Your CHCANYS

NYS Senate and Assembly Release One-House Budget Bills
The NYS Senate and Assembly have issued one-house bills in response to Governor Cuomo’s FY15-16 proposed budget. Click here for an overview of health and mental hygiene-related highlights. Click here for an appropriations matrix. While these bills do not include either the changes to the 340B program or the block granting of the SBHC and primary care workforce programs proposed by the Governor, which is positive news, they also fail to earmark sufficient capital funding for community-based safety net providers and do not provide the support necessary to ensure full funding of the D&TC Uncompensated Care Pool. CHCANYS will continue to focus its advocacy efforts in these areas in the coming weeks as state budget negotiations continue. 

Calling All Advocates: Today is Cliff Call-In Day!
While thousands of health center advocates are on Capitol Hill today March 19, asking their Members of Congress to take immediate action to fix the Cliff, you can do your part from home by participating in the nationwide “Fix the Cliff” Call-In Day. Dial 866-456-3949 at any time today and enter your zip code to be automatically routed to your Members of Congress. Your voice matters! Put it to use and advocate for 1.7 million New Yorkers currently served by New York’s FQHCs, as well those who currently lack access to affordable primary and preventive health care. read more >>   

Ask Your Member of Congress to Sign the FY16 "Dear Colleague" Health Center Support Letter
A “Dear Colleague” letter in support of the Health Center Program is currently circulating in the U.S. House of Representatives, and your help is needed to ensure that all members of the NYS Congressional Delegation sign on to it by the March 23 deadline. This letter is different from the “Dear Colleague” letters circulated in the House and Senate during previous years -- in addition to expressing general support for the Health Center Program, it also emphasizes the need for a quick fix to the Cliff. Representatives who sign on to this year’s “Dear Colleague” letter will go on record as being in support of a fix, even though the mechanics of the fix are as yet undetermined. read more >>

Cuomo Signs Bill Delaying Implementation of E-Prescribing
On Friday, March 6, Governor Cuomo signed a bill to delay the implementation of electronic prescribing for one year.  The law, which was enacted in 2012 as part of the State’s I-STOP legislation, requires all prescribers to move to an e-prescribing system and was set to go into effect on March 27, 2015. However, as outlined in CHCANYS’ recent memo to the legislature (link), numerous providers, including FQHCs, were unable to meet the original implementation deadline through no fault of their own due to a delay at the federal level in certifying EHR vendors. read more >>

DOHMH Announces Neighborhood Health Hub Initiative
The NYC Dept. of Mental Health and Hygiene (DOHMH) announced in February that it will make eight unused DOHMH spaces available for co-location of health centers (FQHCs and other D&TCs) and community-based organizations who will offer a range of services, programs and initiatives to improve community health, including primary care services, dental services, community health worker programs, behavioral/mental health, and youth health services.  In order to apply, interested parties must submit a letter of interest to DOHMH by May 1, 2014  (note new deadline). read more >> 

Healthy People 2020 Mental Health Webinar
Date: Thursday, March 19, 2015; Time: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. ET Join this Healthy People 2020 webinar focused on activities and interventions related to mental health disorders. Through four presentations focusing on data, communication efforts, and effective implementation strategies at the state level, presenters will explore the importance of mental health and the progress being made to address this public health issue. View more information and register for the webinar here.   

Webinar: Supporting Women at a Critical Time - Managing Early Pregnancy Loss in your Community Health Center
Date: Thursday, May 28, 2015; Time: 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Each year in the United States, approximately 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage. Though common, miscarriage can be a difficult time for women. Community health centers are well-suited to provide emotional support, continuity of care, and office-based, patient-centered clinical management to women experiencing early pregnancy loss. This webinar is designed for health center clinicians and administrative staff. The workshop will introduce the three treatment options available to managing early pregnancy loss. By working through interactive cases, participants at many learning levels will become more comfortable thinking about complications of early pregnancy. read more >>

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
The National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable is raising awareness in March about the “80% by 2018 Initiative,” which rallies organizations committed to eliminating colorectal cancer as a major public health problem and the shared goal of reaching 80% of adults aged 50 and older screened for colorectal cancer by 2018. read more >>

