RHIhub This Week - July 24, 2024

New in the Rural Monitor More from the Rural Monitor Rural Community Health Worker Programs: Proving Value and Finding Sustainability by Kay Miller Temple, MD For decades, community health workers (CHWs) provided their services outside usual healthcare reimbursement models. In recent years, with research supporting CHWs as professionals effectively assisting patients with navigating health-related social determinants, federal and private payers are exploring reimbursement mechanisms. Four rural healthcare organizations share both the impact and the continued sustainability challenges — and successes — of their CHW programs.

Updated RHIhub Topic Guide See All Topic Guides Scholarships, Loans, and Loan Repayment for Rural Health Professions This recently updated topic guide provides an overview of the types of financial aid programs that can benefit health professions students, healthcare professionals, and healthcare facilities learning, working, and serving in rural areas.

Recent News See More Recent News The Rewards of Working as Rural Docs Jul 22, 2024 -- Features the perspectives of rural doctors on the positive aspects of rural practice, including high quality of life, a varied caseload, and supportive community relationships. Provides overview of rural health disparities and efforts to address provider shortages through loan forgiveness programs. Source: BU Today Pennsylvania Rural Health Leader Presented with 2024 Calico Leadership Award Jul 19, 2024 -- Lisa Davis of the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health won the 2024 Calico Quality Leadership Award. The award is given annually to a rural health leader by the National Rural Health Resource Center's Technical Assistance & Services Center. Source: National Rural Health Resource Center Request for Information (RFI): Evolving the Network of the National Library of Medicine Jul 19, 2024 -- A Request for Information from the National Library of Medicine for health science and public libraries, health professionals, community organizations, and others to provide guidance on increasing access to biomedical and health information through the Network of the National Library of Medicine. Topics of interest include data science, coordination of services, collaboration strategies, medical library services, and more. Responses may be submitted by email through August 30, 2024. Source: National Library of Medicine Dental Therapists, Who Can Fill Cavities and Check Teeth, Get the OK in More States Jul 17, 2024 -- Describes the role of dental therapists, a provider type licensed to provide basic preventative care under the supervision of a dentist, in expanding oral healthcare access in rural and underserved communities. Highlights the work of dental therapists in tribal communities in Alaska and Washington, where oral health needs are significant and dentists are in short supply. Source: Stateline Biden-Harris Administration Launching Initiative to Build Multi-state Social Worker Licensure Compact to Increase Access to Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Address Workforce Shortages Jul 16, 2024 -- Outlines new investment by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support the creation of a multi-state licensure compact, allowing social workers to practice across state lines without applying for multiple licenses. Notes the potential impacts of the licensure compact on rural communities by easing provider shortages and expanding telehealth service availability. Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Register Public Inspection: HHS: Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Patient Engagement, Information Sharing, and Public Health Interoperability Jul 24, 2024 -- Pre-publication notice of a proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) that seeks to advance interoperability, improve transparency, and support the access, exchange, and use of electronic health information. This rule proposes establishing a new baseline version of the United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) and updating the ONC Health IT Certification Program to enhance interoperability and optimize certification processes. The proposed rule would also implement certain provisions related to the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), which would support the reliability, privacy, security, and trust within TEFCA. Comments are due within 60 days of the publication of this notice, which is scheduled for August 5, 2024. Source: Federal Register CDC: Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Jul 18, 2024 -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking nominations for membership on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The role of the ACIP is to provide advice to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that will lead to a reduction in the incidence of vaccine preventable diseases in the United States, and an increase in the safe use of vaccines and related biological products. Nominees will be selected based on expertise in the fields of immunization practices; immunization practices and public health, use of vaccines and other immunobiological agents in clinical practice or preventive medicine, clinical or laboratory vaccine research, assessment of vaccine efficacy and safety, or have knowledge about consumer perspectives and/or social and community aspects of immunization programs. Nominations are due by August 15, 2024. Source: Federal Register

