Updates to the HRSA Form 5A Service Descriptors Document

In February 2025, in response to the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders (EOs), HRSA and BPHC made some minor updates to the HRSA Service Descriptors for Form 5A: Services Provided document.

Voluntary Family Planning (p. 11):

• HRSA changed the statement "services, such as the full range of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved, -granted, or -cleared contraceptives;" and shortened it to simply read, "services;".

• HRSA also added the following language: "Consistent with Executive Order 13535 (75 FR 15599), health centers are prohibited from using federal funds to provide abortions, except in cases of rape or incest, or when a physician certifies that the woman has a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would place her in danger of death unless an abortion is performed."

• The description now reads: "Delivery of voluntary family planning and related services is a required primary health service under section 330(b)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act for Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA)-supported health centers. Voluntary family planning services are preventive health services that may include: counseling on family planning options; contraceptive services; effective family planning practices; sterilization procedures that are determined by an individual and the individual’s medical provider to be medically appropriate; and management of patient care related to such services. Consistent with Executive Order 13535 (75 FR 15599), health centers are prohibited from using federal funds to provide abortions, except in cases of rape or incest, or when a physician certifies that the woman has a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would place her in danger of death unless an abortion is performed."

Gynecological Care (p. 13):

• HRSA added the following language: "Consistent with Executive Order 13535 (75 FR 15599), health centers are prohibited from using federal funds to provide abortions, except in cases of rape or incest, or when a physician certifies that the woman has a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would place her in danger of death unless an abortion is performed."

• The description now reads: "Gynecological services include pelvic and breast exams, cervical cancer screening, and the review of menstrual and reproductive history, gynecological symptoms, and basic gynecological ultrasounds. Such services may also include common gynecological procedures required to ensure continuity of care for health center patients (e.g., colposcopy, hysterectomy, and fibroid removal). Advanced gynecological services, such as gynecologic oncology, urogynecology, reproductive endocrinology, and infertility, are considered specialty services. Consistent with Executive Order 13535 (75 FR 15599), health centers are prohibited from using federal funds to provide abortions, except in cases of rape or incest, or when a physician certifies that the woman has a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would place her in danger of death unless an abortion is performed."

In short, these changes are not significant and have no substantive impact on health center operations at this point.