Office of Population Affairs (OPA)

USPSTF Seeks Public Comment on Draft Research Plan: Behavioral Counseling to Prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections

On January 29, 2013, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) posted for public comment its draft Research Plan on behavioral counseling to prevent sexually transmitted infections. The draft Research Plan is available for review and public comment from January 29 through February 25, 2013. To review the draft Research Plan and submit comments, go to http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/tfcomment.htm.

Posted 2/5/13

FDA Reports Shortage of Doxycycline

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported a shortage of doxycycline on January 18, 2013. Doxycycline is a recommended therapy for some sexually transmitted infections and syndromes including chlamydia, nongonococcal urethritis, epididymitis and pelvic inflammatory disease and as an alternative treatment for syphilis in patients with a penicillin allergy.

For more information and alternative treatment regimens, view Doxycycline Shortage.

Posted 1/29/13

OPA Webinar: Responding to the FY 2013 Title X FOA

Federal staff will provide an overview of the application process and requirements for the FY 2013 Title X Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for interested applicants on February 21, 2013 from 2-3 pm eastern time. There will be time for Q & A. If you have questions but are unable to watch the live webinar, you may email your questions by February 20 COB to opa@hhs.gov. The webinar will be posted within two weeks after February 21.

The FOA for Title X family planning funding was posted on August 1, 2012. To view the FOA, go to: http://grants.gov/. Click on Grant Search on the right side of the screen. Enter 93.217 in the CFDA number search box.

Note that there are rolling application due dates. The next deadline is April 1, 2013. Scroll down to find the specific FOA for your region.

The call-in information is listed below.

Passcodes/Pin codes: 

Participant passcode: 6395836
For security reasons, the passcode will be required to join the call.

Dial in numbers:

Restrictions may exist when accessing freephone/toll free numbers using a mobile telephone.

Net Conference Access Information:

For Participants:
URL: https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join/
Conference number: PW4267236
Audience passcode: 6395836

Participants can join the event directly at:
https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?i=PW4267236&p=6395836&t=c

Posted 1/22/13

FDA approves new IUD

On January 9, 2013, the FDA announced approval of Skyla, a three-year, levonorgestral-releasing intrauterine system (IUS). Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc., the manufacturer of Mirena, the five-year levonorgestral-releasing IUS which was approved by the FDA in 2000, indicated that its new product is targeted to younger women. Skyla releases a lower dose of progestin than Mirena. It is expected to be on the market in mid-February. Read More Here

Posted 1/16/13

OPA’s AIDS.gov new blog post

Family Planning Providers Key in Fight Against HIV

Posted 1/10/13

The 2011 Family Planning Annual Report is now available

This annual reporting requirement is for family planning services delivery projects authorized and funded under the Population Research and Voluntary Family Planning Programs (Section 1001 of Title X of the Public Health Service Act, 42 United States Code [USC] 300).

Annual submission of the Family Planning Annual Report (FPAR) is required of all Title X family planning services grantees for purposes of monitoring and reporting program performance (45 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Part 742 and 45 CFR Part 923). FPAR data are presented in summary form, which protects the confidentiality of individuals who receive Title X-funded services (42 CFR Part 59).

The FPAR is the only source of annual, uniform reporting by all Title X family planning services grantees. It provides consistent, national-level data on the Title X Family Planning Program and its users. View the 2011 Family Planning Annual Report here

Posted 1/10/13

Registration is NOW for new entities for 340B Drug Pricing Program

January 1-15 is the window for registration of new providers in the 340B Drug Pricing Program. New Title X providers should register NOW, as the next registration period will be April 1-15. Find out more about eligibility, requirements and the 340B program generally at http://www.hrsa.gov/opa/index.html
Posted 1/9/13

Women’s Preventive Services Take Effect

With the new year upon us, new preventive coverage benefits have taken effect for millions of privately insured women thanks to the Affordable Care Act. Under the health care law, comprehensive women’s preventive care will be covered for more women without any co-payments or deductibles.

Learn more about women’s preventive care

Preventive services that insurers are now required to offer as they update their benefits for 2013 include annual well-woman visits, gestational diabetes screening, HPV testing for women 30 and over, counseling for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, contraceptive coverage, breastfeeding support, and screening and counseling for interpersonal and domestic violence.

