Your CHCANYS

New York State FY 2015-16 Budget: FQHC-Related Highlights
The Legislature passed the New York State FY 2015-2015 budget on March 31, on time for the fifth consecutive year. Click here for highlights relevant to FQHCs, prepared for CHCANYS by Brown & Weinraub, PLLC. Click here to access a statement from Governor Cuomo’s office.  

PCMH Rate Changes Delayed
Thanks to our advocacy efforts and collaboration with the Primary Care Development Corporation, the NYS Dept. of Health has announced that they will delay the rate reductions for Patient-Centered Medical Home recognition under the 2011 NCQA standards until January 2016 instead of April 1, 2015, as previously proposed.  Payments for PCMH 2014 standards will be increased as of January 2016. read more >>

SBHC Transition to Medicaid Managed Care Postponed to July 2016
The NYS Dept. of Health has extended the date for the transition of School-Based Health Center (SBHC) services into the Medicaid Managed Care program to July 2016. The postponement will allow additional time for stakeholders to address remaining operational issues related to the shift to Managed Care. read more >>

House of Reps Passes H.R. 2; Senate to Vote in Mid-April
On March 26, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed by a vote of 392 to 37 the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, otherwise known as H.R. 2. This legislation contains $7.2 billion in mandatory funding over two years for the Health Center Program and two years of continued funding for Teaching Health Centers and the National Health Service Corps. If you haven’t already, please click here to thank your Representatives for their support. The bill has moved to the Senate, which is now on recess. Senate leaders Reid and McConnell have publicly committed to the bill being considered very quickly when session reconvenes on April 13. Our success thus far is due in no small part to your persistent advocacy – thank you! However, there remains much work to be done. Please be prepared to respond to additional calls-to-action in the weeks ahead.

Congressional “Dear Colleague” Letter Update: Strong Response from New York Delegation
Thanks to all advocates who contacted their Members of Congress and asked them to sign on to the Wicker-Stabenow (Senate) and Bilirakis-Green (House) health center appropriations letters that were circulated on the Hill in March. Twenty-three of the 26 members of the New York State delegation, including both Senators, added their names to these letters, which express general support for the Health Center Program and emphasize the need for a quick fix to the Primary Care Funding Cliff. read more >>

CHCANYS Testifies at New York City Council’s Preliminary Budget Hearing
On March 23, CHCANYS offered testimony during a Preliminary Budget Hearing of the New York City Council’s Health Committee that focused on the Mayor’s plans to expand health centers as the City confronts a severe shortage of primary care services in at-risk communities. CHCANYS’ Senior Policy Director Beverly Grossman urged the City Council to support Mayor Bill de Blasio’s preliminary budget plan, which includes $16.5 million for health centers. read more >> 

Conference: The Evolving High Performance Delivery System:  Value and Results
Date: April 16-17, 2015; Time: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Geared toward Medical Directors, physicians, NPs, PAs and practice leaders of FQHCs and other community practices that serve high risk populations, this free, two-day Continuing Medical Education (CME) conference will review important considerations relative to value based healthcare and payment reform and will feature presentations by CHCANYS President & CEO Elizabeth Swain and Senior Director of Clinical Quality Improvement Dr. Diane Ferran. By the end of the conference, participants will be able to: discuss the new models of the healthcare delivery system reform and how they can be employed; identify current solutions, including financial incentives aimed at addressing healthcare fragmentation and health outcomes; explain how data can be used to define standards of care and discuss how quality measures can be used to define value; and examine evidence for, and early results of, value-based purchasing programs.  read more >> 

NYS Dept. of Health to Upgrade NYPORTS and Offer Training Webinars  
In an effort to improve user experience and increase reliability and stability, the New York Patient Occurrence and Tracking System (NYPORTS) will soon undergo an update that will include substantial changes to its overall look and feel. The NYS Dept. of Health will offer a series of two-hour Webex presentations in April to train users on how to navigate the improved system.  The Department will also be sending information to facilities through the Health Commerce System.  Please note: This update will involve changes to the electronic system only; there will be no changes to reporting criteria, codes, or definitions at this time. read more >>

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. read more >>

PCEPN Ebola Preparedness Site Visit
PCEPN and the New York City Dept. 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. PCEPN/DOHMH teams will meet with at least one clinical and one non-clinical staff member on-site. Visits will take approximately one hour.  To schedule your Ebola preparedness visit, please contact PCEPN at 914-22-PCEPN (914-227-2376) or via email at info@pcepn.org.

National Fund for Workforce Solution’s Annual Meeting
Date: June 17-19, 2015; Location:  Baltimore, MD. The National Fund for Workforce Solution's Fifth Annual Meeting is a signature event that will bring together employers, local and national funders, labor representatives, training providers, and workforce development practitioners. Attendees will learn about the National Fund's innovative model, which is driven by public-private funder collaboratives and strong employer leadership, and which seeks to address our nation’s skills gaps and strengthen local economies. There will be workshops focused on young adults, apprenticeships, health care, sector-focused work, job quality, employer engagement, and lessons learned, with additional workshops on evaluation and learning, systems change, communications, and more. Click here for important information regarding conference details and registration instructions.

