What's New
Uniform Data System 2019 Reporting Season
The Uniform Data System (UDS) 2019 reporting period began last week. All HRSA-funded health centers and look-alikes are required to submit complete and accurate UDS reports by Saturday, February 15. Upon successful submission, your UDS report will be assigned to a UDS reviewer who will work with you to finalize your data submission through March. No changes will be permitted to the UDS report after Tuesday, March 31. As a requirement of the Health Center Program award, UDS reports must be submitted on time with complete and accurate data.
The 2019 UDS Manual and other UDS reporting resources can help you complete an accurate report. The Manual includes detailed instructions for completing each of the tables and appendices, and information on how to submit UDS data through EHBs.
There are two helpful tools for health centers to complete their UDS report offline: an Excel file and an HTML file. They were created as part of the effort to move UDS reporting from a manual process to a more automated process. Watch this video to learn more.
Direct all EHBs or Health Center Program questions to Health Center Program Support online or at 877-464-4772. Direct UDS content and reporting questions to the UDS Support Center by email or at 866-UDS-HELP (866-837-4357).
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New Diabetes Action Plan Animated Tutorial
HRSA has released a new animated video that illustrates the key steps related to the year-long diabetes action plan in EHBs. These steps include reviewing the plan and returning it to HRSA, submitting progress updates, and the final resolution. HRSA will focus on the UDS diabetes measure during 2020 Operational Site Visits and diabetes TA visits. This video is a terrific resource for health centers with existing diabetes action plans or new 2020 action plans!
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New Resources on UDS Modernization
The UDS Modernization Initiative aims to reduce UDS reporting burden, improve data quality, and more fully measure the impact of the Health Center Program. Check out these new resources to learn more:
Visit the UDS Modernization webpage for other resources.
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Health Center Blood Pressure Control Data Dashboard
Nearly 30% of health center patients experience high blood pressure (hypertension), a known risk factor for heart disease. HRSA is introducing a new way to visualize and interact with health center hypertension data. Using UDS information, the new hypertension data dashboard provides a multilevel view of blood pressure control in HRSA-funded health centers. You can use it to compare health center-level and state-level UDS data to national benchmarks.
Check back for new health center data dashboards coming soon!
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Veterans Administration Requesting Comments on Pilot Program for Dental Health Care Access
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a Notice of Intent and Request for Comment for a 5-year demonstration project, the Care Coordination for Dental Benefits program. The proposed program will provide community-based dental care for enrolled veterans who are not eligible for current VA dental benefits. It will allow eligible veterans to seek dental services from pilot sites and access an online platform listing for free or discounted dental care services. Health centers are noted as key providers of these services.
The VA is accepting comments on this new program through January 13, 2020. Find out more.
Medicare Site Enrollment Webinar Recording Now Available
HRSA recently hosted a webinar featuring the CMS Center for Program Integrity‘s Provider Enrollment and Oversight Group that explained upgrades to the Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS) for health centers enrolling in Medicare to receive FQHC certification. The upgrades are the result of a HRSA and CMS collaboration to streamline the enrollment process for new health center sites. The webinar recording and slides are available on our Strategic Initiatives page.
Substance Use Disorder & Mental Health
Learn About the HRSA Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health TA
The HRSA Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health TA provides TA for behavioral health professionals developing an integrated team for primary care and behavioral health services. Check out these opportunities to engage with the Center:
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Attend an upcoming “Office Hours” webinar focused on interprofessional collaboration. After a 30-minute presentation by Center experts, you'll be invited to ask questions.
Thursday, January 9
3:00-4:30 p.m. ET
Register here
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Apply for practice transformation coaching. The Center offers health centers virtual and onsite practice transformation coaching to increase integration and implementation of behavioral health services in their practices. Apply now.
Clinician Consultation Center Substance Use Warmline
Providers can access free peer-to-peer clinical consultation on substance use disorder assessment and treatment on the HRSA-supported, University of California San Francisco Substance Use Warmline. Expert clinical staff offer advice on patient-centered approaches and decision-making, use of evidence-based strategies, including medication-assisted treatment, harm reduction, overdose prevention, and integrated treatment strategies for co-occurring behavioral health conditions and chronic pain. Connect by phone toll-free at 855-300-3595, or upload patient cases securely. The Warmline operates from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday.
