Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Program Applications Due January 8
In October 2015, New York State was awarded a one year planning grant from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to develop a Certified Community Behavioral Health Center  (CCBHC) proposal and program demonstration. New York’s Office of Mental Health, Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, and Department of Health released the CCBHC application on December 3.  The submission deadline is January 8, 2016. The purpose of the application is to identify community behavioral health providers who meet, or demonstrate the ability to meet, all certification criteria under the Federal CCBHC planning grant and program demonstration initiative.  

State and Federal 2016 Legislative Calendars Now Available 
The New York State Legislature and the United States Congress have each released legislative calendars for 2016. To view the New York State Legislative Calendar (January – June 2016), click here.  To view the Congressional Calendar (January – December 2016), click here.

Advocacy Day is March 7, 2016 – Save the Date!
It's time to start making plans to attend CHCANYS' annual Community Health Center Grassroots Advocacy Day, scheduled for March 7, 2016 at the Empire State Plaza in Albany. Additional details and an online registration form will be posted on the CHCANYS website soon. In the meantime, we urge you to begin recruiting widely for this important event! Please contact Kate Graetzer in CHCANYS’ Albany office at 518-434-1115 or kgraetzer@chcanys.org with any questions or concerns. 

Value Based Payments (VBP): An Introduction
The NYS Department of Health recently announced the release of  “Value Based Payments (VBP): An Introduction,” a video available in both English and Spanish that explains what value based payments are, the important role that they play within the NYS Medicaid program, and how they will help improve patient outcomes.  

HRSA Announces Funding Opportunity for Health Center Controlled Networks
HRSA has announced a new funding opportunity for health center controlled networks nationwide of up to $1.5 million per year for 3 years. New York FQHCs and designated look-alikes are invited to join the CHCANYS application, due February 1, 2016. Please contact Amy Grandov (agrandov@chcanys.org) or or Lisa Perry (lperry@chcanys.org) with questions or to express interest. CHCANYS’ existing New York Statewide Health Center Controlled Network (NYS-HCCN), established in 2012, includes 35 FQHC members from across the state and is funded through July 31, 2016. If awarded, the new round of funding will start August 1, 2016. Both current NYS-HCCN members and new members are welcome to join the application. The NYS-HCCN will support health centers’ participation in DSRIP and preparation for value-based payments. Specifically, the purpose of the FY16 HCCN funding opportunity is to support health centers in achieving Meaningful Use of Office of the National Coordinator (ONC)-certified electronic health records (EHRs), adopting technology-enabled quality improvement strategies, and engaging in health information exchange (HIE) to strengthen quality of care and improve patient health outcomes. 

Meaningful Use: Attestations for 2015
In accordance with Electronic Health Record Incentive Program—Stage 3 and Modifications to Meaningful Use in 2015 Through 2017; Final Rule, the new requirements will be effective as of December 15, 2015.  As of that date, eligible providers may no longer attest to the prior set of requirements. However, NY Medicaid's MEIPASS system will not be ready on December 15 to accept attestations that reflect the modifications to Meaningful Use and, due to the complex changes, a new date has not yet been established. Providers scheduled for Meaningful Use Stage 1 who would like to avoid this delay are therefore encouraged to attest to the prior requirements before December 15. 

Coming Soon: CPCI to Become a “Specialized Registry” for Meaningful Use Public Health Objective
The Center for Primary Care Informatics (CPCI) is planning to declare itself as a Specialized Registry ready to accept data, in accordance with the Meaningful Use Public Health Objective for Specialized Registries. Stay tuned for additional information regarding how CPCI will support registration and onboarding as well as provide written acknowledgements of provider engagement to support audit. 

UDS Report Preparation Resources 
The submission deadline for the UDS report is February 15, 2016.  Preparation resources, including training modules, FAQs, and a schedule of forthcoming webinars, are available here. Additional New York State-specific tips and materials from the training sessions recently hosted by CHCANYS in Rochester and New York City (the best attended UDS sessions to date!) have been posted to the CHCANYS website. Assistance is also available throughout the year at 1-866-UDS-HELP, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. 

Webinar: BPHC All-Program Update
Date: December 10, 2015; Time: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. 

This webcast will provide all BPHC program grantees, Look-Alikes, and cooperative agreement partners (NCAs, PCAs, and BPHC staff) with updates on current Health Center Program activities and future plans for fiscal year 2016. Click here on the day of the session to join.

Serving Veterans: A Resource Guide
The SAMSHA HRSA Center of Integrated Health Solutions has developed a new guide designed to help primary and behavioral healthcare professionals provide culturally-competent, quality healthcare services to veterans. Click here to view it.

OMIG Update: 2015 Compliance Program Certification Info 
Information and forms for the December 2015 compliance program certification period have been posted to the New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) website. To view them, click here. 

FY 2015 New Access Points Implementation Reminder
In its November 25th Primary Care Digest newsletter, HRSA issued a reminder to health centers that received New Access Point (NAP) awards in August 2015 regarding the approaching 120-day implementation deadline. For more information about NAP site implementation and the related progressive action process, please refer to the presentation that was e-mailed to all August NAP award recipients on August 30, 2015.  

