What's New
Reminder to Review Your Patient Target
We recently updated patient targets for Health Center Program award recipients with a January 1 budget period start date. On Tuesday, April 6, we sent an email message to the Authorizing Officials and Project Directors of these health centers that indicated whether the health center would complete a fiscal year (FY) 2022 Service Area Competition or Budget Period Progress Report (BPR). The email also included a direct link to the updated patient target. Health centers that will complete an FY 2022 SAC for awards starting January 1, 2022, should review their patient targets and take appropriate action in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) by Tuesday, April 20.
View the recorded tutorial of the EHBs Patient Target Management Module. Other resources are available on the SAC technical assistance (TA) webpage to learn how to access your patient target in EHBs.
Submit questions using the BPHC Contact Form (select “Patient Targets” on the “BPHC Category” screen).
2020 COVID Awards – Requesting an Extension
HRSA COVID awards that have recently ended, or are ending soon, may be extended upon request:
- COVID-19 (H8C) ended on Sunday, March 14.
- CARES (H8D) ended on Wednesday, March 31.
- Expanding Capacity for Coronavirus Testing (ECT) (H8E) ends on Friday, April 30.
- Look-Alikes ECT (L1C) ends on Wednesday, June 30.
If you think your health center will not complete award activity by the project period end dates noted above and you have funds remaining, you may request an extension without funds (also known as a no-cost extension) for up to 12 additional months. If you expect to need such an extension, please contact your Grants Management Specialist and Project Officer to discuss the requirements for submitting the request in EHBs.
Reminder: FY 2019 Integrated Behavioral Health Services Staffing Impact Form
For health centers that reported less than 0.5 FTE in their January 2020 Integrated Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) progress report, HRSA extended the due date of the 0.5 FTE requirement by 12 months (to Friday, April 30, 2021). By that date, IBHS recipients are to have added a total of 0.5 FTE in substance use disorder and/or mental health personnel.
Health centers are required to report this in an IBHS Staffing Impact Form. For health centers who have not yet reported their status on the staffing requirement, the form is available in EHBs for submission by Monday, May 3. Health centers that must complete this final submission will receive email reminders from EHBs. Find more information on the IBHS TA webpage.
Get Ready for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
Later this month, eligible health center patients will be able to apply for the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program. This program will provide discounts on broadband services and internet devices to connect patients with virtual health care, jobs, and education activities. See our recent bulletin for background information on this exciting program.
The FCC released consumer FAQs that provide answers to common questions on benefit eligibility, how the discount will be applied to broadband service costs, participating broadband benefit providers, and program length. They are also producing outreach materials in a variety of languages, including Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Tagalog, and Traditional Chinese. Braille, large print, alternative electronic formats, and audio recordings may also be provided upon request by emailing the FCC’s EBB team.
We encourage you to assist your patients in applying for EBB benefits. Register for these upcoming webinars to help with your preparations:
- Increasing Connectivity with the EBB
Hosted by The Administration for Community Living
Thursday, April 15
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here
- HRSA Telehealth Learning Series:
Overview of Federal Broadband Programs
Wednesday, April 21
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Register here
Direct your questions about the EBB program and your role supporting health center patients to your regional Telehealth Resource Center.
Get Answers! Health Insurance Marketplace Resources Available
HHS recently extended (through Sunday, August 15) the Special Enrollment Period for individuals and families to enroll in health insurance coverage through the Federally-Facilitated Marketplace due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
CMS resources include technical guidance for Marketplace stakeholders and a memo on the current schedule of planned maintenance. These resources may also be useful for assisters and consumers:
Healthy Grants Workshop Begins in May
The 2021 Healthy Grants Workshop web series begins next month. The web series is for current HRSA award recipients and will offer multiple presentations on how to successfully manage your HRSA award.
In addition to presentations by HRSA’s Office of Federal Assistance Management, the web series will feature presentations by the HHS Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources and the Office of the Inspector General, as well as other HRSA bureaus and offices, including the Office of Civil Rights, Diversity, and Inclusion, and the Office of Information Technology.
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Seeking Public Input on Clinical Algorithms That May Promote Bias in Medical Decision-Making
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality seeks public input on clinical algorithms used in medical practice that may introduce bias into decision-making or negatively affect access, quality, and health outcomes among racial and ethnic minority groups. Learn more or provide comments by Friday, April 16.
COVID-19
Expanding the Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program
HRSA has announced that all remaining health centers and look-alikes can now participate in the Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program.
If your health center had not been invited previously, we sent an email last week to your Project Director to invite you (subject line: “BPHC Bulletin: Invitation to the Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program”). It includes instructions on how to participate. The most important first step is to identify two individuals from your health center who will serve as the main points of contact for this program and have them complete self-registration for access to the Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program Online Community as soon as possible.
Submit questions to Health Center Program Support. Select “Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program”—the fourth option on the “Health Center Program Questions” screen. Then select “COVID-19 Vaccine Program General Inquiry.” You can also call Health Center Program Support at 877-464-4772, option 2, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, Monday-Friday (except federal holidays).
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Health Center COVID-19 FAQs
We recently added new questions on our COVID-19 FAQs webpage related to:
- The expansion of the Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program.
