What's New
New Bridge Resources
These resources show how your health center can participate in CDC's Bridge Access Program:
New FAQs:
Q: What steps do I need to take for my health center to receive new COVID-19 vaccine through the CDC Bridge Access Program?
A: To learn how to enroll, contact your jurisdiction’s immunization program. Your health center will need to sign a provider agreement and complete a provider profile. Additional program requirements and procedures will vary by jurisdiction; therefore, it is important to work with your jurisdiction’s immunization program to understand what else is needed.
Q: Can we use HRSA Health Center Program grant funds to cover the cost of administering COVID-19 vaccines?
A: You may use Health Center Program operational funding (H80) or Bridge or ECV funding for allowable costs related to administration of COVID-19 vaccines with the following considerations.
- If you use vaccines from the CDC Bridge Access Program to vaccinate uninsured or underinsured individuals, you may not charge the patient. You may use our grant funds to cover the vaccine administration cost.
- If you do not use vaccines from the CDC Bridge Access Program, you must make every reasonable effort to collect reimbursement, including billing Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and other public and private insurance or assistance programs or, as appropriate, applying a sliding fee schedule. You should consider any cost-sharing restrictions or prohibitions. If the reimbursement does not cover the full vaccine administration cost, you may use our grant funds to cover the difference.
For more information, visit our Billing and Cost Sharing Overview for COVID-19 Vaccination, Testing, and Treatment webpage.
Grants.gov Outage and Updated Deadlines
Grants.gov remains unavailable until 11:59 p.m. ET TODAY. As a reminder, we extended the Grants.gov and EHBs application deadlines for the fiscal year (FY) 2024 Service Area Competition funding opportunity (HRSA-24-071) and the FY 2024 State and Regional PCA Cooperative Agreements funding opportunity (HRSA-24-080) to:
- Friday, November 3, by 11:59 p.m. ET for Grants.gov
- Monday, December 4, by 5:00 p.m. ET for EHBs
ECV Award Project Period Ends December 31
If your health center received ECV funding, HRSA expects you to use the funds within the project period to increase access to, confidence in, and demand for updated COVID-19 vaccines. However, we will consider a period of performance extension in increments of one to six months.
If your health center is unable to complete the award activity by the project period end date (Sunday, December 31), you may request an extension without funds (also known as a no-cost extension) approximately 60 days before the project period end date. If you are granted an extension, your health center can complete approved projects and activities using the remaining funds during the extended project period. If you anticipate needing an extension, contact your Grants Management or Investment Oversight Advisor to discuss the requirements for submitting the request in EHBs.
Health centers have 90 days after the project period end date to liquidate obligations, which are costs incurred through that date. Any new expenses incurred after the project period end date are unallowable and subject to repayment to HRSA.
FY 2024 Budget Period Progress Report Noncompeting Continuation for May 1 Budget Period Starts
HRSA released the FY 2024 Budget Period Progress Report (BPR) Non-Competing Continuation (5-H80-24-005) for Health Center Program award recipients with a May 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, December 8.
Technical assistance (TA) materials and a list of deadlines for all FY 2024 BPRs are available on the BPR TA webpage.
Deadline Reminder: Service Area Competition Applications for May 1 Starts
Service Area Competition (SAC) HRSA-24-070 applications for May 1 starts are due in EHBs on Wednesday, November 15, by 5:00 p.m. ET. TA materials are available on the SAC TA webpage.
Telehealth for Non-current Health Center Patients
During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), we issued guidance on the use of telehealth for people who are not current health center patients. Although the PHE has ended, this guidance will remain in effect until we issue new guidance, or until December 31, 2024, whichever comes first. Find the guidance in our Health Center Program Compliance FAQs.
In September 2022, we asked for comments on the Draft Health Center Program Scope of Project and Telehealth Policy Information Notice. We appreciate everyone’s feedback and continue to assess HRSA's policy position. Until we issue the final policy, the current scope policy (PDF) will remain in effect. Use the BPHC Contact Form if you have questions.
TOMORROW: Operational Site Visit Preparation Webinar
Learn the purpose of the Operational Site Visit (OSV), what to expect during your OSV, and hear directly from expert consultants in the clinical, financial, and governance areas. We encourage all health centers to join – especially if you are scheduled for an OSV in FY 2024!
Wednesday, November 1
2:00-3:30 p.m. ET
Join the day of the session
Join by phone: 833-568-8864
Webinar ID: 161 133 9390
Federal Tort Claims Act Assessment Removed from OSVs
HRSA has discontinued the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) assessment in the FTCA Deeming Requirements section of the Site Visit Protocol (SVP). During your OSV, you will not need to provide documentation related to that section of the SVP.