Funding & Opportunities See More Funding CDC Rural Public Health Communications Fellow Training opportunity that will support health marketing, communication activities, and health communication research in a rural health priority area that may include considerations for tribal populations. The fellowship will take place in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Office of Rural Health in Atlanta, Georgia beginning September, 2024. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Aug 2, 2024 Sponsors: CDC Office of Rural Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Service Area Competition Funding for Health Centers Program (Areas Served with a Project Period Start Date of February 1, 2025) Funding to provide comprehensive primary healthcare services to an underserved area or population. Areas with a February 1, 2025 project period start date are eligible to apply. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories Application Deadline: Aug 19, 2024 Sponsors: Bureau of Primary Health Care, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Supporting Vaccine Confidence Funding to expand, plan, implement, and evaluate promising practices and develop novel approaches to increase vaccine confidence among populations with low vaccination rates, including rural communities. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories Application Deadline: Aug 21, 2024 Sponsors: Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program Funding to support the training of residents in new or expanded primary care residency training programs in community-based ambulatory patient care centers. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Sep 5, 2024 Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services YouthBuild Grants Grants to organizations providing pre-apprenticeship services that support education, occupational skills training, and employment services for at-risk youth, ages 16 to 24, while performing meaningful work and service to their communities. The YouthBuild program model contains wrap-around services such as mentoring, trauma-informed care, personal counseling, transportation support, and employment. Applications from rural, urban, and Native American organizations are encouraged. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Sep 16, 2024 Sponsors: Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor PCORI Engagement Award: Dissemination Initiative Funding to disseminate and communicate pertinent PCORI-funded research findings to relevant stakeholders in ways that will command their attention and interest and encourage use of information in their healthcare decision making. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Letter of Intent (Required): Sep 26, 2024 Application Deadline: Jan 13, 2025 Sponsor: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute PCORI Engagement Award: Stakeholder Convening Support Funding for organizations and communities to hold multi-stakeholder convenings, meetings, and conferences.Convenings should focus on supporting collaboration around patient-centered outcomes research and clinical comparative effectiveness research. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Letter of Intent (Required): Sep 26, 2024 Application Deadline: Jan 13, 2025 Sponsor: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Tribal Climate Resilience Annual Awards Program Offers funding to federally-recognized tribes and tribal organizations to build climate resilience capacity. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories Application Deadline: Oct 18, 2024 Sponsor: Bureau of Indian Affairs Continuum of Care (CoC) Builds Funding to address and reduce the number of persons experiencing homelessness by adding new units of permanent supportive housing (PSH) through new construction, acquisition, or rehabilitation. Applications from rural and tribal communities are encouraged. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Nov 21, 2024 Sponsor: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Academy of General Dentistry Foundation Grant Program Grant support for nonprofit community-based outreach programs that provide free oral cancer screenings and education to the public, especially underserved communities that lack access to oral healthcare due to geographic and/or economic hardship. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Nov 30, 2024 Sponsor: Academy of General Dentistry Certified Professional by the American Heart Association - Telehealth (CPAHA) program A certification program for healthcare professionals interested in demonstrating a commitment to telehealth. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsors: American Heart Association, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust Changing Talk: Online Training (CHATO) Research Study Opportunity for nursing homes to participate in a research study testing the Changing Talk: Online Training (CHATO). The training focuses on the use of evidence-based, person-centered communication during interactions with older adults in nursing homes and other healthcare settings. Participants from rural areas are encouraged. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsor: University of Kansas Medical Center