- The HHS Mask Distribution Program.
- The relationship between providing vaccinations and routine primary care.
- The HHS Office of Inspector General’s administrative enforcement authorities related to COVID-19.
We also created a new FAQs webpage on the American Rescue Plan Funding for Health Centers (H8F).
Other resources:
Health Center COVID-19 Testing Supply Distribution Program
HRSA recently announced a partnership between HHS and the Department of Defense to deliver free rapid COVID-19 testing supplies to HRSA-funded health centers and Health Center Program look-alikes. This initiative supports the Biden Administration’s National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness and recognizes health centers as vital partners in community-based outreach efforts. Health centers and look-alikes will receive free rapid testing supplies, including point-of-care analyzers and test kits. See FAQs in a new section on our COVID-19 FAQs webpage.
Soon, we will send health center and Health Center Program look-alike Project Directors a questionnaire to report their testing supply needs.
Medicare Reimbursement for COVID-19 Vaccine Administration: Lump Sum Payments Available Upon Request
Federally Qualified Health Centers may request lump sum payments for administering COVID-19 vaccines in advance of cost report settlement. CMS will pay you for COVID-19 vaccines and administration at 100% reasonable cost, like influenza and pneumonia vaccines. Please contact your Medicare Administrative Contractor for more information. The announcement can also be found in the CMS Medicare Learning Network Connects eNEWS.
COVID-19 Resources from MHP Salud
MHP Salud, a HRSA-funded National Training and Technical Assistance Partner (NTTAP), created new resources in response to the pandemic. These resources support health care for migratory and seasonal agricultural workers (MSAWs) and their families. You must complete a free registration to access:
Supporting LGBTQIA+ Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic
This 2021 publication from the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center details how the COVID-19 pandemic affects LGBTQIA+ subpopulations. It provides strategies and resources to improve the capacity of health centers to meet the needs of LGBTQIA+ patients during the pandemic. The National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center is a HRSA-funded NTTAP.
COVID-19 and Our Rural Communities
The National Rural Health Association, in partnership with CDC and HRSA’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, is hosting a virtual webinar focused on COVID-19 and the effect the pandemic has on underserved populations, specifically for CHWs working to support rural communities. The first of its kind for rural CHWs, the webinar will also highlight the vaccine rollout, common myths and misconceptions, and contact tracing, and will allow for questions and answers from participants.
Thursday, April 15
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Register here
Trust or Trustworthiness: Which Comes First? Webinar Series
As health centers embark on vaccinating people in their communities against COVID-19, conversations regarding vaccine confidence versus access, and how to build vaccine confidence and trust are necessary. The National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC) presents a two-part webinar series on trustworthiness. The first webinar will focus on the historical background of how trust has been broken among marginalized populations. The second webinar will highlight the principles of trustworthiness. NHCHC is a HRSA-funded NTTAP.
Wednesday, April 21, and Wednesday, April 28
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here
Telehealth Policy, Implementation, and Use Trends during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Join a webinar exploring the changes during the COVID-19 pandemic in telehealth policy and implementation, and ways that health centers are leveraging technology to support their patients. Mei Wa Kwong, Executive Director of the Center for Connected Health Policy, will present along with HRSA speakers.
Tuesday, April 27
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Register here
Ask Us Anything: Learning Lessons from COVID-19 and Preparing for Future Emergencies
Colleagues from FoundCare, Inc. (FL), Marias Healthcare Services, Inc. (MT), and Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc. (NY) will share best and promising practices, innovative approaches for challenging experiences, and successes. Speakers will answer: How difficult was migration of patient care to telehealth? How did you manage changes and shifts in staffing? What was the best way to set up and roll out testing? What new practice will you learn about that you can adopt to prepare for future emergencies? Join the discussion and begin to prepare for the next emergency.
Tuesday, April 27
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here
Dental Providers Administering the COVID-19 Vaccine: Strategies from Early Adopter Health Centers
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many states have created emergency orders to allow dentists and dental hygienists to administer vaccinations. This webinar from the National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA) will feature three health centers that are using dental providers to administer vaccines. The health centers will describe their vaccination program models, including training, staffing, operations, and compliance. 1.0 CDE will be offered. NNOHA is a HRSA-funded NTTAP.
Thursday, April 29
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Register here
Health Center and Look-Alike COVID-19 Survey
The survey you received on Friday, April 9, is due by 11:59 p.m. your local time today. As a reminder, we made some changes with the survey, including adding two new questions (17 and 17a). If you have questions about how to complete these or any other questions, visit our Survey User Guide.
Recording Available: Health Center Engagement in the ACTIV-2 Clinical Trial
NIH recently hosted a webinar explaining how health centers and patients can still participate in the development of new oral, inhaled, and infused COVID-19 therapeutics. Watch the recording (use Chrome) to get a quick overview on how health centers and/or their patients can participate in this NIH-funded, once-in-a-lifetime clinical research opportunity. A very short Q&A follows the 25-minute presentation.
