RHIhub This Week - August 7, 2024

Updated RHIhub Topic Guides See All Topic Guides Rural Agricultural Health and Safety Our recently updated topic guide provides information and resources on the health and safety and agricultural workers that covers chronic and acute health concerns, mental health issues, and agriculture-related injuries to children. Shares funding and resources to support and develop agricultural health and safety programs for workers.

Exploring Rural Health Podcast See All Episodes Applying AI to Rural Health, with Jordan Berg Check out our latest episode featuring Jordan Berg, Principal Investigator for the National Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center, for a discussion about the many ways AI can be used in rural healthcare.

Recent News See More Recent News In Montana, 911 Calls Reveal Hidden Impact of Heat Waves on Rural Seniors Aug 7, 2024 -- Discusses the impact of heat waves in rural communities with focus on older adults and the strain on emergency services in rural Montana. Reports on rural representation in heat wave research, distance to healthcare and cooling centers, and potential home modification and outreach services. Source: NPR, KFF Health News, Montana Public Radio New Data Show Highest Number of Health Center Patients in Nearly 60 Year History of the Program Aug 5, 2024 -- Highlights the role of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-funded Community Health Centers in providing healthcare access for rural and underserved communities. Discusses the number of people served and services offered since 2020. Source: Health Resources & Services Administration Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Launches Innovative Brain Health Activities Program Aug 2, 2024 -- Describes a new web-based program created by the University of Kentucky's Sanders-Brown Center on Aging to offer accessible activities for individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Notes the struggles faced by many rural caregivers in keeping individuals with dementia engaged with a wide range of activities, which can support brain health. Source: University of Kentucky Small-Town Patients Face Big Hurdles as Rural Hospitals Cut Cancer Care Aug 1, 2024 -- Discusses the challenges with accessing cancer treatment for rural residents in areas without treatment options due to closures of services and facilities. Discusses trends nationally and in Texas. Highlights the burden that long distances to care puts on both the patient and their families, particularly with transportation, childcare, and time off work. Discusses the benefits of the 340B program. Source: CBS News, KFF Health News Bird Flu Cases among Farm Workers May Be Going Undetected, a Study Suggests Jul 31, 2024 -- Describes new research finding H5N1 cases are likely underdiagnosed due to limited testing. Discusses barriers to improved surveillance including systemic issues common to farm workers such as precarious employment, being uninsured, lack of personal protective equipment, and more. Notes potential opportunities for spread and common symptoms. Source: NPR, KFF Health News Federal Register CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request Aug 7, 2024 -- Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the reinstatement with changes of an information collection titled "Hospital Conditions of Participation (CoPs) and Supporting Regulations." Among other things, changes include how the annual burden costs for information collection requirements for hospital Conditions of Participation (CoPs) are calculated and additional information collection requirements associated with a number of new CoPs for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) regarding obstetrical services that are outlined in detail in a July 2024 proposed rule. Comments are due by October 7, 2024. Source: Federal Register CMS: Medicare Program: FY 2025 Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System; Rate Update Aug 7, 2024 -- Notice of final action from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the FY 2025 prospective payment rates, outlier threshold, and wage index for Medicare inpatient hospital services provided by inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPF), including psychiatric hospitals and excluded psychiatric units of an acute care hospital or Critical Access Hospital. Among other things, this action revises the patient-level adjustment factors, the Emergency Department adjustment, and the payment amount for electroconvulsive therapy, and adopts a new quality measure. This final rule does not finalize modifications to reporting requirements under the IPF Quality Reporting Program beginning with the FY 2027 payment determination. This action also summarizes comments received regarding potential future revisions to the IPF PPS facility-level adjustments and regarding the development of a standardized IPF Patient Assessment Instrument. This final action is effective October 1, 2024. Source: Federal Register CMS: Medicare Program; Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System for Federal Fiscal Year 2025 and Updates to the IRF Quality Reporting Program Aug 6, 2024 -- Notice of final action from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the prospective payment rates for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for fiscal year (FY) 2025. This rule includes the classification and weighting factors for the IRF prospective payment system's case-mix groups and a description of the methodologies and data used in computing the prospective payment rates for FY 2025; updates the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) market area delineations for the IRF prospective payment system (PPS) wage index, which applies a 3-year phase-out of the rural adjustments; and updates the IRF Quality Reporting Program. IRF PPS rates are applicable for IRF discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2024, and on or before September 30, 2025. This final action is effective October 1, 2024. Source: Federal Register CMS: Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program and Value-Based Purchasing Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2025 Aug 6, 2024 -- Notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the skilled nursing facility (SNF) prospective payment system (PPS) payment rates for fiscal year 2025. This rule rebases and revises the SNF market basket to reflect a 2022 base year; updates the wage index used under the SNF PPS to reflect data collected during the most recent decennial census; finalizes technical revisions to the code mappings used to classify patients under the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) to improve payment and coding accuracy; and updates the requirements for the SNF Quality Reporting Program and the SNF Value-Based Purchasing Program. Among other things, this rule also includes revisions to strengthen nursing home enforcement regulations. These regulations are effective October 1, 2024. Source: Federal Register Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Programs: Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2025 Rates, etc. Aug 2, 2024 -- Pre-publication notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revising the hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) for operating and capital-related costs of acute care hospitals for fiscal year 2025. This rule also makes changes to Medicare graduate medical education (GME) for teaching hospitals and updates payment policies and the annual payment rates for the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for inpatient hospital services provided by long-term care hospitals. Among other things, this rule also finalizes the proposal of a separate IPPS payment for establishing and maintaining access to essential medicines; finalizes a new mandatory alternative payment model called the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM), which will test whether financial accountability for selected episode categories reduces Medicare expenditures while preserving or enhancing the quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries; and finalizes the proposal requiring respiratory illness reporting for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) as a condition of participation following the expiration of the COVID-19 public health emergency requirements. With three exceptions, this final rule is effective October 1, 2024. Instruction 2 (§ 405.1845) is effective January 1, 2025. Instructions 29 and 31 (§ 482.42(e) and § 485.640(d)) are effective November 1, 2024. Source: Federal Register

