What's New
Draft for Comment: Strategy on Reducing Burden Relating to the Use of Health IT and EHRs
HHS’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) issued a draft Strategy on Reducing Regulatory and Administrative Burden Relating to the Use of Health IT and EHRs. The draft addresses concerns shared by clinicians and other stakeholders that Electronic Health Records (EHR) burden can negatively affect provider satisfaction and ultimately the care delivery experience. Read more about it in an ONC Buzz Blog post.
The public comment period on the draft strategy ends on Monday, January 28, 2019, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Uniform Data System Preliminary Reporting Environment
Health centers are taking advantage of the new Preliminary Reporting Environment (PRE) functionality in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) to enter and validate their 2018 Uniform Data System (UDS) data before the "official" reporting window opens on January 1, 2019. This year, there are two new options for offline UDS data entry (outside of the EHBs): an Excel tool and an HTML tool. Learn more about these tools by watching this video or by viewing a webinar recording—this webinar also covered the PRE. We’re also holding technical assistance office hours (scroll down to read more).
You can access the PRE through the reporting portal. The PRE aims to reduce reporting burden and improve data quality, as part of the UDS Modernization initiative. However, the PRE and the new tools are optional. Health centers may choose to enter their 2018 UDS data via EHBs on January 1, 2019, during the tradition al UDS reporting period.
Please direct all electronic reporting questions to Health Center Program Support online or by phone: 877-464-4772 from 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday (except federal holidays). Direct UDS content questions to the UDS Support Center at 866-UDS-HELP (866-837-4357) or udshelp330@bphcdata.net.
UDS Training Opportunities and Technical Assistance
HRSA provides resources and training opportunities to help you learn about UDS Modernization and to prepare for your 2018 UDS submission. Find presentations, including links to webinar recordings, and more on the UDS Resources page. In addition, here are some upcoming training opportunities:
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Introduction to the UDS Mapper
This free webinar is a general introduction to the UDS Mapper geared toward users who are new to the UDS Mapper or need a refresher.
Thursday, December 6
11:00 a.m.-noon ET
Register here
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UDS Mapper Advanced Topics
This free webinar is geared toward users who are familiar with the UDS Mapper and would like to learn more about its uses.
Friday, December 14
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here
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Offline UDS Data Entry Technical Assistance Office Hours
As mentioned above, there are two new options for offline UDS data entry: an Excel tool and an HTML tool. From now until February 15, 2019, HRSA is holding weekly technical assistance office hours for health centers that choose one of these options:
Tuesdays and Thursdays
1:00-5:00 p.m. ET
Call-in: 804-294-0066
Passcode: 49585925
Health centers may also request an appointment for technical assistance by emailing uds-support@reisystems.com with a date and time that fits your schedule. We hope that you find the new reporting features useful.
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UDS Modernization Initiative Speaker Series
The session planned for Wednesday, December 5, is postponed and will be rescheduled.
Updating Your Accreditation and Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition Information
Need to update your health center’s accreditation or Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition information? Submit updates from your EHBs Grant Folder by clicking the “HRSA Accreditation/PCMH Initiative” link and choosing either the “Request Accreditation Update” or “Request PCMH Recognition Update” button. We will review your updates and send an email confirmation once we have reviewed your request. Contact HRSA’s Accreditation and PCMH Initiative with questions.
Rural Residency Planning and Development Grant Program Now Accepting Applications
HRSA is accepting applications for the FY 2019 Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) Program in Grants.gov. Applications are due by March 4, 2019.
The grant program is a collaboration between the Bureau of Health Workforce and the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. The purpose of this grant program is to develop new rural residency programs or Rural Training Tracks (RTT) in family medicine, internal medicine, and psychiatry to support expansion of the physician workforce in rural areas. An estimated 28 awards will be made for creation of rural residency programs or RTTs intended to be sustainable through separate public or private funding beyond the three-year RRPD grant period of performance. Awardees will receive technical assistance from the Rural Residency Planning and Development – Technical Assistance Center (awarded via cooperative agreement in September) for the duration of the project period. Hospitals, medical schools, and community-based ambulatory settings that have a rural designation along with consortia of urban and rural partnerships are eligible to apply for a grant award.
Learn more at a technical assistance webinar that will provide an overview of pertinent information in the notice and an opportunity for applicants to ask questions:
Monday, December 17
2:00-3:30 p.m. ET
Join the webcast the day of the session
Questions? Contact Tracey Smith or Jemima Drake.
