American Rescue Plan Funding
Funding for Health Centers
Health centers have until next 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 HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (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.
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.
Capital Link, a HRSA-funded National Training and Technical Assistance Partner (NTTAP), is hosting webinars to support health centers with their applications.
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 includes a short description of the Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. 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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What's New
40 Years of Progress: It’s Time to End the HIV Epidemic
The Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative commemorates the 40th anniversary of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report on the first reported cases of what would be known as AIDS. This webinar will reflect on the 40 years of progress and highlight the best practices and innovations across the U.S. to help us end the HIV epidemic. Join the HHS Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy.
Tuesday, June 1
Noon-3:30 p.m. ET
Register here
REMINDER: Updated Health Center Program Site Visit Protocol
As a reminder, HRSA updated the Site Visit Protocol (SVP) to increase its effectiveness, clarity, consistency, and transparency. These changes will “go live” on Thursday. No changes were made to the Health Center Program Compliance Manual. See a summary of key changes.
All Operational Site Visits and Look-Alike Initial Designation Site Visits conducted on or after Thursday, May 27, will use the updated SVP. Federal representatives have contacted site visit teams and health centers with visits scheduled between Monday, May 31, and Friday, July 30, regarding the updated protocol.
Please contact your Project Officer with specific questions.
2021 Uniform Data System Reporting Changes Webinar Recording Available
We’ve posted the recording of our recent 2021 Uniform Data System (UDS) Reporting Changes TA webinar. Speakers provided updates on reporting changes including about the latest COVID-19 testing and diagnostic codes, the addition of a COVID-19 vaccination line, and alignment of UDS clinical quality measures with current CMS electronic-specified clinical quality measures.
Visit the UDS Resources webpage to access the presentation slides, the 2021 UDS Manual and Program Assistance Letter, and other resources to support complete, accurate, and timely UDS reporting.
Service Area Competition NOFOs Released
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Project period start date February 1, 2022: The FY 2022 Service Area Competition (SAC) NOFO (HRSA-22-003) announces the service areas for:
- February 1 start award recipients that received a 1-year period of performance through a SAC/SAC-Additional Areas in FY 2021.
- February 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 19, and in EHBs by 5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, August 18.
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Project period start date December 1, 2021: Applications for the FY 2022 SAC NOFO (HRSA-22-103) are due in Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, July 19, and in EHBs by 5:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, August 3.
Find details for the announced service areas on the Service Area Announcement Table. TA materials are available on the SAC TA webpage.
TODAY! All potential FY 2022 SAC applicants are invited to join the question and answer webinar:
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Join the session
If you prefer to join by phone: 833 568 8864
When prompted, enter meeting/webinar ID: 160 707 3635
Optimizing Virtual Care Funding Opportunity
HRSA announced the availability of up to $50 million for HRSA-funded health centers to further efforts to advance virtual care. This competitive, one-time funding opportunity will support health centers in optimizing the use of virtual care to increase access and improve clinical quality for medically underserved communities and vulnerable populations.
Applications are due in Grants.gov on Friday, July 16, and in EHBs on Tuesday, August 17. Visit the fiscal year (FY) 2022 Optimizing Virtual Care (OVC) TA webpage for the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), pre-recorded TA webinar, and other resources.
Join the OVC applicant question and answer session:
Tuesday, June 1
1:00-2:00 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: 161 029 3366
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/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.
Promoting Pediatric Primary Prevention (P4) Challenge: Phase 1 Winners
Congratulations to the health centers selected as Phase 1 winners of the Promoting Pediatric Primary Prevention (P4) Challenge. HRSA launched the P4 Challenge in December 2020 in response to CDC data demonstrating that childhood vaccinations declined due to the pandemic.
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Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Applications Are Open
Applications for the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program are open. You can help health center patients obtain the internet access they need to connect with virtual health care, jobs, and education.
- The FCC’s EBB toolkit has resources and materials to help you assist patients with their applications.
- Provide access to the internet at your health center and basic technical support so that patients can complete the application.
Direct your questions about the program or how to assist patients to your regional Telehealth Resource Center.
Certified Application Counselor Designated Organization Application Open Season
Organizations operating in a Federally-Facilitated Marketplace state that want to provide enrollment assistance to consumers for plan year 2022 must apply to CMS to become a certified application counselor designated organization (CDO), if they are not already a CDO. Open season for applications begins on Tuesday, June 1, and ends on Tuesday, August 31. CDOs oversee certified application counselors, who are trained and able to help consumers seeking health coverage options through the Marketplace. Learn more.
Emergency Energy Assistance Available
State low income energy programs have received an additional $5.4 billion in stimulus funds under the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. States are using the funds to help families pay down their utility arrearages for the last year as well as bills going forward. Most states do not require an asset test and income eligibility can be as high as 150% of the federal poverty level or 60% of your state’s median income. Support your patients in using the local agency finder to identify their community’s intake agency. Find the administering agency in your state.
Community Mobility Design Challenge 2021
The Federal Transit Administration-funded National Center for Mobility Management is accepting applications for a new grant program. Grantees will use the human-centered design process to create innovative mobility solutions for community members who face transportation barriers in advancing their personal well-being. Grants of up to $25,000 will be available. Learn more or apply by Monday, July 12. Register for a webinar for applicants this Thursday, May 27.
COVID-19
Health Center COVID-19 FAQs
We continue to update and add new questions to our COVID-19 FAQs webpage. Last week we added these two questions:
- What types of documentation are health centers required to maintain and report for COVID-19 vaccinations?
- What is HRSA’s guidance for optimizing the provision of on-demand vaccine, understanding there is an increased potential for vaccine wastage?
