Your CHCANYS

Congress Passes H.R. 2 Legislation and Approves Two Years of Additional Mandatory Funding for Health Centers
CHCANYS is proud to join thousands of advocates across the country in celebrating passage of the Medicare and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (H.R. 2), which will soon be signed into law by President Obama. This legislation includes a two-year extension of critical mandatory funding for community health centers, as well as two years of additional funding for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and the Teaching Health Centers Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program. We should all feel proud of what has been accomplished. The inclusion of health center funding in the H.R. 2 bill is largely due to our grassroots advocacy efforts over the past two years. Our phone calls, e-mails, and in-person visits with Members of Congress and their staff made a difference. Thank you for your hard work in helping to reach this critically important goal, which we would not have achieved without your commitment.  If you have not already done so, please take a moment to thank your Members of Congress in both the House and the Senate for their support. 

Important Changes to Capital Restructuring Financing Program in NYS 2015-16 Enacted Budget
The NYS SFY 2015-16 final budget amended the authorizing language for the Capital Restructuring Financing Program (CRFP) and added an additional $1.4 billion for capital projects that is limited to providers in Brooklyn, Oneida County and hospitals in certain locations where their services are considered “essential,” as defined by the NYS Department of Health (DOH).  Additionally, $10 million was allocated for behavioral health providers and a $19 million loan fund was created for primary care providers. As a result of the change to the CRFP authorizing language, DOH has reissued the CRFP Request for Applications; click here to access the revised version. read more >>

FQHC and Health Centers Perspectives: Accountable Care Organizations and Shared Savings Programs (Webinar)
The next round of Medicare ACO applications are due on July 31, 2015. Starling Advisers is offering a webinar designed to help health center leaders, staff, and board members understand ACOs and Shared Savings Programs and make informed decisions about whether to participate and under what terms. The presentation will review options for forming or participating in an ACO, including real-life examples of health centers already participating in the CMS program, as well as strategies for engaging locally in markets where ACOs are forming or expanding. read more >>

FTCA Applications Due May 26
Health center applications for Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) medical malpractice coverage are due by Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Program Assistance Letter (PAL) 2015-03 describes the process for Health Center Program grantees to submit initial and redeeming FTCA deeming applications for Calendar Year (CY) 2016. The PAL and related technical assistance resources may be viewed here. 

Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell Launches Compliance / FTCA Website for Health Centers
In response to requests from health centers across the country for compliance resources and Federal Tort Claims Act 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.   read more >>

NYSDOH 2015 Health Center Critical Asset Survey Open Until April 20
Thanks to those who took the time to complete the 2015 Health Center Critical Asset Survey. Funded by the NYS Department of Health, this survey is intended to identify your health center's emergency preparedness capabilities, equipment, special attributes, transportation capabilities, and emergency resources. Aggregate data will be shared with the Department of Health and will provide important information regarding health center assets and needs in the event of a catastrophic accident or health emergency.  The survey will remain open until April 20; if you have not yet completed it, click here to get started. read more >>

Schedule your PCEPN Ebola Preparedness Site Visit by April 30!
PCEPN and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene 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 >>

Webinar: Working with Difficult Personality Disorders within the World of Mental Health Reform
Date: April 29, 2015; Time: 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.; Presented by: Dr. Heather Muxworthy, DNP, PMHNP-BC, Chief of Behavioral Health, Jordan Health Center. Developed to equip primary care providers to better assist patients who present with personality disorders, this webinar will cover: biological and environmental factors that contribute to the development of a personality disorder issues; medical, psychological and cognitive behavioral interventions that can be accessed for patients with personality disorders; cognitive behavioral evidence-based practices; related neurotransmitters; and medication management. read more >>

Equity of Care Toolkit Helps Eliminate Health Disparities
To support efforts to improve the quality of health care in communities across the country, the American Hospital Association has released Equity of Care: A Toolkit for Eliminating Health Care Disparities. This user-friendly toolkit was developed to help accelerate the elimination of health care disparities and ensure that hospital leadership teams reflect the communities they serve. read more >>

NIH Releases Health Data Book on Women of Color
The Women of Color Health Data Book, 4th Edition, offers a look into the unique health needs of minority women through a collection of data on race/ethnicity and disease. Released by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Research on Women's Health just ahead of National Minority Health Month, the publication offers clues about how culture, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic background, and geographic location contribute to the health status of women of color. read more >>

Raising the Bar: Enhancing the Quality of Comprehensive Family Planning Services
Date: Friday, May 8, 2015; Time: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Are you ready to implement the Recommendations for Quality Family Planning Services (QFP) in your practice? Get the information you need at this virtual conference designed specifically for clinicians. read more >>

2015 Miscarriage Care Initiative: Applications Due May 15
The Reproductive Health Access Project (RHAP) is now accepting applications for the 2015 Miscarriage Care Initiative, an effort to expand access to evidence-based, patient-centered miscarriage care in primary care settings. Grantees will receive intensive support from RHAP to integrate and expand miscarriage treatment in their primary practices, including connections to additional clinical training, assistance with purchasing supplies and equipment, access to clinical protocols and patient education materials, and other technical support as needed. read more >>

CMS Offers Free “Think Teeth” Educational Materials to CHCs
According to the National Institutes of Health, tooth decay is the most common chronic disease for children and adults. Educating patients about the importance of oral health is now easier than ever thanks to free-to-order handouts and posters created by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. read more >>

March 2015 Medicaid Update
The Office of Health Insurance Programs of the New York State Department of Health has approved the release of the March 2015 Medicaid Update.  Click here to download it.

NYSDOH AIDS Institute Revises Clinical Guidelines for Prescribing PEP
Click here to view a letter from the NYS Department of Health AIDS Institute that highlights the updated 2014 clinical guidelines for prescribing post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and lists additional resources that support the provision of PEP.

Training Available Online to Support Implementation of the NYS Prevention Agenda
Did you miss any training opportunities or resources provided over the past year to support implementation of the New York State Prevention Agenda's Preventing Chronic Diseases Action Plan? The Center for Public Health Continuing Education at SUNY Albany School of Public Health has compiled them all in a new Online Resource Center. read more >> 

CHN’s Health Literacy Training Institute Announces Spring 2015 Lineup
Health literacy is an increasingly relevant aspect of patient care. Time and time again, limited health literacy is linked to adverse health outcomes including worsened illness severity, increased rate of hospital admissions, and difficulty managing chronic conditions. Since 2011, Community Healthcare Network (CHN) has provided dozens of trainings on health literacy; reviewed over a thousand patient materials; presented at local and national conferences, and provided technical support to organizations on health literacy. Upcoming trainings for Spring 2015 include: Improving Patient Materials 201 (Wednesday, April 22); Health Literacy and Family Planning Care (Thursday, May 14); Clear Communication with Patients (Wednesday, May 20). read more >>