What's New

Inflation Reduction Act Catalytic Program Kickoff

The HHS Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE) will launch a "catalytic program" early next year to support health care organizations, including health centers, in taking advantage of the tax credits, grants, and other supports made available by the historic Inflation Reduction Act. OCCHE's initiative will occur through collaboration with federal partners and will feature national webinars and breakout sessions by provider type to help organizations assess their needs and opportunities.

Learn more during an information session this week:

Thursday, November 30
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

National Rural Health Day If you missed any of our webinars or announcements, visit HRSA’s page for recordings, infographics, and more.

Nominations Open for 80% in Every Community National Achievement Awards

Nominate yourself or other outstanding partners for the 80% in Every Community National Achievement Awards. Each winner receives a monetary award to support continued efforts to increase colorectal cancer screenings, as well as having their work highlighted throughout the following year by the American Cancer Society’s National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable on a national stage. Submissions are open until Monday, December 4, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Learn more and submit a nomination.

Recent Updated CDC Report and Recommendations

CDC recently shared:

• A report on missed opportunities for preventing congenital syphilis.
• Updated recommendations on hepatitis C testing among perinatally exposed infants and children.

New Medicare Opportunities in 2024

Health centers should take note of upcoming changes with Medicare starting Monday, January 1, 2024:

• Marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors may bill Medicare directly and be paid as FQHC practitioners and receive the FQHC prospective payment rate.
• CMS approved new services to address the health-related social needs of Medicare beneficiaries.
• They closed a behavioral health coverage gap when patients require more intense services than traditional outpatient therapy.
• FQHCs may receive payment for intensive outpatient program services under Medicare.

Learn more about the changes at these upcoming National Association of Community Health Center (NACHC) webinars:

Growing CHC Behavioral Health Providers: Opportunities in Medicare and Medicaid
Wednesday, November 29
4:00-5:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

NACHC Regulatory Office Hours: Final Calendar Year 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule
Thursday, December 7
4:00-5:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

These webinars are not federally funded; they are funded by NACHC.

National Influenza Vaccination Week

Earlier this year, CDC published a report on the high hospitalization rate for children and adolescents last flu season. This season, they recommend vaccination for everyone 6 months or older without contraindications, ideally by last month. But it’s not too late! Take advantage of next week’s annual observance to remind your patients that vaccination can reduce the severity of flu. CDC provides ready-to-use graphics and social media messages in their digital media toolkit.

Behavioral Health

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

Cherokee Health Integrating Primary Care and Behavioral Health Academy

HRSA will feature Cherokee Health Systems in an upcoming two-day virtual training. Speakers will discuss the integrated care clinical model, building team-based care, building a primary care provider/behavioral health provider panel, and using health information technology and data analytics.

Tuesday, December 12,
and Wednesday, December 13
10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
**12 CE available**

2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health SAMHSA has released the results of their 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health and a companion infographic report (PDF). Findings include that more than 23% of adults aged 18 or older had any mental illness in the past year (59.3 million), with 6% suffering from serious mental illness (15.4 million). Among adolescents aged 12 to 17, nearly 20% (4.8 million) had a major depressive episode in the past year.

HIV

Integrating HIV and STI Prevention into Primary Care: Best Practices and Beyond

Experts will discuss strategies for HIV and STI prevention management, addressing substance use, and incorporating injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication. Experts will also discuss models for implementing specialty care for key populations in your training programs. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of HIV and STI prevention strategies in primary care and actionable steps to strengthen their PrEP program.

Thursday, November 30
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
**1.0 CE available**

Increasing PrEP Uptake Among African American Cisgender Women Black cisgender women in the U.S. continue to experience a disproportionately high burden of HIV diagnoses, yet relatively few are prescribed PrEP, a highly effective HIV prevention medication. (See an article in the National Library of Medicine.) We invite health center staff to join us to hear about common barriers and strategies to promote the successful uptake of PrEP among Black cisgender women. We’re featuring speakers from CDC and HRSA-funded Bee Busy Wellness Center. They will share their expertise and experiences to increase equitable access to HIV prevention. Tuesday, December 5 2:00-3:30 p.m. ET Registration page

Workforce

Nurturing a Culture of Self-Care: Strategies for Enhancing Organizational Wellness

Health Outreach Partners (HOP) invite health center staff to join a learning collaborative designed to help organizations cultivate a culture of self-care and promote employee wellness. Tools include interactive exercises, case studies, and HOP's Organizational Self-Care Assessment Tool. Participants will explore strategies for encouraging personal growth and organizational success. They will also learn to recognize the signs of burnout, develop healthy habits for maintaining balance, and build a culture where employees feel supported and empowered. Visit the registration page for more information.

Fact Sheet: Building a Resilient & Trauma-Informed Workforce

A new fact sheet from the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved’s (ACU) STAR² Center asks “What does it mean to be trauma-informed?" The fact sheet also explains the concept of resilience (individual and organizational) and details how health centers can operate in a “new normal” to support staff well-being after experiencing the acute and prolonged trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic and other national and global struggles.

