What's New

Announcing Phase 2 Winners in HRSA’s Building Bridges to Better Health: A Primary Health Care Challenge HRSA is excited to announce the Phase 2 winners of our Building Bridges to Better Health: A Primary Health Care Challenge. Fifteen winners spanning 10 states each received $20,000 for their innovative ideas to enhance access to care, improve care coordination, and address social determinants of health among HRSA-supported health centers. These teams will compete in the final phase of the Challenge and have until July to scale their solution to improve health outcomes for health center patients. Visit the Challenge.gov website to read more about the winners and their winning submissions, which focus on technology solutions (e.g., artificial intelligence, chatbots, electronic health records, and telehealth), payment and reimbursement reform, workforce solutions, and community engagement!

TOMORROW! Expanding COVID-19 Vaccination Award: Working with Community Partners to Address Vaccine Equity Expanding COVID-19 Vaccination (ECV) funding award recipients should join to hear about collaborations to address vaccine access/equity and build vaccine confidence among underserved populations. We encourage staff from Primary Care Associations (PCAs) and community partners to attend as well. Guest presenters include CommuniCare Health Centers (Davis, California) and the Hispanic Access Foundation (Washington, DC). Wednesday, April 5 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET Registration page REMINDER: If your health center received ECV funding, HRSA expects you to use the funds within three months to increase access to, confidence in, and demand for updated COVID-19 vaccines. However, we will consider a period of performance extension in increments of one to six months. See last week’s Digest for details.

Uniform Data System Updates Key updates about Uniform Data System (UDS) reporting: Apply for 2023 UDS Reporting Assistance and Process Improvement Discussion Series by Friday, April 14 We invite health centers to apply for specialized, virtual technical assistance (TA) on UDS electronically-specified clinical quality measures. Our six-part series strives to empower health centers to strengthen their workflows and deepen their capacity to collect, report, validate, and use quality data to improve patient care. Learn more, including about eligibility and time commitment, and apply by Friday, April 14, on the registration page. Calendar Year 2022 UDS Reporting Complete Thank you, health centers, for supporting timely UDS report submission! We expect to release the 2022 UDS data in August. Stay tuned for announcements about 2023 UDS reporting. In the meantime, you can view the Proposed UDS Changes for Calendar Year 2023 Program Assistance Letter (PAL) (PDF) or visit the UDS Training and TA website for UDS reporting resources. Much of our site mirrors UDS topic areas (e.g., sections on patient characteristics, staffing and utilization, clinical care, and financials). Other sections include TA contact information and archived resources.

Next Week is Sexually Transmitted Infection Awareness Week

Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Awareness Week (April 9-15) is an opportunity for health centers to educate their patients and communities about STIs and to help normalize sexual health discussions. CDC offers resources you can use in these efforts. Check out their STI Awareness Week website for ideas and materials.

FDA Approves Over-the-Counter Naloxone Nasal Spray

Last week, FDA approved Narcan for over-the-counter, nonprescription use. See FDA’s press release. HRSA’s message to health centers stated that you can and should continue to purchase and distribute naloxone products with grant funds and receive discounts through the 340B program.

COVID-19

Health Partner Order Portal Update

If you order COVID-19-related products through HRSA’s COVID-19 Response Programs, a planned update for the Health Partner Order Portal will impact you. Stay tuned to messages in the Health Center Program Community for details and opportunities to learn more.

Clinical Rounds: Prescribing COVID-19 Oral Antiviral Treatments Overview

Did you miss our February 28 clinical rounds session? Speakers aimed to increase providers’ confidence about prescribing COVID-19 oral antiviral treatments. This one-pager (PDF) summarizes key takeaways, or you can watch the recording (password: Uzis9Tmf) or view the slides (PDF).

April is National Donate Life Month

April is a time to celebrate the generosity of those who have selflessly given the gift of life by becoming organ, eye, tissue, marrow, and blood donors. In 2022, nearly 43,000 organ transplants were performed. But nearly 104,000 men, women, and children of all ages, races, and ethnicities are still on the national transplant waiting list.

Use the graphic above and encourage patients to visit organdonor.gov to transform someone’s life.

