Rural Reporter

  • How EHR Use Informs Safe Opioid Prescribing
    The need to better track the use of prescription narcotics has become increasingly apparent in the wake of the national opioid crisis. Moving beyond the "prescription pad" model is one big step to stemming the easy availability of opioids. Electronic monitoring programs enable prescribers to look up complete patient histories through electronic health record histories. And prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) use vast databases in order to verify prescription histories. Eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals participating in meaningful use — now rebranded as "promoting interoperability" — are incentivized to use these features. (Source: EHR Intelligence; Image: angela_sleeping on Flickr) More »
  • What's Really Driving Obesity?
    In public health we hear a lot about the impact of obesity on health. Two root causes -- eating more and declining rates of exercise and exertion -- are often listed as the primary reasons. But author and columnist George Monbiot looked at the data, and found that the main change in habits has been a rocketing rate of sugar consumption. His conclusion? Food processors have taken a similar route that Big Tobacco did, and have followed a similar denial pattern after the fact. (Source: The Guardian; Image: Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash) More »
  • CMS Announces Final Payment Rate Changes and Rules
    The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has published several final payment rate changes and rules for Fiscal Year 2019, related to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), hospices, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and inpatient psychiatric facilities.  Skilled nursing facilities and non-Critical Access Hospitals swing beds will experience an overall payment rate increase of 2.4 percent ($820 million), or 2.5 percent for rural areas. In addition, the current case-mix system will be replaced by a new system called the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM), which is projected to increase payments to small and rural SNFs and non-CAH swing beds.  Hospices will see an overall payment increase of 1.8 percent ($340 million), or 1.9 percent in rural areas. In addition, physician's assistants will now be recognized by Medicare as attending physicians beginning in 2019. Inpatient rehabilitation facilities will see a payment rate increase of 1.3 percent ($105 million), and will also see changes to several quality reporting factors.  Inpatient psychiatric facilities will see a payment rate increase of 1.3 percent ($50 million), and the payment adjustment for IPFs located in rural areas will continue. 
  • Maternal Mortality Task Force Seeks Data
    Due to the small absolute number of maternal deaths in rural states, it's been difficult for researchers to make specific, data-driven policy decisions on birth outcomes and maternal mortality in rural areas. Recently, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists started a new initiative to collect data on rural maternity care and deaths. The initiative is needed now more than ever, as the availability of women's and neonatal medical personnel shrinks in rural communities.  The Maternal Mortality Task Force will collect and analyze data on rural maternity care and deaths in twelve states, as well as in Guam, American Samoa, Alberta, British Columbia, and Central America. (Source: Contemporary OB/GYN; Suhyeon Choi on Unsplash) More »
  • What Does Dollar General Mean for Rural Areas?
    Dollar General stores are often found in rural areas, and in places where residents often cannot access fresh produce. The chain is the fastest-growing retailer in the United States, and it's targeting rural towns by offering basic goods at cheap prices. Some towns object to the corporation's move into their communities, which often put local stores out of business. (Source: The Guardian; Image: NeONBRAND on Unsplash)  More »
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  • U.S. Tobacco Control Policies to Reduce Health Disparities (R01) – HHS, National Institutes of Health (Deadline: 06/15/2020)
    The purpose is to support observational or intervention research focused on reducing health disparities in tobacco use in the United States. Specifically, it is intended to stimulate scientific inquiry focused on innovative tobacco control policies. The first cycle of applications will be accepted from September 11 – October 11, 2017. There will be two application cycles in June and October of each year, with the last cycle ending in June 2020.  Funding »
  • Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans & Home Repairs in Wisconsin – USDA Rural Development (Deadline: 12/31/2020)
    Funds are available for very low and low-income individuals and families seeking to purchase or repair a home in a rural area. 
