Register Today! – CHCANYS' Annual Statewide Conference and Clinical Forum October 16-18, 2011 CHCANYS’ Statewide Annual Conference and Clinical Forum will be held at The Saratoga Hilton and City Center in Saratoga Springs, New York. This is an exciting and critical year as CHCANYS celebrates its 40th Anniversary. Speakers include: Nirav R. Shah, M.D., Commissioner, NYSDOH; Michael Hogan, Ph.D., Commissioner, OMH; Gina Capra, Director, Northeast Division, BPHC, HRSA. Tom Van Coverden, President & CEO, NACHC, has been invited. The target audience for the conference includes: health center CEOs and Senior Staff, including HR and Development Directors, CFOs and finance staff, Board Members, and Clinicians including Medical Directors, all clinical disciplines including Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants, and behavioral and oral health. The conference will address timely topics related to health policy and cover best practices in Health Information Technology, finance, clinical quality areas of focus including behavioral and oral health, and more. And on Monday night, we will be celebrating with a 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner!
To Register for the conference, click here. To review the Preliminary schedule click here.
Are you a vendor interested in the community health center market? Sponsor CHCANYS’ conference today – opportunities are going fast! To register, click here. Become a sponsor or exhibitor today! Our growing list of exhibitors include HIT, group purchasing, medical suppliers, telemedicine, health plans, pharmaceuticals, business consultants and more…. Sponsors to date:
Jeffrey T. Latman Foundation Primary Care Development Corporation J. H. Cohn, LLP CySolutions, Inc. Henry Schein, Inc. HF Management Services (Healthfirst) Affinity Health Plan RCHN Community Health Foundation News from Policy If you have questions about CHCANYS’ policy and advocacy work, please contact Ed Graham, egraham@chcanys.org, or Beverly Grossman, bgrossman@chcanys.org. HRSA Announces Eight New Access Point Awards in New York State As we celebrate National Health Center Week, we are pleased to share with you that the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has awarded grants totaling over $2.8 million to eight community, migrant and/or homeless health center programs in New York State to establish new health service delivery points. A total of $28.8 million was awarded across the US in the form of 67 awards. New York received a surprising 10% of all funds awarded nationally. This is clearly a show of support and recognition of New York State’s need to develop our primary care and prevention program.
Before the current year's Health Center Trust Fund was cut by $900 million earlier this spring, there were to be 350 or more NAP awards made across the country. This is the beginning of the next stage in an important strategy to protect and build health centers across New York State.
We extend our congratulations to the awardees:
Care for the Homeless Project Renewal, Inc. ICI Health Care Choices, Inc. Housing Works, Inc. Sunset Park Health Council, Inc. Upper Room AIDS Ministry, Inc. Anthony L. Jordan Health Corporation Finger Lakes Migrant Health Project To read HRSA's press release and see a list of all the awardees nationwide, click here. National Health Center Week 2011 Is Underway! This week, community health centers all across New York State are celebrating National Health Center Week. Each year during National Health Center Week, we take time to underscore the value of the Federally Qualified Health Center model and the amazing work that community health centers do each day to serve those most in need in communities throughout New York.
This year’s theme, “Celebrating America's Health Centers: Serving Locally, Leading Nationally," highlights the more than 45-year record of success of community health centers. This theme is front and center in a music video produced by Urban Health Plan, a health center in the Bronx. The Blue Glove 2011 video is an advocacy project to inform stakeholders, media and the community about the important role played by community health centers. Click here to watch it.
MRT Health Disparities Work Group Gets Underway The Medicaid Redesign Team’s (MRT) Health Disparities Work Group, co-chaired by Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez, Commissioner, NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, and Elizabeth Swain, CHCANYS’ CEO, held its first meeting on Tuesday, August 9th, in Albany. The focus of this first meeting was to frame the group’s work going forward, identify issues of interest, and develop a prioritization process. The group will hold its next meeting on Friday, September 16th, at a location to be determined in New York City. Work Group meetings are open to the public but access is extremely limited (first 20 – 25 people).
The mission of the Health Disparities Work Group is to:
Advise the Department of Health (DOH) on initiatives, including establishment of reimbursement rates, to support providers' efforts to offer culturally competent care and undertake measures to address health disparities based on race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation and gender expression.
