Please help NOSORH honor a rural health star from each of the 50 states on National Rural Health Day (November 18)! Do you know an individual, consortium, or organization whose contributions are making a big difference in the health of rural communities? It’s not too late to nominate them for the 2021 Community Stars book! But don’t delay; nominations close on August 2.

Click here to learn more and nominate.

We want to grow collaboration with organizations that share our commitment to the 50 State Offices of Rural Health and their stakeholders! This year’s NOSORH Partnership Invitation outlines the different levels of partnerships and many opportunities for engagement with NOSORH. Investing partners will have the opportunity to connect with all 50 SORH, present meeting sessions and engage with attendees at the upcoming NOSORH Annual Meeting in Saratoga Springs, New York, on October 12-14. No matter which partnership level you select, know that you will make a difference in rural health!

NOSORH is searching for a Technical Assistance Coordinator to add to their growing team! The position will focus on efforts to build the capacity of State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) and their stakeholders. The coordinator will be responsible for supporting SORH technical assistance efforts and may work directly with certified Rural Health Clinics or other safety net providers to improve access to care, general operations, quality of care, and grow the health of rural populations. The position is 100% remote and offers a flexible work schedule. For more information, check out the details and instructions in the job description. Applications are due by August 16.

NOSORH is now accepting nominations for the 2021 NOSORH Awards! These annual awards are an opportunity to salute the incredible work and leadership of State Offices of Rural Health and rural stakeholders. The online nomination process is simple and only takes about 15 minutes to do. There are five award categories from which to choose (The Andrew W. Nichols Rural Health Advocate Award and NOSORH Legislator of the Year Award do not require NOSORH membership). Click here to nominate by Friday, August 20!

On July 22, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded nearly $100 million to over 1,980 CMS-certified Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) through the Rural Health Clinic (RHC) Vaccine Confidence Grant Program to enhance vaccine outreach efforts in rural communities. As part of this work, HRSA awarded NOSORH a cooperative agreement to lead the technical assistance to the participating RHCs. NOSORH works closely with the National Association of Rural Health Clinics, the technical assistance lead for the RHC COVID-19 Testing and Mitigation Program. Collaboration between HRSA and these organizations ensures RHCs receive coordinated technical assistance to support their COVID-19 response. Read More

For rural health organizations, engaging stakeholders using social media is an essential business practice. NOSORH is excited to present a special three-part series on social media strategy facilitated by Impact! Communications, Inc. Take your communications efforts to a higher level and register for all three! This free series is open to all rural health stakeholders.

The House continues its annual push on passing fiscal 2022 spending bills ahead of the October 1 deadline. The full House is voting on the Labor-HHS spending bill this week, which is expected to pass narrowly. Included in the spending bill is $13 million for the SORH grant program, an increase of $500,000 over FY 21. The Appropriations Committee included $79,009,000 for Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Grants, $23,400,000 above the FY 21 enacted level and $23,242,000 for SHIP, an increase of $2,300,000 over FY 21. Read More

NOSORH and the Center for Economic Analysis of Rural Health (CEARH) are partnering to present Measuring the Economic Importance of Health Care in Rural Communities, the first of a two-part webinar series on the role of rural health stakeholders in community economic development. The session will be live on Monday, August 23, at 3:00 pm ET. Participants will explore the traditional models used to measure the economic contribution of health care to rural places. In addition, the presenters will provide best practices for communicating the value of health care institutions to key stakeholders. Click here for more information.

The National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) offers directors, clinic administrators, and other Rural Health Clinic (RHC) leaders a unique, full-spectrum course designed to teach how to operate a successful RHC. This self-paced course is offered all online, including the final exam on October 22. Since opening the course, NARHC has certified more than 683 participants with over a 90% passing rate. For more information and to register, click here.