ACA Now

Implementation Status

Prior to January 2013, HRSA continued to obligate funds under the CHC and NHSC provision pursuant to the authorization and appropriation.  For details, see here and here.  For example, on December 20, 2012, HRSA announced a new round of community health center grants for the adoption of health IT.

2013

The deadline to apply to the NHSC program for SY 2013-2014 is May 14, 2013.  The funding guidance may be obtained here.

On January 16, 2013, HRSA posted a new grant opportunity for non-profit organizations providing care to the underserved seeking support under the Health Center Program. The deadline to apply was February 27.

On January 16, 2013, HRSA announced two new grant opportunities: (1) ACA New Access Point Grants (HRSA-13-228) for which applications were due by February 27; and (2) ACA Health Center Controlled Networks (HRSA-13-267) for which applications are due April 3.

On May 9, HRSA announced the availability of $150 million in funding to support community health centers (CHCs) to provide in-person enrollment assistance for Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) in the Exchange, as well as Medicaid and CHIP.  The latest CHC funding announcement is intended to align with CMS’ previously-issued Navigator program.  Applications are due by 5pm ET on May 31.  Additional information, including instructions on how to applying for this funding opportunity, are available here.  Further, a list of health centers eligible to apply for this funding is available here. A press release is available here.

In a related event, on July 10, 2013, HHS announced $150 million in grant awards to 1,159 health centers to help enroll individuals in insurance coverage options made available by the ACA.  These awards, issued by HRSA, are intended to complement and align with other federal efforts, such as the Navigator program.  A list of health centers receiving this funding is available here and a HHS press release is available here.  Also, per this notice, on July 18, 2013, HRSA convened a meeting of its National Advisory Council on the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) to discuss, among other things, matters pertaining to the ACA.

On July 18, 2013, HRSA’s National Advisory Council on the National Health Service Corps convened a conference call to discuss, among other things, ACA provisions pertaining to the National Health Service Corps (NHSC).

On August 1, HRSA announced the award of $3 million in ACA funds to support health IT implementation within 6 CHC networks serving more than 100 CHCs across the country.

On September 5, 2013, HRSA submitted to OMB a revision of a currently approved information collection pertaining to the NHSC loan repayment program.  Also, in mid-September, HRSA announced that the 2014 NHSC Students to Service Loan Repayment Program (S2S LRP) application cycle is open through 7:30pm ET on November 14, 2013.  Additional details here.  Note also that, on September 26, 2013, the National Advisory Council on the NHSC convened to discuss the role of the NHSC in the ACA.  Details here.

On September 13, 2013, HRSA announced the award of $67 million (of which $19 million was made available pursuant to the ACA) to expand access to services through the establishment of 32 new CHCs, with the remaining funds ($48 million) directed toward the support of the existing 1,200 CHCs.  Additional information is also available here.

On Nov. 7, HRSA announced the award of $150 million in ACA funding to support 236 new CHCs nationwide.  These funds via the FY14 New Access Points funding stream, the details of which can be accessed here or here by state, will help extend access to care to over 1.25 million individuals across the country.  A HHS press release is available here.  In a related development, on Nov. 20, HRSA posted a $15 million technical assistance funding opportunity to provide a range of technical assistance to existing and prospective health centers.  Applications are due Jan. 8. 

On Nov. 20, 2013, HRSA issued a revision of an existing information collection pertaining to the need to collect key information related to the NHSC Loan Repayment Program application.  A similar revision of an existing information collection related to the NHSC Loan Repayment Program and NURSE Corps is available here.  On Nov. 26, in a new report released, HRSA indicated that, with the additional federal funds made available pursuant to the ACA and the Recovery Act, the NHSC program has helped to support nearly 14,000 health care providers in high-need areas across the country.  A press release is available here.

On December 10, 2013, the administration announced the availability of $100 million in total funding announced today to support the provision of expanded mental health services (White House press release here), $50 million of which stemmed from the ACA to support the provision of mental health services provided by CHCs. On December 11, HHS announced the award of $58 million in grants to support 1,157 CHCs nationwide. A list of awards by state is available here.

2014

The deadline to submit applications under the FY 2014 NHSC loan repayment program is March 20, 2014. A series of application conference calls have been planned for January and February 2014. See here for details.

