Vaccine Program Emails: Let Your Health Centers Know
A few months ago, HRSA contracted with National Government Services/Anthem on the daily workings of the Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program. Health centers can expect to receive email messages from HC_COVID19VaccineProgram@anthem.com. These messages are sent on HRSA’s behalf and should be treated the same as if someone from HRSA was sending them. Health centers may need to contact their IT person/department, or check their spam folders, so they don’t miss important messages from this email address.

Updated Instructions for Form 5B: Service Sites
We updated the Instructions for Form 5B: Service Sites to provide further explanation for how health centers complete or make changes to Form 5B. Use the updated Instructions for Form 5B: Service Sites when assessing scope accuracy.

Key updates include:

• Clarification on which submission process in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) a health center will use to update each field on Form 5B: Formal Change in Scope (CIS), Scope Adjustment CIS, or Self-Update.
• Simplified guidance on recording suites, floors, or buildings.
• Subrecipient language that aligns with 45 CFR 75.

At this week’s All-Hands, Jen Joseph shared detailed information about these updated instructions. If you missed it, view the slides or watch the recording: Part 1 and Part 2.

To facilitate scope accuracy conversations between health centers and their Project Officer, we also created the Form 5B Scope Accuracy Worksheet. The Project Officer Guide provides instructions on how to use the Form 5B Scope Accuracy Worksheet.

Save the date for an internal briefing on these important updates and how to use these resources:

Tuesday, August 17
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: 161 099 5960 and passcode: 56055179

For reasonable accommodation requests, email ra-request@hrsa.gov or call 301-443-5636. Send your questions through the Policy Portal.

Strengthening Safety Protocols for COVID-19 and the Delta Variant
Last Thursday, President Biden announced new actions to get more Americans vaccinated against COVID-19 and to slow the spread of the Delta variant, including steps to strengthen safety protocols for federal employees and contractors. Read about the new agency safety principles.

All HHS employees, contractors, and visitors, regardless of their vaccination status, must wear masks when in HHS facilities. The CDC issued new guidance on Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People that includes updated mask requirements. HHS also announced this updated guidance in an email to all staff last Wednesday.

LGBTQ+ Definitions and HRSA Pronouns
The Office of Civil Rights, Diversity and Inclusion (OCRDI), in partnership with the Office of Health Equity and HRSA Pride ERG, developed two new resources on LGBTQ+ definitions and pronoun use at HRSA:

• LGBTQ+ Definitions: Designed to help HRSA staff become familiar with terms used by LGBTQ+ communities. The definitions are organized under three categories: LGBTQ+, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity.
• HRSA Pronouns Tip Sheet: Includes best practices, examples, and resources to help HRSA staff learn about the importance of sharing pronouns and how to appropriately use pronouns to help create an inclusive environment for people of all gender identities and expressions.

Questions? Contact OCRDI.

Getting to Know: Chiu-Fang Chou
Meet Chiu-Fang Chou, Statistician, Northeast Health Services Division, ONHS:

One thing my coworkers would be surprised to learn about me: I grew up in Taiwan and learned how to use an abacus when I was in 2nd grade.

Dream vacation: Go to Alaska to see glaciers and go bear viewing.

Favorite quote: “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone” – Neale Donald Walsch

Learn more about Chiu-Fang, and email BPHC Insider to submit your name for a future Getting to Know.

In Case You Missed It

A Round-Up of Previously Announced Items

• Missed the August 3 BPHC All-Hands? View the PowerPoint presentation or listen to the recording: Part 1 and Part 2. You can also visit the archive of other past webcasts.
  
  
• Watch a special shout-out from HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra for all the hard work behind the Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program.
  
  
• The BPHC COVID-19 Task Force recently described how to use the New Enhanced Monitoring Task for progress reports that went live in EHBs July 23. Watch the recording.
  
  
• Consider pledging to give blood at a nearby donation site in the Sleeves Up virtual blood drive through September 30. Share and forward the hashtag #donatewithHRSA to increase participation.
  
  
• Heading Out of Town? Remember to Verify Your Timecard in ITAS before you take leave! Supervisors: Ensure that all time and attendance for employees is accounted for and that timecards are verified before approving them.
  
  
• Have an ITAS or Telework question? Contact BPHCTimeAttendance@hrsa.gov. You can also use the ITAS SharePoint Site to search for processes, ITAS forms (including the Excused Absence form), guidance, role-specific information, and more!
  
  
• HRSA’s flexibilities to help manage child and eldercare responsibilities are available until Thursday, September Read the COVID-19 Excused Absence Leave Overview for more information and use the Excused Absence form for requesting excused absence hours.
  
  
• You can get up to four hours of excused absence per dose to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Get advance approval from your supervisor and use the job aid to put the request into ITAS.