What's New
How to Get the Answers You Need
Following the update from Office of Strategic Business Operations Director Kate Mitchell during the May 4 Today with Macrae, we issued a bulletin to health center leaders last week clarifying how health centers can get the answers they need from us.
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Project Director Changes to Multiple Grants
Most health centers use the H80 Project Director (PD) as the PD for all HRSA supplemental awards. If you want to make changes to the PD across awards with distinct activity codes, you have to submit separate prior approval requests in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs). For example, to change the PD for both the H80 and C8E awards, each award’s EHBs Grant Folder must contain a prior approval request.
Accelerating Cancer Screening Funding Opportunity Deadline Approaching
Fiscal year 2022 Accelerating Cancer Screening (AxCS) applications are due in Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 15.
Visit the AxCS technical assistance (TA) webpage for the notice of funding opportunity, applicant TA session recording, frequently asked questions, and other resources.
Recording Available: 2022 Uniform Data System Changes TA
We presented a detailed overview of important 2022 Uniform Data System (UDS) reporting changes at a recent webinar. Missed it? Watch the recording. Access presentation slides and other UDS resources on the UDS Training and TA microsite.
Infographic on National Capital Grants
In September 2021, HRSA awarded nearly $1 billion in health center construction and capital improvements grants, funded through the American Rescue Plan. Using related data, Capital Link created an infographic report capturing a snapshot of the economic benefits these health center projects are generating nationally. Capital Link is a HRSA-funded National Training and Technical Assistance Partner (NTTAP).
COVID-19
TODAY: COVID-19 Response Programs Office Hours
While these sessions are geared toward participants in our COVID-19 Response Programs, any HRSA-supported health center is welcome to attend.
TODAY’s session will cover important updates so that your health center is ready if FDA issues an Emergency Use Authorization on a COVID-19 vaccine for young children and if CDC concurs and provides guidance. We’ll also discuss updated booster guidance for children 5-11 years of age. HRSA will also feature information on COVID.gov and Vaccines.gov.
Sessions are from 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET. Register one time and you’ll have access to all Office Hour sessions from now until February 2023.
THURSDAY: HRSA and White House Test to Treat Webinar
HRSA invites you to join a discussion of HRSA and HRSA-supported organizations’ role in reducing COVID-19’s impact on communities nationwide. It includes the opportunity to hear directly from the White House on the importance of the Test to Treat strategy to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. The session will feature HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson, White House COVID-19 Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha, and others. Read our recent bulletin.
Thursday, June 2
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: 161 896 3980
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COVID-19 Lookback/Forward: Health and Public Housing Listening Session
The National Center for Health in Public Housing (NCHPH) welcomes health center and Public Housing Agency (PHA) management and staff to join senior leaders from HRSA and HUD and share your experiences, thoughts, and reflections on the pandemic response. Speakers include BPHC Associate Administrator Jim Macrae and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Housing Investments at HUD Bob Mulderig.
We want to hear from you on your challenges, promising practices, and suggestions. What are your organization’s and community’s needs? How can we all (including NTTAPs) collaborate and best support your efforts to respond to COVID-19, while also pivoting to address other significant health issues?
Wednesday, June 22
1:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here
NCHPH is a HRSA-funded NTTAP.
CDC Study Begins Quantifying Long COVID
CDC recommends routine assessment for post-COVID conditions among persons who survive COVID-19. A new CDC study paints a more detailed picture of the impact of long COVID:
- COVID-19 survivors have twice the risk for developing pulmonary embolism or respiratory conditions.
- One in five COVID-19 survivors ages 18-64 and one in four older than 65 experienced at least one incident condition that might be attributable to previous COVID-19.
CDC publishes resources for managing or educating patients with possible long COVID:
HRSA Health Center COVID-19 N95 Mask Program Extends Through Monday, June 20
The HRSA Health Center COVID-19 N95 Mask Program began on Monday, January 17, to distribute high quality N95 masks to underserved communities and populations through health centers. Thank you to health centers and community partners for your support and participation in getting masks into the communities you serve. The N95 Mask Program has been extended through Monday, June 20.
