RHIhub This Week - August 14, 2024

New in the Rural Monitor More from the Rural Monitor Ending Domestic Violence: How A Rural Texas Town Built a Support Net for Victims by Gretel Kauffman A communitywide task force in Kingsville, Texas is expanding local services and raising public awareness of the issue.

Models and Innovations See More Models & Innovations

Arkansas Rural Health Partnership Hospital-based Transitional Care Program Arkansas Rural Health Partnership's supports member CAH organizations to create transitional care programs through a successful evidence-informed approach

Tooth B.U.D.D.S. Tooth B.U.D.D.S. offers free, school-based preventive dental services to children in two rural Arizona counties.

Recent News See More Recent News After Health Care Attacks, Tech Giants Will Help Small Hospitals with Cyber Defenses Aug 14, 2024 -- Discusses the increasingly important role technology plays in healthcare delivery and challenges for small, rural facilities and healthcare systems with cybersecurity. Offers an overview of the impact of cyberattacks on healthcare quality, patient privacy, facility budgets, and more. Highlights recent policies offering healthcare facilities tools for cybersecurity. Source: NPR, Montana Public Radio 2024 Rural Health Hackathon Aug 13, 2024 -- Announces the 2024 Rural Health Hackathon, a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services event of collaborative sessions aiming to identify innovative solutions for rural health challenges, particularly access to care, care delivery, and workforce. In addition to in-person events, individuals and organizations in all U.S. states and territories may participate through the virtual idea submission process by September 9, 2024. Top concepts will be published in a CMS policy report. Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Virginia's Pregnant Women Must Travel Farther as the Maternity Care Crisis Grows. Doulas Are Stepping in to Fill Gaps. Aug 13, 2024 -- Highlights the role of doulas in rural Virginia, particularly for Black women, in light of lost labor and delivery services. Discusses policy measures attempting to increase access to doula services, the health benefits of doula services, and reimbursement rates. Source: Cardinal News Group Explores Ambulance Vessels as Part of Solution to Island Care Crisis Aug 11, 2024 -- Reports on a proposal to use ambulance vessels to address consistent access to emergency medical care issues for island communities in Maine. Discusses costs of the service, the current state of emergency medical services and healthcare access, and concerns by remote communities on the islands. Source: The Maine Monitor Federal Register CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request Aug 13, 2024 -- Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the reinstatement with changes of an information collection titled "Conditions of Participation for Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) and Supporting Regulations." Changes include new Conditions of Participation regarding obstetrical services and respiratory illness reporting requirements outlined in the July 22, 2024, and scheduled August 28, 2024, rules, respectively. Comments are due by October 7, 2024. Source: Federal Register

Funding & Opportunities See More Funding Applying the SafeSide Framework for Suicide Prevention in Rural Communities Workshop and Ongoing Support An online workshop and ongoing support that addresses a systemic framework for suicide prevention that can be applied in rural communities. The focus is on youth, substance use, and indigenous/tribal communities. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Aug 15, 2024 Sponsor: University of Rochester Medicine Recovery Center of Excellence Critical Access Hospital Scholarship Funding for capacity building for under-resourced Critical Access Hospitals to include consulting services, professional memberships, virtual networking, certification exams, and more. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Sep 13, 2024 Sponsors: APIC Consulting Services, Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology Graduate Medical Education (GME) Development Fellowship A 10-month fellowship designed to foster leaders in Graduate Medical Education development. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Sep 13, 2024 Sponsors: American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research NBCC Minority Fellowship Program for Mental Health Counselors (Masters and Doctoral) Fellowships for master's and doctoral degree-level mental health counseling students from minority backgrounds. For the purpose of this program, minorities include racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, gender, sexual orientation, rural, and military groups. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories Application Deadline: Sep 30, 2024 Sponsor: National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Foundation Pilot Program for Graduate Medical Education and Residency (PPGMER) Funding to improve healthcare access for veterans and others living in rural and underserved regions by supporting resident physician rotations and new graduate medical education programs at high-priority locations. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Sep 30, 2024 Sponsors: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) Grants to state and local governments to identify and remove barriers to affordable housing production and preservation to help meet the demand for accessible and available housing in urban, rural, and tribal communities. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Oct 15, 2024 Sponsor: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 3RNET Recruitment and Retention Assistance Helps health professionals find jobs in rural and underserved areas and assists employers in recruiting and retaining health professionals in rural and underserved areas. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsor: 3RNET BNSF Railway Foundation Grants Grants to organizations that operate near a BNSF railway line. Priority areas include health and human service organizations, programs that address chemical dependency treatment and prevention, spouse and child abuse, women's and children's aid, transitional shelters, hospitals, medical programs, youth development programs, and federally recognized tribes. Geographic coverage: Nationwide in areas near BNSF rail lines. Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsor: BNSF Railway Foundation CareQuest Philanthropy: Grants in Oral Health Funding for projects that address complex and upstream drivers of oral health disparities. Priority populations include racial and ethnic minorities, rural communities, people with disabilities, and older adults. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsor: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Training and Mentoring Training to provide medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) for clinicians in high-need communities. Clinicians who complete the training may be priority applicants for some NHSC loan repayment programs. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, National Health Service Corps, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Rural Health Care Outcomes Accelerator A 3-year initiative designed to eliminate rural health disparities by helping hospitals and clinicians provide high-quality evidence-based care. Assistance includes free access to evidence-based programs, consultants, networking, and recognition. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsor: American Heart Association

