RURAL ROUTE

November 2021

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This month's Rural Route is coming to you early due to the Thanksgiving holiday next week. Enjoy the mid-month version!


The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) has set today, November 18, 2021, as National Rural Health Day!


Our staff took time to reflect on loved ones who rely on rural health, the strengths of the rural communities we live in, and how our lives are personally impacted by rural health care. You can see the results in the video linked above.


Over the next few weeks, we have several opportunities for you to learn from and participate in Flex conversations. Check out the "On The Horizon" list to the right and mark your calendars accordingly!


Lastly, as we transition into a busy time of year for many people, we hope you find the time to rest and take care of yourself. Let us know how we can help.


Matt Bancroft

Program Specialist - TASC/SHIP

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Nov 18: Nat'l Rural Health Day

Nov 25: Thanksgiving (Federal)

Nov 30: End of Year Report Due

Nov 30: Flex Telehealth Webinar:

Telehealth in the Rural Hospital

Emergency Department

Dec 2: FORHP Fireside Chat

Dec 7: National Rural HIT Coalition:

Art. Intelligence in Rural HC

Dec 9: TASC 90: Flex Outcome

Measures

Dec 24: Christmas Eve (Federal)

Dec 25: Christmas Day (Federal)

Dec 31: New Years Eve (Federal)

Jan 17: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

(Federal)

Jan 30: Fed. Financial Report Due

SAVE-THE-DATE


The FORHP Virtual Reverse Site Visit will be held on July 19-21, 2022. If you are interested in serving on the planning committee, please e-mail Matt at mbancroft@ruralcenter.org


Take our RSV Content Planning Poll

Pssst... Here are a few resources from Center programs and other rural health partners:


Delta Program: Fall Communication Webinar Series

SHIP: Updated Allowable Investment Tool (ARP and COVID added)

RHI Hub: Top Stories in Rural Health (compiled)

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Updates

Dear Flex Program Coordinators


I wanted to send a huge thank you for submitting your FY 2020 Performance Improvement Measurement System (PIMS) report on time! We had 100% of Flex programs meet the deadline for reporting. The FORHP Project Officer team is reviewing your submissions and may return the report to you for additional clarification.



Please see the upcoming Flex submissions:

If you have an Unobligated Balance (UOB) for your U2W award, you have the option to carry over those funds to your current budget period, to be spent by August 31, 2022. Please discuss your plan to utilize your carryover with your Project Officer. You can then submit a Prior Approval – Carryover Request in EHB, which should include:

  • Cover Letter – detailing the reason for the UOB and your plan to spend down the funds in the current budget period making direct connections to your work plan
  • Please note: you can use carryover funds to complete an activity that was delayed in the previous budget year or expand upon an existing work plan activity. You cannot use carryover funds for NEW activities
  • Budget Justification – for the carryover amount only
  • SF424A – for the carryover amount only
  • SF424A Form template can be found here
  • Please see this helpful video about the carryover request process


On December 2 @ 3 pm, ET FORHP will host a Fireside Chat on Flex Program Quality Improvement. Join your FORHP Project Officers and MBQIP Coordinator in an interactive discussion. We invite you to share your thoughts about the Flex program quality improvement activities and the Quality Innovation Labs. FORHP will also provide important information you do not want to miss!


Thanks for all that you do,

Tori 

CAH Regulatory Update


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Seeking Public Input on

Work-Related Stress for Health Workers


CDC’s COVIDVaxView: A Data Dashboard


Interim Final Rule “Part 2” Released on Surprise Billing


Continue reading about multiple new resources, guidance, and regulations on the Flex Forum (login required).

NEW GUIDE!

Sustainable Rural EMS: Navigating Change

For more than five decades, rural ambulance services across the U.S. have been primarily staffed by volunteers. As volunteerism declines and rural ambulance staffing becomes unpredictable, it would be prudent to ask if your community has an emergency medical services (EMS) problem.


This guide is designed to assist rural communities in navigating a change from unsustainable volunteer EMS and ambulance service models to sustainable ones. This guide is intended to direct community leaders through change based on a stepped process that has been used in rural communities throughout the U.S. It includes information on assessing if a community has an EMS problem, the needed ingredients to change, and a six-step process to implement change to a more sustainable model of rural EMS.



FMT Updates and Briefs: November 2021

How Critical Access Hospitals Are Addressing the Social Needs of Rural Populations


This brief summarizes characteristics of Critical Access Hospital initiatives addressing the social needs of individuals in their communities. Partnerships in rural communities are critically important for these programs, along with the support of hospital leadership, ample funding, and dedicated staff needed to make these initiatives effective. In tandem with the previously published report, Rural Communities Addressing Social Needs, this information can provide additional best practices for developing population health initiatives in rural areas.


Please take time to read the brief and include additional resources that might help you explore the information:


Case Study: University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System's Better Health Through Housing Program


Rural Transportation: Challenges and Opportunities


MBQIP Quality Measures National Report - 2020


This report summarizes reporting rates and performance among U.S. CAHs on Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) quality measures for 2020. The data include measures from all four MBQIP domains: Patient Safety/Inpatient, Outpatient, Patient Engagement, and Care Transitions.



The FMT also produces state-level annual MBQIP reports for each of the 45 states participating in the Flex Program that can be found here.

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MBQIP Updates

The MBQIP Monthly includes:


  • CAHs Can! Antibiotic Stewardship Profile Series: Forks Community Hospital
  • Data: CAHs Measure Up – Antibiotic Stewardship Reporting Implementation Guide
  • Tips: Robyn Quips – Is Your HCP Data Showing?
  • Tools and Resources – Helping CAHs succeed in Quality Reporting & Improvement



Please send your MBQIP questions to tasc@ruralcenter.org. TASC will ensure your question reaches the appropriate person.

Webinars, Recordings, and Resources

Playbacks


Rural HIT Coalition: Cybersecurity

Financial Guide for the Rural Health Care Leaders During and Post-COVID

FY 2020 Wrap Up Webinar

State Flex Program QI Project

CAH Telehealth Guide


Resources: Highlights for your Flex Program


Delta Program: Fall Communication Webinar Series

RHPTP: Resilience: Springing Back to Move Forward

FMT: Community Impact and Benefit Activities of CAHs...

NOSORH: RHCs Awarded Nearly $100M for Vaccine Confidence Grant


A full list of resources is available in the TASC Resource Library.

CONTACT US


For any questions or concerns, please contact us:

tasc@ruralcenter.org - 877-321-9393 - www.ruralcenter.org

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This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB1RH24206, Information Services to Rural Hospital Flexibility Program Grantees, $1,560,000 (0% financed with nongovernmental sources). This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.​​