What's New
Monkeypox Update Last week CDC issued a Health Update about monkeypox, providing updated and expanded case definitions and alerting clinicians to the clinical presentations of monkeypox seen so far in the United States.
Monkeypox 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. It is known to transmit through close contact with someone who is infected, and is much less transmissible than fast-spreading respiratory diseases like COVID-19.
We encourage health centers to continue to monitor this situation and follow CDC guidance as it develops.
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Service Area Competition Notice of Funding Opportunity Released for March 1 Starts HRSA released the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Service Area Competition (SAC) notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), HRSA-23-020, for service areas with a March 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:
- March 1 start award recipients that received a 1-year period of performance through a SAC/SAC-Additional Areas in FY 2022.
- March 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, August 15, and in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) by 5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, September 14. TA materials are available on the SAC TA webpage.
Deadline Reminder: SAC Applications for January 1 Starts SAC HRSA-23-018 applications for January 1 starts are due in:
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Grants.gov: Tuesday, July 5, by 11:59 p.m. ET.
- EHBs: Thursday, August 4, by 5:00 p.m. ET.
TA materials are available on the SAC TA webpage.
Does your Health Center Have an April 1 Start Date? Review Your Patient Target We recently updated patient targets for Health Center Program award recipients with an April 1 budget period start date. On Thursday, June 16, 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 April 1, 2023 should review their patient target and take appropriate action in the EHBs by Thursday, June 30.
View the Patient Target Quick Reference Guide on the SAC TA webpage to learn how to access your patient target in the EHBs. See our patient target FAQs for more information.
Submit questions using the BPHC Contact Form (select “Patient Targets” under the Health Center Program heading).
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)
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- ARP-LAL (L2C)
- ARP-NH (H2C)
- FY 2021 PCHP (H8H)
- FY 2021 and FY 2022 SBSS (H2E)
- NHCI-HC (under the H80 Grant)
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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
Celebrating Health Care Risk Management Week: June 20-24 Health Care Risk Management Week is an opportunity to celebrate health care risk management professionals and the critical role they play in patient safety, patient care practices, quality assurance, and safe work environments. This annual observance is sponsored by the American Society for Health Care Risk Management. Health centers across the country are hosting events.
HRSA’s FTCA program provides targeted clinical risk management TA to support health centers and free clinics in reducing risk, improving patient safety, and enhancing the quality of care delivery. Learn more.
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Data, Social Determinants of Health, and Migration Health centers collect essential data elements necessary to understand and address social determinants of health (SDOH) that affect populations in their community. This webinar highlights SDOH data as a framework for making decisions that can affect equity among special populations, especially agricultural workers.
Thursday, June 30 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET Register here
Hosted by Migrant Clinicians Network, a HRSA-funded National Training and Technical Assistance Partner (NTTAP).
Complete the Census of School-Based Health Centers Today The School-Based Health Alliance (SBHA), in partnership with researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, invites the entire school-based health care field to complete the 2022 census of school-based health centers (SBHCs)! The information will provide SBHA with the most accurate picture of the current status of SBHCs across the country. SBHA is a HRSA-funded NTTAP, and the census is also supported by HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
Learn more and complete your census today.
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New Study: Trends in Access to Care among Rural Patients Served at HRSA-Funded Health Centers A recent HRSA-funded study demonstrates that rural health centers have made considerable gains in increasing patients’ access to care. Researchers found that rural health center patients experienced lower unmet and delayed medical care and reported that that they were more likely to obtain a flu vaccine. At the same time, rural health centers may still face barriers to providing timely or accessible preventive services. Research findings highlight the importance of HRSA’s continued investments to increase access to preventive and primary care services in rural areas.
To read this article, and other articles about quality care delivered by health centers, visit BPHC’s Health Center Library.
COVID-19
Billing and Cost Sharing Overview for COVID-19 Vaccination, Testing, and Treatment A new webpage provides health centers with a summary of considerations for billing and patient cost-sharing for COVID-19 related services and supplies. Note: This is not an exhaustive list. Health centers should still refer to the specific and most recent requirements or restrictions for each payor source or program. For additional questions, health centers should use the BPHC Contact Form.
TOMORROW: 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.
Wednesday, June 22 1:00-3:00 p.m. ET Register here
NCHPH is a HRSA-funded NTTAP.
Behavioral Health
Pain Management Approaches in the Context of Integrated Health Care Chronic pain is prevalent and complex, and frequently associated with depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and substance use disorder. Session topics will include chronic pain as a triple public health concern, the concept of integrated health care as it relates to chronic pain, and a holistic patient-centered approaches to integrated care for persons with chronic pain.
