RURAL ROUTE

June 2022

Hello Flex Colleagues,

Happy Summer!

The TASC team has been enjoying the warmer weather. We have also been able to travel recently for the first time in a few years. We hope that we will be able to meet some of you in person soon!

We are also less than a month away from the Flex Reverse Site Visit! Remember to register for the Reverse Site Visit (RSV) if you haven't already. We are looking forward to hearing some of your fellow state Flex program colleagues share their experiences and best practices at this event. A full agenda has been posted on the event site. The TASC team will be sharing information about a refreshed Core Competency Guide as well as a staff sustainability guide.

We have a few more webinars coming up before the end of our program year, but as always, please reach out to us with any questions you may have. If we don't know the answer, we will work our hardest to find it!

Always,

Matt Bancroft

Program Specialist - TASC/SHIP

July 19-21: Reverse Site Visit

August 2: HIT Coalition Webinar: Public Health Infrastructure Modernization

August 4: Flex Virtual Knowledge Group

August 11: SHIP Health Equity Learning Collaborative Begins

August 17: Leadership Sustainability TASC 90

Health Equity Resource Library

State Flex Program Profiles

Flex Program Fundamentals

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

RHPTP Program: Crossing The Threshold: Seeking Organizational Resilience

RHIhub: Palliative Care — More Than Just Hospice, with Karla Weng and Pat Justis

Flex Monitoring Team: Supporting CAH Hospital Staff During COVID-19

The 2022 County Health Rankings were released on April 27, 2022. Read more at County Health Rankings and Roadmaps.

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Updates

Hello Flex Colleagues!

Summer is in full swing here in DC so I hope all of you are staying a bit cooler than we are! I know many of us in Federal Office of Rural Health Policy have been able to start traveling again, for both meetings and site visits, so I want to take this chance to say thank you for the warm welcome! It has been wonderful to see you all in person. We are so looking forward to connecting with you at the Flex Reverse Site Visit next month, July 19^th-21^st. If you have not registered yet, please do so!

MBQIP eligibility requirements will re-launch with the Flex competitive award in Fiscal Year 2024. FORHP is working with State Flex Programs to support hospitals in measure reporting. Hospitals are encouraged to work directly with their state Flex Coordinator to prepare to meet MBQIP eligibility. MBQIP questions can be directed to MBQIP@hrsa.gov.

As always, if you have any questions or just anything you would like to share with us, please reach out to me directly or to your Project Officer. Our door is always open!

Thank you,

Laura

CAH Regulatory Updates

CMS Issues Report on Advancing Rural Maternal Health Equity

CMS Issues Home Health Proposed Rule for Calendar Year 2023

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

New EMS Funding Opportunity Available Now!

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) established the new Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary program with $5 billion in appropriated funds over the next 5 years. In fiscal year 2022 (FY22), up to $1 billion is available. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.

Who is eligible to apply for grant funding?

Metropolitan planning organizations;
Counties, cities, towns, and transit agencies or other special districts that are subdivisions of a State;
Federally recognized Tribal governments; and
Multijurisdictional groups comprised of the above entities.

Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday, September 15, 2022. More information on this opportunity can be found here.

Flex Program Welcomes and Farewells

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Several state Flex programs have had staffing changes recently. It is always exciting to welcome new partners and see what unique talents they bring to rural health! Please join me in welcoming and congratulating the following:

Welcomes:

Andy Jones, KS

Kristen Nolen, IL SHIP

Liz Craker, UT

Sandee Kyler, PA

Karen Maloney, NH

We hate to lose amazing people but wish nothing but the best for our friends as they embark on new adventures. The following have, or will be leaving, their Flex positions:

Exiting staff:

Caroline Wroczynski, KS

Tiffany Taylor, MO

Kye Richards, WI

Renesia Jones, FL

Nathan Morse, ME

MBQIP Updates

The MBQIP Monthly includes:

CAHs Can! National Rural Virtual Quality Improvement Mentor Profile Series: Cara Cruz
Data: CAHs Measure Up – Prioritize Your QI Projects
Tips: Robyn Quips – EDTC Abstraction Quiz
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

State SHIP Guidance and Management Webinar

National Rural HIT Coalition: Rural Care Coordination During The Pandemic

Delta Program Customizable Communications Toolkit

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

For any questions or concerns, please contact us:

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

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.