Rural Health Information Hub Latest News

CHART Model’s ACO Track RFA Delayed to Spring 2022

This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the release of the Community Health Access and Rural Transformation (CHART) Model Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Transformation Track Request for Applications (RFA) is delayed until spring 2022. The CHART Model aims to help rural communities transform their health care delivery systems. This delay applies only to the ACO Transformation Track.  Applications for the CHART Community Transformation Track are due by May 11, 2021.

Volunteer to Administer COVID-19 Vaccines

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has expanded its definition of persons authorized to give the vaccine.  These include, among others, current and retired traditional and non-traditional health care professionals, and students in health care programs. Read more here.

How States Use Federal Medicaid Authorities to Finance Housing-Related Services

The National Academy for State Health Policy released a policy brief exploring how states have used federal waivers to better meet the housing needs of its Medicaid enrollees. Housing with supportive services, known as permanent supportive housing, supports individuals with complex medical needs and reduces emergency department use. Supportive housing also helps individuals remain stably housed over the long termEvidence shows a strong association between access to safe, affordable, and stable housing and positive health outcomes. Learn more about states that have leveraged a variety of federal Medicaid authorities to deliver housing-related support services to individuals with disabilities and chronic conditions.

This policy brief was developed with support through a cooperative agreement with HRSA.

Read the brief.

Expanding Access to Medication-Based Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Underserved Rural Areas Using Telehealth

Part 3 on Thursday, April 15, Noon – 1 p.m. EDT

Even before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, only about one in ten Americans with a substance use disorder received needed treatment. Rural populations face additional challenges in accessing medications for opioid use disorder due to a short supply of treatment programs and credentialed providers within a reasonable proximity. Today, the need to physically distance due to the COVID-19 pandemic presents further challenges for people seeking these services and the organizations providing them. This webinar discusses tips and promising strategies for addressing substance use disorder among vulnerable populations in rural areas with a focus on individuals with opioid use disorder.

The webinar will feature speakers from our Office of Regional Operations, the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and the Northeast Telehealth Resource Center.

Register today.

New Research: General Surgeons in the Rural U.S.

New research shows that between 2001 and 2019 the supply of general surgeons in the U.S. decreased by 29.1% in rural areas, and 18% overall. This is a crucial finding as general surgeons play a critical role in rural health care.

General surgeons in rural areas decrease the need for patients to travel for routine surgery, provide backup to rural primary care providers in emergency care, obstetrics, and orthopedics, and contribute substantially to the financial health of rural hospitals. The study also found rural general surgeons are older than their urban counterparts and fewer surgeons in rural areas are women. The research was conducted by the HRSA-funded WWAMI Rural Health Research Center.

Nurse Corps Scholarship Program Now Open

The Nurse Corps Scholarship Program provides financial support to students enrolled in nursing degree programs in exchange for a commitment to serve in high-need areas across the country. This year, Nurse Corps has additional funding for awards. Are you pursuing an NP degree in psychiatric mental health? An APRN or RN degree in women’s health or certified nurse midwifery? Or are you a CNA, home health aide, medical assistant, or LPN working towards your RN degree? You may be eligible for an award. Scholarship support includes tuition, fees, other reasonable educational costs, and a monthly living stipend.

Find out if you qualify todayAccepting applications through May 6, 2021.

NHSC Receives $800 Million to Support Loan Repayment and Scholarship Programs

National Health Service Corps (NHSC) opened its application for all three loan repayment programs and its NHSC Scholarship Program with an additional $800 million available for awards. The additional funds are part of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan for pandemic relief and will support the largest number of NHSC clinicians in history. The NHSC Loan Repayment Program (NHSC LRP), the NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program (NHSC SUD Workforce LRP) and the NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program (NHSC Rural Community LRP). The application closes on May 6, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. EDT.

Learn about eligible disciplines, site types, service commitment, and more.

$6 Billion Investment in Community Health Centers to Expand Access to Vaccines in Underserved Communities

HHS will invest more than $6 billion from the American Rescue Plan into Community Health Centers nationwide to expand COVID-19 vaccinations, testing, and treatment for vulnerable populations; deliver preventive and primary health care services to people at higher risk for COVID-19; and expand health centers’ operational capacity during the pandemic and beyond, including modifying and improving physical infrastructure and adding mobile units.  The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), will provide funding starting in April to nearly 1,400 centers across the country. Community Health Centers serve 1 in 5 people living in rural communities. More than 91% of health center patients are individuals or families living at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, and more than 60% are racial or ethnic minorities.

For detailed information on how this funding is being distributed to health centers nationwide, including state-by-state breakdowns and an interactive health center funding map, please visit: https://bphc.hrsa.gov/program-opportunities/american-rescue-plan/awards

Read the White House fact sheet.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Launches Nationwide Network of Trusted Voices to Encourage Vaccination in Next Phase of COVID-19 Public Education Campaign

We Can Do This. COVID-19 Community Corps.

COVID-19 Community Corps to Mobilize Doctors, Community Leaders, Businesses and Citizens and Equip Them with Resources and Information to Build Vaccine Confidence and Uptake

HHS Also Launches First TV Ads Encouraging Vaccinations, and Social Media Profile Frames for Americans to Share Support of Vaccines with the Message “We Can Do This”

On April 1, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced additional measures to encourage vaccinations and increase vaccine confidence as part of the next phase of its COVID-19 public education campaign. The Administration is launching the COVID-19 Community Corps – a nationwide, grassroots network of local voices people know and trust to encourage Americans to get vaccinated. As part of the launch of the Community Corps, Vice President Kamala Harris and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy met with founding members on Thursday, April 1, as she begins championing the next phase of the public education campaign from the White House.

The Community Corps will be comprised of trusted voices in communities across the country, and the Administration will regularly share updated public health information and resources for them to use with their communities to help get friends, family, and followers vaccinated.

Read the release.

Join the HHS COVID-19 Community Corps.