By Olivia Weeks

Low-income rural Americans aren’t getting equal access to justice because too many legal-aid programs are designed as if they are serving big cities, a new study says.
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Health care centers, grantees and partners have an exciting opportunity to help spread the word about an upcoming program.  Eligible patients and households may apply for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program when it opens in late April.

Background

The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program lowers the cost of high-speed internet service to ensure people have the connectivity they need during the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency.  By the end of April, $3.2 billion in funding will be available to provide qualifying households discounts on their internet service bills and an opportunity to receive a discount on a computer or tablet.  The EBB program is similar to the Lifeline program with expanded eligibility, vendors, and subsidies.  This benefit is available directly to consumers on a first come, first serve basis.

Eligible patients and households may submit applications beginning around late April.  Health centers and organizations are encouraged to begin preparing to increase awareness and help patients apply (e.g., outreach, internet access, and supporting applications completion).  Organizations are encouraged to develop a plan now to support patients as funds are expected to go quickly.

How You Can Help

• Share information about the EBB program with patients.
  • FCC’s EBB webpage
  • Fact sheet
• Provide access to the internet and basic technical support at your organization so patients can complete the application.

The Telehealth Resource Centers are available to assist with questions.  For more information, including recorded technical assistance webinars, please visit the FCC-supported technical assistance provider Universal Service Administrative Company and visit the resources below.

Resources for the EBB Program:

• FCC’s EBB webpage
• Consumer FAQ for Emergency Broadband Benefit
• Fact sheet
• “Become an Outreach Partner”
• Universal Service Administrative Company Technical Assistance Webinars

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Justin Maxson announced that USDA is accepting applications for grants to improve rural transportation systems.

USDA is making the grants available under the Rural Business Development Grant program. Eligible applicants are organizations seeking to provide rural communities with training and technical assistance to improve transportation services and facilities. USDA does not provide funding directly to individuals under this program.

Applications will be scored, reviewed, and selected on a competitive basis. Applications must be submitted to the applicant’s nearest USDA office by June 30, 2021, at 4:30 p.m. local time. Additional information is available on page 17112 of the April1, 2021, Federal Register.

In Pennsylvania, please contact the Business and Cooperatives Program Director David Foster at 717-237-2181 or David.Foster@usda.gov with any questions about the program or application process.

Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that provide measurable results in helping rural communities build robust and sustainable economies through strategic investments in infrastructure, partnerships, and innovation.

Agency to Host Public Listening Session on April 22

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is requesting public input from interested parties, including potential customers and interested stakeholders, to help create a new Rural Renewable Energy Pilot Program. To ensure a diverse group of voices are heard, USDA is seeking written comments and will host a public listening session on April 22, 2021.

“When we invest in creating new sources of renewable energy, we invest in rebuilding the middle class by creating good-paying jobs in rural America,” USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Justin Maxson said. “To meet this goal, we must put rural communities at the heart of climate action and climate-smart solutions, and that begins with getting feedback from a broad, diverse set of voices from the start.”

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (PL116-260) provided $10 million to USDA to develop a pilot program that provides financial assistance to rural communities to further develop renewable energy. This request for information and the stakeholder listening session seek input to help develop options for the Rural Renewable Energy Pilot Program. The new program will aim to support the Nation’s critical energy needs, and combat climate change while advancing environmental justice, racial equity, and economic opportunity through the use of distributed energy technologies, innovations, and/or solutions.

The stakeholder listening session will be held virtually on Thursday, April 22, 2021, 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. EDT. Anyone can RSVP to participate online.

Public comment is requested on the following topics:

• Program purposes, goals, metrics, and standards;
• Eligible applicants, participants, partners including but not limited to communities, residencies, industry, and commercial entities;
• Eligible technologies including but not limited to generation, storage, controller, and grid;
• Potential impact of the pilot program and renewable energy systems more broadly on each of the following: environmental justice, racial equity, and economic opportunity; and
• Options to measure and maximize the benefits of renewable energy systems for environmental justice, racial equity, and economic opportunity in rural areas.

Written comments are encouraged and must be submitted online by April 29, 2021, via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. To submit a comment, visit http://www.regulations.gov and search for the Docket ID RBS–21–Business–0010. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. All comments received will be posted without change and will be publicly available on regulations.gov.

For additional information on the request for information and listening session, see page 16575 of the March 30, 2021, Federal Register.

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate, smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

During April, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) is recognizing National Minority Health Month and celebrating the office’s accomplishments since its creation in 2010. CMS OMH serves as the principal health equity advisor to CMS, working with local and federal partners to eliminate health care disparities while improving the health of all minority populations, including racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community, individuals with limited English proficiency, and rural populations.

