What's New
ECV Reporting Requirement
Health centers using ECV funds are required to complete the monthly Health Center COVID-19 Survey. The November 3 survey (for October data) is due by 11:59 p.m. your local time on Thursday, November 9. Our COVID-19 Data Collection Survey Tool User Guide can help you. If you still have questions, use the BPHC Contact Form (COVID-19 > COVID-19 Surveys).
UDS State-Based Trainings
HRSA is hosting virtual and in-person UDS trainings nationwide with PCAs through December. View the 2023 UDS Training Schedule (PDF) to register. Speakers will cover 2023 reporting and updates on the UDS Modernization Initiative, including the UDS patient-level submission (UDS+) timeline.
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Learn from Winners of Our Building Bridges to Better Health: A Primary Health Care Challenge
Our new technical assistance (TA) video features the winners of our Building Bridges to Better Health primary health care challenge. This includes the Washington County Mobile Integrated Health Network, which created a network of HRSA-funded health centers, local emergency medical service agencies, and social service organizations to care for high-risk and chronically ill patients across Missouri.
HRSA awarded a total of $400,000 to eight final winners in the last phase of our $1 million national competition to connect more patients to primary care at health centers and strengthen the link between clinical care and social services. Other winning solutions included social services referral software and artificial intelligence-enabled chatbots to increase preventive services and screen patients for social risk factors.
Health centers are responsible for ensuring that any grant-supported activities are consistent with their HRSA-approved scope of project. For more information, visit our Health Center Program Scope of Project webpage.
Policy Tip: Key Management Staff
A health center award recipient can change its Project Director by submitting a prior approval request through EHBs, using the steps identified in the How do I change my Project Director video. A Health Center Program look-alike should use the BPHC Contact Form to obtain guidance on how to change its Project Director in the EHBs.
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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World AIDS Day Photos
Help us recognize World AIDS Day (Friday, December 1): Share photos of your health center staff, patients, or community members wearing red or attending a World AIDS Day event. We may use your pictures in a Today with Macrae webcast or Digest issue.
- Submit photos by Wednesday, December 6, using the BPHC Contact Form (General/Other HRSA > Today with Macrae: Health Center Program Updates).
- Mention World AIDS Day 2023.
- Include everyone’s names and titles and two or three sentences about the event as applicable.
- Upload the photos and a completed Photo Release Form (PDF) for each person in the photo.
New Value-Based Care Tools from NACHC
NACHC just posted the Health Center Value-Based Care Glidepath (PDF), which provides a roadmap for a health center's transition to value-based care. This CDC-funded resource outlines key actions for consideration during three critical phases of transition: planning, implementing, and optimizing. See NACHC’s Value Transformation Framework website for additional resources developed by their Quality Center.
National Rural Health Day 2023
Mark your calendars and join HRSA for a discussion about innovations in rural health care delivery.
Thursday, November 16
11:00-noon a.m. ET
Access details coming soon
See the full agenda for our celebration.
CDC’s Respiratory Virus Toolkits
CDC toolkits and resources can help health centers prepare for the fall and winter virus season. They include resources for providers and for specific audiences like parents, people with disabilities, and special populations.
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Updated Community Health Workers Profile in Occupational Outlook Handbook
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook has updated the Community Health Workers (CHW) profile. HRSA helped inform the update as part of an interagency initiative to address long-term CHW sustainability through novel, whole-of-government solutions.
The new profile reflects the core CHW duties, competencies, and training and employment sites. The profile also mentions peer support specialists, community health representatives, and promotores de salud for the first time.
Less Than a Month Left to Apply for CMS’ Making Care Primary Model
Applications for CMS’ Making Care Primary (MCP) Model opportunity are due Thursday, November 30. Interested FQHCs in eligible regions may apply. Find resources, details, and a link to the application portal on the MCP Model webpage. They will hold another Office Hour for questions:
Tuesday, November 21
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
Research Funding Opportunity Using of All of Us Data
NIH’s All of Us Research Program has more than 702,000 participants enrolled, with a goal of enrolling 1 million participants. All of Us works with more than 100 partner organizations and has 810 sites collecting biosamples and physical measurements. HRSA-supported health centers are one example – you helped make this happen!
