What's New
Improved Scope of Project Webpage and Related Resources
Last week, HRSA released a new and improved Scope of Project webpage. We improved it to help orient you to the different components of Scope of Project and to more easily guide you to resources to help ensure your health center's scope of project is accurate.
We expanded the previous list of resources, adding two NEW ones:
- Answers to common Change in Scope questions.
- A new tool for health centers to self-assess if a site is eligible for a temporary service site request, with an optional submission template for submitting a request to BPHC.
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TODAY: Loan Guarantee Program Webinar for ARP-Capital Award Recipients
This afternoon, HRSA will host a health center facility Loan Guarantee Program (LGP) webinar for ARP-Capital award recipients. Presenters will provide background on the LGP and identify how it can support securing additional financing needed for approved ARP-Capital projects.
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Join the session
If you prefer to join by phone: 833-568-8864
When prompted, enter meeting/webinar ID: 160 493 0137
Fiscal Year 2022 Ending the HIV Epidemic – Primary Care HIV Prevention Funding Now Available
HRSA released the fiscal year (FY) 2022 Ending the HIV Epidemic – Primary Care HIV Prevention (PCHP) Notice of Funding Opportunity (HRSA-22-104). See the recent bulletin for more information. TA resources are available on the PCHP TA webpage.
FY 2022 PCHP applications are due in:
- Grants.gov: Tuesday, December 14
- HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks: Tuesday, January 18, 2022
HRSA will host a TA webinar for applicants:
Thursday, October 28
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: 160 011 6977
Commonwealth Fund Discussion on Community Health Centers
Last month, HRSA Associate Administrator Jim Macrae joined a panel for the Commonwealth Fund’s session on Community Health Centers & Value-Based Payment: Current Challenges and Opportunities for the Future.
Watch the recording of the discussion on the current payment landscape for health centers and the impact of COVID-19.
Public Consultation on the Draft HHS Strategic Plan FY 2022-2026
HHS seeks public comment on its draft Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2022-2026, which articulates how the Department will achieve its mission through five strategic goals. You can comment by email, fax, or mail through Sunday, November 7.
New HHS Initiative to Strengthen Primary Health Care
HHS’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) has launched an initiative to strengthen primary health care. In its recent report, Implementing High-Quality Primary Care: Rebuilding the Foundation of Health Care, the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine called upon HHS to take a leadership role in increasing access to high quality primary health care. Using the report as a roadmap, a team led by OASH’s Dr. Judith Steinberg (former BPHC Chief Medical Officer) will work with federal partners and stakeholders to develop HHS’ plan of action.
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CMS Innovation Center Strategy Refresh
The CMS Innovation Center released a white paper detailing its vision for the next 10 years, “Driving Health System Transformation – A Strategy for the CMS Innovation Center’s Second Decade.” Access the white paper and learn more about this strategy on CMS' website.
COVID-19
Updated Booster Guidance
Last week, CDC recommended booster shots of the Moderna and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccines. See our bulletin for links to CDC guidance.
Today’s COCA Call is on the topic:
What Clinicians Need to Know about the Recent Updates to CDC’s Recommendations for COVID-19 Boosters
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Join the session
The Urgency and Strategies for Improving Young Adult COVID-19 Immunization Rates
HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau invites you to learn from young adult leaders about strategies to increase vaccine uptake among this population.
Wednesday, October 27
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here
People with Substance Use, Mood, and Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders at Higher Risk for Severe COVID-19
CDC has updated the list of underlying medical conditions associated with higher risk for severe COVID-19. The list now includes mood disorders (including depression) and schizophrenia spectrum disorders, as well as substance use disorders.
 Health centers across the nation have distinguished themselves in responding to the current pandemic. Here’s a recent example:
Boosting COVID-19 Vaccination Rates among Adolescents
Cherry Health (Grand Rapids, MI) has proactively promoted COVID-19 vaccinations for adolescents and continues to increase their reach. To date, Cherry Health has administered at least one COVID-19 shot to more than 1,400 adolescents, aged 12 to 17.
They have achieved this milestone through multi-pronged, targeted efforts. This past spring, right after the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was approved for youth, Cherry Health hosted a vaccine clinic at a local high school and administered nearly 130 COVID-19 vaccines to teens.
The health center hosted weekly evening vaccine events for adolescents and families. Cherry Health sent text messages to patients aged 12 to 16 encouraging them to attend and invited parents to get their vaccine at the same time. They also brought their mobile unit to back-to-school resource fairs.
“By getting this shot, we keep ourselves out of the hospital and allow people who really need treatment to access care; we can start going to sports games and see our friends again,” said a teenage patient who recently received a COVID-19 vaccine through Cherry Health, encouraging others in her community to do the same.
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Please share stories profiling the diverse ways your health center is addressing COVID-19. We are especially interested in hearing about creative, innovative efforts to:
- Administer booster shots and educate your community about them.
- Support equity in vaccine distribution and increase vaccine confidence.
Send your story to our Health Center Stories inbox and you may see your story featured in this newsletter, 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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Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence and health care are closely linked. According to a survey of contacts with the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 53% of respondents reported that an abusive partner has also controlled/and or restricted access to health care.
HRSA’s Office of Women’s Health and BPHC are working with the Administration for Children and Families and the National Domestic Violence Hotline to address these intersections. Learn about other HRSA intimate partner violence work or view last year’s webinar, Sheltering in Place, Intimate Partner Violence, and the Healthcare Response.
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Behavioral Health
People with Substance Use, Mood, and Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders at Higher Risk for Severe COVID-19
See the announcement above.
Workforce
These HRSA-funded National Training and Technical Assistance Partners (NTTAPs) present learning collaboratives:
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Addressing Diabetes Risk Factors in Elementary School-Aged Children
The National Nurse-Led Care Consortium (NNCC) and the School-Based Health Alliance (SBHA) invite health centers, including school-based health centers, to learn about targeted interventions to prevent diabetes in elementary school-aged children with pre-diabetic indicators. Also consider how to best reach students by leveraging school and other community-based organization partnerships. 1.5 CE available for each module. Register here.
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The Health Center Resource Clearinghouse: Improving the Curation and Distribution of Promising Practices
The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) is looking for Primary Care Associations and health center training and staff development managers to inform and strengthen the Clearinghouse’s curation and sharing of promising practices. Participants will help develop a promising practices submission form and a checklist for vetting based on new criteria. They will also help tailor the Clearinghouse submission process to align with health center practices. Register here.
Additional Resources
HHS Launches Spanish Language App to Help Latinos Navigate Health Care Questions
HHS launched a Spanish version of its QuestionBuilder app in concert with a report on the access and insurance challenges for this population. The app can help Latino patients prepare for their in-person or telehealth appointments. Learn more.
Patient-Centered Medical Home Health Equity TA Symposium
The Joint Commission encourages you to save the date for the first annual Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Health Equity TA Symposium. The virtual event will take place from 11:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET on Monday, January 31, 2022, and Tuesday, February 1, 2022.
Health centers will have an opportunity to share their health equity innovations, learn from peers, and hear how PCMH initiatives drive improvements in health equity. We’ll share registration information and instructions for submitting your innovations soon.
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