Time is Running Out to Attest for the 2011 Meaningful Use AIU Incentive Payment!If your health center has not completed all of the steps required to attest for the first year of the Medicaid Meaningful Use Incentive for 2011 for Adopt, Implement or Upgrade (AIU) and mailed in the signed attestations for each of your eligible providers, your incentive payments for 2011 may be in jeopardy.
NY Medicaid is accepting MEIPASS submissions for 2011 through April 30, 2012. However, there are a number of pre-requisites that can take 2-6 weeks to complete prior to the actual attestation. We recommend that you complete the pre-requisites even if you believe you will not make the April 30th deadline in case NY offers an extension for those in process.
Many of the steps in the Registration & Attestation process are related, and it is important to follow a specific order in completing them. For example:
1. First, you must enroll your physicians and other eligible providers in NY Medicaid FFS. After you complete the paperwork, estimated State processing time is 4 weeks.
2. Only after the providers are enrolled in NY Medicaid FFS can you complete the CMS portion of the Registration.
3. Only after the providers are enrolled in NY Medicaid FFS can you submit the form required to link each provider to your health center’s Electronic Transmitter Identification Number (ETIN). Estimated State processing time is 2 weeks.
4. Only after the ETIN linkage is completed can you obtain the required ePACES account for each provider.
Additional information on these and all other steps required can be found on the CHCANYS web site.
News from PolicyIf you have questions about CHCANYS' policy and advocacy work, please contact Beverly Grossman, bgrossman@chcanys.org.
Indigent Care Pool Distribution Methodology to Change Beginning March 21, 2012 Please be advised that beginning March 21, 2012 (check cycle# 1802), all Indigent Care payments from the August 2011 DTC Indigent Care Award onwards will be included as part of your weekly Medicaid check.
Important: If your facility is not current with payments for the surcharges as described in PHL section 2807-j, the Indigent Care payment will be withheld until your facility comes current pursuant to PHL section 2807-j(6)(c). Any withheld amount prior to the August 2011 Indigent Care Award will be paid through the previous distribution methodology via a separate check once your facility becomes current and will not be included in the Weekly Medicaid check.
Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the Bureau of Primary & Acute Care Reimbursement directly at (518) 474-3020.
New FQHC HIV Rate Codes for Providers Not Opting Into APGs On March 27, the Bureau of Primary & Acute Care Reimbursement sent out a letter regarding the new FQHC HIV rate codes for providers not opting into APGs. Please click here to view the letter in its entirety.
NACHC Policy and Issues Forum 2012 a Great Success A big thank you to the health center leaders and staff from across the state who joined CHCANYS in Washington D.C. on March 21-25 for The National Association of Community Health Centers’ (NACHC) annual Policy and Issues Forum. Collectively, the New York State delegation met with 26 members of Congress and/or their staff as well as with the offices of Senators Gillibrand and Schumer to ask them to preserve and expand the vital work of the Health Centers Program by maintaining the 3.1 billion in total program funding in FY2013, thereby allowing health centers to extend care to 2.5 million new patients nationally.
To keep up-to-date on Federal issues and for more details on this year’s Federal advocacy agenda for community health centers, check out NACHC’s "Health Centers on the Hill" blog.
News from Health Center SupportIf you have questions about CHCANYS' health center support, please contact Rebecca Gaige, rgaige@chcanys.org
CHCANYS Community HealthCorps Recruiting New Sites The CHCANYS Community HealthCorps (CCHC) is actively recruiting for potential Health Center sites for its 2012-2013 program year. Community HealthCorps is a health-focused, national AmeriCorps program that promotes health care for underserved populations while developing tomorrow’s health care workforce. Through the Community HealthCorps program, AmeriCorps members serve in community health centers and fill critical service gaps that exist in the delivery of primary care at CHCs. For the last nine years, the CCHC has been essential in serving the needs of New York State's CHCs and the patients they serve. It is one of the best AmeriCorps programs in the country and continues to fulfill its mission of providing quality care to the medically underserved.
Our program will begin in October of 2012 and end in August of 2013. For more detailed information, please click here to review the Community HealthCorps fact sheet. Any CHC interested in participating should contact David Davis via e-mail at ddavis@chcanys.org or by phone at 212-710-3809.
Sponsor/Exhibit and Associate Member Opportunities Now Open for CHCANYS' 2012 Statewide Conference & Clinical Forum CHCANYS' 2012 Conference will be once again be held at The Saratoga Hilton Hotel & Saratoga Springs City Center. Please hold the dates of October 24-26, 2012.
