Today with Macrae Today, CMS Interim Final Rule, and More! HRSA PHC Digest

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

HRSA BPHC Primary Health Care Digest

November 9, 2021

Today With Macrae

TODAY: Today with Macrae
Our webcast will include a segment with Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., the director of FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, who will provide the latest guidance to health centers on COVID-19 vaccines and other updates on vaccine safety and efficacy.

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: 161 531 7599

As a reminder, we post the slides and recordings for recent Today with Macrae sessions on the COVID-19 Information for Health Centers and Partners webpage.


News

CMS Interim Final Rule: COVID-19 Vaccine Immunization Requirements for Staff among Medicare- and Medicaid-Certified Providers and Suppliers
Following the Biden-Harris Administration’s COVID-19 Action Plan announced on Thursday, September 9, CMS announced the publication of the interim final rule with comment period, Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination, on Friday, November 5.

This emergency regulation requires COVID-19 vaccination of staff across Medicare and Medicaid-certified health care facilities to protect the health and safety of patients. The rule details the requirements that apply to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) as well as other CMS facility types. For more information, view CMS’ frequently asked questions at: http://www.cms.gov/files/document/cms-omnibus-staff-vax-requirements-2021.pdf.


In this Issue

  • Behavioral Health includes discussion of CMS’ expansion of telehealth.
  • Workforce includes announcement of HRSA’s National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Programs, which are now open.

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Jump To:  COVID-19  |  Transgender Awareness Week  |  Behavioral Health  |  HIV  |  Hypertension  | 
                Workforce  |  Oral Health  |  Additional Resources


What's New

TODAY: Fiscal Year 2022 Health Center Controlled Networks Funding Q&A
HRSA released the fiscal year (FY) 2022 Health Center Controlled Networks (HCCN) Notice of Funding Opportunity (HRSA-22-009). A recorded webinar and other technical assistance (TA) resources are available on the HCCN TA webpage.

TODAY! HRSA will host a TA question and answer session for applicants:

2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Join the session
If you prefer to join by phone: 833 568 8864
When prompted, enter meeting/webinar ID: 161 810 3046

Applications are due in:

  • Grants.gov: Tuesday, January 4, 2022
  • HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs): Tuesday, January 25, 2022

All of Us

Introduction to the Precision Medicine – All of Us Researcher Workbench
Join our partners at the NIH All of Us Research Project for an introduction to the Precision Medicine Researcher Workbench tailored to health centers. You’ll hear how health center participation contributed to the still growing precision medicine database, collecting patient data from one million people. You’ll also learn how to become a registered user of the Researcher Workbench, how to conduct research, and watch a use demonstration of the database.

Wednesday, November 10
2:30-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here


UDS Logo

Now Available: 2021 Uniform Data System TA Webinar Series Recordings
Recordings and slides for the recent 2021 Uniform Data System (UDS) reporting webinar series are now available on our UDS Resources webpage. The page also includes the 2021 UDS Manual and other TA resources.

Webinars addressed how to count visits and complete clinical, financial, and operations tables in the UDS. Speakers shared strategies for successful UDS report submissions, opportunities for quality improvement, and COVID-19 impacts across measures.


Attention National Hypertension Control Initiative Award Recipients
A new Federal Register Notice related to this supplemental award is open for public comment through Friday, November 19. It is for the proposed collection of data for the purpose of evaluating your efforts to improve hypertension control among your patient population. The data collected will assist in determining the level and degree of success achieved by individual health centers and in aggregate by the cohort.

Data collected will be used to:

  • Track and monitor systems change implementation.
  • Assess the capacity of National Hypertension Control Initiative (NHCI) partners to implement the project, their needs, the strengths and weaknesses of the systems change approach, and the feasibility of the implementation of the NHCI in their organizations and communities.
  • Assess the reach and success of NHCI project strategies implemented by partners.

Rural Health Day Graphic

Celebrate National Rural Health Day
See what HRSA and our partners have planned for the week surrounding National Rural Health Day (Thursday, November 18). This includes HRSA’s celebration on the day itself:

Federal Efforts to Achieve Health Equity in Rural Communities
Thursday, November 18
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET
Register here


Submit Nominations to the 80% in Every Community National Achievement Awards
The National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT) invites health center staff to submit nominations for the 2022 80% in Every Community National Achievement Awards, a competitive recognition program that seeks to highlight colorectal cancer screening success stories. Health centers are among past honorees—even a grand prize winner! NCCRT will accept nominations for individuals or organizations, and self-nominations are accepted. The top nominee will receive a $3,000 donation to support their efforts. Learn more and submit a nomination by Friday, November 19.

