- Fact Sheet: The Biden-Harris Administration Highlights Investments in Rural America, Invites Public Nominations for Rural Innovators Initiative
- Rural Victims of Intimate-Partner Violence Need More Resources and Support, Study Finds
- A Tribe in Maine Is Using Opioid Settlement Funds on a Sweat Lodge to Treat Addiction
- Fact Sheet: USDA, HHS Announce New Actions to Reduce Impact and Spread of H5N1
- Call for Experts: Forum on Aging, Disability, and Independence
- Bill to Expand Definition of 'Village' Qualifying for Water Funds Passes Alaska House
- Child Care Workers Caught in Middle of Michigan's Broken Child Care System
- Few Options Available for Substance Abuse Treatment in the Big Bend
- In Rural Texas, ERs Are Facing a Growing Mental Health Crisis
- Ways and Means Members Put Forth Solutions to Strengthen Telehealth Access and Improve Health Care for Rural Communities
- Sage Memorial Hospital in Navajo Nation Constructs New Facility to Improve Health Care
- How the State, Tribes and Federal Government Are Working to Curb SD's Syphilis Epidemic
- Rural Children Struggle to Access Hospital Services, Say Researchers
- RPHARM Program Fulfills Need for Rural Pharmacists
- A Pilot Program in Rural Vermont Hopes to Build a Blueprint for Substance Abuse Recovery
Nurse Faculty Loan Program Funding Opportunity
Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP)
Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-22-047
The application deadline is January 13, 2022
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released this new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announcement to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty nationwide. The completion of up to four years of post-graduation full-time nurse faculty employment in an accredited school of nursing, the program authorizes cancellation of up to 85 percent of the original student Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) provides funding to accredited schools of nursing to establish and operate a student loan fund and provide loans to students enrolled in advanced education nursing degree programs who are committed to becoming nurse faculty. In exchange for loan amount (plus interest thereon).
Through these efforts, the NFLP will build upon HRSA’s existing health workforce development investments, increasing access to a skilled health workforce.
HRSA anticipates to award up to 80 grantees with a total of approximately $26.5 million to support training of advanced education nursing students who will serve as nurse faculty upon graduation, with a focus on doctorate preparation.
Visit Grants.gov to apply.
Rural Health Value
The Rural Health Value team has released a revised Value-Based Care Strategic Planning Tool (VBC Tool). The web-based tool is designed for rural health care leaders to assess organizational capacities or capabilities (e.g., resources, processes, infrastructure) to deliver value-based care as part of their strategic planning process. Upon completion of the on-line tool, a report is provided that can be used to support strategic planning and prioritize action plans that are responsive to a changing health care payment and delivery environment. Supplemental resources, including an action planning tool and a brief guide to assist leaders in preparing their organization for value-based care are also available.
Value-Based Care Assessment Tool (updated December 2021)
This online tool helps the organization assess readiness for the shift of healthcare payments from volume to value. The resulting report may be used to guide the development of action plans. Supplemental resources, including an action planning tool and a brief guide to assist leaders in preparing their organization for value-based care are also available.
Link: Value-Based Care Assessment Tool | RuralHealthValue.org (uiowa.edu)
Dental Assistant Workforce Needs Assessment
The National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA) is conducting a needs assessment to better understand the current state and needs of community health centers’ dental assistant workforce. The results of this needs assessment will inform the development of national resources to assist with the recruitment, retention and training of dental assistants. The needs assessment will take five minutes to complete and is intended for dental leadership and dental assistants working in community health centers. By completing the needs assessment, you will be eligible to enter a drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card. The needs assessment will close on January 31, 2022. Click here to complete.
Study Finds Lack of High School Education Predicts Hesitancy
A lack of a high school education was the most important predictor of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in 3,142 U.S. counties, finds a study yesterday in the American Journal of Infection Control. Of all reasons cited for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, a lack of trust in the vaccines (55%) was the most common, followed by worries about side effects (48%) and low trust in the government (46%). Five of the 10 most common reasons given for vaccine hesitancy were related to a lack of knowledge about potential side effects, benefits, effectiveness and risks of being unvaccinated.