NY Regents Physician Loan Forgiveness Award Program
Pending the appropriation of state funds during the yearly session of the  NYS legislature, the NY Board of Regents will offer approximately 80 Physician Loan Forgiveness Awards of up to $10,000 per year for two years to physicians who agree to practice primary care medicine in designated physician shortage areas. Offers for 2015 awards will begin to be made to eligible individuals in July 2015. read more >>

New Funding for Health Center Facility Expansion Announced  
On March 3, 2015, HRSA announced the Health Infrastructure Investment Program (HIIP) funding opportunity. Up to $150 million in Affordable Care Act funding will be awarded to Health Center Program grantees for the alteration or renovation, expansion, or construction of a facility. HRSA will hold an informational call about this opportunity on March 24, 2015. Applications are due via Grants.gov by April 21, 2015. Supplemental information is due via the HRSA Electronic Handbooks (EHB) by May 21, 2015. For more information, click here.  

HRSA Releases Program Assistance Letter 2015-03: Calendar Year 2016 Requirements for Federal Tort Claims Act Coverage for Health Centers
On Monday March 16, HRSA released PAL 2015-03: Calendar Year 2016 Requirements for Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) Coverage for Health Centers. This PAL supersedes PAL 2014-03 and is intended to clarify and disseminate the requirements for the CY 2016 FTCA deeming and renewal application submissions. To view PAL 2015-03, click here.

February Medicaid Update Released
The Office of Health Insurance Programs of the New York State Department of Health has approved the release of the February Medicaid Update. To view it, click here.  

CHCANYS to Host Federal Tort Claims Act University in May 2015 
Date: May 14-15; Location: Double Tree by Hilton Tarrytown. FTCA U is an innovative new training organized by the FTCA Branch of HRSA's Bureau of Primary Health Care for FQHCs and potential FQHCs. It is a great opportunity for seasoned and new professionals to learn from experts, leaders, and government officials in the areas of FTCA and related subject matter. For details, click here. 

PCEPN Primary Care Sector Emergency Management Conference
Date: April 1, 2015; Time: 9:15 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Location: Baruch College, NYC. The Primary Care Emergency Preparedness Network (PCEPN) invites you to the first annual Primary Care Sector Emergency Management Conference. Topics will include: Emergency Management fundamentals; command and control; risk communication; hazard vulnerability analysis; hazard specific planning; and healthcare coalitions.  For additional information and to register, click here. 

NYSDOH 2015 Health Center Critical Asset Survey
CHCANYS recently sent all FQHCs and LALs a copy of the 2015 Health Center Critical Asset Survey, which is intended to identify your health center's emergency preparedness capabilities, equipment, special attributes, transportation capabilities, and emergency resources. Results of this survey will provide important information regarding your available assets and needs in the event of a catastrophic accident or health emergency. The survey results will also identify areas where CHCANYS can provide training and assistance to help your center become stronger community partners during emergencies. Please complete and return your survey by close of business on April 1, 2015.  If you have any questions, please contact CHCANYS Emergency Management team at: EMTeam@CHCANYS.org.

PCEPN to Coordinate Mystery Patient Drills at Primary Care Sites
PCEPN will work with primary care site representatives on the execution and evaluation of mystery patient drills, designed to test screening and isolation protocols at primary care facilities. After participation, primary care networks will receive $2,000 to be used for the purchase of biological/infectious disease preparedness materials.  For additional information and to register your primary care site and drill team, click here. 

PCEPN Ebola Preparedness Site Visit
PCEPN and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) have partnered to provide Ebola preparedness site visits to ambulatory care centers in New York City.  The site visits are an opportunity for your staff to: review the NYC-specific guidance for Ebola Preparedness in Ambulatory Care settings; identify specific infection control steps to support ongoing preparedness and protect staff/ patients; and ask questions and/or address concerns related to Ebola Preparedness and general preparedness for infectious diseases. read more >>

NY State of Health Update: Second Enrollment Period of a Success
NY State of Health, the state’s official health plan Marketplace, has announced that more than 2.1 million people signed up for health insurance by the end of the second open enrollment period, which began on November 15, 2014 and ended on February 15, 2015. Eighty-eight percent of Marketplace enrollees reported that they were uninsured at the time they enrolled. A majority of those who have enrolled in coverage via NY State of Health have reported that they are satisfied with their coverage (92%) and are using it to access care (84%). read more >>