NIH recently announced a funded research opportunity. They are soliciting white papers supporting various areas of interest. Funded organizations will design and implement strategies to raise awareness of and engagement with the program.
COVID-19
HHS Letter about COVID-19 Therapeutics
The COVID-19 response remains a significant public health priority for the Biden-Harris Administration. People are still at risk of infection and re-infection, and millions are experiencing the longer-term effects of the virus. Read HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra’s full letter to COVID-19 therapeutics manufacturers, distributors, pharmacies, and the health care payer community.
TOMORROW: COVID-19 Response Programs Office Hour
We will share important updates on testing supplies, therapeutics, and vaccines. The session will also provide health centers an opportunity to engage with HRSA.
Wednesday, November 8
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
Submit questions in advance using the BPHC Contact Form (select the relevant topic under COVID-19 and include “Office Hours” in the subject line). Office hours are open to all HRSA-supported health centers and look-alikes. Recordings are posted in the Health Center Program Community.
Behavioral Health
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. Join to learn 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
Tobacco Cessation for Homeless Individuals and Public Housing Residents: A Brief Review
The National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC) and the National Center for Health in Public Housing (NCHPH) will discuss the importance of smoking cessation for homeless individuals and residents of public housing served by health centers. They will provide clinicians, health educators, and CHWs with information on the seven FDA-approved cessation medications, as well as proven behavioral counseling techniques to help individuals stop smoking permanently.
Thursday, November 16
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
Approaches to Mental Health Care for Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Workers
Farmworker Justice and Health Outreach Partners offer a webinar to help health centers improve their response to the mental health care needs of migratory and seasonal agricultural workers (MSAWs). Speakers will cover mental health disorders, and how outreach and enabling services can provide trauma-informed care to screen and support mental health in MSAWs. Participants can share their experiences, challenges, and successes. The final 30 minutes is optional, addressing ready-to-implement resources and offering time for discussion.
Tuesday, December 5
1:00-2:30 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
CDC Report on Health Workers’ Mental Health
CDC’s recent report documents the ongoing mental health challenges for health workers. They mention the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s “Impact Wellbeing” campaign, which provides employers of health workers with resources to modify working conditions and improve worker mental health.
CDC’s results make the data available from our recent survey even more impressive! As a reminder, you can view and filter that data in the Health Center Workforce Well-being Survey Dashboard. Our Health Center Workforce Well-being Initiative webpage includes resources for health centers.
NTTAP Learning Collaborative
Visit the application page for dates, times, and more information:
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School-Based Health Center Start-Up
The School-Based Health Alliance invites health center staff to learn about partnering with schools to provide or expand access to primary care and behavioral health services in schools. Apply by Thursday, November 16.
Health Professional Students’ Loan Repayment Application Open Now
Apply by 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 7, for the 2024 National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Students to Service Loan Repayment Program. Final-year nursing, medical, and dental students can apply for up to $120,000 in exchange for a three-year commitment providing primary care services at NHSC-approved sites in high-need areas.
Telehealth
2023 National Telehealth Conference Summary and Sessions
If you missed HRSA’S National Telehealth Conference, you can now view sessions on-demand. With over 3,000 registrants, the meeting kicked off Telehealth Awareness Week by hosting speakers from federal agencies and other telehealth experts who examined the importance of integrating telehealth into standard care.
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.
Achieving Excellence Through the HRSA Accreditation and PCMH Recognition Initiative
Join health center colleagues for a two-day virtual seminar led by experts from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). Topics include: Risk Management and Safety, Infection Prevention, Credentialing, Privileging and Peer Review, Quality Improvement, and Telehealth in Medical Homes. Learn how the AAAHC standards are a good fit for health centers seeking quality improvement and safety.
Monday, November 13,
and Tuesday, November 14
11:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET
Registration page
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