Announcements from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy

Funding Opportunities

1. The USDA is making up to $17.5 million in grant funding available to support distance learning and telemedicine efforts serving rural America. The Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the USDA’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program was published in the Federal Register on June 28, 2013. Applications for this program must be received by Monday, August 12, 2013. The DLT Grant Program is designed to assist community facilities serving rural areas acquire distance learning and telemedicine technologies to link with other professionals to improve the services delivered to rural Americans. Each award will be between $50,000 and $500,000. Applicants must be 1) a legally incorporated organization operating a rural community facility directly or serving an organization that operates a rural community facility and 2) must currently deliver or propose to deliver distance learning or telemedicine services through and beyond the three-year grant period. Applications will be scored based on the community’s rurality and economic need, as well as efficiency and innovativeness of the use of funds, and must show that the applicant can supply at least a 15 percent funding match.

For further information, please contact Norberto Esteves by email at: norberto.esteves@wdc.usda.gov or phone: (202) 720-0665.

Webinars and Technical Assistance

1. HRSA and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality will be hosting a webinar on Friday, July 12th at 2:00pm EST. Announcing an exciting new HRSA website that provides HRSA grantees and safety net providers, such as health center providers, rural health providers, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other safety net health professionals with free, clinically relevant modules to support continuing education and workforce training.

Register at: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/52862r4pd59x&eom

Access the HRSA website for “Free Continuing Education Resources for Safety Net Health Professionals from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality”: http://www.hrsa.gov/quality/portal/index.html

2. On Tuesday, July 16th from 1:00-2:00pm CDT the AgriSafe Network will be hosting a webinar that will focus on common farm accidents among young farm workers – identifying prevention strategies, and reviewing how to increase the culture of safety.

Register at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/586755406

3. Healthy People 2020 will be hosting three webinars in July.

July 18, 2013 – Maternal Infant and Child Health
Register at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/567155762?source=govdelivery

July 24, 2013 – Measuring Policy and Environmental Change in Obesity Prevention
Register at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/926753778?source=govdelivery

July 30, 2013 – The Burden of Tuberculosis and Infectious Diseases in the U.S. and Abroad
Register at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/643595914?source=govdelivery

Household Water Well System Loan Program

RCAC (Rural Community Assistance Corporation) provides low interest loans to lower income rural residents in California, Colorado, and Utah to construct, refurbish, or replace their household water well system.

Residence must be in a rural town or community with a population not exceeding 50,000 in the state of California, Colorado, or Utah. Applicants must own and occupy the home being improved or be purchasing the home. New home construction and community water systems are not eligible. Household income may not exceed $48,516 for California, $49,793 for Colorado, and $46,711 for Utah.

For more information please click here.

A Closer Look: Filling the Rural Provider Gap

Katja Austin is one of many amazing providers making a difference in the lives of rural Coloradans. The Colorado Rural Outreach Program helped Katja further her degree so she can provide a broader scope of practice to her community.

Meet Katja Austin: a wife, mother, volunteer and rural health care provider! Katja works at Middle Park Medical Center located in Kremmling, Colo. as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She practiced as a Registered Nurse for several years, but recently went back to school to further her education and earn an Advanced Practice Nurse degree.

Her broader scope of practice as a nurse directly benefits the community by reducing patient wait time and enabling the clinic to serve more patients. Unfortunately though, it left Katja and her family with significant loan debt. Working at a rural facility with salaries averaging twenty to thirty percent less than their urban counterparts did not make the financial burden any easier for Katja. Looking for ways to ease her loan debt without having to leave Grand County, Katja applied for loan repayment from the Colorado Rural Outreach Program (CROP) and was awarded in June of 2011.

CROP is a loan repayment program administered by the Colorado Rural Health Center that helps increase access to health care in rural communities. The program assists in the recruitment and retention of health care professionals that are so greatly needed in rural Colorado. Through CROP, every rural community has the opportunity to request assistance for their unique health care workforce needs. This flexibility creates a program that delivers a solution as unique as each rural community that applies.

