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This bulletin includes guidance and resources for health centers impacted by Hurricanes Fiona and Ian.
As a reminder, Primary Care Associations (PCAs) take the lead in gathering critical health center information and reporting impact data back to us on the operational status of delivery sites.
For health centers in the impacted areas (i.e., Puerto Rico, Florida, South Carolina), we ask that you report site-level operational status to your PCA as soon as you are able. We may add additional states as conditions change with Hurricane Ian.
During an emergency, health centers and PCAs play an important role in delivering critical services and assisting with the local community and state response. PCAs serve as essential statewide coordinators of information, data, and resources in support of health centers during response and recovery efforts. By working through the PCAs, we enable them to better support state- and local-level community response activities—and we reduce the reporting burden for affected health centers.
Service Area Competition Extensions
Health centers impacted by Hurricanes Fiona and Ian may be eligible for a Service Area Competition extension. HRSA only extends deadlines for competitive applications for limited reasons, including natural disasters. Read more about HRSA’s waiver policy on the Understand Our Policy on Late Submissions webpage.
You may request a Grants.gov waiver via ApplicationWaivers@hrsa.gov or a HRSA Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) deadline waiver via BPHCEHBWaivers@hrsa.gov. To receive more information about deadlines and waiver requests, use the BPHC Contact Form: Category: Funding, Sub-category: Applications for Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs), then select Service Area Competition (SAC).
Supplemental Award Progress Reporting Extensions
Many COVID-19-related supplemental awards (H8C, H8D, H8E, H8F, L1C, L2C) have a report due Friday, October 14. In response to Hurricanes Fiona and Ian, HRSA is waiving Q3-2022 quarterly progress reports (due Friday, October 14) for health centers located within areas with a federal emergency declaration (currently FL, PR, and SC). Affected health centers will instead report on H8F/L2C progress at the next quarterly report (due in January 2023). Health centers should discuss any needed changes to active projects with their Investment Oversight Advisor once they are able.
Capital Project Changes
Hurricanes Fiona and Ian may have impacted your health center’s ability to carry out HRSA-supported capital projects as intended. Contact your Investment Oversight Advisor if you are seeking an extension on a project impacted by this emergency.
Telehealth
Health centers impacted by Hurricanes Fiona and Ian may wish to review these FAQs (created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic) on using telehealth to provide services to a patient at a location that is not an in-scope service site. For questions about Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) coverage, use the BPHC Contact Form or call for FTCA assistance at 877-464-4772, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET, Monday-Friday (except federal holidays).
Additional Guidance and Resources
Use the BPHC Contact Form for specific questions regarding your grant, scope of project, or FTCA. You may also contact us by phone at 877-464-4772, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, Monday-Friday (except federal holidays). Note that FTCA guidance is only available by phone until 5:30 p.m. ET.
FTCA Resources
*HRSA will provide guidance on the plan to resume accepting applications under the Health Center Volunteer Health Professionals (VHP) Program for initial and redeeming VHP applicants seeking coverage on or after Saturday, October 1.
Other Federal Resources for Hurricane Fiona
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What DHS and FEMA are Doing (available in Spanish – in other languages also) Response and recovery information; serves as a clearinghouse for related information from DHS.
Other Federal Resources for Hurricane Ian
These sites are being continually updated:
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