Your CHCANYS: 07-28-16

Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program RFA Released
The NYS Dept. of Health (DOH) has just released a Request for Applications (RFA) for the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program.  A total of up to $195 million in grants is available to health care providers to support capital projects that address acute inpatient, outpatient, primary, home care or residential health care services needs in a community.  A minimum of $30 million of the total funding is designated for community-based health care providers, including diagnostic and treatment centers, mental health and alcohol and substance abuse treatment clinics, primary care providers, and home care providers. This set-aside represented the first time the State earmarked funding in the budget specifically for community-based providers and was a big win for community-based healthcare. 

National Health Center Week is Almost Here!
National Health Center Week 2016 is right around the corner, and many of you are deep in the planning stages. CHCANYS wants to help spread the word about all of the exciting events taking place throughout New York State during the week of August 7-13 – if you haven’t already, please fill out our quick online form to let us know how your health center plans to participate! Given that this is an election year, Members of Congress are particularly interested in connecting with their constituents in positive ways. If you have not yet invited your Congressional Representatives to attend your events, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible. CHCANYS’ National Health Center Week webpage features a number of resources designed to assist you in bringing greater awareness to your celebrations, and NACHC’s website is also full of helpful tools and links. CHCANYS staff are available to assist you as you prepare for this exciting week! Please contact Kate Graetzer or 518-434-1115 with any questions. 

NYS Farmworker Health Conference
Date: August 11, 2016
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Holiday Inn Syracuse/Liverpool; 441 Electronics Parkway, Liverpool, NY
Sponsored by Finger Lakes Community Health, this year’s conference will feature presentations by Roy Gremano award-winning producer of 5 documentary films and an expert on the politics of international migration, and Dr. Heather Trobert, trauma-informed care expert. Issues to be discussed include the impact of the Supreme Court immigration decision on farmworkers, the expanded federal definition of a farmworker, Zika and its impact on the farmworker population, and much more. Although the conference is free to attend, advance registration is required. For additional details and to sign up, click here. 

New Legislation Enacted to Limit Initial Opioid Prescribing to a 7-Day Supply for Acute Pain
To further reduce overprescribing of opioid medications, effective July 22, 2016, initial opioid prescribing for acute pain is limited to a 7-day supply per New York State Public Health Law section 3331, 5. (b), (c). Click here for additional details on this legislation recently shared by the NYS Dept. of Health.

2015 AHCF Cost Report Submission Deadline Extended 
The Division of Finance and Rate Setting (DFRS) of the NYS Dept. of Health has extended the deadline for the submission of the 2015 AHCF Cost Report to October 1, 2016. The report will be used to calculate a January 1, 2017 APG clinic capital rate. There have been no changes to the report requirements since last year. Please note that DFRS will be unable to provide an additional extension beyond the October 1 deadline, as time must also be allotted for processing, review, noticing to providers, approval of the January 1 rates by the Dept. of Health and NYS Division of the Budget, and preparation of any distributions developed from the cost report data. 

Federal Policy Update
Congress has adjourned for the summer, and Members will return to their home districts for the month of August. Prior to adjourning, the House Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) Labor, Health, and Human Services (LHHS) Appropriations bill. The legislation contained the full Health Center Program funding request for fiscal year 2017 (FY17) of $5.1 billion in funding for health centers. This is level funding compared with FY16 and composed of $1.5 billion in discretionary funding from the Appropriations Committee and $3.6 billion in funding from the mandatory Health Centers Fund, which was extended last year by H.R.2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved their version of the FY17 LHHS Appropriations bill, which also contained the full Health Center Program funding request, in June.   

HRSA Awards Over $149 M in Education and Training Grants to Strengthen Nation’s Health Workforce 
On July 20, HRSA announced more than $149 million in new awards through 12 workforce programs designed to prepare the next generation of skilled, diverse primary care providers to serve communities in need across the country.  HRSA’s education and training grants support the development of a workforce that can meet 21^st century needs through an emphasis on diversity, distribution of clinicians, and quality services that encourage innovative team-based and interprofessional approaches.  To view a full listing of grants, click here. 

Nearly Half of Doctors Polled in Recent Survey Have Never Heard of MACRA  
Nearly half of doctors polled via a recent survey by Deloitte said that they have never heard of Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). Eighty percent of the 600 physicians polled said they prefer traditional fee-for-service or salary as compensation. Approximately 58% of respondents said that they would be willing to be part of a larger organization to diminish individual risk and to have access to more resources. Nearly 80% said they expect that MACRA will drive doctors to join larger organizations or networks. To access the survey, click here.

Webinar: Strategies to Expand Access to Oral Health Services: Emerging Models and Workforce Innovations
Date: July 28, 2016 
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.  
There is a growing body of evidence documenting the relationship between physical and oral health, increasing interest in expanding access to basic oral health services, particularly for underserved populations. This webinar will discuss key access barriers in oral health and describe findings from research studies conducted by the Oral Health Workforce Research Center that highlight innovative oral health service delivery models and workforce strategies aimed at increasing access to oral health services. Advance registration is not required. To access the webinar, click here.

NYS Dept. of Health Seeking Input on New Community Health Worker Training Curriculum
The NYS Dept. of Health’s Bureau of Community Chronic Disease Prevention will soon launch an online training program for community health workers who assist clients in the prevention, management and self-management of chronic conditions like high blood pressure, hypertension, diabetes and asthma.  Draft training modules may be previewed here by clicking the “log in” button. A short survey designed to gather comments on the training may be found here.  The Dept. of Health is particularly interested in feedback from community health workers who are employed by or working in association with FQHCs. Comment s will be accepted until August 5. 