COVID-19 Claims Reimbursement for Uninsured Patients
Health Resources and Services Administration is accepting requests for claims reimbursement to healthcare providers, generally at Medicare rates, for testing uninsured individuals for COVID-19, for treating uninsured individuals with a COVID-19 primary diagnosis and for COVID-19 vaccine administration to the uninsured. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. A separate program, the HRSA COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund, is available to reimburse providers for COVID-19 vaccine administration to underinsured individuals whose health plan either does not include COVID-19 vaccination as a covered benefit or covers COVID-19 vaccine administration but with cost-sharing.
Pennsylvania Health Department Issues Update Guidance on COVID-19 Protocols
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) issued several Health Alert Updates to reflect the most recent guidance related to COVID-19, including updates for the general population and return to work guidance for healthcare personnel.
- 616 – UPDATE: Work Restriction Issued
- 615 – 12/30/2021 – UPD – UPDATE: Isolation and Quarantine Periods for COVID-19 for the General Population
- 614 – 12/28/21 – UPD – UPDATE: Return to Work Healthcare Personnel with Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19
- 613 – 12/23/21 – UPD – UPDATE: COVID-19 Treatment Options
Click here for the latest DOH Health Alerts, Advisories and Updates.
New Legislative Report Calls for Changes to Help Overcome Primary Care Physician Shortage
A new report by a Pennsylvania legislative research agency offers many recommendations to help Pennsylvania’s nine medical schools take more steps to ease a shortage of primary care doctors in the state. The report by the Joint State Government Commission looks at the training needed to become a primary care doctor and efforts by the medical schools to promote primary care as a career choice. It examines a host of issues believed to contribute to the shortage in that practice, including student debt burden, doctor burnout and low public investment in primary care. Read the report, Medical School Impact on the Primary Care Physician Shortage.
Update on Telehealth in Pennsylvania
In October, the state Senate passed SB 705 authorizing the regulation of telemedicine by professional licensing boards and providing for insurance coverage of telemedicine. Sponsored by Senator Vogel, SB 705 is now with the House of Representatives for their consideration. The bill has language that was in the previous version of the bill that led to Governor Wolf vetoing the bill last session. PACHC is not aware that any progress has been made between the House of Representatives and the Governor’s office to address the issues from last session. At this time, the House is not expected to act on this legislation. This creates a conundrum when reviewing the OMAP Telehealth Bulletin, which notes that telehealth is allowed “if permitted according to their scope of practice, licensure, or certification.” Nothing in the practice acts “permits” telehealth. The current waiver allowing for telehealth expires on March 31, 2022. There have been rumors of a possible extension of some of the waivers, such as telehealth, beyond the March 31 deadline. PACHC is working with the legislature and the administration, along with other provider groups, to try and get clarification on the future of telehealth amidst these political issues.
Outcome Measures for State Flex Program Financial and Operational Improvement Interventions
The Flex Monitoring Team has released a new policy brief: https://www.flexmonitoring.org/publication/outcome-measures-state-flex-program-financial-and-operational-improvement-interventions
The brief reviews outcome measures for State Flex Program (SFP) interventions conducted under Program Area 2: Financial and Operational Improvement (FOI), a mandatory area of SFP activity. The FMT explored the types of FOI projects proposed by a subset of 14 SFPs during Fiscal Year 2015-2018 and the challenges they faced in monitoring the impact of their interventions on Critical Access Hospital (CAH) financial and operational performance.
This product describes key categories of interventions implemented by these 14 SFPs and their proposed output and high-level outcomes measures. It further outlines the theory of change for each category, and provides examples of short- and intermediate-term outcome measures to provide a bridge between project activities and long-term, high-level outcomes. The brief concludes with suggestions for SFPs to improve their ability to document the outcome of SFP FOI initiatives and evaluate overall program impact. A companion brief provides an inventory of all SFP FOI initiatives and a more detailed analysis of the interventions undertaken by a subset of 14 SFPs.
New Best Practice Approach Report on Teledentistry
A new CareQuest Institute and Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) Best Practice Approach Report encourages state/territorial oral health programs and stakeholders to identify community barriers to care and consider teledentistry as part of the solution. The practical Report includes guidelines and recommendations, best practice criteria, myriad resources, and several examples of teledentistry in use across the country.