The Membership Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
Passage of Stopgap Shutdowns Potential Midnight Shutdown
On November 21, President Trump signed a continuing resolution bill funding the government through December 20, 2019. This stopgap measure provided Congress four additional weeks to reach an agreement on a Fiscal Year 2020 spending bill. The continuing resolution (H.R. 3055) cleared the Senate and was signed into law just hours before the midnight deadline.
The funding bill contains funding extensions for many health care programs, such as community health centers and teaching health centers that operate graduate medical education programs, and extends the community mental health services demonstration program. It also delays again the nearly $4 billion in Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) cuts.
Congress now has less than two weeks to pass an omnibus spending bill for FY ’20 or pass another CR. Senate leaders are predicting an additional CR will be needed through February or March of 2020. Throughout 2019, the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) has called on the Senate to increase the funding for the State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) grant program. Please contact NOSORH if you are interested in reaching out to your Senators.
Congress Mulls Rural Health Package Before Year-End
With just weeks remaining in 2019, NOSORH has been meeting with House and Senate staff on a possible year-end rural health package. The long-awaited package of rural health legislation would come out of the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees.
On the House side, the Ways and Means Committee released a Request for Information in November to interested rural stakeholders. NOSORH submitted extensive comments to the committee and is working with the Co-chairs of the Ways and Means Rural Health Taskforce on next steps. The chairs of the task force are Reps. Terri Sewell (D-AL), Jodey Arrington (R-TX), Danny Davis (D-IL), and Brad Wenstrup (R-OH).
Senate Rural Health Caucus Introduces Bill
On November 20, the Co-chairs of the Senate Rural Health Caucus, Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) and Tina Smith (D-MN), introduced the Strengthening Our Rural Health Workforce Act of 2019. The bill, S. 2902, seeks to establish a new National Rural Health Care Workforce Commission. The Commission would develop both short and long-term goals to improve the rural health workforce and help coordinate work to achieve these goals across federal agencies and at the national and state levels. The legislation would also award grants for States to translate the new Rural Health Workforce recommendations into reality. A summary of the bill can be found here. The bill has been referred to the Senate HELP Committee.
Congress Celebrates National Rural Health Day
On November 21, Rep. Abby Finkenauer (D-IA) introduced H. Res. 719, a resolution in support of National Rural Health Day. The resolution expresses that Congress supports the goals and ideals of National Rural Health Day, celebrates rural health care providers and rural Americans and commits to advancing legislation to improve health care in rural America. The resolution had the bipartisan support of 12 other House members. Approximately 40 members of Congress and various other congressional committees tweeted their support of NRHD on November 21.
The 9th annual National Rural Health Day (NRHD) was celebrated on November 21, 2019, with a record number of nationwide events held by State Offices of Rural Health, rural partners, communities, providers and other stakeholders. What began as an annual, single day of recognition has grown to be a national conversation and movement! On November 21 alone, the #PowerofRural trended on Twitter with over 3,400 tweets and 16 million impressions, surpassing 2018’s numbers by 9 million impressions! The week of NRHD saw an astounding 19.8 million impressions and close to 5,000 tweets!
NOSORH was honored to release the 2019 Community Stars e-book on NRHD. This year’s publication (also available for purchase in a new hard copy format) features the inspiring stories of individuals and organizations from 44 different states who are working every day to make a difference in their rural communities through innovation, collaboration, education and communication. Close to 100 nominations were received, so thank you to all who took the time to nominate a deserving rural health hero. Please be sure to take a moment to read these incredible stories and be sure to shine a light on your state’s star!