Join HRSA’s Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs for a webinar. Speakers will discuss healthy living and disease prevention, highlight the need for minority organ donors, and share personal experiences. Participants will learn about HRSA programs and resources available to Hispanic/Latino communities and organizations serving this population. The webinar will be in Spanish, with live interpretation in English.

Tuesday, April 18
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Behavioral Health

Trauma-Informed Care for Better Oral Health

Speakers at this HRSA webinar will walk through the practical reasoning and benefits of adopting trauma-informed dental practices, including the implementation of a dental anxiety scale.

Wednesday, April 12
1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

Coordinating Care and Safety for Patients Experiencing IPV at the Intersection of Mental and Behavioral Health

Health Partners on IPV + Exploitation and the HHS-funded National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma & Mental Health invite health center staff to examine the intersections of intimate partner violence (IPV) and exploitation, mental and behavioral health, and substance use coercion. Participants will hear from survivors, gain strategies on assessing for abuse and coercion, and discuss how to tailor safety plans for considerations of interference and abuse exposure. Presenters will explore the benefits of partnering with community-based organizations. Visit the registration page to apply by midnight, Friday, April 21.

Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health

HRSA is accepting applications for the fiscal year 2023 Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health. The program will establish and expand sustainable behavioral health care services for children and adolescents aged 5-17 years who live in rural communities, and will prevent substance misuse. See the notice of funding opportunity information in Grants.gov to apply by Friday, May 12.

Workforce

NTTAP Learning Collaboratives

Visit the registration pages for dates, times, and more information:

• Coordinating Care and Safety for Patients Experiencing IPV at the Intersection of Mental and Behavioral Health
  See the announcement above.
  
  
• Revenue Cycle 360
  The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) invites health center staff to discuss data and key performance indicators, develop leadership and communication skills, and acquire peer contacts to use now and throughout their career. The target audience for this learning series are revenue cycle leads, front office managers, and IT managers. Attendees will receive ongoing support and resources and select a custom pilot project. Registration page; apply by Friday, April 28.
  
  
• Viral Hepatitis Elimination Strategy: Cascade to Cure in Special Populations
  The National Nurse-led Care Consortium (NNCC) invites health center staff to hear from researchers and practitioners about preventing new infections, improving hepatitis-related health outcomes, and implementing quality improvement strategies. Each session will address a different special population, including residents of public housing, IV drug users, Asian Americans, and African Americans. Registration page.
  
  
• Developing a Framework to Sustain Your Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP)
  The National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership shares this opportunity. The facilitator will use a modified version of the Clinical Sustainability Assessment Tool. He will guide health center MLP teams through a series of discussions to increase their understanding of MLP program sustainability and to develop key performance indicators in eight areas. Registration page.
  
  
• Public Housing & Partnerships: A Resource Toolkit
  The National Center for Health in Public Housing (NCHPH) and NNCC will guide participants through their housing and health partnerships toolkit. After an introductory session with foundational information, each session corresponds to the toolkit modules: housing assistance programs, collaborative strategies for partnerships and effective communication, and promising practices in cross-sector collaborative models. Registration page.

Mental Health Matters: National Task Force on Workforce Mental Health Policy

Join online dialogues to explore and advance workforce mental health policies. Anyone can submit ideas, and comment or vote on others’ ideas. The State Exchange on Employment & Disability (a Department of Labor initiative) launched this initiative.

Oral Health

Oral Health Access for Residents of Public Housing

The National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA) and NNCC invite health centers to hear about promising practices to increase access to oral health care for residents of public housing. Learn how a health center implemented mobile dentistry programs.

Wednesday, April 5
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Trauma-Informed Care for Better Oral Health

See the announcement above.

Additional Resources

Toolkit for Developmental Screening and Health Promotion

The Child Health and Development Project: Mississippi Thrive! has published a toolkit on developmental screening and health promotion, with HRSA's support. It offers practical resources for providers to incorporate recommended developmental screenings into their day-to-day practice and provide comprehensive well-child care services. Resources can help providers support caregivers with promoting their children’s development.

Training & Technical Assistance

Visit the training calendar to learn details or register for events.

