RHIhub This Week - April 17, 2024

RHIhub Webinars Obstetric Readiness in Rural Facilities Without Birth Units Join us Tuesday, April 23rd at 2:00 p.m. Central to hear how rural facilities can be obstetric ready and responsive to their patients' needs in the fourth webinar in our Rural Maternal Health Series. Register today! In case you missed it, a recording of our recent webinar Rural Maternal Health Series: Implementing Patient Safety Bundles in Rural Hospitals is now available to view.

Updated RHIhub Topic Guide See All Topic Guides Telehealth and Health Information Technology in Rural Healthcare This recently updated topic guide shares information and resources on telehealth, health information technology (HIT), and broadband in rural areas. Covers how technology can help improve access to healthcare services and the quality of services in rural areas, challenges those providing telehealth services experience, digital literacy, considerations for implementing telehealth programs and updating HIT systems, and more.

Recent News See More Recent News MUSM and GRHIC Expand Major Rural Pediatric Health Care Initiative to Newly Selected Hospitals Apr 17, 2024 -- A rural pediatric partnership is expanding into new areas in rural Georgia. The initiative equips rural hospitals with the tools, best practices, training, and research to offer quality healthcare in rural areas, aiding residents who would otherwise have to travel for specialty care. Initiative offers support for emergency department care, pediatrician and telehealthcare, and behavioral and mental health assessments and interventions. The program also offers scholarships for students who commit to working in rural communities. Source: The Den Native Americans Have Shorter Life Spans, and It's Not Just Due to Lack of Health Care Apr 15, 2024 -- Discusses the social and economic factors contributing to early mortality for Native Americans. Highlights community health workers, food insecurity, generational trauma, and interventions attempting to reduce disparities. Source: CBS News, KFF Health News Manchin, Capito, Miller, Caraveo Introduce the Preserving Emergency Access in Key Sites Act Apr 10, 2024 -- Announces proposed bipartisan legislation modifying regulations for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in mountainous areas. Legislation would allow ambulatory services with enhanced Medicare payments as well as protecting CAH designation when a new facility is constructed within 15 miles. Source: Office of Senator Joe Manchin UK Researchers Create Task Force Aimed at Lowering State's Maternal Mortality Rate Apr 10, 2024 -- Highlights efforts to reduce maternal mortality in Kentucky by identifying contributing factors and implement best practices in those areas through the Kentucky Maternal Morbidity and Mortality (KyMMM) Task Force. Notes that rural residents and other groups have disparate rates of mortality. In addition to this program, the Perinatal Community Health Worker Program has been established to connect pregnant and postpartum people with culturally relevant services. Offers contact information to learn more about the programs or to explore joining the KyMMM Task Force. Source: UK Now Using Medicaid to Address Young People's Mental Health Needs in School Settings Apr 10, 2024 -- Discusses the need for mental health services in schools and how states around the country have used Medicaid reimbursement to fund those services. Notes recent policy changes that have made this possible and highlights challenges that remain in using Medicaid reimbursement, particularly for rural school districts. Source: The Commonwealth Fund Federal Register CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request Apr 16, 2024 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on revisions to an information collection titled "Reform of Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities." The information collected will be used by CMS, state survey agencies, and long-term care (LTC) facilities to ensure compliance with Medicare and Medicaid requirements and quality of care provided to LTC residents. Revisions include new requirements proposed at 42 CFR 483.35 and new section 483.71, which were discussed in the September 6, 2023, proposed rule on page 61391. Comments are due by June 17, 2024. Source: Federal Register CDC: Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee Apr 15, 2024 -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking nominations for the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). HICPAC is charged with advising the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and CDC regarding the practice of infection control and strategies for surveillance, prevention, and control of healthcare-associated infections, antimicrobial resistance, and related events in settings where healthcare is provided. Nominations are due by September 30, 2024. Source: Federal Register HRSA: Notice of Availability of Draft Health Center Program Policy Guidance Regarding Services To Support Transitions in Care for Justice-Involved Individuals Reentering the Community Apr 11, 2024 -- The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) seeks comments on a draft Policy Information Notice (PIN) that proposes program policy guidance for health centers and look-alikes under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act. This draft PIN aims to clarify the circumstances under which health centers may provide certain health services as part of the Health Center Program scope of project to justice-involved individuals who are expected to be or scheduled for release from a carceral setting and re-enter the community within 90 days. Comments are due by June 14, 2024. Source: Federal Register Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs and the Children's Health Insurance Program: Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System, etc. Apr 11, 2024 -- Pre-publication notice of proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding changes to the hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) for operating and capital-related costs of acute care hospitals for fiscal year 2025. Contains details of proposed changes impacting Medicare graduate medical education (GME) for teaching hospitals and 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. Comments are due by June 10, 2024. Source: Federal Register