All FTCA-deemed health centers must comply with FTCA program requirements (find information and resources on our website). We will continue to assess that compliance through the FTCA deeming and re-deeming processes and through FTCA-specific site visits. Send questions via the BPHC Contact Form.
Policy Tip: OSV Sampling Process
The health center selects all samples for a site visit (for example, patient records). When the SVP allows for a range in the sample size, the health center should take into account its size and complexity and provide samples representative of its Health Center Program project operations. If the site visit team is unable to complete their assessment using the sample, they may coordinate with the health center on additional sampling.
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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The Commonwealth Fund 2023-2024 National Survey of FQHCs
The Commonwealth Fund (CWF) recently launched its 2023-2024 National Survey of FQHCs. We encourage you to look for your invitation packet from Social Science Research Solutions (SSRS) and participate!
You’ll provide insights on the state of health centers and how targeted initiatives can strengthen health centers’ ability to provide high-quality care. CWF will share aggregated results with HRSA and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC). They will also share publications and reports with relevant federal and congressional policymakers, particularly results related to funding and other policy issues.
SSRS is conducting the survey on CWF’s behalf. Their packet contains instructions, the survey, and a check for $125 to thank your health center for participating. Questions? Contact Hope Wilson at CWF by phone (800-633-1986, Ext. 4325) or email.
Behavioral Health
Screening and Addressing Substance Use in School-Based Health Centers
NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse will describe how the drug overdose crisis affects teens, the role of counterfeit pills and fentanyl, and how school-based service sites are uniquely positioned to address teen substance use. They will also share screening tools and steps to respond to the results. You will learn the importance of stigma-free language.
Thursday, November 2
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
TA Opportunities to Support Integrated Primary and Behavioral Health Care
This webinar shares training and TA available to HRSA-funded health centers and PCAs to enhance behavioral health integration services in primary care. Join to learn about TA events and how to request assistance. You will be invited to share where your organization needs the most help.
Wednesday, November 15
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
Hypertension
Apply for the “Live to the Beat” Health Center Community Ambassadors Program
The CDC Foundation’s "Live to the Beat" campaign aims to reduce cardiovascular disease risk among Black adults ages 35-54. Their approach is to empower the Black community with consistent and regular messaging about healthy habits and tips.
CDC invites health centers to apply to its Community Ambassadors Program, through which five health centers will receive funding. Learn more or apply by Friday, November 17.
Workforce
NTTAP Learning Collaboratives
Visit the application pages for dates, times, and more information:
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Teledentistry for Health Equity
This opportunity from NNOHA aims to increase access through synchronous teledentistry. Participants will learn about more efficient practice systems, patient engagement, provider recruitment/retention, and clinical improvements. Apply by Friday, November 10.
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Dental Assistant Workforce
NNOHA seeks health centers interested in developing a framework for their own dental assistant training program. Apply by Monday, November 13.
Oral Health
NNOHA Learning Collaboratives
See the announcements above.
Telehealth
Telehealth for Non-current Health Center Patients
See the announcement above.
Home Visitation and Telehealth Services Webinar Series
Speakers will showcase how home visitation and telehealth can improve access, particularly for residents of public housing. They will examine how to integrate home visitation into the provider panel. Hosted by the National Nurse-led Care Consortium (NNCC) and the National Center for Health in Public Housing (NCHPH).
Tuesday, November 7,
and Tuesday, November 14
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
Teledentistry for Health Equity Learning Collaborative
See the announcement above.
Additional Resources
Recording Available: Congenital Syphilis – Care Models, Treatment
CDC reports a significant increase in congenital syphilis in the U.S. since 2012 (see their treatment guidelines webpage). Watch this session, recorded earlier this year, to learn more about this growing epidemic and explore care models and treatment.
TOMORROW: Eyes on Access: Children’s Vision and Eye Health in Community Health Centers, Part 2
Join Prevent Blindness, the School-Based Health Alliance (SBHA), the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU), and NACHC to hear about models of vision care for children in health centers, including SBSS. Learn to identify community partners for establishing children’s vision services and the importance of integrating primary (pediatric) care and eyecare in health centers.
Wednesday, November 1
2:00-3:15 p.m. ET
Registration page
A recording is available of part 1, which focused on common vision disorders among children, best practices for screening and assessment, and strategies for completing referrals for eyecare.
Harnessing the Power of Outreach and Enabling Services to Address Social Drivers of Health
Speakers will explore the role of enabling services staff in screening for social determinants of health (SDOH), the value of their role, and how the data they collect can be used to make sustainable community changes. Hosted by the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), Health Outreach Partners, MHP Salud, and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC).
Wednesday, November 8
3:00-4:30 p.m. ET
Registration page
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