New Resources See More Resources 2024 National Telehealth Conference Summary Report Offers a summary of the 2024 Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) National Telehealth Conference by conference session. Covers increasing access to tele-behavioral healthcare through interstate licensure, expanding access to telehealth services for underserved and low-income communities, and federal efforts for telehealth policy and innovation. Appendices include conference materials and resources. Additional links: 2024 National Telehealth Conference Session Recordings Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration Date: 07/2024 Advocate-BREAST: Advocates and Patients' Advice to Enhance Breast Cancer Care Delivery, Patient Experience and Patient Centered Research by 2025 Examines breast cancer (BC) survivor experiences with BC care delivery, education, and support received. Analyzes 2,437 responses from a 2021 survey of patients in the Mayo Clinic Breast Disease Registry, with data breakdowns of respective patient perspectives, concerns, and symptoms by sociodemographic variables, including rural versus urban location. Author(s): Ciara C. O'Sullivan, Nicole L. Larson, Robert A. Vierkant, et al. Location: Archives of Public Health, 82, 119 Date: 08/2024 Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia Diagnoses among American Indian and Alaska Native Adults Aged ≥45 Years, Indian Health Service System, 2016–2020 Describes the results of a study analyzing healthcare data from the Indian Health Service (IHS) for federal fiscal years 2016 to 2020 to estimate the number of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults aged 45 years and older living with a Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) diagnosis. Includes demographic statistics by age group, sex, IHS region, and care setting. Author(s): Andria Apostolou, Jordan L. Kennedy, Marissa K. Person, et al. Location: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2024, 1-8 Date: 08/2024 Changes in Rural Pharmacy Presence 2023 Data brief exploring availability of retail pharmacy services in rural areas of the U.S. Provides information on rural communities that have kept, lost, or gained a retail pharmacy between 2018 and 2023. Features statistics on numbers of pharmacies in rural areas in 2018 and 2023, with breakdowns by communities with one pharmacy, two pharmacies, or three or more pharmacies. Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis Date: 08/2024 Community Health Centers' Progress and Challenges in Meeting Patients' Essential Primary Care Needs: Findings from the Commonwealth Fund 2024 National Survey of Federally Qualified Health Centers Summarizes findings from the 2024 Commonwealth Fund National Survey of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), which received responses from 737 FQHC leaders in fall 2023 and spring 2024. Explores the extent to which FQHCs achieve primary care accessibility, comprehensiveness, and coordination. Compares findings to data from the 2018 version of this survey to assess how care delivery changed over time. Describes barriers FQHCs face in offering high-quality care. Presents data by rural and urban location throughout. Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund Date: 08/2024 Disability and Independence in Rural America: White Paper Provides an overview of disability and independence in rural America. Describes disability prevalence in rural areas and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) programs for people with disabilities. Outlines key considerations for rural disability services, including access, Medicaid and Medicare coverage, workforce, and telehealth and technology. Highlights themes that emerged during the September 2023 National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Service (NACRHHS) meeting regarding areas for disability and independence policy improvement. Appendix A summarizes NACRHHS subcommittee site visits of two organizations serving rural Colorado residents. Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services Date: 07/2024 Essential Health Care Services Related to Anxiety and Mood Disorders in Women: Proceedings of a Workshop Summarizes a workshop from April 2024 discussing essential healthcare services across the female lifespan for anxiety and mood disorders, policy, impacts on particular populations, and improving care provision. Discusses access concerns for rural and Indigenous women throughout. Additional links: Read Online Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Date: 2024 Expanding Behavioral Health Care Workforce Participation in Medicare, Medicaid, and Marketplace Plans Report highlights barriers to obtaining behavioral health treatment on Medicare, Medicaid, and Marketplace plans. Discusses barriers specific to rural and tribal communities. Details behavioral workforce needs and makes policy recommendations. Additional links: Full Report Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Date: 2024 Health Center Program History Provides an overview of the history and development of the Health Center Program. Covers legislative, regulatory, and organizational changes that have shaped the program. Highlights how health centers have worked to address emerging health issues and health disparities throughout their history. Additional links: The Health Center Program: Partnering with Communities to Build a Healthier Nation Sponsoring organization: Bureau of Primary Health Care Date: 08/2024 Medicare Advantage in 2024: Enrollment Update and Key Trends Explores trends related to the growth of the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. Provides statistics on MA enrollment, the types of plans in which beneficiaries are enrolled, and geographic variation. Includes interactive maps that display MA penetration rates by state and county. Sponsoring organization: KFF Date: 08/2024 Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): 2025 MIPS Payment Year (2023 Performance Year) - Payment Adjustment User Guide Provides information on Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) payment adjustments for calendar year 2025. Describes how 2023 MIPS scores relate to 2025 payment adjustments and how payment adjustments are applied. Offers answers to frequently asked questions. Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Date: 08/2024 Native Community Data Profiles Provides interactive data profiles and maps of Native communities, including American Indian reservations, Alaska Native village statistical areas, Hawaiian home lands, and other Native geographies. Covers geographic characteristics, population, demographics, housing, transportation, internet, healthy food, and healthcare, including data on life expectancy, primary care physicians, dentists, hospitals, births, and deaths. Displays key infrastructure locations, including Indian Health Service facilities. Sponsoring organization: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Pediatric Subspecialty Outreach Clinics: Reach and Impact on Access to Care Examines the impact of pediatric subspecialty clinics on driving times to children's subspecialty care in Maine. Compares distance to outreach clinics and clinical hubs for seven pediatric subspecialties, utilizing Google Maps driving time estimates for each Maine ZIP code tabulation area. Includes breakdowns by rural versus urban area. Author(s): James C. Bohnhoff, Anya Cutler, Sean Hagenbuch, Kristen Kurland Location: BMC Pediatrics, 24, 519 Date: 08/2024 Racial and Ethnic Differences in Inpatient Stays Involving Sepsis, 2016–2021 Offers national statistics on inpatient hospital stays involving sepsis by race and ethnicity. Discusses trends over time, comorbidities, mortality, and more. Table 1 includes data by rural or urban residence, among other measures. Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Date: 08/2024 Report to Congress: Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis in the United States: An Update from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Reports on efforts by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to improve maternal health outcomes, including programs related to care delivery, access to care, and social factors influencing health. Presents data and discussion of maternal health trends, identifies key drivers, highlights relevant HHS programs and actions, and presents a framework to measure progress. Details rural access and outcome disparities and features rural-focused programs. Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Date: 07/2024 Rural and Urban Hospital Differences in Inpatient Stays Involving Sepsis, 2019 and 2021 Explores inpatient hospital stays related to sepsis using the 2019 and 2021 State Inpatient Databases (SID) for 47 States and the District of Columbia. Presents data on the percentage of stays related to sepsis, lengths of stay, costs of stay, and outcomes for sepsis stays for over 4,200 community hospitals. Compares data for rural and urban hospitals by ownership, bed size, teaching hospital status, and safety net designation. Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Date: 08/2024 The Rural Mortality Penalty in U.S. Hospital Patients with COVID-19 Examines whether rural-urban disparities in patient condition at hospital admission affect all-cause mortality among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 from March 2020 to February 2023, utilizing Epic Cosmos data of 1,119,199 patients. Provides data on rural versus urban differences in patient condition at admission, overall health, vaccination status, age, and other demographics. Discusses factors associated with reduced access to care in rural areas. Author(s): Jeffrey A. Thompson, Dinesh Pal Mudaranthakam, Lynn Chollet-Hinton Location: Population Health Metrics, 22, 20 Date: 08/2024 A Scoping Review of Policies to Encourage Breastfeeding, Healthy Eating, and Physical Activity among Rural People and Places in the United States Scoping review of 122 studies, reports, and theses on breastfeeding, healthy eating, and physical activity policy, systems, and environment change initiatives in rural areas. Analyzes source design, objectives, setting, focus, results, and more. Summarizes research findings and discusses data collection and sharing for rural initiatives. Author(s): M. Renée Umstattd Meyer, Bailey Houghtaling, Marilyn E. Wende, et al. Location: BMC Public Health, 24, 2160 Date: 08/2024 Understanding the Impact of Healthcare Providers' Perspectives on Cancer Control in Rural Communities: A Qualitative Study Explores the perceptions of 23 healthcare providers on factors impacting rural patients' access to care and the associated impacts on providers' approach to cancer screening and prevention recommendations. Discusses the impact of both patient and provider trust on information-gathering and care coordination. Author(s): Alee Lockman, Mariam Krikorian Atkinson, Keelin McGee, Tenille Oderwald, James McGee Location: SSM - Qualitative Research in Health, 6, 100452 Date: 12/2024 Vital Signs: Trends and Disparities in Childhood Vaccination Coverage by Vaccines for Children Program Eligibility — National Immunization Survey-Child, United States, 2012–2022 Reports on trends in vaccination coverage of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR), rotavirus vaccine, and a combined 7-vaccine series, among children eligible for the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program and those not eligible. Includes data on VFC eligibility and vaccine coverage by urbanicity for metropolitan and nonmetro locations. Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Location: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 73, Early Release Date: 08/2024 Voice of the REH CEO: Perspectives from Those Who Have Led Their Organizations Through REH Conversion Summarizes interviews with executives from three hospitals that converted to Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) status regarding their perspectives on conversion. Describes the assessment of the financial feasibility of REH status, preparation of the communities for conversion, staffing and service line adjustments, and the impact of conversion. Includes legislative considerations that could make REH status more attractive to rural hospitals. Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center Date: 06/2024 Youth in Crisis: How an Innovative Program is Addressing Pediatric Mental Health Highlights a New Hampshire pediatric behavioral health training program using the Project ECHO model. Discusses access to care, workforce shortages, benefits of collaboration, and community engagement. Transcript beneath the audio player. Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association Date: 08/2024

