What's New
Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Request
The President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Budget request is now available. Secretary Azar issued a statement on the budget, and HHS has released its FY 2021 Budget In Brief. HRSA’s Congressional Budget Justification includes $5.7 billion for the Health Center Program, which includes funding for health centers to expand prevention and treatment HIV services.
Final Week: 340B Recertification Due by February 24
Less than one week is left for covered entities to recertify and retain their 340B participant status. Covered entities that do not recertify by the deadline of Monday, February 24, will be terminated from the HRSA 340B Program starting on Wednesday, April 1. They will require a new registration and not be eligible to participate in the 340B Program until July.
To recertify, Authorizing Officials and Primary Contacts must first set up user accounts by visiting the HRSA 340B Office of Pharmacy Affairs Information System (340B OPAIS) and choosing “I am a participant.” It is the covered entity’s responsibility to ensure they have created their accounts before recertification to allow successful completion of the process. For questions or assistance, email the 340B call center or call 888-340-2787 (Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. ET).
Health Center Patient Survey
Your health center may be contacted by the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) to assist with recruiting patients to participate in the Health Center Patient Survey. Conducted approximately every five years, the survey provides robust feedback about how health centers are providing access to primary and preventive health care to patients with diverse situations and needs. Survey results come from voluntary, one-on-one interviews held in-person with patients, and are nationally representative of the Health Center Program patient population.
Direct questions to Health Center Program Support online or at 877-464-4772, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, Monday-Friday (except federal holidays).
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Rural Communities Opioid Response Program Notice of Funding Opportunity
HRSA recently released the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) notice of funding opportunity (HRSA-20-031). HRSA plans to award approximately 89 grants to rural communities as part of this funding opportunity. Applications are due by Friday, April 24, in Grants.gov.
Successful RCORP-Implementation award recipients will receive $1 million for a three-year period of performance to enhance and expand substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD), service delivery in high-risk rural communities. They will implement a set of core SUD/OUD prevention, treatment, and recovery activities that align with HHS' Five-Point Strategy to Combat the Opioid Crisis.
Grants 101 Webinars
HRSA's Office of Regional Operations will host Grants 101 webinars for anyone interested in learning about HRSA grants. These will highlight how to find HRSA funding opportunities and understand the HRSA grant application process. They will also provide resources to assist with applications.
HRSA Grant Programs TA
Tuesday, February 18
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here
HRSA Grant Programs TA: Creating a Competitive Grant Proposal
Wednesday, February 19
11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET
Register here
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices 2020 Recommended Immunization Schedules
Substance Use Disorder & Mental Health
Pharmacotherapy for Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Opioid Use Disorder
HRSA and the National Clinician Consultation Center offer an interactive office hour session aimed at helping health center clinicians make vital medication treatment decisions. Participants will learn to:
- Describe the relationship between OUD and comorbid mood and anxiety disorders.
- Identify the available evidence for treatment of depression and anxiety in patients with OUD.
- Design a medication regimen for patients with comorbid OUD and depression or anxiety disorders.
Wednesday, February 19
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here
Opportunities from The HRSA Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Technical Assistance (TA)
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Medication-Assisted Treatment in Primary Care: Foundations of Implementation
Presenters will review the current state of SUD treatment, share strategies health centers can use to prepare for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) implementation, and present a case study featuring the steps a health center took to build their MAT program.
Thursday, February 27
3:00-4:30 p.m. ET
Register here
Updated Toolkit Helps Primary Care Providers Manage Patients Taking Opioids
AHRQ recently updated their toolkit to help primary care providers manage patients who use opioids to treat chronic pain. The new Self-Service How-To Guide adds an important component to AHRQ’s Six Building Blocks opioid treatment toolkit, a structured, systems-based approach to improving management of patients who use long-term opioid therapy.
HIV
Ending the HIV Epidemic: Community Engagement Highlights Webcasts HRSA invites you to the second of a two-part webcast series on the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America (EHE) initiative. Learn about key themes discovered during 2019 EHE community engagement events. HRSA Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) recipients in the EHE-focus jurisdictions will share best practices and highlight models of care in their communities.
