RHIhub This Week - January 13, 2021
Con Alma Health Foundation: Health Equity and COVID Reliefby Allee Mead First in a four-week series exploring how philanthropic organizations are helping rural communities address the impacts of COVID-19. This week, Dolores E. Roybal, executive director of Con Alma Health Foundation, discusses how her foundation partnered with other funders to provide almost $2 million in grants and created an advisory committee of immigrant-led, immigrant-serving organizations to address barriers limiting access to services. |
COVID-19 Vaccination in Rural AreasThe newest section in the Rural Response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) issue guide provides resources to help communities and healthcare providers ensure access to COVID-19 vaccination in rural areas. |
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Jan 12, 2021 -- Provides overview of study conducted by researchers at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that found the rates of pregnant women diagnosed with opioid use disorder and of babies born with withdrawal symptoms increased from 2010-2017. Identifies rural, white, and Medicaid populations with the highest rates of maternal opioid-related diagnoses and neonatal abstinence syndrome. Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Tribal Elders Are Dying from the Pandemic, Causing a Cultural Crisis for American Indians Jan 12, 2021 -- Covers the toll that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on American Indian and Alaska Natives as tribal elders have been disproportionately killed by the disease. Discusses the impact this has on Native language, history, and tradition, highlights efforts to protect elders as a mission of cultural survival. Source: New York Times HHS Launches Web-Based Locator for COVID-19 Outpatient Treatment Sites for Monoclonal Antibodies Jan 11, 2021 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) maintains a web-based COVID-19 outpatient treatment locator available to assist healthcare providers and patients in finding potential locations for treatment with monoclonal antibody therapeutics. The treatment locator may help reduce the number of people who require hospitalization for COVID-19 care and reduce the strain on hospitals and staff. Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Proposed Revisions for Resuscitation in Hospital and Critical Access Hospital Accreditation Programs Field Review Jan 11, 2021 -- The Joint Commission is proposing new and revised resuscitation requirements for both the hospital and the Critical Access Hospital accreditation programs and is requesting feedback from the public until February 22, 2021. Source: The Joint Commission COVID-19 Vaccinations Are Off to A Slow Start — But Not in Some Rural Areas Jan 8, 2021 -- Highlights rural communities that have taken the initiative to successfully distribute the first phase of COVID-19 vaccinations. Discusses how healthcare is historically difficult to access in rural areas, but some rural communities face fewer logistical hurdles and smaller numbers to vaccinate. Source: NPR In Rural Alaska, COVID-19 Vaccines Hitch a Ride on Planes, Sleds and Water Taxi Jan 8, 2021 -- Highlights efforts by tribal healthcare providers to deliver thousands of COVID-19 vaccines to remote and rural areas of Alaska. Vials have been airlifted to villages via charter plane, others driven on a water taxi, and some of the clinicians giving shots were even shuttled around villages on sleds, pulled behind snow machines. Source: Alaska Public Media PPP Reopens Jan 11 Jan 8, 2021 -- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) re-opens January 11, 2021 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. This round includes $284 billion to help small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic address job retention and other expenses through March 31, 2021. Source: Small Business Administration Why West Virginia's Winning the Race to Get COVID-19 Vaccine into Arms Jan 7, 2021 -- Describes West Virginia's success in delivering the COVID-19 vaccine, putting the state ahead of other states in terms of distribution. Discusses how they are utilizing existing relationships with independent pharmacies to distribute the vaccine in rural and small communities. Source: NPR FCC Seeks Public Input on Administering Round 2 of COVID-19 Telehealth Program Jan 6, 2021 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau is requesting comments on how to administer Round 2 of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program, seeking input on application evaluation metrics, how the Commission should treat applications filed during the initial funding round, and additional program improvements. Round 2 includes an additional $249.95 million to help healthcare providers offer telehealth and connected care services. Comments are due by January 19, 2021. Source: Federal Communications Commission Federal RegisterHRSA: Response to Comments on Revised Geographic Eligibility for Federal Office of Rural Health Policy GrantsJan 12, 2021 -- Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) revising the definition of rural used to determine the eligibility for services funded by FORHP's rural health grants. This notice also responds to comments received on the proposed modifications to the methodology for designating areas eligible for rural health grant programs. These changes are effective for new rural grant opportunities anticipated to start in fiscal year 2022. Source: Federal Register FCC: Wireline Competition Bureau and Office of The Managing Director Set July 31, 2021 Invoicing Deadline for Covid-19 Telehealth Program and Provide Post-Program Guidance Jan 11, 2021 -- Notice from the Federal Communications Commission establishing July 31, 2021 as the invoicing deadline for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program. This notice also provides COVID-19 Telehealth Program awardees with additional information on the post-program report. Source: Federal Register GAO: Request for Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Nominations Jan 8, 2021 -- The Government Accountability Office is accepting nominations for appointment to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) by February 12, 2021. Appointments are effective May 2021. Source: Federal Register |
