What's New
Fiscal Year 2023 Health Center Controlled Network Non-Competing Continuation Progress Report
We recently released fiscal year (FY) 2023 Health Center Controlled Network (HCCN) non-competing continuation (NCC) progress report instructions. Progress reports are due by 5:00 p.m. ET on Monday, March 6. For resources, visit the HCCN Cooperative Agreements TA webpage.
We have also rescheduled a Q&A for those completing HCCN NCC progress reports:
Thursday, February 2 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET Join the day of the session If you prefer to join by phone: 833-568-8864 Webinar ID: 161 012 5001
To send questions in advance, use the BPHC Contact Form.
FY 2021 American Rescue Plan Awards – Project Periods Ending Soon
Project periods for the following American Rescue Plan awards end soon:
- ARP (H8F): project period ends Friday, March 31.
- ARP-LAL (L2C): project period ends Friday, June 30.
- ARP-Native Hawaiian (H2C): project period ends Monday, July 31.
If you think your health center will not complete award activity by the end date noted above, you may request an extension without funds (also known as a no-cost extension) approximately 60 days before the project period end date. If approved, you'll be able to complete your approved projects and activities conducted during the extended project period using the remaining funds.
Health centers have 90 days after the project period end date to liquidate obligations, which are costs incurred through that date. Any new costs incurred after the project period end date are unallowable and subject to repayment to HRSA.
If you expect to need such an extension, contact your Grants Management Specialist to discuss the requirements for submitting the request in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs).
Deadline Reminder: Service Area Competition Applications for August and September 1 Starts
Service Area Competition (SAC) HRSA-23-093 applications for August 1 starts are due in EHBs on Thursday, February 16, by 5:00 p.m. ET.
SAC HRSA-23-103 applications for September 1 starts are due in:
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Grants.gov: Monday, February 13, by 11:59 p.m. ET
- EHBs: Wednesday, March 15, by 5:00 p.m. ET
TA materials are available on the SAC TA webpage.
Advancing Health Equity among Hispanic/Latino Populations Web Series | Getting to Know HRSA
Speakers will share HRSA’s priority areas, programs, funding, and technical resources available to support organizations providing health and social services to Hispanic/Latino populations. Join to hear about effective ways to collaborate and stay connected to HRSA to leverage resources and gain access to innovative and high-value programs.
Tuesday, February 7 1:00-2:15 p.m. ET Registration page
Presented in Spanish with live interpretation in English.
340B Recertification Takes Place January 30-February 27
Covered entities that do not recertify by the deadline of Monday, February 27, will be terminated from the HRSA 340B Program starting on Wednesday, March 1. They will require a new registration and will not be eligible to participate in the 340B Program until the next quarter starting Saturday, July 1.
To recertify, Authorizing Officials and Primary Contacts must first set up user accounts by visiting the HRSA 340B Office of Pharmacy Affairs Information System (340B OPAIS) and choosing “I am a participant.” It is the covered entity’s responsibility to ensure they have created their accounts prior to recertification to allow successful completion of the process. For questions or assistance, email the 340B call center or call 888-340-2787 (Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. ET).
Comment by Friday: Requesting Input on Healthy Start Initiative
HRSA seeks the perspectives of Healthy Start award recipients, community members, people with lived experience, health care providers, Community Health Workers (CHWs), birthing people, parents, and other members of the public to inform future Healthy Start program development. Comment on the Federal Register Notice by this Friday, February 3.
HRSA Administrator Johnson Visits Charles Drew University in Los Angeles to Announce $2.5 Million To Meet Families' Mental Health Needs
On Friday, January 20, HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson visited the Charles Drew University College of Medicine to announce a $2.5 million grant to support the integration of mental health care into primary care training. Thanks to the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, HRSA has awarded nearly $60 million in grants across the country to integrate mental health care into residency training to help primary care physicians meet families’ mental health needs. Read the press release.
New CMS FAQs on Good Faith Estimates for Uninsured and Self-Pay Patients
CMS recently issued new guidance for providers and facilities, including health centers that offer sliding fee discounts based on an individual’s income and family size. See recently added FAQs (PDF).
CMS recognizes that Federally Qualified Health Centers and other providers and facilities offering sliding fee discounts face unique challenges in meeting the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) requirements. Their guidance provides additional flexibility to these providers to, in certain circumstances, provide a GFE to newly uninsured (or self-pay) patients that lists the undiscounted rates for items and services. CMS also recognizes that a full GFE (as specified under current regulations) may not be appropriate in cases where a provider or facility does not expect to charge a patient for items and services. Therefore, under certain conditions, CMS will not take enforcement action against providers who, knowing that they will not bill an uninsured (or self-pay) patient for items or services, provide an abbreviated version of the GFE. A sample abbreviated GFE is available in the FAQs.
Get #OurHearts Pumping for National Wear Red Day
February is American Heart Month and this Friday, February 3, is National Wear Red Day. We encourage you to wear red and, at noon on Friday, join an NIH webcast for 25 minutes of heart-pumping activity!
Stay tuned to February Digests for American Heart Month content each week.
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COVID-19
CDC Recommends that Persons Who Are Immunocompromised Take Extra Care in the Context of Currently Circulating Omicron Sublineages
Read the CDC report.
Behavioral Health
Introduction to NIDAMED and Words Matter
How does stigma affect people with substance use disorders? Join Michelle Corbin from NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) as she introduces NIDAMED, an initiative focused on sharing science-based information about substance use and addiction with health professionals. NIDAMED will work toward addressing and reducing the stigma surrounding substance use and addiction to improve health.