Presentations from RWHAP Part A Recipients in Phoenix, AZ; Boston, MA; and Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL
Tuesday, February 18
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Join the webcast the day of the session
Promising Practices on Addressing Stigma and HIV in Primary Care Settings
Experts from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the HRSA-funded Southeast AIDS Education Training Center will discuss various forms of stigma and how it impacts patient outcomes. They will also share stigma reduction resources to assist health centers providing services to people living with HIV.
Thursday, March 5
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here
Workforce
Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program Application Cycle is Open
HRSA’s Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program is accepting applications until 7:30 p.m. ET, on Thursday, March 12. As part of HRSA's efforts to combat the nation's opioid crisis, there is special funding this year for psychiatric nurse practitioners. The goal is to increase the nursing workforce at critical shortage facilities and provide evidence-based care to patients in need of OUD and behavioral health treatment.
HRSA's Virtual Job Fair
HRSA’s Virtual Job Fairs are free online recruitment events that connect students and clinicians with health care delivery organizations.
Wednesday, March 4
6:45-10:15 p.m. ET
Employer registration closes TODAY.
Job seekers may register until the event.
Retention Academy: Resources for Retention
The Association of Clinicians for the Underserved’s STAR2 Center invites health center teams to apply for this year’s Retention Academy. The cohort will focus on critical components of a workforce retention plan: health center mission, work culture, career pathways, and compensation and benefits. Learn more and apply by Friday, March 6. The Association of Clinicians for the Underserved is a HRSA-funded NCA.
American Heart Month
February is American Heart Month. We’ll feature resources and learning opportunities throughout the month.
Next Week: Participate in an Interactive Virtual Town Hall on Resistant Hypertension
Learn about factors that contribute to resistant hypertension and evidence-based options for treatment and control. Join other health centers in the interactive portion to share experiences and ask questions about treating patients with this condition.
Addressing Hard-to-Control Hypertension: Let Us Count the Ways Tuesday, February 25
2:00-3:30 p.m. ET
Register here
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Making Control the Goal
How do you empower patients to make blood pressure control their goal?
The CDC Million Hearts® initiative handout, How to Make Control Your Goal, encourages patients to ask questions and seek support.
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Additional Resources
Patient Safety Awareness Week: Achieving Safe and Reliable Health Care
HRSA is hosting Dr. Allan Frankel, an internationally recognized expert in patient safety. He will discuss the socio-technical framework for promoting a culture of safety, effective leadership, and continuous learning. He will provide practical strategies for improving safety, focusing on teamwork, psychological safety, and accountability.
Tuesday, March 10
1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Join the webcast the day of the session
Call-in: 888-795-3252
Passcode: 3284388
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Learning Collaborative: Adverse Interpersonal Relationships in Older Adults
Incidents of elder mistreatment, abuse, and neglect often go undetected by clinical and support staff despite estimates that 1 in 10 adults over age 60 have experienced some form of abuse. The National Center for Equitable Care for Elders, a HRSA-funded NCA, offers a learning collaborative to help health center staff understand:
- Elder abuse.
- Consequences of adverse interpersonal relationships in populations aging in place at home as well as in residential facilities.
- Perpetration of abuse by family members and domestic partners.
Register now or learn more.
Risk and Safety Resource Spotlight: Resources to Improve Diagnostic Test Tracking Processes
Health centers should ensure that effective test tracking and communication strategies are in place in order to make timely diagnoses, initiate appropriate treatment, follow up on identified concerns, and provide high-quality care for patients. ECRI Institute’s Clinical Risk Management Program includes checklists, tools, and other resources to help:
All resources are free for health centers, look-alikes, free clinics, and Primary Care Associations. Contact ECRI Institute for access.
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The Health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders Served at Health Centers: Uniform Data System 2018 Report
The Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO, a HRSA-funded NCA) published a new report examining the current patient demographics and use of health centers serving Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. It also highlights the differences between these centers and the national average of all health centers in the U.S.
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