What's New
Health Centers with an April 1 Start Date: Review Your Patient Target by Thursday, June 29
We updated patient targets for Health Center Program award recipients with an April 1 budget period start date. On Thursday, June 15, we sent an email message to the Authorizing Officials and Project Directors of these health centers. It clarifies whether the health center would complete a fiscal year (FY) 2024 Service Area Competition (SAC) or Budget Period Progress Report. It also provides a direct link to the updated patient target. Health centers that will complete an FY 2024 SAC and have an April 1, 2024, award start date should review their patient target and take appropriate action in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) by Thursday, June 29.
View the Patient Target Management Guide available on the SAC TA webpage to learn how to access your patient target in EHBs. See our Patient Target FAQs for more information.
Submit questions using the BPHC Contact Form (Health Center Program > Patient Targets).
HHS’ Office of Inspector General Asks for Your Participation in a Substance Use Disorder Treatment Survey
HHS’ Office of Inspector General is conducting a study examining the provision of substance use disorder treatment at HRSA-funded health centers. They will survey a sample of 450 HRSA-funded health centers on issues related to medications for opioid use disorder, drug counseling, and mental health services. If you missed it, see our bulletin from last week for more information.
Policy Tip: Search the Health Center Program FAQs by Element
You can now use the “Category” search field’s dropdown menu and the “Keywords” search field to narrow down the list of FAQs on the Health Center Program Compliance FAQs webpage. To find FAQs for a specific element, type the word “element” and the associated element letter into the “Keywords” search field. For example, if you select “Required and additional health services” in the “Category” menu and type “element a” into the “Keywords” field, you’ll see all the FAQs only for Element a: Providing and Documenting Services within Scope of Project.
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HRSA May in Brief
In May, HRSA announced new health center funds to address the maternal mortality crisis, celebrated the first anniversary of the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline, commemorated National Nurses Week, and honored HRSA staff named as 2023 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal finalists. Read more on HRSA’s website.
CMS Announces New Primary Care Model in Eight States – FQHCs Eligible to Apply
CMS announced the Making Care Primary (MCP) Model, a voluntary model to be tested in eight states – Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, and Washington. It seeks to improve care by expanding and enhancing care management and care coordination, equipping primary care clinicians with tools to form partnerships with health care specialists, and leveraging community-based connections to address patients' health needs as well as their health-related social needs. Read the press release.
CMS is partnering with state Medicaid agencies and other payers in the eight states to align MCP and state programs. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in these states are eligible to apply to participate in the 10.5-year model, which will begin July 1, 2024. CMS will begin accepting applications in late summer 2023. Visit CMS’ website for more.
Pride Month
The National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center is hosting webinars TODAY; Tuesday, June 27; and Thursday, June 29.
See the training calendar for links.
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Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Behavioral Health: Results from the 2021 and 2022 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health
SAMHSA’s report presents data on key substance use and mental health indicators by sexual identity and gender among adults aged 18 or older in the United States. See the report on SAMHSA’s website.
Behavioral Health
Strengthening Cultural Relevance in Clinical Behavioral Health Care
Speakers will identify evidence-based practices as a measure of care and effective strategies aimed at improving targeted outcomes.
Thursday, June 29
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
HIV
QuizTime for CME – Ending the HIV Epidemic with Antiretroviral Therapy
Providers at HRSA-funded health centers can access CME about HIV treatment through their phones. Register for daily (on weekdays only) questions. Eligible clinicians will receive CME for answering within 24 hours. Visit the Southeast AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC)’s website for details and to register.
STI Toolkit: Ask. Test. Treat. Repeat.
HHS recently released the first-ever “STI Federal Implementation Plan.” It outlines federal actions to reduce the burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States through 2025. Read the press release.
Health centers play an important role in this work. The “Addressing STIs: Ask. Test. Treat. Repeat.” toolkit helps health centers integrate screening and testing for STIs, which includes:
- Materials detailing the evidence-based interventions.
- Questions used in the self-administered sexual history.
- Tools for making a health center space more welcoming to LGBTQ+ clients.
- Tips for success to consider during implementation.
- Resources to give to clients to encourage a follow-up visit.
Scan the QR code to order your tool kit or visit Target HIV's webpage for more information.
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Hypertension
Uncontrolled Hypertension and Cognitive Impairment – A Health Center Discussion Panel
Join health center colleagues to explore the clinical relationship between uncontrolled hypertension, dementia, and general cognitive decline. Speakers include experts in the field of heart and brain health and a panel of health center leaders discussing strategies for the aging health center patient population.
Thursday, June 22
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
Workforce
Maternity Care Nursing Workforce Expansion Program
HRSA released a Notice of Funding Opportunity to grow and diversify the maternal and perinatal health nursing workforce through education and training support. This program will increase the number of certified nurse midwives and diversify the maternal and perinatal health workforce, expand maternal health training and curriculum, and strengthen community-based partnerships. Learn more on HRSA’s website.
STAR2 Center Talks Workforce Success Season Five Out Now
The Association of Clinicians for the Underserved announces that the fifth season of the STAR² Center’s “Talks Workforce Success” podcast is out now. It highlights health centers, Primary Care Associations, and NTTAPs that successfully implemented practices, strategies, or tools from the STAR² Center or other sources. The collaborative efforts and resource-sharing highlighted in this season’s episodes illustrate the crucial importance of maintaining strong partnerships and developing resources that directly speak to the training and TA needs of the health center workforce. Visit the STAR2 Center's website to listen.
Additional Resources
Maternal Child Health Webinar: "It Takes a Village: Working in Partnerships"
HRSA will host a panel discussion featuring maternal health subject matter experts from Palm Beach County, Florida – one of the largest and most diverse counties in Florida. Panelists will discuss the importance of collaborating with other agencies to improve neonatal outcomes and how agencies are collaborating to close the gap in maternal-child health disparities. They will share their unique perspectives on rendering services.
Thursday, June 22
11:00 a.m.-noon ET
Registration page
Webinar Series: Treating Eating Disorders in Primary Care and Community-Based Clinics
HRSA is partnering with SAMHSA and the CDC to host a three-part webinar series on eating disorders. The first session is this week, followed by additional sessions in July and August.
Eating Disorders in Primary Care and Community-Based Clinics: Tools and Resources for the Clinician
Thursday, June 22
Noon-1:30 p.m. ET
Join the day of the session
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