Medicare PPS Webinar: What You Need to Know for a Smooth Transition
Date: Tuesday, April 14, 2015; Time:12:00– 1:00 p.m. EDT. Please join Cohn Reznick’s Peter Epp (CPA, Partner, Healthcare Industry Practice - Co-Managing Director) and Dolores Di Re, (Healthcare Industry Practice – Manager) as they address: aspects of the new FQHC Medicare PPS model that will impact the financial performance of FQHCs, now and in the future; importance of developing an accurate charge structure; key concepts and strategies for developing charges for G-codes. The goal of this training is to position FQHCs for success during the implementation of the new FQHC Medicare PPS system. read more >>

HRSA Releases Releases Program Assistance Letter 2015-03: Calendar Year 2016 Requirements for Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) 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 describes the process for Health Center Program grantees to submit initial and redeeming Federal Tort Claims Act deeming applications for Calendar Year 2016 and is intended to clarify and disseminate the requirements for CY 2016 FTCA deeming and renewal application submissions. read more >>

HRSA Update
Jim Macrae, HRSA's associate administrator for primary healthcare who has headed the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) since 2006, will take over as acting administrator of HRSA following the appointment of Mary Wakefield to acting deputy secretary of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). Tonya Bowers, deputy associate administrator with BPHC, has been named acting associate administrator and will lead BPHC. read more >>   

Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell Launches Compliance / FTCA Website for Health Centers
The compliance landscape has become increasingly complicated. In response to requests from health centers across the country for compliance resources and Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) resources to prevent and detect conduct inconsistent with laws, regulations, and other legal requirements, Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell has created HealthCenterCompliance.com  This website gathers a broad range of compliance and FTCA resources, including information on top risk areas, tailored for health centers, into one convenient location. For more information, including details on available training opportunities, click here. 

Capital Ink Spring 2015 Issue Now Available
Capital Link’s Spring Issue reflects on the legacy of health centers and highlights ways to demonstrate value, measure impact and improve performance. To view it, click here.

New Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Cards Now Available
This convenient card provides updated, clinically relevant information on the recommended PEP regimen, triage protocol, baseline testing, and the New York State CEI Line, as well as links to additional information on PEP guidelines and CEI initiatives. To view and order free PEP and PrEP cards for your organization, click here. 

NYC DOHMH Releases Online Smoking Cessation Module for Providers
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., and health care professionals are in a prime position to help their patients successfully quit tobacco and simultaneously lower their risk of heart disease, stroke, COPD and other diseases. In order to provide primary health care providers, including those in training, with evidence-based information and resources to help their patients quit smoking, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has developed an interactive online learning module entitled, Treating Tobacco Use. read more >>

New York State 2015 Clinical Conference on HIV and Hepatitis C
Date: Friday, May 1, 2015.  Open to NYS clinical providers, this conference will focus on the clinical and public health aspects of HIV, HCV, and STDs. Participants will review key components of taking a behavioral risk assessment for HIV, HCV, and STD prevention and learn how to describe updates on HIV and HCV testing and treatment technology and best practices, as well as explain the role of social and behavioral factors in the provision of HIV and HCV prevention and treatment. read more >>

The Role of the Primary Care Clinician in HIV Care Treatment for Hepatitis C: New Tests, New Drugs & New Recommendations
Date: Thursday, April 16, 2015; Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.; Location: PS Restaurant, Vestal, NY. This evening will focus on the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C, modes of transmission, signs and symptoms, laboratory testing and diagnosis, as well as therapeutic regimens and monitoring plans. read more >>

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Conference
Date: Saturday, April 18^, 2015; Time: 9:00 a.m.-.1:00 p.m. This half-day conference will focus on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for PrEP, the NYS Dept. of Health PrEP guidance, patients who may benefit from PrEP, challenges in managing patients in various practice settings, as well as organizational  and psychosocial considerations for providing PrEP. read more >>

Clinical Symposium:  Providing Comprehensive Health Care to Men who Have Sex with Men (MSM)
Date: June 18, 2015; Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The NYC DOHMH and the NYC STD Prevention Training Center are offering a free one-day clinical symposium on MSM health for clinical providers. The event will feature sessions on sexual health, mental health, and strategies to provide comprehensive care to MSM patients, including sexual history taking, biomedical HIV prevention, vaccinations, and creating a welcoming clinic environment. Continuing medical and nursing education credits are available. read more >>  

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 >> 

Stage 3 Meaningful Use Proposed Rule and Certification Criteria Released
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released the proposed rule for Stage 3 of the Medicare and Medicaid  Electronic Health Record Incentive Programs. The rule gives more flexibility and simplifies requirements for providers by focusing on advanced use of electronic health records and eliminating requirements that are no longer relevant. The deadline to submit comments is 5:00 p.m. on  May 29, 2015. To view the rule. click here.