These benefits mark another vital step in the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and another important step forward for women’s health.
Posted 1/9/13

US Preventive Services Task Force issues draft recommendations regarding screening for hepatitis C

On Monday, November 26, 2012, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued the following DRAFT recommendation:

“The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in adults at high risk, including those with any history of intravenous drug use or blood transfusions prior to 1992 (see the Clinical Considerations for more information on risk factors).

This is a grade B recommendation.

The USPSTF recommends that clinicians consider offering screening for HCV infection in adults born between 1945 and 1965 (see the Clinical Considerations for more information on birth-cohort screening).

This is a grade C recommendation.”

The Task Force posted this draft statement on its website to provide an opportunity for public comment. The full recommendation can be accessed and comments can be submitted through December 24 at http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/draftrec2.htm

Posted 11/26/12

US Preventive Services Task Force issues draft recommendations regarding HIV screening

On November 20, 2012, the US Preventive Services Task issued the following DRAFT recommendation:

“The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that clinicians screen adolescents and adults ages 15 to 65 years for HIV infection. Younger adolescents and older adults who are at increased risk should also be screened. See the Clinical Considerations for more information about screening intervals.

This is a grade A recommendation.

The USPSTF recommends that clinicians screen all pregnant women for HIV, including those who present in labor whose HIV status is unknown.

This is a grade A recommendation.”

The Task Force posted this draft statement on its website to provide an opportunity for public comment. The full recommendation can be accessed and comments submitted through December 17 at http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/draftrec.htm

Posted 11/20/12

Announcement: Release of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and Risk Factors for CVD among Women of Reproductive Age (Fact Sheet)

CDC has developed a fact sheet “Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and Risk Factors for CVD among Women of Reproductive Age (18-44 years)” to help bring attention to the importance of CVD prevention among women of reproductive age as a public health issue. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women. Major risk factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol often manifest during the reproductive years (ages 18-44). Additionally, pregnancy-related conditions such as gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes are associated with increased future risk of developing cardiovascular disease. We hope this fact sheet is useful in your efforts to raise awareness about this important public health problem.

Posted 11/20/12

President Obama Issues Executive Order Strengthening Protections Against Human Trafficking

September 25, 2012-- President Obama issued an Executive Order - Strengthening Protections Against Trafficking In Persons In Federal Contracts. Per the Executive Order, the Administration will be providing guidance to agencies on developing appropriate internal procedures and controls for awarding and administering Federal contracts to improve monitoring of and compliance with actions to prevent trafficking in persons. The Fact Sheet: the Obama Administration Announces Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking at Home and Abroad and Fact Sheet: Executive Order Strengthening Protections Against Trafficking in Persons in Federal Contracts provide more information relating to the latest federal efforts to combat human trafficking.

Posted 10/5/12

New CDC STD Treatment Guidelines for Gonorrhea

On August 9, 2012, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published “Update to CDC’s Sexually Transmitted Diseases Guidelines: Oral Cephalosporins No Longer a Recommended Treatment for Gonococcal Infections,” in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The most significant change is that CDC no longer recommends an exclusively oral treatment regimen for gonorrhea. It is hoped that this new protocol might slow the emergence of drug resistance by ensuring that gonorrheal infections are quickly cured. To view the full recommendation, please click http://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment/.

Posted 08/1/12

New Coverage for Women’s Preventive Health Services under Affordable Care Act Begins

August 1 marks a new day for women’s health! It is the turning point when insurance policies will begin a new requirement to cover preventive health care services for women. An expected 47 million women will have guaranteed access to women’s preventive services with zero cost sharing under the Affordable Care Act. You can view HHS Secretary Sebelius' blog on White House.gov on Giving Women Control Over Their Health Care at http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/07/31/giving-women-control-over-their-health-care.

In addition, please visit healthcare.gov for related news on women’s prevention at http://www.healthcare.gov/prevention.

Read More about the Affordable Care Act
Posted 08/1/12

New Funding Opportunity Announcement for Family Planning Services

On August 1, 2012, the Office of Population Affairs announced the anticipated availability of Fiscal Year 2013 funds for family planning services grants. Approximately $94 million will be available for competing Title X Family Planning Services Grants in 27 areas across the United States, including identified areas in the Pacific Basin. The funding announcement seeks applications from all qualified public and private nonprofit entities, to provide voluntary family planning services, with priority for services to persons from low-income families. The “Announcement of Anticipated Availability of Funds for Family Planning Services Grants” is available in Grants.gov.

