What's New
Next Week: Congenital Syphilis Peer-to-Peer Learning
Health centers play an important role in controlling the spread of congenital syphilis. Join us to hear how you can boost your efforts.
Monday, September 23
Noon-1:30 p.m. ET
Registration page
We’ll cover these topics and more:
- Point-of-care testing
- Understanding test results and providing treatment (including the Bicillin shortage and holistic care)
- A role for community health workers and disease intervention specialists
- Relationships with local health departments
THANK YOU!
The Health Center COVID-19 Survey concluded last week. THANK YOU for all you did to provide that important data — and for all you continue doing!
HHS and the U.S. Postal Service want to thank you as well. You are cordially invited to the special dedication ceremony for a new “Thank You Healthcare Community” Forever stamp. This free, in-person event at HHS headquarters is open to the general public.
Thursday, October 3
2:30-4:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
The stamp will be available for purchase beginning Tuesday, October 1.
|
2024 UDS Reporting October Trainings
Our annual Uniform Data System (UDS) reporting technical assistance (TA) series continues next month with sessions focused on clinical, financial, and operational tables. This series can help you submit accurate, timely, and complete 2024 UDS reports. We encourage health center staff who prepare UDS report submissions to join. Access our training flyer (PDF) for webinar topics, dates, times, and registration links.
|
Quarterly 340B Program Registration
Quarterly 340B Program site registration is open from October 1 to 15. Health centers will be able to register a site that has been verified as implemented and with a site status reflected as “active” in EHBs Form 5B through Wednesday, November 27. After that date, the system will close to prepare for the January 1, 2025, start.
Email the 340B Prime Vendor Program or call 888-340-2787 (Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. ET) to register a new site or ask questions. You will need to provide the following information:
- Health center name
- Site/clinic name
- Site IDs for all sites
- HRSA/BPHC grant number
- Contact name and email address
- Authorizing official name and email address
The Authorizing Official will receive an email message that the account is unlocked and a registration may be submitted.
Provider Relief Fund Reporting Period 7
The Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Portal is open through Monday, September 30. Providers who received one or more PRF (General or Targeted) and/or American Rescue Plan Rural payments exceeding $10,000, in the aggregate, from January 1 to June 30, 2023, must report on their use of funds during Reporting Period 7 to comply with PRF Reporting Requirements (PDF). Find information and resources on the PRF Reporting & Auditing webpage.
CDC Releases COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance
CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) published updated recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination. They recommend the 2024-25 vaccine for anyone ages 6 months and older. See the full announcement in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
ACIP also recently updated their flu vaccine recommendations. See the full announcement in CDC’s recent MMWR.
As mentioned in the August 27 Digest, some of our supplemental funding can be used to support vaccination.
Inflation Reduction Act Opportunities for Migrant Health Centers
HHS’ Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE) published a one-page overview of Inflation Reduction Act opportunities that can reduce operating costs and improve resilience for Migrant Health Centers. Read it in English (PDF) or Spanish (PDF). Visit OCCHE’s site for resources for all health centers.
Universal Symbol for Language Assistance Services in Health Settings Survey
The HHS Office of Minority Health seeks new ways to communicate the availability of language assistance services in health care settings. They want input from the public on the usability and effectiveness of newly developed graphics. Visit the survey website to share your input by next Sunday, September 22. Share the survey with your community for their input, too — especially those with limited English proficiency. The survey should take only 15 minutes and is available in nine languages.
National Hispanic Heritage Month
In his proclamation of this annual observance, President Biden says, “I am proud to work with incredible Latino leaders, who are dedicated to bettering our Nation every day — like Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra …” Read Secretary Becerra’s statement on HHS’ website. The federal government’s Hispanic Heritage Month site presents rich content to celebrate the generations of Hispanic Americans who’ve positively influenced our nation.
|
2023 UDS Trends Data Brief in Spanish
Did you know HRSA-funded health centers serve more than 31 million patients and almost 39% of those patients are of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin? Of the health center patients who delivered babies in 2023, about 56% were of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin. Read the 2023 UDS Trends Data Brief in Spanish (PDF) or in English (PDF).
En español:
Resumen de datos de las tendencias del UDS 2023 en español
¿Sabías que los centros de salud financiados por HRSA atienden a más de 31 millones de pacientes y que casi el 39% de esos pacientes son de origen hispano, latino o español? De las pacientes de los centros de salud que dieron a luz en 2023, cerca del 56% eran de origen hispano, latino o español. Lee el resumen de datos de las tendencias del UDS 2023 en español (PDF) o en inglés (PDF).
HIV
PrEP Champion Preceptorship
The HRSA-funded National Clinician Consultation Center (NCCC) is accepting applications for its preceptorship. This intensive pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) training and capacity-building opportunity will help you integrate pharmacy services into PrEP care. Applicants must be non-physician clinical staff at health centers that have received Ending the HIV Epidemic – Primary Care HIV Prevention (PCHP) funding. You’ll learn how to integrate pharmacy services into PrEP care. Visit NCCC’s website to learn more or apply by Friday, September 20. Space is limited.
