Cancer Screening Funding, National Nurses Month, OPTN Request for Information, and more

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

May 19, 2022

HRSA Convenes First-Ever National Conference on Telehealth

Screenshot of the HRSA video Telehealth and the Underserved: Navigating the Crisis

Earlier this week, HRSA convened the first-ever national conference on telehealth, which drew a registered audience of nearly 4,000.

A blue-ribbon panel of experts discussed the success of telehealth programs during the pandemic -- and hurdles that lie ahead, including expanding broadband access in rural communities to allow at-home appointments, modifying reimbursement rules so providers can get paid for services rendered at a distance and reducing restrictions on clinicians practicing virtually across state line​s.

HRSA has dedicated more than $100 million in resources to expanding telehealth services and reducing barriers, greatly impacting patients across the nation.

Watch our video Telehealth and the Underserved.


HRSA Announces $5 Million in Funding to Advance Equity in Cancer Screening at Health Centers

This investment supports President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot initiative by promoting early detection and treatment through cancer screening.

photo of a nurse or doctor with a patient

May 11 - Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the availability of $5 million for community health centers, funded by HHS’s Health Resources and Services Administration, to increase equitable access to life-saving cancer screenings. This funding supports President Joe Biden’s Unity Agenda and his call to action on cancer screening and early detection as part of the Administration’s Cancer Moonshot initiative to end cancer as we know it.

Read the release.


National Nurses Month Observance, May 1-31

Join our National Nurses Month (#NationalNursesMonth) virtual observance throughout the month of May. Our nurses have demonstrated great resiliency and they continue to show up and provide care for our nation’s underserved communities every day. Each week this month, we are sharing stories from our nurses on our social media platforms. We also just launched a new webpage dedicated to our nursing programs, including nurse loan repayment, scholarship, and grant training information.

Follow our National Nurses Month virtual observance:

HRSA: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube
National Health Service Corps: Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn
Nurse Corps: Facebook and LinkedIn

Thank you nurses for all you do for patients across the country-thank you for the transformative care you provide this National Nurses Month & always.

Health Professional Faculty Loan Repayment Program Open

photo of medical students practicing on a dummy

The Faculty Loan Repayment Program application is now open. The program supports the recruitment and retention of health professions faculty from disadvantaged backgrounds. Applications are accepted through Thursday, June 30, 7:30 p.m. ET.


Deadline Extension: Request for Information on Ways to Strengthen and Improve the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network

clipart of several organs smiling

On April 8, we released a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input on ways to strengthen and improve the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). We extended that deadline to May 23, to allow more time for responses to this important RFI. The OPTN facilitates the nation’s organ procurement, allocation, distribution and transplantation activities and ensures availability and access to donor organs for patients with end-stage organ failure.

We value and encourage your input, which will be integral in shaping the future direction of the OPTN contract. The vast expertise and experience of our stakeholder community should provide innovative ideas and solutions to challenging questions in the RFI. For details on how to provide input, download the most recent PDF on this page under the Attachment/Links section.

Responses are due Monday, May 23, 1 p.m. ET.


Suicide and Crisis Network’s Call for Volunteers and Employees

988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline

On July 16, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) will transition to an easy-to-remember, 3-digit number (988). This represents an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen and expand the existing network of over 200 locally operated and funded crisis centers across the country.

In advance of the 988 transition, the Lifeline Suicide & Crisis Network is looking for new volunteers and paid employees to answer calls, chats, and texts from people in crisis. All employees and volunteers receive training. If you are a caring person who wants to help, apply today.  

Learn more about 988.


Improving Health and Well-Being in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Communities Through Compliance

AI/AN training logo

The HHS Office of the Inspector General is offering a new training series for grantees and health care providers who serve AI/AN communities. Learn more about compliance; fraud, waste, and abuse; and health care quality topics such as the opioid epidemic, challenges to delivering quality care, and protecting patients from abuse.

The free training series includes web-based trainings, job aids, and videos.

Access the training.

image of a calendar

May

  • Hepatitis Awareness Month
  • Mental Health Awareness Month
  • Older Americans Month
  • Children's Mental Health Awareness Week (1-5)
  • National Nurses Week (6-12)
  • National Women's Health Week (8-14)
  • Hepatitis Testing Day (19)
  • National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (19)

Funding Opportunities

 

Health Centers


FY 2022 American Rescue Plan Uniform Data System Patient-Level Submission Funding (ARP-UDS+) - apply by May 23

Fiscal Year 2022 Accelerating Cancer Screening - apply by June 15

Service Area Competition - apply by July 5

Service Area Competition - apply by July 18

Health Workforce


Nurse Corps Scholarship Program - apply by May 19

Public Health Scholarship Program - apply by June 1

National Health Service Corps New Site Application - apply by June 7

Community Health Worker Training Program (CHWTP) - apply by June 14

Faculty Loan Repayment Program - apply by June 30

HIV/AIDS Bureau


Increasing Uptake of Long-Acting Injectable Antiretrovirals Among People with HIV - apply by June 21

Maternal and Child Health


Transforming Pediatrics for Early Childhood (TPEC) - apply by May 23

Healthy Start Supplement: Community-Based Doulas - apply by May 31

State Maternal Health Innovation & Data Capacity Program - apply by June 13

Maternal and Child Health Services - apply by August 12

State Systems Development Initiative - apply by August 24

Rural Health


Rural Public Health Workforce Training Network Technical Assistance Program - June 8

Rural Behavioral Health Workforce Centers – Northern Border Region - apply by June 10

Delta Region Rural Health Workforce Training Program - apply by June 17


View All Funding Opportunities