For more information visit Grants & Funding
Posted 08/1/12

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released this chart which compares cervical cancer screening guidelines issued by various organizations.

View the PDF (91KB)
Posted 05/16/12

Announcement of Availability of FY 2012 Funds for Cooperative Agreements for Family Planning Research

The Office of Population Affairs is pleased to announce a new research funding opportunity. This announcement seeks applications for practice-based research that will test an evidence-informed model of contraceptive counseling in clinical settings. Applications are due June 11, 2012. All applications must be submitted through Grants.gov.

To access the announcement and application package:

1. Select www.grants.gov
2. Select 'Apply for Grants'
3. Select 'Step 1: Download a Grant Application’

Insert the Funding Announcement Number in the format: PA-FPR-12-001

Grant Solutions
Posted 04/23/12

Announcement of Availability of FY 2012 Funds for Cooperative Agreements for Training and Technical Assistance Projects Supported by the Office of Population Affairs and the Division of STD Prevention:

The Office of Population Affairs (OPA) and CDC’s Division of STD Prevention is pleased to announce a new training and technical assistance funding opportunity. This announcement has two parts, Part A seeks applications for four (4) OPA national training and technical assistance centers, and Part B seeks applications for ten (10) STD-related reproductive health prevention training and technical assistance training centers to support a reduction in STD-related infertility in women and men. Applications are due June 11, 2012. All applications must be submitted through Grants.gov.

To access the announcement and application package:

1. Select www.grants.gov
2. Select 'Find Grant Opportunities’
3. Select ‘Advance Search”

Insert the Funding Announcement Number in the format: PA-FPT-12-011 or CFDA – 93.260

Grant Solutions

FY 2012 Funding Opportunity Announcement – Training and Technical Assistance Projects supported by the Office of Population Affairs and the Division of STD Prevention, CDC Webinar

Thursday, April 26, 2012, 12:00 PM Eastern time

This webinar will provide an overview of recently posted “FY 2012 Announcement of Availability of Funds for Training and Technical Assistance Projects Supported by the Office of Population Affairs, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, and the Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” The discussion will include the application process, the structure of the funding announcement, the content, and objectives of the training centers and a question and answer period.

This webinar will be recorded and made available on the OPA website at http://www.hhs.gov/opa/webinar. The webinars are viewable on the OPA website two weeks from the originally scheduled call date.

Dial-in Number: 888-606-5919

Participant Passcode: 3296116

URL: https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join/

Conference Number: PW5452910

Audience Passcode: 3296116

Participants can join the event directly at: https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?i=PW5452910&p=3296116&t=c
Posted 04/20/12

FDA modifies warning on blood clot risk from birth control pills containing drospirenone

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has completed its review of studies regarding the risk of blood clots in women taking birth control pills containing drospirenone (DRSP). Based on this review, the FDA has concluded that DRSP-containing oral contraceptives may be associated with a higher risk for blood clots than other progestin-containing pills.

DRSP is a synthetic version of the female hormone, progesterone, also referred to as a progestin. FDA is requiring that drug labels be revised to report that some epidemiologic studies reported as high as a three-fold increase in the risk of blood clots for DRSP-containing products when compared with products containing levonorgestrol or some other progestins, whereas other epidemiological studies found no additional risk of blood clots with products containing DRSP. The labels will also include a summary of the previously released results of an FDA-funded study of the blood clot risk.

FDA recommends that women talk to their healthcare professional about their risk for blood clots before deciding which birth control method to use. Healthcare professionals should consider the risks and benefits of DRSP-containing birth control pills and a woman’s risk for developing a blood clot before prescribing these drugs.

The revisions apply to the brand-name contraceptives: Beyaz, Gianvi, Loryna, Ocella, Safyral, Syeda, Yasmin, Yaz and Zarah, as well as two generic formulations (MedPage Today, 4/10/12). DRSP birth control pills are among the most popular oral contraceptives in the US, largely because they are marketed to clear up acne and alleviate other hormone-related issues.

The FDA notice can be found HERE.
Posted 04/13/12

Long Acting Reversible Contraception Webinar

OPA held Long Acting Reversible Contraception Webinar (LARC) on February 22, 2012
Posted 02/27/12

Substance Abuse Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment Webinar

Substance Abuse Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) in Family Planning Settings webinar that OPA held on January 11, 2012.
Posted 01/18/12