Dear Flex Program Coordinators,

Thank you for your continued support as we announced an update to the Flex Year 3 Quality Improvement (QI) project. FORHP assessed the needs across all the projects, and we decided to stick to the original intention of this QI project officially running for just Year 3 (September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2022). Please refer to the email sent on January 27^th for more details. We want to emphasize the role of State Flex Coordinators (SFCs) as the key points of contact for the QI project. Therefore, all QI project requirement information will flow from FORHP to the SFC. We ask that SFCs continue communicating with contractor staff about the QI Project as needed.

Flex Program Updates:

March 1: Last day to submit a carryover request in the Electronic Handbooks system (EHBs). Process for requesting carryover:

• If you have an Unobligated Balance (UOB) for your U2W award, you have the option to carry over those funds to your current budget period, to be spent by August 31, 2022. Please discuss your plan to utilize your carryover with your Project Officer. You can then submit a Prior Approval – Carryover Request in EHBs, which should include:
• Cover Letter – detailing the reason for the UOB and your plan to spend down the funds in the current budget period making direct connections to your work plan. 
• Please note: you can use carryover funds to complete an activity that was delayed in the previous budget year or expand upon an existing work plan activity. You cannot use carryover funds for NEW activities.
• Budget Justification – for the carryover amount only
• SF424A – this is now a fillable template in EHBs.
• Please see this helpful video about the carryover request process.

March 3: Flex FY 2022 Non-Competing Continuation (NCC) progress report available in EHBs.

• Please attend the NCC webinar on March 3^rd @ 2 pm CT
• Understand the requirements for the FY 2022 NCC Progress Report.
• Hear from FORHP about important updates to the Medicare Beneficiaries Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP).
• Learn about the impact of outcome measurements on your State Flex Program.
• NCC reports will be due on May 4, 2022, in EHBs.

Many thanks,

Tori

The MBQIP Monthly includes:

• CAHs Can! Antibiotic Stewardship Profile Series: Astria Sunnyside Hospital
• Data: CAHs Measure Up – Random Sampling
• Tips: Robyn Quips – Reporting Tidbits
• Tools and Resources – Helping CAHs Succeed in Quality Reporting & Improvement

• MBQIP Data Reporting Reminders
• MBQIP Monthly Newsletter

Please send your MBQIP questions to tasc@ruralcenter.org. TASC will ensure your question reaches the appropriate person.