2024 Workforce Symposium – Inclusive Innovation: Putting People First

Are you looking for a space to convene with peers, develop your skills, and focus on the workforce? Registration is now open to join the STAR² Center team and health center workforce colleagues at this in-person event in Nashville, Tennessee, next year. A workforce plan workshop will follow the symposium (April 29-30). Get more information on these events or register.

Additional Resources

Supportive Transition Care for Foster and Former Foster Youth

This webinar will help health centers – and those in the health center network – better understand and address the health and health-related social needs of foster youth as they transition to adulthood. You’ll learn about this group’s health needs and the disparities they face. Speakers will discuss youth identifying as LGBTQIA+, how school-based health centers serve as critical access points for health care and social services, and promising practices for integrating supportive transition care services that improve health and social outcomes for foster and former foster youth.

Wednesday, December 6
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

The National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership (NCMLP) hosts this webinar with the School-Based Health Alliance (SBHA) and the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center.

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Training Calendar

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

Through December 5

Today with Macrae: Health Center Program Updates
Tuesday, November 28
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Join the session
Join by phone: 833-568-8864
Webinar ID: 160 898 8161

Compensation Wellness for Staff
Hosted by ACU’s STAR² Center
Tuesday, November 28
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Workforce Well-Being TA Kickoff
Wednesday, November 29
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Addressing Health Disparities for LGBTQIA+ People and People with HIV in Public Housing
Hosted by the National Center for Health in Public Housing (NCHPH) and the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center
Thursday, November 30
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
Additional sessions on Friday, December 8, and Friday, December 15

Inflation Reduction Act Catalytic Program Kickoff
Hosted by HHS’ OCCHE
Thursday, November 30
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Introduction to Migrant Clinicians Network Portal for Enrolling Patients into Health Network
Hosted by Migrant Clinicians Network
Thursday, November 30
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Best Practices for Phone and Virtual Interpretation in Health Centers
Hosted by the National Center for Farmworker Health
Thursday, November 30
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Health Center Needs Assessment 101
Hosted by NACHC
Thursday, November 30
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Integrating HIV and STI Prevention into Primary Care: Best Practices and Beyond
Hosted by Community Health Center, Inc.
Thursday, November 30
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
**1.0 CE available**

2023 Annual Update on the UDS Sealant Measure
Hosted by NNOHA
Thursday, November 30
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
**1.0 CDE available**

HITEQ Highlights: Enabling a Cyber-Resilient Health Center
Hosted by the Health Information Technology, Evaluation, and Quality (HITEQ) Center
Monday, December 4
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

The Impact of Public Health Emergencies on Community Mental Health: Preparation and Response
Hosted by NCHPH
Monday, December 4
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

COVID-19 Response Program Office Hours
Tuesday, December 5
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Approaches to Mental Health Care for Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Workers
Hosted by Farmworker Justice and HOP
Tuesday, December 5
1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

Optimize Your Care Team to Improve Chronic Hypertensive Disease Management
Hosted by the National Nurse-Led Care Consortium (NNCC)
Tuesday, December 5
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Removing Barriers and Facilitating Access: Improving Health Care Access for People with Disabilities
Hosted by NCHPH
Tuesday, December 5
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Increasing PrEP Uptake Among African American Cisgender Women
Tuesday, December 5
2:00-3:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

Community Health Worker Workforce Collaborative: Promising Practices and Lessons Learned for Sustaining Our Health Center Workforce
Hosted by the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations
Tuesday, December 5
4:00-5:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Upcoming

Suicide in Older Adults: What You Need to Know About Risk and Prevention
Hosted by the National Center for Equitable Care for Elders
Wednesday, December 6
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Supportive Transition Care for Foster and Former Foster Youth
Hosted by NCMLP, with SBHA and the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center
Wednesday, December 6
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Tobacco Cessation from Evidence to Practice
Hosted by the National Health Care for the Homeless Council and NCHPH
Thursday, December 7
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Community Dental Health Coordinators: An Introduction to Oral Health Integration for Health Centers
Thursday, December 7
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
**1.0 CDE available**

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

Stratifying Quality Measures by Housing Status/Location
Hosted by NNCC
Thursday, December 7
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

UDS Training for Primary Care Associations and Health Center Controlled Networks
Monday, December 11
1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

Resilience Through Understanding – A Panel Discussion (in Spanish with English interpretation)
Hosted by Migrant Clinicians Network
Tuesday, December 12
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Dental Residency Rotations in Community Health Centers
Tuesday, December 12
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Cherokee Health Integrating Primary Care and Behavioral Health Academy
Tuesday, December 12,
and Wednesday, December 13
10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
**12 CE available**

Using Your EHR to Improve Your Diagnosis and Follow Up of Obesity
Hosted by Renaye James Healthcare Advisors
Wednesday, December 13
3:00-4:15 p.m. ET
Registration page

Poverty, Housing and Stigma: The Profound Effects of The Social Determinants of Health on Addiction Management
Hosted by NCHPH
Monday, December 18
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Webinars are hosted by HRSA unless otherwise noted.