Funding & Opportunities See More Funding Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program Grants to support and demonstrate innovative partnerships to train school-based mental health services providers for employment in high need schools and local educational agencies. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: May 15, 2024 Sponsors: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), U.S. Department of Education Strong African American Families Program (SAAF) Facilitator Training Training for individuals to become facilitators certified to conduct the Strong African American Families (SAAF) or Strong African American Families – Teen (SAAF-T) programs. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: May 15, 2024 Sponsor: University of Georgia Center for Family Research Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Dissemination and Implementation Research to Advance Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Health Preventive Interventions in School Settings Notice of Special Interest for dissemination and implementation research to support innovative approaches to overcoming barriers to the adoption, adaptation, integration, scale-up, and sustainability of evidence-based interventions to support children's mental, emotional, and behavioral health in school settings. Health disparity populations, including individuals living in rural areas, are a priority. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories Application Deadline: Jun 5, 2024 Sponsors: National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Leveraging Health Information Technology (Health IT) to Address Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Grants for research that examines how health information technology adoption impacts minority health and health disparity populations in access to care, quality of care, patient engagement, and health outcomes. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories Application Deadline: May 7, 2025 Sponsors: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Research to Address Vaccine Uptake and Implementation among Populations Experiencing Health Disparities Notice of Special Interest for research on strategies and interventions to increase vaccine uptake and implementation among populations experiencing health disparities. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories Application Deadline: Jun 6, 2026 Sponsors: National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Hearst Foundations Health Grants Program, capital, and endowment support grants for organization working to address access to healthcare for high-need populations, healthcare professional shortages, evolving healthcare demands, and medical research. Rural populations are a priority. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsor: The Hearst Foundations

New Resources See More Resources Bridging the Sectors: A Compendium of Resources - Partnering to Support Individuals with Complex Medical and Social Needs Provides a list of resources that promotes collaboration across community, human service, and healthcare sectors. Focuses on supporting people with overlapping medical and social needs. Includes resources focused on rural populations. Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association Date: 04/2024 Children of Migrant Workers: Supporting the Invisible Student Report discusses the physical, social, and emotional challenges faced by the children of migrant workers pursuing an education. Highlights a number of stressors migrant students face such as language barriers, missed school, poverty, and other social determinants of health. Provides a number of resources from federal programs ans non-profit organizations. Sponsoring organization: George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health Department of Health Policy and Management Date: 02/2024 Draft Health Center Program Policy Guidance Regarding Services to Support Transitions in Care for Justice-Involved Individuals Reentering the Community Draft Policy Information Notice (PIN) proposing program policy guidance for health centers under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act. Offers clarifications on the circumstances under which health centers may provide certain health services to justice-involved individuals who are expected to be or scheduled to re-enter the community as part of the Health Center Program scope of project. Outlines general and specific criteria, allowable in-scope services, and documentation. Sponsoring organization: Bureau of Primary Health Care Date: 04/2024 Health Subcommittee Hearing: "Legislative Proposals to Support Patient Access to Telehealth Services" Recording of an April 10, 2024, House Energy & Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Health, hearing on legislative proposals that would support patients' access to telehealth services. Discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic-era regulatory flexibilities on telehealth use and access to care. Additional links: Ateev Mehrotra, Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center - Testimony, Hearing Memorandum Sponsoring organization: House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Health Date: 04/2024 LGBTQ+ Health: Rural vs Urban Inequities Provides a summary of recent research on rural versus urban disparities in LGBTQI+ health outcomes. Includes data on chronic conditions, mental health, and social and familial support. Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Research Gateway Date: 03/2024 A New Path Forward: A Progress Report on the Implementation of the Equity Commission's Recommendations - Update 2024 Reports on efforts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to advance equity in accordance with Equity Commission recommendations. Discusses the department's commitment to equitable service delivery, and describes updates to programs affecting farmers and ranchers, farmworkers, tribal communities, nutrition assistance, immigrants, rural development, healthcare access, and more. Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture Date: 02/2024 Rural Health Research Recap: Quality Star Ratings: Hospitals, Skilled Nursing Facilities, and Home Health Agencies Examines the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating system among hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and home health agencies in 2021 and 2022. Features statistics including number of rural hospitals without a star rating with breakdowns by census region, and percentage of hospitals without star rating, with breakdowns by urban or rural location. Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Research Gateway Date: 03/2024 U.S. Hospital List (2023) Excel file providing a comprehensive list of urban and rural U.S. hospitals that were reported open as of January 1, 2023. Includes 4,518 acute care hospitals and 1,422 specialty hospitals. Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program Date: 2024 Urban–Rural Disparities in Deaths of Despair: A County-Level Analysis 2004–2016 in the U.S. Presents a study exploring the rural-urban differences in drug, alcohol, and suicide mortality rates across the country from 2004 to 2016. Breaks down data by demographic factors, such as gender, employment, and health insurance, among other measures. Author(s): Jong Hyung Lee, David C. Wheeler, Emily B. Zimmerman, et al. Location: American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 64(2), 149-156 Date: 02/2023

