NOSORH, its Federal, state, nonprofit, and other partners, invite all those who live, work, and visit rural America to thank rural health professionals and celebrate the Power of Rural on November 21, 2019. It’s not too late to get involved with National Rural Health Day (NRHD) activities or plan your own celebration! On 11/21, in addition to reading the Community Stars eBook, be sure to take part in the #PowerofRural Thunderclap at 11:21 am, the " Access to Funding for Rural Health Projects" Twitter Chat at 1:00 ET, and the live web event featuring The Providers at 2:00 ET. Click here for more scheduled events and fun, easy ways to "plug in" to the Power of Rural!

NOSORH would like to thank everyone for a successful Annual Meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A special thanks to the Planning Committee members who put together an agenda that really spoke to the needs of the members.

NOSORH always strives to make the Annual Meeting meaningful and pertinent information for State Offices. Members made the most of the twenty-four sessions that were offered over the two-day meeting and reported: “I have so many new resources and information. I am very excited over everything I brought back with me.” Another attendee stated, “Always my favorite meeting of the year! As always, great pertinent sessions, plenty of time to network with colleagues, engaging speakers, wonderful helpful staff, innovative approaches, and leaves you feeling inspired and ready to tackle the work!”

To the New Mexico State Office of Rural Health, whose excitement to be hosting was evident from the “Welcome to New Mexico” opening, the swag bags, and the giveaways between sessions, thank you for being such amazing hosts. One attendee noted, “I thought the special touches from the NM State Office were great. They really were terrific hosts!”

All session presentations and resources have been posted to the NOSORH website. Be sure to mark your calendar for the 2020 Annual Meeting: September 29-30, Saratoga Springs, New York!

NOSORH partners support our mission to promote the capacity of State Offices of Rural Health and their stakeholders to improve health in rural America through leadership development, advocacy, education and partnership. NOSORH is thankful for the continued support that our partners have provided over the years through various investments and collaborations. NOSORH greatly appreciates your support!

 Meet our Partners

Congratulations to the 2019 NOSORH Award recipients! Awardees were honored at a ceremony during the NOSORH Annual Meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on October 17. Congratulations to the Arizona Center for Rural Health (SORH Award of Excellence); Kathryn Miller, Wisconsin State Office of Rural Health (Emerging Leader Award); and Roslyn Council, New Jersey State Office of Rural Health (James D. Bernstein Mentoring Award).

 Meet the Awardees

by Beth Blevins

Funding from HRSA’s Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) program has helped several State Offices of Rural Health (SORHs) recently start—or strengthen—their work related to substance use disorder and opioid use disorder (S/OUD). Those who receive the RCORP Planning grant have a year to create or strengthen a consortium focused on SUD/OUD. (HRSA currently offers an RCORP Implementation grant that some SORH have received as well.) For example, the South Carolina Office of Rural Health (SCORH) had never focused on S/OUD activities prior to receiving the RCORP Planning grant, according to Lindsey Kilgo, Read More

Appropriations Update

On the week of October 28, the Senate began deliberation on a Labor-HHS appropriations bill for fiscal year (FY) 2020. Senate Majority Leader McConnell filed cloture on the motion to proceed to the House-passed Labor-HHS spending bill (H.R. 2740). However, on October 31, the vote to pass the House bill and begin floor debate failed in a 51-41 vote.Congress has a November 21, 2019 deadline to enact funding for FY 2020. If a bill is not passed by then another continuing resolution will need to pass. Members indicated this week that a continuing resolution could extend into early spring of 2020.

NOSORH is working with Congress to ensure the State Offices of Rural Health line is funded at the House-passed level of $12,500,000 for FY ’20. The current Senate measure only includes $10,000,000 in funding. Read More

New version of TruServe coming! The next version of TruServe will simplify data entry and provide more options for tracking. Stay tuned for more information leading up to the launch date.

The next TruServe training will be: Wednesday, November 27 at 2pm ET. Click here to join the training.