What's New

New FAQ on Acquiring COVID-19 Vaccines If you missed it, last week’s Digest included other FAQs. Q: How can I use Expanding COVID-19 Vaccination (ECV) and Bridge funds to cover the COVID-19 vaccine that my health center previously purchased or to pre-order the forthcoming COVID-19 vaccine? A: You may use ECV funds to pre-order planned, but currently unavailable, COVID-19 vaccine to ensure you have an adequate supply of the newest vaccine compilation in the fall. This includes past pre-order costs that have not and will not be reimbursed by other sources. Consult with your Grants Management Specialist if this is a change of more than 25% of your current approved budget. If ECV-purchased vaccines are administered to individuals with payer sources (e.g., Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance), you must seek reimbursement and adjust your financial records accordingly. Reimbursed funds are considered Program Income and must be used in accordance with 45 CFR Part 75.307. HRSA anticipates that you may use the upcoming Bridge funding to pre-order the newest vaccine compilation. However, HRSA also expects there will be requirements on Bridge funding awards for making and documenting reasonable efforts to obtain such vaccines for free. More information will be available when Bridge funding is awarded.

Policy Tip: Sliding Fee Discount Program A health center cannot have different sliding fee discount schedules (SFDSs) that vary between in-scope health center sites. However, health centers can consider locally prevailing rates or charges, which may vary between sites. Those rates or charges determine the fee schedules. The health center applies the SFDS to the fee schedules. Therefore, this may result in differences in the amounts charged to patients, depending on the site where they receive care. Learn more in the Health Center Program Compliance FAQs.

Making Care Primary Model: Application Period Starts Soon

CMS has released a Request for Applications (RFA) (PDF) detailing model payment, care delivery, quality, and other policies for the Making Care Primary (MCP) Model. Interested FQHCs in eligible regions may apply in September when the Application Portal opens. CMS will send an announcement when the Application Portal is open. Sign up for this and other announcements on the Making Care Primary Model listserv. Find more information on the MCP Model webpage. Send questions to CMS at MCP@cms.hhs.gov.

COVID-19

CANCELED: 9/5 COVID-19 Response Program Office Hours

We will NOT hold office hours on Tuesday, September 5. We will announce future TA sessions – related to Bridge funding or the remaining COVID-19 Response Programs (for testing supplies and therapeutics) – in the Digest.

Behavioral Health

Resources for Upcoming Awareness Month Observances

SAMHSA offers resources to help your health center’s efforts related to these September observances:

• National Recovery Month: Their toolkit includes social media content and more.
• National Suicide Prevention Month: See their social media shareables.

HIV

CDC’s Together TakeMeHome Free HIV Self-Test Kits Program Together TakeMeHome is a national direct-to-consumer program that offers free HIV self-tests by mail. People can order up to two free HIV self-tests every 90 days. Tests are available to anyone 17 or older, regardless of health insurance or immigration status. CDC supports this program in partnership with other organizations. They also offer resources health centers can use to promote self-testing as part of their “Let’s Stop HIV Together” initiative.

Addressing Staff Burnout in Rural Settings

HRSA invites you to hear from speakers in BPHC and the HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) about burnout, its impact on health workers, and resilience strategies. Providers will also speak, sharing their perspectives on challenges and opportunities in the rural setting and  discussing  resources. We’ll focus on HAB and BPHC dually-funded recipients but encourage all award recipients in rural communities to attend.

Tuesday, September 19
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Join the day of the session

Open Now: Common Application for Clinical Workforce Learning Collaboratives

See the announcement below.

Workforce

Open Now: Common Application for Clinical Workforce Learning Collaboratives

Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC) has opened its common application for learning collaboratives. Through it, staff from HRSA-supported health centers and Primary Care Associations can apply to focus on:

• Comprehensive and Team-Based Care (October-June 2024)
• Postgraduate Nurse Practitioner Residency and Fellowship Programs (October-March 2024)
• Health Professions Student Training (January-June 2024)
• HIV Prevention (January-June 2024)

Addressing Staff Burnout in Rural Settings

See the announcement above.

Oral Health

Integration of Diabetes and Oral Health Learning Collaborative

The National Network for Oral Health Access invites health centers to apply for this opportunity. Participants will use their systems-level framework to adopt and implement oral health core clinical competencies. The goals are to integrate oral health and primary care and improve patient outcomes. Apply by Tuesday, September 12.

Telehealth

Register Now: National Telehealth Conference

HRSA’s annual conference will feature health care professionals, policymakers, and industry stakeholders from around the country. The agenda and registration are now available.

Tuesday, September 12
9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

In case you missed it:
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Training Calendar

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

Through September 5

Advancing Health Equity among Hispanic/Latino Populations Series (in Spanish with live interpretation in English)
Tuesday, August 29
1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

Upcoming

Health Literacy Assessment for Community Health Centers
Wednesday, September 6
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page, use subscription key: TJCEd, or login with previous credentials

FY 2023 Early Childhood Development Supplemental Funding Award Recipient Presentation
Wednesday, September 6
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Health Network: A Care Coordination Program for Patients Who Move During Treatment (in English with live interpretation in Spanish)
Hosted by Migrant Clinicians Network
Thursday, September 7
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

HITEQ Highlights: Navigating Compliance Challenges with the Information Blocking Rule
Hosted by the Health Information Technology, Evaluation, and Quality (HITEQ) Center
Thursday, September 7
1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

Primary Care HIV Prevention FY 2023 Post-Award Briefing
Thursday, September 7
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Empowering Your Workforce: Considerations for Implementing & Responding to Staff Satisfaction Surveys
Hosted by the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved’s STAR² Center
Thursday, September 7
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

National Telehealth Conference
Tuesday, September 12
9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

Unlocking HCV Care in Key Settings
Hosted by the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable and the National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors
Tuesday, September 12,
and Wednesday, September 13
12:30-5:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) National Training – Care Management
Tuesday, September 12
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Achieving Excellence through HRSA Accreditation and PCMH Recognition
Hosted by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
Wednesday, September 13
1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Visit AAAHC's website to sign up for a free account so you can register for the session.

UDS Basics: Orientation to Terms and Resources
Wednesday, September 13
1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

Today with Macrae: Health Center Program Updates
Thursday, September 14
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Join the day of the session
Join by phone: 833-568-8864
Webinar ID: 160 345 8842

Addressing Staff Burnout in Rural Settings
Tuesday, September 19
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Join the day of the session

UDS Mapper Advanced Topic: Using the UDS Mapper to Explore Measures of Social Need
Tuesday, September 19
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

HRSA Virtual Job Fair
Wednesday, September 20
6:00-9:00 p.m. ET
Registration for recruiters is open; job seekers, see HRSA’s Virtual Job Fair webpage

UDS Clinical Quality Measures Deep Dive
Thursday, September 21
12:30-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Webinars are hosted by HRSA unless otherwise noted.