What's New
NEXT THURSDAY! Today with Macrae: Health Center Program Updates
Join Jim to hear about Health Center Program 2035, our COVID-19 Response Programs, funding, and more.
Thursday, July 13 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET Join the day of the session Join by phone: 833-568-8864 Webinar ID: 161 391 4467
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FY 2024 Budget Period Progress Report Non-Competing Continuation Released for January 1 Budget Period Starts
On Monday, June 26, HRSA released the FY 2024 Budget Period Progress Report (BPR) Non-Competing Continuation (5-H80-24-001) for Health Center Program award recipients with a January 1 budget period start date. These award recipients have a BPR submission available for completion in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks by 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, August 18.
TA materials and a list of deadlines for all FY 2024 BPRs are available on the BPR TA webpage.
Policy Tip: Clinical Staff
A health center governing board is not required to approve credentialing or privileging procedures or individual provider credentials or privileges to demonstrate compliance with the Health Center Program requirements. To learn more about this topic, and to find answers to other questions, check out the Health Center Program Compliance FAQs.
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CDC Urges Continued Focus on Mpox
CDC’s report about recent mpox cases announces that 40 laboratory-confirmed mpox cases were identified in Chicago, including 22 patients who were fully vaccinated. CDC encourages continued focus on:
- Communication about prevention and detection to both clinicians and the public. Continue checking CDC’s mpox website for updates and resources (scroll down for “What’s New & Updated”). Your health center can even embed CDC’s mpox content into your website. Visit CDC's website for details and the embed code.
- Participation in NIH’s Study of Tecovirimat for Human Mpox Virus (STOMP) trial. Learn more on the trial website.
Expanding Internet Access through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration recently announced $42.45 billion in funding through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program to connect every person in the U.S. to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet service. With broadband access being a key social determinant of health, these new investments will help close the digital divide, which magnifies health inequities for those with unreliable or no internet access.
- Each state will receive BEAD Program funding as part of the Internet for All initiative.
- Individual awards range from $27 million to over $3.3 billion, with every state receiving a minimum of $107 million.
- All 50 states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia now have the resources to connect every resident and small business to reliable, affordable high-speed internet by 2030.
Learn more on the Internet for All website.
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CMS No Surprises Resources for Consumers
CMS’ new website provides easy-to-read information regarding the consumer protections in the No Surprises Act.
COVID-19
Provider Relief Fund Reporting Period 5
The Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Portal is open until 11:59 p.m. ET on Saturday, September 30. Providers who received one or more PRF (General or Targeted) and/or American Rescue Plan Rural payments exceeding $10,000, in the aggregate, from January 1 to June 30, 2022, must report on their use of funds during Reporting Period 5 to comply with PRF Reporting Requirements (PDF). Find more information and resources on the PRF Reporting webpage.
Behavioral Health
Aging, Substance Use, and Cognitive Health
Speakers from the HRSA-funded National Clinician Consultation Center will discuss how aging and cognitive impairment intersect with substance use. They will share practical strategies for how to adapt screening assessment and treatment for older patients with substance use disorder (SUD).
Thursday, July 13 Noon-1:00 p.m. ET Registration page ** 1.0 CE available **
Telebehavioral Health for American Indian and Alaska Native Communities
July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. American Indians and Alaska Natives have higher mortality rates and lower health outcomes than the general population in a variety of behavioral health categories. The Telehealth.hhs.gov site includes resources to help health centers increase use of telehealth for these communities.
Improving Access to Evidence-Based Care for Opioid Use Disorder
New legislation opens opportunities to provide treatment for those in need of opioid use disorder services to the approximately 1.9 million practitioners across the country with registration from the Drug Enforcement Administration to prescribe controlled medications. Learn more about the change and access training resources on SAMHSA’s website.
Hypertension
Webinar Recording: Uncontrolled Hypertension and Cognitive Impairment – A Health Center Discussion Panel
Watch the recording of HRSA’s webinar to see health center colleagues discuss the clinical relationship between uncontrolled hypertension, dementia, and general cognitive decline. Speakers included 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.
Workforce
Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program
Eligible clinicians providing pediatric medical subspecialty, pediatric surgical specialty, or child and adolescent mental and behavioral health care including SUD prevention and treatment services may apply to HRSA’s Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program. Learn more on HRSA’s website.
Telehealth
Policy Updates
Stay up-to-date on telehealth policies by bookmarking and regularly visiting Telehealth.HHS.gov.
Expanding Internet Access through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program
See the announcement above.
Telebehavioral Health for American Indian and Alaska Native Communities
See the announcement above.
Additional Resources
Overview of the 2023-2025 HRSA Strategy to Address Intimate Partner Violence
Learn about how HRSA prevents and responds to intimate partner violence (IPV) and about the new strategy to guide these efforts on HRSA’s website and at a webinar:
Wednesday, July 12 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET Registration page
We’ll feature speakers from HRSA’s Office of Women’s Health, BPHC, and HRSA’s HIV/AIDS Bureau.
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