What's New
Supplemental Bridge Funding for Health Centers
In support of the HHS Bridge Access Program for COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments, and in coordination with CDC’s Bridge Access Program, HRSA will provide more than $81 million in one-time Bridge funding to active Expanding COVID-19 Vaccination (ECV/H8G) award recipients. These funds will help health centers continue providing essential COVID-19-related services (including support for equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics, and testing) to patients and residents of their community, including those who are uninsured or underinsured.
HRSA plans to make awards using a formula-based supplement to the current H8G awards by Friday, September 1, 2023. These health centers will then have 30 days to submit information about their planned activities and costs related to this funding.
HRSA will host a TA webinar soon after the release of funds. We will update the ECV TA webpage with the webinar details and Bridge funding guidance when the awards are released. Please submit questions using the BPHC Contact Form (COVID-19 Funding > ECV).
If you have questions about how the Bridge program will make vaccines available for uninsured persons, consider attending our upcoming COVID-19 Response Program Office Hour sessions. While we will NOT discuss the Bridge ECV supplements at these sessions, we are inviting a CDC representative to join to discuss their program. Reminders:
- We encourage all HRSA-supported health centers to join these Office Hour sessions, which take place every other Tuesday from 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET. Next Tuesday’s session is at 2:30 p.m. due to the UDS Trends webinar.
- We recently extended the series. If needed, visit the registration page to register again for the current set of sessions.
Health Centers with a June 1 Start Date: Review Your Patient Target by Thursday, August 10
We updated patient targets for Health Center Program award recipients with a June 1 budget period start date. On Thursday, July 27, 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 a June 1, 2024, award start date should review their patient target and take appropriate action in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) by Thursday, August 10.
View the Patient Target Management Guide 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).
Policy Tip: Conflict of Interest
The site visit team does not review signed disclosure statements or forms from all health center staff and board members during a site visit. If a health center identified a real or apparent conflict of interest for any procurement that occurred within the last three years and that was paid in whole or in part by the federal award, the site visit team reviews all related written disclosures. 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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ECV Reporting Requirement
Health centers using ECV funds are required to complete the monthly Health Center COVID-19 Survey. The survey for July data will go out this Friday (August 4) and be due by 11:59 p.m. your local time on Thursday, August 10.
Our Health Center COVID-19 Survey webpage links to tools that can help you complete the survey: a preview and a user guide for survey respondents who have questions. If you still have questions about the survey, use the BPHC Contact Form (COVID-19 > COVID-19 Surveys).
Deadline Next Wednesday! Help Veterans Enroll in PACT Act Benefits
Many veterans are eligible for retroactive benefits related to their exposure during their service, but they must enroll on the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) website by next Wednesday, August 9. Encourage veterans in your community to enroll and/or attend the VA’s Facebook Live PACT Act event tomorrow (Wednesday, August 2) at 3:30 p.m. ET. Learn about the event on VA’s website.
National Minority Donor Awareness Month
August is a time to create a positive culture for organ, eye, and tissue donation in diverse communities. The National Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program founded this annual observance in 1996. Outreach activities provide donation education and encourage donor registration. They also promote healthy living and disease prevention to decrease the need for transplantation.
With over 100,000 individuals on the national transplant waiting list, it's crucial to acknowledge that more than 60% belong to racial and ethnic minority groups. HRSA invites health centers to join us in the following:
- Amplifying the need for more organ, eye, and tissue donors within multicultural communities.
- Educating potential organ donors and encouraging donor registration.
See the latest on our English and Spanish Organ Donation Playlists on HRSATube! Use hashtag #NMDAM23 when sharing National Minority Donor Awareness Month messages on social media.
National Immunization Awareness Month
CDC shares resources on their website that can help your health center participate in the nationwide movement to boost vaccination:
They also recently published the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ recommendations on vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus in older adults. See the report.
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Behavioral Health
Call for Applications: Integration of Behavioral Health and Oral Health Learning Collaborative
The National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA) invites health centers to a learning collaborative on integration of behavioral health and oral health. Participants will learn strategies to implement behavioral screenings in the dental clinic and bi-directional referrals. Visit NNOHA's website for information or to apply by Monday, August 14.
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
1:00-1:30 p.m. ET
Registration page
Workforce
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 STAR2 Center’s website to access it.
Oral Health
Call for Applications: Integration of Behavioral Health and Oral Health Learning Collaborative
See the announcement above.
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
Save the Date: National Telehealth Conference
HRSA’s annual conference will feature health care professionals, policymakers, and industry stakeholders from around the country. The event will take place on Tuesday, September 12. Details – including agenda and speakers – are forthcoming. Visit the registration page for updates, and we’ll share them in future issues, too.
Additional Resources
Strengthening Partnerships for Healthy, Climate Resilient, and Thriving Communities
HHS hosted community conversations across the country this past spring to learn from communities directly affected by severe weather or environmental hazards. Join to hear and discuss key learnings. Event leaders will share, and hope to identify, interdisciplinary partnership opportunities to engage and address the resonant themes. Learn more on the registration page.
Wednesday, August 2
Noon-5:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
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.
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