Funding for patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research that can inform clinical decision-making for a range of conditions, populations, and treatments. Special areas of emphasis for the 2021 cycle include 1) increasing access to maternal care; 2) improving care for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities growing into adulthood; and 3) improving outcomes and mitigating health effects of COVID-19. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Letter of Intent (Required): Feb 2, 2021 Application Deadline: May 4, 2021 Sponsor: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Equity-Focused Policy Research: Building Cross-Cutting Evidence on Supports for Families with Young Children Grants to support action-oriented research that advances health equity, builds the knowledge base, and informs policymaking to support the healthy development of young children. Research should focus on families of color, those living in rural areas, and other groups of families who experience gaps in access to supports and face disparities in outcomes related to health and well-being. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories Letter of Intent (Required): Feb 16, 2021 Application Deadline: May 11, 2021 Sponsor: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program Loan repayment assistance for registered nurses, nurse practitioners, advanced practice nurses, and nursing school faculty who agree to work at a Critical Shortage Facility or an eligible school of nursing. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Feb 25, 2021 Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Grants to support programs that provide assistance for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking who are in need of 6-24 months of transitional housing, short-term housing assistance, and related support services. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Letter of Intent (Optional): Mar 2, 2021 Application Deadline: Mar 2, 2021 Sponsors: Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice Kent Richard Hofmann Foundation Grants Grants to support community-based organizations providing direct services, education, or research in the areas of HIV and AIDS, with priority given to smaller communities and rural areas. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Letter of Intent (Required): Mar 5, 2021 Application Deadline: Apr 1, 2021 Sponsor: The Kent Richard Hofmann Foundation Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations Nutrition Education Grant Funding to provide nutrition education for participants of the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, resulting in healthier food choices and a better understanding of healthy food preparation methods. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Mar 8, 2021 Sponsors: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Food and Nutrition Service P4 Challenge: Innovations in Pediatric Primary Care to Improve Child Health Challenge competition seeking innovative approaches to increase access to and utilization of well-child visits and/or immunizations services within primary care settings. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Mar 15, 2021 Sponsors: Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Research and Evaluation on Violence Against Women Grant to support research and evaluation projects to examine the issue of violence against women, including crimes against elderly women and American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls, and to promote more effective criminal justice responses to the problem. Priority will be given to applications that address challenges in rural communities, that benefit individuals from high-poverty or persistent-poverty counties, and that enhance public safety in economically distressed communities or Opportunity Zones. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories Letter of Intent (Optional): Feb 8, 2021 Application Deadline: Mar 16, 2021 Sponsors: National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant Grants to intermediary organizations to provide technical assistance and training for rural organizations and agencies to identify and plan for community facility needs that exist in their area, and once those needs have been identified, locating public and private resources to finance those identified needs. Priority will be given to applications that address USDA's goal to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with Substance Use Disorder (including opioid misuse) in high-risk rural communities. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Mar 22, 2021 Sponsors: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) Funding to help nonprofit housing and community development intermediary organizations support housing, community facilities, and community and economic development projects in rural areas. Priority will be given to applications that address USDA's goal to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with Substance Use Disorder (including opioid misuse) in high-risk rural communities. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Mar 22, 2021 Sponsors: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development Grants to Tribal Governments to Exercise Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction (SDVCJ) Grant support and technical assistance for Tribes for planning, developing, and implementing changes in Tribal criminal justice systems necessary to exercise Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction (SDVCJ). Collaboration among Tribal entities is strongly encouraged. