What's New
2020 Uniform Data System Reporting Changes Presentation and Recording
The presentation and recording from our recent webinar focused on calendar year 2020 Uniform Data System (UDS) reporting changes are now available on HRSA’s website. 2020 UDS data reporting will take place between January 1-February 15, 2021.
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.
Service Area Competition Project Period Extensions in Fiscal Year 2021
HRSA is extending the project periods of the majority of health centers scheduled to complete a Service Area Competition (SAC) in fiscal year (FY) 2021. Health centers whose current 2-year or 3-year project period ends in FY 2021 will receive a 12-month extension with funds and will complete a Budget Period Progress Report (BPR), rather than a SAC, in FY 2021. HRSA will email information to each of the awardees receiving an extension in the coming weeks.
Because of statutory requirements, health centers in a current 1-year project period will still complete a SAC in FY 2021.
Delayed Release of FY 2021 SACs, BPRs, and Look-Alike Renewal of Designations and Annual Certifications
HRSA is also delaying the release of FY 2021 SACs and BPRs, as well as look-alike Renewal of Designations (RD) and Annual Certifications (AC). Expect these documents to start releasing in June. More information will be included in future issues of the Primary Health Care Digest.
Questions? Please use the BPHC Contact Form.
USDA Announces Second Application Window for Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program Funding
USDA Rural Development announced a second application window for funding under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant program due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. This program helps rural communities use telecommunications to connect to each other and to the world, overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density. Eligible applicants include most entities that provide education or health care through telecommunications. Apply by Monday, July 13.
COVID-19
Health Center Program Look-Alikes: Apply Now for Coronavirus Testing Funding
HRSA is now accepting applications from designated look-alikes for the FY 2020 Health Center Program Look-Alikes: Expanding Capacity for Coronavirus Testing (LAL ECT) notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) (HRSA-20-147). The purpose of this funding is to support LALs in expanding their COVID-19 testing capacity. Applications are due in Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 2.
HRSA will hold a webinar for applicants on Thursday, May 21, at noon ET. We emailed each LAL’s Authorizing Official and Project Director with additional information. See the LAL ECT technical assistance (TA) webpage for webinar logistics and resources.
TA for ECT Supplemental Funding for Health Centers
This week HRSA will host its second question and answer (Q&A) session to answer health centers’ questions about developing their FY 2020 ECT (H8E) activities and budgets.
ECT Supplemental Funding for Health Centers Q&A Session
Thursday, May 21
3:30-4:30 p.m. ET
Join the webcast the day of the session
Call-in: 800-857-9804
Passcode: 2207925
H8E awards are separate grants from the H80 operational grant award, and the H8C and H8D coronavirus awards. This webpage describes how award recipients can add the H8E grant folders to their portfolio in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs).
TA is available on the ECT TA webpage. Additional information about the purpose and allowed uses of ECT funds is available on the Coronavirus-Related Funding FAQ webpage.
H8E activity and budget information is due in EHBs by 11:59 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 6. The submission requirement will appear in the H8E grant folder, and a pending task will appear in EHBs. We strongly encourage early submission because EHBs will be unavailable due to scheduled maintenance from 8:00 p.m. ET Friday, June 5, until 6:00 p.m. Sunday, June 7. Contact your Health Center Program project officer to discuss available extension options, if required.
Frequently Asked Questions
To improve your experience when searching our FAQs, they now appear on a separate COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) webpage. We recently added questions about 2020 UDS reporting and the updated schedule for Service Area Competition, Budget Period Progress Report, Renewal of Designation, and Annual Certification submissions in FY 2021.
We also added a new question to our page for coronavirus-related funding FAQs: Can health centers use ECT (H8E) funds to support antibody testing?
As a reminder, we also have resources and links on our COVID-19 Information for Health Centers and Partners webpage.
Equitable Preparedness for Vulnerable Populations
The SDOH Academy announces a two-session learning collaborative addressing the health center and community response to disasters and emergencies, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ways in which that response must be informed by SDOH. This is a collaboration between 16 HRSA-funded National Cooperative Agreements (NCAs), one of which founded the SDOH Academy.
- Wednesday, May 20: Speakers will outline lessons learned from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable and underserved populations.
- Thursday, June 4: Speakers will describe strategies to develop community engagement in order to enhance health centers’ ability to provide continuous, patient-centered care and resources during a public health emergency.
You can also find additional SDOH resources in the Health Center Clearinghouse.
Leading in the Crisis: Flattening the COVID-19 Curve Roadmap to Re-opening and Re-imagined Care
Hosted by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), a HRSA-funded NCA. BPHC Associate Administrator Jim Macrae is expected to present.
Thursday, May 21
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Visit NACHC’s website to register and see past webinars
ECHO Diabetes in the Time of COVID-19
This 16-week webinar series, hosted by Project ECHO, provides primary care providers and other members of a multidisciplinary diabetes care team with case-based learning and consultation to empower them to address the needs of patients with diabetes during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. CME credits are offered for attendance.
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Many federal organizations, HRSA-funded NCAs, and other partners are holding COVID-19-related webinars. Our Technical Assistance Calendar lists more of them and includes descriptions and registration information. |
OSHA Guidance for Dentistry Workers and Employers
OSHA issued an alert listing safety tips employers can follow to help protect dental industry workers from exposure to COVID-19.
Resources
Provider Relief Fund
Additional Resources
Telehealth Implementation Quick Guide
This new resource provides a short overview of reimbursement and legal considerations for telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, operational guides compiled from health centers implementing telemedicine and telephonic visits, and sample workflows. This resource was produced by a cross-NACHC working group, national subject matter experts, and field practitioners.
