What's New
Testing Continues on Potential Modernizations to the Uniform Data System
The Uniform Data System (UDS) Test Cooperative (UTC) was established to systematically test proposed changes to UDS. In 2020, the UTC successfully kicked off testing to evaluate potential changes to modernize UDS reporting. Last year, the UTC completed the first test on aligning HRSA’s clinical quality measures (CQMs) with the CMS electronic CQMs to reduce reporting burden. UTC continues to test UDS modernization efforts to better understand the impacts and challenges with transitioning to automated reporting processes dependent on national electronic standards. HRSA will consider recommendations from UTC’s testing for potential implementation.
For more information, visit the UDS Modernization web page or UTC’s website, or read the UTC Fact Sheet.
Your Input Needed!
HRSA recently published two Requests for Information (RFI). We will collect feedback on the areas of consideration outlined in the RFI, as well as more general feedback or suggestions, through Friday, September 18.
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Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) Scoring Criteria RFI: HRSA seeks public input and feedback to inform policy considerations related to changes to HPSA scoring criteria, as described in the RFI, and to solicit additional ideas and suggestions. HRSA seeks stakeholder input regarding current scoring found in a notice published in the Federal Register, 68 Fed. Reg. 32531 (May 30, 2003).
HRSA also seeks input on possible additions or alternative approaches to HPSA scoring. These would include, but are not limited to, new factors, components, or point weighting. HRSA will not accept proposals to expand National Health Service Corps (NHSC) eligibility to new provider types or proposals that otherwise go beyond the purview of HPSA scoring.
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Maternity Care Health Professional Target Area Criteria RFI: HRSA seeks public input and feedback to inform policy considerations related to the establishment of criteria for Maternity Care Health Professional Target Areas, as described in the RFI, and to solicit additional ideas and suggestions from the public related to the RFI’s topic areas. The Public Health Service Act, Section 332(k)(5); (42 USC §254e(k)(5)), defines “full scope maternity care” as health services provided during labor care, birthing, prenatal care, and postpartum care.
Note: While HRSA welcomes input from all stakeholders and parties with an interest in our mission, we specifically seek input from those with knowledge of public health strategies to improve maternal health and maternity care delivery. This includes, but is not limited to: relevant provider organizations; medical societies; organizations representing medical facilities; or other organizations with expertise in maternity care.
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2020 Health Center Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition Quality Improvement Awards
Health centers that have Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition by Wednesday, July 1, 2020, may be eligible to receive the 2020 Health Center PCMH Recognition Quality Award. View the table of health centers with valid PCMH recognition status and the number of sites with PCMH recognition. If your health center serves multiple states, please be certain to check the number of sites for EACH state to calculate the total number of PCMH-recognized sites in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs).
- If your health center’s PCMH recognition is accurate, no action is needed.
- If it is inaccurate, please submit an update to your PCMH recognition information via the EHBs no later than Sunday, July 5. View instructions for submitting an update, including the acceptable forms of required documentation.
If you have questions, please contact us. To make sure you receive our reply email, add 'BPHCAnswers@hrsa.gov' to your address book.
Related to this, HRSA is sponsoring PCMH trainings in each region. Get more information in Additional Resources.
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New Study: Assessing Mental Health Among Female Health Center Patients
Comprehensive primary care integration, encompassing mental health services delivery, is a critical component of the Health Center Program’s care model, shown to achieve better health outcomes for patients and communities. A high rate of self-reported depression among women of reproductive age, coupled with an association of mental health conditions and chronic diseases, led HRSA researchers to assess the prevalence of mental health conditions as well as the relationship between depression and physical health. Understanding physical health factors associated with mental health conditions can inform clinical strategies and improve access to mental health screening and treatment in the primary care setting. Learn more about the newly published study and other research articles and access behavioral health resources.
Developing a Business Plan and Financial Forecast for a Health Center Capital Project
Capital Link, a HRSA-funded National Cooperative Agreement (NCA), presents a webinar designed to assist health centers planning new or expanded facilities in developing a detailed business plan for their capital project. Drawing on the recently updated publication, Creating a Business Plan for Community Health Centers, this session examines each of the key components of a business plan, including financial forecasts, and how health centers can use this important document to help secure financing for their projects.
