What's New
2022 Uniform Data System Trends
Join our webinar to learn about 2022 Uniform Data System (UDS) data trends in health center patient demographics, staffing, and clinical quality measures. You will gain insights on health centers’ growth and performance and other HRSA priorities.
Tuesday, August 8 1:00-2:15 p.m. ET Registration page
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Service Area Competition Notice of Funding Opportunity Released for April 1 Starts
HRSA released the fiscal year (FY) 2024 Service Area Competition (SAC) Notice of Funding Opportunity for service areas with an April 1, 2024, period of performance start date (HRSA-24-069). Find details for each of the announced service areas on the Service Area Announcement Table.
Applications are due in Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, September 18, and in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) by 5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 18. Technical assistance (TA) materials are available on the SAC TA webpage.
FY 2024 Budget Period Progress Report Noncompeting Continuation Released for February 1 Budget Period Starts
HRSA released the FY 2024 Budget Period Progress Report (BPR) Non-Competing Continuation (NCC) (5-H80-24-002) for Health Center Program award recipients with a February 1 budget period start date. These award recipients have a BPR submission available for completion in EHBs with a deadline of 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, September 8.
TA materials and a listing of deadlines for all FY 2024 BPRs are available on the BPR TA webpage.
Policy Tip: Board Authority
A health center board adopts; evaluates at least once every three years; and, as needed, approves updates to policies that support the following areas:
- Sliding Fee Discount Program
- Quality improvement/assurance
- Billing and collections
- Financial management and accounting systems
- Personnel
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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New Key Contacts Form in EHBs
In late August, we’ll introduce a new Key Contacts form in NCC Progress Reports in EHBs. This form will automatically populate the existing key contacts. The information will appear as read-only in folders and other EHBs locations that display the Progress Report. The system will automatically prompt you to review the contacts you previously provided and make any needed updates.
HRSA June in Brief
Last month, HRSA celebrated Pride Month and the Juneteenth holiday, HRSA Administrator Johnson continued to highlight programs and ongoing efforts to bolster the health workforce, and HRSA Principal Deputy Administrator Espinosa testified before the U.S. House of Representatives on HRSA programs. Read more on HRSA's website.
June news also included the nomination of HRSA’S Rural Communities Opioid Response Program Team for the 2023 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals People’s Choice Award. We’re delighted to announce that they won! Read the press release.
Comments Due Soon! Draft HHS 2023 Framework to Support and Accelerate Smoking Cessation
HHS released a draft framework for an initiative that aims to ensure every person in America has access to comprehensive, evidence-based treatment. It is organized around six goals that range from increasing awareness of the benefits of smoking cessation to finding the best measures for success of the effort. Read more or provide comments by Sunday, July 30, on the Federal Register website.
CDC Recruiting for Director for the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
For over 30 years, CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control has been a leader in protecting people from injury and violence so that individuals, families, and communities can be safe, healthy, and thriving. This is an opportunity to lead this work and oversee a national program for non-occupational injury prevention and control with federal, state, and local agencies and communities. See the job announcements for details or to apply:
COVID-19
TODAY! COVID-19 Response Program Office Hours
Today’s session will feature speakers from HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW). They’ll share HRSA programs and resources that can help health centers enhance quality care for aging populations, with an emphasis on COVID-19 support.
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET Registration page
IMPORTANT:
- We’ve extended this Office Hours series, which is open to all HRSA-supported health centers. Even if you previously registered for past Office Hours, you need to register again for this new set of sessions.
- We shifted the time for the August 8 session due to the UDS Trends webinar. That session will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Behavioral Health
Peer Recovery Support in Integrated Care
Learn the value of peer recovery support specialists, the importance of mindfully integrating peers, and the roles that peers can play in your health center.
Thursday, August 17 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET Registration page
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Adds Spanish Text and Chat Service Ahead of One-Year Anniversary
One year after the rollout of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, HHS and its 988 Lifeline partners announced the addition of Spanish text and chat services. Read the press release.
Workforce
Register for the Region 9 Workforce Workshop
HRSA is hosting a series of Regional Workforce Workshops for Primary Care Associations and health centers. Registration is open for the Region 9 workshop on Tuesday, August 15, from 2:00-5:30 p.m. ET. Visit the registration page or see BHW’s recent bulletin for more information.
The Growing Provider Shortage: Building the Case for Developing a Health Professions Education and Training Program
Understanding what roles are currently in demand, and which are likely to soon increase in demand, is critical to assessing what type of Health Professions Education and Training (HP-ET) program or other recruitment programs can most benefit a health center. The Association of Clinicians for the Underserved’s STAR2 Center designed a document to highlight projected workforce needs based on National Health Service Corps vacancy data. It also provides an overview of options available to develop or sustain HP-ET programs to meet these needs. Visit the STAR2 Center’s website to access it.
Telehealth
Addressing Social Isolation and Improving Access to Care for Older Adults through Telehealth Technology
Join HRSA’s Region 1, in collaboration with the Northeast Telehealth Resource Center, to learn about strategies HRSA awardees have deployed in northern New England to address what the U.S. Surgeon General has described as a public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection. For more information, contact Matthew Salaga.
Thursday, August 3 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET Registration page
Additional Resources
Health Center and Supportive Housing Capital Development Partnerships Case Study: Portland, Oregon
The pandemic illuminated the value of health and housing collaborations in improving housing stability and quality of life for at-risk populations. Partnerships remain valuable given increased demand for affordable and supportive housing, and for more effective service coordination.
Visit the Corporation for Supportive Housing’s website to access a case study about Central City Concern. This health center in Portland, Oregon, receives Health Care for the Homeless funding. Learn about the key steps and decisions made on their path to building new health and housing collaborations.
Webinar Recording: Capital Planning for Addressing Rural Health Needs
In a recent webinar, speakers from Capital Link addressed the unique needs of rural health centers and highlighted a recent capital project for Desert Sage Health Centers, which tailored the structure of its new facility to suit the distinctive needs of its rural service area. The CEO of the National Rural Health Association discussed the connection between rural health issues and facility designs, as well as the current issues for rural health centers. View the recording on Capital Link's website.
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