What's New
Health Centers with an August 1 Start Date: Review Your Patient Target by Thursday, August 24
We updated patient targets for Health Center Program award recipients with an August 1 budget period start date. On Thursday, August 10, 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 August 1, 2024, award start date should review their patient target and take appropriate action in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) by Thursday, August 24.
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).
Screening services are performed based on identified risk factors in the community or patient population. At a minimum, these services must include screenings for all the following: cancer, communicable disease, cholesterol, and blood lead. Refer to the Service Descriptors for Form 5A: Services Provided (PDF) for what, at a minimum, must be included as part of each required service. Learn more in the Health Center Program Compliance FAQs.
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Federal Tort Claims Act Site Visits and Health Center Operational Site Visits: A Comparison Reference Guide
You recommended it, and we delivered! Our new resource helps health centers prepare for both Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) site visits and operational site visits by highlighting the differences between the two. We posted the comparison reference guide (PDF) on our FTCA Site Visit Protocol webpage. We encourage you to share it with health center staff, leadership, and board members.
Participate in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey
CDC is fielding the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS). If your health center was invited to participate, we encourage you to do so. The NAMCS Health Center Component website includes a “What to Expect” section if your health center was selected.
NAMCS data is a resource to the health center community, health care researchers, and policymakers. It highlights the important work and needs of health centers and informs actions to address emerging public health needs. It provides detailed insight into ambulatory care at the level of individual visits – complementing the aggregate, health center-level information from the Uniform Data System (UDS). NAMCS data is confidential, and its use is limited, with public data aggregated for confidentiality.
If your health center received an invitation, contact CDC by email or phone (301-458-4050) to confirm participation and continue to respond to emails and phone calls for further instructions. Participants may be eligible for compensation of up to $10,000 to help defray related expenses.
Dr. Alek Sripipatana Named Government Executive of the Year
The Public Service Leadership Academy, a non-profit offering leadership development training to government employees, hosts the annual Service to the Citizen (STTC) awards. The awards recognize public servants who demonstrate excellence in delivering services that impact the public’s lives. We’re proud to announce BPHC’s own Dr. Alek Sripipatana, a Division Director in the Office of Quality Improvement, has been named STTC Government Executive of the Year! See the complete list of 2023 winners.
The Federal News Network interviewed Alek about the award and how data improves customer service at HRSA. Listen to or read the 10-minute interview.
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HRSA in Brief
In July, HRSA team members won the 2023 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals People’s Choice Award, HRSA hosted stakeholders interested in Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Modernization, HRSA welcomed Rural Communities Opioid Response Program grantees, and HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra highlighted the HHS Health Workforce Initiative and its support for HRSA’s health care workforce programs. Read the HRSA July in Brief.
The Biden-Harris Administration Announces $100 Million to Grow the Nursing Workforce
HRSA announced awards of more than $100 million to train more nurses and grow the nursing workforce. These investments will address the increasing demand for registered nurses, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and nurse faculty. Read the press release.
Webinar Recording: Overview of the 2023-2025 HRSA Strategy to Address Intimate Partner Violence
If you missed our recent webinar on HRSA’s new strategy to address intimate partner violence, the recording is now available on HRSA’s website. It featured speakers from across HRSA, including from BPHC. They outlined the strategy’s aims, objectives, and activities.
Unlocking HCV Care in Key Settings
The National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable and the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors invite health center staff to join their upcoming virtual meeting. Speakers will showcase models and best practices for integrating hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing and treatment in key settings, including health centers!
Tuesday, September 12,
and Wednesday, September 13
12:30-5:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
New CMS Toolkit Offers Strategies to Enhance Postpartum Care in Medicaid and CHIP
CMS’s new resource, Increasing Access, Quality, and Equity in Postpartum Care in Medicaid and CHIP: A Toolkit for State Medicaid and CHIP Agencies (PDF), outlines how states can use existing authorities to increase postpartum care access, quality, and equity for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) beneficiaries. It includes a strategy checklist and suggestions for partnering with Medicaid and CHIP-managed care plans to improve postpartum care. Health centers and primary care services play a key role in several strategies.
Find more information and resources on strengthening postpartum care for Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries on CMS’ Postpartum Care webpage.
HIV
2023 Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Clinical Conference
Conference registration is now open on the AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC) National Coordinating Resource Center (NCRC) website. This in-person conference will take place on Sunday, December 3, through Tuesday, December 5, in Portland, Oregon.
Workforce
Advancing Health Equity among Hispanic/Latino Populations Series
In this final session, a dynamic panel of HRSA workforce grantees will provide testimonials, highlight HRSA programs and resources to support individuals across health workforce disciplines, and share information about HRSA-supported organizations engaged in the growth and development of the Hispanic/Latino workforce. The session will be presented in Spanish with live interpretation in English.
Tuesday, August 29
1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Registration page
Clinician Job Search Tool Gets an Upgrade
HRSA’s Health Workforce Connector connects clinicians to job and training opportunities. New features simplify job searches by discipline and program and offer an expanded display for Health Professional Shortage Areas and other scores, assisting clinicians seeking qualifying positions. HRSA-supported health centers with approval for loan repayment and scholarship programs can create profiles.
Telehealth
Increasing Access to Telehealth
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and Lifeline are federal government programs that help eligible households pay for internet services and internet-connected devices. Eligible households can enroll for ACP online or with a mail-in application in English or Spanish. Telehealth.hhs.gov’s Getting Help with Access webpage includes information about these programs. HHS recently added a new video to acquaint new telehealth patients with the technology (scroll down to “Video meetings”). FCC’s ACP Consumer Outreach Toolkit offers resources to help you spread the word.
Additional Resources
Health Center and Supportive Housing Capital Development Partnerships Case Study: Denver, Colorado
The Corporation for Supportive Housing shares another case study to help health centers consider how to support at-risk populations with collaborations to improve housing stability. Learn more about the key steps and decisions the Denver Housing Authority and Denver Health and Hospital Authority made on their path to building new health and housing co-developments in their community.
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