Funding & Opportunities See More Funding Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) (S06) Offers grants for new or continued Native American Research Centers for Health, which support research and research training to meet the health needs of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Letter of Intent (Optional): Jul 7, 2024 Application Deadline: Aug 7, 2024 Sponsors: Indian Health Service, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services AIDS United Harm Reduction Futures Fund Provides funding for evidence-based and community-driven approaches to prevent the transmission of both HIV and viral hepatitis; reduce injection-related injuries; increase overdose prevention and reversal efforts; and connect people who use drugs to comprehensive prevention, treatment, and support services. Rural and tribal communities are listed under populations of focus. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories Letter of Intent (Required): Aug 22, 2024 Application Deadline: Oct 24, 2024 Sponsor: AIDS United WIC Community Innovation and Outreach Grants Grants to develop, implement, and evaluate innovative outreach strategies to increase WIC awareness, participation, redemption of benefits, and reduce disparities in program delivery. Projects should focus on marginalized populations with disparities in access to WIC and other maternal and child health resources. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Sep 6, 2024 Sponsors: Food Research & Action Center, Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, Native American Agriculture Fund, UnidosUS Promise Neighborhoods Program A grant program that supports improvement in the educational and developmental outcomes of children and youth in the most distressed communities. Projects should work to ensure school readiness, high school graduation, and access to a community-based continuum of high quality services. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Sep 10, 2024 Sponsor: U.S. Department of Education AAPD Foundation Access to Care Grants Grants to support community-based initiatives that provide dental homes to children who are underserved and/or have limited access to oral healthcare. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories Application Deadline: Sep 23, 2024 Sponsor: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellows A fellowship program designed to develop the capacity of mid-career health professionals and behavioral and social scientists with an interest in health and healthcare policy. Individuals with diverse and unique perspectives are strongly encouraged to apply, and the foundation has an interest in rural. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Nov 3, 2024 Sponsor: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Dental Trade Alliance (DTA) Foundation Pilot Project Grants Funding for innovative projects and research designed to increase access to and utilization of oral healthcare. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories Application Deadline: Nov 30, 2024 Sponsor: Dental Trade Alliance Foundation Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) Notice of Special Interest for research to address the HIV epidemic using innovation to tailor strategies for the barriers and strengths in communities disproportionately impacted by HIV. States with a disproportionate occurrence of new HIV diagnoses in rural areas are a program priority. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories Application Deadline: Jan 10, 2026 Sponsors: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health SBA Certified Development Company (504) Loan Program: Rural Initiative pilot program Provides small businesses with long-term, fixed-rate financing for major fixed assets, such as land and buildings. 504 Loans are potential options for healthcare practitioners who want to build a new office or expand/renovate an existing medical building. The Rural Initiative Pilot Program waives some small business regulations in order to expand capital access to eligible rural areas. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsor: Small Business Administration USDA Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program Direct USDA loans and/or grants to purchase, construct, enlarge, or improve essential community facilities for healthcare, public safety, education, and public services in rural areas. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsors: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program Funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsors: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development Water and Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees A loan guarantee program that helps private lenders provide affordable financing to qualified borrowers to improve access to clean, reliable water and waste disposal systems for households and businesses in rural areas. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsors: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development

