RHIhub This Week - April 24, 2024

New in the Rural Monitor More from the Rural Monitor "Economic Development is Population Health": A New Vision for Rural Hospital Leadership by Brendan Stermer A growing number of rural hospital leaders are beginning to view their infrastructure, purchasing, and investment strategies as crucial extensions of their efforts to improve community health — and, in the long term, bolster their bottom line.

Recent News See More Recent News Doctors Are Taking on Dental Duties in Low-Income Areas Apr 23, 2024 -- Discusses an increase in dental deserts, particularly in rural communities due to workforce shortages and limited Medicaid reimbursements for dental care. Highlights a trend in Federally Qualified Health Centers to integrate dental care into primary care. Source: The Week Rural Jails Turn to Community Health Workers To Help the Newly Released Succeed Apr 22, 2024 -- Describes the role community health workers play in re-entry for recently incarcerated rural Utah residents. Discusses the role of addiction in incarceration and how the program is funded. Source: KFF Health News, CBS News Miles for Milk: How Student-Run Grocery Store Reshaped Rural Community's Food Access Apr 18, 2024 -- Highlights a program in a rural Nebraska school addressing access to food in the community. A partnership between the school and the village offers a non-profit grocery store that is run by the students and managed by the business teacher. Source: News Channel Nebraska Federal Register Public Inspection: CMS: Medicaid Program: Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services Apr 23, 2024 -- Pre-publication notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implementing improvements to increase transparency and accountability, standardize data and monitoring, and create opportunities for States to promote active beneficiary engagement in their Medicaid programs, with the goal of improving access to care. These regulations are effective 60 days after the publication of this notice, which is scheduled for May 10, 2024. Source: Federal Register Public Inspection: CMS: Medicaid Program: Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program Managed Care Access, Finance, and Quality Apr 23, 2024 -- Pre-publication notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) advancing CMS' efforts to improve access to care, quality and health outcomes, and better address health equity issues for Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) managed care enrollees. This rule specifically addresses standards for timely access to care and States' monitoring and enforcement efforts, reduces burden for some State directed payments and certain quality reporting requirements, adds new standards that will apply when States use in lieu of services and settings (ILOSs) to promote effective utilization and specify the scope and nature of ILOS, specifies medical loss ratio (MLR) requirements, and establishes a quality rating system for Medicaid and CHIP managed care plans. These regulations are effective July 9, 2024. Source: Federal Register Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting Apr 23, 2024 -- Pre-publication notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) establishing minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities. This rule also requires states to report the percentage of Medicaid payments for certain Medicaid-covered institutional services that are spent on compensation for direct care workers and support staff. These regulations are effective on June 21, 2024, except for § 483.71, § 483.35(b)(1) and (c)(1), § 483.35(b)(1)(i) and (ii), and §§ 438.72(a) and 442.43 as indicated. Source: Federal Register HRSA: 340B Drug Pricing Program; Administrative Dispute Resolution Regulation Apr 19, 2024 -- Notice of final rule from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) revising the 340B Administrative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process to address policy and operational challenges to the implementation of the December 14, 2020, final rule. Among other things, revisions intend to make 340B ADR process more accessible, administratively feasible, and timely, and require that the 340B ADR Panel members have specific knowledge of the authorizing statute and the operational processes of the 340B Program. This rule is effective June 18, 2024. Source: Federal Register