  • Community Service Grants - Wrigley Company Foundation (Deadline: 10/01/2018)
    Grants will be awarded to practicing dental hygienist, group of hygienists, or an interdisciplinary team of professionals that includes a dental hygienist, who are involved in a specific community health project that improves the public’s oral health and provide oral health education.   Up to $5,000 will be awarded to licensed dental hygienists who are active members of the American Dental Hygienists' Association. Applications accepted on a yearly basis.  Funding »
  • Give Kids A Smile Continuity of Care Grants – American Dental Association Foundation (Deadline: 10/31/2018)
    Funding will assist GKAS programs that offer continuity of dental care to underserved children after their initial GKAS visit, because a major goal of any GKAS program is to establish a process by which a child can get continued care over several years. The 2018-2019 application period is not yet established. Check this website on or about May 1, 2018 for more information and exact deadline date. Funding »
  • Hometown Safety Grant - Alliant Energy Foundation (Deadline: 09/01/2018)
    Grants are awarded to organizations and projects that serve or protect the community. This includes police and fire departments, as well as schools, libraries and other public service organizations. Examples of appropriate requests: Jaws of Life or thermal-imaging cameras; A defibrillator in a public building; Community emergency alert system; Personal protective equipment for service providers.  Funding »
  • Hometown Safety Grant - Alliant Energy Foundation (Deadline: 01/01/2019)
    Grants are awarded to organizations and projects that serve or protect the community. This includes police and fire departments, as well as schools, libraries and other public service organizations. Examples of appropriate requests: Jaws of Life or thermal-imaging cameras; A defibrillator in a public building; Community emergency alert system; Personal protective equipment for service providers.  Funding »
  • Foundation for Rural Service Grant Program (Deadline: 09/15/2018)
    The goal of this program is to support local efforts to build and sustain a high quality of life in rural America. Grants will be for programs in rural communities served by NTCA members and concentrated in four major areas: Business Development; Community Development; Education; Telecommunications.  Applications accepted on an annual basis.  Funding »
  • Hero Miles - Fisher House Foundation, Inc. (Deadline: 12/31/2020)
    The Program provides round-trip airline tickets to wounded, injured, and ill service members and/or their families who are undergoing treatment at a military or VA medical center; or who are attending an authorized event. Flights are made possible through frequent flyer mile donations made by individual airline passengers. Related: Hotels for Heroes»  Applications accepted on an ongoing basis. Funding »
  • Change Incubator Funding – Medical College of Wisconsin (Deadline: 12/31/2020)
    Change Incubator Funding aims to invest in community-based partnerships to overcome challenges and increase their readiness for and effectiveness in carrying out larger community health improvement initiatives. Funding will support groups of applicants representing diverse organizations and perspectives to collaborate on infrastructure development, action planning and partnership development to jumpstart the collaborative planning, implementation, evaluation, dissemination and sustainability processes of a community health improvement initiative. Three focus areas: Partnership Development and Action Planning; Strategic Planning and Partnership Growth and Sustainability; and Communicating your Impact.  Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the fiscal year with a quarterly cap on the total funds released. Funding »
  • Veterans Employment Grant Program- WI Veterans Affairs (Deadline: 12/31/2020)
    Funding is an incentive program to support businesses hiring honorably discharged veterans with a 50% or more service-related disability. Employers can receive up to $5,000 in funding over 12 month period when they hire a qualifying veteran full-time and up to $2,500 for part-time. Funding »
  • Implementation and Evaluation of New Health Information Technology (IT) Strategies for Collecting and Using Patient-Reported Outcome (PRO) Measures (U18) – HHS, Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (Deadline: 09/25/2019)
    This FOA invites U18 cooperative agreement applications to stimulate innovative and collaborative research by utilizing new health information technology (IT) strategies for collecting and using patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures in primary care and other ambulatory care settings. Funding »
  • Health Information Technology (IT) to Improve Health Care Quality and Outcomes (R21) – HHS, Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (Deadline: 07/16/2019)
    AHRQ invites grant applications for funding to conduct exploratory and developmental research grants for projects in the early and conceptual stages of development that will contribute to the evidence base of how health information technology (IT) improves health care quality and outcomes. Funding »
  • SEARCH - Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households – USDA (Deadline: 12/31/2020)
    This program helps very small, financially distressed rural communities with predevelopment feasibility studies, design assistance, and technical assistance on proposed water and waste disposal projects.  Applications on accepted on an ongoing basis. Funding »
  • Beyond Pencils & Computer Grants - Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin (Deadline: 10/01/2018)
    Grants are available to Pre-K to12th grade teachers throughout the Merrill School District to initiate innovative and creative projects and programs that enhance their curriculum. Applications are accepted on an annual basis. Funding »
  • Make a Difference Day Grants (Deadline: 09/30/2018)
    The third Saturday in October is "Make A Difference Day," a national day of helping others - a celebration of neighbor helping neighbor. The Volunteer Center Special Projects Fund can help students throughout Marathon County participate in volunteerism by providing grants of $50 - 250 to teachers willing to implement a "Make A Difference" project involving their students. The grant can be used to provide transportation, or to purchase necessary supplies or equipment for your project.  Applications are accepted on an annual basis. Funding »
  • Beyond Pencils & Crayons Grants - Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin (Deadline: 09/30/2018)
    Grants are available to K-12 teachers throughout Marathon County to initiate innovative and creative projects and programs that enhance their curriculum. Through a competitive review process, our selection committee looks for proposals that fill a specific need, are cost-effective, provide educational value, and demonstrate a sense of community.  Applications are available on an annual basis. Funding »
  • Clyde F. Schlueter Foundation Grants (Deadline: 10/15/2018)
    Proposals for projects and programs that will allow nonprofit organizations, located in the Wausau area, to provide for growth in character and service of area youth and for civic improvements.  Applications accepted annually, two times per year. Funding »
  • Murco Foundation Grants (Deadline: 09/01/2018)
    Applications are considered from nonprofit organizations serving the greater Wausau area and Marathon County. The focus of their funding is for the advancement of education and the arts in our community.  Applications accepted on a yearly basis. Funding »
  • Mid Wisconsin Foundation Legacy Grants (Deadline: 10/15/2018)
    Proposals are accepted online for specifically identified projects and programs that will benefit nonprofit organizations located in communities formerly served by Mid Wisconsin Bank. Grants generally do not exceed $1,000.  Applications accepted on a yearly basis. Funding »
  • Domestic Violence Shelter Grant Program - Mary Kay Foundation (Deadline: 04/30/2019)
    Funding is awarded to deserving women’s domestic violence shelters across the United States. Each year, the Foundation awards a grant to at least one domestic violence shelter in every state that applies.  Applications accepted on a yearly basis. Check website for exact application details.  Funding »
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