NYSDOH November Medicaid Update Now Available
The Office of Health Insurance Programs of the New York State Department of Health has approved the release of the November 2015 Medicaid Update. To access it, click here. 

Receive Support from CPG in Utilizing Your New Expansion Grants
With a portfolio of over 60 nationally recognized vendors, the CommonWealth Purchasing Group (CPG) can help your organization find the right vendors to assist with expansion-related needs. CPG offers convenient “one-stop shopping” and savings for every step of your project, including site development, IT implementation, and even staffing. To receive a complimentary, no-risk cost comparison, call 617-988-2256 or visit www.cwpurchasing.com.  

Webinar: Developing Medicaid-Based Primary Care Rational Service Areas

Date: December 16, 2015; Time: 2:00 p.m. EST. Presented by: Robert Martiniano, DrPH, MPA, Senior Program Manager, Center for Health Workforce Studies 

In collaboration with the NYS Dept. of Health, the Center for Health Workforce Studies developed a statewide set of Medicaid-based rational service areas (Medicaid RSAs) based on the commuting patterns of Medicaid patients from their places of residence to their providers. This webinar will describe the approach used to develop and assess Medicaid RSAs, including information about the demographic and health care indicators used to identify the RSAs with the highest need.  For more information, click here. 

Primary Care Training and Enhancement Program
HRSA is soliciting applications for the FY 2016 Primary Care Training and Enhancement (PCTE) program, which is designed to strengthen the primary care workforce by supporting enhanced training for future primary care clinicians, teachers, and researchers. The submission date is December 16, 2015.  Applicants must focus on training for transforming healthcare systems, particularly enhancing the clinical training experience of trainees.  For more information about the program and application requirements, click here. 

Update: Primary Care Scholarships and Loan Repayment Opportunities
The application process for primary care scholarships and loan repayment opportunities will begin in January 2016.  To prepare, prospective applicants are encouraged to view the Bureau of Health Workforce Application Bulletin, which outlines eligibility requirements, disciplines and estimated application “open dates” for these programs. Click here to sign up for e-mail alerts regarding the 2016 application cycles. 

Webinar: Caring for Transgender Children and Adolescents in Primary Care
Date: Wednesday, December 16, 2015; Time:  2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Hosted by: National LGBT Health Education Center 

Dr. Norman Spack, founder of the Gender Management Service (GeMS) clinic at Boston Children’s Hospital and Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, will describe the creation of the GeMS clinic, discuss recommended treatment for children and adolescents, and explain how to integrate transgender care within primary care settings. For more information and to register, click here. 

Quickstarting Contraception:  A Team-Based Approach to Contraceptive Care
Date: Wednesday, December 16, 2015; Time: 9:00 a.m. 

99% of sexually active women will use contraception in their lifetime. How can community health centers make contraception more available to patients?  This 20-minute presentation will highlight “Quickstart,” a clinical best practice that provides most women with immediate access to contraception. Watch the webinar live, or access it later with your entire clinical team. 

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Funding for Primary Care Providers
Several initiatives supporting Governor Cuomo’s three-point plan to reduce the number of new HIV infections in New York State to 750 by the year 2020 have recently been announced. The NYS Dept. of Health AIDS Institute has made state funds totaling $15 million over five years available to primary care settings that provide patients at high risk of contracting HIV access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). The New York City Council will also commit $6.6 million to promote the use of both PrEP and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). In addition, the NYC Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene is seeking STD clinics that provide pertinent services, including PrEP prescriptions.  

NYC Healthcare Coalitions and Emergency Preparedness Webinar
Date: December 11, 2015; Time: 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Hosted by PCEPN, this webinar will provide information about New York City's healthcare coalitions and review opportunities for building connections and partnerships within the healthcare system and local community. 

Now Recruiting NYC Primary Care Sites for Phase II, Mystery Patient Drill Project
In 2015, PCEPN launched a Mystery Patient Drill Project at 21 primary care facilities. In 2016, PCEPN will recruit 15 primary care facilities to participate in Phase II of this project. PCEPN will work with a team of on-site staff at each participating primary care center to assess screening and isolation protocols via a mystery patient drill. Participating facilities will receive emergency management supplies and/or related equipment valued at $1000.  

Save the Date for HC Standard®  Webinar
CHCANYS' Emergency Management Team will host  a 30-minute webinar on January 12, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. to provide an overview of HC Standard's recently upgraded interface and assist health centers in completing their profiles. When a disaster strikes, CHCANYS utilizes HC Standard®, an integrated, interactive and responsive web-based communication platform, to send notifications, collect information, and maintain situational awareness.   

NYS Health Commerce System 
In an effort to maintain situational awareness, CHCANYS’ Emergency Management Team reminds health center staff to log in and update contact information on the NYS Health Commerce System (HCS). If you encounter login and/or password problems, please call the Commerce Accounts Management Unit (CAMU) at 1-866-529-1890.

Emergency Management for Primary Care Centers Online Course Now Available as In-Person Training
The Primary Care Emergency Preparedness Network training course EM-101: Emergency Management for Primary Care Centers is now also available as a live training for your staff! Also accessible via the NYS Department of Health Learning Management System, the 30-minute course provides an overview of the four phases of emergency management, the key elements of an emergency management program and plan, and the role of the health center during emergencies and disaster.