March 15, 2024

National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program – Apply by April 25

The purpose of the NHSC Scholarship Program is to provide scholarships to students pursuing primary care health professions training in return for a commitment to provide primary health services in a Health Professional Shortage Area.

Click here to learn more

March 15, 2024

AIHC Training Opportunity Capturing and Coding Social Determinants of Health for Physicians and Hospitals

Are you up to date on coverage changes in Medicare? Consider registering for this short course, offered by the American Institute of Healthcare Compliance (AIHC).

Among several important coverage changes, Medicare now covers a Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Risk Assessment at no cost to the patient, when it’s provided as an optional Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) element as part of the same visit with the same date of service as the AWV.

Computer Requirements and Time Limits:

  • You will need high-speed internet, email and Adobe Reader
  • You will have access to the online AIHC course page for 90 days starting on your enrollment date
  • Course tuition includes access to the training page for 90 days
  • Online quizzes throughout the training
  • Certificate of completion is awarded with a minimum score of 80%

Cost: $45

Learn More

March 13, 2024

New Dashboard Helps Families and Health Care Workers Determine Bed Availability in Long-Term Care Settings

A new dashboard has been developed to assist Missourians in locating long-term care facilities with bed and service availability.

“This resource will assist individuals looking for long-term care placement options specific to their needs in their desired area of the state,” said Missouri Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Director, Jenny Hollandsworth.

Long-term care facilities, including all levels of care, are strongly encouraged to complete an electronic survey weekly to report how many beds they have available, and which resident needs they can serve, i.e., memory care, behavioral health, bariatric, etc.

The survey and dashboard can be found on the Long-Term Care Ombudsman website, along with instructional videos. Questions can be directed to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at LTCOmbudsman@health.mo.gov.

March 12, 2024

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – Updated Toolkit

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updated their toolkit for states on telehealth coverage policies in the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP) so that it is relevant now that the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) has ended.

The toolkit provides insights into:

  • Telehealth platforms
  • Effective billing practices
  • Lessons learned from states amid and post COVID-19 PHE
  • Approaches to ensure accessible and culturally sensitive care delivery through telehealth.

The toolkit outlines:

  • Strategies for telehealth within value-based care frameworks
  • Evaluation methodologies to gauge its impact on quality
  • Outcomes
  • Costs
  • Initiatives for effectively communicating, training, and equipping both providers and beneficiaries with telehealth resources

Information included in Toolkit:

  • Detailed description of the common telehealth modalities
  • A section for frequently asked questions
  • A description of Medicaid trends throughout recent years
  • Strategies for delivering services via telehealth to specific populations
  • Operational consideration of implementing telehealth

Click Here to Access the Toolkit

March 12, 2024

Elevate Your Leadership in 2024 – Apply Today Before Enrollment Closes

The Crisis: Rural Hospital Closures & CEO turnover

A Proven, Successful Answer You Can Do Now: NRHA’s Rural Hospital CEO Certification Program

Be the next CEO from your state to join the ranks of 150+ CEOs from across the country that are working to keep their rural hospitals open and thriving.

Why You Will Benefit:

  • Comprehensive curriculum made by rural hospital CEOs for rural hospital CEOs
  • Practical strategies and effective tools to grow knowledge base and leadership confidence
  • Exclusive networking opportunities with rural healthcare industry experts and rural hospital leaders like you
  • Rural-specific curriculum:
    • This program was developed by experienced and accomplished rural executives who are dedicated to empowering current and aspiring rural hospital CEOs
  • Practical insights:
    • Learn from experienced professionals who understand the nuances of rural healthcare leadership
  • Invitation-only networking:
    • Connect with a select group of like-minded leaders, subject matter experts and rural industry leaders

Kick off Date: May 21 at 4 p.m. EST

Do you need answers, before applying? Please contact Sydney Grant at sgrant@nrhasc.com.

Apply Today

 

March 12, 2024

The Office of Rural Health and Primary Care (ORHPC) has been notified that the Strategic National Stockpile is offering all Rural Hospitals the opportunity to claim a FREE ventilator.

