The Branch
A monthly update for NOSORH members and partners
September 2022
National Rural Health Day: Celebrating All Who Go the Extra Mile for Rural
On November 17th, help NOSORH celebrate all who go the extra mile for rural health! Visit PowerofRural.org to find everything you need for this year’s National Rural Health Day (NRHD) celebration:


  • Not sure where to start? Visit the Ways to Celebrate page for some ideas!
  • The 2022 Promotional Toolkit is full of free downloadable tools, such as graphics, posters, PowerPoint templates, and more! A great place to start is to put the NRHD logo in your email signature and on your website.
  • The NRHD Shop is open for business! This year, two new items are available: a removable vinyl sticker and a stainless travel mug!
  • NOSORH is partnering with RME Collaborative again to offer the Rural Health Clinical Congress on Saturday, November 19th. This is a FREE, multi-topic CME/CE virtual conference designed for primary care providers who serve patients in rural and underserved areas.
  • We encourage you to use #PowerofRural or #NationalRuralHealthDay (and tag @NOSORH) in your social posts!

Contact Ashley Muninger at ashleym@nosorh.org for more information!
NOSORH Featured Event: Telling the Stories of Rural Health in America
In conjunction with National Rural Health Day, NOSORH invites you to Telling the Stories of Rural Health in America on September 27th at 2:00 pm ET! This unique web event is for communications and public relations professionals, journalists, bloggers, editors, and others interested in communicating and reporting on rural health and all it entails. A panel of industry leaders will share their perspectives on positive rural health storytelling, followed by a facilitated discussion focused on your interests and challenges in communicating about rural health. Click here to learn more and register!
Rural Health Policy Update
On August 16, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 into law. The massive reconciliation bill extends the Affordable Care Act marketplace subsidies for three years through the end of 2025 and creates a novel approach to the federal government negotiating a select amount of prescription drug prices under Medicare. In the wake of signing the bill into law, the Biden Administration released two resources on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Here is a state-by-state fact sheet, and here is a by-the-numbers fact sheet. Read More
USDA Emergency Rural Health Care Grants Now Available
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) provides the Rural Housing Service Community Facilities Program with up to $500 million in grant funding for eligible applicants and eligible facilities as part of the Emergency Rural Health Care Grant Program. The program aims to help broaden access to COVID-19 testing and vaccines, health care services (including telehealth services), food assistance through food banks and food distribution facilities, and collaborative, evidence-based support for the long-term sustainability of rural health care. Check out the USDA's website to learn more about the program and see the Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA).
SORH Regional Meeting Materials Available on NOSORH Website
In collaboration with the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, NOSORH recently conducted five regional partnership meetings for State Offices of Rural Health. All regional meeting presentations and recordings are now posted on the NOSORH website. Check out recordings and presentations from other regions for some great resources! 
Rural Telementoring UnConference: A Free Virtual Event
The Rural Telementoring Training Center is hosting a Rural Telementoring UnConference on October 26, 2022, from 10:00-2:00 pm CT. This FREE virtual event will feature brief presentations on topics relevant to rural health care delivery, followed by group discussion, idea generation, and collaboration. Unlike traditional conferences, where the agenda is predetermined, and there is limited opportunity for interaction and conversation, an UnConference provides a structure that facilitates sharing experiences, idea generation, and partnership building in pursuit of shared goals. Learn More
Innovation in Telehealth Conference - September 26-28
The Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center (NRTRC) is pleased to announce that the 2022 11th Annual Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center Conference is in person this year in Salt Lake City, with an option to join virtually. Discuss, reflect, and network with subject matter experts on innovative telehealth models, policy, and what’s to come. In addition, participants may register for a pre-conference Grant Writing Workshop! Please visit nrtrc.org/conference to register and review the agenda.
Oncology Congress Registration Open
Join RME Collaborative for Oncology Congress, a FREE virtual CME/CE conference for oncology clinicians who treat patients from rural and underserved communities! During this brand-new, multi-topic event, renowned experts will deliver the latest clinical updates and advances in oncology. The live broadcast will take place on Saturday, September 24th, 2022, starting at 8:00 am CT. Click here to learn more, and help spread the word to oncology clinicians in your state. Questions? Contact RME Collaborative at cme@cmeruralhealth.com.
September
28
2:00 pm ET
October
5-6
Harrisonburg, VA
November
17
National Rural Health Day
November
19
Join RME Collaborative for the annual Rural Health Clinical Congress, a FREE virtual CME/CE conference for clinicians who serve rural and underserved communities! This multi-topic event will be broadcast live on November 19th at 8:00 am CT.
#PowerofRural