Health Center Program Compliance FAQs
HRSA’s new Health Center Program Compliance FAQs webpage consolidates compliance-related FAQs that were previously published on six different pages. HRSA has also updated some of the FAQs and added new ones, in response to stakeholder feedback, and plan to refresh this page regularly and to improve the format so it is easy to use. These FAQs are one of your first stops for answers to your Health Center Program compliance questions. If you have additional questions, use the BPHC Contact Form.
Source: HRSA
Updated Guidance on COVID-19 Vaccines
Bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine as Booster Dose for Certain Children Ages 6 Months through 4 Years
On Thursday, March 16, CDC recommended the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 bivalent vaccine as a booster for children ages 6 months-4 years. See the CDC recommendation.
These recommendations follow FDA’s March 14 amendment of the emergency use authorization (EUA) of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 bivalent vaccine.
Moderna Monovalent COVID-19 Vaccine Expiration
The Moderna monovalent COVID-19 vaccine for ages 6+ expires in early April. Consult CDC’s web content on interchangeability of COVID-19 vaccine products for guidance on completing primary series vaccination for patients who have received an initial dose or doses of the Moderna monovalent vaccine.
CDC also offers guidance on disposing of expired vaccine product on its Identifying, Disposing, and Reporting COVID-19 Vaccine Wastage website.
Source: HRSA
FY 2024 HRSA Budget
In mid March, the Biden-Harris Administration released the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2024. HRSA’s budget request includes $15.9 billion to support the Agency’s vital work to expand access to health care services in the communities that need them most; grow, diversify, and promote the well-being of the health workforce; reduce maternal mortality; invest in rural health; and increase access to behavioral health care.
Source: HRSA
HRSA Announces the Availability of $25 Million to Expand Primary Care Services, including Mental Health, in Schools
HRSA announced the availability of approximately $25 million to expand primary health care, including mental health services, in schools. For the first time, applicants will be required to add or expand mental health services to receive school-based funding. HRSA-funded health centers currently operate more than 3,400 school-based service sites in schools across the country.
Read the release HERE.
Source: HRSA
Affordable Care Act’s 13th Anniversary Highlights Record-Breaking Coverage
March 23, 2023: The Biden-Harris Administration celebrated the 13th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by highlighting record-breaking enrollment numbers during the 2023 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period and lower health care costs because of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Since 2014, when HealthCare.gov was launched, enrollment has doubled from 8 million to more than 16 million. Nearly 16.4 million consumers selected or were automatically re-enrolled in health insurance coverage through HealthCare.gov Marketplaces and State-based Marketplaces (SBMs) during the 2023 open enrollment. Enrollment has increased year-over-year, with 1.8 million more consumers signing up for coverage during the 2023 open enrollment compared to the 2022 open enrollment, a 13% increase, and nearly 4.4 million more consumers signing up compared to the 2021 open enrollment, a 36% increase.
Read the full report HERE.
Source: HRSA
Inflation Reduction Act Tamps Down on Prescription Drug Price Increases Above Inflation
On March 15, HHS, through CMS, announced 27 prescription drugs for which Part B beneficiary coinsurances may be lower from April 1 – June 30, 2023. CMS has released information about these 27 Part B drugs and biological products in the quarterly ASP public file, available here. A fact sheet is available here.
Lower Part B coinsurance will go into effect on April 1, 2023. This coinsurance adjustment applies to certain drugs and biologicals covered under Medicare Part B. The Part B drugs impacted by this coinsurance adjustment may change quarterly.
See the initial guidance detailing the requirements and procedures for the Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program here, and the full press release here.
Source: CMS.gov