Providing care and improving access in Grand County is of the utmost importance to Katja. She focuses on preventive health for women and children and enthusiastically volunteers her time at the local county schools, conducting growth and development classes and participating in school health fairs. “Ms. Austin never ceases to amaze me with the abilities she demonstrates as a provider. She always makes an extra effort to understand the patients’ individual needs and strives to improve the experience and overall care,” said Dr. John Wisneski, her attending physician.

CROP has not only helped Katja become more financially independent and feel valued by her clinic (as they applied for CROP on her behalf), but has blossomed out to positively affect the entire community. “We have implemented numerous community outreach programs impacted by the CROP grant,” said Katja. “We do free annual sports physicals in the local schools each year, allowing more children the opportunity to participate in sports with less financial stress on families. Many of these children may not have the opportunity to be seen by a health care provider unless an emergency occurs.”

In 2011 Katja won the Grand County Good Neighbor Award for her unfailingly kind support and concern for her patients. “Receiving the CROP grant has played a significant role in my ability to provide community outreach,” said Katja.

Since 2005 CROP has provided funding for 98 clinics and 168 health care providers. With strong support of organizations like the Colorado Health Foundation and health care stakeholders, the program continues to help more people and strengthen access to care for rural patients throughout the state.

written by Emily Berger

2013 Faculty Loan Repayment Program (FLRP) Application Cycle Open

In case you haven’t heard… the 2013 Faculty Loan Repayment Program (FLRP) application cycle is now open!  As a partner, you can help us spread the word.  We anticipate making 20 new awards this year.

The Faculty Loan Repayment Program supports health professions educators who are from disadvantaged backgrounds and serve a vital role in preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals. If you know any prospective applicants, or belong to an organization that would reach prospective applicants, make them aware:

• FLRP will provide a lump sum, up to a maximum of $40,000, for a two year service commitment.  In addition, FLRP requires a funding match from the applicant’s health professions school, which helps program participants further reduce their educational debt.
• FLRP participants who have additional qualifying loans once their service commitment is complete may re-apply for another two-year contract in exchange for additional years of service.
• The financial assistance offered through FLRP decreases the economic barriers associated with pursuing a career as a health professions educator preparing the next generation of health professionals.

Applications are due by 7:30 pm ET on June 27, 2013. 

As in previous years, FLRP is expected to be competitive.  If there are more qualified applicants than available funding, preference will be based upon: the amount of financial match from the applicant’s school; full-time faculty status; and demonstrated commitment to promoting health care careers.

Please direct prospective applicants to the FLRP website at http://www.hrsa.gov/loanscholarships/repayment/Faculty/ for more information and to begin the application process.  

The 2013 Faculty Loan Repayment Program scheduled to open SOON

Help us spread the word! The 2013 Faculty Loan Repayment Program (FLRP) application cycle is scheduled to open soon. If you know of a health professions faculty member that may be eligible, refer them to the email signup page to receive future Faculty Loan Repayment Program notifications.

WHO: Faculty members from disadvantaged backgrounds with a professional health care degree/certificate may receive up to $40K in loan repayment assistance in exchange for teaching at educational institutions that provide training for health care professionals.

WHY: Health professions faculty members help educate tomorrow’s healthcare workforce!

WHEN: Spread the word by forwarding this message to your network today!

WHERE: Check out the FLRP factsheet to learn more!

As in previous years, this program is expected to be competitive. If there are more qualified applicants than available funding, preference will be based upon: the amount of financial match from the applicant’s school; full-time faculty status; and faculty who demonstrate a commitment to promoting healthcare careers.

USAC's Rural Health Care Program FY2013 Window Opens

Eligible health care providers (HCPs) can begin the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program application process for Funding Year (FY) 2013 by filing FCC Form 465, Description of Services Requested and Certification Form, for the Telecommunications and Internet Access programs beginning today, April 8.

FY2013 starts July 1, 2013, and ends June 30, 2014. FCC Forms 466 and 466-A will be available at 9:00 AM July 1.

• Apply now using My Portal. 
• Click here for help with My Portal. 
• New to the RHC Program? Visit the Getting Started page on our website. 
• For information about the FCC Form 465, visit the Online Learning Library. 