Advise DOH about incorporating interpretation and translation services to patients with limited English proficiency and who are hearing impaired.
Address health disparities among people with disabilities, including people with psychiatric disabilities, and their need for equal access to primary and preventive health care services.
Explore issues related to charity care and the uninsured.
Work Group Members
Co-Chair: Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez, Commissioner, NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services
Co-Chair: Elizabeth H. Swain, Chief Executive Officer, Community Health Care Association of New York State
Noilyn Abesamis-Mendoza, Manager, Health Policy, Coalition for Asian American Children & Families
Nisha Agarwal, Director, Health Justice, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
LaRay Brown, Sr. Vice President, Corporate Planning, Community Health and Intergovernmental Relations, NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation
Jo Ivey Boufford, MD, President, New York Academy of Medicine
Carla Boutin-Foster, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College
Neil Calman, MD, President and CEO, Institute for Urban Family Health
J. Emilio Carrillo, MD, VP for Community Health, NY-Presbyterian Hospital
Rosa M. Gil, DSW, President and CEO, Comunilife
Charles King, President and CEO, Housing Works
Jonathan Lang, Director of Governmental Projects & Community Development, Empire State Pride Agenda
Pamela Mattel, LCSW, CASAC, Chief Operating Officer, Promesa Systems, Inc.
Dennis A. Mitchell, DDS, MPH, Associate Dean for Diversity & Multicultural Affairs, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine
Final Notification of the 1.1% FMAP Contingency Plan Under the FMAP 1.1% contingency law enacted in 2010 and effective for payments made for the period September 16, 2010 through March 31, 2011, the state is required to perform a reconciliation if the March 31, 2011 general fund closing balance is in excess of the general fund closing balance projected by the Division of Budget in the 2010-11 enacted financial plan. Actual general fund closing balances were below those projected in the enacted financial plan and therefore a reconciliation will not be performed. Please e-mail your questions to: b1191@health.state.ny.us. Please include your provider name and Medicaid number on the e-mail so that questions can be reviewed and responded to in an orderly manner. For additional information click here.
Medicaid Presumptive Eligibility (PE) for Pregnant Women Providers that screen pregnant women for Medicaid presumptive eligibility (PE), may screen pregnant women even if they do not permanently reside in the provider’s county. For pregnant women who are screened PE eligible, the Medicaid Presumptive Eligibility for Pregnant Women Screening Checklist (LDSS-4150), as well as the completed Access NY Health Care application (DOH-4220), should be mailed to the local department of social services (LDSS) where the pregnant woman permanently resides within five business days of the PE determination.
Providers that are located in Upstate counties may send the screening checklists and Medicaid applications for New York City residents to:
New York City Human Resources Administration Medical Assistance Program 330 West 34th Street, 11th Floor, PE New York, NY 10001
New York City providers may send the screening checklists and Medicaid applications for Upstate residents to the appropriate Upstate LDSS. The district in which the pregnant woman permanently resides will then conduct a full Medicaid eligibility determination. A listing of LDSS contact information is available online at: http://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/ldss.htm.
News from Health Center Support If you have questions about CHCANYS’ health center support, please contact Rebecca Gaige, rgaige@chcanys.org.
Medical/Health Home Funding Opportunities THIS MONTH August is a very big month for funding opportunities to support patient-centered medical homes and health homes. There are three distinct opportunities available or pending: one from CMS, one from HRSA, and one from New York State Medicaid. To help you keep them straight, we have provided a brief summary of each opportunity below, with links for further information.
