Important updates on COVID-19
  • CDC Alert for PPE Purchasing- Recently the CDC has released important guidance on respirators that are being falsely marketed and sold as NIOSH approved respirators. These may not be able to provide appropriate respiratory protection to workers. More information on this notice can be found here. A list of some of the products, that have not met standards, can be found here. Please utilize these resources while purchasing PPE. If you have specific questions, please contact Alex Bakke.

  • Service Area Competition Project Period Extensions in Fiscal Year 2021- HRSA is extending the project periods of the majority of health centers scheduled to complete a Service Area Competition (SAC) in fiscal year (FY) 2021. Health centers whose current 2-year or 3-year project period ends in FY 2021 will receive a 12-month extension with funds and will complete a Budget Period Progress Report (BPR), rather than a SAC, in FY 2021. HRSA will email information to each of the awardees receiving an extension in the coming weeks. Because of statutory requirements, health centers in a current 1-year project period will still complete a SAC in FY 2021.
NACHC COVID-19 Office Hours
COVID-19 & FTCA Office Hour #3- NACHC, in collaboration with BPHC’s FTCA Division and Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell (FTLF), will be holding an office hour to answer health center specific FTCA-related questions TODAY, Wednesday, May 13th, from 1-2 Central. Priority topics include: telehealth, provider coverage, scope of service, and re-opening of dental practices. Click here to register.
 
Telehealth Office Hours: This upcoming telehealth session covers "Sustainability" and provides helpful tips on administering continuous telehealth services to support patients. Join NACHC on Thursday, May 14th from 1-2 Central. Join the session by clicking here – no registration needed!

Finance Office Hours: The next Finance office hour covers allowability and reporting on the FY 2020 CARES Supplemental Funding for Health Centers and provides approaches on how to submit information regarding the CARES funding activities and budget. Hear from experts from BKD who will offer insight into the FY 2020 CARES Supplemental Funding Guidance. Join NACHC and BKD on Friday, May 15th from 1-2 Central. Join the session by clicking here – no registration needed!
HR and COVID-19
Concerned about which Paycheck Protection Program expenses are eligible for forgiveness? SHRM has provided guidance on this topic which can be found here .
 
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that they will not collect information on employees in 2020. Instead it is delayed until March 2021. For more information click here.
Mental Health Awareness and COVID-19
Making sense of our collective experience amid COVID-19
By Julie Luzarraga, LICSW, DCSW – Integrative Therapist, Omaha Integrative Care

These are unprecedented times. Never before have we experienced such a far-reaching event as that of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has changed so many aspects of our lives: Who we see. What we do. Where we work. Where we go. How we interact. Our entire reality has shifted, and it is no wonder that we are all reeling, staggering to catch our footing, wondering why we feel so strange, so rattled. If you, too, are wondering why you’re feeling so “off,” know that there are several processes at play in this, our collective experience.

To keep reading this blog post click  here.
Templates and Resources
For a full list of COVID-19 resources provided to you by HCAN, please visit the Sharefile link that is updated with the latest information.

HCAN staff
Please know HCAN remains available by phone or email, to support any technical assistance needs that arise. Requests may be streamlined to the following staff during this time:
 
Amy Behnke, CEO: legislative, policy support ( [email protected] )
Jenna Thomsen, Director of Training & TA: non-clinical support ( [email protected] )
Alex Bakke, Director of Clinical Quality: clinical support ( [email protected] ) 
Keshia Bradford, Director of Strategic Initiatives: workforce, emergency preparedness support ( [email protected] )
Angela Lindstrom, Integrated Marketing Director: communication support ( [email protected] )
The HCAN COVID-19 Weekly Digest is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $745,450 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
Health Center Association of Nebraska | hcanebraska.org