Use the most of your time!

Get the most out of your travel to Denver and consider arriving a day early for this special workshop on Disaster Recovery and EHR Systems!

Presented by The Colorado Rural Health Center and Data Services for Healthcare (DASH) 

To register click here.

Tuesday April 2, 2013 

10:30 am - 3 pm

Colorado Rural Health Center

3033 S. Parker Road, Suite 606

Aurora, CO 80014

Why your IT staff or leadership MUST attend this workshop: 

• We will present the latest innovations and concepts in developing and deploying an affordable and appropriate disaster recovery plan for your facility 
• Disaster recovery and contingency plan policies and procedures will be reviewed. Every participant will leave with an up to date HIPAA DR and Contingency plan policy and procedure template you can quickly adopt at your facility! 
• Take a virtual tour of a Data Center that would provide the highest level of data security 
• We will facilitate several roundtable discussions with industry experts on solutions for each participant's DR planning issues and concerns 

Additionally we will have the following presentations:

1. Update on what IT staff should do relevant to the recent HIPAA Omnibus Rule
2. Presentation on an innovative solution to internal audit of your EHR, PACS and other systems that create, maintain or store PHI
3. Presentation on Mobile Device Security trends and new solutions

Who should attend:

• Critical Access Hospital IT leadership and staff 
• Rural PPS hospital IT leadership and staff 
• ClinicNet Safety net clinics who have IT staff 
• Federally Qualified Health Centers 

Fee: There is a nominal $25 fee to cover lunch and refreshments. Recognizing the burden attending may pose to our rural facilities DASH is offering a limited number of $200 scholarships to defray travel costs. These will be issued on a first come/first serve basis. Details on signing up for these scholarship will be included on registration forms.

To register click here.

For more information email David Ginsberg, Senior Advisor at dg@coruralhealth.org

RHC Forum Scholarships

The CRHC is excited to offer scholarship opportunities for RHC facilities to help their staff attend the 2013 Forum!

The Forum serves as an essential educational, training, and networking event for all safety net clinics, members of the clinic team, and other interested parties. However, even after paying the registration fee attending the Forum can be a hurdle on its own, with the rising gas prices and hotel fees involved.

So let us help you attend!

Approved staff members can receive up to $500.00 per person to attend The Forum. Please click here for more information on how your clinic can receive funds to attend the Forum 2013. Don’t miss this excellent opportunity!

For more information (including agenda) on the Forum 2013, click here.

If you have any questions about registration, please contact Bridgette Olson at bo@coruralhealth.org.

SEED Grant Application Deadline

The first round of SEED grant applications are due April 30th!

The Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) sets aside a portion of its discretionary revenues for the Colorado Rural Health Seed Grant program. Seed Grant money is available for rural projects whose intent matches the mission of CRHC. Rural organizational members can apply for these grants in amounts up to $1,500.

Please click here for more information, as well as applications.

Don’t miss the opportunity to offer loan repayment to your healthcare providers!

Do you have a healthcare provider at your facility who is interested in loan repayment? Let them know that the Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC) Loan Repayment Program spring 2013 application cycle will open March 1st, 2013.  The application cycle is open for one month, closing on March 31st, 2013.

Up to $105,000 for a 3-year commitment is available to your primary care healthcare providers!

CHSC provides loan repayment to fully trained primary care providers in exchange for either a three-year full-time service obligation in an underserved community. After completing their initial years of service, loan repayors may apply for additional years of support! Eligible providers include primary care Family Physicians, Internists, OB/GYNs, Pediatricians, Dentists, Psychiatrists, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives, Dental Hygienists and licensed mental health professionals.

Many types of health care facilities are CHSC eligible sites including Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, Community Health Centers, and safety-net clinics.

To find out more about the CHSC Loan Repayment Program, please visit http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/pp/primarycare/chsc/.

Would you like to speak with someone to find out if your facility is eligible for loan repayment? Contact Colorado Provider Recruitment (CPR) at cpr@coruralhealth.org or (303) 832-7493.