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Letter of Intent (Optional): Mar 15, 2021 Application Deadline: Mar 26, 2021 Sponsors: Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice Improving Criminal Justice Responses to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Grant Program Grants to encourage state, local, and tribal governments and courts to treat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking through the coordinated involvement of the entire criminal justice system and human service partners. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories Letter of Intent (Optional): Mar 16, 2021 Application Deadline: Mar 29, 2021 Sponsors: Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice Evidence Based Telehealth Network Program (EB THNP) Funding to use telehealth networks to increase access to care in rural and frontier communities using direct-to-consumer (DTC) telehealth technologies and to evaluate those services to establish an evidence base for assessing the effectiveness of DTC telehealth care for patients, providers, and payers. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Apr 2, 2021 Sponsors: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program for Paraprofessionals Grants to develop and expand experiential training opportunities, such as field placements and internships, to increase the supply of students preparing to become peer support specialists and other behavioral health-related paraprofessionals. The program emphasizes relationships with community-based partners to increase access to quality behavioral health services across the lifespan in high need and high demand areas. Special focus is placed on demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the specific concerns for children, adolescents, and transitional-aged youth who are at risk for behavioral health disorders. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Apr 12, 2021 Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Psychostimulant Support (RCORP-PS) Grants to enhance and expand psychostimulant use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery service delivery in high-risk rural communities. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Apr 12, 2021 Sponsors: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |
Provides an overview of common approaches and best practices Medicare Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) utilize to improve healthcare quality, lower healthcare costs, and enhance patient experiences. Describes ACO programs designed to use telehealth to expand access to care and improve efficiency, support high-risk beneficiaries through home visits, and provide timely access to skilled nursing care through Medicare waivers. Discusses lessons learned, options available to ACOs, and possible implementation challenges. Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mathematica Date: 01/2021 Counties by Metro/Micro Area Status: 2019 Map of the United States displaying metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas by county using data from the Office and Management and Budget (OMB). Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau Date: 12/2020 COVID-19 Vaccine Education Effort: Content for Healthcare Providers Video series for healthcare providers that features physicians and nurses addressing the efficacy and safety of the new vaccines. Covers safety, availability, cost, side effects, vaccine administration, patient education, and more. Additional links: Partner Toolkit Sponsoring organizations: Ad Council, COVID Collaborative Date: 12/2020 The Digital Divide in U.S. Mobile Technology and Speeds Report examining the digital divide in access to mobile broadband service for certain populations, including rural areas. Discusses age of mobile and WiFi technology and compiles speed test data to analyze access at the county level. Presents population data based on race, household size, employment, and offers maps of approximate LTE speeds by county. Sponsoring organization: Federal Communications Commission Date: 12/2020 Grantee Directory: Rural Health Care Coordination Program, 2020 Provides contact information and brief overviews of the 10 rural healthcare coordination initiatives funded through the Rural Health Care Coordination Program in the 2020-2023 funding cycle. Each profile includes information on the focus areas to be addressed. Sponsoring organization: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Date: 01/2021 Grantee Directory: Rural Health Network Development Planning Program, 2020 Detailed descriptions of 26 Rural Health Network Development Planning Program grant projects funded in fiscal year 2020. Lists grantees by state and focus area, including topics such as integrated service delivery, telehealth, care coordination, and chronic disease management. Includes grantee profiles describing their programs and network structures, geographic areas served, network partners, and contacts for each network. Sponsoring organization: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Date: 01/2021 Grantee Directory: Rural HIV/AIDS Planning Program, 2020 Detailed descriptions of 7 Rural HIV/AIDS Planning Program grant projects funded in fiscal year 2020. Lists grantees by state and Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic Key Strategies, including topics such as, planning and development of integrated HIV network, stigma, opioid use disorder, data tracking, and telehealth. Includes grantee profiles describing their programs and network structures, geographic areas and populations served, network partners, and contacts for each network. Sponsoring organization: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Date: 01/2021 How to Transform the U.S. Mental Health System: Evidence-based Recommendations Discusses evidence-based strategies to promote mental healthcare utilization, improve access to care, and establish a continuum of care. Offers 15 recommendations to improve mental healthcare, including policies regarding reimbursement, workforce growth, and digital and telehealth services, among other topics. Includes rural references throughout. Additional