HRSA will hold NHSC Loan Repayment Program application conference call for prospective applicants on March 5, 2014. Note that a prior applicant call was held on February 12. Details here.

In early February 2014, HRSA issued two ACA-authorized grants geared toward CHCs to support care delivery improvements through the promotion of medical homes as well as via behavioral health integration – namely: (1) HRSA-14-073 – ACA Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) – Facility Improvements (P-FI) Grant Program for which applications are due March 14. Additional details are available here; and (2) HRSA-14-110 – ACA Mental Health Service Expansion – Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) for which applications are due by March 3. Additional details are available here.

On May 1, 2014 CMS issued a revision of an information collection pertaining to NHSC site applications and site recertification applications on which comments are due by June 30.

On June 3, 2014, HRSA announced a $300 million funding opportunity (application details; press release) to expand the capacity of existing community health centers (CHCs)to serve additional patients. Under the FY 2014 Expanded Services (ES) funding opportunity (HRSA-14-148), HRSA is providing Federal supplemental funding to existing section Public Health Service (PHS) Act CHC grantees to enhance patients’ access to primary health care through: (1) expanded service hours; (2) increased numbers of medical providers; (3) increased availability of medical services; and (4) the provision of services such as oral health, behavioral health, pharmacy, and/or vision services. Applications were due by July 1, 2014.

On July 1, HRSA extended its application window for providers to become National Health Service Corps (NHSC) sites. The application period ends now on August 11.

On July 8, 2014, HHS announced the availability of $100 million in funding to support roughly 150 New Access Point (NAP) community health center (CHC) grantees in Fiscal Year (FY) 2015. Applications are due August 20, 2014.

On July 31, 2014 HHS announced the award of $54.6 million in Affordable Care Act (ACA) funding to support 221 community health centers (CHCs) located in 47 states and Puerto Rico “to establish or expand behavioral health services.”

On July 10, 2014, HRSA announced two separate grants under its 2015 Service Area Competition for organizations seeking operational support under the Health Center Program, including Community Health Center, Migrant Health Center, Health Care for the Homeless, and/or Public Housing Primary Care. The first posting for $108 million (here) is due August 13, 2014 and the second for $88 million (here) is due August 27, 2014.

HHS announced the award of $35.7 million in Affordable Care Act funding to 147 health centers across 44 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The funding is intended support the construction of 21 new projects and 126 facility alterations for patient-centered medical homes. The full list of individual grants is available here.

On August 11, 2014 HRSA celebrated America’s health centers 45 years of care to underserved areas during National Health Center week. Specifically HRSA noted the “21.7 million patients receive health care services from the nearly 1,300 health centers operating more than 9,200 primary care sites across the nation.”

On Sept. 12, Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced Health Center Expanded Services awards of $295 million to 1,195 health centers. The press release noted that “the Expanded Services awardees are expected to increase access to comprehensive primary care services by hiring an estimated 4,750 new staff including new health care providers, staying open for longer hours, and expanding the care they provide to include new services such as oral health, behavioral health, pharmacy, and vision services.” See the full list here.

On Sept. 10, 2014, the CDC released its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Supplement (see press release here) emphasizing that millions of infants, children and adolescents do not receive key clinical preventive services. Clinical preventive services include important medical and dental care that facilitate healthy development in infants and children. The CDC report looks at 11 clinical services that prevent and help detect conditions and diseases in their earliest, most treatable stage to reduce illness, disability and expensive care.

The National Academy for State Health Policy published a report offering the first comprehensive look at the opportunities in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to drive better outcomes for children and parents together.

On Sept. 18, HRSA awarded $9.9 million in Affordable Care Act funds to enhance HIV services in community health centers. See the full list here.

October 1, 2014, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), co-chair of the Senate Community Health Centers (CHC) Caucus, along with a bipartisan group of 65 senators sent a letter (here) urging Senate leaders to continue to support CHCs beyond the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 budgetary window when the Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandatory Health Center Fund is set to expire.

