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Category Archives: Funding

Grant Funding Opportunity from US Dept of Health and Human Services

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has announced a funding opportunity to approximately 20 ricipients.  Each will receive $280,000 per year for 3 years.

Domestic public and private nonprofit entities are eligible.  Funding can be used in the following ways: Health Information Technology (HIT) program is designed to improve and expand treatment opportunities and communication with persons in treatment who may not have access to treatment and a full range of health services due to geographic, socioeconomic and/or psychosocial issues that can impact negatively on their living conditions, financial situation and family responsibilities. HIT may include e-therapy tools such as web-based applications, technology for smart phones, or other technology that help with personal health records.  The population of focus for this program is adults ages 18 and over, who reside in rural and underserved areas, and/or have special needs (e.g., elderly, ethnic and racial minorities, criminal justice involved individuals, etc.). Through the expansion and/or enhancement of HIT systems and other tools, applicants may propose to expand substance abuse treatment services, enhance substance abuse treatment services, or do both. 

For mor information, click here.

Posted on May 11, 2011

$36 Million to Help Rural Organizations Achieve Meaningful Use

Rural organizations striving for meaningful use of electronic health records can now apply for support from a new $36 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).  The Rural Health Information Technology Network Development (RHITND) program will expand access to, coordinate and improve the quality of essential health care services, and enhance the delivery of health care in rural areas.  Beginning in September, the program will  support health care providers who work in rural organizations (formal networks, alliances, coalitions, or partnerships).  During the Federal fiscal years 2011-2013, the program will provide an estimated 40 grant recipients with up to an average of $300, 000 per year. The application deadline is May 27, 2011.
 
Grant recipients may use funds to identify, locate, and purchase health information technology (HIT) equipment, support EHR training and strategic plan development, install broadband and analyze workforce.  DHHS anticipates the program will improve the financial viability of these networks, enhance professional development, workforce recruitment and retention, and help network members share expertise and staff.  The program should also enhance the continuum of care, provide continuous quality improvement of care by network members, and improve cost efficiencies.

Eligible applicants must be a nonprofit with 501 (C)(3) status with IRS, other than institutions of higher education or a Federally recognized Native American tribal government.  All applicants must be located in a rural area or rural census tract of an urban county, and all services are provided in the rural county or census tract; or provide services to migrant or seasonal farm workers in rural areas supported under Section 330G of the Public Health Service Act; or is a Tribal government whose grant-funded activities will be conducted within their Federally-recognized Tribal area.

According to the grant announcement, the network must consist of at least three health care providers that are separate, existing organizations that have their own employer identification number(EIN).  Multiple health care providers owned by the same entity or health system are not considered a separate entity.  The lead applicant and their network partners must not currently have a complete and functioning EHR system and are looking to purchase one; or, a majority (two-thirds) of the partners has not yet purchased or implemented a complete EHR system.  For more information about this funding opportunity, click here.

For information on the Medicaid and Medicare EHR incentive programs, EHR adoption, or how the MO HIT Assistance Center helps health care providers adopt and achieve meaningful use of certified EHRs, please visit the Missouri Health Information Technology Assistance Center Web site, E-mail us, or call us toll-free 1-877-882-9933.

Posted on May 09, 2011

ORHP Funding Opportunity

The Office of Rural Health Policy has announced the release of the Rural Health Information Technology (HIT) Grant Program (HRSA-11-137). ORHP says HIT is critically important for rural communities and while a lot of the early innovation in the use of electronic records and HIT networks was done in rural communities, many challenges still remain. This pilot program was developed as a result of the President’s Rural Health Initiative which identifies HIT as a priority area and the Secretary’s Rural HIT Taskforce.  To address these and other HIT issues, Secretary Sebelius established an HHS Rural HIT task force co-led by HRSA Administrator Dr. Mary Wakefield and the Office of the National Coordinator.  The purpose of the taskforce is to discuss the challenges rural communities face in adopting HIT, ways to address these challenges, and how to coordinate resources from the federal level.  One of the major challenges that the taskforce has identified is access to capital and ORHP anticipates that this program will assist rural communities in addressing this challenge.

Due to the unique broadness and flexibility of the 330a authorization, ORHP had a great opportunity to develop this grant program in response to these initiatives. The rural HIT program was developed out of the Network Development Program legislation (330a authority), keeping the focus on rural networks.

To download the funding opportunity, click here.

Apply here.