New Resources See More Resources The Effect of Proximity to Grocery Stores and the Pandemic on Parents' and Youths' Perceptions of Eating Habits in Predominately African American Rural Communities Surveyed 203 youth and parents to determine the impact of grocery store access on eating habits, health, and exercise habits in 3 African American rural communities. Compares results between parents with and without grocery store access as well as between parents and youth. Discusses the impact of COVID-19 on eating habits and exercise. Author(s): Amanda Williams, Sharlene D. Newman Location: Frontiers in Nutrition, 11 Date: 08/2024 FY 2025 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System (LTCH PPS) Final Rule – CMS-1808-F Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) fiscal year 2025 hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) and long-term care hospital prospective payment system (LTCH PPS) final rule. Includes information about the extension of the low-wage index hospital policy, a separate IPPS payment for small and independent hospitals to establish and maintain a buffer stock of essential medicines, the distribution of graduate medical education (GME) residency slots, updates to quality reporting programs, and more. Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Date: 08/2024 Geographic Variation in Shortfalls of Dementia Specialists in the United States Reports on distribution of dementia specialists to identify potential dementia care shortage areas for the older adult population. Discusses the impact on rural residents. Author(s): Jodi L. Liu, Lawrence Baker, Annie Yu-An Chen, Jue (Jessie) Wang Location: Health Affairs Scholar, 2(7) Date: 07/2024 Health of Women of U3 Populations Data Book 2024 Reports on the health of women in understudied, underrepresented, and underreported (U3) populations. Discusses social determinants of health, mortality, various health conditions, mental health, substance use, violence, and more. Discusses rural throughout including a review of rural data sources in Chapter 3. Sponsoring organization: National Institutes of Health Date: 05/2024 Hunger Doesn't Take a Vacation: Summer Nutrition Status Report Provides information on the use of federal nutrition programs in the summer of 2023, when COVID-19 waivers ended and normal operations resumed. Includes national and state findings, policy opportunities, and information about the the rural non-congregate meal option. Sponsoring organization: Food Research & Action Center Date: 08/2024 Never Underestimate the Power of Community Provides an overview of the Tennessee Department of Health's efforts to improve public health and emergency response strategies for extreme heat days in 2 rural Tennessee counties. Discusses planning, implementation, and cooperation with health professionals and community members. Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials Date: 07/2024 Palliative Care for Patients with Heart Failure and Family Caregivers in Rural Appalachia: A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluates FamPALcare, a telephone coaching intervention for family caregivers who provide palliative care to patients with heart failure (HF) in rural Appalachia. Provides data on patients' HF-related physical health and depression/anxiety, caregivers' caregiving burden and depression/anxiety, and intervention helpfulness at 3 and 6 months. Author(s): Ubolrat Piamjariyakul, Angel Smothers, Kesheng Wang, et al. Location: BMC Palliative Care, 23, 199 Date: 08/2024 Parents of Young Children are Concerned about Access to Food Presents results of a March 2023 survey on material hardship, including food access, among families with young children. Includes data on rural families' access to supermarkets and likelihood of being low income. Sponsoring organization: Stanford Center on Early Childhood Date: 07/2024 Reframing Health Disparities in Rural America: A Communications Toolkit Provides resources and strategies for public health professionals to communicate effectively about rural health disparities with a variety of audiences. Includes sample letters and social media posts that include health equity and and historical context in their messages. Sponsoring organizations: FrameWorks Institute, National Network of Public Health Institutes Date: 07/2024 Sociodemographic Differences in Nonfinancial Access Barriers to Health Care Among Adults: United States, 2022 Examines nonfinancial reasons adults delay medical care, such as work or other time commitments, lack of available appointments, not having access to clinic or provider hours, difficulty finding provider match for insurance, and length of time to get to provider's office. Utilizes 2022 National Health Interview Survey to break down healthcare access barriers according to sex, age, race/ethnicity, family income, education, employment, insurance status, and urbanization level, including large central metropolitan, large fringe metropolitan, medium and small metropolitan, or nonmetropolitan. Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics Date: 08/2024 Suicide in US Preteens Aged 8 to 12 Years, 2001 to 2022 Reports on characteristics and trends in preteen suicides between 2001 and 2022. Discusses trends over time, method, and various demographics. Offers data breakdown by geography including metropolitan and nonmetropolitan residence. Author(s): Donna A. Ruch, Lisa M. Horowitz, Jennifer L. Hughes, et al. Location: JAMA Network Open, 7(7) Date: 07/2024 Veterans Health Care: VA's Video Telehealth Access Program Would Benefit from Performance Goals and Measures Describes programs implemented by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to address veterans' barriers to accessing telehealth, with a focus on the Accessing Telehealth at Local Area Stations (ATLAS) Pilot Program. Examines telehealth performance and use data, veterans' satisfaction with VHA telehealth services, and VHA efforts to assess the quality of its telehealth services. Offers recommendations to the VHA regarding the development and use of performance goals and measures to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the ATLAS program. Additional links: Full Report Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office Date: 08/2024