2019 National Health Service Corps Students to Service Loan Repayment Program
The 2019 National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Students to Service (S2S) Loan Repayment Program (LRP) application cycle is open. The program awards up to $120,000 to medical and dental students in their final year of school in exchange for a three-year commitment to provide primary care services at NHSC-approved sites in high-need areas. Review the 2019 Application and Program Guidance for information on how to apply. The NHSC S2S LRP application cycle closes on Thursday, December 20, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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Funding Opportunity: FY 2019 Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW)
Health Center Program grantees and look-alikes, in partnership with schools of nursing, may be eligible to apply for the FY 2019 Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW) Program. ANEW supports innovative academic-practice to educate primary care nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse midwives to prepare for the unique challenges of practicing in rural and underserved communities. For more information about eligibility and the application process, visit Grants.gov.
Resources
New National Cooperative Agreement Directory
The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) recently released a directory of the 20 National Cooperative Agreements (NCAs), which includes a description of each organization’s HRSA-funded activities that support health centers on a wide range of topics. Since 2017, the NCAs have collaborated on the formation of HRSA’s National Resource Center (NRC) for Training and Technical Assistance. The NRC advances health center operational excellence through the development, coordination, and dissemination of training and technical assistance materials to health centers nationwide.
Learning Collaboratives from National Center for Equitable Care for Elders
Health centers are invited to join two learning collaboratives offered by The National Center for Equitable Care for Elders, a HRSA-funded NCA. While these collaboratives kicked off last month, you may still join!
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Addiction and Older Adults - Addressing Substance Use Disorders (SUD) in the Older Adult Health Center Patient
Research suggests that substance use (illicit drug use, use of alcohol in combination with other substances, or nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals, e.g., prescription medications, OTC remedies) is an emerging public health issue among our nation's older adults. This learning collaborative will explore the issues and causes of addictions in older adults (including opioid use/abuse), how SUD uniquely affects older adults, evidence-based strategies, and available local resources.
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Improving the Quality of End-of-Life Care for Older Adults in Health Centers
Health centers face many challenges to providing patients with optimal end-of-life care. Primary care is typically fragmented across specialty, palliative, and hospice care. This learning collaborative will address end-of-life care, including advance directives, end-of-life decisions, palliative care, hospice, and caregiver/family support.
PCMH Open Forum
HRSA contracts with The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) to provide technical assistance and training for their PCMH recognition process. Health centers are welcome to attend an open forum, hosted by NCQA Government PCMH Recognition Programs (GRIP), to address questions related to their PCMH Standards, applications, and survey process.
Tuesday, December 4
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here
For more information, visit the HRSA Accreditation and Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition Initiative webpage.
Smoke-Free Public Housing Webinar
Join a HRSA webinar to learn how "Change is in the Air" for public housing units across the country as HUD's smoke-free policy went into effect on July 30. Public Housing Primary Care health centers (PHPCs) are in a unique position to collaborate with Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) to implement the smoking ban and address the health care needs of public housing residents. Join the National Center for Health in Public Housing, a HRSA-funded NCA, to learn how PHPCs and PHAs can work together to support policy implementation and improve health outcomes within their communities. This informative webinar will highlight innovations/promising practices from health centers in Alabama and New York and identify helpful resources for PHPCs.
Tuesday, December 11
12:30-2:00 p.m. ET
Join the webinar the day of the session
Call-in: 800-593-9913
Passcode: 9283710
Million Hearts® 2022 Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring Forum
Self-measured blood pressure monitoring (SMBP), also known as home BP monitoring, plus clinical support helps people with hypertension control their blood pressure. The Million Hearts® SMBP Forum will gather SMBP implementers, facilitators, and others quarterly to exchange knowledge, identify obstacles, and surface solutions in order to advance the practice of SMBP nationwide. NACHC, a HRSA-funded NCA, welcomes active participants from diverse sectors, including clinical care teams, health departments, community-based clinical support providers, employers, payers, and others. The purpose of this quarterly online meeting is to exchange best and promising practices, identify obstacles, and share resources in order to accelerate SMBP uptake.
Tuesday, December 11
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
To register, send your name, organization, and email address to MillionHeartsSMBP@nachc.org. You will receive an invitation and be added to the roster.
Advancing Oral Health and Primary Care Integration to Support People Living with HIV Webinar
HRSA will host a webinar focused on the relationship and importance between HIV/AIDS and oral health care in community health center settings. Presenters will highlight HRSA initiatives and models that support integrated oral health and primary care for people living with HIV (PLWH). We will feature two health centers that have integrated oral health and primary care for PLWH.
Wednesday, December 19
2:30-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here
Free MAT Training and Mentoring to Become a DATA-Waived Practitioner Webinar Recording Available
In a HRSA webinar earlier this year, experts from SAMHSA’s Providers Clinical Support System (PCSS) – Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program gave an overview of no-cost training and mentoring programs available to health center prescribers (physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants) and their primary care teams. These programs support evidence-based treatment of opioid use disorder. Watch the webinar recording.
Pregnancy and Substance Use Disorder
If your providers have questions about how to treat pregnant or parenting women with substance/opioid use disorder, these resources may help:
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