Other resources:
Deadline Change NEXT Week: Health Center COVID-19 Weekly Survey
We continue to rely on your input to best understand your needs. Thank you for completing the weekly survey! As a reminder, the May 21 survey is due today.
Due to Memorial Day, we extended the deadline for the survey you will receive this Friday, May 28. That survey is not due until Wednesday, June 2, at 11:59 p.m. your local time.
Vaccine Equity in Action: Public Health and Primary Care Connection
Join HRSA’s 3-part webinar series to explore vaccine confidence in affected communities, identify promising practices, and share experiences and expertise regarding vaccine equity and best practices for vaccine education. View the pages for date/time and registration.
Strategies to Promote COVID-19 Vaccine among Adolescents and their Families
HRSA invites you to hear from experts on how best to reach adolescents to ensure vaccine uptake.
Wednesday, May 26
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here
Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage between Urban and Rural Counties
CDC recently published a report illustrating geographic differences in COVID-19 vaccination coverage. HRSA—through the work of Rural Health Clinics—is playing a key role to make a difference in rural areas. Find out how.
COVID-19 and Money: Brochures Available from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently shipped health centers brochures about money management during the pandemic and the changing economy, for sharing with patients. Any health center may download or order free printed materials.
FEMA Public Assistance Program: Community Engagement about COVID-19 Vaccinations
Funding under FEMA’s Public Assistance Program may support community engagement to promote vaccination availability, scheduling, and accessibility, as well as reimbursement for activities to increase confidence in and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines. Read more.
TODAY! Join a FEMA webinar to learn more:
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here
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These COVID-19 related items ran in previous issues of the Digest.
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COVID-19 Vaccine Coverage and Reimbursement
HRSA created fact sheets to help patients and providers better understand their rights and responsibilities regarding access to COVID-19 vaccines. The COVID-19 vaccines are free to anyone living in the U.S.
Learn more on HHS’ COVID-19 Care for Uninsured Individuals webpage.
Consider HRSA’s COVID-19 claims reimbursement program for uninsured patients. Providers who have conducted COVID-19 testing or provided treatment for uninsured individuals with a primary COVID-19 diagnosis can request claims reimbursement. They can also request reimbursement for COVID-19 vaccine administration to the uninsured.
HHS recently announced the COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund (CAF), which covers costs of administering COVID-19 vaccines to patients enrolled in health plans that either do not cover vaccination fees or cover them with patient cost-sharing. Since providers cannot bill patients for COVID-19 vaccines, the CAF addresses an outstanding compensation need for providers vaccinating underinsured patients. See the CAF program fact sheet for a quick overview.
Behavioral Health
Strategies for Addressing Health Disparities in Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorders
Speakers will focus on understanding health disparities for racial/ethnic/linguistic minority groups. They will outline strategies to enhance access to treatment services, including buprenorphine, naloxone, and methadone.
Wednesday, June 2
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here
Mapping Patient Journeys in Drug Addiction Treatment Challenge
NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) invites health centers to participate in a new challenge that has cash prizes totaling $100,000. The goal is to create actionable patient journey maps that might further the understanding of the obstacles that patients face in getting treatment for drug addiction. NIDA invites participants to identify specific points during the patient journey where patients encounter the most difficulty, enabling NIDA to focus new research efforts into alleviating those areas of difficulty in patients’ drug addiction treatment journeys.
HIV
40 Years of Progress: It’s Time to End the HIV Epidemic
See the announcement above.
Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part C Early Intervention Services Program: Existing Geographic Service Areas
Three notices announce opportunities to apply for funding under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part C Early Intervention Services 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.
Workforce
Faculty Loan Repayment Program Supports Diverse Health Professional Educators
If you’re a faculty member at an approved health professions school, have a health professions degree or certificate, and come from a disadvantaged background, you may be eligible for HRSA’s Faculty Loan Repayment Program. The program awards participants up to $40,000 to pay off their qualifying educational loans in exchange for two years of teaching service. Participants also receive a tax liability benefit equal to 39% of the loan repayment amount. Check your eligibility today and apply by Thursday, July 1.
Futures Without Violence, a HRSA-funded NTTAP, invites health centers to join these upcoming learning collaboratives:
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Health Center Protocols to Address IPV and HT: Participants will develop, adapt, and formalize organizational protocols to support their staff to address IPV and HT and to support patients. Apply by this Thursday, May 27.
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Utilizing Health Information Technology to Address UDS Requirements on IPV and HT: Bolster your health center’s capacity to address the new UDS measures on IPV and HT, improve quality of care for survivors, and offer preventive health services. Apply by this Friday, May 28.
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Strengthening Responses for Farmworkers on IPV and HT during COVID-19: Explore the impact of the pandemic and domestic violence on farmworkers and innovations to increase vaccine access and safety supports. Faculty will share a new universal education tool that the cohort will help inform and refine, and the new tool will be disseminated nationally following the learning collaborative. Learn the evidence-based “CUES” approach. Apply by Friday, June 11.
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Learning Series on Gender & Health Services: This is not technically a learning collaborative. Each session is available for stand-alone registration, but they are designed to complement each other to form a holistic learning series. See the sessions. Presented in partnership with the National Health Care for the Homeless Council (also a HRSA-funded NTTAP).
Additional Resources
Webinar Recording Available: Going Viral for Hepatitis
If you missed it, here’s a recording of our recent webinar on updated hepatitis C virus testing guidance. Speakers discussed why changes were needed and demonstrated how clinicians are implementing the updated recommendations.
NTTAP Directory
NACHC created this online organizational directory of the 21 HRSA-funded NTTAPs that provide targeted training and TA to community health centers.
In case you missed it:
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