What's New
CDC Health Alert on Monkeypox Virus
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health and CDC are investigating a confirmed case of monkeypox in the U.S. Read CDC’s health alert, which includes recommendations for clinicians.
Our New Look
It’s here! Last week, we launched our redesigned BPHC website, which reflects input from our users. It employs a new layout, drop-down menus for navigation, and mobile-friendly features intended to enhance readability.
You’ll still see the pop-up survey—please consider taking it to share your thoughts on the new site!
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Last Call: ARP-UDS+ Supplemental Funding
To enable all eligible organizations to take advantage of the additional available American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding, HRSA has reopened the fiscal year (FY) 2022 ARP Uniform Data System Patient-Level Submission Funding (ARP-UDS+) application window for health centers that were not able to submit by yesterday’s deadline.
The brief applications must be submitted in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) by 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, May 27. We encourage all eligible HRSA-funded health centers and Health Center Program look-alikes to apply.
Visit the ARP-UDS+ technical assistance (TA) webpage for the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), health center and look-alike eligibility lists, applicant webinar recording, and other resources.
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Funding for Accelerating Cancer Screening
Through the FY 2022 Accelerating Cancer Screening (AxCS, HRSA-22-154) funding opportunity, HRSA will invest $5 million for health centers to increase equitable access to life-saving cancer screenings, focusing on breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers.
HRSA-funded health centers (H80 award recipients) that partner with a National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center are eligible to apply for FY 2022 AxCS funding. Review the FAQs for applicants, which we will continue to update. We recently added this question:
“Can my health center use its outreach specialists and patient navigators to increase cancer screenings?”
Visit the AxCS TA webpage to access the NOFO and other resources.
FY 2022 AxCS applications are due in Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 15.
Service Area Competition NOFO Released for February 1 Starts
HRSA released the FY 2023 Service Area Competition (SAC) NOFO, HRSA-23-019, for service areas with a February 1, 2023, project period start date. Find details for each of the announced service areas on the Service Area Announcement Table.
This NOFO announces the service areas for:
- February 1 start award recipients that received a 1-year period of performance through a SAC/SAC-Additional Areas in FY 2022.
- February 1 start award recipients that were given a 1-year extension due to the COVID-19 pandemic in FY 2022.
Applications are due in Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, July 18, and in EHBs by 5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, August 17. TA materials are available on the SAC TA webpage.
Does Your Health Center Have a March 1 Start Date? Review Your Patient Target
We recently updated patient targets for Health Center Program award recipients with a March 1 budget period start date. On Thursday, May 19, we sent an email message to the Authorizing Officials and Project Directors of these health centers, which indicated whether the health center would complete a FY 2023 SAC or Budget Period Progress Report. The email also included a direct link to the updated patient target. Health centers that will complete an FY 2023 SAC for awards starting March 1, 2023, should review their patient target and take appropriate action in EHBs by Thursday, June 2.
View the Patient Target Quick Reference Guide on the SAC TA webpage to learn how to access your patient target in EHBs.
Submit questions using the BPHC Contact Form (select “Patient Targets” under the Health Center Program heading).
Federal Tort Claims Act Program Calendar Year 2023 Deeming Cycle
The calendar year (CY) 2023 Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) health center deeming cycle has started. Applications are due in EHBs by 11:59 p.m. ET Friday, July 8. To get answers while preparing your application, watch a recording of our TA webinar from Monday May 9.
Or join one of these two upcoming Office Hour sessions:
Wednesday, May 25
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Join the day of the session
If you prefer to join by phone: 833-568-8864
Webinar ID: 160 323 7395
Monday, June 27
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Join the day of the session
If you prefer to join by phone: 833-568-8864
Webinar ID: 160 237 8877
Pledge to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
In support of HHS’s initiative to mobilize the health care sector to reduce emissions, the HHS Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE) invites health centers to submit a pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase their climate resilience. OCCHE is planning an event in June where health care sector stakeholders making commitments will be recognized.
OCCHE also recently published a Climate and Health Outlook update about extreme heat.
Medicaid and CHIP Continuous Enrollment Unwinding: What to Know and How to Prepare
Since establishing the COVID-19 public health emergency, the federal government has eased rules in order to prevent people with Medicaid and CHIP from losing their health coverage during the pandemic. However, at some point soon, states will be required to restart Medicaid and CHIP eligibility reviews. This means that millions of people could lose their health coverage due to procedural reasons. HHS and CMS are working to ensure that people are connected to the best coverage they are eligible for and would like to partner with health centers.
CMS is hosting a monthly call series to help stakeholders—like you—support this effort. View dates and times or register now. Send questions to PARTNERSHIP@cms.hhs.gov.
