News from Policy If you have questions about CHCANYS' policy and advocacy work, please contact Beverly Grossman, bgrossman@chcanys.org.
Health Center Advocates Prepare for Busy Fall Election Day is right around the corner and we need to make sure we don’t falter this fall. When Congress returns to Washington for the "Lame Duck" session in November, it is likely that they will make key policy decisions that will have a dramatic impact on health center funding and critical programs that support health centers and patients they serve. Equally important is New York State’s upcoming legislative session and the 2013-14 State Budget. Governor Cuomo and State policymakers will be considering many of the recommendations put forward by the Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT).
Now is the time to make sure that State and Federal policymakers understand and support health center priorities! Here are some things you can to do to help:
Invite your Representatives / Congressional candidates to visit your health center. Whether your current Members of Congress are running again or not, it is important to educate sitting members and all candidates who may represent the legislative district in which your health center is located or serves. Click here to look up candidates running in your district(s). To access talking points to use when speaking with your Representatives, click here.
Ask your Representatives to join the Health Centers Caucus. Joining the Health Centers Caucus in the House or Senate is an easy way for Members to show their support for community health centers. Click here to find out if your Representatives have already joined. If they haven’t, contact them and ask them to join.
Recruit new Health Center Advocates for the Grassroots Action Network. The more people enrolled in the Grassroots Action Network, the more pressure we can collectively put on our elected officials to maintain the programs and resources that support FQHCs and the patients they serve. Signing up is quick and easy and can be done directly from the CHCANYS website.
Look for more action alerts from both CHCANYS and NACHC in the coming weeks and be prepared to respond!
Plan to Arrive Early to CHCANYS Annual Statewide Conference & Clinical Forum! CHCANYS’ Annual Statewide Conference & Clinical Forum 2012 begins on Wednesday, October 24th at 12:30 p.m. sharp with the following not-to-be-missed sessions:
Primary Care and Capital: Harnessing Opportunities The New York State health care landscape is changing in significant and meaningful ways. Primary care expansion is pivotal to this transformation. This session will discuss the capital development process and how to navigate and accelerate this process. It will also highlight the potential 1115 "MRT" Waiver investments in primary care infrastructure.
Operationalizing the Corporate Compliance Program This workshop will focus on the ever-changing corporate compliance needs of a health center. It will begin with a basic overview of the elements of an effective corporate compliance program and highlight new developments within the New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) relative to compliance programs. The session will also provide a practical approach to establishing a compliance program that will not only satisfy regulatory requirements, but provide a basis for assessing risk, developing a risk-scoring model and implementing a plan suitable to the health center's needs as well. The presentation will identify truly problematic compliance issues and cover practical solutions to those issues.
Please plan to arrive early! Registration is open from 10:00 a.m.
News from Health Center Support If you have questions about CHCANYS' health center support activities, please contact Rebecca Gaige, rgaige@chcanys.org.
Online Registration for CHCANYS' 2012 Statewide Conference & Clinical Forum Closes on October 17th - Register Today!
Saratoga Hilton Hotel and City Center Saratoga Springs, NY October 24-26, 2012
This year’s theme is Achieving the Triple Aim: Better Care, Better Health, Lower Costs. Among this year’s speakers/panelists are:
Daniel R. Hawkins, Jr., Senior Vice-President for Public Policy & Research, National Association of Community Health Centers
Jason Helgerson, Medicaid Director and Deputy Commissioner, Office of Health Insurance Programs, New York State Department of Health
Fred Dedrick, Executive Director, National Fund for Workforce Solutions
Karen Westervelt, Deputy Commissioner, Office of Primary Care and Interim Deputy Commissioner, Office of Health Insurance Programs, New York State Department of Health
Donna Frescatore, Deputy Director for Healthcare Redesign, NYS Executive Chamber
Dennis P. Whalen, Executive Vice President, Healthcare Association of New York State
Workshop speakers will include:
John W. Gahan, Jr., Director, Bureau of Primary and Acute Care Reimbursement, New York State Department of Health
Greg Allen, Director, Division of Financial Planning & Policy, Office of Health Insurance Programs, New York State Department of Health
Hold the Dates – Uniform Data Services (UDS) Trainings in New York State
Rochester: Thursday, November 15 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
New York City Monday, December 17 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
This one-day training covers the preparation of the 2012 UDS report and is directed at fiscal staff, clinical staff responsible for clinical measure reporting, and management staff at established FQHCs, New Access Points and Look Alikes. Click here for a UDS training description and to view the agenda. Stay tuned for details on registration fees and hotel logistics. Please contact Roxanne Wynn-Trotman at rwynn@chcanys.org or Rebecca Gaige at rgaige@chcanys.org with questions.
AIDS United and MAC AIDS Fund Announce Retention in Care for People Living With HIV/AIDS Funding Opportunity AIDS United and the M•A•C AIDS Fund have announced a Request for Proposals for the Retention in Care initiative, which aims to increase retention in effective HIV health care by people living with HIV/AIDS, particularly those who are living in poverty and are at risk for dropping out of care or becoming sub-optimally engaged in care.
