October 6, 2026

What’s New

BPHC Program Updates Recap

See the slides from the Tuesday, September 29 BPHC Program Updates webcast. Additional highlights from the session include:

• Updates to the fiscal year (FY) 2027 Service Area Competition (SAC) Timeline and Extensions- See information and anticipated dates in the “Funding Reminders” section below.
• Upcoming Uniform Data System (UDS) Trainings – See the calendar year 2026 UDS Reporting Changes Webinar and UDS Reporting Training Schedule
• New Scope Manual Summary of Changes resource now available. Additional information on the upcoming October 21 webinar on Scope Changes is also available in the “Upcoming Events” section below.
  • Please note, Scope Form 5C was discontinued with the release of the updated Scope Manual. Updates to HRSA's systems are forthcoming.
• Reminder that scope site verifications will not be impacted by the upcoming Change in Scope System Closure.
• Reminder to join the next BPHC Program Updates webcast on Thursday, October 22 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET.

Scope Manual Resources: Introduction to Scope Manual and Systems Improvement  

HRSA recently posted a recorded introduction on the Scope Manual and HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) System Improvements.  This resource provides a summary of the planned HRSA EHBs Scope Module system improvements and closure dates, and where you can send questions. The slides from the recording are also available.  

Visit the Scope of Project Resources webpage for additional resources and technical assistance materials. HRSA will continue to update this page over the next few months.

Still have questions about the Scope Manual? Share them with us via the BPHC Contact Form. Select “Health Center Program Policy and Information,” then “Scope Manual General Inquiry.” 

HRSA Continuing Education Opportunities

HRSA is pleased to announce new continuing education opportunities, providing health professionals with access to timely learning experiences designed to strengthen knowledge, build skills, and support effective practice.

HRSA will offer virtual continuing education activities focused on topics relevant to the health workforce and the communities they serve. Activities may address emerging issues, current evidence and best practices, and other topics that support professional knowledge development.

Sessions will also highlight HRSA programs and grantees, providing participants with opportunities to learn about their work and illustrating HRSA’s role in supporting health care delivery and improving health outcomes for communities across the nation.

Learn more about HRSA Continuing Education.

HRSA Grand Rounds: Screening and Treatment of Pediatric Depression and Anxiety

Developed in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), HRSA’s first Grand Rounds session will focus on Screening and Treatment of Pediatric Depression and Anxiety. HRSA Grand Rounds is open to everyone, and all are welcome to attend. See the flyer for more information.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, October 7
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET
Register for the session

During the session, health professionals will learn about:

• Best practices for screening and diagnosing depression and anxiety in children and adolescents;
• Non-pharmacologic interventions;
• Appropriate prescribing and tapering of medications used to treat pediatric depression and anxiety; and
• How HRSA programs can support children, families, and the health workforce in providing this care.

Following the presentations, participants will have an opportunity to engage with presenters during a moderated question-and-answer session.

Whether this topic directly intersects with your work or you are interested in expanding your knowledge, we invite you to join us for the first HRSA Grand Rounds and take part in this new continuing education opportunity.

Funding Reminders

Deadline Reminder: FY 2027 BPR NCC

HRSA released the FY 2027 Budget Period Progress Report (BPR) Non-Competing Continuation (NCC) instructions for Health Center Program award recipients.

BPR NCCs are due on:

• Monday, October 19, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. ET for health centers with a January 1 or February 1, 2027, budget period start date
• Friday, October 23, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. ET. for health centers with a March 1, 2027, budget period start date.

All FY 2027 BPR NCCs applications are open. Technical assistance (TA) materials are available on the BPR TA webpage.

Fiscal Year 2027 SAC Updates

HRSA released the FY 2027 SAC Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for service areas with an April 1, 2027, performance period start date (HRSA-27-005).

The table below lists the application deadlines for the FY 2027 SAC NOFO currently available, as well as the anticipated dates for subsequent FY 2027 SAC funding opportunities. Find details for each announced service area on the Service Area Announcement Table (SAAT). Find TA materials on the SAC TA webpage.

Of note, health centers previously scheduled to compete for their current service areas in January, February, or March 2027 will receive project period extensions as follows: 

• January 1 or February 1, 2027: Extension through June 30, 2027
• March 1, 2027: Extension through July 31, 2027

HRSA will provide these health centers with additional instructions on the information they must submit to receive the extension along with the timeline for when they will be required to submit their next SAC application.

If you have questions, contact the SAC TA Team using the BPHC Contact Form (Applications and Funding > Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) > Service Area Competition (SAC)).