New Resources See More Resources Association of Uninsured Status and Rurality with Risk of Financial Toxicity after Pediatric Trauma Analyzes the risk of financial toxicity associated with pediatric traumatic injury for rural versus urban families. Utilizes 2016-2019 National Inpatient Sample patient data. Includes data on financial toxicity associated with uninsured status, rural versus urban insurance type, and rural versus urban demographic, clinical, and hospital characteristics. Author(s): Amulya Vadlakonda, Nam Yong Cho, Nikhil Chervu, et al. Location: Surgery, 176(2), 455-461 Date: 05/2024 Building Stronger Early Childhood Systems: Reflections from Western Montana Details efforts by the Headwaters Foundation to improve early childhood services and policy in Montana, including efforts to build relationships in rural and underserved areas. Discusses trust-based philanthropy, technical assistance, and collaboration and coalition-building. Sponsoring organization: Grantmakers in Health Date: 07/2024 Community-Driven Strategies to Address Persistent Poverty in Rural Areas Webinar recording discussing persistent poverty and structural barriers to increasing wealth. Discusses the work of community development finance institutions. Highlights successful program examples including indigenous food systems in Maine, home ownership in the Mississippi Delta and colonias along the U.S.-Mexico Border, and using community engagement to impact systems and policy in Kansas. Transcript available in the video description. Sponsoring organization: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps Date: 06/2024 A Comparison Between Farm-Related Stress, Mental Health, and Social Support Between Men and Women Farmers Highlights a study on the differences in farm-related stress, mental health, and social support by gender. Discusses the survey-based screening of farmers in Illinois for mental health conditions of men and women farmers and compares rates to each other and to the general population. Author(s): Josie M. Rudolphi, Courtney Cuthbertson, Amandeep Kaur, Jesus Sarol Location: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(6), 684 Date: 05/2024 Eradicating Rural Poverty: The Power of Cooperation Series of articles describing how community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and other community development organizations have addressed persistent poverty and disinvestment in rural areas, including the Black Belt, tribal nations, and Appalachia. Discusses philanthropy, housing, availability of federal and private funding, and more. Location: Nonprofit Quarterly Date: 2024 Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Patient-Centered, Nonphysician Led Self-Monitoring Blood Pressure Program in a Rural Federally Qualified Health Center Evaluated the effectiveness of a self-monitoring blood pressure program (SMBP) involving a nonphysician team for 205 patients with recent hypertension diagnoses in a rural Washington Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Discusses facilitators and barriers to implementation including COVID-19, telehealth, community health workers, working with limited English proficiency populations, reimbursement, and collaborations. Author(s): Magali Sanchez, KeliAnne Hara-Hubbard, Bárbara Baquero Location: Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 30, S3167-S174 Date: 09/2024 Improving Pain Self-Management Among Rural Older Adults With Cancer Results of a study to test the feasibility, acceptability, and changes in pain outcomes from exposure to the Cancer Health Empowerment for Living without Pain, an intervention designed to help patients' communicate effectively with their clinicians. Uses data from interviews with 30 older adults with cancer who were residing in a noninstitutional rural setting and receiving outpatient care at a rural-based clinic in Tennessee in May 2022. Features demographics and statistics on type and stage of cancer. Author(s): Megan J. Shen, Tammy Stokes, Sarah Yarborough, Jill Harrison Location: JAMA Network Open, 7(7), e2421298 Date: 07/2024 Interactive Maps to Improve Stroke Systems of Care in Wisconsin Analyzes transfer patterns of stroke patients, including driving time and distance, from small rural hospitals to large tertiary hospitals in Wisconsin. Describes the development of interactive stroke transfer maps and discusses the use of mapping to identify gaps in systems of care, improve the efficiency of emergency services, and better understand hospital capacity. Author(s): Ka Z. Xiong, Lena Swander, Dot Bluma, et al. Location: Preventing Chronic Disease, 21, 230166 Date: 07/2024 The Low-Volume Hospital Adjustment Before and During COVID-19 Describes characteristics of rural low-volume hospitals (LVHs) between April 2018 and March 2022. Compares the characteristics and profitability of rural LVHs with other rural prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Presents data on LVH profitability margins with and without the LVH payment adjustment. Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program Date: 07/2024 Medicare Advantage Enrollees Account for a Rising Share of Inpatient Hospital Days Describes the growth of Medicare Advantage (MA) as a share of hospital inpatient days between 2015 and 2022. Presents data from hospital cost reports submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) regarding the share of inpatient days attributable to MA compared to traditional Medicare, the percentage of hospitals with more inpatient days from Medicare Advantage than traditional Medicare, and the variation across hospitals within counties. Compares trends in the share of inpatient days for MA enrollees across rural, micropolitan, and metropolitan hospitals. Sponsoring organization: KFF Date: 07/2024 Proposed CY 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule: Fact Sheet Fact sheet covering proposed Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) telehealth policy changes for 2025 as outlined in the calendar year (CY) 2025 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. Covers proposals related to audio-only telehealth; eligible services that can be delivered by telehealth; frequency limitations for inpatient visits, nursing facilities, and critical care consults; direct supervision through the use of live video; payment to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs); opioid treatment programs; and more. Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center Date: 07/2024 Qualitative Insights into Mental Health Treatment Through Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Crisis: A Natural Experiment in Community Mental Health Centers Examines telemedicine for mental healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic for criminal justice-involved individuals. Analyzes qualitative interview feedback with 61 community mental health center service providers in Indiana, focusing on benefits and drawbacks of telemedicine service delivery. Includes discussion regarding the impact of telemedicine for mental health treatment in rural populations. Author(s): Brittany J. Hood Location: Health & Justice, 12, 32 Date: 07/2024 QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Aged ≥18 Years Who Walked for Transportation and Walked for Leisure in the Past 7 Days, by Urban-Rural Status — United States, 2022 Bar chart showing the percent of the adult population that walks for transportation and for leisure in rural and urban areas. Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Location: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 73(28), 631 Date: 07/2024 Reducing Stigma Related to SUD in Rural Care Settings Presents videos and posters supporting access to stigma-free treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) in rural areas. Features perspectives of people in recovery from SUD as well as providers. Sponsoring organization: University of Rochester Medicine Recovery Center of Excellence Remote Evidence-Based Programs for Health Promotion to Support Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond: Mixed Methods Outcome Evaluation Evaluated the effectiveness of 5 evidence-based programs (EBP) for older adult health promotion that moved from in-person to remote delivery due to COVID-19. Analyzes both EBP participants and service providers on various participant health and wellness measures. Includes a breakdown of participant and service provider data by rurality. Author(s): Lesley Steinman, Kelly Chadwick, Erica Chavez Santos, et al. Location: JMIR Aging, 7(2024), e52069 Date: 2024 Rural-Urban Differences in Midwifery Care During Childbirth in the US Compares rural and urban births that were midwife-attended. Highlights changes over time and locations of midwife-attended births including homes, hospitals, and more. Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center Date: 07/2024 TEFCA Awareness and Planned Participation Among U.S. Hospitals: 2023 Evaluates survey data to determine non-federal acute care hospitals' awareness of and participation in the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA). Includes comparisons by rural and urban status as well as for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and non-CAHs, among other factors. Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Date: 07/2024 Why Primary Care Practitioners Aren't Joining Value-Based Payment Models: Reasons and Potential Solutions Explores reasons why primary care providers do not participate in value-based payment models. Presents findings from focus group and key informant interviews with primary care providers and primary care member organizations. Covers financial, workforce, and administrative burden-related challenges, and outlines potential solutions. Includes a discussion of financial challenges small and rural independent practices face in participating in value-based payment models. Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund Date: 07/2024