On October 16, 2014, HRSA announced a roughly $100 million funding opportunity (additional details) soliciting applications under the Health Center Program’s Service Area Competition (SAC). Qualifying organizations “seeking a grant for operational support of an announced service area under the Health Center Program, including Community Health Center (CHC – section 330(e)), Migrant Health Center (MHC – section 330(g)), Health Care for the Homeless (HCH – section 330(h)), and/or Public Housing Primary Care (PHPC – section 330(i))” can apply before  Dec. 3, 2014.

In early Oct., Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), co-chair of the Senate Community Health Centers (CHC) Caucus, along with a bipartisan group of 65 senators sent a letter (here) urging Senate leaders to continue to support CHCs beyond the FY 15 budgetary window when the ACA mandatory Health Center Fund is set to expire.

On Nov. 6, HRSA announced $51.3 million in ACA funding to support 210 health centers to establish or expand behavioral health services for nearly 440,000 people.  With grants distributed among 47 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, health centers use these new funds to hire new mental health professionals, add mental health and substance use disorder health services, and employ integrated models of primary care.  Earlier this year, the agency awarded $54.5 million in ACA funding for 223 other health centers to expand behavioral health services. A list of awardees is available here.

On Nov. 19, HRSA announced the availability of three separate grants to support the Health Center Program funding through a “variety of community-based and patient-directed public and private nonprofit organizations that serve an increasing number of the Nation’s underserved.” Various application deadlines are stipulated, though in general, are due Dec. 3, 2014 or Dec. 17, 2014.

On Nov. 24, HRSA announced the availability of roughly $1.1M to fund health centers working to improve the health of underserved communities and vulnerable populations. These grants “support a variety of community-based and patient-directed public and private nonprofit organizations that serve an increasing number of the Nation’s underserved.” Applications are due Jan 7, 2015.

On Dec. 9, HHS Secretary announced the distribution of $36.3 million in ACA funds to 1,113 health centers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and seven U.S. Territories. The funding is indented  “to recognize health center quality improvement achievements and invest in ongoing quality improvement activities” with the health center awardees deemed by HHS to be “proven leaders in areas such as chronic disease management, preventive care and the use of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) to report quality data.”

2015

On Apr. 16, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 was signed into law (P.L. 114-10), which included a provision at sec. 221 to extend through FY 2017 funding for CHCs and the NHSC. HRSA’s National Advisory Council on the NHSC (NAC) will convene on May 6 to discuss, among other things, “the activities and goals for fiscal year 2016 for the [NHSC].”

On July 30, HRSA announced a $100 million supplemental funding opportunity, funded in part through this provision, soliciting applications for FY 2016 Substance Abuse Service Expansion. Under this opportunity, HRSA seeks to provide supplemental funding “to improve and expand the delivery of substance abuse services at existing health centers, with a focus on Medication-assisted Treatment (MAT) in opioid use disorders.” Applications are due Sept. 28.

On Dec. 2, HRSA posted the FY 2016 Health Center Controlled Networks (HCCN) funding opportunity, which seeks to support  health centers in achieving meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs) and other health IT related objectives. Applications are due Feb. 1, 2016.

2016

On Apr. 26, HHS announced that $5 million in funding has been awarded to 20 health centers in Puerto Rica to further combat the Zika virus disease. Funds will be used to expand voluntary family planning services and to hire more staff. Also of note, the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) site application cycle began on Apr. 12, 2016, and closes June 7, 2016. Details here.

On Aug. 17, 2016, HRSA announced a funding opportunity related to the Health Center Program’s Service Area Competition (SAC). The purpose of the funding opportunity is to ensure continued access to comprehensive, culturally competent, quality primary health care services for communities and vulnerable populations currently served by the Health Center Program. Eligible entities include Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care. Applications are due Oct. 17, 2016.

On Sept. 15, HHS awarded more than $87 million in health centers’ IT enhancements to 1,310 health centers in all 50 states and U.S. Territories. A full list of awardees is available here.

On Sept. 16, HRSA issued two funding opportunities (details here and here) totaling over $362 million under its Health Center Program 2017 Service Area Competition. For additional details, please also refer to HRSA’s Service Area Competition (SAC) funding opportunities landing page (filtering by “open opportunities”). Applications are due Oct. 17 (HRSA-17-053) and Nov. 7 (HRSA-17-054).

For more information, see here.