As a reminder, health centers are also encouraged to join NCCRT’s virtual 80% in Every Community Conference (Monday, November 15, through Wednesday, November 17). Learn more and register.


PCA CEO Core Competencies
This document produced by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), a HRSA-funded National Training and Technical Assistance Partner (NTTAP), outlines 12 domains, related tasks, and behavioral examples of core competencies for Primary Care Association (PCA) CEOs. These domains and related tasks and examples were identified and vetted through a National Advisory Panel made up of key staff who interact with the PCA CEO position in various settings.


COVID-19

Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccination Authorized
Last week, CDC recommended use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for patients ages 5-11. If you missed it, read our bulletin.

For health centers in the Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program, please include the pediatric COVID-19 vaccines in the numbers you report in the population type questions that are part of the survey addendum. Specifically, in the “Children (less than 18 years)” category for questions 23-25. See the User Guide for questions.


Medical Ethics in a COVID-Aware World: Listening Session Series
The National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC) invites health center staff to discuss the unique ethical considerations that providers have faced during the pandemic. Join with members of your health center team to share your experience on topics including vaccine confidence, emergency shelter facilities, clinical care, and trauma and moral injury. See dates, times, and register for sessions. NHCHC is a HRSA-funded NTTAP.


UDS Mapper Advanced Topics: COVID-19 Tools and Population Health
Speakers will introduce the UDS Mapper’s newest feature: COVID-19 tools. These tools allow users to map COVID-19 data over other service area characteristics and identify community needs related to COVID-19. This webinar will also cover population health, geography for clinical settings, and patient service areas.

Thursday, December 16
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here


Transgender Awareness Week

Transgender Flag

Transgender Awareness Week is November 13-19. HRSA’s Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs Region 2 invites you to their webinar, presented in collaboration with the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute’s Clinical Education Initiative. Speakers will provide an overview of the most appropriate language, best practices, and key terms to use when providing quality health care to patients who identify as transgender or non-binary. With the use of case studies, audience members will be walked through the various barriers that impact access to care that is specific to the trans and non-binary communities.

Transgender-Affirming Primary Care
Wednesday, November 17
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Register here


Behavioral Health

BPHC Behavioral Health Integrated Care TA Project
Join us to learn how our upcoming tailored TA efforts will help health centers answer questions like:

  • How can we better integrate our behavioral health and substance use disorder (SUD) services into existing processes?
  • What are some ways to address and mitigate workforce shortages?
  • What are the expanded expectations relating to UDS depression measures?

Monday, November 29
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here
**1.0 continuing education credits available. **


CMS Expands Telehealth for Behavioral Health
CMS updated telehealth policies for 2022 to expand behavioral health services, including treatment of SUD through opioid treatment programs. The policy updates allow patients to receive these services in their homes. CMS is also allowing reimbursement for audio-only services for certain patients, beneficial to rural patients with limited access to high-speed broadband. In addition, for the first time outside of the COVID-19 public health emergency, Medicare will pay for mental health visits furnished by Rural Health Clinics and FQHCs through digital and audio telecommunications.


Treatment Improvement Protocol 33: Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorders
This updated Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP), published by SAMHSA, reviews what is known about treating the medical, psychiatric, and SUD-related problems associated with the use of cocaine and methamphetamine, as well as the misuse of prescription stimulants.


HIV

Addressing Intimate Partner Violence in HIV Programs: Transforming Care with Survivor-Centered Approaches
Join a learning collaborative to learn about the Universal Education approach to addressing violence in HIV programs and hear survivors discuss how health systems can better meet their needs. Participants will also connect with leaders in the field of HIV rights and harm reduction and examine strategies to ensure the sustainability of efforts to address intimate forms of violence. Apply by Wednesday, December 15. Presented by Health Partners on IPV + Exploitation, a HRSA-funded NTTAP.


Hypertension

Attention National Hypertension Control Initiative Award Recipients
See the announcement above.


Million Hearts Learning Lab

Intensifying Treatment to Achieve Blood Pressure Control
Join the second session of a bi-monthly learning series co-sponsored by CDC and CMS focused on heart disease prevention and management.

Wednesday, November 17
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here

The series is part of a CDC Million Hearts® cooperative agreement with NACHC. It is open to all health center staff, especially clinicians and quality improvement staff.

**Clinicians may earn 1.0 CME credit per session and up to 5.0 credits for attending the full series through the American Medical Association's EdHub.**


Workforce

Three HRSA Health Workforce Loan Repayment Programs Open
HRSA’s NHSC opened its application for three of its loan repayment programs and plans to award a significant number of eligible providers. With an additional $800 million made available through the Biden-Harris Administration’s American Rescue Plan (ARP), this year’s awardees will add to the largest number of NHSC clinicians in history.