links: Full Report, Mental Health Systems Solutions Explorer, Research Brief: Transforming Mental Health Care in the United States Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation Date: 01/2021 Impacts of COVID-19 on Rural Mental Health Presentation slides from an American Farm Bureau Federation poll of 2,000 rural adults in December 2020, comparing results to a similar April 2019 poll. Addresses perceived importance of mental health, issues of stigma, impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, barriers to care, and other mental health topics. Tracks response trends between 2019 and 2020, highlighting consistent aspects of the survey and changes in impressions and experiences. Sponsoring organization: American Farm Bureau Federation Date: 12/2020 One in Three Adults Used Telehealth during the First Six Months of the Pandemic, but Unmet Needs for Care Persisted Examines the use of telehealth among nonelderly adults during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Explores overall telehealth utilization, patient satisfaction, wanting telehealth services but not receiving them, the share of patients who went without care, and reasons for not using telehealth. Includes data on race/ethnicity, type of insurance coverage, urban or rural residence, health status, and number of chronic conditions. Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute Date: 01/2021 Opportunities in Medicaid and CHIP to Address Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Describes services and supports that can be covered by Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Programs (CHIP) to address social determinants of health (SDOH). Discusses federal authorities and other opportunities that states can utilize to address SDOH through Medicaid and CHIP, including through Rural Health Clinics (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC). Appendix B highlights examples of services and supports and the corresponding federal authorities that could be used to cover each. Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Date: 01/2021 Perceived Importance of Physical Activity and Walkable Neighborhoods Among US Adults, 2017 Uses nationally representative data to assess adults' self-reported importance of getting regular physical activity and residing in walkable neighborhoods. Includes data breakdowns by sex, age, race/ethnicity, Census region, nonmetropolitan/metropolitan status, and more. Author(s): Susan Carlson, Emily Ussery, Kathleen Watson, Kelly Cornett, Janet Fulton Location: Preventing Chronic Disease, 17 Date: 12/2020 Profiles of Rural Medical Educators: Conversations with our Nation's Experts on Reversing Rural Physician Shortages E-book featuring conversations with 16 prominent educators, offering insights on training and retaining medical doctors in rural communities. Includes perspectives of current and past National Rural Health Association members and national experts on reversing rural physician shortages and ways in which to deal with inadequate funding and resources. Intended for educators, politicians, physicians, administrators, medical students, funders, and rural communities seeking to recruit and retain excellent doctors. Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association Date: 08/2020 Social Media Toolkit: COVID-19 Vaccinations Offers sample social media messages and graphics to help share information on COVID-19 vaccination. Addresses information on the vaccines, benefits of vaccination, vaccine safety, and what to expect after vaccination. Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Date: 01/2021 Status of Human Services and Education Funding under Supplemental COVID-19 Packages Provides an overview of COVID-19 human services and education funding programs and flexibilities. Describes the county's role in the administration of each program, the source and amount of funding, and key administrative flexibilities. Sponsoring organization: National Association of Counties Date: 01/2021 Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder May Reduce Substantiated Cases of Child Abuse and Neglect Highlights a study on the correlation between opioid use disorder (OUD) and child maltreatment. Specifically, the effect buprenorphine treatment for OUD has on rates of maltreatment. Discusses challenges and considerations for rural areas. Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation Date: 01/2021 Vaccine Hesitancy in Rural America Provides information gathered in surveys and focus groups concerning public opinion about COVID-19 vaccination in rural areas. Features statistics on the percentages of people who intend to get the vaccine, who intend to delay vaccination until they see how well it works in other people, and who fear becoming sick with COVID-19, with breakdowns by urban, suburban, and rural locations. Sponsoring organization: Kaiser Family Foundation Date: 01/2021 |
Deadline: Jan 29, 2021 Northwest Regional Primary Care Association Event Dates: May 19, 2021 Conference Website Call for Speakers: 2021 Annual Community Paramedicine Conference Deadline: Feb 1, 2021 Atrium Health Event Dates: Mar 28 - 30, 2021 Cherokee, NC Conference Website Call for Proposals: 2021 46th Annual National Institute for Social Work and Human Services in Rural Areas Conference - VIRTUAL Deadline: Feb 21, 2021 National Rural Social Work Caucus Event Dates: Jul 14 - 16, 2021 Conference Website |
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Tell Us How RHIhub Has Impacted YouThe Rural Health Information Hub is seeking your comments on how our services have helped you in your efforts to improve healthcare and population health in rural communities. Have the RHIhub services helped you to stay informed, get a grant, find the proper federal agency contact or other expert, or otherwise changed your life?Please send an email telling how RHIhub has impacted you to kristine@ruralhealthinfo.org. Your stories may be used in testimony, budget documents and presentations concerning the Rural Health Information Hub. |