HRSA PCMH Supplemental Funding Agency: HRSA, Bureau of Primary Health Care Duration: 1-time award Payment: Up to $35,000 (may be increased up to $50,000 depending on number of successful applicants) Purpose: To support costs associated with becoming a medical home. If your organization is already a PCMH, supplemental funds may be utilized to maintain PCMH recognition. Costs may include access enhancements, patient flow redesign, care planning, support for team-based models of service delivery, and necessary systems upgrades. Eligibility: Section 330 grantees Application deadline: August 22, 2011 Additional information:http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/assistance/pcmh
CMS FQHC Advanced Primary Care Practice Demonstration Project Agency: CMS Duration: 3 years Payment: $18 per quarter for each Medicare beneficiary Purpose: To achieve or enhance PCMH status Eligibility: FQHC has served 200 Medicare beneficiaries in most recent 12 months. FQHCs already recognized by NCQA as PCMH or otherwise accredited by a nationally recognized body are eligible. There are additional eligibility requirements, and an FQHC may only apply if it has received a letter of invitation from CMS and HRSA. If you believe you have met all of the eligibility requirements (found on webpage referenced below) and did not receive an invitation please contact your Project Officer and write to fqhc_mh_demo@cms.hhs.gov Application deadline: August 26, 2011 Additional information:http://innovations.cms.gov/areas-of-focus/seamless-and-coordinated-care-models/fqhc/
New York State Health Home State Plan Amendment Agency: New York State Department of Health Duration: 8 quarters Payment: Per member per month (pmpm) fee for care management of Medicaid patients with (1) two chronic conditions; (2) one chronic condition and at risk for a second chronic condition; or (3) one serious persistent mental health condition. Dollar amount of pmpm fee not yet determined. Purpose: To support the creation of Health Homes to provide coordinated, comprehensive medical and behavioral health care Eligibility: Managed Care Plans; Hospitals; Medical, mental & chemical dependency treatment clinics; FQHCs; Targeted Case Management Programs; Primary care practitioner practices; PCMHs, Any other Medicaid enrolled entity that meets NY’s health home requirements. Application deadline:Extended to October 3, 2011 Additional information:http://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/program/medicaid_health_homes/
FQHCs may be the lead applicant in a health home application. CHCANYS encourages you to consider becoming a Health Home and to start securing the necessary partnerships, especially if you serve a high volume of the targeted population. For additional information, contact Lisa Perry, lperry@chcanys.org.
HRSA Releases Program Assistance Letter (PAL) 2011-07 on Capital Funding The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) has issued guidance on federal funding to support capital projects, particularly capital development grants authorized under the Affordable Care Act. This PAL outlines the processes for documenting the sites within a health center's approved project, where construction and/or alterations/renovations can occur. The policy notice also summarizes the five components of an approved project, and the process for health centers seeking prior approval to make changes in the approved scope of project. The policy notice applies to any 330-funded Community Health Center.
Notification of Paper to Electronic Transition for Look-Alikes & Partners As noted in the Program Assistance Letter (PAL) 2011-08, “Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike Program Implementation of Electronic Information Systems,” released on July 13, 2011, HRSA is transitioning from paper to electronic application and reporting systems for the FQHC Look-Alike program. Beginning August 15, 2011, HRSA will no longer accept paper applications for Initial Designation, Annual Certification or Renewal of Designation.
HRSA has sent notification of revised deadlines for FQHC Look-Alikes with Annual Certification or Renewal of Designation applications due between August 15, 2011 and October 31, 2011. Likewise, HRSA notified FQHC Look-Alikes with Annual Certification or Renewal of Designation applications due November 1, 2011 or later of the requirement that they submit their applications electronically according to previously established timelines.
Organizations planning to apply for an initial FQHC Look-Alike designation may submit paper applications before August 15, 2011 or wait to submit electronic applications through the EHB October 3, 2011 or later. HRSA will not accept any Initial Designation (or other) applications between August 15, 2011 and October 2, 2011.
Free Webinar from NACHC – Rounding: A Tool to Manage Staff to Higher Levels of Performance You must register by Friday, August 12th, 2011!
Date & Time: August 16, 2011 – 2-3:00 PM, EDT
Rounding, derived from a physician’s routine of checking on patients, can be utilized as a management tool in the workplace. Defined as brief, formalized “check-in” meetings between supervisors and direct reports, rounding is an opportunity for supervisors to solve problems, escalate issues, and recognize employees. The ultimate goal of rounding is to equip supervisors to manage staff to higher levels of performance.
How will this webinar benefit you and your staff?
By the end of this webinar, you will be able to:
Summarize the concept and benefits of rounding on employees in the work environment;
Demonstrate suggested rounding procedures and sample forms;
Describe best practice models of rounding and potential implementation strategies at your health center or PCA.
