American Rescue Plan Funding
Funding for Health Centers
Health centers have until Monday, May 31, at 11:59 p.m. ET to complete and submit American Rescue Plan (ARP) Funding for Health Centers (H8F) award submissions in EHBs. If you need additional time to complete the submission, please contact your Project Officer immediately to discuss an extension. Extensions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
If your health center proposes to use H8F funding for minor alterations and renovations (A/R) at leased sites, you must attach a Landlord Letter of Consent (see sample) to your H8F submission. Similarly, if you propose to use H8F funding for minor A/R at owned sites, you must attach the property deed.
The following resources are available to help you:
Funding Opportunity for Health Center Construction and Capital Improvements
Health centers have until Thursday, June 24, to submit their ARP – Health Center Construction and Capital Improvements (C8E) application in EHBs. Visit the C8E TA webpage for award submission guidance and other resources. See the C8E FAQs webpage, which we continually update.
TODAY! Join the application and submission question and answer session:
2:00-3:30 p.m. ET
Join the session
If you prefer to join by phone: 833-568-8864
When prompted, enter meeting/webinar ID: 160 895 1863
Check out a new TA guide developed by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) for recommendations of facility enhancements to better serve an aging patient population. It also includes a short description of the Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). These recommendations may be appropriate for health centers considering use of one-time ARP funding. NACHC is a HRSA-funded NTTAP.
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Funding for Training and TA
Primary Care Associations (U5F), NTTAPs (U3F), and Health Center Controlled Networks (HQC) have until Monday, June 28 to submit information about their ARP activities and costs. Award recipients should:
What's New
Today with Macrae Next Week
Join HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau Associate Administrator Dr. Michael Warren and Jim to hear about COVID-19 and back-to-school vaccinations, plus the revised Health Center Program Site Visit Protocol, funding, and more.
Thursday, May 27
**NEW TIME!** 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Join the day of the session
If you prefer to join by phone: 833-568-8864
When prompted, enter meeting/webinar ID: 161 001 1348
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Service Area Competition Notice of Funding Opportunity Released for January 1 Starts
HRSA released the first FY 2022 Service Area Competition (SAC) NOFO, HRSA-22-002, for service areas with a January 1, 2022, project period start date. Find details for the announced service areas on the Service Area Announcement Table.
This NOFO announces the service areas for:
- January 1 start award recipients that received a 1-year period of performance through a SAC/SAC-Additional Areas in FY 2021.
- January 1 start award recipients that were given a 1-year extension due to the COVID-19 pandemic in FY 2021.
Applications are due in Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, July 12, and in EHBs by 5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, August 11.
TA materials are available on the SAC TA webpage.
All potential FY 2022 SAC applicants are invited to join the question and answer webinar:
Tuesday, May 25
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Join the day of the session
If you prefer to join by phone: 833 568 8864
When prompted, enter meeting/webinar ID: 160 707 3635
FY 2022 Project/Designation Period Extensions Reminder
HRSA will extend the project/designation periods of health centers in a 2- or 3-year project/designation period that ends in FY 2022. Health centers receiving this extension will complete an FY 2022 Budget Period Progress Report (BPR)/Annual Certification instead of a SAC/Renewal of Designation (RD) application.
Your health center will soon receive an extension if:
- Your project/designation period ends between October 1, 2021, and September 30, 2022, AND
- You did not receive an extension last year, AND
- You are not currently in a 1-year project/designation period.
For questions about extensions and FY 2022 required applications/submissions, contact the SAC or RD TA Teams via the BPHC Contact Form.
April 1 Start Date? Review Your Patient Target
We recently updated patient targets for Health Center Program award recipients with a April 1 budget period start date. On Thursday, May 13, we sent an email message to the Authorizing Officials and Project Directors of these health centers, which indicated whether the health center would complete a FY 2022 SAC or 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 April 1, 2022, should review their patient targets and take appropriate action in EHBs by Thursday, June 3.
View the recorded tutorial on the EHBs Patient Target Management Module. Other resources are available on the SAC TA webpage, including how to access your patient target in EHBs.
