New Resources for HRSA-Funded Health Centers

HRSA released some updated resources for HRSA-funded centers in August.  You can find them by clicking the links below:

FTCA Site Visits and Health Center OSVs: A Comparison Reference Guide

Health Center Self-Assessment Worksheet for Form 5A: Services Provided 

Also, check out the highlights from National Health Center Week HERE!

Source: HRSA

Service Area Competition Applications for March 1, April 1, and June 1 Starts

HRSA released the FY 2024 Service Area Competition (SAC) NOFO for service areas with a June 1, 2024, period of performance start date (HRSA-24-071). Find details for each announced service area on the Service Area Announcement Table.

Applications are due in Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, October 30, and in HRSA’s EHBs by 5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 29.

Deadline Reminders:

• SAC applications for March 1 starts (HRSA-24-068) are due in EHBs by 5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, September 20.
• SAC applications for April 1 starts (HRSA-24-069) are due in Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, September 18, and in EHBs by 5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 18.

TA materials are available on the SAC TA webpage.

Source: HRSA

HRSA Awards FY 2023 COVID-19 Bridge Funding

HRSA awarded more than $81 million to over 1,460 health centers last week to continue providing equitable access to COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and treatment to patients and residents of their communities, including those who are uninsured or underinsured. This one-time funding supports the HHS Bridge Access Program and complements CDC’s Bridge Access Program.

Visit the Bridge Funding technical assistance (TA) webpage for award recipient information and other resources. We encourage award recipients to attend these upcoming sessions:

Bridge Funding Post-Award Submission Q&A
Thursday, September 14
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Join the day of the session

Bridge Funding Office Hours
Wednesday, September 20
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Source: HRSA

HRSA to Host a Virtual National Telehealth Conference

HHS’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will host a virtual National Telehealth Conference that brings public and private sector leaders together to discuss telehealth best practices. The conference will examine the importance of integrating telehealth into standard care and is being held on September 12th.

HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson and CMS Deputy Administrator Meena Seshamani, along with telehealth experts, are scheduled to attend.

Conference topics also include:

• The adoption of telehealth and expansion of broadband connectivity to improve health equity
• Using tele-behavioral health as a successful model for integrating telehealth into the standard of care
• Telehealth’s role in supporting the health care workforce and expanding services for patients

• Implications of health policy to inform telehealth’s future in an evolving health care environment

More information and registration can be found HERE.

Source: HRSA

CDC’s Together TakeMeHome Free HIV Self-Test Kits Program

Together TakeMeHome is a national direct-to-consumer program that offers free HIV self-tests by mail. People can order up to two free HIV self-tests every 90 days. Tests are available to anyone 17 or older, regardless of health insurance or immigration status.

CDC supports this program in partnership with other organizations. They also offer resources health centers can use to promote self-testing as part of their “Let’s Stop HIV Together” initiative.

 Source: HRSA

OIG Work Plan Update: Audit of Health Centers’ Use of COVID-19 Funding

The OIG added updates to their Work Plan in August, 2023 to include an audit of health centers’ use of COVID-19 supplemental grant funding and reimbursement from the HRSA COVID-19 Uninsured Program.  Prior OIG work identified that some health centers charged costs for processing COVID-19 tests to their COVID-19 supplemental grant funding and also submitted claims and received reimbursement for the same services from the UIP. We will determine if health centers that submitted claims for COVID-19 testing and received reimbursement from the UIP also received reimbursement from grant funding for the same costs.  Click HERE for additional information.

 Source: OIG