The deadline to submit an application in grants.gov is May 27th, 2011. ORHP strongly recommends that applicants submit their applications prior to the due date to avoid any technological problems. All applications have to be submitted electronically in www.grants.gov

There will be a technical assistance call for this funding announcement which will be held May 10th at 2pm eastern. The toll-free number to call in is 1-888 -577-8992.  The Passcode is HIT.   For your reference, the Technical Assistance call will be recorded and available for playback within one hour of the end of the call and will be available until June 10, 2011 11:59 PM (ET).  The phone number to hear the recorded call is: 1-866-420-5718.

For further questions on this funding opportunity, please contact the program coordinator, Marcia Green at 301-443-3261.

Posted on May 02, 2011

Registration Now Open for Missouri’s Medicaid EHR Incentive Program

Eligible professionals and hospitals are now able to register with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for Missouri’s Medicaid EHR Incentive Program.
  
On April 4, Mo HealthNet launched a new online provider outreach page to support this program.  This new page will help providers streamline the application process for the Medicaid EHR incentives program.  The page will feature:

  • Check list of required information to apply for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program
  • Links to federal Web sites for registration and certified EHR product lists
  • Real-time feed of current HIT news and updates from CMS and other federal organizations

In May, the Web site’s functionality will expand to allow professionals and hospitals to initiate the attestation process; new features will include:

  • Workbooks to support eligibility determinations and payment calculations
  • The capability to accept electronic documentation
  • A secure portal to register in the Missouri State Level Registry (SLR) and apply for incentives-information is customized for hospitals, professionals or groups

MO HealthNet will coordinate webinars with professional associations and MO HIT Assistance Center during the month of April to help providers learn more about Missouri’s Medicaid EHR incentive program and processes.  Please watch for additional information regarding these upcoming educational events. 

For information on the Medicaid and Medicare EHR incentive programs, EHR adoption, or MO HIT Assistance Center services, please visit the Missouri Health Information Technology Assistance Center Web site , E-mail us, or call us toll-free 1-877-882-9933.

Posted on Apr 05, 2011

Improving Retention, Clinical Performance, and Job Satisfaction

From Idaho State University, School of Nursing

Rural nurses are required to have a breadth and depth of knowledge unparalleled in other specialty nursing fields. The immense generalist role of the rural nurse often leads to early burnout and high turnover rates when compared with more urban nurse roles (up to 65% in the first year of practice). Residency or Transition-to- Practice programs have been shown to be an effective means of reducing the turnover of new and transitioning nurses, improving their job satisfaction, and hastening critical thinking skills.

And so, it is with great excitement that Idaho State University (ISU) developed the Northwest Rural Nurse Residency (NWRNR) program. Participants receive all of their training (64-hours of seminars and a 104-hour supervised clinical experience) ‘at home’ in their own facilities from top-notch rural nurse experts. Using new technologies like web-conferencing and high-tech simulation make it possible for the program to be offered at no cost to participants.  Program faculty and staff provide support and information for preceptors, residents, and nurse administrators to help ensure a flexible, locally adapted, successful completion of the 12-month program.

The next sessions will be starting in June 2011. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, so apply today! Be one of the first facilities in your area to boast the employment of rural nurse specialists while enjoying the benefits of improved clinical performance and lower nurse turnover. To learn more about the NWRNR please call the ISU Office of Professional Development at (208) 282-3820, email at nurseopd@isu.edu or visit the NWRNR website at http://www.isu.edu/nursing/opd/nwrnr.shtml

Posted on Mar 24, 2011

USDA Seeks Rural Development Grant Applications

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is accepting applications for loans and grants to create jobs and spur economic development. Funding is provided through the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program.

Applications must be received by March 31 for 3rd quarter funding and June 30 for 4th quarter funding. For further details about eligibility rules and application procedures, see the February 14, 2011 issue of the Federal Register, page 8334.

Get more information on the program here.

Posted on Feb 18, 2011

Web-based Cultural Competency Education Opportunity

The US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health, is offering continuing education courses for individuals in various fields of health care.  Find information for each of the following professions here.

  • Physicians
  • Nurses
  • Social Workers
  • First Responders (EMT, EMS, Paramedics, Emergency Managers, Police and Fire Rescue)
  • Psychiatrists
  • Psychologists
  • Dental Professionals;  and other Health Care Professionals

A list of available credits can be found by clicking here.

Posted on Feb 09, 2011