Open Calls for Contributions See More Open Calls Call for Proposals: 2025 Accelerating Health Equity Conference Deadline: Sep 16, 2024 AHA Community Health Improvement (ACHI), Institute for Diversity and Health Equity Event Dates: May 20 - 22, 2025 Atlanta, GA Conference Website Call for Poster Presentations: 2024 Annual Rural Health Association of Utah Conference Deadline: Oct 4, 2024 Rural Health Association of Utah Event Dates: Nov 13, 2024 St. George, UT Conference Website Call for Presentations: 2025 43rd Annual Protecting Our Children Conference Deadline: Nov 1, 2024 National Indian Child Welfare Association Event Dates: Mar 30 - Apr 2, 2025 Orlando, FL Conference Website Call for Abstracts: 2025 Annual NACCHO Conference Deadline: Nov 15, 2024 National Association of County and City Health Officials Event Dates: Jul 14 - 18, 2025 Anaheim, CA Conference Website

Upcoming Events See More Events Aug 16 HIV Prevention in Rural Communities Virtual Aug 16, 12:00 p.m. Eastern Mid-Atlantic AIDS Education and Training Center Aug 20 Strengthening Rural Healthcare: Opportunities From the Texas A&M Health Rural Engagement Program Virtual Aug 20, 12:00 p.m. Central Texas A&M Health Rural Engagement Program Aug 21-22 2024 Northwest Tribal Brain Health & Dementia Summit In-Person Aug 21 - 22 Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board Portland, OR Aug 22 2024 Rural Health Journalism Workshop Virtual Aug 22 Association of Health Care Journalists Aug 23 CMS Listening Sessions on Rural and Tribal Medicare Health Equity Services for Technical Assistance Providers Virtual Aug 23, 1:30 p.m. Eastern Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Aug 27-28 Tribal Social Security Benefits Coordinator Training: Social Security Disability (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Virtual Aug 27 - 28 Office of Native American Partnerships, Social Security Administration Aug 28 CMS Listening Sessions on Rural and Tribal Medicare Health Equity Services for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers Located in Rural Areas Virtual Aug 28, 12:30 p.m. Eastern Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Aug 28 The Role of Healthcare Linens in Infection Prevention Virtual Aug 28, 4:00 p.m. Eastern National Indian Health Board, Project Firstline: Tribal Infection Prevention and Control Capacity Building Program Aug 29 Hearing Loss Prevention for Forest Workers Virtual Aug 29, 12:00 p.m. Central AgriSafe Network Aug 29 Rural Graduate Medical Education (GME) Opportunities – How Can Your RHC Get Involved? Virtual Aug 29, 2:00 p.m. Eastern National Association of Rural Health Clinics Sep 6 2024 Northeast Kentucky Recovery Summit In-Person Sep 6 Northeast Kentucky Area Health Education Center Morehead, KY Sep 6 Listening Session and Data Presentation about Alcohol Impaired Driving Prevention In-Person Sep 6 Albuquerque Area Southwest Tribal Epidemiology Center, Tribal New Mexico/Southern Colorado CHR Association Santa Fe, NM Sep 9 CMS Listening Sessions on Rural and Tribal Medicare Health Equity Services for IHS and Tribal Providers Virtual Sep 9, 3:30 p.m. Eastern Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Sep 10 CMS Listening Sessions on Rural and Tribal Medicare Health Equity Services for Providers in U.S. Territories – Atlantic/Caribbean Virtual Sep 10, 3:30 p.m. Eastern Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Sep 10 Delta Health Workforce Meeting In-Person Sep 10 Delta Regional Authority, Health Resources and Services Administration, HRSA Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs - Region 6 & 7 Sikeston, MO Sep 10 Delta Maternal Health Meeting In-Person Sep 10 Delta Regional Authority, Health Resources and Services Administration, HRSA Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs - Region 6 & 7 Sikeston, MO 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 Delta Grants 101 Workshop In-Person Sep 11 Delta Regional Authority, Health Resources and Services Administration, HRSA Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs - Region 6 & 7 Sikeston, MO 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 23 Innovative Approaches to Rural Healthcare in the Northern Border Region Virtual Sep 23, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. Eastern Rural Health Redesign Center Sep 25-27 2024 23rd Annual Critical Access Hospital Conference In-Person Sep 25 - 27 National Rural Health Association Kansas City, MO Sep 28 2024 Symposium on Dis/Ability & Debility in Appalachia In-Person, Virtual Sep 28 University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences Lexington, KY Oct 1-2 Creating Healthy and Wealthy Communities: A Skill Building Workshop for Rural, Tribal, and Frontier Communities In-Person Oct 1 - 2 South Dakota Department of Health Mitchell, SD Oct 6-8 2024 9th Annual National Summit on the Social Determinants of Health In-Person Oct 6 - 8 Root Cause Coalition Baltimore, MD Oct 7-9 2024 NARHC Fall Institute In-Person Oct 7 - 9 National Association of Rural Health Clinics Grand Rapids, MI Oct 8 2024 Wisconsin Healthcare Workforce Summit In-Person Oct 8 Wisconsin Council on Medical Education and Workforce Wisconsin Dells, WI Oct 8-10 2024 Rural Renewal Symposium In-Person Oct 8 - 10 Oklahoma State University Extension, Rural Renewal Initiative Ardmore, OK Oct 9 2024 Kentucky Immunization Summit In-Person Oct 9 Immunize Kentucky Coalition, Kentucky Rural Health Association Lexington, KY Oct 9-10 2024 North Country Leadership Summit In-Person Oct 9 - 10 Adirondack Health Institute, Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization, North Country Telehealth Partnership Lake Placid, NY