Letter from Dr. Warren, Telehealth Funding, Native Hawaiian Health Care Funding, and more

A Newsletter from the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA)

 August 19, 2021

Seize This Critical Time to Catch Up on Missed Pediatric Vaccinations and Routine Checkups

A letter from Dr. Michael D. Warren, Pediatrician and Associate Administrator for the Maternal and Child Health Bureau at HRSA

Associate Administrator of HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau Michael D. Warren, MD, MPH, FAAP

It’s back to school time!  Did you know that compared to before the pandemic, rates of some routine childhood vaccinations are down by as much as 20 percent?  Many kids also missed well-child visits over the past year and a half.  This leaves our children and communities vulnerable to preventable diseases like measles, whooping cough, and seasonal flu. And as of mid-August, only 31% of 12-15 year olds and 41% of 16-17 year olds are fully vaccinated against COVID-19...

Read Dr. Warren's letter.


Biden-Harris Administration Invests over $19 Million to Expand Telehealth Nationwide and Improve Health in Rural, Other Underserved Communities

photo of a woman and her child on a telehealth call with a physician

August 18 - Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing key investments that will strengthen telehealth services in rural and underserved communities and expand telehealth innovation and quality nationwide. These investments—totaling over $19 million—are being distributed to 36 award recipients through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

“Telehealth is crucial to providing convenient and sustained care for patients,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “This funding demonstrates the Biden-Harris Administration’s strong commitment to expanding access to quality health care for everyone, including in rural and underserved communities. I will continue to support innovative solutions that will strengthen our health care system.”

Read the release.


Biden-Harris Administration Provides $20 Million to Support Native Hawaiian Health Care

Funding Will Increase Equitable Access to COVID-19 Vaccination, Testing, and Treatment among Native Hawaiian Populations

photo of a woman getting a vaccine from a medical professional

August 13 - The Biden-Harris Administration announced today that it is providing $20 million to Native Hawaiian health care entities to aid their response to COVID-19. This funding is being distributed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). It provides six Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act (NHHCIA) award recipients resources to strengthen vaccination efforts, respond to and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, and enhance health care services and infrastructure in their communities.

Read the release.


White House and HHS Recognize Community Health Centers Across our Country

U.S. Surgeon General VADM Vivek Murthy, MD

Last week, we celebrated National Health Center Week. From August 8–14, we honored the incredible, life-changing work of the HRSA-funded community health centers to deliver health care to medically underserved communities and vulnerable populations. If you haven’t yet, see the White House proclamation and this statement by HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra recognizing the critical role health centers play in serving communities, particularly to fight the pandemic.

Please also take a moment to watch our thank you video. Several HHS senior public health leaders, including U.S. Surgeon General VADM Vivek Murthy, MD, and White House Chief Medical Advisor Anthony Fauci, MD, praised the work of the health centers.

Learn about our Health Center Program and the Bureau of Primary Health Care's Uniform Data System (UDS) that includes annual data on services provided, clinical processes and health outcomes, patients’ use of services, costs and more. 


Well Child Wednesdays

photo of a child at the doctor weighing in

As our children head back to school, join HRSA in promoting well-child visits and vaccines—including the COVID-19 vaccine for eligible youth aged 12 and up—through our #WellChildWednesdays social media campaign. Like, Retweet, & Share @HRSAgov posts each Wednesday and tag with #WellChildWednesdays. Amplify our available messages and watch out for our next August 25th message.  Together, we can protect and promote the health of our Nation’s children and their families


DATA 2000 Waiver Training Payments Still Available for Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics

clipart of a health center

We continue to accept applications for payment from Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) employing buprenorphine-waivered providers under the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA 2000) Waiver Training Payment Program. 

The program gives FQHCs and RHCs the opportunity to apply for a $3,000 payment for each eligible employed provider who attained a DATA 2000 waiver on or after January 1, 2019.  Approximately $4 million in program funding remains available and will be paid on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted.

We are collaborating with Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to process these applications. 

View our video and FAQs.


HRSA Celebrates 31 Years of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program

montage of 18 people

On August 18, HRSA celebrated the 31st anniversary of the historic legislation that created the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP). Signed into law on August 18, 1990, the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act created the largest Federal program focused exclusively on providing care and treatment services to people with HIV. More than three decades later, the RWHAP provides a comprehensive system of HIV medical care, medications, and essential support services to nearly 568,000 people in the U.S. The program continues to have a critical role in reducing HIV health disparities and ending the HIV epidemic in the U.S.

Read more about RWHAP.


