This section contains links to websites of the major federal agencies concerned with community health centers and other health care matters. Included are funding opportunities, technical assistance availability, data and research and opportunities for online communities.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) mission is to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans. Information from AHRQ's research helps people make more informed decisions and improve the quality of health care services. AHRQ was formerly known as the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.
AHRQ's health information technology (health IT) initiative is part of the Nation's strategy to put information technology to work in health care. By developing secure and private electronic health records for most Americans and making health information available electronically when and where it is needed, health IT can improve the quality of care, even as it makes health care more cost-effective.
The bureau provides grant support to health centers – including community and migrant health centers, school-based health centers, and Public Housing Primary Care Programs – to increase access to health care for underserved people. Bureau activities also include collecting data, conducting research, monitoring grantees, providing policy guidance, and collaborating with other agencies around health care delivery systems for medically underserved and vulnerable populations.
The Bureau of Primary Health Care has developed partnerships with state, regional and other national organizations to provide:
• Training and technical assistance on fiscal and program management
• Operational and administrative support
• Program development/analysis
• Primary care/clinical care development and operations
• Support to meet the needs of special populations
• Support to develop and implement health and other information technology systems
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC protects the health and safety of people by developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental health, and health promotion and education activities. Centers within CDC include: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; the National Center for Health Statistics; the National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention; National Center for Infectious Diseases; the National Immunization Program; and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Products available to health centers include publications, videos, and software.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
CMS provides insurance to over 74 million Americans through Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). CMS performs quality-focused activities, including regulation of lab testing (CLIA) and implementation of various provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and develops numerous publications and manuals on day-to-day operating instructions, policies, and procedures based on regulations, models, directives, and guidelines.
Community Health Status Indicators Project (CHSI)
Is a HRSA-funded collaboration among the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), and the Public Health Foundation (PHF) to provide county-level health assessment information for all 3,082 U.S. counties.
Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA)
Advising on building codes and flood plain management...teaching people how to get through a disaster...helping equip local and state emergency preparedness...coordinating the federal response to a disaster...making disaster assistance available to states, communities, businesses and individuals...training emergency managers...supporting the nation's fire service...administering the national flood and crime insurance programs...the range of FEMA's activities is broad indeed and spans the life cycle of disasters.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
The federal agency whose mission is to improve and expand access to quality health care to low income, uninsured, isolated, vulnerable and special needs populations.
HRSA Grants – Open Opportunities
Is the largest single source (next to the Medicaid and Medicare programs) of Federal funding for HIV/AIDS for low-income un- and underinsured individuals. The Bureau provides funding under the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act, which includes grants for HIV Early Intervention Services, HIV service planning, HIV training and education programs for health care providers, and technical assistance.
Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology (ONC)
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology is at the forefront of the administration’s health IT efforts and is a resource to the entire health system to support the adoption of health information technology and the promotion of nationwide health information exchange to improve health care. ONC is organizationally located within the Office of the Secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
This office promotes better health care services in rural America by working within government at the federal, state, and local levels, and with the private sector – with associations, foundations, providers and community leaders.