Speaker:Summer Salomonsen, Senior Training & Development Administrator, Presbyterian Medical Services, Santa Fe, NM
Who should attend this webinar? Health center and PCA HR staff and other management team members as well as health center CEOs and PCAs.
For more information, contact Carla Brathwaite at cbrathwaite@nachc.com or (301) 347-0400.
Jeffrey T. Latman Foundation's Annual Family Day at the Races The Jeffrey T. Latman Foundation will hold its 14th Annual Family Day at the Races on Wednesday, September 17, 2011, at Belmont Racetrack. This year the Foundation honors Barbra Minch, President & CEO of the William F. Ryan Health Network, with the JTL Lifetime of Service Award, and Henry Thompson, CEO of the Community Health Center of Richmond, with the JTL Emerging Leader Award. The event benefits the Foundation's work to support community health centers and related organizations. For more information, including details on ticket purchases, visit www.jtlfoundation.org.
News from Clinical Quality Improvement If you have questions about CHCANYS’ Clinical Quality Improvement initiatives, please contact Kathy Alexis, kalexis@chcanys.org.
Family Planning/Reproductive Health
Celebrating Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, September 2011 August 27th – September 5th Hope for Heather: Awareness Booth at New York State Fair, Syracuse, NY Symptom card and information on ovarian cancer distributed. http://www.hopeforheather.org/
September 3rd Hope for Heather: National Wear Teal Day 30,000 teal ribbons to be distributed at the New York State Fair, Syracuse, NY http://www.hopeforheather.org/
September 9th Winthrop University Hospital: “Surviving Cancer.” Community education program focusing on gynecologic cancers, presented by Dr. Eva Chalas, Chief, Division of Gynecologic Oncology and the Director of Clinical Cancer Services. Time: 1:30-3:30 pm Winthrop University Hospital 259 1st St. Mineola NY 11501 Martin Spatz Conference center rooms B and C. For registration call: 516-663-3696.
September 10th 3rd Annual T.E.A.L. Walk (Tell Every Amazing Lady!) Registration is now open for the 3rd Annual T.E.A.L. Walk, a non-competitive 5K event in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. Check-in at 8:30 am, walk starts at 10:00 am. More information at www.tealwalk.org.
Week of September 12th Memorial Sloan-Kettering: Living with Gynecological Cancers Information tables will be on the 6th floor at E.53rd St. for the entire week. Speakers on Wednesday, Sept 14th from 1:30 and 4:30 pm Rockefeller Outpatient Pavilion 160 E.53rd St. 11th Floor Events Area. Representation from Nursing, Integrative Medicine, Social Work, GYN Surgery (MD) and GYN Medicine (MD).
September 18th Caring Together’s The Teal Ribbon Run/Walk Washington Park Albany NY Time: 9:00 AM 5K run and a one mile plus walk, both start and finish at the Washington Park Lake House on the west (Madison Avenue) side of the Park. Paved roads throughout. There are awards, raffles, prizes, children's activities, ovarian cancer awareness materials.
September 24th National Ovarian Cancer Coalition – Long Island Chapter: 5th Annual Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer Eisenhower Park Field 6 A. Registration begins at 9:00 am; 5K Walk starts at 10:00 am. For more information, contact the Chapter at 631-672-2027 or LongIslandNYEvents@ovarian.org
September 25th Cancer Wellness Spa of Greater Rochester Ovarian Cancer 5K Run/Walk Cobbs Hill Park Rochester, NY. Registration begins at 7:15 am; race at 8:15 am. One mile fun run to follow the 5K race along with food and an awards ceremony after the race. USATF Certified 5K loop with official timing by PCR Timing. Proceeds to benefit the Cancer Wellness Spa of Greater Rochester. Visit www.cancerwellnessspa.com for more information.
Hope for Heather - 3rd Annual Teal Ribbon Run and Walk Professionally timed 5k run and 5k family fun walk. New this year - 100 yard Stiletto dash. www.tealribbonrun.org
HBOC Awareness Week and Previvor Day, September 25th - October 2nd September 25th – October 2nd Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE): National HBOC Week & Previvor Day HBOC Week marks the transition between National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and recognizes anyone affected by hereditary breast or ovarian cancer, including women and men with BRCA mutations, people with a family history of cancer, breast and ovarian cancer survivors, and previvors.
