The NOSORH RHC Committee presents a webinar on chronic care management for rural providers. Following the webinar, participants will be able to:
Understand the Medicare requirements and payment for care management services (including chronic care management and behavioral health integration) in RHCs and FQHCs.
Understand the proposed new requirements and payment for Communication Technology-Based Services and Remote Evaluations in RHCs and FQHCs
Registration required.
Event »
Rural Reporter
-
A Multidisciplinary Look at Suicide and the Wisconsin Farmer
Our partners at the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative hold an annual essay contest competition, awarding a prize of $2,500 for the best paper on rural health.
The prize-winning paper for 2018, "A Multidisciplinary Look at Suicide and the Wisconsin Farmer," takes a comprehensive look at the high rate of death by suicide in Wisconsin's rural areas, particularly for those working in the agricultural sector. The essay examines risk factors facing farmers and the economy's role in rural suicide, and also includes a discussion of intervention and prevention strategies for primary care physicians and communities.
The Hermes Monato, Jr. Essay Prize is open to anyone who has been a student at the University of Wisconsin within the past year. Students are encouraged to write on a substantive rural health topic for a current class, and then submit a copy of the essay to the RWHC by June 1st, 2019 for consideration in the 2019 Hermes Monato, Jr. Essay Prize. Find submission information, and more past prize-winning papers, here.
(Source: Benjamin Beduhn and RWHC)
-
Senate Passes Sweeping Bill Addressing Opioid Crisis
The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan bill on Monday that aims at addressing the nation's opioid epidemic.
The Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 contains wide-ranging proposals to address opioid and substance use disorders. Those measures include loosened restrictions on doctors so they can provide more patients with medication-assisted treatment (MAT), which assists those with opioid use disorder ignore drug cravings while in the process of recovery. The bill requires the Medicaid reimbursement of some, but not all, types of MAT.
The bill also contains a number of prevention efforts, and reauthorizes several substance abuse prevention programs that had expired. Hospitals will receive support to provide patients with alternatives to opioids for pain management, and another proposal will require the safety trainings for first responders on handling opioids like fentanyl and carfentanil. Another proposal introduced by Wisconsin Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin is aimed at stopping illegal drug smuggling of fentanyl and opioids into the country.
Still, critics of the bill say it doesn't go far enough, and object to the lack of long-term funding to keep treatment programs running.
In June, the House of Representatives passed a similar bill aimed at curbing the opioid crisis. The legislation is now in reconciliation. (Image: coltsfan on Pixabay)
-
New Medicare Compliance Rules Proposed; Comments Due 11/19
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a proposal to update its Medicare compliance requirements, including a proposed rule that would remove a duplicative requirement for critical access hospitals, and another that would allow health systems with multiple hospitals to unify infection control programs. Comments on the proposed rule are due on November 19th. (Source: Becker's Hospital Review; Photo: Samuel Zeller on Unsplash)
-
Rural Areas Could Be Undercounted in Next Census
A new study finds that the upcoming census will likely undercount rural populations. The 2020 census will have an option to respond through the internet, which could make it difficult for some in rural areas — those without access to broadband —to respond. The projected undercount could mean substantial losses in funding for rural states. (Source: U.S. News and World Report; Image: courtesy of National Archives)
-
Top Wisconsin Communities Named in Inaugural Designation
Thirty-one Wisconsin communities have been recognized for their work to improve health in their communities. The Wisconsin Healthy Communities Designation is a new initiative offered by the UW Population Health Institute (UWPHI), in collaboration with statewide groups. Funded by the Wisconsin Partnership Program, the designation celebrates and encourages achievements in health improvement in the state.