Workforce
Workforce Well-being in Health Center Strategic Plans
Are you interested in ensuring staff retention, motivation, and engagement in your health center through strategic planning? Watch our series of short videos, then join our interactive office hour session to receive guidance from expert facilitators. They will explain how you can help your organization achieve the resilience and adaptability it needs to thrive.
Thursday, September 26
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
Managing Workload through Task Distribution, Staffing, and Scheduling
Join our 30-minute webinar to explore innovative strategies for improving your health center’s workload. We’ll feature research findings and success stories from experts in the field. Don’t miss your opportunity to learn practical approaches to mitigate staffing shortages and enhance team dynamics.
Thursday, October 3
3:00-3:30 p.m. ET
Registration page
Compensation Equity: A Tool for Workforce Well-being
Join our interactive webinar to examine health center staff satisfaction through the lens of compensation equity. We will explain how "equal pay for work of equal value" is key. Don't miss this opportunity to explore practical strategies to build an equitable and effective compensation structure in your organization.
Tuesday, October 15
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
You can also watch the recording of our related recent webinar, “Adopting Compensation and Benefits for Workforce Well-being.”
Pediatric Dental Care: Building a Successful Program
Join to gain information on access to dental care by pediatric patients, the importance of integrating dental care into primary care practices, and data visualization to measure a pediatric oral health program’s success. Speakers will identify the challenges of dental care compliance in pediatric populations and provide strategies to improve access and outcomes. Renaye James Healthcare Advisors (RJHA) host this webinar in partnership with the National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA).
Thursday, October 17
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
Chief Workforce Officer Core Competencies
The Association of Clinicians for the Underserved’s (ACU) STAR2 Center, in partnership with the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), updated the Chief Workforce Officer core competencies, adding behavioral examples. This timely and relevant resource can help you hire, train, develop, and retain workforce leaders who are strategic, capable, and effective. Access it on the STAR2 Center website (PDF).
NTTAP Learning Collaboratives
See the application pages for dates, times, and more information:
-
Enhancing Recruitment and Retention Practices to Build a Sustainable Health Care Workforce
Health Outreach Partners (HOP) invites you to elevate your recruitment and retention strategies. You’ll learn how a stable workforce enhances patient care continuity and overall quality. Participants will develop strategies to foster employee satisfaction, work-life balance, and professional growth. Visit the application page.
-
HRSA Loan Guarantee Program
Do you anticipate conducting a capital project in the next one to three years? Are you considering the benefits of HRSA’s Health Center Facility Loan Guarantee Program (LGP)? Join Capital Link for guidance and tips on key elements and application requirements. You’ll learn about the application, approval, and loan closing process along with steps for successful capital project planning. Visit the application page to apply by Friday, September 27.
-
Gender-affirming Care in Medical Respite
Explore best practices for building a gender-affirming medical respite program with experts from the National Institute for Medical Respite Care, a special program of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council. You’ll collaborate with medical respite programs to identify areas of improvement and take tangible steps toward a more inclusive experience. Visit the application page.
-
Outreach and Enrollment: Best Practices to Boost Health Insurance Coverage
HOP invites you to learn how to navigate questions and challenges regarding the current Medicaid redeterminations and strengthen your knowledge of public health insurance programs. Visit the application page.
-
Increase Access to Care
Join other health centers to share challenges, successes, and promising practices for increasing access to care for migratory and seasonal agricultural workers (MSAWs). The National Center for Farmworker Health (NCFH) will provide guest speakers, tools, and resources to help you better identify and reach MSAWs — as well as properly capturing them in your UDS reporting. Visit the application page.
-
Bridging Gaps in Language Access and Cultural Competency for Indigenous MSAWs
NCFH’s opportunity will enhance your understanding of language access and cultural competency for indigenous MSAWs. Speakers will highlight Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS), explore effective strategies for developing language access programs, and provide hands-on experience and best practices to create culturally and linguistically appropriate health education materials. Visit the application page.
Oral Health
Pediatric Dental Care: Building a Successful Program
See the announcement above.
Telehealth
It’s Telehealth Awareness Week!
If you haven’t yet, take a moment to check out our Quality Improvement Fund Optimizing Virtual Care (OVC) Toolkit: Insights & Tools from 29 Health Centers (PDF). We recently shared this compilation of OVC awardees' lessons learned and promising practices. Its user-friendly format allows you to quickly jump to what interests you most. Topics include choosing the right technology, preparing workflows, promoting virtual care in local communities, supporting patients and providers during visits, and financial stability and reimbursement.
Check out HHS’ Telehealth website for events during this and upcoming weeks or recordings of past events.
Additional Resources
Integrating Culture and Family in Diabetes Management of Social and Structural Impacts on Diabetes and Comorbidities Management for AANHPI Populations Learning Series
This self-paced learning series features case studies for interventions to support chronic disease management by Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) patients. The newly released module 5 features a discussion on integrating patients' cultural contexts and family dynamics to enhance diabetes care and improve health outcomes. Visit the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations' website for the series.
In case you missed it:
Visit the Primary Health Care Digest archive.
Do you forward the Digest to others?
Encourage them to subscribe.
|