The program will support approximately five grantees in the United States to facilitate retention in HIV health care by strengthening support and service systems and addressing barriers that affect people's ability to consistently participate in such care. AIDS United encourages applications that include a focus on marginalized, underserved populations that traditionally have less access to, and retention within, medical care. Total project budgets are expected to be in the range of $200,000 to $250,000 annually.
Applications are due November 2, 2012. The complete Retention in Care RFP and application instructions are available here.
Employment Issues Facing Nonprofits—Teleconference Series The Pro Bono Partnership is offering a series of “Lunch and Learn” teleconferences for non-lawyers on the legal issues encountered by nonprofit employers. The next conference will be held on November 14th at noon and will be on Social Media in the Workplace. Registration is required by November 9th. There is a $20 non-refundable registration fee. For more information on the series, as well as other free or low-cost learning opportunities offered by the Pro Bono Partnership, click here.
September 2012 Medicaid Update Now Available Click here to access the September 2012 Medicaid Update.
Priority Management Group Offers New Training Video Library Priority Management Group is now offering access to a library of recorded WebEx training videos for purchase on topics such as credentialing, coding, CHC compliance and more. With a subscription, you can review these sessions yourself or get access for your entire staff. Click here for more information and to view the library selections.
NACHC and Feldsman Tucker to Host Legal Reimbursement Webinar
Date: October 24th 2012 Time: 2:00 – 3:30 PM Online Registration Deadline: October 22, 2012
This webinar on PPS Reimbursement issues, presented by Edward T. Waters, Managing Partner, and Matthew S. Freedus, Partner, Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP, will review the trends in current Medicaid PPS litigation and provide participants with guidance on monitoring state Medicaid policies to ensure that their health centers are receiving the protections provided under federal law. Click here for more information.
News from the Quality Improvement Program If you have questions about CHCANYS’ Quality Improvement Program, please contact Kathy Alexis, kalexis@chcanys.org.
Health Advisory: Meningococcal Vaccine Recommendations for HIV-Infected Men Who Have Sex with Men The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOHMH) has reported an outbreak of meningitis infection among MSM residing in NYC. Thirteen cases have been reported since 2010, including four cases that were reported last month. Eight of the 13 cases are HIV-infected. Four of the 13 patients have died, including three who were HIV-infected.
New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has been coordinating with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOHMH) regarding their recent recommendations for meningococcal vaccine for HIV-infected men who have sex with men. Click to view the NYSDOH and NYCDOHMH advisories.
NYSDOH is extending this recommendation for residents outside of NYC who have had intimate contact with men in New York City, met either through an online website, smart phone app, bar, or party, since September 1, 2012.
Patients should first check with their usual HIV care providers to ask if they have a vaccine and to schedule an appointment to be immunized. Patients who do not have HIV care providers or whose usual medical providers do not currently have a vaccine should click here to identify sites offering vaccinations and/or HIV care. Local Health Departments (LHDs) may also have a vaccine available; click here for contact information.
This outbreak should not be confused with another meningitis outbreak recently reported by the media, which is attributed to contaminated medication administered through a spinal injection to patients in several states.
Connect® Workshop CancerCare’s free Connect® Workshop provides information on cancer-related issues for people living with cancer, their families, friends and health care professionals. The workshops are led by experts in oncology and may be accessed via telephone or online webcast. Professional continuing education credits are available for social workers and dietitians. Upcoming workshop topics include:
What's New in the Management of Blood Clots for Cancer Patients Friday, October 19, 2012 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. EST
Update on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Tuesday, October 23, 2012 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. EST
Progress in the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma Thursday, November 29, 2012 1:30-2:30pm EST
To register for the workshops, click here or call 1-800-813-4673. After you have registered, you will receive additional information. To listen to previous workshops on the CancerCare web site, click here.
NYPATH Announces Westchester Region Kick-Off Training Program NYPATH (New York Promoting and Advancing Teen Health) will kick off a training program in Westchester this month that is designed for medical providers including physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants who provide health care services to adolescents.
Westchester Kick-Off Training Program West Harrison, New York at the Fordham University, Westchester Campus October 18, 2012
The training is completely free, and participants are eligible for 1 AAFP prescribed CME credit (equivalent to AMA PRA Category 1). Click here for more details, including registration information.
Free Behavioral Health Training on the Prevention of Human Trafficking
Training Institute on Human Trafficking Prevention: Health and Social Service Concerns for At-Risk Women and Youth Date: October 17 – 18, 2012 Location: The Jacob Javits Federal Building, 26 Federal Plaza, New York NY 10278 Sponsored by: Region II US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Administration for Children and Families, and The Freedom Network USA
This Region-wide training will strive to raise awareness and increase prevention efforts regarding women, youth and human trafficking in the United States. The goal of the Training Institute is to utilize public health and social justice approaches to build the capacity of community-based and faith-based organizations to recognize the signs of human trafficking and to identify the resources available for further information, training, technical assistance and referrals.