Open Calls for Contributions See More Open Calls Call for Abstracts: 2024 Symposium on Dis/Ability & Debility in Appalachia Deadline: Aug 23, 2024 University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences Event Dates: Sep 28, 2024 Lexington, KY Conference Website Call for Presentations: 2025 National Council for Behavioral Health NATCON Conference Deadline: Sep 16, 2024 National Council for Mental Wellbeing Event Dates: May 5 - 7, 2025 Philadelphia, PA Conference Website

Upcoming Events See More Events Aug 7 Challenges for Agricultural Producers and Workers - How to Assist Those on the Front Line Virtual Aug 7, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern Network of the National Library of Medicine Aug 12 CMS Listening Sessions on Rural and Tribal Medicare Health Equity Services for Providers Serving Rural, Tribal, and Geographically Isolated Areas Virtual Aug 12, 3:30 p.m. Eastern Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Aug 14 When Disasters Hit Home: How Local Journalism Can Build Resilient Communities During Emergencies Virtual Aug 14, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship Aug 15 CMS Listening Sessions on Rural and Tribal Medicare Health Equity Services for National Organizations Virtual Aug 15, 10:30 a.m. Eastern Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Aug 21 Combating Heat and Cold Stress for Forestry Workers Virtual Aug 21, 12:00 p.m. Central AgriSafe Network Aug 27 Overview of the Office of Rural Engagement Program Virtual Aug 27, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (CFBNP) Aug 28 Overcoming Barriers and Understanding the Psychological Impact of Livestock Euthanasia: A Study on Spanish-Speaking Swine Caretakers' Pig Euthanasia Practices on U.S. Farms Virtual Aug 28, 12:00 p.m. Central AgriSafe Network Sep 4 Farm Stress Voucher Programs: A Three-State Overview Virtual Sep 4, 2:00 p.m. Central National AgrAbility Project Sep-Oct 29-2 2024 NTCA Fall Conference In-Person Sep 29 - Oct 2 NTCA: The Rural Broadband Association Indianapolis, IN Sep-Oct 30-1 2024 Annual Appalachian Translational Research Network (ATRN) Summit In-Person Sep 30 - Oct 1 Appalachian Translational Research Network Abingdon, VA Oct 1 2024 Pennsylvania Rural Human Trafficking Summit In-Person Oct 1 Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health State College, PA Oct 1-2 2024 Annual California State Rural Health Association Conference In-Person Oct 1 - 2 California State Rural Health Association Folsom, CA Oct 2 AgriStress Response Network - Mental Health Innovations Exchange Virtual Oct 2, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Central AgriSafe Network Oct 2 Michigan Point of Service Collections Training - Upper Peninsula In-Person Oct 2 Michigan Center for Rural Health Escanaba, MI Oct 2-4 2024 41st Annual Oregon Rural Health Conference In-Person Oct 2 - 4 Oregon Office of Rural Health Bend, OR Oct 2-4 2024 Annual Colorado Rural Health Conference In-Person Oct 2 - 4 Colorado Rural Health Center Broomfield, CO Oct 2-4 2024 Annual Oklahoma Rural Health Conference In-Person Oct 2 - 4 Rural Health Association of Oklahoma Tulsa, OK Oct 4 2024 Georgia Faith in Rural Health Summit In-Person Oct 4 Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center, Mercer University School of Medicine and School of Theology Macon, GA Oct 4 2024 Kansas Rural Maternal Health Symposium In-Person Oct 4 Kansas Center for Rural Health Salina, KS