Important Notes:

  • These ventilators were first offered to rural hospitals in 2021
  • All rural hospitals are eligible to request a ventilator
    • Regardless of participation in 2021
  • Request your ventilator now, by completing the Rural Hospital Ventilator Form
    • Be sure to include appropriate and accurate point of contacts
    • You will also need to coordinate with logistics and respiratory departments to ensure smooth delivery of the unit

Ventilator Distribution Opportunity for Rural Hospitals, Frequently Asked Questions:

  • How many ventilators can I request?
    • rural hospitals may submit a request for more than one ventilator (per model) via the interest form. However, please remember there is no guarantee as distribution is contingent on availability
  • Can I request a new ventilator if I already received a ventilator in 2021 during the COVID-19 response?
    • Yes. Rural hospitals may request a ventilator(s) regardless if they participated in the previous distribution of ventilators
  • Will I need to return the ventilator?
    • No. However, you will be responsible for ongoing maintenance of the ventilator
  • What is included in the ventilator kit?
    • Each model should include one ventilator and one accessory kit
  • Do I need to cover the cost for shipping and delivery of the ventilator?
    • No. Once the ventilators are ready to ship, the Strategic National Stockpile will coordinate with their contractor to confirm and arrange delivery.
      • Prior to delivery, it’s important your hospital’s point of contact coordinate internally with your logistics and respiratory team to ensure the equipment will be delivered to the correct facility.
  • Ventilator models available include:
    • ResMed Astral 150
    • AutoMedx SAVE II
      • Please note: these models were NOT produced through the Defense Production Act and have been fully maintained and cleared by the FDA for regular use.

Claim Your Free Ventilator Today

March 11, 2024

Upcoming Webinar: Solar Powered Healthcare: Resilience and Cost-Savings

Climate conditions and natural disasters including wildfires, severe storms, and flooding can lead to widespread power disruptions that can have dire consequences for health centers and the communities they serve.

From the loss of critical health services to spoiled medications and revenue losses, a reduction in the level of dependable power has a negative impact on health center operations and direct health consequences for patients, particularly those living in low income, rural and vulnerable communities.

Health centers rate reliable power as a top priority as they plan, design and construct facilities and many are choosing solar power with battery backup as an affordable solution for both emergency and year-round use.

Register now to join Capital Link and their CHARGE partners, the National Association of Community Health Centers and Collective Energy, to learn more about this resilient, affordable clean energy option.

Cost: No Charge

When: Monday, March 25 12:00 p.m. CT

Register Now

March 11, 2024

Rural Residents Have Less Access to Special Needs Care

According to the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), the patient-to-primary-care-physician ratio is about 39 physicians for every 100,000 people.

In many rural areas, this can create crucial gaps in care for children with special needs, whose families often struggle with transportation and accessibility of services.

Additionally, Rural Health Research Gateway offers a new recap on post-acute care in rural areas.

Read Crucial Gaps in Care Article

Read Recap on Post-acute care

March 11, 2024

Webinar: Achieving Birth-Friendly Status in Rural Hospitals, Tuesday, March 12

Registration is now open for a four-part webinar series presented by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) in collaboration with the Rural Health Information Hub to support access to safe, high-quality maternity care in rural communities.

The first presentation, at 1 p.m. CDT March 12, will discuss achieving birth-friendly status in rural hospitals, including why it’s important to meet it.

“Birthing Friendly” is a designation to describe high-quality maternity care and was launched by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in the fall of 2023. To earn the designation, hospitals attest to meeting a 2-component measure established by CMS.

Speakers will introduce the Birthing Friendly measure and discuss the why and how of meeting it.

The next two webinars in the Rural Maternal Health Series will take a deeper dive into how hospitals can engage with their state Perinatal Quality Collaborative (PQCs) and standardize clinical care through implementing AIM patient safety bundles, developed by the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health.

Cost:

The webinar is FREE

When: Tuesday, March 12, 1:00 p.m. CT

Register Now

March 11, 2024

Studying Nursing? Apply for HRSA’s Scholarship!

The Health Resources and Services Administrations’ (HRSAs’) Nurse Corps Scholarship Program application is open!

The program provides scholarships to nursing students in exchange for a minimum two-year, full-time service commitment (or part-time equivalent) at an eligible health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses.

Eligible nursing students can apply to the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program. If accepted HRSA will pay your tuition, fees, and other educational costs, along with a monthly stipend.

In return, after you graduate, you work at an eligible health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses.

You are eligible if you:

  • Are a U.S. citizen (born or naturalized), a national, or a lawful permanent resident
  • Are an accepted or enrolled student in a nursing degree program at a United States accredited school of nursing
  • Begin classes no later than September 30
  • Don’t have any federal judgment liens
  • Don’t have an existing service commitment
  • Aren’t overdue on a federal debt

Questions:

Call: 1 800-221-9333 M-F 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (except federal holidays

Contact form

Application Program Guidance

Apply