Next Monday, June 6, is the second-to-last ordering deadline. The final ordering deadline is Monday, June 20.
We encourage health centers to work with their community partners (including community and faith-based organizations, HUD-assisted housing, and aging and disability networks) to order and distribute masks to meet community needs. We increased ordering caps to support larger orders and allow for health centers with available space to order masks to store for upcoming months.
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Mental Health Awareness Month
Social Determinants and Mental Health
HRSA recognizes and supports efforts to address social determinants of health (SDOH) in order to promote equitable access to behavioral health services.
We have used the following resources to inform SDOH-related TA activities. We share them as they may be of interest to health centers:
Behavioral Health
STAR Loan Repayment Program Accepting Applications
HRSA recognizes the importance of all members of integrated substance use disorder (SUD) treatment teams. Our SUD Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program (STAR LRP) expands access to treatment by extending loan repayment opportunities to providers such as bachelor’s-level SUD counselors, behavioral health paraprofessionals, and clinical support staff. The STAR LRP provides up to $250,000 to eligible health professionals in exchange for a six-year, full-time service commitment.
Find out if you’re eligible and apply by 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 7.
Disparities in Smoking Prevalence and Associations with Mental Health and SUD in Underserved Communities across the U.S.
A new study finds that smoking prevalence among adult health center patients is twice as high as the general U.S. population and is associated with mental health conditions and SUD. Study results suggest that health center patients most benefit from smoking cessation interventions that are integrated into routine primary care and delivered in a patient-centered care environment that promotes open communication and shared decision-making. Results highlight the important role health centers play in providing tobacco cessation interventions tailored to the needs of underserved communities.
To read the published article, and other articles about quality care delivered by health centers, visit BPHC’s Health Center Library.
Workforce
Celebrate #NHSC50 Day on June 1
This year, HRSA celebrates the National Health Service Corps’ (NHSC) 50th anniversary! Dozens of NHSC members, alumni, sites, and supporters have shared their stories, images, and congratulatory messages.
Learn how you can join the celebration, including how NHSC-approved sites can post a special badge on their websites.
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Teledentistry Learning Collaborative
The National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA) invites health centers to participate in a virtual learning collaborative on teledentistry. The goal is to increase access to oral health services through synchronous teledentistry by using more efficient practice systems, patient engagement, provider recruitment/retention, and clinical improvements. Apply by 11:59 p.m. PT on Thursday, June 30. NNOHA is a HRSA-funded NTTAP.
HRSA Releases New Rural Health Workforce Report
The Council on Graduate Medical Education recently published “Strengthening the Rural Health Workforce to Improve Health Outcomes in Rural Communities.” The report recommends ways to increase rural health workforce training and improve access to health care through evidence-based, patient- and community-centered health workforce investments spanning education, training, and practice.
STAR Loan Repayment Program Accepting Applications
See the announcement above.
Oral Health
Video: Live, Synchronous Teledentistry Visit
This video, developed by NNOHA, depicts a condensed, live, synchronous teledentistry visit. It demonstrates how teledentistry can be used for preventive oral health visits.
Teledentistry Learning Collaborative
See the announcement above.
Telehealth
HRSA and Telehealth
HRSA recently convened the first-ever national conference on telehealth, which drew a registered audience of nearly 4,000. We have 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.
Find out about the latest telehealth updates, best practices, funding opportunities, research, and more. Sign up for email updates from HRSA’s Office for the Advancement of Telehealth.
Teledentistry Learning Collaborative
See the announcement above.
Additional Resources
The Climate Crisis and its Impact on Farmworkers
Farmworker Justice created an issue brief on the impacts of the climate crisis on farmworkers in the areas of heat stress, pesticide exposure, food security, and water access. This issue brief was prepared for their recent Environmental Justice Symposium. Farmworker Justice is a HRSA-funded NTTAP.
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