Anne Kauffman Nolon of HRHCare Highlighted in NY Times Article on National Disease Research Project
Community health centers across the nation, including New York’s Hudson River HealthCare, will recruit patients to participate the National Institute of Health’s Precision Medicine Initiative which will attempt to identify causes of and cures for disease through the collection and analysis of genetic samples and detailed lifestyle information from a variety of patients. Click here to read an article from last Sunday’s edition of The New York Times featuring a quote from HRHCare’s President and CEO Anne Nolon.

The Final Rule On The FLSA White-Collar Overtime Regulations: What Employers Need To Know Now
Date: August 9, 2016
Time: 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
This webinar, hosted by Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell and presented by Stacy Mueller of Constangy, Brooks, Smith and Prophete, LLP, will review the U.S. Dept. of Labor's newly adapted Final Rule on white-collar exemptions to overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which will take effect on December 1 and is expected to have a significant impact on many employers.   

340B Manual Now Available from NACHC 
The Nat’l Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) has created a comprehensive 340B Manual containing resources and information to assist FQHCs in ensuring that their 340B programs are compliant with federal requirements. Issues covered in the manual include: 340B basics; registration and recertification; Medicaid and 340B; policies and procedures; audit and compliance requirements; and the latest policies from the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Empire BlueCross BlueShield to Host Forums for Medicaid Providers 
Empire BlueCross BlueShield will host a number of educational breakfast forums for Medicaid Providers throughout New York State beginning later this month and extending through the end of the calendar year.  The forums are designed to drive collaboration between Empire and the Medicaid provider network and provide helpful information and resources as well as networking opportunities. Topics to be covered include quality incentive and shared savings program updates; New York’s Essential Plan; and Empire marketing and member programs. For more information  and to register, click here. 

Resources to Stretch Your Dollars
CHCANYS partners with the CommonWealth Purchasing Group (CPG) as a value-added service to FQHCs in New York State. CPG’s portfolio of over 60 nationally recognized vendors can help you save money on day-to-day business purchases as well as larger, one-time expenses related to expansion projects. For a free assessment and to learn more, click here.

NYC Coastal Storm Plan Training 
August 1^st is right around the corner and with it comes the beginning of the 2016 hurricane season. Has your health center reviewed its hurricane season plan yet? If not, be sure to click here to learn about NYC Coastal Storm Plan training opportunities.

Zika Preparedness and Hurricane Season Resources in Spanish  
Looking for preparedness resources in Spanish? FEMA has prepared helpful slides about Zika and the National Hurricane Center has created a handout on the upcoming hurricane season.  

Beat the Heat - Stay Cool! Stay Hydrated! Stay Informed!  
During the summer months, all New Yorkers are vulnerable to hot weather hazards. Those residing in New York City, where temperatures can be as much as ten degrees warmer than in surrounding areas, are particularly vulnerable. When you must be outdoors in hot weather, take steps to stay cool and healthy.

Upcoming HEPC Meetings 
The new budget period (BP5) kicked off on July 1, and regional Health Emergency Preparedness Coalitions will hold their first meetings soon. All health centers are encouraged to participate in the meetings scheduled for their respective regions. Click here for a listing of upcoming events. 

DOHMH to Host Call on Zika Virus
Date: Friday, July 29, 2016
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
During this call, the NYC Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene will provide updated information on Zika virus infection and its connection with birth defects, details about who should be tested and how to obtain testing for these patients, as well as an opportunity to ask questions. To access the call, dial (800) 230-1951. 

CHCANYS Statewide Conference & Clinical Forum 2016: Sponsorships Available 
Whether you have existing FQHC clients or are new to the community health center market, CHCANYS’ Statewide Conference and Clinical Forum is the venue for networking with health center decision-makers and learning about their current product and service needs.  The conference is scheduled for October 30- November 1 at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, and this year’s activities will all take place in one building to ensure easier access to vendors and conference events. Click here or contact rwynn@chcanys.org to learn more about marketing opportunities, including ROI. Don’t wait, spaces are limited. 

CHCANYS/Latman Family Day at the Races: September 24, 2016
This year’s CHCANYS/Latman Family Day at the Races will take place on Saturday, September 24 at the beautiful Belmont Park Racetrack.  Scott Fein of BioReference Laboratories and Lynn Sherman of Charles B. Wang Community Health Center are this year’s honorees. This fun-filled family event will feature a BBQ lunch, activities and entertainment for children of all ages, raffles, a silent auction, and more! Proceeds will benefit CHCANYS and its mission to ensure high quality health care to anyone in need, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. To purchase tickets, journal ads, and sponsorships, click here. 

MEIPASS Availability for EHR Incentive Program Now Anticipated Early 4th Quarter
NY Medicaid's attestation system (MEIPASS) is currently closed for updates as of July 1, 2016. The system will be undergoing important maintenance for Meaningful Use attestations for 2015 and beyond. During this maintenance period, users will not be able to access MEIPASS and therefore will be unable to attest for AIU or Meaningful Use. It is anticipated that MEIPASS will reopen during the early fourth quarter of calendar year 2016. Announcements will be made via LISTSERV and the program website. If you are not registered to receive these email announcements, please be sure to sign up here.