Open Calls for Contributions See More Open Calls Call for Abstracts: 2025 Preparedness Summit Deadline: Sep 13, 2024 National Association of County and City Health Officials Event Dates: Apr 29 - May 2, 2025 San Antonio, TX Conference Website

Upcoming Events See More Events Aug 1 A Deeper Dive into Compliance Law in Recovery Housing Virtual Aug 1, 2:00 p.m. Eastern Fletcher Group Rural Center of Excellence (RCOE) Aug 6 States and Tribes Working Together to Improve the Access of American Indians and Alaska Natives to Behavioral Health Care Virtual Aug 6, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Eastern National Academy for State Health Policy Aug 22 2024 CMS Rural Health Hackathon - Texas In-Person Aug 22 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Dallas, TX Aug 27 What Now: Xylazine in the Age of Opioid Use Disorder Virtual Aug 27, 12:00 p.m. Central Provider's Clinical Support System - Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (PCSS-MOUD) Aug 29 Rural Health Open Door Forum Virtual Aug 29, 2:00 p.m. Eastern Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Sep 9-13 2024 Annual EMS World Expo Conference In-Person Sep 9 - 13 EMS World, National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians Las Vegas, NV Sep 10 Michigan Point of Service Collections Training - Northern Michigan In-Person Sep 10 Michigan Center for Rural Health Gaylord, MI Sep 10 Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD): Grantee Spotlight - Baptist Memorial Hospital Internal Medicine Residency Virtual Sep 10, 11:00 a.m. Central RuralGME.org Sep 10-12 2024 Annual NOSORH Meeting In-Person Sep 10 - 12 National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health Niagara Falls, NY Sep 10-12 2024 Georgia Rural Health Association Annual Conference In-Person Sep 10 - 12 Georgia Rural Health Association Jekyll Island, GA Sep 11 2024 Indiana Rural Health Association Fall Forum In-Person Sep 11 Indiana Rural Health Association Indianapolis, IN Sep 11 Michigan Point of Service Collections Training - Thumb In-Person Sep 11 Michigan Center for Rural Health Caro, MI Sep 12 2024 Southwest Virginia Peer Summit In-Person Sep 12 Virginia Rural Health Association Marion, VA Sep 12-13 2024 Annual Rocky Mountain Rural Trauma Symposium In-Person Sep 12 - 13 Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Missoula, MT Sep 12-13 2024 IHLA/IARHC Fall Conference In-Person Sep 12 - 13 Iowa Association of Rural Health Clinics, Iowa Healthcare Leaders Association West Des Moines, IA Sep 16-18 2024 10th Annual Northeast Regional Telehealth Conference In-Person Sep 16 - 18 Northeast Telehealth Resource Center Nashua, NH Sep 16-18 2024 NHPCO Annual Leadership Conference In-Person, Virtual Sep 16 - 18 National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Denver, CO