Funding & Opportunities See More Funding Grain Bin Rescue Equipment and Training Contest Awards for rural emergency first responders that include grain rescue tubes and hands-on rescue training. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Apr 30, 2024 Sponsors: KC Supply Company, National Education Center for Agricultural Safety, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company Fiscal Year 2024 Behavioral Health Service Expansion Funding to support health centers to increase access to behavioral health services through starting or expanding mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) services. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: May 22, 2024 Sponsors: Bureau of Primary Health Care, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services The PATIENTS Professors Academy A 5-week online training program that prepares participants to learn about patient-centered practices within their work and communities. It is an opportunity to interact with and learn from a diverse population about how to engage communities in research. A focus is on populations most impacted by health inequity. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Jun 2, 2024 Sponsor: University of Maryland School of Pharmacy Rural Community Innovations: Transportation Planning Grant Funding for rural communities to develop a transportation plan that addresses accessibility and equity. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Jun 7, 2024 Sponsor: National Aging and Disability Transportation Center Addiction Technology Transfer Centers Cooperative Agreements Grants to develop and strengthen the specialized behavioral healthcare and primary healthcare workforce that provides substance use disorder treatment and recovery support services. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Jun 10, 2024 Sponsor: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Formula Program Grants for tribal communities to improve services for victims of crime. Funding may support a comprehensive range of activities including needs assessment, strategic planning, program development, implementation, and other activities needed to address the needs of a wide variety of crime victims in tribal communities. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Jun 14, 2024 Sponsors: Office for Victims of Crime, U.S. Department of Justice Firehouse Subs First Responder Grants Grants for life-saving equipment, prevention education, and disaster relief for first responders and public safety organizations. The Foundation recognizes the needs of rural and volunteer departments throughout the country and will consider their applications despite not being within 60 miles of a Firehouse Subs restaurant. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsor: Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Vet Center Scholarship Program Scholarships for specific behavioral/mental health professional students. Recipients agree to a 6 year service obligation at a Vet Center Readjustment Counseling Service site. Applicants from rural, tribal, and other underserved communities are encouraged. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsor: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Affairs Health Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP) Scholarships for health professions students in disciplines for which recruitment or retention is difficult, as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. A minimum service obligation of 2 years is required. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsor: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Affairs Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program (SELRP) Loan repayment assistance for recent graduates of an accredited medical or osteopathic school that are currently enrolled or matched to a residency specialty identified as a shortage by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. A minimum service obligation of 24 months is required. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsor: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

New Resources See More Resources The 2022 Biennial Report to Congress on the Effectiveness of the Grant Funders Under the Violence Against Women Act Report to the U.S. Congress highlighting the effectiveness of grants funded by the Office of Violence Against Women between 2019 and 2021. Includes discussion of rural specific challenges, highlights rural specific programs, and offers data on programs funded through the Rural Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Assistance Program. Includes rural data throughout. Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Justice Date: 2023 2024 FORHP Preview Webinar Recording of an April 3, 2024, webinar providing an overview of the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) and its priorities for 2024. HIghlights resources and anticipated funding opportunities to support rural hospitals, address substance use, advance rural community health, and address rural health workforce. Sponsoring organization: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Date: 04/2024 A-Z: All You Need to Know About Making Your RHC a PA Clinical Rotation Site Recording of an April 19, 2024, webinar providing an overview of Physician Assistant (PA) training programs, including medical curriculum and clinical rotations. Describes the experiences of Idaho State University PA rural health track and a Rural Health Clinic's perspective as a PA clinical training site. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series. Additional links: Presentation Slides Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics Date: 04/2024 Creating a Sustainable Future for Value-Based Care: A Playbook of Voluntary Best Practices for VBC Payment Arrangements Describes themes that emerged from workgroup meetings regarding the implementation of value-based care (VBC) models, with a focus on total cost of care arrangements. Outlines voluntary best practices and domains within VBC payment arrangements for health plans, facilities, clinicians, and VBC entities to consider during the design, implementation, and evaluation of VBC participation. Includes rural information and considerations throughout. Sponsoring organizations: AHIP, American Medical Association, National Association of ACOs Date: 04/2024 Effectiveness of Implementing Evidence-Based Approaches to Promote Physical Activity in a Midwestern Micropolitan Area Using a Quasi-Experimental Hybrid Type I Study Design Evaluates the effectiveness of a physical activity intervention implemented in a micropolitan Iowa community over 24 months in 142 residents. Describes the community-based participatory research intervention design. Includes discussion of implementing urban-tested approaches in rural settings. Author(s): Barbara Baquero, Nicole Novak, Daniel K. Sewell, et al. Location: BMC Public Health, 24, 1082 Date: 04/2024 Evaluating a Web-Based Training Curriculum for Disseminating Best Practices for the Care of Newborns with Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome in a Rural Hospital, the NOWS-NM Program Evaluates the NOWS-NM program, a web-based training program for care of newborns with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) in rural New Mexico hospitals. Describes results of interviews with 16 providers on their experiences with NOWS and attitudes toward local NOWS treatment. Discusses stigma reduction and knowledge of non-pharmacologic NOWS treatment. Author(s): Heather Pratt-Chavez, Heidi Rishel Brakey, Sarah G. Sanders, et al. Location: BMC Pediatrics, 24, 258 Date: 04/2024 Evaluation of Respondent-Driven Sampling in Seven Studies of People Who Use Drugs from Rural Populations: Findings from the Rural Opioid Initiative Examines the efficacy of respondent-driven sampling (RDS) to recruit people who use drugs (PWUD) in rural populations. Analyzes 7 Rural Opioid Initiative studies that occurred between 2018-2020 and performs statistical analyses to observe RDS-generated validity in population-level prevalence estimates. Author(s): Abby E. Rudolph, Robin M. Nance, Georgiy Bobashev, et al. Location: BMC Medical Research Methodology, 24, 94 Date: 04/2024 Identifying Our Needs: A Survey of Elders Cycle VIII (2020-2023) - 2024 Final Report Report highlights data collected from a survey of American Indian and Alaska Native elders regarding their health and wellness. Explores reported rates of healthcare access, substance use, social support, housing, healthcare screening, and more. Additional links: Infographic: Caregiving and Socialization Among Native Elders, Infographic: Frailty and Physical Functioning Among Native Elders, Infographic: Native Elders in the United States, Infographic: Nutrition Among Native Elders Sponsoring organization: National Resource Center on Native American Aging Date: 2024 Indian Health Service Health Equity Report Reports on efforts to advance health equity in the Indian Health Service (IHS). Discusses strategies and funding supporting access to facilities and services, quality of care, cultural appropriateness, wellness and disease prevention, and more. Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service Date: 04/2024 Medicare Accountable Care Organizations: Past Performance and Future Directions Summarizes research findings about Medicare accountable care organizations (ACOs) from recent peer-reviewed journals, official evaluations of Medicare ACOs, and research organization reports. Describes characteristics of certain ACOs associated with greater savings and factors that limit ACOs' ability to achieve net budgetary savings for the Medicare program. Identifies policy approaches that could increase savings for Medicare through ACOs and the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Includes a brief discussion of challenges facing ACOs in rural and underserved areas. Sponsoring organization: Congressional Budget Office Date: 04/2024 Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting Final Rule (CMS 3442-F) Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule for minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities. Details three core staffing proposals: 1) minimum nurse staffing standards; 2) a requirement to have an RN onsite 24 hours a day, seven days a week; and 3) enhanced facility assessment requirements. Outlines a staggered implementation approach, including a later implementation date for rural facilities, and hardship exemption qualification requirements. Also describes Medicaid payment transparency reporting provisions for nursing and intermediate care facilities related to the percentage of Medicaid funds spent on compensation to direct care workers and support staff. Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Date: 04/2024 Meeting Essential Health Services And Reimagining Obstetrics In A Rural Community Case study profiling Kittitas Valley Healthcare (KVH) in rural Washington. Describes how KVH implemented a new staffing model to maintain essential obstetrics and gynecological care. Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association Date: 04/2024 NADO Resilience Workshop Planning Guide Discusses planning, coordination, and implementation of natural disaster and economic resilience workshops by Regional Development Organizations (RDOs) and Economic Development Districts (EDDs). Includes a case study on infrastructure development and climate resilience in predominantly rural areas of North Carolina. Sponsoring organization: National Association of Development Organizations Date: 03/2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention Report highlights the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) 10-year government-wide suicide prevention strategy. Features a 15-goal plan covering community-based suicide prevention; treatment and crisis services; surveillance, quality improvement, and research; and health equity in suicide prevention. Discusses rural populations and the barriers to suicide prevention in rural areas. Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Date: 04/2024 Non-Urgent Use of Emergency Departments by Rural and Urban Adults Examines differences in non-urgent use of emergency departments (EDs) in rural versus urban adults as well as factors associated with non-urgent ED use. Utilizes 2014-2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data to show percentage of adults who utilized ED services, with data broken down by age, mental and physical health status, income, health insurance and primary care access status, and rural versus urban location. Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center Date: 04/2024 The Paradox of High Greenness and Poor Health in Rural Central Appalachia Examines the environmental, socioeconomic, and psychological/behavioral factors that result in poor health in rural central Appalachia despite the availability of green areas. Includes discussion about the factors that attenuate or overwhelm potential health benefits of greenness for Appalachian citizens. Author(s): Jiaying Dong, Matthew H E M Browning, Aaron Reuben, et al. Location: Environmental Research, 248, 118400 Date: 05/2024 Quality in Motion: Acting on the CMS National Quality Strategy Provides an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 2022 National Quality Strategy (NQS). Describes actions CMS has taken to meet the eight NQS goals across four priority areas: outcomes and alignment, equity and engagement, safety and resiliency, and interoperability and scientific achievement. Includes rural references throughout. Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Date: 04/2024 Service and Resource Sharing Approaches – Focus on the Public Health Workforce A recorded webinar that discusses how public health departments can maximize efficiency through service and resource sharing. Focuses on workforce challenges such as capacity, the healthcare pipeline, recruitment, and retention; diversity, equity, and inclusion training; public trust; and more. Includes examples from rural public health systems. Transcript available in tool bar. Sponsoring organization: Public Health Accreditation Board Date: 04/2024 Ten Things to Know About Consolidation in Health Care Provider Markets Discusses consolidation in healthcare provider markets, including different types of consolidation, trends, benefits and harms for patients and other consumers, key research findings, policy options for increasing competition, and more. Highlights impacts on rural and underserved communities throughout. Sponsoring organization: KFF Date: 04/2024 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Indian Health Service Memorandum of Understanding - Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2023 Annual report details the accomplishments of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Indian Health Service (IHS) via their memorandum of understanding. Highlights the ways the VA and IHS have worked together to deliver healthcare to American Indian and Alaska Native veterans and discusses future collaborations. Sponsoring organizations: Indian Health Service, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Date: 04/2024 With Current Staffing Levels, About 1 in 5 Nursing Facilities Would Meet Fully-Implemented Minimum Staffing Standards in the Final Rule Describes a proposed federal standard for nursing home nurse staffing levels and analyzes current nursing home staffing levels, noting the percentage of facilities that will meet the proposed staffing level requirements when fully implemented. Sponsoring organization: KFF Date: 04/2024