There was no shortage of opportunities to celebrate the Power of Rural this year. Featured activities included a two-week screening of the award-winning documentary film The Providers, a weeklong lineup of events hosted by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy and other national agencies and organizations, Walk with a Doc walks, and a call to action to post the #PowerofRural at 11:21 in each time zone to create a coast-to-coast virtual conversation. The Rural Medical Education (RME) Collaborative partnered with NOSORH to host a free online CME event on November 23 for rural primary care clinicians. Hundreds of providers participated in this unique, inaugural event. NOSORH also hosted a live webinar discussion with The Providers documentary filmmakers and Matthew Probst, PA-C, one of three rural health care providers featured in the film. The recording can be found here on the NOSORH website. Additionally, NOSORH and the RHIhub co-hosted the Twitter chat “Access to Funding for Rural Health Projects”, featuring special guests from HRSA, USDA Rural Development, Healthcare Collaborative of Rural Missouri, American Hospital Association, Rural Philanthropy Analysis Project, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Helmsley Charitable Trust Rural Healthcare. Click here for a transcript of the chat and resources shared.
Along with the multitude of events promoted by national partners, all 50 State Offices of Rural Health across the country took part in NRHD activities, including obtaining 25 gubernatorial proclamations. State Offices conducted site visits, held contests, presented rural health awards, reached out to policymakers, produced videos, hosted The Providers screening parties, held rural health conferences and meetings, presented to medical students, engaged in social media conversations, and much more.
As always, NOSORH greatly appreciates the support and engagement of nationwide partners and the 50 State Offices of Rural Health! Your support helps NRHD receive broader national attention and reach new audiences to bring even more awareness to the amazing work being done in rural and underserved areas. Let’s work together to keep the Power of Rural momentum going throughout 2020! Mark your calendar for Thursday, November 19, 2020, and join NOSORH for the 10th annual National Rural Health Day.
The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH), its Federal, state, nonprofit, and other partners, invite all those who live, work, visit or return to their roots in rural America to thank rural health professionals and celebrate the Power of Rural on November 21, 2019. The “key messages” for National Rural Health Day include: 1.) Rural America is fueling an innovative rural health infrastructure; 2.) Rural America is a great place for mission-minded health professionals to provide individualized care; and 3.) Rural America offers a beautiful and challenging landscape, requiring unique approaches.
It’s not too late to get involved with National Rural Health Day (NRHD) activities! Visit the PowerofRural.org website for the latest news and events happening throughout the country.
Below are some fun, easy ways to “plug in” to the Power of Rural this month:
Spotlight the #PowerofRural on Social Media
Follow NOSORH on Facebook/Twitter and use the #PowerofRural in every post (and encourage others to do the same)! Download social media graphics from the toolkits. Click here to put a National Rural Health Day frame on your Facebook Profile Pic!
Join our Thunderclap
Help us amplify the #PowerofRural by joining the nationwide NRHD Thunderclap! Tweet the #PowerofRural at 11:21 am (in your timezone) on 11.21.19!
NOSORH/RHIhub Twitter Chat on Funding
RHIhub and NOSORH are co-hosting a NRHD Twitter Chat “Access to Funding for Rural Health Projects”. Join the discussion at 1:00 pm ET on November 21 by using the hashtag #RuralHealthChat!
NEW-“Key Messages and Data Points” Publication
NOSORH is excited to offer a brand new “Key Messages & Data Points” electronic publication for National Rural Health Day! The document features rural-relevant data under 3 National Rural Health Day key messages. Click here to view and download.
The Providers film screening
This year’s National Rural Health Day will feature a special two-week screening (November 7-21) of the award-winning documentary, The Providers. The film is set against the backdrop of the physician shortage and opioid epidemic in rural America and follows three healthcare providers and their patients. Encourage your clinics, hospitals, office, etc to host a screening of the film as a way to celebrate NRHD! Click here to register.
Live web event featuring The Providers
A live NRHD web event titled “The Art of Telling Your Power of Rural Story”, will be held on November 21 at 2:00 pm ET. Join this insightful discussion with Anna Moot-Levin, one of the film’s producers, and featured provider, Matt Probst, PA-C, from El Centro Family Health. Together, they will offer participants a window into the world of making the film and discuss the importance of storytelling to inspire more collaboration and innovation that leads to positive change, improves rural health outcomes and perceptions, and more. Registrants of the film screening and web event will be given a “Providers Discussion Guide” as a framework for having meaningful conversations about the film’s central themes. Additionally, registered participants can pose questions in advance of the web event. Click here to register.
