Your CHCANYS: July 02, 2009

 

Welcome to the July 2, 2009 issue of Your CHCANYS Email Update.

Twice each month, Your CHCANYS brings you quick summaries of items your health center needs to know about with links to additional information and resources. It includes timely updates about newly available resources, application deadlines for grants and upcoming trainings, as well as policy updates since our last contact with you. Look for these updates in the beginning and middle of each month.

We hope you find this an efficient, useful tool and we welcome your feedback and comments.
--Elizabeth Swain, CEO

If your health center has a training or technical assistance that you'd like to share with others around the state, or would like to subscribe others at your health center to Your CHCANYS please email the pertinent information to Libby Post at lpost@commservices.net. Thank you.

CHCANYS UPDATES--NEW
NYSHealth Grantees Advance Health Coverage For Immigrants
NYSHealth believes that expanding health insurance coverage to immigrants throughout New York State is an essential building block in the efforts to achieve universal coverage. In New York State, non-citizens are three times more likely than citizens to be uninsured and they comprise more than one quarter of the State's uninsured population under the age of 65. Studies show that developing connectors between insurers and enrollees can lead to group buying power and easier navigation of coverage options. To read the full report, click here.

A health insurance tool kit has been developed for refugees and immigrants by the Research Foundation of SUNY that explains health insurance eligibility and documentation criteria. For access to the tool kit, click here.

NYSHealth has committed $20 million in grant funding to reduce the number of uninsured New Yorkers. To learn more about NYSHealth's work in this area, please click here.

New children's oral health brochure now available
The NYS Dental Foundation and NYS Dental Association have teamed up to produce a simple, easy-to-read brochure on children's oral health. It's called Taking Care of Your Child's Health is as Easy as 1,2,3 and is available free of charge to parents, caregivers, educators and health professionals. For copies of the brochure, please call 800- 255- 2100 ext. 222 or click here.

National Health Center Week Is Right Around the Corner
Health centers throughout New York and the country will be celebrating the accomplishments of health centers "where access and quality care begin" during National Health Center Week, August 9-15, 2009. For resources to help your health center promote your events, click here.

NACHC is holding a webinar on Using Social Media to Promote National Health Center Week on Wednesday, July 22 at 2 p.m. EDT/11 a.m. PDT.  Click here to register.

A Trio of Reform Options
The Commonwealth Fund today released a complex analysis of three health care reform scenarios: a public plan option in which providers would be paid at rates midway between current Medicare and commercial insurance rates, a plan that includes a public option linking payments more closely to Medicare rates and an option that has no public plan but relies exclusively on private providers. The study estimates cumulative health system savings between 2010 and 2020 are $3.0 trillion for the first option, $2.0 trillion for the second and $1.2 trillion. All three approaches would make affordable coverage available to everyone. Click here to read the report.

Kudos to NYC Obesity Prevention and Management Consortium participants.
We would like to acknowledge the team at Urban Health Plan and the following health centers who participated and completed Year 2 of the New York City Obesity Prevention and Management Consortium.

• Charles B. Wang Community Health Center-Flushing Site
• Charles B. Wang Community Health Center-Walker Site
• Joseph P. Addabbo Community Health Center
• Lutheran Family Health Center-Main Site
• Lutheran Family Health Center-PS 172 and MS 88
• Morris Heights Health Center - Burnside Clinic
• Morris Heights Health Center - PS 126
• William F. Ryan Community Health Center

OMIG Final Provider Compliance Regulations Take Effect July 1
The New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) has issued final provider compliance regulations to all Article 28, 36, 31 and 16 providers as well as providers who receive over $500,000 in Medicaid funds. For a detailed list of these regulations, click here.

Community Based Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention RFP Available
The New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) is pleased to announce the availability of additional funds to support Community Based Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (CBAPP) programs to reduce adolescent pregnancy and birth rates in high need areas. Funding is available through this procurement to establish a new CBAPP Program or expand and/or enhance a current CBAPP program. Click here for the RFP.

First Reporting Deadline Nears for Recovery Act Grants
The first health center quarterly report covering New Access Point (NAP) and Increased Demand for Services (IDS) awards is due on Friday, July 10. The Bureau of Primary Health Care has posted a revised HCQR Manual to provide further guidance and clarifications in completing the first quarter report.
If you missed HRSA's technical assistance call on June 10 about filling out the Quarterly Performance Progress Report, you can replay it at 1-800-695-0367 pass code 1212 until July 30. You can also view slides from this call, the Health Center Quarterly Reporting Manual or access information on reporting, by clicking here.

Grant Available from TEVA Pharmaceuticals
TEVA Pharmaceuticals is donating 500,000 ProAir HFA Inhalers for low income, uninsured patients at Community Health Centers and free Clinics. These inhalers are being distributed through Direct Relief. To obtain these inhalers, you will need the username: tevaoffer and the password: dritevaoffer. To access the request form, click here. For more information, call 301-347-0400 or e-mail mailto:mscott@nachc.com.

UPCOMING MEETINGS AND TRAININGS - NEW
Primary Care Physicians Wanted
On Thursday, July 9 from 6-8 pm in Albany, primary care physicians are needed to participate in a focus group on a medical topic. Participants will be provided a stipend for their time. If interested, please contact Carlos Moreno at 212-234-1500.
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Learn More about the NYS Diabetes Campaign
The NYS Diabetes Campaign, sponsored by the NYS Health Foundation, in partnership with the Institute of Family Health, is committed to reversing the diabetes epidemic in New York State. If you will be attending the Region II Conference, join us at the NYS Diabetes Campaign breakfast table on Monday, July 13 from 8-9 am in the Exhibit Hall/Westchester Ballroom. If you are not attending the Region II Conference, contact Kathy Alexis at mailto:kalexis@chcanys.org or 212-710-3817. Either way, you can access information on how you can adopt seven standard practices that characterize high-quality clinical diabetes management at your health center.

Integrating Oral Health into the Prevention Agenda Webinar Offered
The Oral Health Coalition will present a webinar: Integrating Oral Health into the Prevention Agenda" on Monday, July 13 1-2 pm and on Tuesday, July 11 1-2 pm. The webinar will explain the Prevention Agenda, provide examples of health topics such as diabetes management, improving maternal and child health or reducing cardiovascular disease that benefit from the inclusion of an oral health component, and present ideas on how to work with your community hospitals and local health departments to bring oral health to local discussions. Space is limited. Please reserve yours by contacting mailto:pfischer@rpcn.org.