What's New
2020 Uniform Data System Reporting Requirement Changes
Join HRSA for a presentation on the changes to the calendar year 2020 Uniform Data System (UDS) reporting. (The reporting window will be open Friday, January 1, 2021, to Monday, February 15, 2021.) We will provide an overview of the changes and a question and answer session.
Thursday, May 7
1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Register here
Key reporting changes include:
- Addition of HIV screening measure (CMS349v2);
- Addition of prescription for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 10 codes and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes; and
- Revision of Appendix D to capture information on prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) and social determinants of health.
For additional information, see Program Assistance Letter (PAL) 2020-04: UDS Changes for Calendar Year 2020.
Clarification on Unobligated Balance Carryover Process under Expanded Authority
As we announced a few months ago, Health Center Program awardees do not need prior approval from HRSA to carry over unobligated balances of grant funds that are 25% or less of the amount awarded for the budget period. Starting with the submission of fiscal year 2019 Federal Financial Reports (FFR), your health center has “Expanded Authority” to carry over unobligated balances that are 25% or less of the amount awarded for the budget period, within the project period, without prior approval from HRSA.
When submitting the FFR in EHBs, there are several choices related to unobligated balances. Please note:
- The $250,000 limit on submitting carryover without prior approval does NOT apply to Health Center Program awardees.
- If your health center’s unobligated balance is 25% or less of the total amount awarded, select the first option in EHBs to request carryover. No additional action is necessary.
Visit our website for FAQs and related resources and contact your Grants Management Specialist with any specific questions.
COVID-19
HHS Awards Nearly $165 Million to Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic in Rural Communities
Last week, HHS awarded nearly $165 million to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in rural communities. These investments will support 1,779 small rural hospitals and provide additional funding to 14 HRSA-funded Telehealth Resource Centers to provide technical assistance (TA) on telehealth to help rural and underserved areas combat COVID-19. Read more.
CMS Updates for Health Centers
A new fact sheet addresses New and Expanded Flexibilities for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Highlights include:
- For telehealth, the modality to be used is an interactive audio and video telecommunications system. For Virtual Communication Services, which are not considered telehealth services, other modalities may be used.
- RHCs and FQHCs will receive $92 for a telehealth delivered service.
- Any health care practitioner working at an FQHC/RHC may provide a telehealth delivered service as long as it is within their scope.
- The health care practitioner can be at home when they furnish services via telehealth.
- New guidance pertains to providing essential non-COVID-19 care to patients without symptoms of COVID-19 in regions with low and stable incidence of COVID-19. The new recommendations are specifically targeted to communities that are in Phase 1 of the White House’s Guidelines for Opening Up America Again.
National Practitioner Data Bank Waives User Fees to Support COVID-19 Response
HRSA is temporarily waiving query fees for health care entities to search the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB). This waiver supports efforts to mobilize and deploy health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic by reducing costs and expediting credentialing, hiring, privileging, and licensing processes.
The NPDB fee waiver is retroactive from Sunday, March 1, and extends through Sunday, May 31. The NPDB will issue query credits to reimburse entities that conducted queries (one-time and continuous) between March 1 and this announcement. Learn more or access the recording from a recent teleconference.
Health Center and Look-Alike COVID-19 Survey Data Published
Last week we published updated COVID-19 data collected from HRSA-funded health centers and look-alikes.
In the survey sent on Friday, April 24, we added questions about race and ethnicity because of growing evidence of racial disparities in testing and morbidity. The CDC has added new resources on this topic:
Resources
Upcoming Events
-
Finance Office Hours for Health Centers: Strategies to Manage Operations During COVID-19: Everything About FQHC Medicare
Hosted by The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), a HRSA-funded NCA.
Tuesday, April 28
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here
-
COVID-19: A Clinic’s Experience Incorporating Emergency Management Framework for Pandemic Response
ECRI will host this webinar on HRSA’s behalf. One medical clinic incorporated FEMA’s Incident Command System framework to efficiently and effectively handle staff communications, resource management, and patient care during this pandemic. Learn more from Jennifer Schmidt, M.D., assistant professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine (St. Louis, MO). Dr. Schmidt serves as medical director in the university’s medical clinic. She will discuss approaches for managing issues such as patient triage and scheduling, business continuity and back-up plans, staff coordination, and patient communication.
Thursday, May 7
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here
Substance Use Disorder & Mental Health
Cost Accounting for Behavioral Health Integration for Health Professionals
Join a webinar presented by the HRSA Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health TA. Presenters will share strategies that health centers can use to assess their organization's level of behavioral health integration and identify strategies and resources they can use to guide telehealth billing during COVID-19.
Thursday, April 30
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
To register for the webinar, you must first set up an account on the new HRSA Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health TA website.
National Prevention Week
National Prevention Week is a public education platform that promotes prevention year-round through providing ideas, capacity building, tools, and resources to help individuals and communities make substance use prevention happen every day. This year it will happen May 10-16. Find out how your health center can participate and access resources, like the planning toolkit and promotional materials.
HIV
New Funding Opportunities
HRSA recently released several notices of funding opportunities for programming within the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program to be conducted using Minority HIV/AIDS Program funds. See open funding opportunities. The TargetHIV website includes details on pre-application TA.
Workforce
Deadline This Week: Nurse Corps Scholarship Program
HRSA’s Nurse Corps Scholarship Program is accepting applications through Thursday, April 30. Students accepted or enrolled in a diploma, associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degree nursing program may be eligible to apply. The program provides scholarships to nursing students, paying for tuition, fees, and other reasonable costs, as well as a monthly living stipend. In exchange, participants commit to a minimum of two years of full-time service (or part-time equivalent) at an eligible health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses. This year, there is special funding for nurse practitioners specializing in psychiatric mental health and nurse midwives.
Deadline Extended: Apply Now to the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program
Medical and dental school students, do you want to provide care where you’re needed most? We will support you by paying your tuition, fees, and other educational costs and by providing you a living stipend. In exchange, you agree to serve at least two years at National Health Service Corps-approved sites in underserved rural, urban, and tribal communities. Applications are now due Friday, May 15. Learn more.
|
Additional Resources
Now More Than Ever: Help Patients Quit
The CDC reports that people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions, such as moderate to severe asthma and COPD, might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Now more than ever, health centers will want to screen patients diagnosed with asthma and COPD for tobacco smoking and provide them with referrals, tools, and resources to help them quit.
A good place to start a patient on this journey is the National Cancer Institute quit line. 1-800-QUIT-NOW line will connect them with local resources. Visit CDC’s site for resources and videos that can be shared.
In case you missed it: Visit the Primary Health Care Digest archive.
Do you forward the Digest to others? Encourage them to subscribe.
|
Sign up for eNews
Connect with HRSA