Thursday, June 23 Noon-1:00 p.m. ET Register here **1.0 CEs available**
Depression and Suicidality among Men Men account for more than 75% of all suicide deaths in America each year. Evidence suggests men are far less likely to seek help for mental health challenges, irrespective of age, nationality, or ethnic or racial background. This highly interactive session will address suicidality as a behavioral condition, suicide care management in practice, and evidence-based treatment for suicide prevention.
Friday, July 15 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET Register here **1.5 CEs available**
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.
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TOMORROW: Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. Quarterly Stakeholder Webinar Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. is a bold national plan that aims to reduce the number of new HIV transmissions in the United States. The HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health will provide updates on the initiative, highlight ways to reduce stigma and improve HIV diagnosis, care, and prevention, and answer questions.
Wednesday, June 22 2:00-3:15 p.m. ET Register here
Spanish Telehealth Resources for HIV Services Telehealth.HHS.gov can empower health care providers by offering Spanish-language resources about HIV prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Help patients take control of their health with info on types of HIV tests available, like self-testing, which can be done anywhere at any time.
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Workforce
Save the Date: Upcoming Virtual Job Fair HRSA’s next Virtual Job Fair will take place later this month.
Wednesday, June 29 6:30-9:00 p.m. ET
We connect health care sites with job-seeking primary care trainees and practicing clinicians. We invite clinicians and trainees to come learn about medical, nursing, dental, and mental/behavioral health job openings. Registration is coming soon.
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.
TODAY: Tuesday, June 21 Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
TOMORROW: Wednesday, June 22 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
ACU is a HRSA-funded NTTAP.
Spanish Language Webinar: El Manejo del Estrés y la Esperanza Razonable para los Trabajadores de Salud (Managing Stress and Reasonable Hope for Health Care Workers) During the COVID-19 pandemic, health workers have been affected by stress, moral injuries, bereavement or loss, and exhaustion. Through this Spanish language only webinar, health workers will receive tools to manage stressors during uncertain times and provide support to colleagues and patients.
Tuesday, June 28 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET Register here
Hosted by Migrant Clinicians Network, 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.
Telehealth
Interstate Telehealth Licensing Information Providing telehealth across state lines? Find the latest on licensing requirements and interstate compacts on Telehealth.HHS.gov. You can also visit ProviderBridge, a tool featuring a comprehensive directory of resources to help health care providers navigate current state licensure requirements.
Telehealth for LGBTQ+ Patients This June, focus on how your practice can better reach and serve the LGBTQ+ community. Telehealth appointments are a safe, convenient way for LGBTQ+ patients to access health care. They can also be a necessary lifeline for patients who do not have LGBTQ+ affirming health care available nearby. Learn more.
Spanish Telehealth Resources for HIV Services See the announcement above.
Additional Resources
Rights and Responsibilities and Waived Testing Challenging Standards and Practical Strategies in Health Centers The Joint Commission will host a TA education session for health centers, which will include an overview of the Rights and Responsibilities and Waived Testing chapters in the Ambulatory Manual. The webinar will conclude with an in-depth review of the elements of performance that are most challenging for health centers, with a discussion of practical strategies and how these elements can be met.
Monday, July 11 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET Register here Subscribe key: TJCEd
TOMORROW: Building Inclusive and Welcoming Medical Homes for LGBTQ+ Health Care Join a HRSA webinar on LGBTQ+ health and how to create an inclusive, affirming, and welcoming environment in health centers. We’ll feature the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center, a HRSA-funded NTTAP. This will be the first of a four-part webinar series on LGBTQ+ health.
Wednesday, June 22 Noon-1:00 p.m. ET Register here
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.
New Publications in the Health Center Resource Clearinghouse See three new publications from the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC). NACHC is a HRSA-funded NTTAP.
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Social Determinants of Health – Medicaid Coverage and Payment
Demonstrates opportunities to use SDOH screening tools such as PRAPARE to improve the delivery of care through enhanced data collection and relationships with safety-net programs.
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Health Centers are Addressing America's Mental Health Crisis
Summarizes health centers’ behavioral health services, including the growth in patients and staff over the last decade and the expansion of telebehavioral health services during the pandemic, and offers policy suggestions to support behavioral health services going forward.
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HR Bulletins
Updated issue briefs on recent trends and human resources issues in the health center operating environment.
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SBHC Playbook on Health Care Transition SBHA and Got Transition, in collaboration with an advisory group of SBHC clinicians, administrators, and young adults, created the SBHC Playbook on Health Care Transition. The Playbook guides SBHCs and other school staff on assisting students with their preparation for the transition from pediatric care to adult health care.
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