National Health Center Week 

Every August, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) sponsors National Health Center Week (NHCW) to celebrate and increase awareness of America’s 1,400 Community Health Centers (CHCs). National Health Center Week is an opportunity to highlight the commitment and passion of Community Health Center staff, board members, and supporters who make it possible to provide quality, comprehensive healthcare services to more than 31.5 million patients across nearly 15,000 communities annually.  Visit the Health Center Week website for details of events being held across the country. 

Additionally, in partnership with The Happiness Advantage Orange Frog Workshop and International Thought Leader Network, NACHC is pleased to offer a free “Creating a Happiness Advantage in Health Centers” virtual event on Thursday, August 8. Register HERE.

Source: NACHC

HRSA Announces More Than $68 Million to Improve Access to HIV Care for Women, Infants, Children and Youth

July 31:  Administrator Carole Johnson visited Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland for the latest Enhancing Maternal Health Initiative convening, where she announced more than $68 million in Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program funding to provide family-centered medical care and essential support services for women with low incomes, infants, children, and youth with HIV.

Administrator Johnson met with state health officials and HRSA grantees from across Maryland, including home visitors, Healthy Start providers, health center leaders, community health workers, health care providers, maternal health researchers, and new mothers who shared powerful stories about how HRSA programs supported them and their babies throughout prenatal and postpartum care.

Morgan State University is the Coordination Center for HRSA’s Maternal Health Research Collaborative for Minority Serving Institutions, where they coordinate maternal health research across more than 16 universities and colleges to improve maternal health disparities research, mentor the next generation of maternal health researchers, and identify community-based solutions to improve maternal health outcomes.

Read the release HERE.

Source: HRSA

Health Center COVID-19 Survey to Conclude

The Health Center COVID-19 Survey will conclude next month. The final survey request will go out on Friday, September 6, to collect August data. Please continue to complete this survey until this time. Specifically, it is important to note:

• A survey was sent out on Friday, August 2nd to collect July data. This and the September survey are required for those using Bridge funding.
• No other reporting (e.g., annual Uniform Data System reporting) will be impacted by the conclusion of the survey.

The Health Center COVID-19 Survey began as a way for BPHC to better understand the impact of the pandemic on health centers and communities. BPHC cannot overstate the value of the data you provided during the pandemic. Survey data helped them demonstrate the impact of health centers’ COVID-19 response across the country. It also allowed BPHC to quantify your needs so that they could better support you.

Source: BPHC

2023 Uniform Data System (UDS) Data to be Published

On Monday, August 5, HRSA expects to publish 2023 Uniform Data System (UDS) data on the HRSA Data Warehouse. Here are some of the webpages they will update:

• Health Center Program Uniform Data System (UDS) Data Overview: Connects to health center awardee and LAL profiles, nationally and by state and territory.
• Special Populations Funded Programs: Displays data related to health centers that receive Health Care for the Homeless, Public Housing Primary Care, and Migrant Health Center funding.
• Data Comparisons: Allows you to compare state total patients served, target populations, and other patient characteristics to national averages or different states and territories.
• Patient Characteristics Snapshot: Includes poverty level, insurance status, and race and ethnicity details.

HRSA also expects to release the 2023 UDS Trends Data Brief which will include highlights of patient demographics, staffing, and clinical quality measures. You can find it on the Impact of the Health Center Program webpage.

Source: HRSA 

CMS Guidance to Aid States in Developing Searchable Health Provider Directories

July, 2024: CMS released a state health official letter, including state guidance for developing searchable health provider directories. New requirements (Section 5123 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023) call for accurate, updated, and searchable provider directories in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), making it easier for eligible individuals to find health care professionals. The letter also addresses the availability of enhanced federal financial participation for states to develop, update, and maintain directories.

Source: CMS

CMS Beneficiaries Dually Eligible for Medicare & Medicaid Update

CMS has updated their MLN Fact Sheet for Beneficiaries Dually Eligible for Medicare & Medicaid.  Information on qualified medicare beneficiary billing prohibitions has been added.  View the updated fact sheet HERE.

Source: CMS