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HRSA Health Center Program Primary Health Care Digest

July 5, 2023

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THIS FRIDAY: COVID-19 Survey Changes

In response to your feedback and other factors, the COVID-19 survey is now monthly and has fewer questions. Health centers will receive the survey for June data this Friday, July 7. See the COVID-19 Survey User Guide and questions preview on our website so you can prepare.


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Fiscal Year 2023 National Training and Technical Assistance Partners Cooperative Agreements Awarded

HRSA has awarded approximately $23.5 million in fiscal year (FY) 2023 National Training and Technical Assistance Partners (NTTAP) Cooperative Agreements funding (HRSA-23-029). This funding will support 22 NTTAPs in developing and delivering training and technical assistance (T/TA) that supports health centers to:

  • Deliver comprehensive care.
  • Address emergent public health priorities and health needs.
  • Improve health care access, operational effectiveness, and quality.
  • Advance health equity.

Each NTTAP provides specialized T/TA on a specific topic, which may focus on a population or health center operations. For FY 2023, HRSA added a new NTTAP type, Clinical Quality Improvement and Patient Safety. Visit the NTTAPs webpage to read more about the awardees or to request T/TA. Award recipients can visit the NTTAPs Cooperative Agreement webpage for award information and resources.

NTTAPs host or developed many of the events and resources we feature in the Digest, as well as those in the Health Center Resource Clearinghouse.


Did You Miss It?

Here are some of our most popular items from June:

  • Your input is key to improving this newsletter! Our brief reader survey is only available for a limited time.
  • Visit HRSA’s website to learn how you can become a HRSA grant reviewer.
  • CMS’ All Hands-On-Deck fact sheet (PDF) and press release provide strategies to help keep people covered as states restart routine Medicaid renewals.
  • Thank you to those who submitted to HRSA’s photo gallery for Health Care Risk Management Week. View the full gallery on HRSA’s website.

Missed an issue? Catch up in our online archive.


Jump To: COVID-19 Behavioral Health | Hypertension | WorkforceTelehealth | Additional Resources | Training Calendar


What's New

today-with-macrae

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


Uniform-Data-System

Recording Available: 2023 Uniform Data System Changes TA Webinar

Learn about the 2023 Uniform Data System (UDS) reporting requirements by watching a recording of our recent webinar. The presentation details important proposed reporting changes. Access the presentation slides (PDF) and other resources on HRSA’s UDS Training and TA website.


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-did-you-know

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.


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.

internet-for-all-map-of-us

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.


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.


In case you missed it:
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Training Calendar

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Visit our online calendar for details on these and all scheduled events.

Through July 11

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


Upcoming

Overview of the 2023-2025 HRSA Strategy to Address IPV
Wednesday, July 12
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Aging, Substance Use, and Cognitive Health
Thursday, July 13
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
** 1.0 CE available **

Today with Macrae: Health Center Program Updates
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

Brown Bag Discussion: Treating Alcohol Use Disorder in Primary Care
Monday, July 17
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Integrating Behavioral Health in Your Community Health Center
Hosted by the Accreditation Association of Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
Wednesday, July 19
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Visit AAAHC's website to sign up for a free account so you can register for the session.

Contextualizing Our Understanding of Mental Health and Substance Use
Wednesday, July 19
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Improving Blood Pressure in African Americans: Strategies for Achieving Equity
Co-hosted by the National Association of Community Health Centers (through a cooperative agreement with CDC) and the American Medical Association
Wednesday, July 19
3:00-3:45 p.m. ET
Registration page
** 1.0 CME available **

Better Assess Your Community Using the UDS Mapper
Thursday, July 20
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Webinars are hosted by HRSA unless otherwise noted.