Click here for more information. If you have any questions, please call 212-264-2560 and ask for the HHS Training Institute Coordinator.
State Funds for LGBT Care Available The New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute has announced a Request for Applications for Health and Human Services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Individuals, Families and Communities to support provision and/or coordination of care.
News from Emergency Management If you have questions about CHCANYS' Emergency Management work, please contact Matthew Ziemer, mziemer@chcanys.org.
Health Center Emergency Management Annual Assessment The CHCANYS Emergency Management Team is preparing to deliver a health center emergency management survey across the state which will cover various areas of emergency management at community health centers. This survey will cover all federal and local regulatory requirements for emergency management and will assist us in designing future programs for our health centers. For more information, please contact Matt Ziemer at mziemer@chcanys.org.
Biosurveillance Update Please click here for a detailed update on the West Nile Virus, Influenza and Measles.
Flood Mitigation and Planning A recent report on Homeland Security Newswire web magazine has indicated that New York is behind the curve in preparing for a catastrophic flood. New York City and State agencies, with the involvement of the CHCANYS Emergency Management Team, have been hard at work during the past year developing better plans for responding to large storms and planning for medical evacuations. Health centers can assist in this process by reviewing their own evacuation and medical surge plans to ensure their ability to assist in larger evacuations, which could include caring for patients that may not be able to be seen at a local hospital. Assistance for such patients includes but is not limited to refilling prescriptions for the chronically ill, caring for the worried well, assisting evacuees with special needs, and coordinating definitive care with the partners in your community.
The CHCANYS Emergency Management program has developed plans to integrate health center response into the larger system. If you have any questions about these plans, contact Mario Gonzalez at mgonzalez@chcanys.org or click here to visit the Primary Care Emergency Preparedness Network website. CHCANYS Emergency Managers will be happy to assist you in planning the integration of your services with New York City and New York State health partners.
Health centers are also urged to revisit their Hazard Vulnerability Analyses to assess their vulnerability to flooding and review results from after action reports, especially those created as a result of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Rita, in an effort to improve their defense against future storms. For assistance, please contact Mario Gonzalez.
PCEPN at CHCANYS Statewide Conference and Clinical Forum – Wednesday, October 24 HRSA as well as other federal agencies have become increasingly more interested in emergency management at FQHCs in recent years. Part of this interest is due to the extensive role FQHCs have historically played in large scale disasters and how health centers have responded to the needs of their communities. CHCANYS and the Primary Care Development Corporation have entered into a partnership, known as PCEPN, to help improve the integration of the New York City primary care sector with local and regional plans in New York City. PCEPN has made great strides towards improving coordination and communication among health centers and other health care partners, which in turn has led to improved preparedness and responsiveness of the primary care sector.
Please join Matt Ziemer, Director of Emergency Management at CHCANYS and Jean Paul Roggiero, Senior Program Manager at PCDC at CHCANYS’ annual Statewide Conference and Clinical Forum on Wednesday, October 24th, where they will share the latest information on the development and execution of emergency exercises that have helped health centers to satisfy federal requirements.
News from Workforce Development If you have questions about CHCANYS’ Workforce Development Program, please e-mail us at workforce@chcanys.org.
Registration for 2012 New York University Public Health Career Fair Now Open The 2012 New York University Public Health Career Fair, to be held on Friday, November 9, 2012 from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m., provides an excellent opportunity to meet promising NYU candidates from diverse professional and academic backgrounds who are interested in global and domestic public health practice, management, policy, and research. This free event is open to graduate and undergraduate students and alumni who are seeking job, internship, practicum, volunteer and fellowship opportunities.
To register for the Career Fair, please click here. Once you are in the system, click on "2012 Public Health Career Fair is currently active" under"Attend Events" on the bottom right and follow the instructions.
If you are not able to attend the event but would like to publicize an opportunity at your organization, click here to review instructions for posting.
If you know of a colleague who may be interested in participating, if you have questions, or if you are having trouble logging onto the site, please send an e-mail to mph.practice@nyu.edu.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Seeks Applications for Executive Nurse Fellows Program The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Executive Nurse Fellows program is a three-year advanced leadership program for nurses who aspire to lead and shape health care locally and nationally. Fellows strengthen and improve their leadership abilities related to improving health and health care.
Executive Nurse Fellows awards are open to registered nurses who hold senior leadership positions in health services, scientific and academic organizations, public health and community-based organizations or systems, or national professional, governmental, and policy organizations. Up to twenty fellowships will be awarded for the 2013 cohort. Up to $35,000 will be awarded to each fellow over three years.
The deadline for applications is January 15, 2013. An optional applicant Web conference call will be held on November 2, 2012. Registration is required.
For the full RFP and information on the conference call, click here.
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.