COVID-19
Test to Treat Resources
As COVID-19 cases increase, we want to remind health centers that all HRSA-supported health centers with pharmacy capacity may join the HRSA Health Center COVID-19 Therapeutics Program by submitting a ticket through the BPHC Contact Form (COVID-19 > COVID-19 Therapeutics Program). Please ensure that one authorized representative (e.g., Project Director or CEO) submits a ticket.
The following resources are available to help health centers looking for promising practices and guidance on executing test to treat:
- We featured several health centers in our March 4 Test to Treat webinar. Watch the recording.
- Representatives from the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) recently joined our Office Hours to address questions from health centers. Watch the recording.
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Visit the ASPR Test to Treat website for the latest clinical guidance and updates.
Mental Health Awareness Month
Men and Mental Health
The National Institute of Mental Health’s Men and Mental Health website provides resources for health professionals to identify common signs, symptoms, and treatment options for men struggling with mental health concerns.
SAMHSA published TIP 56: Addressing the Specific Behavioral Health Needs of Men that reviews gender-specific research and best practices, such as common patterns of substance use among men and specific treatment issues and strategies.
National Nurses Month
Join HRSA in commemorating National Nurses Month. HRSA currently has more than 600 Nurse Corps clinicians serving at health centers. Visit our social media accounts (access at the bottom of the page) and share our content as we highlight personal testimonies of National Health Service Corps and Nurse Corps members, feature HRSA programs that nurses may find useful, and share key program data.
Behavioral Health
Barriers & Best Practices to HIV Prevention and Treatment for People Who Use Drugs
The HRSA-funded National Clinician Consultation Center (NCCC) is partnering with HRSA’s HIV/AIDS Bureau and BPHC on a clinician-focused webinar.
Learn how NCCC supports clinicians who are implementing or optimizing HIV prevention and treatment strategies for persons who use drugs. This includes clinicians using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), substance use disorder treatment, and other harm reduction practices. Speakers will use real cases to illustrate key interventions and share ideas on overcoming clinical, informational, and cultural challenges in building capacity.
Tuesday, June 7
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here
**1.0 CE available**
HHS Announces its First-Ever Behavioral Health Recovery Innovation Challenge
HHS announces its first-ever behavioral health Recovery Innovation Challenge. The goal is to identify innovations that advance recovery developed by peer-run or community-based organizations—and entities that may partner with them, such as local or state governments, health systems, hospitals, or health plans.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Volunteer and Job Opportunities
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) will soon transition to 988. The Lifeline Suicide & Crisis Network seeks volunteers and paid employees to answer calls, chats, and texts from people in crisis. Learn more.
SAMHSA’s Partner Toolkit can help health centers educate their communities about the upcoming change.
HIV
Barriers & Best Practices to HIV Prevention and Treatment for People Who Use Drugs
See the announcement above.
Workforce
Health Professional Faculty Loan Repayment Program Open
Health centers, are any of your providers teaching the next generation of providers? If so, they may be eligible for the Faculty Loan Repayment Program. The program supports the recruitment and retention of health professions faculty from disadvantaged backgrounds. Applications are accepted, with full-time or part-time options available, by 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 30.
Creating a Culture of Self-Care at Your Organization
Health Outreach Partners, a HRSA-funded National Training and Technical Assistance Partner (NTTAP), encourages health center operational staff and leadership to join this learning collaborative. You will provide support to one another to discuss, plan, and implement organizational self-care strategies to support the workforce and address burnout and compassion fatigue. You will develop a strategy tailored specifically to your organization’s needs. Register here.
Additional Resources
AgWorker Health 102: Supporting Agricultural Worker Health
Faculty from the Farmworker Health Network (FHN) will share information on the most relevant current agricultural worker policy issues. They will explore effective service delivery models that include recent adaptations due to COVID-19. Finally, they will highlight training and TA opportunities, resources, and promising practices to help support health center staff in the implementation of service delivery changes and adaptations when serving agricultural workers.
Thursday, June 2
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here
FHN is a six-member network of HRSA-funded NTTAPs: Farmworker Justice, Migrant Clinicians Network, Health Outreach Partners, MHP Salud, and the National Center for Farmworker Health (NCFH).
Social Determinants of Health – Medicaid Coverage and Payment
This publication developed by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) describes opportunities to use social determinants of health screening tools (like PRAPARE) to improve the delivery of care through enhanced data collection and relationships with safety-net programs. NACHC is a HRSA-funded NTTAP.
Our Healthy Eating Plate: Filipino/a/x and Hmong Editions
The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) and MHP Salud have created healthy eating education resources for Filipino/a/x and Hmong patients. These culturally and linguistically appropriate brochures will help patients build nutritious plates with familiar fresh foods. They’ll learn about portion sizes, nutrition facts, and tips for adopting healthier eating habits. Available in English, Hmong, and Tagalog. Both AAPCHO and MHP Salud are HRSA-funded NTTAPs.
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