Resource Details

Health Centers and Syringe Services Programs

Year Developed: 2023

Resource Type: Publication.

Primary Audience: Administrative Staff Clinicians Enabling Staff Outreach Staff
Secondary Audience: Board of Directors C-Suite (CEOs, CFOs, CIO, COOs, CMOs, etc.) PCAs

Language(s): English

Developed by: National Health Care for the Homeless Council (See other resources developed by this organization).

Resource Summary: Our new resource emphasizes HRSA policy allowing health centers to participate in SSPs, outlines models of care, and provides best practices and resources for moving forward to provide health center patients access to syringes.

Resource Details: While it is clear that federal law and regulation allow health centers to provide syringe services as SSPs, the process of providing syringe access is regulated by state laws. In some areas an organization must first apply to become an SSP before being able to offer syringe access, while in other areas this step is not required. To operate as an SSP, health centers will likely have to develop processes for tracking metrics required by their state as well as develop low-barrier workflows for how individuals seeking syringes can access care. Our new resource emphasizes HRSA policy allowing health centers to participate in SSPs, outlines models of care, and provides best practices and resources for moving forward to provide health center patients access to syringes.

Resource Topic: Clinical Issues, , Special and Vulnerable Populations, Health Equity

Resource Subtopic: Substance Use Disorders, , Community, Health, and Housing Partnerships, Social Determinants of Health (SDOH).

Keywords: Health Care Facilities, Health Insurance, Health Systems, Housing, Implementation Tools, Insurance and Claims, Payment and Reform, Persons Experiencing Homelessness, Policies and Procedures, Residents of Public Housing.