Opportunity to Contribute to COVID-19 Research
NIH is recruiting participants for a study to understand how genetics influence the severity of COVID-19. The eligibility questionnaire takes approximately two minutes to complete. Please share with potential volunteers who live in the U.S. and have tested positive for COVID-19. NIH would like to collaborate with HRSA-funded health centers to distribute information about the study. Reach out for more information.
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Behavioral Health
Register for the 4th Annual Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium
Registration is open for the Thursday, May 6, symposium on older adult mental health. The National Council on Aging, U.S. Administration for Community Living, and SAMHSA sponsor the day-long symposium. This free, virtual event will empower professionals with the latest tools to improve the lives of older adults in their communities, both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
HIV
Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part C Early Intervention Services Program: Existing Geographic Service Areas
Three new notices announce opportunities to apply for funding under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Part C Early Intervention Services (EIS) Program: Existing Geographic Service Areas. The purpose of this program is to provide comprehensive primary health care and support services in an outpatient setting for low-income, uninsured, and underserved people with HIV.
Applicants can get TA:
Tuesday, April 20
2:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here
Ending the HIV Epidemic: Sexual Health in Primary Health Care Settings
Join HRSA and the Southeast AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC) to discuss the importance of obtaining a detailed patient sexual history in primary care health settings for appropriate care and diagnosis of HIV. You will learn how to obtain a sexual history in primary care settings to potentially decrease the chances of a patient being lost to follow up. This will include addressing patients that have encountered barriers to care in the past and how to overcome shame and stigma that may be associated with testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), or their sexual preferences.
Thursday, April 22
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here
Prepping for Your Own PrEP Delivery Model
The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) is seeking 10 health centers to participate in this three-month learning community. It will focus on building a health center's capacity to establish or improve HIV prevention services around PrEP and telehealth. There will be four peer-to-peer sessions where participants will discuss clinical workflows for HIV, identify gaps in HIV prevention services and PrEP care, and identify patient engagement strategies through telehealth and other care coordination efforts. Learn more or apply now. NACHC is a HRSA-funded NTTAP.
Workforce
National Health Service Corps New Site Application Open, Inactive Sites May Apply
The 2021 National Health Service Corps (NHSC) new site application cycle is now open for eligible health care sites that have never been approved as NHSC sites. This year’s application is also open to formerly approved NHSC sites that have become inactive. Eligibility includes health care sites that provide outpatient, ambulatory and primary health care services (medical, dental, and behavioral health) in Health Professional Shortage Areas. Additional eligible site types include facilities providing general substance use disorder treatment, a medication-assisted treatment program, or an opioid treatment program. Applications are due at 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 25. Learn more about the NHSC new site application.
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Social Determinants of Health Community of Practice
Improving health outcomes across minority populations and chronically under-resourced communities requires addressing the social, economic, and environmental factors that influence health. This community of practice offers a deep dive into the myriad of social and economic factors that contribute to health outcomes within these populations. Participants will discuss strategies and resources they can employ to identify and screen for social determinants of health (SDOH), as well as ways to mitigate their impact.
Participants can earn 1.5 CE credits for each session they attend, with a maximum of 9 CEs for participation in all six sessions. Register now for the series, which starts in June.
Several HRSA-funded NTTAPs present learning collaboratives:
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Enhancing The HCV Care Model: Best Practices for Universal Testing & Linkage to Care Learning
Join the National Nurse-Led Care Consortium to learn best practices for improving screening and treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Participants will learn to: provide quality care by aligning clinical practices to meet the needs of the population; understand a comprehensive care model and coordination of care for HCV; and recognize the importance of coordinating treatment and prevention. Learn more or apply now.
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The Road to Patient Activation
Join the Migrant Clinicians Network and the National Nurse-led Care Consortium to discuss patient engagement—an essential component for high-quality, person-centered health care. Health center participants will explore a framework for patient and family engagement, so that patients can make more informed decisions to increase both their satisfaction and health care outcomes. Learn more or apply now.
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Improving Health Center SDOH Care for Children & Adolescents
School-Based Health Alliance (SBHA) offers an opportunity to improve and expand existing SDOH screening for children and adolescents by developing and maximizing school and community partnerships while learning about sustainable business practices for SDOH screening and care. Learn more or apply by Friday, April 16.
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SDOH Screening in School-Based Health Centers
SBHA invites school-based health centers to create and develop a sustainable screening practice, while learning best practices for SDOH care coordination with school and community partners. Learn more or apply by Friday, April 16.
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Prepping for Your Own PrEP Delivery Model
See the announcement above.
Additional Resources
Winter 2021 Health Policy Bulletin
Farmworker Justice’s latest Health Policy Bulletin highlights research, policy, and programs to promote emergency preparedness in agricultural worker communities. Farmworker Justice is a HRSA-funded NTTAP.
Sexual Health Care for Older LGBTQIA+ Adults
Sexual health is an integral part of overall health, and this remains so as people age. This publication describes core terms and concepts for sexual orientation and gender identity, addresses common misperceptions about sexuality and aging, and outlines special considerations for the sexual health care of older adults, including a demonstration of how to elicit an affirming sexual history. This publication was co-produced by The National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center and the National Center for Equitable Care for Elders, both HRSA-funded NTTAPs.
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