Capital Link, with support from HRSA is collecting information on health centers’ experiences with rural hospital closures to identify strategies for responding. Tennessee has the highest rate of per capita rural hospital closures in the country and many health centers are located in areas affected by these closures. Results of the assessment will summarized in a publication and available to health centers nationally.

Submit questions in advance to trainings@nachc.org.

TPCA created a COVID-19 Resources page that contains information and tools for health centers and the general public on a variety of COVID-19 related topics including TPCA’s COVID-19 Updates, human resources & operations, telehealth, and PPE.

On Wednesday, the House passed a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government at current levels through December 11. The CR passed days before the end of the fiscal year on September 30 and included an extension of mandatory funding for the Community Health Center Fund, National Health Services Corps, and Teaching Health Centers Graduate Medical Education Program also through December 11. Congress remains at a stalemate over another comprehensive COVID-19 stimulus package, with only a few days of legislative time left before members return home prior to the November election.

NACHC is partnering with VotER to create resources for community health centers interested in civic engagement and voter registration including a guide on Voter Registration Best Practices and Legal Q’s and A’s.

The 340B Drug Pricing Program is a critical program for health center patients, ensuring that they can obtain medications at affordable prices. Without the program, access to medications would be out of reach for millions of patients, negatively impacting their health. Recently, several manufacturers have announced new restrictions on 340B medications, focusing on medications dispensed at contract pharmacies. These restrictions endanger the intended purpose of the 340B program and health centers’ ability to provide care to their patients. NACHC, Primary Care Associations, and community health centers across the country are talking with Members of Congress and HRSA, urging action to stop these damaging provisions from going into effect. HRSA is currently weighing whether the restrictions proposed by manufacturers violate the 340B statute and legal action is expected.

In case you missed it, last week NACHC hosted a press briefing to address threats to the 340B program. View the NACHC press release on the event here>>>

As a reminder, NACHC has released a 340B Toolkit with more detailed information on each of these developments. If you would like to receive a copy of the template, please contact Emily Waitt at emily.waitt@tnpac.org.

The Tennessee Department of Health recently issued a Request for Application (RFA) for dental services for uninsured adults; payments will be made out the Health Care Safety Net Fund. The RFA number is 34352-24121. Written Questions and Comments deadline is September 17 and applications are due October 8 with an anticipated contract start date is November 1, 2020.

The information detailed in the Request for Application may be downloaded from the Department of Health “Funding Opportunities” website.

Visionaries who started the health clinic imagined it as a way to change life in South Memphis; 25 years ago, ZIP code 38109 had the most health concerns, and the fewest doctors.