HRSA seeks public comments on the draft Health Center Program Scope of Project Policy Manual (Scope Policy Manual). The Scope Policy Manual consolidates, streamlines, and updates scope of project-related policies into a single, user-friendly resource for the first time. It clarifies expectations for providing care that maximizes efficiency, access, quality, and impact.
Submit your comments on the draft Scope Policy Manual through the BPHC Contact Form. The comment period closes at 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, February 10, 2025. We will review and consider all comments as we finalize the policy.
Some key topics addressed in the draft Scope Policy Manual include:
- Defining activities that are “on behalf of the health center.”
- Establishing telehealth policy in response to your feedback on the 2022 draft Scope of Project and Telehealth policy.
- Clarifying criteria for adding:
- In-scope services;
- Service sites co-located with non-health center entities;
- Contractor or subrecipient operated sites; and
- Other sites that are not service sites. - Updating existing and defining new criteria for health centers adding temporary service sites in response to emergency events.
- Adding considerations for when HRSA reviews service area overlap.
- Defining criteria for when a health center establishes the patient-provider relationship.
- Clarifying when health centers may provide services to patients outside health center service sites (including retiring Form 5C: Other Activities/Locations).
IMPORTANT: The draft Scope Policy Manual will not be in effect until HRSA publishes the final manual. During the comment and review period, HRSA will review change in scope (CIS) requests submitted through HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks using current policy and procedures. Refer to the Scope of Project webpage for additional Scope of Project information. If you have questions about your health center's scope of project or CIS requests, submit them through the BPHC Contact Form.