This year, CMS OMH is looking back on it accomplishments to inform our efforts to move forward and further advance health equity for all Americans. We can’t achieve health equity alone.

Join us in honoring National Minority Health Month by learning more about 10 highlights from the past decade:

• Mapping Medicare Disparities (MMD) Tool is an interactive map designed to identify areas of disparities between subgroups of Medicare beneficiaries (e.g., racial and ethnic groups) in health outcomes, utilization, and spending. The MMD Tool now celebrates 5 years of helping to identify and map disparities in the Medicare population.
• CMS Equity Plan for Improving Quality in Medicare provides an action-oriented, results-driven path for achieving health equity by focusing on populations that experience disproportionately high burdens of disease, worse quality of care, and barriers to accessing care.
• From Coverage to Care (C2C)helps everyone understand their health coverage and can connect patients to primary care and the preventive services.
• Connected Care: The Chronic Care Management (CCM) Resource raises awareness of the benefits of CCM for patients with multiple chronic conditions and provides health care professionals with resources to implement CCM.
• Minority Research Grant Program supports researchers at minority serving institutions that are exploring how CMS can better meet the health care needs of racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, and rural populations.
• Health Equity Technical Assistance helps organizations ready to systematically take action on health disparities.
• Social Determinants of Health are factors outside of the care we receive that can play a role in our health. CMS addresses social determinants of health through its Accountable Health Communities Model.
• Stratified Reporting includes information for targeting quality improvement activities and resources, monitoring health and drug plan performance, and advancing interventions and strategies.
• As part of CMS’s Rural Health Strategy, the Rural-Urban Disparities in Health Care in Medicare Report describes rural-urban differences in health care experiences and clinical care received nationally in 2019. This work has also looked at maternal health in rural areas, to look at improving maternal health outcomes in rural areas.
• Sickle Cell Disease disproportionately impacts Black and Hispanic Americans. CMS has released reports that assess the prevalence of the disease among Medicare beneficiaries as well as pain management.

Look for more information soon about a virtual forum hosted by CMS OMH, The Road to Equity: Examining Structural Racism in Health Care.

CMS OMH is also taking time during National Minority Health Month to highlight the disproportionate impact COVID-19 has had on racial and ethnic minorities and emphasizing the importance of vaccination. Below you will find a list of resources that providers can share with their patients:

Resources

• View COVID-19 Vaccine Resources where you will find Federal resources for health care professionals, partners and patients. We have also compiled a list of resources in additional languages.
• Visit cms.gov/omhcovid19 to find Federal resources to assist those who work with the populations most vulnerable to COVID-19. Partners and organizations are also encouraged to download and share C2C COVID-19 resources to help everyone remain healthy during this public health emergency. Access these resources and shareable graphics at go.cms.gov/c2ccovid19.

To learn more about CMS OMH, please visit go.cms.gov/omh. If you are interested in receiving additional updates, subscribe to the Minority Health, C2C, Rural Health listservs.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra announced that additional savings and lower health care costs are available for consumers on HealthCare.gov. The American Rescue Plan (ARP) has increased tax credits available to consumers, helping to reduce premiums and giving consumers access to affordable health care coverage. The Department also announced an additional $50 million in advertising to bolster the Special Enrollment Period outreach campaign. The campaign will run through August 15, 2021.

“We’re delivering lower health care costs to more Americans because everyone deserves access to quality, affordable health care. Today help is here and millions of Americans can start saving money on their health insurance premiums thanks to the American Rescue Plan,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “The Biden Administration is committed to bringing down health care costs for families. Consumers can save money by visiting HealthCare.gov and choosing a plan that works for them and their budget. HHS will be reaching out to encourage Americans to use the Special Enrollment Period to sign up for quality, affordable coverage through HealthCare.gov.”

To read the HHS press release (English), visit: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/04/01/hhs-secretary-becerra-announces-reduced-costs-and-expanded-access-available-marketplace-health-coverage-under-american-rescue-plan.html

To read the HHS press release (Spanish), visit: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/04/01/secretario-de-salud-y-servicios-humanos-xavier-becerra-anuncia-reduccion-de-costos-y-expansion-de-acceso-a-cobertura-de-salud-en-el-mercado-de-salud-bajo-american-rescue-plan.html

To read the ASPE brief, visit: https://aspe.hhs.gov/pdf-report/access-to-low-premiums-issue-brief-part-II