Eligible clinicians providing primary medical, dental, behavioral health care services, or evidence-based SUD treatment can qualify for loan repayment of up to:

  • $50,000 for the NHSC Loan Repayment Program (NHSC LRP)
  • $75,000 for the NHSC SUD Workforce Loan Repayment Program (NHSC SUD Workforce LRP)
  • $100,000 for the NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program (NHSC Rural Community LRP)

Apply by 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 16.


These HRSA-funded NTTAPs present learning collaboratives:

  • Social Determinants of Health Community Partnerships
    Explore and develop effective strategies for building and re-establishing partnerships that support and provide solutions to address social determinants of health (SDOH). Presented by Farmworker Justice, Health Outreach Partners, and the National Center for Farmworker Health (NCFH). Apply by midnight your local time on Friday, January 7, 2022.

  • Screening and Documenting the Legal Needs of Agricultural Workers and LGBTQIA+ People
    Develop strategies for screening and documenting legal issues related to SDOH, particularly for agricultural workers and LGBTQIA+ people. Learn how to use screening tools that incorporate sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data collection. Collaborate with peers and expert facilitators to implement best practices for screening, identifying, and referring patients with legal needs. Apply today. Presented by the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center, the National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership, and Farmworker Justice.

  • Addressing Intimate Partner Violence in HIV Programs: Transforming Care with Survivor-Centered Approaches
    See the announcement above.

  • Oral Health Workforce Learning Collaborative
    Participate in a learning collaborative focused on developing a recruitment and retention plan for oral health workforce. At the conclusion, the project team should be able to produce and share a clear outline for their recruitment and retention plan for oral health team members. Apply by 8:00 p.m. ET on Monday, December 10. Presented by the National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA) and the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved’s (ACU) STAR2 Center.

  • Measuring, Celebrating, and Amplifying the Value of Community Health Worker Programs
    NACHC and MHP Salud invite health center staff to gain a foundation to measure and analyze the value of Community Health Workers (CHWs) within team-based care models. Experts will guide you through the process of conducting a return-on-investment analysis for CHW programs. Through engagement in peer-to-peer discussions, learn promising practices and better position your health centers to quantify and share the value of your CHW programs. Apply by Thursday, November 11.

Building an Inclusive Organization Toolkit
This toolkit responds to common questions and needs of health center staff engaged in efforts to build a more inclusive organization by implementing policies that help to recruit and retain a workforce representative of the patients served. It also includes health center profiles, best practices, and strategies to implement these efforts. The toolkit is produced by ACU’s STAR2 Center, NHCHC, and the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations—all HRSA-funded NTTAPs.


Oral Health

The HRSA UDS Sealant Measure: 2021 Annual Update
Due to the impacts of COVID-19, the number of children receiving sealants in health centers decreased from almost 57% in 2019 to 49% in 2020. The presentation will include BPHC’s Dental Officer, Dr. Folasayo Adunola, providing an update, a review of data collection for the measure, and successful strategies to increase the percentage of children receiving sealants, including a refresher on glass ionomer sealant placement technique to minimize aerosol generation. Hosted by NNOHA.

Friday, December 3
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Register here


Oral Health Workforce Learning Collaborative
See the announcement above.


Additional Resources

New Accreditation Resources from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care
Join the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care's on-demand webinar series for HRSA-funded health centers. To register for access, use this enrollment key: lMYUUtGMrDbCWXwAmroZ. The field is case sensitive so be sure to copy and paste the enrollment key exactly as is (no spaces before or after).

Topics covered include how to perform peer reviews, complete a mock survey, and conduct medication reconciliation. There’s also a session on the implications of the pandemic on quality of care.


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Training & Technical Assistance

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Visit the training calendar to learn details about or register for events.

Through November 16

Housing Insecurity and Health Centers: The Case for Screening and Beyond
Hosted by the NHCHC, a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Tuesday, November 9
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Register here

FY 2022 HCCN Q&A Session
Tuesday, November 9
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Join the session
If you prefer to join by phone: 833 568 8864
When prompted, enter meeting/webinar ID: 161 810 3046

Today with Macrae: Health Center Program Updates
Tuesday, November 9
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: 161 531 7599

Clinicians’ Network Community Conversations: Ethical Quandaries Session 1: Managing Clients’ Romantic Attraction
Hosted by NHCHC, a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Wednesday, November 10
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Register here

Lessons Learned: COVID-19 Health Literacy in Special & Vulnerable Populations
Hosted by the National Center for Equitable Care for Elders (NCECE) and NCFH, both HRSA-funded NTTAPs
Wednesday, November 10
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Register here