October 2 "In the Family" Screening, 3pm in Manhattan. Contact laura.r.royse@gmail.com for location details.
October 1st Conference at Roswell Park: "GYN and Breast Cancer Update 2011." 8:00 am to noon on the campus of Roswell Park Cancer Institute. More information will be posted to www.roswellpark.org/CMEConferences
October 2nd Support Connection’s 17th Annual Support-A-Walk for Breast and Ovarian Cancer FDR Park in Yorktown Heights, NY. Pre-walk activities at 9:00 am; walk begins at 10:00 am. 3-mile walkathon to increase awareness about breast and ovarian cancer. Thousands of people from across the Hudson Valley come together for this uplifting community event. Many participants walk in celebration of or in tribute to those affected by these diseases. To register, visit www.supportconnection.org or call 914-962-6402.
2011 National HIV Prevention Conference Date & Location: August 14 – 17, 2011 in Atlanta, GA For more information, visit: http://www.2011nhpc.org/
Updates on HIV/AIDS
Take action:http://www.adapaction.org/ The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) recently launched a new website to help increase awareness about the funding crises affecting state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs across the country. More than a dozen ADAPs have created waiting lists for potential new clients, while 17 more have adopted various other cost-containment measures in the long wake of the recession.
Nationally, ADAPs help about 174,000 low-income HIV/AIDS patients access treatment. Though mostly federally funded, ADAP is not an entitlement program, so potential applicants can be turned away at the state level due to lack of funding. This year’s $885 million ADAP budget is $25 million more than last year’s, said Brandon Macsata, CEO of the ADAP Advocacy Association.
WHO Treatment Guidelines and ARV Efficacy Results The World Health Organization (WHO) will delay planned revisions to its treatment guidelines in order to take into account “the exciting results.”
Long Island Minority AIDS Council – Lost Funding Nassau County lost its HIV testing funds, which has made half-dozen local colleges unable to provide free and anonymous HIV tests.
At-risk Funding In Nassau and Suffolk County prevention programs targeting HIV education are at risk of being cut due to uncertainty in funding.
HIV and Poverty Dr. Jonathan Mermin, director of HIV/AIDS prevention at CDC, confirms the link between HIV and poverty. “People with household incomes of less than $10,000 a year were 10 times more likely to have HIV than people whose household incomes are greater than $50,000,” he said.
HIV/AIDS in Asian Pacific Islander (API) Community “One in three people in the API community living with HIV don’t know they have it,” said Dr. Royce Lin, of San Francisco General Hospital’s HIV/AIDS division and an associate professor at University of California-San Francisco. Making HIV testing as routine as a cholesterol check could help dispel stigma and increase screening rates, Dr. Lin said.
Rochester gets AIDS Care The new adult day health outreach offered by AIDS Care in Rochester is one of 15 such programs licensed by the state, but the first one operating outside of metropolitan New York City.
The program accepts up to 60 AIDS Care clients per day. Individuals must commit to attending three days a week, with a minimum of three hours per session; they must receive at least three hours of health care over a weeklong period. Enrollees must be Medicaid-eligible or pay privately.
“Our patients have been asking for something like this,” said Michael Beatty, AIDS Care’s vice president for programs and services. “We saw the need among our longtime patients to create a program not only to meet social needs but the additional benefit of improving health.”
An estimated 2,500 people in the Finger Lakes region are living with HIV/AIDS, according to agency estimates. An adult day health program helps keep these patients “as well as possible, engaged in their own care, and prevents a lot of potentially unnecessary hospitalizations,” said Lynn Varricchio, a program manager at Finger Lakes Health System Agency, which reviewed AIDS Care’s application and recommended the program. Beatty said plans are underway to expand enrollment.
To learn more about AIDS Care or the new program, call (585) 545-7200 and ask for the on-call case manager, or visit www.acrochester.org.
Breastfeeding in mothers with Hepatitis B Virus A new study shows that new mothers infected with the blood-borne hepatitis B virus (HBV) can safely breastfeed their babies, provided proper immunoprophylaxis methods are taken.
Two New Hepatitis C drugs now approved by FDA Merck’s new hepatitis C virus drug Victrelis (boceprevir) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ Incivek (telaprevir) have been approved by FDA.
