What's New
Calendar Year 2021 UDS Reporting Cycle Complete
We thank health centers, and the many organizations that provide technical assistance (TA), for supporting timely UDS report submission. UDS data help us assess the impact and performance of the Health Center Program, and promote data-driven quality improvement. We expect the 2021 UDS data to be released in August.
Stay tuned for announcements about 2022 UDS reporting. Our new UDS Training and TA microsite provides a central, user-friendly hub for health centers to access UDS reporting resources. It is organized by UDS topic areas, such as:
- Patient characteristics
- Staffing and utilization
- Clinical care
- Financials
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2022 UDS RAPID (Reporting Assistance and Process Improvement Discussion) Series
Through four monthly sessions, we will offer specialized, virtual TA on UDS clinical quality measures (CQMs). The purpose is to empower health centers to strengthen their workflows to collect, report, and use quality data, and ultimately improve patient care.
Selected health centers will join team-based, peer-learning cohorts to improve their knowledge and ability in the following areas:
- UDS CQM reporting and data
- Use of CQMs for clinical improvement
- Identification and implementation of process changes
Space is limited. For more information, including eligibility requirements and registration, visit the UDS RAPID series webpage.
FHIR 101: Opportunities to Improve Interoperability across Health Centers
Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) is a Health Level 7 International (HL7) standard for electronic health care data exchange. It provides a standard way to express and share information across health centers, providers, and related organizations independent of how local electronic health records (EHRs) display or store data.
For UDS Patient-Level Submission (UDS+) reporting and other information exchange needs, health centers, Primary Care Associations, and Health Center Controlled Networks will want to be familiar with the basics of the HL7 FHIR standard.
The Health Information Technology, Evaluation, and Quality (HITEQ) Center will host a webinar discussing what FHIR is, what it does, how it impacts your EHR, and what it might mean to your health center and patients.
Tuesday, April 26
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here
The HITEQ Center is a HRSA-funded NTTAP.
Learning to Use the All of Us Research Hub for Health Centers
Join colleagues who are learning to use NIH’s All of Us Precision Medicine Research Hub database in a webinar hosted by NIH.
Wednesday, April 27
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here
Is your health center interested in using the database for research, but don’t know where to begin? The webinar above will answer some questions, but HRSA can also facilitate your connection to NIH staff. Whether you have a unique research topic or you would like to collaborate with other health centers to develop mutually beneficial research questions, NIH can help you. Please email Cheryl Thompson to get started.
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Factors Associated with Federally Qualified Health Center Financial Performance
To better understand drivers of financial stability at health centers, HRSA researchers collaborated with the University of Chicago to review six measures of health center financial performance. They determined that higher proportions of Medicaid patients and non-physician health care providers (nurse practitioners, physician assistants, etc.) have positive associations with a health center’s financial sustainability. So does having Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition. The researchers also found that overall health center financial health has improved since 2012, which could be attributed in part to the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Read the published article in our Health Center Library.
Health Center Workforce Well-being Survey
In the fall, HRSA will deploy a nationwide Health Center Workforce Survey to identify and address challenges related to provider and staff well-being. We will invite all full-time and part-time staff at HRSA-funded health centers to give input on factors that affect workforce well-being, job satisfaction, and burnout. We’ll use this survey data to inform our future work—for example, in development of TA strategies and supporting activities.
For additional details, see the Federal Register Notice.
National Telehealth Conference
Join HRSA for the inaugural National Telehealth Conference on Monday, May 16, and Tuesday, May 17. Experts and leaders in the field will examine the evolution of telehealth, discuss its place in an integrated health care delivery model, and review the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic to inform the future of telehealth.
Healthy Grants Workshop Begins in May
The 2022 Healthy Grants Workshop web series is for current HRSA award recipients and will offer multiple presentations on how to successfully manage your HRSA award.
In addition to presentations by HRSA’s Office of Federal Assistance Management, this year’s workshop will feature presentations by the Grants Quality Service Management Office and the Office of the Inspector General. Other HRSA bureaus and offices will also present, including the Office of Civil Rights, Diversity, and Inclusion, and the Office of Information Technology.
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COVID-19
Provider Relief Fund: Request to Report Late Due to Extenuating Circumstances
HRSA has established a process that accounts for extenuating circumstances that may have prevented providers from submitting a completed Provider Relief Fund report. Providers have the opportunity to submit a request to report late for Reporting Period 1 by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, April 22. Learn more.
Vaccination after Infection
People who have had COVID-19 in the past may think they don’t need to be vaccinated. However, a recent CDC study examining the effectiveness of mRNA vaccination in those who previously had COVID-19 found that mRNA vaccination provided protection against subsequent COVID-19-associated hospitalization and reinfection.
Behavioral Health
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics
SAMHSA’s programs will help to transform community behavioral health systems and provide comprehensive, coordinated behavioral health care through the establishment of new programs or enhancement of existing ones.
Applications are due by Tuesday, May 17, for both opportunities.
HIV
Implementation Tools and Resources for Enhancing Equity-Focused PrEP Services Series
Join NACHC for a learning collaborative about available resources and tools health centers can leverage to plan and implement best practices for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) activities. Participants will use this opportunity to plan and test PrEP activities with the benefit of coaching and group support. Apply here.
Hypertension
Move Your Way: The Physical Activity Guidelines in Action
HHS' Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion invites health centers to learn about Move Your Way — the promotional campaign for the second edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines. Speakers will highlight success stories and lessons learned from select Move Your Way pilot communities. Join the conversation and learn about effective strategies for using Move Your Way community resources.
Wednesday, April 27
1:30-2:30 p.m. ET
Register here
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Workforce
HRSA Launches New Community Health Worker Training Program
HRSA recently launched the Community Health Worker Training Program focused on education and on-the-job training to build the pipeline of Community Health Workers (CHW), who play a critical role in connecting people to health care services.
This new program will support training and employment through registered apprenticeships and job placements. It aims to increase access to care, improve public health emergency response, and address the public health needs of underserved communities, thereby reducing health disparities. HRSA will award approximately $226.5 million to up to 75 grantees over a period of three years. Apply by Tuesday, June 14.
HRSA-funded NTTAPs present learning collaboratives:
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Collaborating to Address the Health and Legal Needs of Patients Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence and Exploitation
Health Partners on IPV + Exploitation and the National Center for Medical-Legal Partnerships (NCMLP) invite health centers to learn about partnering to address the health and legal needs of patients and clients experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) and exploitation. Apply by 8:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 28.
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All-Hazards Emergency Preparedness & Response
NACHC invites health center staff to discuss lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic that can inform emergency preparedness efforts. Speakers will highlight the efficacy of an all-hazards, multidisciplinary preparedness approach, as well as specific measures health centers should take to comply with the CMS Rule for Emergency Preparedness. Topics will range from planning for and responding to natural disasters, cybersecurity threats, active shooters, and other emergencies. Register to attend.
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Implementation Tools and Resources for Enhancing Equity-Focused PrEP Services Series
See the announcement above.
Find other NTTAP learning collaboratives in the Health Center Resource Clearinghouse.
Additional Resources
The Unique Role of Medical-Legal Partnerships in Helping Health Centers Address Disability and Chronic Disease Discrimination
NCMLP, in collaboration with Health Outreach Partners (also a HRSA-funded NTTAP), is offering a webinar series designed to help health centers address and redress discrimination against people living with disabilities or chronic disease. Health centers play a key role in identifying discrimination at its earliest stages. They will learn how to mitigate discrimination by leveraging their own medical authority and resources within the community. Visit to see dates and times and to register.
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