Call for Presenters: TPCA 2022 Annual Conference

The TPCA 2022 Annual Conference is focused on increasing community health centers’ ability to thrive in today’s dynamic health care environment. Our goal is to ensure programming that reflects the diversity of our membership and their communities. 

TPCA is currently seeking speakers and presenters for General and Breakout Sessions at the 2022 Annual Conference. Please review our 2022 Annual Conference topics and submit your proposal to be considered as part of our education agenda.

Review the Call for Presenters >>> 

Submit your proposal here >>>

Save the Date! TPCA 2022 Annual Conference is October 5-7th in Franklin, TN.

New TN Co-Sponsor for PROTECT 340B Act of 2021

The PROTECT 340B Act of 2021 would prohibit harmful practices by third parties in which they retain savings from the 340B program that are intended for health centers. Community health centers rely on savings from the 340B drug pricing program to provide affordable medications to patients and access to services such as OB services or pediatrics.

Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-1) recently signed on as a co-sponsor of the legislation, joining Representative John Rose (R-6). TPCA is grateful for the support of members of the Tennessee Congressional delegation. Please consider reaching out to your Member of the House and ask them to sign on to the PROTECT 340B Act. 

Review the legislation >>> 

Review 340B Advocacy Resources >>>

National Health Center Week 2022

Save the date for National Health Center Week, from August 7-13, 2022! National Health Center Week is an annual celebration to recognize and honor the work of community health centers. This year’s theme is “Community Health Centers: the Chemistry for Strong Communities.” 

Learn more about how your health center can celebrate National Health Center Week >>> 

CDC Recommends Pfizer Boosters for Children 5-11

Yesterday, the CDC announced its recommendation for Pfizer boosters for children aged 5-11. Children can get a booster shot at least five months after they’ve received the primary two-dose series

COVID-19 Antivirals

The White House outlined steps aimed at making COVID-19 antiviral pills, Paxlovid, more widely available to the public. The Administration’s strategy includes opening more coronavirus Test-to-Treat sites, making it easier for pharmacies to order antivirals from the federal government, and launching a campaign to get the word out to doctors and patients that antivirals are widely available and need not be rationed. White House officials are buying the rest of the 20 million doses of Pfizer’s Paxlovid with money they already have, and the administration is urging Congress to appropriate more money.

View the Fact Sheet from the White House >>>

News Channel 3 recently spoke with Miles Huff, Advocacy & Development Administrator, Cempa Community Care for 3 Plus Your Community.

Watch the segment here >>>

Congratulations to Gwendolyn K. Reese, MBA, BSN, RN, director of nursing services for Christ Community Health Services! Gwendolyn was recognized as the COVID-19 Community Nurse Hero Award for her leadership in developing the drive-through testing process and ensuring Christ Community Health Servicces was the first facility in Shelby County to provide drive-through COVID-19 testing. 

Read the full story here >>>

Mercy Community Healthcare Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Don Gibson, participated in Franklin Tomorrow's May FrankTalks lecture addressing the Franklin mental health crises.

Read more from the Williamson Herald >>>

QuizTime Educational Opportunity

with TDH and VUMC CAMHL Department

Tennessee Department of Health, along with the CDC and Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Center for Advanced Mobile Healthcare Learning (CAMHL) department, is offering a unique opportunity to enroll in a novel education program, accessed through your mobile devices, that delivers daily quiz questions about opioids. All courses fulfill the CE Controlled Substances Requirement for State of TN Licensure.

There is no cost to the learner. Once enrolled, the questions come either via email or text message, one question per day, Monday-Friday. The learner can decide what time of day they receive their question. Learners are also eligible to enroll in as many courses as they would like and can receive Continuing Education credits for meeting the success criteria per course. 

Learn more about the TDH and CAMHL educational offerings >>>

Access the QuizTime website to register for the course here >>> 

HHS Announces $90 Million to Support New Data-Driven Approaches for Health Centers to Identify and Reduce Health Disparities

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced the availability of nearly $90 million in American Rescue Plan funding to support new data-driven efforts for HRSA Health Center Program-supported health centers and look-alikes (HRSA-designated health centers) to identify and reduce health disparities.

“Health centers are vital to increasing equitable access to primary health care,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “The Biden-Harris Administration has made historic investments in health centers, and this funding from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan will further enable health centers to utilize data to meet the needs of their community and help reduce gaps in care.”

Applications are due Monday, May 23, 2022. 

• Read the full press release here >>>
• Visit the American Rescue Plan UDS+ Supplemental Funding technical assistance webpage >>>

Grant Funding for Community-Based Doulas

HRSA is making $4.5 million in grant funding available for hiring, training, certifying, and compensating community-based doulas in areas with high rates of adverse maternal and infant health outcomes. This opportunity will increase the total number of Healthy Start doula programs from 25 to approximately 50 nationwide, with an average grant award of $180,000.

• More information available here >>>

Applications are due Tuesday, May 31, 2022. 

Grant Funding for Cancer Screening and Referral

BPHC announced that it will make 10 awards, each around $500,000 total over two years, for community health centers to expand access to cancer screening and referral. To be eligible, a community health center must receive BPHC H80 (operational) grant funding, and partner with a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center: https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers. There is no EHB component to the application.  

More information on the funding opportunity is available here >>>

Applications are due June 15, 2022.