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Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Resources for Health Centers

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

Weather and Safety

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

Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA)

Additional 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).

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