Submit questions using the BPHC Contact Form (select “Patient Targets” on the “BPHC Category” screen).
Introducing the Service Area Status
The Service Area Status (SAS) describes the health, social, and economic status of a health center’s service area. HRSA developed the SAS by leveraging the Service Area Needs Assessment Methodology and the data used to calculate the Unmet Need Score.
Speakers will provide an overview of the SAS and describe potential use cases. You’ll have an opportunity to ask questions and share feedback. We’ll post the slides in advance on our Strategic Initiatives webpage.
Tuesday, May 25
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Join the day of the session
If you prefer to join by phone: 833-568-8864
When prompted, enter meeting/webinar ID: 161 518 5232
Listening Session for PCAs & Health Centers: 2021 Navigator Funding Opportunity
Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, HHS extended the Special Enrollment Period for individuals and families to enroll in health insurance coverage through the Federally-Facilitated Marketplace through Sunday, August 15.
NACHC and CMS will co-host a listening session for health centers and PCAs in the 30 states with a Federally-Facilitated Marketplace.
Thursday, May 20
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here
CMS offers technical guidance for Marketplace stakeholders and other useful resources:
Implementing High-Quality Primary Care: Rebuilding the Foundation of Health Care
With support from HRSA, the National Academy of Medicine produced a new report, "Implementing High-Quality Primary Care: Rebuilding the Foundation of Health Care." Authors studied the state of primary care today and developed an implementation plan that builds upon the recommendations of a 1996 report and strengthens primary care services in the U.S., especially for underserved populations. This page lists upcoming webinars and links to the report itself. You can also watch a recent webinar featuring the authors.
Spanish Language Financial Modules for Board Members
The National Association for Farmworker Health and NACHC created the Spanish version of NACHC’s successful Modules on Board Financial Oversight to help health center board members understand their financial responsibilities, read financial statements, understand cash flow and key performance indicators, and ask the right questions. Access the English version. Both organizations are HRSA-funded NTTAPs.
Capital Investment Trends and Health Center Needs
Capital Link’s new report captures their recent assessment of health centers, examining current and emerging capital plans and needs. It highlights historical capital investment trends, projected capital needs through 2025, and current priorities for planned projects. Capital Link is a HRSA-funded NTTAP.
COVID-19
New HHS Funding for Rural Health Clinics
HRSA will make new HHS funding available for Rural Health Clinics to strengthen COVID-19 testing and mitigation and increase vaccine confidence. Learn more.
CDC Guidance for Those Fully Vaccinated
Share these CDC webpages with health center staff and patients to help them understand the latest CDC guidance for those who are fully vaccinated:
Vaccinating Children
Last week, the FDA and CDC authorized the use of the Pfizer vaccine in children ages 12-15. Our bulletin included key CDC resources on vaccinating children.
As a reminder, we updated the Health Center/Look-Alike COVID-19 Weekly Survey to capture the number of school-based vaccination clinics you’re holding and (for Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program participants ONLY) the number of children you’re vaccinating. If you have questions about how to answer these, or any, questions, visit the Survey User Guide.
Volunteer to Administer COVID-19 Vaccines
HHS has expanded its definition of persons authorized to give the vaccine. The definition now includes, among others, current and retired traditional and non-traditional health care professionals, and students in health care programs.
 Health centers across the nation have distinguished themselves in responding to the current pandemic. Here are two recent examples of health centers supporting COVID-19 vaccination of essential workers in agriculture:
Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center (Aloha, OR) provides high-quality, culturally-appropriate health care to some of the most vulnerable communities in Washington and Yamhill counties. Since last May, they have led COVID-19 Response Teams, traveling to test farmworkers for the virus at their job sites. Recently, staff focus has expanded to offering mobile mass vaccinations for farmworkers.
Last month, Virginia Garcia held their first mobile vaccination clinic focused on reaching MSAWs. With the help of volunteers, they vaccinated nearly 300 individuals. The health center continues to offer mobile vaccination clinics every Tuesday, with a goal of administering 30,000 vaccinations by July. Learn more.
