Rural Spotlight

National Health Service Corps Expanding Loan Repayment Awards

As a part of health care reform, the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is expanding and reaching out to better serve communities in need around the country. The NHSC supports primary care professionals by offering loan repayment awards in return for service in an underserved community. Currently, NHSC is recruiting 4,000 new Corps members to receive loan repayment awards—more than ever before.

This is an incredible opportunity for the interns, residents and other clinicians who want to make a difference in the lives of Americans who may not otherwise have access to basic health care. Primary care professionals who have completed their training are eligible to receive up to $145,000 in loan repayment for completing a five-year service commitment, with an initial award of $50,000 for two years of service.

The application process has been improved, making it simpler and easier for interested clinicians to apply.

Visit www.nhsc.hrsa.gov and check out the program’s details and application instructions. New materials have been developed that help to outline the program’s eligibility requirements and the process to apply, which can be found here. (i.e. pdf files located under the “Next Steps” section to the right of the page.)

Applications for the current cycle are being accepted through July 29, 2010.

Grant Opportunities

HRSA recently released 8 workforce grant opportunities that may be of interest to SORHs.

Programs include:

    * Primary care residency expansion;
    * NP/NM training expansion;
    * PA training expansion;
    * State healthcare workforce development planning grant;
    * State health care workforce development implementation grant;
    * Nurse managed health clinic grant;
    * Nursing assistant and home health aide training program; and
    * Personal and home care aide State training program.

Funding links:

    * ACA: Advanced Nursing Education Expansion Program, view details
    * ACA: Expansion of Physician Assistant Training Program, view details
    * Affordable Care Act (ACA) Nurse Managed Health Clinics, view details
    * Affordable Care Act: State Health Care Workforce Implementation Grants, view details
    * Affordable Care Act: State Health Care Workforce Planning Grants, view details
    * Primary Care Residency Expansion, view details

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Nursing Assistant and Home Health Aide Program, view details
Affordable Care Act: Personal and Home Care Aide State Training Program, view details

Plant a Seed for Healthy Vision in Your Community

Promoting eye health education and making it available at the community level is a key component of the broader effort to achieve healthy vision for everyone. The National Eye Institute (NEI) recognizes the importance of strengthening the capacity of community-based organizations to expand existing eye health education programs and start new ones. To support these all-important efforts, NEI is pleased to announce the 2011 cycle of the Healthy Vision Community Awards (HVCA) program.

The HVCA program provides up to $10,000 in seed money to nonprofit and community-based organizations to support grassroots eye health education efforts. NEI encourages these organizations and their partners to make a difference in eye health efforts for those they serve, and to apply for a 2011 award. Proposed projects must focus on eye health education, be innovative, have the potential for sustainability once funding ends, and address one or more of the following topics:

• Age-Related Macular Degeneration
• Diabetic Eye Disease
• Glaucoma
• Occupational Eye Safety
• Vision Rehabilitation

Click here for more information.

CMS Funding Opportunities

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has made two funding opportunities available to states. The first is a demonstration project that will assess the ability of patient-centered "medical homes" to improve primary care delivery and lower health care costs. The Multi-payer Advanced Primary Care Practice Demonstration will include Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers and use a team approach to care that emphasizes prevention, health information technology, care coordination and shared decision making among patients and providers. Participating practices will receive an enhanced payment for their Medicare patients commensurate with other participating payers. CMS will accept applications through Aug. 3 and expects to award cooperative agreements to six states. For more information, click here. 

The second opportunity is with PPACA grants available to help patients navigate their health care options. CMS and Administration on Aging will accept applications through July 30 for $60 million in Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act grants to help people navigate their health and long-term care options. The agencies will jointly award the funds in September to states, area agencies on aging, State Health Insurance Assistance Programs, and Aging and Disability Resource Centers. The funds will be used to help underserved individuals understand their Medicare and Medicaid benefits; provide support for people with disabilities to live at home or other settings they choose; help people transition from the hospital or nursing home back to the community; and strengthen links between the medical and social service systems.

Tax Credit Opportunity

From New Mexico Health Resources

 

One of the elements of the federal health reform legislation is the creation of a small business tax credit for those organizations providing health insurance coverage to employees.  The credit could be substantial.  Even if your organization does not qualify, you may be involved with non-profit organizations that do and might benefit from the credit.  The IRS FAQ page on the tax credit is located at:  http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=220839,00.html.

Grant Funding Opportunity

The US Department of Health and Human Services – Health Resources and Services Administration has announced a grant funding opportunity of up to $400,000 a year for up to 3 years. Eight awards will be given. Public or nonprofit private health centers (including Federally qualified health centers), health facilities operated by or pursuant to a contract with the Indian Health Service, hospitals, cancer centers, rural health clinics, or academic health centers are eligible.  Nonprofit entities that enter into partnerships with or coordinate referrals with such centers, clinics, facilities, or hospitals to provide patient navigator services are also eligible. Find full information about the grant by clicking here.

Rural Assistance Center Updates

A variety of updates are available from the Rural Assistance Center.  Click here to view the latest news and information on the following subjects:

• Recent News
• Funding Opportunities
• Tools
• Upcoming Events
• How RAC Has Impacted You

Alternatives to the Outpatient Prospective Payment System: Assessing the Impact on Rural Hospitals

From: Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis

In 2000, CMS implemented a new congressionally mandated hospital outpatient prospective system (OPPS).  The new system changed payments for hospital outpatient services from a retrospective cost basis to a prospective amount based on the median resource cost of groups of services expected to be provided. Because of the magnitude of the potential impact of this payment change on both rural hospitals and rural residents, small rural hospitals were granted protection from payment reductions in the transition to OPPS—referred to as ‘hold harmless’ provisions.  Given changes in rural hospital reimbursement for outpatient services, particularly as the hold-harmless protection is expected to phase out, the purpose of this policy brief is to explore alternatives to the OPPS and how these options would affect rural hospitals.

Find the brief here. 

Loan Repayment Pilot Program

The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program hopes to make 400 awards available to part-time primary care clinitians. The NHSC helps support the most medically underserved regions of the country. To learn more about helping their service and how to apply for funding, click here.

Funding Opportunity

From: State Office of Rural Health

The RGK Foundation opens its next round of funding opportunities which support a range of programs in such areas as education, community and health.

The medicine/health grant program will support programs that promote the health and well-being of children, access to health services and foundation-initiated programs. Education funding will be given to programs that focus on integrating technology into K-12 education. The foundation will support community programs that improve children and family services, early childhood development and parenting education.
Grants range from several thousand to $150,000; the average foundation grant is $25,000.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations such as hospitals, educational institutions and governmental institutions with 501 (c)(3) status. All applicants first must submit a letter of inquiry completed online.

Insider Tip: Please note the Grants Committee meeting dates for 2010: June 4, Sept. 17 and Dec. 3.
Info: www.rgkfoundation.org/