-
Whole Kids Foundation School Garden Grant Program (Deadline: 10/15/2018)The Whole Kids Foundation School Garden Grant Program will award $2,000 for the planning, construction, and operation of new or existing edible garden projects for K-12 schools and nonprofit organizations that engage children in grades K-12. Applications are due at 5pm. There will be an application webinar on October 4th. Funding »
-
Innovations in Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiving Legacy Awards (Deadline: 10/12/2018)The Rosalinde Gilbert Innovations in Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiving Legacy Awards offers monetary awards to programs or projects that focus on supporting family and informal caregivers of adults with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. including projects that focus on rural and low-income communities. They will make three $20,000 awards, one each in the following categories: creative expression; diverse/multicultural communities; and public policy. Funding »
-
27th Annual Hermes Monato $2,500 Rural Health Essay Prize (Deadline: 06/01/2019)The Hermes Monato, Jr. Prize of $2,500 is awarded annually for the best rural health paper. It is open to all students of the University of Wisconsin (any campus) as well as those who will be recent graduates by June 1st, 2019. Students are encouraged to write on a rural health topic for a regular class and then to submit a copy to the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative as an entry by June 1st. The prize is open to all students of the University of Wisconsin (any campus) as well as those who have graduated since June 1st. For previous examples, click here. Funding »
-
2019 RWJF Culture of Health Prize (Deadline: 11/01/2018)The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Culture of Health Prize (the Prize) recognizes communities that have come together around a commitment to health, opportunity, and equity through collaboration and inclusion, especially with historically marginalized populations and those facing the greatest barriers to good health. The Prize honors those communities that are working to give everyone the opportunity to live well, including residents that are often left behind. Because the Prize recognizes whole communities, applicants must think beyond their own individual organizations and initiatives to what has been accomplished across the community. Applications will be judged based on the following criteria: Defining health in the broadest possible terms; Committing to sustainable systems changes and policy oriented long-term solutions; Creating conditions that give everyone a fair and just opportunity to reach their best possible health; Harnessing the collective power of leaders, partners, and community members; Securing and making the most of available resources; Measuring and sharing progress and results. Phase I Applications are due on November 1st at 2 p.m. Central Time. Invitations will then be extended to select applicant communities to submit applications for Phase II. Funding »
-
"Imagine the Amazing" School Wellness Contest (Deadline: 09/30/2018)Selected schools in Sauk, Rock, Columbia, Dodge, Dane, Green, and Jefferson counties will compete in a voting contest to give one school $25,000 to improve the health and well-being of its students. Prize money can be used toward a garden, yoga mats, new playground equipment, mental health resources, etc. Ten runner-up schools will win $1,000 to invest in a health and wellness need at their school. Click here for a list of all eligible schools. Funding »
-
Forecast: Rural Health Value Program (HRSA) (Deadline: 02/22/2019)The purpose of the Rural Health Value Program is to inform rural health care providers , and stakeholders such as HHS, Congress, states, and for-profit and nonprofit entities that set policies impacting rural health care providers, about the impacts of changes in the health care delivery system, and to provide technical assistance to rural providers in identifying potential new approaches to health care delivery in their communities. Specifically, the Rural Health Value Program awardee will: Review the work performed under the current Rural Health System Analysis and Technical Assistance (RHSATA) Cooperative Agreement program and identify ways to build on that work; Analyze recent national, regional, State and local demonstrations and initiatives for lessons learned that are relevant to rural health care providers, including barriers and policy challenges; translate findings for rural health care providers so that they might meaningfully participate; and disseminate the findings broadly to policy makers and rural health stakeholders. Conduct modeling of payment and quality proposals to inform rural health care delivery systems and other stakeholders and to assess alternative ways of delivering services in rural communities. Provide technical assistance to rural health care providers, including FORHP grantees, who seek to participate in a variety of demonstrations and initiatives that can help improve patient outcomes, lower health care costs, and/or improve population health; and Coordinate with FORHP grantees and other community-based programs in rural communities to facilitate maximum exposure and dissemination of program information, resources, and profiles of innovative rural health entities. Eligible applicants include domestic public, private, and nonprofit organizations, including tribes and tribal organizations, and faith-based and community-based organizations. An estimated synopsis post date will be November 28th, 2018. Funding »
-
Opioid Workforce Expansion Program (HRSA) (Deadline: 11/06/2018)Accredited institutions of higher education or accredited behavioral health professional training programs in behavioral pediatrics, social work, school social work, substance use disorder prevention and treatment, marriage and family therapy, occupational therapy, school counseling, or professional counseling are eligible for the Opioid Workforce Expansion Program. The goal of this program is to enhance the community-based experiential training focused on opioid-use disorder (OUD) for students preparing to become behavioral health professionals and paraprofessionals. Funding »
-