Managing Crisis Through Resilient Leadership COVID-19 Resource Packet
Health centers are serving on the frontlines, providing critical health care services in communities. NACHC created this resource to guide leaders during turbulent times.
Preventing Coronavirus Transmission in Ambulatory Health Care Settings
The Joint Commission offers a pre-recorded webinar reviewing the spectrum of clinical presentations of coronavirus and offering specific suggestions for decreasing the risk of transmission in ambulatory health care settings. Topics include:
- How ambulatory care centers can slow the spread.
- Managing supplies during a pandemic.
- Respiratory protection and other PPE.
Substance Use Disorder & Mental Health
Getting Started with Telebehavioral Health
HRSA’s Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health TA presents a webinar on getting started in telebehavioral health, featuring best practices from experts and lessons learned from peers who have implemented rapid telebehavioral health services.
Wednesday, May 20
2:00-3:30 p.m. ET
The Center is also offering health centers the opportunity to join a Community of Practice on telebehavioral health best practices and strategies.
To register for the webinar or apply for the Community of Practice, you must first set up an account on the new HRSA Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health TA website.
HIV PrEP for Patients with Substance Use Disorders
Health center clinicians, please join the National Clinician Consultation Center for this interactive webinar that will help you overcome PrEP implementation challenges, assess PrEP eligibility, and identify strategies for addressing side effect and adherence concerns. Participants will:
- Examine national trends of PrEP use among different populations at risk for HIV, including persons with substance use disorders (SUD).
- Review recent updates on new PrEP medications and dosing strategies, and discuss unique considerations that may arise when counseling persons with SUD.
- Consider strategies for health centers to increase PrEP education, initiation, and persistence.
Wednesday, May 27
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here
One Week Left: Rural Communities Opioid Response Program NOFO
This is the final week for HRSA’s Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) NOFO (HRSA-20-031); applications are due Tuesday, May 26. HRSA plans to award approximately 89 grants to rural communities as part of this funding opportunity.
View an updated list of Frequently Asked Questions on eligibility and application requirements (under the tab “Related Documents” in Grants.gov), view an archived recording of the TA webinar, or send questions to ruralopioidresponse@hrsa.gov.
NOFO for RCORP-Planning
HRSA will make approximately 50 awards of $200,000 each to rural communities to enhance capacity to address SUD, including opioid use disorder. Over the course of an 18-month period of performance, grant recipients will conduct a series of planning activities, engage multi-sector consortiums, and participate in the RCORP-Planning learning collaborative. Applicant organizations may be located in an urban or rural areas; however, all activities supported by this program must exclusively target HRSA-designated rural areas (per the Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer). Learn more or apply by Monday, July 13.
HIV
Using Technology to Advance Prescribing Practices for PrEP
Join HRSA to learn about implementing and using telehealth as a method to improve access to care for patients living with HIV and PrEP prescribing practices. Learn from the experts as they share lessons learned and promising practices with using technology to maintain the continuity of care and improving access to care for people, regardless of their HIV status.
Thursday, June 4
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Register here
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.
NIH Notice of Special Interest: HIV PrEP Implementation Science
NIH has released a Notice of Special Interest to support rapid implementation science projects to assist HIV prevention delivery. This includes routine HIV testing and PrEP in relevant HRSA-funded health centers. Applications are due by Friday, July 3.
For more information, see HIV PrEP Implementation Science in HRSA Primary Health Care Settings (Admin Supp).
HIV PrEP for Patients with SUD
See announcement above.
Diabetes
Diabetes in Special & Vulnerable Populations: A National Learning Series
In March and April, 14 HRSA-funded NCAs partnered on a four-part national learning webinar series for health centers, Primary Care Associations, and Health Center Controlled Networks. The goal was to increase foundational knowledge of effective strategies to prevent, treat, and manage diabetes among special and vulnerable Health Center Program populations. The National Learning Series topics included team-based care, patient health literacy, and community engagement to address diabetes. Access the webinar recordings and resources.
Workforce
STAR2 Center Turnover Tool Webinar Series
The Association of Clinicians for the Underserved’s STAR2 Center invites health center leaders and human resource managers to an upcoming series exploring:
- Trends in health care workforce turnover.
- The financial cost of turnover on health centers.
- The effect on staff members and patients.
- Strategies to minimize turnover.
Participants will receive two tools to support their workforce retention efforts. The series kicked off last week and extends into June. Learn more or register now. The Association of Clinicians for the Underserved is a HRSA-funded NCA.
Due Thursday: HRSA’s National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Programs
HRSA’s National Health Service Corps (NHSC) has extended the application deadline for all three loan repayment programs to Thursday, May 21, at 7:30 p.m. ET:
Eligible clinicians providing primary medical, dental, or behavioral health care services or evidence-based SUD treatment can qualify for loan repayment up to $50,000 for the NHSC LRP, up to $75,000 for the NHSC SUD Workforce LRP, and up to $100,000 for the Rural Community LRP. Learn more about eligible disciplines, site types, and service commitment.
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National Hepatitis Awareness Month
This month is a time to bring awareness to the hidden epidemic of viral hepatitis, including its risk factors, symptoms, and complications, and to encourage testing. Get resources to support your efforts!
Early testing and diagnosis is essential to decrease the transmission rate of hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV). In 2018, HRSA-funded health centers:
- Conducted 883,787 HBV tests—a 58% increase from 2016.
- Conducted 1,070,417 HCV tests—a 53% increase from 2016.
CDC recommends universal HCV screening for adults and that all children vaccinate for Hepatitis A and B to decrease the transmission rate and end the fight against hepatitis.
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