On Dec. 19, HRSA shared that it updated the data for the 28 health determinants and health status measures that feed into its Unmet Need Score (UNS) Tool. HRSA’s Unmet Need Score Tool provides a standardized means to evaluate the need for new Health Center Program investments and, in the past, has also been tied to scoring components for federal funding opportunities such as New Access Points.

Why this is important:

HRSA forecasted in July that it expected to release New Access Point (NAP) applications in December of 2023. While NAP applications have still not been released pending approval of congressional appropriations for funding, the update of the UNS Scores is a signal that these funding opportunities may be coming soon. These updated data sources also provide potential applicants with a better understanding of the need scores that could be assigned to a proposed health center service area for these upcoming funding opportunities, better enabling them to plan ahead appropriately.

Contact us if you’d like our team of grant writing experts to help your organization understand and evaluate how these updated scores may align with, and impact, your strategies initiatives.

If you’d like more information on the UNS Tool and how it may impact your NAP application, as well as an opportunity to learn more about New Access Point funding, you can review CohnReznick’s free three part New Access Point On Demand Learning series.