to those seeking SUD/OUD care. This event is supported by the University of Rochester RCOE, one of three FORHP-funded RCORP-Rural Centers of Excellence on Substance Use Disorders.

Resource of the Week

Sliding Fee Scale Guide for CAHs and RHCs. In this guide, the HRSA-supported National Rural Health Resource Center presents an overview of how to develop a Sliding Fee Scale Discount Program for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). It also provides information on how sliding fee scale discount programs relate to Internal Revenue Code Section 501(r) compliance and participation in the National Health Service Corps.