This conference provides an opportunity to learn and network with 400 health center participants and partners serving 1.4 million patients annually. There will be one large exhibit hall this year, where some meals/breaks are scheduled to take place. Vendors will receive complimentary registrations to participate in sessions based on their level of support. Don’t wait – spaces are limited! Sponsors/exhibitors who become Associate Members will receive additional benefits. To learn more about sponsor/exhibit opportunities and the new Associate Membership discount for first-time members, click here.
Region II Conference The Region II Conference, hosted by The Virgin Islands Primary Care Office (PCO) and previously scheduled for June 11-14, 2012, has been cancelled.
NACHC Releases Report on Unmet Need for Primary Health Care in America A new report released by the National Association of Community Health Centers entitled, “Health Wanted: The State of Unmet Need for Primary Health Care in America,” explores the far-reaching health and cost consequences when people and communities are shut out of preventive medicine and underscores the role of community health centers as a proven solution to unmet primary care needs. The report may be downloaded in its entirety from the NACHC website by clicking here.
National Government Services (NGA) Offers Important Medicare Webinars
Fundamentals of the Medicare Program, Part 1 of 2 and Part 2 of 2
Intended for Medicare Part A, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Providers
The objective of this webinar series is to give providers a basic understanding of the Medicare program, with the intention that providers will utilize this information to prevent rejected and returned to provider (RTP) claims. Having a basic understanding of Medicare billing concepts and knowing how to access Medicare resources could increase reimbursement and prevent claim submission errors for your facility! Fundamentals of the Medicare Program, Part 1 Date: Tuesday, April 10, 2012 Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. ET Fundamentals of the Medicare Program, Part 2 Date: Wednesday, April 11, 2012 Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. ET Note: This is a two-part webinar series. To achieve the maximum benefit of this series, you should attend both webinars.
Registration for this session is now open. Click here for details, then select the 'Go to Home Page' link for your business type and location. Select the Training Events Calendar option under the Education and Training category on the left-hand side. Your registration is complete only when you receive a confirmation at your e-mail address immediately after submitting your registration.
Provider Enrollment Hot Topics and Updates Webinar
Intended for Medicare Part A, FQHC Providers
Confused about all of the new provider enrollment initiatives and requirements? Register today for the Part A Provider Enrollment Updates Webinar! Topics will include a review of new/revised provider enrollment applications (CMS-855 forms), the revalidation process, benefits of using the Internet-based Provider Enrollment Chain and Ownership System (IB-PECOS), the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) mandate and the updated Provider Enrollment section on the National Government Services web site.
Date: Thursday, April 5, 2012 Time: 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ET
Registration for this session is now open. Click here for details, then select the 'Go to Home Page' link for your business type and location. Select the Training Events Calendar option under the Education and Training category on the left-hand side. Your registration is complete only when you receive a confirmation at your e-mail address immediately after submitting your registration.
News from Clinical Quality Improvement If you have questions about CHCANYS’ Clinical Quality Improvement initiatives, please contact Kathy Alexis, kalexis@chcanys.org
FY 2012 Victim Assistance Professional Development Fellowship Program- Financial Fraud and Abuse The Office for Victims of Crime has just released a solicitation for a fellowship on financial abuse, with a major focus on victims of elder financial exploitation. The individual awarded a fellowship grant will work on-site at OVC in Washington, DC. Application Deadline: May 1, 2012
One fellowship of up to $135,000 will be awarded to an individual to work on-site at OVC in Washington, D.C., undertaking activities related to financial fraud and abuse with a specific focus on elder financial exploitation and financial abuse that may be co-¬occurring with other types of victimization. The fellow will assist OVC in meeting the larger field’s need for evidence-based training, technical assistance, and other resources to support the expansion and effectiveness of services to underserved crime victims. Applicants must be individuals (organizations are not eligible to apply) who demonstrate the financial and administrative capacity to manage the cooperative agreement, as well as the desire, knowledge, and ability to successfully execute the development of training, technical assistance, public awareness, and other informational resources to meet the needs of victim service providers and allied practitioners who serve crime victims. Those applying are strongly encouraged to begin the application process well in advance of the May 1, 2012, deadline.
Diabetes in New York State Despite efforts to curb the epidemic of diabetes in New York, the numbers keep going up. The latest figures from a report by the New York State Health Foundation and the Healthcare Association of New York State show how institutions are missing chances to help patients to better manage their disease and prevent those at risk from developing the illness. Click here to read more from the report posted on Health Pulse Extra.
The NYS Diabetes CampaignThe National Committee for Quality Assurance and Bridges to Excellence (BTE) Diabetes Recognition Program (DRP) are voluntary programs for practices to receive recognition for delivering quality diabetes care. Recognized health centers enjoy benefits such as being acknowledged as leaders in the community of practice and leveraging NCQA DRP data abstraction efforts for incentives such as that received through the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition. CHCANYS staff is available to provide technical assistance to those submitting for these recognition programs and to explore opportunities to improve clinical care outcomes.