Thursday, June 11
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here
COVID-19
Due TODAY: Health Center Program Look-Alikes: Expanding Capacity for Coronavirus Testing Applications
FY 2020 Health Center Program Look-Alikes: ECT (LAL ECT) (HRSA-20-147) applications are due in Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET TODAY. In order for HRSA to receive your application, you must use this Grants.gov link. You will need to register in Grants.gov if you are not already registered.
Visit the LAL ECT TA webpage for more information and links to helpful resources, including LAL ECT Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and a list of eligible LAL organizations and their maximum application amounts.
Submit programmatic questions to Health Center Program Support:
- Select “Applicant” as the Requester Type.
- On the Health Center or EHBs Question screen, select “Coronavirus Inquiries (COVID-19).”
- On the Sub Category screen, select “Look-Alike COVID-19 Funding.”
Frequently Asked Questions
We recently added questions about the quarterly progress reports to our coronavirus-related funding FAQs webpage. As a reminder, we also have our COVID-19 FAQ webpage and resources and links on our COVID-19 Information for Health Centers and Partners webpage.
HIV Self-Testing
Health centers play an important role in Ending the HIV Epidemic by screening patients for risk and encouraging HIV testing. See our bulletin about supplementing HIV prevention efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Peer-to-Peer Webinar: COVID-19 & Diabetes Management in Special & Vulnerable Populations
This webinar from Health Outreach Partners, a HRSA-funded NCA, will feature a panel of health center and NCA staff who will share how they have adapted their outreach services and resources to address the needs of special and vulnerable populations during this unprecedented time.
Wednesday, June 3
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here
Reimagining Care: Reopening Dental Practices
The “Reimaging Care” series from the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), a HRSA-funded NCA, will focus on how health centers will continue to lead the primary health care industry through flexibility and innovation in a post-COVID-19 world. This week is the first session:
Thursday, June 4
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Visit NACHC's website to register or view past recordings
Additional sessions are planned for June 25, July 9, July 23, and August 6.
Human Resources Office Hours - Leading During a Crisis: HR Leaders Responding to COVID-19
NACHC presents an opportunity to hear from one health center HR director who will discuss COVID-19’s impact in his area from a human resources perspective, the health center’s response, and what HR challenges are anticipated as the state begins to recover and reopen.
Tuesday, June 9
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Join the day of the session
Virtual COVID-19 Conference
Join your peers virtually to learn about innovative new approaches to meeting the mission of health centers in light of the pandemic. Northwest Regional PCA announces a virtual conference, available to all health centers and PCAs, featuring four weeks of educational sessions with subject matter experts who break down the key issues around Board Governance, Workforce & HR Considerations, Financial Planning, and Care Model Optimization. Four virtual "round tables” will promote peer-to-peer learning.
While there are fees associated with the full conference, the opening plenary and the round table sessions are free. The opening plenary will feature BPHC Associate Administrator Jim Macrae and senior BPHC staff.
Friday, June 19
3:00-4:30 p.m. ET
Register here for the opening plenary
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.
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Resources
Provider Relief Fund
Additional Resources
FCC's Lifeline Program Offers Discounts for Phone and Broadband Service
FCC’s Lifeline program is a federal benefit to lower the cost of cellular voice and internet plans, which can be used to support continuing access to health care services during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Strategies to Manage Financial Operations During COVID-19 Response and Recovery
NACHC is producing a five-part podcast series to help health centers manage their fiscal solvency during COVID-19 response and recovery. Podcast topics include managing your health center’s cash flow, paycheck protection, provider relief funding, grants management, and staffing. The first two sessions are available now:
- Podcast 1: Staffing Considerations
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Podcast 2: Provider Relief Fund, CARES Act, Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act
Board Financial Oversight Considerations During the Initial Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
This short article from NACHC outlines some high-level considerations for boards as they continue to provide oversight of health center finances and consider issues related to long-term sustainability. The article is also available in Spanish.