Emergency Preparedness and Response with Focus on Maternal and Child Health Populations
Wednesday, November 10
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here

Better Assess Your Community Using the UDS Mapper
Wednesday, November 10
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here

Introduction to the Precision Medicine – All of Us Researcher Workbench
Wednesday, November 10
2:30-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here

National Diabetes Prevention Program Community of Practice Webinar Series
Hosted by the National Nurse-Led Care Consortium (NNCC), a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Wednesday, November 10
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here (visit to see all dates and times)

Medicaid and Social Determinants of Health: Options for Health Centers
Hosted by the Corporation for Supportive Housing, a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Monday, November 15
Noon-1:30 p.m. ET
Register here

The National Practitioner Data Bank: Is It Reportable? Reporting Scenarios
Tuesday, November 16
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here

Assessing Telehealth Maturity in Health Centers
Hosted by the Health Information Technology, Evaluation, and Quality (HITEQ) Center, a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Tuesday, November 16
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here

Call for Health: How to Navigate the Health Care System
Hosted by NCFH, a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Tuesday, November 16
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here


Upcoming

Weitzman ECHO Webinar Series on COVID-19
Hosted by Community Health Center, Inc., a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Wednesday, November 17
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Register here (visit to see all dates and times)

Transgender-Affirming Primary Care
Wednesday, November 17
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Register here

UDS Mapper Advanced Topics: Using the UDS Mapper for Rural Areas
Wednesday, November 17
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Register here

Advancing Health Equity among the Hispanic Population Web Series (IN SPANISH)
Wednesday, November 17
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Register here

Medical Ethics in Homeless Health Care during COVID-19
Part of the Medical Ethics in a COVID Aware World: Listening Session Series (visit to see all dates and times)
Hosted by NHCHC, a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Wednesday, November 17
2:00-3:30 p.m. ET
Register here

Intensifying Treatment to Achieve Blood Pressure Control
Co-hosted by CDC and CMS
Wednesday, November 17
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here
**1.0 CME available**

Improving UDS Clinical Quality Measure Performance: Increasing HIV Prevention in Primary Care
Hosted by the HITEQ Center, a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Wednesday, November 17
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here

Federal Efforts to Achieve Health Equity in Rural Communities
Thursday, November 18
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET
Register here

Prevention as a Community Effort: How Health Centers Can Support Diabetes Prevention through Their Partnerships
Hosted by the Corporation for Supportive Housing, a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Thursday, November 18
Noon-1:30 p.m. ET
Register here

Special and Vulnerable Populations COVID-19 Forum
Hosted by several HRSA-funded NTTAPs
Friday, November 19
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here (visit to see all dates and times)

Community Violence and Mental Health: Supporting Health Center Staff and Building Resilience
Hosted by the NNCC, a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Monday, November 29
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here
**1.5 CE available**

BPHC Behavioral Health Integrated Care TA Project
Monday, November 29
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here
**1.0 CE available **

Farmworker Housing as a Social Determinant of Health
Hosted by Farmworker Justice, a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Tuesday, November 30
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Register here

¿Estamos Preparados para la Siguiente Emergencia? (Webinar Series in Spanish: Are We Prepared for the Next Emergency?)
Hosted by the National Center for Health in Public Housing, a HRSA-funded NTTAP, and the Puerto Rico Primary Care Association
Register for the two-part series
Sessions occur 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Tuesday, November 30,
and Wednesday, December 15

Preventing HIV with PrEP: New Opportunities and Stories from the Field
Hosted by the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center, a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Wednesday, December 1
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Register here

Diabetes Prevention for Patients of Color at Community Health Centers
Hosted by the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations and NNCC, both HRSA-funded NTTAPs
Wednesday, December 1
2:00-3:30 p.m. ET
Register here
**1.0 CE available**

Today with Macrae: Health Center Program Updates
Wednesday, December 1
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Access details coming soon

The HRSA UDS Sealant Measure: 2021 Annual Update
Hosted by NNOHA, a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Friday, December 3
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Register here

Introduction to the UDS Mapper
Wednesday, December 8
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Register here

The Impact of Health Literacy on Diabetes Mellitus
Hosted by the National Center for Health in Public Housing, a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Thursday, December 9
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Register here

Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring Forum Meeting
Hosted by CDC and NACHC (using CDC funding)
Thursday, December 9
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Register here

The Role of Family Caregivers in Identifying & Addressing SUD in Older Adults
Hosted by NCECE, a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Wednesday, December 15
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here

Webinars are hosted by HRSA unless otherwise noted.