Open Calls for Contributions See More Open Calls Call for Abstracts: 2024 Annual National Association of Community Health Centers Financial, Operations Management/IT Conference & Expo Deadline: May 6, 2024 National Association of Community Health Centers Event Dates: Oct 28 - 29, 2024 San Francisco, CA Conference Website

Upcoming Events See More Events Apr 23 Rural Maternal Health Series: Obstetric Readiness in Rural Facilities Without Birth Units Virtual Apr 23, 2:00 p.m. Central Rural Health Information Hub Apr 23 Tribal Public Health Learning Community Session: eCR and Data Modernization 101 Virtual Apr 23, 4:00 p.m. Eastern National Indian Health Board Apr 23-24 Trauma in Native Communities In-Person Apr 23 - 24 Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council Great Falls, MT Apr 24 Agricultural Stress, Resiliency, and Mental Wellness: A Nevada Case Study Virtual Apr 24, 2:00 p.m. Central National AgrAbility Project, North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center Apr 26 Resilience in Remote Places: Crisis Response for Rural Youth Virtual Apr 26, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Central Bipartisan Policy Center May 2 Addiction Is a Chronic Disorder: Treat It Like One and Recovery Capital: Assets, Not Abstinence Virtual May 2, 2:00 p.m. Eastern Fletcher Group Rural Center of Excellence (RCOE) May 3 Tribal Listening Session — Preventing RSV in AI/AN Infants and Young Children Virtual May 3, 1:30 p.m. Eastern Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Indian Health Service May 6-7 2024 29th NRHA Health Equity Conference In-Person May 6 - 7 National Rural Health Association New Orleans, LA May 7 2024 Rural Medical Education Conference In-Person May 7 National Rural Health Association New Orleans, LA May 7-8 2024 American Indian/Alaska Native Healthcare Workforce Development Summit Virtual May 7 - 8 Association of American Indian Physicians May 7-10 2024 47th Annual NRHA Rural Health Conference In-Person May 7 - 10 National Rural Health Association New Orleans, LA May 7-10 2024 9th Annual Rural Hospital Innovation Summit In-Person May 7 - 10 National Rural Health Association New Orleans, LA May 8 HRSA Workforce Funding Opportunities for Nursing Students and Nurses Virtual May 8, 2:30 p.m. Eastern Health Resources and Services Administration May 9 Health Network: A Care Coordination Program For Patients Who Move During Treatment Virtual May 9, 12:00 p.m. Central Migrant Clinicians Network May 9 New Medicare Behavioral Health Providers: Incorporating MHCs and MFTs Into Your RHC Virtual May 9, 1:00 p.m. Eastern National Association of Rural Health Clinics May 15 2024 National Tribal Caucus Virtual May 15, 2:00 p.m. Eastern National Indian Health Board May 21 Identifying the Forces Behind Persistent Poverty Virtual May 21, 3:00 p.m. Eastern County Health Rankings & Roadmaps May 21-23 2024 Region B SORH Regional Partnership Meeting In-Person May 21 - 23 National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health Charleston, SC May 23-25 2024 32nd New Mexico Annual Conference and Health Provider Retreat In-Person May 23 - 25 New Mexico Health Resources, Inc., New Mexico Primary Care Association Albuquerque, NM Jun 3-5 2024 Nebraska Rural Health Conference In-Person Jun 3 - 5 Nebraska Hospital Association, Nebraska Rural Health Association Kearney, NE Jun 7-9 2024 National PACE Association Summer Conference In-Person Jun 7 - 9 National PACE Association Grand Rapids, MI Jun 9-13 2024 Annual National Rural Institute on Alcohol, Drugs and Addictions In-Person, Virtual Jun 9 - 13 National Rural Alcohol & Drug Abuse Network, Inc. Menomonie, WI