Thursday, February 9 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: 160 502 7623
Addressing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Pediatric Mental Health in an Integrated Care Setting
The U.S. has made significant progress in research, practice, and policy to address disparities in pediatric mental health. The speaker at this short webinar will summarizes a framework that health centers can use to build on this progress.
Wednesday, February 15 12:30-1:00 p.m. ET Registration page
FDA Briefing on Tobacco Product Regulation: Menthol and Flavored Tobacco
HRSA has invited Dr. Brian King, Director of FDA's Center for Tobacco Products, for a briefing on recent FDA announcements, including proposed rules to prohibit the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, as well as the agency's plan to propose a rule to cap the maximum level of nicotine in cigarettes and certain other combusted tobacco products. He will also address the regulation process and the how, when, and where of public input into regulation decisions.
Wednesday, February 15 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET Registration page
Contact Shahrukh Haider with questions and with ideas for future tobacco cessation TA topics.
Integrated Substance Use Disorder Training Program
Apply now for HRSA’s Integrated Substance Use Disorder Training Program, which will expand the number of nurse practitioners, physician assistants, health service psychologists, counselors, nurses, and/or social workers (including individuals completing clinical training requirements for licensure) who provide care for individuals in need of mental health and addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery services in underserved, community-based settings. Visit HRSA’s notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) webpage to apply by Tuesday, March 21.
Removal of DATA Waiver (X-Waiver) Requirement
SAMHSA will no longer require nor accept applications for the DATA 2000 Waiver previously needed to prescribe the drug most frequently used for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). Read updates on their webpage.
SAMHSA NOFO: Medication-Assisted Treatment – Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction
Health centers may be interested in a funding opportunity to provide resources to help expand and enhance access to medications for OUD. It is expected that this program will help to 1) increase access to the medications for individuals with OUD, including individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender minority communities; and 2) decrease illicit opioid use and prescription opioid misuse. See the NOFO webpage to apply by Tuesday, March 7.
HIV
New HRSA and CDC Status Neutral Approach Framework Program Letter
HRSA’S HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB), BPHC, and CDC released a program letter (PDF) on Tuesday, January 17, to encourage public health partners and grant recipients to implement status neutral approaches to HIV care and prevention. Status neutral service provision is an example of a syndemic approach to public health, weaving together resources from across infectious disease areas and incorporating social determinants of health (SDOH) to deliver whole-person care, regardless of a person’s HIV status.
White House Mpox Response Coordinator Dr. Demetre Daskalakis discussed the joint letter at the January 19 HAB You Heard webinar. The recording is posted on HAB’s TA Webinars webpage.
Workforce
Financial Assessment for Provider Turnover Tool
The Association of Clinicians for the Underserved’s (ACU) STAR2 Center has updated its Financial Assessment for Provider Turnover Tool. Updates reflect current financial data to assist health center teams in calculating the tangible costs of provider turnover at their organizations. The tool is a customizable Excel document that allows users to work with their own data or select national estimates for the direct and indirect costs involved with turnover. ACU is a HRSA-funded National Training and TA partner (NTTAP).
Participate on Health Center Workforce Summit National Advisory Group
The ACU’s STAR2 Center; Community Health Center, Inc.; and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC)* are excited to host the virtual 2023 Health Center Workforce Summit in May.
They seek 8-10 individuals with workforce expertise and experience from HRSA-supported health centers, HCCNs, Primary Care Associations (PCAs), or external partners to serve on the Health Center Workforce Summit Advisory Group. Visit the registration page to apply by Wednesday, February 1.
*All three organizations are HRSA-funded NTTAPs.
NTTAP Opportunities
HRSA-funded NTTAPs invite health center staff to join these opportunities:
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Learning Collaborative for Managers to Enhance Team Well-Being
Migrant Clinicians Network invites health center managers to a learning collaborative (LC). The curriculum addresses empathic distress, moral injury, grief, adaptive change, team building, and leadership. Handouts and resource packets will strengthen skill-building. Participants are expected to attend all four 90-minute sessions. Each small, facilitated discussion group will build on the previous session. Visit the registration page for dates and times.
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STAR2 Center Recruitment Boot Camp
Join the ACU’s STAR2 Center for a LC exploring successful recruitment campaigns. Starting with a self-assessment and planning all the way through contracting, this series will provide guidance, tools, and templates for health center participants to update their recruitment processes and lay the groundwork for additional workforce planning. Visit the registration page for details or to apply by Monday, February 6.
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Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Maternal Health: Evidence-Based and Promising Interventions LC
Learn to apply the evidence-based CUES (Confidentiality, Universal Education, Empowerment, and Support) intervention to prevent and respond to IPV and trauma within settings that serve pregnant and birthing people. Visit Health Partners on IPV + Exploitation’s registration page by Wednesday, February 8.
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Universal Education and Support for Patients Who have Experienced IPV or Exploitation LC (in Spanish with live English interpretation)
Health Partners on IPV + Exploitation is co-hosting this opportunity with the Puerto Rico PCA and Esperanza United. Sessions will increase provider capacity to identify, prevent, and respond to relationship abuse; provide universal education and support; and implement trauma-informed systems-level change in partnership with community-based programs. Visit the registration page to apply by Friday, February 10.
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Capital Link LC Previews
View Capital Link’s Upcoming Webinars webpage for sessions that preview their upcoming LCs.
Additional Resources
Centering Trauma Literacy in the Health Center Medical Home
Listen to, or read the transcript of, the final episode in the National Nurse-Led Care Consortium’s (NNCC) podcast series. They also produced a related blog post (which appears on the same webpage), where they speak to community health professionals on how health systems can cultivate trauma-aware practices as part of their delivery of care. NNCC is a HRSA-funded NTTAP.
In case you missed it: Visit the Primary Health Care Digest archive.
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