RHNTC Updates

• *NEW* Strategies for Creating a Supportive Work Environment for Sexual and Reproductive Health Staff Toolkit
• Recognizing American Heart Month
• Workshop Recording: From Approval to Action: Mobilizing Continued Parental Support for Sex Education
• Updates to the Federal Poverty Level for 2023
• Strengthening Infertility Services in Title X Programs Webinar
• Supporting Telehealth Implementation: Office Hours for Title X Grantees

• Understanding Vasectomy Services in Title X Family Planning Clinics
• Early Pregnancy Pain and Bleeding Resources
• New Podcast Episode: The Gendered Burdens of Pregnancy Prevention
• New Podcast Episode: Updates on Common Codes for IUD-Related Services

Retaining qualified staff has been a long-standing challenge for many sexual and reproductive health care agencies, a reality made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. One strategy to improve staff retention is cultivating a connected and supportive work environment that centers staff engagement and development. With the understanding that family planning staff have limited time, energy, and resources, this toolkit offers those in management roles—such as Title X program managers, administrators, clinic directors, and HR staff—actionable approaches to developing an open, responsive, and supportive work environment. This toolkit can help Title X agencies create more supportive work environments for family planning staff, with the broader aim of increasing retention of qualified staff. Explore the toolkit.

February is American Heart Month, which aims to raise awareness about heart disease and what you can do to prevent it. The RHNTC and NCTCFP have compiled tools that can support providers in reproductive health care settings in implementing best practices for hypertension prevention, diagnosis, and control. Explore these and other resources:

• The Clinical Pathway for Family Planning and Hypertension Services Video: This 2-minute video describes how hypertension services fit into the clinical pathway for family planning; the impact on health outcomes and equity; and how the Hypertension Prevention and Control Improvement Toolkit can be used to help improve reproductive and maternal health outcomes.

• Tackling Hypertension through Reproductive Health Care in Kachemak Bay Video: This case study video explores how a Title X grantee in Alaska expanded their hypertension prevention and control services.

• Recognize Postpartum Warning Signs Poster: This poster reminds staff and clinical services providers to ask the screening question, "Are you pregnant, or have you been pregnant in the past 12 months?” and to flag urgent maternal warning signs to reduce chance of missing postpartum warning signs like for cardiomyopathy that can lead to maternal mortality.

The Title X Handbook stipulates that clients with household incomes at or below 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL) must not be charged for Title X-funded services, and that clients with household incomes between 101% and 250% of the FPL be charged in accordance with a schedule of discounts based on ability to pay for. In January, the Department of Health and Human Services released new Poverty Guidelines for 2023. Title X agencies can use the resources below to adjust their sliding fee discount scales: 

• Adjusting an Agency’s Sliding Fee Discount Schedule Job Aid
• Samples of Title X and Health Center Program Sliding Fee Scales
• Integrating Title X with Primary Care: Developing and Implementing Compliant Sliding Fee Discount Schedules Job Aid

Basic infertility services are a core component of providing quality family planning services within the Title X Program. This webinar will provide an overview of the scope of basic infertility services within Title X projects along with strategies that strengthen the provision of infertility services to support clients in their reproductive goals. Participants will also learn about the role of Title X projects in providing quality, accessible, and equitable basic infertility services as an important component of the broader system of care for fertility assistance and infertility services. Speakers will share resources from the RHNTC and the NCTCFP that can help family planning agencies and staff strengthen their provision of infertility services. Register for the webinar.

Are you a Title X grantee looking to improve telehealth service delivery or use recently-awarded OPA funds to expand telehealth services? Join us for a one-hour session that will help you connect with your peers and with Telehealth Resource Center (TRC) representatives—experts who provide telehealth-related technical assistance—across the country! Bring your questions, challenges, and best practices to share. Register for office hours. 

This office hour is available only to Title X grantees and participants will be approved after registering through Zoom.

The NCTCFP just released new resources on pain and bleeding in early pregnancy, including a virtual coffee break eLearning course (0.25 CNE available) and a clinical protocol template.

In the latest episode of the NCTCFP’s Coding with Ann podcast series, Ann Finn provides updated guidance on common codes used when billing for IUDs and IUD-related services. Episodes can be downloaded or streamed to your device. Listen to the podcast.