Why Attending the Forum Can Save Your RHC Money

The CRHC is excited to offer scholarship opportunities for RHC facilities to help their staff attend the 2013 Forum!

The Forum serves as an essential educational, training, and networking event for all safety net clinics, members of the clinic team, and other interested parties. However, even after paying the registration fee attending the Forum can be a hurdle on its own, with the rising gas prices and hotel fees involved.

So let us help you attend!

Approved staff members can receive up to $500.00 per person to attend The Forum. Please click here for more information on how your clinic can receive funds to attend the Forum 2013. Don’t miss this excellent opportunity!

For more information (including agenda) on the Forum 2013, click here.

If you have any questions about registration, please contact Bridgette Olson at bo@coruralhealth.org.

Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program

The Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program (Broadband Program) furnishes loans and loan guarantees to provide funds for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide service at the broadband lending speed in eligible rural areas.

The goal of the Broadband Program is to ensure that rural consumers enjoy the same quality and range of services that are available in urban and suburban communities. This program aims to lend to entities capable of repaying its loans and that plan to offer service at a level that keeps pace with technology upgrades while meeting the demands of customers in rural America.

Please click here for more information, including eligibility and funding.

National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program NOW OPEN!

Don’t miss out on your chance for loan repayment! 

Pay off your student loans while serving communities in need. 

Do you have a healthcare provider at your facility who is interested in loan repayment? National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program is now open! NHSC is open from February 7th, 2013 through April 16th, 2013.

Up to $60,000 for a 2-year commitment is available to your primary care healthcare providers!

NHSC provides loan repayment to fully trained primary care providers in exchange for either a two year service obligation in an underserved community. After completing their initial years of service, loan repayors may apply for additional years of support! Eligible providers include primary care Family Physicians, Internists, OB/GYNs, Pediatricians, Psychiatrists, Dentists, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives, Dental Hygienists and licensed mental health professionals.

Many types of healthcare facilities are NHSC eligible sites including Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, Community Health Centers, and safety-net clinics.

To find out more about the NHSC Loan Repayment Program, please visit http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/index.html.


Would you like to speak with someone to find out if your facility is eligible for loan repayment? Contact Colorado Provider Recruitment (CPR) at cpr@coruralhealth.org or (303) 832-7493.

Finding Funding

Research is the first step for success in grant-writing. Developed by the Community Resource Center, the Colorado Grants Guide is Colorado's leading tool for grant funding research. This comprehensive, online database profiles over 750 local foundations and trusts, corporations, national funders, government agencies and religious organizations that support Colorado nonprofit organizations.

Participants of this training will learn the steps necessary to develop an organized, focused approach to research and how to optimize their search efforts, using this online resource. Save valuable time and resources and master the Colorado Grants Guide Online today.

• Master your usage of the Colorado Grants Guide online for grant funding research
• Understand basic grant terminology and how research fits into the larger process
• Recognize what to look for in a foundation 990

*Class participants will receive a 10% discount on the Colorado Grants Guide annual subscription if purchased on the day of the training!

Date: 2/6/2013
Start Time: 1:00 PM
End Time: 3:00 PM
Location: Mt. Shavano Conference Room (233 A&B), Touber Building: 448 E. First Street Salida, CO 81201
Instructor: Crissy Supples, RPD Program Associate

Rural Access to Emergency Devices (RAED) Training Funds

Rural Access to Emergency Devices (RAED) Training Funds 

Colorado Rural Health Center has limited funding available through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy RAED grant, to train first responders, as well as community members in CPR/AED courses. Entities eligible for this funding must be located in rural Colorado counties (contact Ron Seedorf for questions on eligibility) and courses must have been completed between 6/01/12 and 3/1/13. For more information, please follow this link: AED Training Funds

For all questions regarding this funding contact:
Ron Seedorf at 970-302-9021 or rs@coruralhealth.org

Rural Access to Emergency Devices (RAED) Training Funds

The Colorado Rural Health Center, Colorado’s State Office of Rural Health has limited funding available through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s federal Office of Rural Health Policy RAED grant, to train first responders, as well as community members in CPR/AED courses. 