Behavioral Health
Michael R. Lardiere Appointed as VP at National Council The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (National Council) announces the appointment of Michael R. Lardiere, LCSW, as its Vice President, Health Information Technology (HIT) and Strategic Development. Lardiere will lead the National Council’s efforts to promote the availability and adoption of health information technology to improve behavioral healthcare.
U.S. Access Board Proposed Guidelines for Public Rights of Way Planners, contractors and facility managers with responsibility for public sidewalks and rights of way to their parks, forests, nature preserves and recreation facilities will want to make note of newly proposed guidelines for public rights of way released by the U.S. Access Board today. The proposed guidelines, which would eventually be additions to the Americans with Disabilities Act and Architectural Barriers Act accessibility standards, focus on design criteria for public streets and sidewalks, including pedestrian access routes, street crossings, curb ramps and blended transitions, on-street parking, street furniture, and other elements. The specifications comprehensively address access that accommodates all types of disabilities, including mobility and vision impairments, while taking into account conditions and constraints that may impact compliance, such as space limitations and terrain. The proposed guidelines are open for public comment through November 23, 2011. Comments should be directed to the Access Board via www.regulations.gov. The Access Board will conduct a webinar on the proposed guidelines on August 9. Proposed Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right of Way are available at www.regulations.gov Access Board press release and information on the upcoming webinar: http://www.access-board.gov/news/row-nprm.htm
Supporting Strengths and Restoring Resiliency: Lessons Learned from 9/11 in New York City on Post-Trauma Recovery and Resiliency of Diverse Communities Date: Thursday, September 1, 2011 The Jacob Javits Federal Building 26 Federal Plaza New York, NY
The US Department of Health and Human Services, Region II, and the Strategy Group on Mental Health and Trauma Affecting Women and Families are convening a conference in remembrance of the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City and to acknowledge September 10, 2011 as National Suicide Prevention Day. The goal of the conference is to explore trauma as a public health issue, starting with 9/11 and moving beyond. Emphasis will be on the impact of trauma on communities, referring both to neighborhood communities and communities of people with a shared common experience. The conference will focus on lessons learned from frontline service organizations, trauma survivors, students and staff from academia as we strive to make meaning of trauma and together move towards recovery and resiliency.
Registration is required for the conference, but there is no fee. Please complete the Registration Form (see attached) with your name, title, organization, address, telephone number, email address, and special needs, if any, and submit it to 911resiliencyconference.os@hhs.gov by August 15, 2011. For questions, please call 212-264-2560.
Chronic Disease Self-Management Program The Quality Initiatives team at CHCANYS are certified Master trainers of the Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management Program and would like to facilitate a 6-week session for your facility. This program gives patients with chronic diseases and their caretakers the skills needed to manage their health and to maintain a healthy and active life.
NCQA Diabetes Physician Recognition Program The NYS Diabetes Campaign, sponsored by the New York State Health Foundation (NYSHealth) in partnership with the Institute for Family Health, is an initiative designed to reverse the diabetes epidemic in New York State by improving clinical care, mobilizing communities, and promoting policy. CHCANYS has been chosen as one of the clinical hubs to participate in this effort and is recruiting organizations to participate in the campaign and in the NCQA/ADA Diabetes Physician Recognition Program.
The NCQA Diabetes Physician Recognition Program is a voluntary program for physicians and practices to receive recognition for quality diabetes care. The program provides recognized physicians with valuable information about their patients and their practice as well as internal/external validation of your practice's hard work and dedication. For FAQs about the program, click here.
Congratulations to Recent Diabetes Recognition Program Recipients CHCANYS would like to congratulate the following CHCs that recently achieved NCQA Diabetes Recognition. These centers have demonstrated and will be publicly recognized for their skill in providing excellent care to their patients with diabetes:Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center, Inc., Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Health Center, BronxCare at Third Avenue Medical and Dental Practice. To see the names of other recognition recipients, click here.
To learn more about how your health center can become NCQA or BTE recognized for diabetes care, contact Kathy Alexis at kalexis@chcanys.org or 212-710-3817.
FREE Webinar: Preventing Gestational Diabetes from Becoming Type II Diabetes
According to the American Diabetes Association, gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women. Women who have had gestational diabetes have a 20% to 50% chance of developing Type 2 diabetes in the 5 to 10 years following their pregnancy.
