The NOSORH website has two new pages dedicated to COVID-19 resources and responses. This regularly updated content is intended to provide resources at your fingertips. The COVID-19 Resources page features regulatory requirements and guidance while the SORH COVID-19 Response page provides the SORH perspective on a variety of relevant topics.  

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we regret to inform you that the National Rural EMS Conference scheduled for April 20-23 has been cancelled. We know that EMS leaders are dedicated to their rural communities right now and we are thankful for their service during this time. We are rebooking for the same time (April) and place (Columbus, OH) next year. We hope you will join us in 2021! If you had already registered for the 2020 conference and have questions regarding your refund, please contact Donna Pfaendtner at donnap@nosorh.org . 

Registration is open for the 2020 Rural Health Data Institute (RHDI)! RHDI is a weekly series of eight, 90-minute webinars designed for rural health stakeholders who are looking to advance their data-use skills. Former participants have included State Offices of Rural Health, state governmental agencies, academic institutions, community coalitions and more. The curriculum is intended for those with limited or no knowledge of the data use process. Registration closes May 1 and webinars run from May 12-June 30, 2020. Click here for more information and to register!

National Rural Health Day continues to be successful because of support from our members and partners. NOSORH is proud of the reach and impact this program has year after year as we work to bring new programs, ideas, events, and opportunities to celebrate the #PowerofRural! Check out this new fact sheet that showcases the impact of National Rural Health Day 2019 at the local, state and national level. Also, be sure to mark your calendar for Thursday, November 19, and stay tuned for the 2020 National Rural Health Day and Power of Rural campaign activities!

NOSORH, FORHP, and this year’s 5 host states are moving ahead with their planning of the Regional Meetings which will include some re-scheduling or virtual meetings. Please know we will be monitoring this very closely and will continue plans to hold the meetings. If there are any cancellations, you will be notified 30 days before the meeting so that you can plan accordingly. For updated agendas, pre-meeting topics, registrations, and hotel information, please click here .

September may seem like it’s light-years away, but the fact that it is already April should speak to how soon (in a healthier world) we will all be meeting in Saratoga Springs, New York! NOSORH will be convening the planning committee this month, so be looking for the invitation to New York to be hitting your inboxes soon. Things are changing rapidly these days and know that NOSORH has its ears to ground regarding how COVID-19 may affect this meeting. NOSORH’s policy is to provide participants the status of each in-person meeting at least 30 days in advance. If you have any questions, please contact Matt Strycker at stryckerm@nosorh.org.

COVID-19 Spurs Passage of Landmark Spending Bills

With the spread of COVID-19 throughout the United States, Congress passed and the President signed into law three major funding bills addressing the crisis. Below is a look at the three bills and a preview of what’s next for Congress.

On March 6, President Trump signed into law H.R. 6074 – The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Appropriations bill. This bill provides $950 million to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for grants to states. The bill also included $100 million to HRSA under the Health Centers Program as defined by section 330 of the Public Health Service Act. Read More

We often hear our rural health partners discuss community health needs assessments (CHNA) and community health improvement plans (CHIP), but are we all talking about the same thing?

With support from FORHP, NOSORH developed a new fact sheet examining rural CHNAs and CHIPs . It explores the nuances of the terms for rural health stakeholders, as part of the broader community health improvement process. Highlighting the differences between non-profit hospital reporting of financial benefits and an accredited health department CHIP – a communication barrier for many - and offering useful tools and resources to learn more, the fact sheet can encourage meaningful discussions at the community level.