The courses must be either American Heart Association or American Red Cross, as they are the national standards recognized by the state. Entities eligible for this funding must be located in rural Colorado counties (contact Ron Seedorf at rs@coruralhealth.org for questions on eligibility) and courses must have been completed between June 1, 2012 and March 1, 2013.

Visit the RAED Training Funds page for eligibility information and the required forms.

Foundation for Rural Service College Scholarship Program

Website : Link to program website
Sponsor : Foundation for Rural Service
Deadlines : March 1, 2013
Contact : Email: foundation@frs.org

Purpose
Foundation for Rural Service College Scholarship Program offers scholarships to students from rural America for their first year of college, university, or vocational-technical school.

Eligibility
Applicants must first contact their local telecommunications provider to ascertain if they are a member of the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA). Applicants must be nominated by a NTCA member organization.

Graduating high school seniors who have been accepted into an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school are eligible to apply. Applicants must have at least a C grade point average and express an interest to return to a rural community following graduation.

Geographic coverage : Nationwide
Amount of funding  : (30) $2,500 scholarships and (4) $5,000 scholarships will be awarded.
Application process :
Completed applications should be mailed to:
Selection Committee
Foundation for Rural Service
4121 Wilson Boulevard, 10th Floor
Arlington, VA 22203

For complete information about funding programs, including your application status, please contact funders directly. Summaries are provided for your convenience only. RAC does not take part in application processes or monitor application status.

FCC Establishes Healthcare Connect Fund

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced an order establishing a new Healthcare Connect Fund as part of a reform of the current Rural Health Care Program. The Healthcare Connect Fund will help expand access by connecting health care providers to broadband networks needed for delivery of telemedicine by:

• Removing artificial limitations on technology and provider type, 
• Encouraging consortia between smaller rural health care providers and urban medical centers to enable remote hospitals and clinics to draw on the medical, technical, and administrative resources of larger providers, 
• Requiring participants to contribute 35 percent of the costs, while affording health care providers access to lower rates through group buying, 
• Supporting broadband services purchased from diverse communications providers, while also allowing health care providers to construct new broadband networks when that is the most cost-effective option, and 
• Covering upgrades to higher speed service required for health care applications. 

In addition, the FCC announced the establishment of a new competitive Pilot Program with up to $50 million in funding over three years to test expanding broadband healthcare networks to skilled nursing facilities.

Additional information about the order will be shared via email and the Latest News section of the Rural Health Care Program website as it is released.

2013 SEED Grants Applications Now Available!!

The Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) sets aside a portion of its discretionary revenues for the Colorado Rural Health Seed Grant program. Seed Grant money is available for rural projects whose intent matches the mission of CRHC. Rural organizational members can apply for these grants in amounts up to $1,500.

For more information on Eligibility, Expectations, Examples, Application Process and Other Information, please click here to be sent to the CRHC Seed Grant website page.

A couple of changes have been made to the SEED grant application and process for the coming year. First of all, there will be only (2) deadline dates (April 30 and September 30) with a CRHC committee of four to review the proposals. Secondly, the application has been updated with just a few minor changes. Please review both the flyer and the application.

If you have any questions please get in touch with Kendra Brooks at kb@coruralhealth.org or 303.996.9698.

2013 Marva Jean Jackson Rural Community Scholarships

The Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) created the Marva Jean Jackson (MJJ) Rural Community Health Scholarships Program in 2003 to encourage rural facilities and communities to develop or support local scholarship programs. Many rural communities in Colorado experience a chronic shortage of healthcare providers. Evidence shows that one of the factors that can influence a provider’s decision to practice in a rural area is his “roots”: being from a rural area. Programs that support healthcare training and education for students from rural areas have proven to be effective tools in addressing rural workforce shortages.

A couple of changes have been made to the Marva Jean Jackson grant program for the coming year. First of all, applications will be accepted until November of 2013 and a CRHC committee of four will review the proposals. Secondly, the application has been updated with just a few minor changes. Please carefully review both the application and application guide.

For more information on the Marva Jean Jackson grant program, please click here.

If you have any questions please get in touch with Kendra Brooks at kb@coruralhealth.org or 303.996.9698.