Latest Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Maternal Child Health Bureau (MCHB) Data Highlight Children’s Mental Health Needs
A letter from Dr. Michael D. Warren, Pediatrician and Associate Administrator for the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) at HRSA
The health and well-being of our children will determine the future of our nation. As we recognized Child Health Day on Monday, I reflected on the nation’s journey through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the barriers children faced to growing and developing physically, socially, and emotionally this past year and a half.
HHS Awards $2.21 Billion in Fiscal Year 2021 to Help Americans Access HIV Care, Support Services, and Medication
October 5 – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced approximately $2.21 billion in Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program funding for cities, counties, states, and local community-based organizations in fiscal year (FY) 2021. This funding, through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), supports a comprehensive system of HIV primary medical care, medication, and essential support services critical to improving the health outcomes of nearly 560,000 people with HIV in the United States.
Biden-Harris Administration Provides Nearly $1 Billion in American Rescue Plan Funds to Modernize Health Centers and Support Underserved Communities
September 28 – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded nearly $1 billion in American Rescue Plan funding to nearly 1,300 Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program-funded health centers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories to support major health care construction and renovation projects. These awards will strengthen our primary health care infrastructure and advance health equity and health outcomes in medically underserved communities, including through projects that support COVID-19 testing, treatment, and vaccination. The awards were made through the Health Resources and Services Administration.
HHS Announces $350 Million to Strengthen Maternal and Child Health Across the Nation
Health care providers can apply for $25.5 billion in provider relief funds. The package includes $8.5 billion in American Rescue Plan (ARP) resources for those who serve rural patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). It also includes $17 billion for Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 for a broad range of providers experiencing changes in operating revenues and expenses.
Providers may apply for both programs with a single application. HHS is hosting technical assistance webinars for applicants.
Application Due Date: Tuesday, October 26, 11:59 p.m. ET.
HIV and Aging Webinar: Enhancing Support Services for Older Adults with HIV
Join the HIV/AIDS Bureau and the Administration for Community Living (ACL) on Friday, October 22, 1 p.m. ET for a national HIV and aging webinar.
Presentations will include:
- ACL and its network of programs and services
- Area Agencies on Aging from USAging
- ACL’s Evidence Based Chronic Disease Self-Management Education program
- Healthcare Information and Counseling Programs’ support of older adults with HIV who are aging in the RWHAP
Presenters will offer examples of how state and local aging agencies have collaborated successfully with RWHAP providers. The target audience includes RWHAP providers and people with HIV.
New Workforce Projections Dashboard and Primary Care Data Available
Will there be a shortage or surplus of primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants in the coming years?
The new health workforce projections dashboard allows users to view projections of supply and demand for health care workers by occupation, geographic area, and year, including the newest set of primary care projections. Policymakers can use this data to help limit shortages and surpluses.
In the calculations, HHS factored in:
- Changing population size, demographics, and location
- New and exiting providers across the occupation
- Differences in levels of access to care
Join the webinar on Thursday, October 14, 2 – 3:30 p.m. ET to learn more about this new tool.
NIH Pathways to Prevention Workshop
Join the Associate Administrator for Rural Health Policy, Tom Morris, on Tuesday, October 12, as he and other speakers kick off the 3-day NIH Pathways to Prevention (P2P) Workshop.
The workshop will discuss how telehealth can help providers collaborate to improve care for rural patients. Attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions and comments during discussion periods.
Three-Part HIV Primary Care Webinar Series
Register for a three-part HIV primary care webinar series that the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA) Region 2 office is hosting in collaboration with Mount Sinai Institute for Advanced Medicine and the HIV Primary Care and the Prevention Center of Excellence. The series aims to provide medical providers updates to HIV primary care in New York State.
- Part 1, Tuesday, October 12, 12 – 1 p.m. ET
Primary Care for Adults Living with HIV will explore the key concepts and best practices when providing primary care services to adults with living with HIV. - Part 2, Tuesday, October 19, 12 – 1 p.m. ET
HIV Prevention Updates will focus on PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) efficacy and use, New York State PrEP guidelines, and evidence and guidelines for PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis). - Part 3, Tuesday, October 26, 12 -1 p.m. ET
Antiretroviral Therapy Updates with Protocol for Rapid Initiation will be a deep dive in antiretroviral therapy updates with protocol for rapid initiation.
All providers are welcome. Free CME, CNE & CPE are only available for New York State medical providers (1 CE per session).
DATA 2000 Waiver Training Payments Still Available for Rural Health Clinics
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) continues to accept applications for payment from Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) employing buprenorphine-waivered providers under the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA 2000) Waiver Training Payment Program.
The program gives RHCs the opportunity to apply for a $3,000 payment for each eligible employed provider who attained a DATA 2000 waiver on or after January 1, 2019. Approximately $1.5 million in program funding remains available for RHCs and will be paid on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted.
HRSA is collaborating with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to process these applications. For more information, the program provides a video and FAQs.
New Results on the COVID-19 Pandemic’s Impact on Children
New results about the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the health of children under 18 years of age are available from our Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB). MCHB partners with the U.S. Census Bureau on the Household Pulse Survey to gather data about children’s telemedicine appointments, missed and delayed preventive check-ups, and disruptions in childcare.
Results are available from Phase 3.1 of the survey (April-July, 2021). Phase 3.2 data collection continues July-October, 2021.
Primary Care Case Management
State Medicaid agencies have operated primary care case management (PCCM) programs for 40 years. In recent years, states leveraged these programs to improve primary care. Compared to other states, most states that operate PCCM programs have a greater portion of their population living in rural areas, where there are often shortages of primary care and other providers. As a result, these states’ efforts to leverage their PCCM programs to improve primary care can produce significant benefits for rural residents. The National Academy for State Health Policy report examines the efforts of five states to leverage their PCCM programs to strengthen primary care.
HRSA’s National Organizations of State and Local Officials Cooperative Agreement provided support for this resource.
AHRQ Toolkit Now Available to Help Engage Patients and Family Members in the Diagnostic Process
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) released a new toolkit to engage patients and family members in the diagnostic process. The toolkit is for patients and clinicians and includes:
- Two evidence-based strategies to promote meaningful engagement and communication to improve diagnostic safety
- A patient note sheet to help patients share their symptoms
- Several practice orientation and training tools to help clinicians foster deep listening and “presence” in the encounter