For more information regarding the Campaign and for tools and resources available, visit the Half the Care website.
To begin your application for Diabetes Recognition, contact Kathy Alexis at kalexis@chcanys.org.
Release of the February 2012 Medicaid Update The Office of Health Insurance Programs of the New York State Department of Health has approved the release of the February 2012 Medicaid Update. Please click here to download the current edition.
Medicaid Fee-For-Service Preferred Drug List A revised preferred drug list was released on February 23, 2012. Click here for a complete list of all the preferred drugs. Preferred drugs that require prior authorization are indicated by a footnote.
Focus on Eye Health: A National Summit - SAVE THE DATE!Date: June 20, 2012 Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Location: Washington Marriott at Metro Center 775 12th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
Prevent Blindness America is hosting "Focus on Eye Health: A National Summit" on June 20, 2012 at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center. This event will launch the update of two very significant public health reports – Vision Problems in the U.S. and Economic Impact of Vision Problems. In addition to these updates, a variety of public health presentations will address vision and eye health in United States.
Attendees will include patient advocates, community-based organizations, national vision and eye health organizations, government agencies, and policymakers. Sign up here today for summit news and registration alerts.
NYPATH News NYPATH (New York Promoting and Advancing Teen Health) is an exciting new initiative for healthcare providers who serve adolescents in primary and specialty care settings throughout New York State. The project represents a unique partnership between the Columbia University Heilbrunn Department of Population & Family Health (HDPFH), Physicians for Reproductive Choice & Health (PRCH), the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), the ACT for Youth Center of Excellence (COE), and other adolescent medicine experts. The purpose of the project is to increase clinician capacity to provide high quality sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH), and other preventive healthcare services to adolescents. This will be accomplished by providing web-based tools, resources, and training programs as well as on-site training programs throughout New York State. NYPATH is planning kick-off training events in several regions throughout New York State. The kickoff events are designed to inform providers about resources available through NYPATH and to provide clinical training focused on recent innovations in providing adolescent-friendly, patient-centered reproductive health services.
The NYPATH team is in the process of identifying medical providers and other collaborators who might be interested in co-hosting these events. We are interested in finding sites that are centrally located to allow providers from several surrounding counties to attend. For further information, click here or contact Judy Lipshutz, MSW, RN at jl545@columbia.edu or 212-304-5237.
Please click here to read the second edition of the NYPATH News. This newsletter will help to inform you about training programs and other activities available through NYPATH. Please help NYPATH to expand its statewide reach by sending them e-mail addresses of your colleagues involved in adolescent health, or by forwarding this newsletter to other healthcare providers in your region. Your feedback, thoughts, and ideas are welcomed and may be sent to Judy Lipshutz, MSW, RN at jl545@columbia.edu or 212-304-5237.
Free Programs at the NYU Cancer Institute The NYU Cancer Institute is hosting programs that are open to the public and free of charge to patients, family members, future healthcare professionals and the NYC community at large. See below for upcoming March programs. For more information, please click here.
March 29th Head and Neck Cancer Screening at No Cost to You 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. NYU Clinical Cancer Center 160 East 34th Street
Co-sponsored by the Division of Head and Neck Surgery/Dept. of Otolaryngology. No appointment is necessary; please arrive no earlier then 4:30 p.m. and no later then 7:30 p.m. to ensure that you are seen. For screening information only, please call (212) 263-2266
National Eye Institute - 2nd Symposium on Stem Cells Monday April 16, 2012
The intramural science program of the National Eye Institute, in collaboration with the NIH Center for Regenerative Medicine, is organizing its Second Symposium on Stem Cells to be held on the NIH Campus in Bethesda on Monday April 16, 2012. The symposium will focus on advances in stem cell research as they relate to ocular physiology and disease analysis. Symposium speakers include Kevin Eggan (Harvard Stem Cell Institute), David Gamm (University of Wisconsin-Madison), Thomas Reh (University of Washington), and Sally Temple (Neural Stem Cell Institute, NY).
The symposium will be preceded by the 6th Sayer Vision Science Lecture, to be delivered by Yoshiki Sasai from the Center of Developmental Biology at RIKEN, Japan, on “Self-organization of neural structures in three-dimensional stem cell cultures.” NEI is committed to supporting the attendance of students and postdoctoral fellows working in the field by offering travel awards.
The deadline for abstracts and travel award applications is March 30, 2012.
