What's New
Monkeypox Update
Cases of monkeypox have recently been reported in the United States and other countries that don’t normally report monkeypox. The disease is characterized by a rash with skin lesions, which can be concentrated on certain body parts or appear all over the body, as well as flu-like symptoms. Monkeypox is known to transmit through close contact with someone who is infected. It is much less transmissible than fast-spreading respiratory diseases like COVID-19.
CDC has published a Health Advisory Notice, hosted a Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) call, and published recommendations for a monkeypox and smallpox vaccine, to ensure health care providers are aware of the current U.S. situation. We encourage health centers to continue to monitor this situation and follow CDC guidance as it develops.
|
Emergencies Happen: What Health Centers Need to Know
As of this month, both hurricane and wildfire season have begun. But we know that emergencies can impact health centers at any time. Health centers and Primary Care Associations (PCAs) play an important role before, during, and after emergency events. During emergencies, PCAs gather critical health center information and report the status of service delivery sites to HRSA. For health centers in impacted areas, we ask that you report site-level status to your PCA as soon as you are able. If you have questions about program requirements or scope of project, please use the BPHC Contact Form.
Visit HRSA’s Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Resources for Health Centers webpage for information about change in scope for temporary sites, 340B program enrollment under emergency declarations, and FTCA coverage during emergencies.
|
OHCIO All-Investments Office Hours
BPHC’s Office of Health Center Investment Oversight (OHCIO) is hosting an All-Investments Office Hours session. Representatives from each of the supplemental awards listed below will share important updates and reminders and will be ready to discuss issues and answer questions related to oversight of your funding investment.
- COVID-19 (H8C)
- CARES (H8D)
- ECT (H8E)
- LAL-ECT (L1C)
- ARP (H8F)
|
- ARP-LAL (L2C)
- ARP-NH (H2C)
- Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 PCHP (H8H)
- FY 2021 and FY 2022 SBSS (H2E)
- NHCI-HC (under the H80 Grant)
|
We encourage all health centers to attend this informative and interactive Office Hours session.
Wednesday, June 29
4:00-5:30 p.m. ET
Register here
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.
Quarterly 340B Program Registration
Quarterly 340B Program site registration is open from July 1 to 15. Health centers will be able to register a site that has been verified as implemented and with a site status reflected as “active” in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks Form 5B through Friday, August 26. After that date, the system will close to prepare for the October 1 start.
Email the 340B Prime Vendor Program or call 888-340-2787 (Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. ET) to register a new site or ask questions. You will need to provide the following information when calling:
- Health center name.
- Site/clinic name.
- Site IDs for all sites.
- HRSA/BPHC grant number.
- Contact name and email address.
- Authorizing official name and email address.
The authorizing official will receive an email message that the account is unlocked and a registration may be submitted.
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).
|
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.
The following resources were shared at the May session:
COVID-19
FINAL WEEK: HRSA Health Center COVID-19 N95 Mask Program
The final ordering deadline for the HRSA Health Center COVID-19 N95 Mask Program is NEXT 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.
Thank you to health centers and community partners for your support and participation in getting masks into the communities you serve.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Health centers that have placed at least one order through the HRSA Health Center COVID-19 N95 Mask Program should continue reporting their distribution in the biweekly survey until that inventory is exhausted.
|
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 feature a CDC representative discussing important updates about vaccines for young children. This will help your health center be ready if FDA issues an Emergency Use Authorization for one or more of these vaccines and if CDC concurs and provides guidance.
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.
Building a Village: Community Linkages for COVID-19 Vaccines and Beyond
With the FDA considering an Emergency Use Authorization for COVID-19 vaccines for young children, HRSA recently hosted a special town hall event to identify partnership opportunities and provide a more comprehensive system of services and care for childhood COVID-19 vaccines and beyond.
Watch the event recording, which featured panelists from CDC, the Administration for Children and Families, and HRSA.
How Community Health Care Workers Can Maximize COVID-19 Vaccination Outreach Efforts
This tip sheet, created by Health Outreach Partners, outlines best practices for Community Health Workers and clinicians to follow in COVID-19 vaccination outreach. Health Outreach Partners is a HRSA-funded NTTAP.
HIV
National HIV Testing Day
National HIV Testing Day is June 27. This year’s theme is “HIV Testing is Self-Care." The topic of self-care has been particularly prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the need for individual and community actions to protect and promote physical and mental health has been so critical. HIV testing is an act of self-care; encouraging people to get tested and know their HIV status can help them stay healthy. HIV testing is a critical tool for helping us end the HIV epidemic in the United States.
Visit the CDC website for additional information and resources for promoting National HIV Testing Day.
|
Workforce
Webinar Series: Advancing Health Center Retention and Recruitment through Health Professions Education and Training
Join the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved’s (ACU) STAR2 Center for a webinar series on building health professions education and training programs at health centers. Each session will feature discussions of the challenges, solutions, and benefits of building these programs. Register for both sessions.
Tuesday, June 21
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Wednesday, June 22
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
ACU is a HRSA-funded NTTAP.
Podcast: ACU STAR2 Center Talks Workforce Success
As burnout, compassion fatigue, and moral distress continue to affect the health center workforce, the latest season of ACU’s STAR2 Center Talks Workforce Success podcast presents insights and lessons learned in navigating and overcoming these issues from those working in the field. Tune in to Episode 14 to hear from experts about what self-care means to them and how they support their teams in bolstering their self-care practices for a sustainable workforce.
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.
Additional Resources
60 Years of Migrant Health: Migrant Health Program History and the Agricultural Worker Experience
Join the National Center for Farmworker Health (NCFH) for a webinar looking back at the history of the Migrant Health Program. Learn about the agricultural worker experience through stories from the community and receive a toolkit of resources to integrate this milestone into National Health Center Week and anniversary activities.
Tuesday, June 28
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register here
NCFH is a HRSA-funded NTTAP.
Issue Brief: The Impact of Language on Health Care Accessibility
Farmworker Justice created an issue brief to inform service providers about policies and recommendations to promote language access for patients with limited English proficiency. It features challenges and recommendations shared by health centers during listening sessions hosted by Farmworker Justice and the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) during fall 2021. Farmworker Justice and AAPCHO are HRSA-funded NTTAPs.
Infant Formula Resources and Guidance for Families
HHS has information and resources for families seeking formula during the shortage. These materials are available in multiple languages:
In case you missed it:
Visit the Primary Health Care Digest archive.
Do you forward the Digest to others?
Encourage them to subscribe.
|
Sign up for eNews
Connect with HRSA