Rural Health Network Planning Program (HRSA) (Deadline: 11/30/2018)Rural nonprofit private or public entities that represent a consortium or network of three or more health care providers are encouraged to apply for funding under the Rural Health Network Development Planning Program ("Network Planning"). The purpose of the Network Planning program is to assist in the development of an integrated health care network, specifically network participants who do not have a history of formal collaborative efforts in order to: (i) achieve efficiencies; (ii) expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of essential health care services; and (iii) strengthen the rural health care system as a whole. Health care networks can be an effective strategy to help smaller rural health care providers and health care service organizations align resources and strategies, achieve economies of scale and efficiencies, and address challenges more effectively as a group than as single providers. For example, a critical access hospital, a community health center, and a public health department may collaborate to form a network around a shared purpose. Other examples of health care providers could be: hospitals, public health agencies, home health providers, mental health centers, substance abuse service providers, rural health clinics, primary care providers, oral health providers, social service agencies, health profession schools, local school districts, emergency services providers, community and migrant health centers, federally-qualified health centers, tribal health programs, churches, faith-based organizations, and civic organizations that are/will be providing health care. There will be an expected number of twenty-two awards, with the total program funding of $2,200,000. Funding »
-
Rural Health Network Development Planning Program (Deadline: 11/30/2018)Public or private nonprofit organizations forming a consortium of three or more health providers in a rural community may be eligible to apply for funding administered by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy at the Health Resources and Services Administration. The purpose of the Network Planning program (a one-year planning grant) is to strengthen the rural health care system through community-level networks that can align resources and strategies, achieve economies of scale and efficiencies, and address challenges more effectively as a group than as single providers. Federally-recognized tribal entities are eligible to apply as long as they are located in a rural area. The applicant organization must be located in a non-metropolitan county or in a rural census tract of a metropolitan county, and all services must be provided in a non-metropolitan county or rural census tract. Applicants are required to notify their State Offices of Rural Health of an intent to apply to this program. If interested, please contact Kevin Jacobson at kmjacobson2@wisc.edu. Funding »
-
SAMHSA Rural Opioids Technical Assistance Grants (Deadline: 09/20/2018)The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will make 15 awards with total funding of $8.25 million to develop and disseminate training and technical assistance for opioid use disorder efforts in rural communities. Successful applicants will be current USDA Cooperative Extensions grantees with a focus on opioids that will provide research-based knowledge to strengthen the social, economic and environmental well-being of families, communities and agriculture enterprises. Funding »
-
Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation (Deadline: 11/29/2018)The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation provides grants for first responders and public safety organizations. They will fund the purchase, up to $25,000, of equipment (including vehicle extrication tools, AEDs, automated chest compression systems), public education (CPR, DUI), and scholarships. The Foundation recognizes the needs of rural and volunteer departments and will consider their applications despite not being within 60 miles of a Firehouse Subs restaurant. Applications are accepted on a quarterly basis. Funding »
-
AHRQ Small Research Grant Program (Deadline: 10/16/2018)Higher education institutions, nonprofits, governments, and others are eligible to apply for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Small Research Grant Program. The funding provides flexibility for initiating studies which are generally for preliminary or short-term projects. Examples of projects include pilot or feasibility studies, secondary analysis of existing data, small, self-contained research projects, or development of research methodology. For this particular cycle, the AHRQ has announced that they are interested in funding health services research to address the opioids crisis. The earliest submission date for this opportunity is September 17th, 2018. All R03 Research Grants are due on October 16th. Funding »
-
Change Incubator Funding: Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program (Deadline: 10/01/2018)The Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program (HWPP) Change Incubator Funding will support diverse community-based partnerships to build their capacity to carry out community health improvement initiatives. Focus areas include: new partnership development and action planning; strategic growth and sustainability planning for existing partnerships; and development of communication plans and materials to communicate impact. Applications must be submitted by a partnership of at least two Wisconsin-based, health-related entities representing diverse organizations and perspectives invested in improving the health of Wisconsin communities. One partner must be a nonprofit, IRS tax exempt 501(c)(3) or government organization, have an EIN number, and have the capacity to serve as the fiscal agent for the partnership. Up to $10,000 will be awarded for a 6-12 month project period. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact Tracy Wilson (414.955.4364) to discuss the project prior to submitting an application. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Funding »
-
America's Farmers Grow Communities Project (Deadline: 11/01/2018)Through the America's Farmers Grow Communities program, farmers enroll for a chance to direct $2,500 awards to local nonprofit organizations that are important to them and their communities. This opportunity is only open to those in selected counties in 41 states, are 21 years or older, and actively engaged in farming at least 250 acres. More information at Rural Health Information Hub. Funding »