Uniform Data System (UDS) Updates

Register for 2026 UDS Reporting Webinars

In September, we kicked off our annual UDS reporting technical assistance (TA) series. This series will run through January 2027 and will help health centers submit accurate, timely, and complete 2026 UDS reports, which are due February 15, 2027. Health center staff who prepare UDS report submissions are encouraged to register and attend this series. 

Upcoming sessions include:

PCA and HCCN UDS Training  

We’ll provide an overview of key resources available to health centers to support timely annual UDS reporting, answer common questions about the UDS, and highlight areas where PCA/HCCN staff can assist health centers. This training is only for PCA/HCCN staff. 

Thursday, October 8
2:00-3:30 p.m. ET
Register for the session

UDS Clinical Tables Part 1: Screening and Preventive Care Measures

Thursday, October 15
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET
Register for the session

UDS Clinical Tables Part 2: Maternal Care and Children’s Health 

We’ll focus on the reporting requirements for clinical quality measures related to maternal care and children's health across the UDS clinical tables, including early entry into prenatal care, deliveries and birth weight, dental sealants, and weight assessment and counseling for children and adolescents.  

Tuesday, October 20
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET
Register for the session

UDS Clinical Tables Part 3: Disease Management 

We’ll review the reporting requirements for clinical quality measures related to chronic disease management across UDS clinical tables, including measures for depression remission, HIV linkage to care, hypertension, diabetes, statin therapy, ischemic vascular disease, and initiation and engagement of substance use disorder treatment.   

Thursday, October 29
2:00–3:30 p.m. ET
Register for the session

Visit the UDS TA webpage for additional information on upcoming trainings and resources and you can submit any inquiries related to UDS reporting updates via the BPHC Contact Form (Uniform Data System > UDS Reporting). 

Annual UDS Primary Care Association (PCA) State/Territory Based Training 

Primary Care Associations are hosting virtual and in-person UDS technical assistance trainings nationwide from October to December. Health center staff who are responsible for preparing UDS submissions are encouraged to attend. Contact your PCA representative to attend these trainings. 

Reminders

Important Reminder: Scope System Improvements and CIS Module Closure

HRSA is updating the Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) scope module in November 2026 to simplify the change in scope (CIS) request process and strengthen the CIS review process. HRSA issued Program Assistance Letter (PAL) 2026-04: Health Center Program Scope of Project System Improvements (PDF) for more details on the changes.

HRSA will temporarily close the CIS Module to make these updates.

• The EHBs CIS module will be unavailable October 20–November 19, 2026.
• The updated module will reopen on November 20, 2026.

Of note, scope site verifications will not be impacted by the upcoming Change in Scope System Closure.  If you have questions on the upcoming system improvements and your change in scope requests, visit the Health Center Program Compliance Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), or contact your Project Officer using the BPHC Contact Form.  

Please read our recent Bulletin for important information to help you prepare for the system closure. 

Upcoming Events

HRSA Grand Rounds: Screening and Treatment of Pediatric Depression and Anxiety

Tomorrow, Wednesday, October 7
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET
Register for the session

General Law Division FTCA Deeming Requirements

Includes key legal considerations for FTCA deemed health centers, including the scope of malpractice coverage, the administrative claims process, and common liability questions addressed by HRSA's General Law Division.  

Wednesday, October 14
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET
Register for the webinar or series

Cybersecurity and FTCA Deeming

Covers cybersecurity best practices for deemed health centers, including safeguarding patient data, responding to security incidents, and meeting federal data protection standards relevant to FTCA deemed organizations. 

Wednesday, October 21
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET
Register for the webinar or series

NEW: Health Center Program Scope of Project Policy Manual 

Join BPHC for an overview of the Health Center Program Scope of Project Policy Manual (Scope Manual), where we will highlight key changes from previous guidance.  

Wednesday, October 21
2:00 – 3:30 p.m. ET
Join the meeting
Meeting ID: 235 253 263 396 035
Passcode: mU6gz95R  

If you have questions about the Scope Manual prior to the briefing, use the BPHC Contact Form. Select “Health Center Program Policy and Information,” then select “Scope Manual General Inquiry” from the dropdown menu and then, select “Next” to submit your question. 

Strengthen Patient Education and Preventive Care with MyHealthfinder

Help patients and families better understand and act on preventive health recommendations. Join the HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) to learn how your health center can use MyHealthfinder, a free, evidence-based tool that provides personalized recommendations for screenings and other preventive services.  

Wednesday, October 21
1:30 – 2:00 p.m. ET
Register for the session

BPHC Program Updates

Thursday, October 22
2:00 –3:00 p.m. ET
Access information coming soon