For more information on the agenda, registration, abstract submission and travel award applications, please click here. If you have questions about the Symposium, please contact the NEI Office of the Scientific Director, (301) 451-6763; neisymposium@mail.nih.gov.
Tobacco and Public Health Learning Series Through a collaboration with the Empire State Public Health Training Center, the Tobacco Control Program is excited to announce the availability of a series of new e-learning courses focused on Tobacco and Public Health. Click here to view a brochure with a summary of the courses (link to attached Tobacco Use and PH courses doc). The courses were developed for the Empire State Public Health Training Center by the Professional Development Program (PDP), Rockefeller College, University at Albany. PDP was also the developer of the Tobacco Use Interventions Trainings for employees of OASAS-licensed facilities (currently available at www.tobaccorecovery.org). The Empire State Public Health Training Center is one of 33 public health training centers across the nation funded by HRSA to improve the public health system through strengthening the competency of the current and future public health workforce. Continuing education credits are offered. There are four Tobacco Dependence courses available:
Tobacco Awareness for Public Health Professionals Tobacco Assessment Toolkit Clinical Practice Guidelines Tobacco Treatment Toolkit Clinical Practice Guidelines Tobacco Dependence A Foundation for Public Health Professionals
For more information, or to register, please visit the Public Health Training website. For employees of State or local health departments, the courses are best accessed by clicking here. These courses are an excellent mechanism to strengthen your current skills; for new employees, they serve as a great introduction to tobacco awareness and dependence. We strongly encourage you to avail yourselves of this opportunity as appropriate for your staff and to share with partners in your communities.
News from Emergency ManagementIf you have questions about CHCANYS' EP work, please contact Matthew Ziemer, mziemer@chcanys.org.
Upcoming NYSDOH Health Center Communications Drill**
**Participation in this exercise will help you meet some of the HRSA Emergency Preparedness requirements.
The New York State Department of Health’s Office of Health Emergency Preparedness will be conducting the second of two communications exercises administered through the Integrated Health Alert Network (IHAN) during the spring of 2012. The goal of the exercises is to test the Department of Health’s ability to communicate with community health centers throughout the state. CHCANYS is assisting the NYSDOH by promoting health center readiness and assisting health centers with these exercises.
The next exercise will occur on Tuesday, March 27th, 2012.
This exercise will be increased in complexity as compared to the fall exercise and will require health center participants to log onto their Health Commerce System (HCS) accounts and respond to a prompt given by the Department of Health. The exercise will test both phone communications and email. Please be sure to answer both if you receive both.
Health centers are asked to check their status on the Health Commerce System to ensure their participation in the exercises. The NYSDOH is requesting that each center list an Administrator (person legally able to bind the health center to an agreement), an HPN Coordinator, and a BT (bio-terrorism) Coordinator on the HCS. It would also helpful for each center to listed as an Emergency Response Coordinator on the HCS as well. One person may fill multiple positions.
If your password for the HCS has expired, please call CAMU at 1-866-529-1890 and they will reset it for you. When calling CAMU, please have your original PIN or driver’s license available for verification.
If you have any questions regarding the HCS, please contact Mario Gonzalez, CHCANYS' Emergency Preparedness Program Manager, at 212-710-3810 or e-mail at mgonzalez@chcanys.org for assistance.
News from HITIf you have questions about CHCANYS' HIT work, please contact Lisa Perry, lperry@chcanys.org.
The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) Extends the 5010 Enforcement Discretion Period through June 30, 2012 On March 15, 2012 the CMS Office of E-Health Standards and Services (OESS) announced that it will extend the Version 5010 Enforcement Discretion Period through June 30, 2012. New York Medicaid will comply with these new guidelines and will continue to operate a dual system, accepting incoming transactions in Versions 4010 and 5010 and NCPDP 5.1 and D.0 formats through June 30, 2012. New York Medicaid will continue to send out electronic remittance advices (835s) only in the Version 5010 format.
The OESS extension of the Enforcement Discretion Period should not divert providers from their current compliance strategy and implementation timeline. In the last few weeks, incredible progress has been made. OESS urges all partners to continue their collaborative efforts and work to complete their Version 5010 transition well in advance of the June 30, 2012 date.
The Department of Health and Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) has extensive educational and technical resources available to assist providers and vendors with their Version 5010 transition efforts. Information on these resources can be found on the eMedNY website or by contacting the eMedNY Call Center at 800-343-9000.
If your health center has a training or technical assistance program that you'd like to share with others around the state, or if you would like to subscribe others at your health center to Your CHCANYS, please email the pertinent information to Rebecca Gaige-Troxell at rgaige@chcanys.org. We welcome your feedback and comments.