Scenic Bluffs Community Health Center (Cashton, WI) provides health care for patients in Western Wisconsin. Recently, Scenic Bluffs partnered with two county health departments and a large local employer to host community vaccine clinics for workers in agriculture and food production. The center also worked with the Monroe County Health Department to host an evening vaccine clinic focused on reaching Spanish-speaking community members, many of whom work long shifts in local dairies, meat processing plants, and small factories.
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How is your health center helping your community address COVID-19? Send your story to our Health Center Stories inbox. We are especially interested in hearing about efforts to promote equity in vaccine distribution and boost vaccine confidence. We may share your story in future issues of the Digest, on Today with Macrae webcasts, or via HRSA social media.
If sharing a photo, please include a high-resolution image along with the names of everyone in the picture, and make sure each person has signed a HRSA Photo Release Form.
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These COVID-19 related items ran in previous issues of the Digest.
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I Heard That the COVID-19 Vaccine Will…
In a recent blog post, Veterans Administration officials use CDC information to address common misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccines. Health centers might reuse this messaging in your own efforts.
AgWorker Health 102: Supporting Agricultural Worker Health
Speakers at this webinar will share information on current agricultural worker policy issues, as well as training and TA opportunities, resources, and promising practices. This webinar is presented by the Farmworker Health Network, a five-member network of HRSA-funded NTTAPs: Farmworker Justice, MHP Salud, Migrant Clinicians Network, Health Outreach Partners, and the National Center for Farmworker Health.
Thursday, June 3
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here
Health Center COVID-19 FAQs
We continue to add new questions to our COVID-19 FAQs webpage.
Other resources:
Behavioral Health
Providing Behavioral Health Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Social Workers’ Rapid Transition to Telebehavioral Health
Join the HRSA-funded Health Workforce TA Center for the second webinar of their health equity series. Speakers will discuss how social workers transitioned to tele-behavioral health services during the pandemic, and will explore challenges, innovations, and issues of ethics/equity involved in the continued use of tele-behavioral health beyond the pandemic.
Thursday, May 20
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here
HIV
AIDS Education and Training Center Program HIV Care Tools App
The new Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program’s AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC) Program has released an HIV Care Tools App, available for both iPhone and Android devices. It provides one-touch access to key HIV care information. Included are AETC Program reference materials and tools and information from other federal programs. No WIFI is required after installation. The app was developed by the HRSA-supported AETC National Coordinating Resource Center.
CDC Draft 2021 Update to the HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Clinical Practice Guideline and Supplement
A Federal Register Notice has been published announcing webinars hosted by CDC to receive comments on the draft 2021 update to the HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Clinical Practice Guideline and Providers Supplement.
Diabetes
Funding Opportunity: Family-Centered Approaches to Improving Type 2 Diabetes Control and Prevention
HHS’ Office of Minority Health has released a NOFO that aims to identify family-centered factors that promote self-management and prevention of Type 2 diabetes among racial and ethnic minority and disadvantaged families who have a family member age 12 or older with diabetes. Learn more.
Join a TA session for potential applications:
Thursday, May 20
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here
Additional Resources
Webinar Series: Introduction to Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring
HRSA will host a two-part webinar series on self-measured blood pressure monitoring (SMBP). In Part 1, speakers from HRSA, CDC’s Million Hearts® initiative, and NACHC will highlight key resources for health centers to use and reference as they prepare to implement SMBP. In Part 2, HRSA-funded health centers will share their experiences planning for and implementing SMBP, including challenges and best practices learned along the way.
SMBP 101: Best Practices for Implementing SMBP
Friday, June 11
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Register here
SMBP 102: Challenges and Lessons Learned
Implementing SMBP (Stories from the Field)
Thursday, June 24
12:30-2:00 p.m. ET
Register here
Ten Strategies for Creating Inclusive Health Care Environments for LGBTQIA+ People
Creating welcoming, inclusive, and affirming health care environments is critical for increasing access to care for LGBTQIA+ people. This guide presents strategies health centers can apply to become more affirming and welcoming for LGBTQIA+ patients and staff, setting a foundation for comprehensive organizational change. The National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center and the National Center for Equitable Care for Elders, both HRSA-funded NTTAPs, collaborated on this resource.
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