HIV
Ready, Set, PrEP FAQs
After the presentation at the December BPHC All-Programs, we received questions from some of you about Ready, Set, PrEP, and/or about other Ending the HIV Epidemic-related activities. See those questions and our responses.
Sexual Health and Wellness for LGBTQIA+ Older Adults
Because older adults are less likely to be tested for HIV, they can experience a higher incidence of comorbid health conditions.
The National Center for Equitable Care for Elders and the National LGBT Health Education Center, both HRSA-funded National Cooperative Agreements (NCAs), present a webinar series addressing the importance of discussing safe sexual practices with LGBTQIA+ older adults and the value of connecting individuals to HIV prevention methods like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
Part 1:
Thursday, January 23
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here
Part 2:
Thursday, February 20
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here
Diabetes
CMS Releases New Diabetes Resources
To help patients, providers, and patient advocates overcome the challenges diabetes treatment can present, CMS released new resources for health care providers and patient advocates.
Workforce
SAMHSA hosts a National Health Service Corps Webinar
SAMHSA’s Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale TA Center Strategy invites you to learn about HRSA’s National Health Service Corps (NHSC) program. Presenters will discuss the increasing need for providers who can treat mental and substance use disorders in underserved communities, describe their own experience in the NHSC, and provide information on the application process.
Recovery LIVE! From Sea to Shining Sea: Workforce Efforts to Build Healthy Communities Through the NHSC
Thursday, January 8
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Join the webcast the day of the session
Call-in: 888-407-5039
Passcode: 89975631
Cervical Health Awareness Month
Speaker Series: Supporting Cervical Health Through Data and Practice
HRSA observes Cervical Health Awareness month each January. Join us for the next session in HRSA’s Data for Decision-Making Speaker Series focused on cervical health. Speakers from CDC, the American Cancer Society, and a health center will share cervical health surveillance data, as well as promising practices and experiences promoting cervical health.
Thursday, January 30
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here
Additional Resources
Peer Review: The Fundamentals
Evaluating provider competency through regular peer review ensures ongoing assessment of the quality of patient care and promotes patient safety. Peer review as an educational process can help health centers and free clinics identify high-risk areas and make improvements to ensure safety.
ECRI Institute’s next Patient Safety Leadership Speaker Series webinar (presented on HRSA’s behalf) will feature Michael R. Callahan, JD, a nationally recognized advisor on health care legal issues. He will walk through the peer review process, providing recommendations, tips, and examples to help health centers and free clinics conduct peer review effectively and efficiently. He will also talk about legal considerations and will provide a peer review policy template and other resources.
Wednesday, January 8
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here
What Do the Data Tell Us?
The National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable presents a webinar examining key colorectal cancer screening national data sets:
- UDS
- CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
- National Health Interview Survey
- National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA) Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set
Experts from HRSA, CDC, American Cancer Society, and NCQA will give an update on progress made and needed areas of focus to help inform work ahead.
Thursday, January 30
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Register here
2020 Starting With Success Training Opportunity
The National Association of Community Health Centers, a HRSA-funded NCA, is hosting Starting with Success: Building and Enhancing Your Health Center in January, in Long Beach, CA. This is an in-person, 2-day “Health Center 101” for new, veteran, and/or future health center leaders. Participants will receive foundational knowledge and practical tools on running a high-performing health center.
Learning Collaborative: Improving Access to Care for Justice-Involved Patients and their Families
Several HRSA-funded NCAs are convening a learning collaborative beginning in February to explore the intersection of health and justice involvement, including incarceration. The four-module learning collaborative provides an overview of the criminal justice system, strategies to reduce barriers to care (including stigma), links between housing and criminal justice involvement, and opportunities to pursue community partnerships. Participants will join faculty members for facilitated peer-learning. Get more information (including dates) or register now. Up to 4 CME/CNE credits are available for participation in this learning collaborative.
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