Download the Emergency Information Kit - Key Resources for Health Centers (PDF - 204 KB)
Health Center and Primary Care Association (PCA) Roles
Health centers and PCAs play a critical role in providing continuity of care to support communities during and after natural or man-made emergencies as well as emergent or established public health emergencies.
The CMS Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers Final Rule outlines the expectations for health centers to develop and maintain an emergency preparedness communication plan and develop and maintain annual training and testing programs.
- Health centers must also coordinate with state and local health departments as part of their emergency management planning, preparedness, mitigation, and response efforts.
- For information on how to coordinate with officials in your state regarding the state’s emergency preparedness or pandemic plan, find your applicable state survey agency.
PCAs can facilitate the sharing of important information with health centers through electronic alerts, can conduct outreach to increase awareness and participation in various regional/state pandemic or emergency event planning and response activities, and can learn from the health centers what issues they face and what assistance may be needed.
- PCAs have established mechanisms to engage with health centers in collecting critical information during and after an emergency situation.
- In addition, PCAs can work to ensure that health centers are included in regional and state emergency response plans by tapping into regional/state planning and response activities.
- Many PCAs play active roles in the state as coordinators, managers, and disseminators of real-time information during emergencies.
- PCAs are also expected to consolidate timely and accurate health center operational status and impact information during emergency events to report to HRSA/HHS.
- PCAs should be familiar with their appropriate state point of contact.
For questions about Medicare emergency preparedness requirements, PCAs may also contact the applicable state survey agency for guidance or assistance.
Disaster Response
Key Emergency Resources
The Emergency Information Kit - Key Resources for Health Centers is a document designed to provide Primary Care Associations (PCAs), HRSA-supported health centers, and Look-alikes (LALs) with information and resources during a declared dynamic event or other emergency situations. This document was developed through a joint effort from various Offices within the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC). This document contains internal and external procedures that PCAs and health centers can use to expedite processes, including but not limited to Changes in Scope, and provides critical information to support health centers' return to normal operational status.
Weather and Safety
- Disasters and Emergencies
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) information on staying safe after a natural disaster
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Information
- National Weather Service provides the latest forecasts, maps, and imagery
COVID-19 Resources
Health centers have been on the front lines during the COVID-19 public health emergency. HRSA is working to keep health centers and Health Center Program partners updated on the latest information about the pandemic. Visit COVID-19 Information for Health Centers and Partners for guidance and resources.
General Resources for Emergencies
- Need to request a change in scope of project to add a temporary site? View Program Assistance Letter (PAL) 2020-05: Requesting a Change in Scope to Add Temporary Service Sites in Response to Emergency Events (PDF - 266 KB). Use the BPHC Contact Form for specific questions regarding your grant and scope of project.
- Following a public health emergency declaration by the HHS Secretary, HRSA may allow eligible entities in affected states to immediately enroll in the 340B Drug Program. Updated information will be provided on the 340B Drug Pricing Program website.
Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA)
- FTCA Resources
- FTCA Health Center Policy Manual (PDF - 406 KB)
- PAL 2024-01: Temporary Privileging of Clinical Providers by Deemed Public Health Service Employee Health Centers Impacted by Certain Declared Emergencies or Other Emergency Situations (PDF - 243 KB)
- PAL 2024-02: Instructions for Completing Federal Tort Claims Act Volunteer Health Professionals Emergency Deeming Sponsorship Applications (PDF - 244 KB)
- FTCA Emergency Management Guide (PDF - 383 KB)
Additional Resources
- CMS Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers
- HRSA Emergency Preparedness & Continuity of Operations resources
The BPHC Contact Form allows you to submit all of your questions and needs for support to BPHC through one centralized location. You can also connect with BPHC via phone through Health Center Program Support: 1-877-464-4772, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. ET, Monday – Friday (except federal holidays).