Controlled Substances Mandate POSTPONED

January 2021

Mandate on Controlled Substances Postponed Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD) issued a waiver process for the electronic prescribing mandate set to take effect Jan. 1, 2021. The mandate, defined in Section 195.550, RSMo, requires all controlled substances to be electronically prescribed unless the provider can show they meet one of several exemptions through a waiver process defined by the department. Due to the pandemic response, the department issued a waiver of the statute postponing the electronic prescribing mandate until March 31, 2021.

BNDD issued emergency rule 19 CSR 30-1.080, which outlines the process for submitting a waiver request. BNDD will begin processing waiver applications on Jan. 1. Hospitals and providers are encouraged to review the mandate exceptions, and providers should begin submitting waivers as appropriate in anticipation of the March 31 deadline. The waiver questions will be added to the annual application for registration that registrants fill out and submit once a year when they obtain a new registration.

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It's Time to Renew Your MRHA Membership

If you're not a member, join us.

Download 2021 Membership Form

A Message from the HRSA Administrator

Communities throughout our nation continue to be impacted by the opioid epidemic, which has been exacerbated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The toolkit developed by the HRSA Office of Women's Health provides resources and information to bolster care coordination services for women with opioid use disorder.

Access the Toolkit Here

A webinar introducing this toolkit and how to navigate it will be held on January 28. For questions or comments related to the toolkit, please contact HRSAOWH@hrsa.gov.

COVID-19 and the Flu Pose a Double Threat

According to the CDC, getting a flu vaccine during 2020-2021 is more important than ever because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Flu vaccination is especially important for people who are at high risk from flu; many of whom are also at high risk for COVID-19 or serious outcomes.

Read the CDC's Defense Against Flu

HRSA Funds Additional Rural Health Clinics to Expand COVID-19 Testing

On December 7, HRSA disbursed $9.3 million to support COVID-19 testing at Rural Health Clinics (RHC). The terms and conditions for recipients of this round of funding remain the same as those for RHCs previously funded in May 2020. Recently posted Frequently Asked Questions about the program provide more details.

READ THE FAQs

Visit the AHEAD Dashboard

Upcoming Funding Opportunities

SAMHSA Grants for Building Communities of Recovery

APPLY BY FEBRUARY 15

Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part C Capacity Development Program

APPLY BY FEBRUARY 19

DOJ Research and Evaluation on Violence Against Women

APPLY BY MARCH 16

VOLUNTEER DRIVERS URGENTLY NEEDED:

Lack of transportation to health and wellness appointments is a barrier in many rural communities preventing individuals from accessing the care they need. Dependable transportation is necessary, as individuals without it are more likely to suffer poorer health outcomes.

Support your neighbors by becoming a volunteer driver with MRHA and HealthTran. As a volunteer driver, you will provide individuals in your area with rides to health and wellness appointments as well as set your own schedule and driving limits. Your service makes a difference – sign up today to get started!

Drivers are urgently needed in the following cities: Versailles, Clinton, Warsaw, West Plains, Buckner, Lexington, Concordia, Waverly, and St. Joseph. To learn more about becoming a driver, call 573.616.2740 ext 4 or

e-mail allison@morha.org. Thank you for creating change in your community!

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AARP 2021 Community Challenge

The AARP 2021 Community Challenge funds projects that build momentum for local change. Applications open in February.

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Rural Hospitals Have Higher Percentages of Patients with COVID-19

Since the onset of COVID-19, public health leaders have emphasized reducing the rate of viral spread to ensure that hospitals did not become overwhelmed. On December 15, 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published weekly data on each individual hospital's status on indicators for acute management of COVID-19 patients.

These data were analyzed to compare the percentage of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in rural versus urban hospitals.

The percentage of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 is higher in rural hospitals than in urban hospitals in most census regions.

Policy implications: A higher percent of hospitalized patients have COVID-19 in rural hospitals than in urban hospitals. Because staffing can be more difficult to maintain in rural hospitals, the higher exposure in rural hospitals may put their staffs – and the hospitals they work in – at greater risk to maintain peak care capacity.

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Go Red for Women is February 5, 2021

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Upcoming Funding Opportunities

Community Behavioral Health Clinic Expansion Grants

DOJ Research and Evaluation on Violence Against Women

HRSA Evidence-Based Telehealth Grant Program

HRSA Grants for RCORP - Psychostimulant Support

Webinar: Demystifying the Immigration Process

Immigration laws and policies contain certain very desirable provisions intended to provide rural healthcare facilities, FQHC’s, and other healthcare employers experiencing recruitment challenges with the ability to recruit International Physicians. Yet, many employers shy away from considering International Physicians owing to the perceived complexity, expense, and uncertainty with U.S. immigration.

This program is intended to demystify the immigration process and to provide attendees with some meaningful insights and pointers not solely on qualifying International Physicians for immigration status, but also how immigration can assist in recruitment efforts.

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More details to come!

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