Community Stars – Now taking pre-orders for hardcopy book!
Stay tuned for the release of the 2019 Community Stars e-book on November 21! This year’s publication will feature the inspiring stories of “Stars” from 44 different states who are making a big impact on rural health! Also, for the first time, the Community Stars book will be available in electronic and hardcopy format! Pre-order your hardcopy book today!
NRHD Toolkits available for free resources!
The PowerofRural website has easy-to-use online toolkits with resources designed for community stakeholders, including hospitals, clinics, first responders, and others who serve the health needs of rural communities. Toolkits includes logos, display advertising, social media, public service announcement and media release templates, and much more! We encourage you to share these tools widely with your partners. You can even make the tools your own by adding your logo and URL.
Rural Health Clinical Congress- Free CME Event for Rural Providers- Nov 23
In partnership with NOSORH, RME Collaborative is proud to offer the 2019 Rural Health Clinical Congress (RHCC)! The RHCC is designed to take the distance out of learning, providing high-level, practical education for rural healthcare professionals through a virtual learning environment. This free, multi-topic CME/CE event is specifically for primary care clinicians and registered nurses who care for patients in rural and underserved areas. The RHCC will take place on Saturday, November 23, and feature a comprehensive curriculum covering clinical, practice management, and patient-centric topics, including diabetes, heart failure, asthma, teledermatology, and dyslipidemia. The program will be delivered by rural and clinical experts through an interactive, engaging virtual platform. Click here to learn more and register for this unique continuing education event!
Walk with a Doc on 11.21.19
Invite rural hospitals, health clinics, and communities in your state to host a free Walk with a Doc event on NRHD. Walk with a Doc is a fun and easy way to engage communities in better health while celebrating the Power of Rural!
Nationwide Activities to Note
Organizations and agencies from around the country are hosting their own National Rural Health Day Events, including the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy! Be sure to check out their schedule of events and make plans to participate!
The Chartis Center for Rural Health will announce the 2019 Performance Leadership Awards on NRHD. Based on the results of the Hospital Strength INDEX from iVantage Health Analytics, the 2019 Performance Leadership Awards reflect top quartile performance among all rural hospitals in the United States in either Quality, Outcomes or Patient Perspective. The Chartis Center for Rural Health will be reaching out to SORH this week with a link to this year’s award winners and marketing resources.
Share Your Plans!
We want to hear from you! Are you planning an event on NRHD? Do you have a unique idea you’d like to share with us? During the weeks leading up to NRHD 2019, your event will be shown on the Power of Rural website. Click here to submit your plans.
Visit www.powerofrural.org for more ideas! Contact Ashley Muninger, NOSORH Communications & Development Coordinator, for more information.
Making the Most of National Rural Health Day – Karen Madden and Kirby Lecy
KNOW SOMEONE MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT?
Nominate them as a 2019 Community Star!
At NOSORH, we are dedicated to bringing attention to the outstanding contributions of those who are working to improve health in rural America through leadership development, advocacy, education, and collaborative partnerships. We hope you will help us in our search for this year’s outstanding Community Stars in connection to the Power of Rural movement and National Rural Health Day (November 21, 2019).
As in year’s past, we’re asking our friends and partners to identify those who are making a positive health impact in their rural community, and to nominate them for consideration to be included in the 2019 Community Stars ebook, a publication released annually on National Rural Health Day!
HELP US REACH OUR GOAL
This year, we’re issuing a challenge to our partners and stakeholders, asking that they help us reach the goal of featuring one Community Star (individuals, organization, or consortium) from each of the 50 states!
When you click the link below, you’ll be directed to a secure online nomination form located on the PowerofRural.org website. If you know of an individual or organization that we should shine a light on and celebrate this National Rural Health Day, please take just a few moments to nominate them by August 9, 2019.
Finally, please share this information with your contacts, asking them to nominate someone they know who is making a difference in rural health!