Your CHCANYS: July 31, 2014 Edition

National Health Center Week is Almost Here - Broadcast Your Events!
National Health Center Week 2014 is just two weeks away, 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 10-16 – please fill out our quick online form to let us know how your health center plans to participate! read more >>

DSRIP Update: Design Grant Application Deadline Extended
The State is currently in the process of reviewing the 50 design grant applications submitted by emerging Performing Provider Systems (PPS) through the DSRIP Program.  Previously, awards for accepted applications were scheduled to be made on August 1, 2014.  However, this date has been changed to August 6, 2014. Please visit the DSRIP Design Grant webpage for this updated information.    

NACHC Launches Spanish Language Section of Advocacy Website / Newsletter
The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) has launched a Spanish language section of its Campaign for America’s Health Centers website, which features informative FAQs, videos, fliers, social media posts, and other tools. A weekly Spanish language advocacy newsletter is now available as well – click here to sign up! 

Urban Health Plan Recognized by CDC for HIV Screening Program
Urban Health Plan has been recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the effectiveness of its program to routinize HIV testing, including linkage to care. Click here to read more about their process.

June 2014 Medicaid Update
The Office of Health Insurance Programs of the New York State Department of Health has approved the release of the June 2014 Medicaid Update. Click here to download it.  

Call For Participants: Hepatitis C Physician Focus Group
The NYS Department of Health, AIDS Institute will host a series of physician focus groups to discuss the successes and challenges in implementing the New York State Hepatitis C Virus Testing Law. This law, which went into effect on January 1, 2014, requires the one-time offer of a hepatitis C screening test to all persons born between 1945 and 1965 who receive services as an inpatient of a hospital or in a primary care setting. The next focus group will be held in Manhattan on August 6, 2014; the target audience is primary care providers. Dinner will be provided for all participants. read more >> 

Information on Asthma in New York State
To support strategic action for public health and asthma control in New York State, the New York State Department of Health Asthma Program has updated asthma surveillance information through year 2012 on its Information on Asthma in New York State webpage. read more >> 

Webinar: Risk Management Considerations for Prescribing Opioids
Dates/Times: August 6, 2014 from 12:00– 1:00 p.m. and August 7, 2014 from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. ECRI Institute is offering this webinar on behalf of HRSA to provide guidance for health centers and free clinics on best practices and risk management strategies when prescribing opioids. read more >> 

Bending the Curve and PrEP
On July 24, Dan O’Connell (Director, AIDS Institute) distributed a letter describing the role that pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) plays in the Governor Cuomo’s three point plan to “bend the curve” on the AIDS epidemic and outlining actions that can be taken by clinical and non-clinical providers to expand access to this important HIV prevention intervention. read more >> 

Working Together to Manage Diabetes: CDC Releases PPOD Toolkit
The PPOD Toolkit was developed by the National Diabetes Education Program to show pharmacy, podiatry, optometry, and dentistry practitioners how to work collaboratively with each other, as well as with all other members of the health care team, to deliver more integrated care for patients with, or at risk for, diabetes. read more >> 

Telemedicine and Telehealth Service Provider Showcase
Date: October 6-7, 2014; Location: Phoenix, AZ. The first annual Telemedicine and Telehealth Service Provider Showcase is a national meeting that will focus on building partnerships for bringing high quality, telemedicine- and telehealth-enabled medical specialty services directly into hospitals, clinics, private practices and even patients’ homes. read more >>

Unite for Sight 12^th Annual Global Health & Innovation Conference
Date: March 28-29, 2015; Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT. The annual Global Health & Innovation Conference is the world’s largest and leading global health and social entrepreneurship conference. Abstracts for oral and poster presentation are now being accepted.  The first abstract deadline is August 31. For more information, click here. 

CHCANYS 2014 Statewide Conference & Clinical Forum is October 19-21:  Register Today!
Transformation Through Innovation & Collaboration is the theme for CHCANYS’ 2014 Statewide Conference & Clinical Forum, which will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in White Plains. This event offers topics of interest to all, including senior staff, clinicians of all disciplines, and board members. The General Sessions will touch upon important federal and state issues; workshops will focus on finance, policy and regulatory issues; innovative clinical and quality improvement practices and approaches; health center operations and governance, HIT, primary care workforce development, and more! read more >> 

Only a Few Sponsor/Vendor Tables Left – Don’t Miss Out!
CHCANYS’ Statewide Conference and Clinical Forum is the venue for learning about the product and service needs of New York’s community health centers. Scheduled for October 19-21 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in White Plains, this event is a don’t-miss opportunity to network with over 400 health center CEOs, CFOs, Medical Directors, and other senior leaders. Don’t wait - tables are limited! read more >> 

CHCANYS is Hiring!
CHCANYS is currently looking for a handful of people to join the team! For more information about these employment opportunities, visit our online Career Center.

CHCANYS Offers Supports for New Access Point Applications 
The New Access Point (NAP) RFP released by HRSA on July 8, 2014 announced the availability of $100 million in additional NAP funds under the Affordable Care Act to support the establishment of an estimated 150 new health center sites across the country during FY 2015. CHCANYS has developed a number of tools and resources to help strengthen NAP applications submitted by community health centers, including: data support; a health care environmental scan; PCA letters of support; assistance with emergency preparedness materials; and a series of webinars on targeted issues related to developing strong NAP applications. For information on how to access these supports, click here. 

Webinar: Developing a Competitive NAP Application: Your Budget and Financial Measures
Date: Friday, August 8, 2014; Time: 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. As part of CHCANYS' work to provide New York’s community health centers with the information and tools needed to strengthen their New Access Point grant applications, we are pleased to offer this webinar in collaboration with CohnReznick. An integral part of a successfully developed, compelling support request is an accurate and believable financial plan that is free of errors. Aparna Mekala and Scott Morgan of CohnReznick will review the financial components of the application, including financial measures and key financial forms, and will identify budget development best practices. read more >>

BPHC All Programs Webcast 
Date: Thursday, August 7, 2014; Time: 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. This webcast, hosted by the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC), will provide updates on current BPHC activities and future plans for fiscal year 2014. read more >> 

Tools and Resources for Assisting Special Population Groups from BPHC
The Bureau of Primary Health Care has developed resources and tools designed to assist health centers in meeting the needs of special population groups such as migrant and seasonal farmworkers and homeless populations. To access them, click here.

CMS Educational Coding Tool Now Available Online
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released two free Medscape Education modules that provide guidance to small practices making the transition to ICD-10. Now available in downloadable format, these tools provide education on ICD-9-CM, ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code sets, including a definition and payment information for each code set. Click here for more information. 

Join CPG and Save up to 30% on Telecommunications Services
CHCANYS is assisting the CommonWealth Purchasing Group   in raising awareness about its services to help health centers save money on their purchases, including telecommunications services, medical and dental supplies, and much more.  The leading group purchasing organization for FQHCs and other community-based, not-for-profit organizations, CPG will show you how to start saving on your existing orders right away! To learn more, click here or contact dcaronia@cwpurchasing.com.