Open Calls for Contributions See More Open Calls Call for Abstracts: 2024 10th Annual Northeast Regional Telehealth Conference Deadline: Apr 30, 2024 Northeast Telehealth Resource Center Event Dates: Sep 16 - 18, 2024 Nashua, NH Conference Website Call for Proposals: 2025 VCOM National Rural Medicine Conference Deadline: Aug 31, 2024 Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) Event Dates: Mar 7 - 9, 2025 Nashville, TN Conference Website

Upcoming Events See More Events Apr 24 HRSA Virtual Job Fair Virtual Apr 24, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Eastern Health Resources and Services Administration Apr 30 Hacking America's Health Care: Assessing the Change Healthcare Cyber Attack and What's Next Virtual Apr 30, 10:00 a.m. Eastern Senate Committee on Finance Apr-May 30-1 Veterans Rural Health Advisory Committee Meeting Virtual Apr 30 - May 1 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs May 2 Using the Project ECHO Model to Provide Diabetes Education and Resources to CHWs Working within Migrant and Immigrant Communities Virtual May 2, 12:00 p.m. Central Migrant Clinicians Network May 8 Just Play it Cool: Community Health Center Resources to Address Heat and Climate Change - Heat and Chronic Conditions Virtual May 8, 2:00 p.m. Central Migrant Clinicians Network, National Association of Community Health Centers May 9 Syphilis and Native Populations Virtual May 9, 12:00 p.m. Central Midwest AIDS Education and Training Center May 9 The State of AA and NH/PI Health at Community Health Centers: Part 1 - An Analysis of the 2022 Uniform Data System Virtual May 9, 2:00 p.m. Pacific Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations May 14 Maternal Mental Health Among AAPI Communities Virtual May 14, 12:00 p.m. Pacific Health Resources and Services Administration, HRSA Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs - Regions 9 & 10 May 14 Using a Total Worker Health/Total Farmer Health Approach to Assessing Ag Worker Wellbeing Virtual May 14, 12:00 p.m. Central AgriSafe Network May 15-16 National Advisory Council on Migrant Health (NACMH) Meeting Virtual May 15 - 16 May 21 The State of AA and NH/PI Health at Community Health Centers: Part 2 - Community Voices Bringing UDS Data to Life Virtual May 21, 12:00 p.m. Pacific Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations Jun 7 The Indigenous HIV/AIDS Syndemic Strategy: Weaving Together the National HIV, STI, and Viral Hepatitis Plans Virtual Jun 7, 12:00 p.m. Eastern National Alliance for HIV Education and Workforce Development Jun 10-12 2024 Northwest Tribal Public Health Emergency Preparedness Training & Conference In-Person Jun 10 - 12 Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, Oregon Health Authority, Washington State Department of Health Grand Ronde, OR Jun 11-12 2024 26th Annual Indiana Rural Health Conference In-Person Jun 11 - 12 Indiana Rural Health Association French Lick, IN Jun 11-12 2024 4th Annual Critical Access Hospital Conference: Region A - Northeast Virtual Jun 11 - 12 Stroudwater Associates Jun 11-13 2024 Louisiana Rural Health Workshop In-Person Jun 11 - 13 Louisiana Rural Health Association, Well-Ahead Louisiana Baton Rouge, LA Jun 12 2024 Michigan Rural Health Clinic Practice Management Workshop In-Person Jun 12 Michigan Center for Rural Health Mount Pleasant, MI Jun 12 It Takes a Village to Raise the Value of Health Care Close to Home Virtual Jun 12 National Rural Health Resource Center Jun 12 Just Play it Cool: Community Health Center Resources to Address Heat and Climate Change - Heat and Mental Health Virtual Jun 12, 2:00 p.m. Central Migrant Clinicians Network, National Association of Community Health Centers Jun 12 Tribal Environmental Health Webinar Series: Health Equity in Environmental Health Virtual Jun 12, 3:00 p.m. Eastern Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Indian Health Board Jun 12 Xylazine Trends and Public Health Implications for Rural Communities Virtual Jun 12, 12:00 p.m. Eastern University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction Jun 12-13 2024 4th Annual Critical Access Hospital Conference: Region D - Mountain Virtual Jun 12 - 13 Stroudwater Associates Jun 12-13 2024 Montana Frontier Healthcare Conference In-Person Jun 12 - 13 HIMSS Montana Chapter, Montana Health Network Billings, MT Jun 12-13 Forum on Rural Population Health & Health Equity Virtual Jun 12 - 13 Oregon Office of Rural Health Jun 13-14 2024 4th Annual Critical Access Hospital Conference: Region B - Southeast Virtual Jun 13 - 14 Stroudwater Associates Jun 13-14 2024 9th Annual Rural Women's Health Symposium In-Person Jun 13 - 14 Arizona Rural Women's Health Network Flagstaff, AZ