Intimate Partner Violence and Black Women in New York State: A Historical Overview and Considerations during COVID-19

October is domestic violence awareness month

Our Office of Regional Operations Region 2 (New York City) will host a two-part webinar series on August 25 and September 8 in collaboration with Ujima: The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community and the New York City Anti-Violence Project. This webinar series will discuss the significant historical, cultural, and institutional backgrounds of intimate partner violence (IPV) and the overwhelmingly disproportionate rates of IPV among Black women. These webinars will also provide participants with culturally sensitive tools and best practices to assess and care for Black women that experience IPV.

Register to attend webinar Part 1 on August 25 at Noon ET

Register to attend webinar Part 2 on September 8 at Noon ET


Telehealth: A Flash in the Pan(demic) or Here for the Long Haul? Webinar

map of the us with a stethoscope lying on top of it

From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, patients, providers, payers and policymakers looked to telehealth to ensure continuity of care. All 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico modified their telehealth policies—but many of these actions were temporary during the declared state of emergency. Federal and state policymakers are now determining what the telehealth policy landscape will look like in a post-pandemic world. On Wednesday, August 25, 2 p.m. ET, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) will host a webinar featuring national experts and state legislative respondents who will discuss the myriad changes to telehealth policies during the pandemic and which of these changes may stick around for the long haul. 

HRSA’s National Organizations of State and Local Officials Cooperative Agreement provided support for this webinar. Register to attend.


Measuring Impact in Health Professional Schools

photo of three health professionals reviewing notes

How do medical, dental, and nursing schools measure their impact in advancing health equity and addressing health disparities? Join the Health Workforce Technical Assistance Center (HWTAC) on Thursday, August 26 from 2–3 p.m. ET for a discussion of the Social Mission Metrics Initiative. The Initiative provides schools with a tool to evaluate the performance of their graduates, faculty, and leadership. This webinar will describe the development and usage of social mission metrics and discuss implications for future work in this area.

Register to attend.


Breaking Down Barriers: Advancing Health Equity in HIV Care Webinar

photo of several hands holding red ribbons

On Monday, August 30, 23 p.m. ET, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials will hold part 2 of the HIV Webinar Series, focusing on designing HIV systems that meet the needs of vulnerable populations. This webinar will teach attendees about some of the unique barriers vulnerable populations face in receiving HIV care. Speakers will highlight local efforts designed to address these barriers and improve retention in HIV care among marginalized communities.

HRSA’s National Organizations of State and Local Officials Cooperative Agreement provided support for this webinar. Register to attend.


Tele-Behavioral Health Virtual Forum on Clinical Decision Making

photo of a woman on a telehealth call

HRSA’s Office of Regional Operations Region 10 (Seattle) is holding a virtual forum on clinical decision-making for tele-behavioral health services in rural and underserved areas on Tuesday, August 31 from Noon to 6 p.m. ET. This virtual forum will cover tele-behavioral health frameworks, how health centers can expand capacity through the use of telehealth, and best practices and strategies to develop and implement effective telehealth systems. Register here.


EnRICH Webinar – Learn how to Write a Competitive Research Proposal

woman on a webcast

HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) seeks to achieve health equity for Maternal and Child Health (MCH) populations. We aim to support diverse researchers with an interest in advancing the field and improving MCH health outcomes. We recognize that some researchers face challenges in submitting competitive applications. To overcome these challenges and attract robust applications from diverse and under-represented researchers at institutions of higher learning, our next Engaging Research Innovations & Challenges (EnRICH) webinar series will provide an overview of our research investments and expertise on how to build your team and application and how to best align with our review criteria. 

Register now for the September 8 webinar: Research Grant Writing Basics: Grant Proposal Overview, Exemplary Tips, and Examples.

image of a calendar

August

  • National Breastfeeding Month  
  • National Immunization Awareness Month
  • National Minority Donor Awareness Month
  • National Health Center Week (8-14)

Funding Opportunities

 

Health Centers


Service Area Competition (HRSA-22-005) - apply by September 7

Service Area Competition (HRSA-22-006) - apply by October 4

Health Workforce


Teaching Health Center Planning and Development Program - apply by August 30 

Teaching Health Center Planning and Development --Technical Assistance - apply by August 30

Promoting Resilience and Mental Health Among Health Professional Workforce (PRMHW) - apply by August 30

Health and Public Safety Workforce Resiliency Training Program - apply by August 30

Health and Public Safety Workforce Resiliency Technical Assistance Center (HPSWRTAC) - apply by August 30

Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program - apply by September 21

HIV/AIDS Bureau


Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part A HIV Emergency Relief Grant Program - apply by October 6

AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) Emergency Relief Funds (ERF) - apply by October 25

Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program HIV Care Grant Program – Part B States/Territories Formula and AIDS Drug Assistance Program Formula and ADAP Supplemental Awards  - apply by November 8

Maternal and Child Health


Maternal and Child Health Services - apply by September 1


View All Funding Opportunities