Through April 11

Overcoming Adversity and Fostering the Mental Health of Latino/Hispanic Youth and their Families through Integrated Care (in Spanish with live interpretation in English)
Tuesday, April 4
1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

Improving Cultural Competence and Humility in Diabetes Care
Hosted by NCHPH
Tuesday, April 4
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Applying Quality Improvement Skills in a Team-Based Care Environment
Hosted by Community Health Center, Inc. (CHCI)
Tuesday, April 4
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Patient-Centered Medical Home Office Hours: Q-PASS Refresher and Q&A
Hosted by the National Committee for Quality Assurance
Tuesday, April 4
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Oral Cancer Screening: “It’s more than grasping the tongue!”
Hosted by NNOHA
Tuesday, April 4
2:00-3:15 p.m. ET
Registration page
**CDE available**

STEPing Up Colorectal Cancer Screenings
Tuesday, April 4
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

ECV Award: Working with Community Partners to Address Vaccine Equity
Wednesday, April 5
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Oral Health Access for Residents of Public Housing
Hosted by NNOHA and NNCC
Wednesday, April 5
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Health Access and SDOH: Mobile Outreach for the Unsheltered Homeless
Hosted by the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH)
Wednesday, April 5
3:00-4:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

Cannabis Use Disorder (Rescheduled)
Monday, April 10
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

COVID-19 Response Program Office Hours
Tuesday, April 11
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Celebration of SDOH Innovation Webinar Series
Hosted by multiple NTTAPs
Tuesday, April 11,
and Tuesday, April 18
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Improve the Collection and Respectful Use of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Data
Hosted by the Health Information Technology, Evaluation, and Quality (HITEQ) Center
Tuesday, April 11
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Identification and Evidence-Based Interventions for Treating Anxiety and Depression
Tuesday, April 11
2:00-3:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

Upcoming

Trauma-Informed Care for Better Oral Health
Wednesday, April 12
1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

Telehealth Office Hours: Bridging the Digital Divide
Hosted by NACHC and the HRSA-funded Northeast Telehealth Resource Center
Thursday, April 13
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Preparing for Extreme Heat, Rural Health, and Climate Change
Tuesday, April 18
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

National Donate Life Month (in Spanish with live interpretation in English)
Tuesday, April 18
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

How the End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Will Impact Residents of HUD-Assisted Housing
Hosted by NCHPH
Wednesday, April 19
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Innovations in Mobile Health to Increase Health Access for Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Survivors (with live interpretation in ASL and Spanish)
Hosted by Health Partners on IPV + Exploitation
Wednesday, April 19
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Utilizing Community Health Workers for SDOH Screening and Housing Navigation
Hosted by CSH
Wednesday, April 19
3:00-4:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

Community-Centered Approaches to Racial and Social Justice: Change from the Outside In With CCHH
Hosted by the National Health Care for the Homeless Council
Thursday, April 20
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Preparing Mental Health Leaders
Hosted by ACU
Monday, April 24
4:00-5:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Screening for Public Housing Community-specific Safe Sleep Risks
Hosted by NCHPH
Tuesday, April 25
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

The Federal Telehealth Policy Landscape After the PHE: What’s Staying (For Now) and What’s Going
Hosted by the HITEQ Center
Tuesday, April 25
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Strategies to Support Survivors Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence or Exploitation and How to Promote Prevention (in Spanish with live interpretation in English)
Hosted by Health Partners on IPV + Exploitation
Wednesday, April 26
1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

Traditional Food, Culture, and Diabetes in the U.S.
Hosted by NCHPH
Wednesday, April 26
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Eyes on Access: Billing for Vision Services
Hosted by NACHC
Thursday, April 27
3:00-4:30 p.m. ET
Registration page
Note: There will be a follow-up office hours on Thursday, May 18.

Training the Next Generation
Hosted by CHCI and Northwest Regional PCA
Thursday, April 27
3:30-4:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

Screening for Safe Infant Sleep Habits in Public Housing
Hosted by NCHPH
Wednesday, May 3
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Webinars are hosted by HRSA unless otherwise noted.