-
Information Resource Grants to Reduce Health Disparities (NIH) (Deadline: 10/22/2018)The National Institutes of Health is soliciting grant applications for projects that will bring useful, usable health information to health disparity populations and their health care providers. Access to useful, usable, understandable health information is an important factor when making health decisions. Proposed projects should exploit the capabilities of computer and information technology and health sciences libraries to bring health-related information to consumers and their health care providers. Eligibility: Institutions in rural and socially disadvantaged areas are encouraged to apply. Public housing authorities, units of government, tribal organizations, school districts, for profit organizations and small businesses, and public and state controlled institutions of higher education are all eligible. Funding »
-
Preventing Opioid Misuse in Pregnant Women & New Moms Challenge (HRSA) (Deadline: 09/30/2018)The Preventing Opioid Misuse in Pregnant Women & New Moms Challenge will award $375,000 in prizes to support tech innovations to improve access to quality health care, including substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, recovery, and support services for pregnant women with opioid use disorders (OUD), their infants, and families, especially those in rural and geographically isolated areas. The competition consists of three phases, and will award grants at every phase. The phases will examine design, development and small-scale testing, and scaling. Funding »
-
Remote Pregnancy Monitoring Challenge (HRSA) (Deadline: 09/30/2018)The Remote Pregnancy Monitoring Challenge will award $375,000 in prizes to support the creation of tech innovations to help prenatal care providers remotely monitor the health and wellbeing of pregnant women, as well as place health data into the hands of pregnant women themselves as a tool to monitor their own health and make informed decisions about care. Solutions would especially benefit women who live in rural and medically underserved areas who have limited access to on-site prenatal care. The challenge will proceed in three phases: design, development and small-scale testing, and scaling. Funding »
-
Care Coordination for CSHCN Challenge (HRSA) (Deadline: 10/30/2018)The Care Coordination for CSHCN Challenge will award $375,000 in prizes to support the creation of low-cost, scalable tech innovations to help families and case managers with the care and coordination of children with special health care needs. These innovations should improve the quality of care and enhance patient and family engagement and health care quality while saving costs to families and the health care system. This funding opportunity will be evaluated in three stages: design, development and small-scale testing, and scaling. Funding »
-
Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program (Deadline: 10/01/2018)The Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program (HTPCP) will support community-based child health projects that improve the health status of mothers, infants, children, and adolescents in rural and other underserved communities by increasing their access to health services. Identify and develop innovative, culturally and linguistically competent community-based programs and interventions based on a review of state and community maternal and child health (MCH) priorities and needs assessment data; Implement clinical and public health interventions in community-based setting; Formulate and continually reassess the program’s logic model and evaluation plan; Develop tools, trainings, and resources for pediatric professionals, community members, families, state Title V agencies, and other MCH-related programs; Disseminate program results and findings to the target population, partners, and other stakeholders who might be interested in using the results of the program; Assess whether the dissemination of program results has facilitated changes in practice, service delivery, program development, and/or policy-making in ways that affect the target population. Funding »
-
Grants for Wisconsin Nonprofits Serving Veterans (Deadline: 09/28/2018)The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs will accept applications for grants up to $25,000 from registered nonprofit organizations that provide financial assistance or other services to Wisconsin veterans and their families. The following criteria will be evaluated as part of the grant application: • Background and organizational history • Organizational qualifications and past performances • Experience working with veterans and their families • Need for grant funding • Outreach and screening plan • Program implementation timeline • Monitoring and program evaluation • Program goals and objectives • Past working relationships with Veterans Service Organizations • Integration of outreach and employment services Questions about the grant application process should be directed to: Chad McCafferty Email: vetsbenefitsgrants@dva.wi.gov; Phone: 608-266-3028 or 1-800-WIS-VETS Funding »
Online
Farm Safety Week: Hazard Mapping in the Ag Classroom
(2018-09-19)
Participants will examine the hazards in agricultural production.
2pm Central Time.
Event »
Online
Join AgriSafe as they discuss the topic of children and tractors, starting at birth and moving up through adulthood. They will discuss the risks and benefits of children on the farm, and explore how children can stay safe around tractors and equipment.
Event »
Physical Event
Wisconsin Rural Partners, in partnership with UW-Extension, Wisconsin Downtown Action Council, Wisconsin Economic Development Council, and USDA Rural Development, hosts small community forums annually throughout the state of Wisconsin. The forums bring together people working in small communities to discuss best practices, build networks and generate ideas for improving their communities, with an emphasis on small communities with a population under 2,500.
This community forum will be held in Hurley, at the Iron County Memorial Building, 201 Iron St. Community leaders, elected officials, volunteers, business leaders, educators, and both local and regional economic development, civic, and planning are invited to attend. Registration costs $20 and includes lunch. Register here.
Event »