NACHC also shares these publications:
COVID-19 and Addiction: Resources for Clinicians from the National Institute on Drug Abuse
Stressors cause by the pandemic—from social isolation to job loss—can exacerbate negative health outcomes for people with, at risk of, or in recovery from substance use disorders (SUD). NIDAMED, a clinician-focused initiative from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, created a new resource library including materials focused on the intersection of COVID-19 and addiction:
- Practice considerations for telehealth and SUD.
- Recovery resources.
- Treatment and practice guidance.
- General information around COVID-19 and your practice.
Substance Use Disorder & Mental Health
Join an Integrated Behavioral Health ECHO for Clinical Feedback on Patient Cases from Peers and Experts
HRSA’s Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Technical Assistance presents two ECHOs offering health center staff support from peers and experts through case presentations and didactic sessions. Participants will develop skills to treat patients with a variety of behavioral health conditions often seen in primary care (e.g., mental illness, SUD, opioid use disorder (OUD)).
- The Integrating Primary Care and Behavioral Health Service Delivery ECHO will focus on addressing trauma, anxiety, and depression in primary care.
- The Addressing Opioid Use Disorder in Primary Care ECHO will focus on treatment considerations by population/need.
To sign up, first create an account on the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Technical Assistance website, then register for the ECHO series, and select each session you wish to attend.
Addressing the Opioid Crisis: Innovative Programs Serving People Experiencing Homelessness
According to the Corporation for Supportive Housing, a HRSA-funded NCA, health centers are seeing increasing numbers of individuals who are suffering from OUD and other SUD, many of whom also experience housing instability or homelessness. In response, health centers, public health departments, harm reduction agencies, and supportive housing agencies are driving innovation in assisting these patients. This brief describes the evolution of three unique model programs addressing the needs of this most vulnerable population offering evidence-based care.
PCMH Office Hours: Behavioral Health
This interactive forum allows health centers to ask National Committee for Quality Assurance subject matter experts questions regarding the importance of behavioral health integration and how the PCMH model assists providers in addressing their patient's behavioral health.
Tuesday, June 9
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here
COVID-19 and Addiction: Resources for Clinicians from the National Institute on Drug Abuse
See announcement above.
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
HIV Self-Testing
Health centers play an important role in Ending the HIV Epidemic by screening patients for risk and encouraging HIV testing. See our bulletin about supplementing HIV prevention efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Updated Funding Opportunities
HRSA recently released several NOFOs for programming within the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program to be conducted using Minority HIV/AIDS Program funds. We have made modifications, including increased funding amounts, to some of these recently published NOFOs (HRSA-20-113, HRSA-20-114, HRSA-20-115, and HRSA-20-116). See open funding opportunities. The TargetHIV website includes the archived pre-application TA webinars.
Workforce
NHSC New Site Application Open
Health care facilities can now apply to be approved as a NHSC site. Eligible locations include health care sites that provide outpatient, ambulatory and primary health care services (medical, dental, and behavioral health) to populations residing in high-need urban and rural areas. Additional eligible site types include facilities providing general SUD treatment, a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program, or an opioid treatment program. Applications are due Tuesday, July 21. Learn more about the NHSC new site application.
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Additional Resources
PCMH Virtual Trainings for Health Centers
HRSA is sponsoring regional trainings on the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Introduction to PCMH and Advanced PCMH courses for health centers organized by PCAs and HCCNs. Please contact your region’s lead organization for more information, updates on training format, and to register.
Updated Veteran Community Care Program Toolkit and Fact Sheet for Health Centers
NACHC created these resources to support health centers that serve veterans:
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Health Centers Serving Veterans: This toolkit provides a detailed overview of the history, current status, and future plans of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) “Veteran Community Care Program” (VCCP), through which health centers are eligible to serve as approved provider sites for veterans receiving health care through the U.S. Veterans Health Administration.
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Partnering with the VA to Provide Care for Veterans in Community Health Centers: This two-page fact sheet updated by NACHC explains how health centers can become an approved community provider by the VA.
In case you missed it: Visit the Primary Health Care Digest archive.
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