The New York State health Foundation will host a free webinar facilitated by Marie Frazzitta, Clinical Coordinator of the Center for Diabetes in Pregnancy and Program Manager of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System. She will discuss how to prevent the progression from gestational diabetes to Type 2 diabetes. Click here for more information.
FREE exercise/stretching/relaxation classes in downtown Brooklyn for individuals with high blood pressure! In fact, this federally financed study at Long Island University will PAY PARTICIPANTS to attend classes! Join the classes and increase your health and decrease your blood pressure.
A stipend of $120 will be given to those participants who complete the 2x per week classes for three months. Classes are 55 minutes long and are not aerobic (unlikely to sweat or breath hard). The classes promotes stretching, relaxing and moving your body. They are designed to decrease stress and lower blood pressure.
Classes will be held at Long Island University (Flatbush and Dekalb) and possibly in other locations in downtown Brooklyn. The first class starts September 12th but new classes begin every month after that. Classes will occur in the early evening immediately after work hours. To be eligible, participants must have high blood pressure. If blood pressure is unknown it will be measured for free. Contact Moving Toward Health Study to set up an appointment.
Those who have had a heart attack or stroke or have kidney disease will not be able to participate. In addition, prospective participants who are already active (exercising 4x a week or more) will not be eligible to participate.
For more questions about the study or to determine if a prospective participant is eligible, call, email, or go on the Moving Toward Health Study website for more information.
World Breastfeeding Week World Breastfeeding Week focuses on the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding worldwide. Learn more about the benefits of breastfeeding and how you can support and encourage mothers who want to breastfeed. Learn more at http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/.
CDC Health Information for International Travel 2012 A biannual publication also known as the “Yellow Book,” after the color of its cover is now available. The book’s goal is to help individuals stay healthy and safe while traveling outside the United States. It addresses a range of issues, from motor vehicle safety to getting tattooed, and this year includes more information on avoiding STDs. “Frequent travelers around the world have much higher rates of STDs than the general at-home population,” said Phyllis Kozarsky of CDC. The hardcopy edition is priced at $45; the online edition can be accessed for free at www.cdc.gov/travel.
General Training and Conference:
National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media Date & Location: August 9-11, 2011 in Atlanta, GA For more information, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/NCHCMM/
News from Emergency Preparedness If you have questions about CHCANYS’ Emergency Preparedness work, please contact Matt Ziemer at mziemer@chcanys.org.
News from HIT If you have questions about CHCANYS’ HIT work, please contact Lisa Perry, lperry@chcanys.org.
Medical/Health Home Funding Opportunities THIS MONTH! For more information see "News from Heath Center Support"
Next Quarterly Statewide Health IT call/meeting: Date & Time: Friday, September 30, 9-11am.
Presentation on the launch of CHCANYS Data Warehouse Project by Arcadia Solutions and CHCANYS' Health IT staff. More info to follow.
News from Management, Finance and Compliance
From the July 2011 Medicaid Update: Please contact Kelli Kudlack at if: medicaidupdate@health.state.ny.us if you do not already receive this important monthly update. Request for Medicaid Provider Documentation The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in partnership with the New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG), is measuring improper payments in the Medicaid and State Child Health Insurance programs under the Payment Error Rate Measurement (PERM) program. CMS, their contractor, and OMIG have the authority to collect this information under Sections 1902(a)(27) and 2107(b)(1) of the Social Security Act. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) statutes and regulations require the provision of such information upon request, and the information can be provided without patient consent. Documentation for medical review of randomly selected claims will be requested by A+ Government Solutions, Inc., the CMS contractor. If a providers’ claim is selected, the CMS contractor will request documentation to substantiate claims paid in federal fiscal year 2011 (October 1, 2010 - September 30, 2011) from the provider. Please submit the specific medical documents for the patient, as requested in the letter you receive from the CMS contractor, directly to the CMS contractor with a copy to OMIG.
Requests for documentation began in July 2011. Requests and subsequent receipt/non-receipt of documentation will be tracked. Failure to provide requested records will result in a determination of erroneous payment, and the OMIG will pursue recovery.
Please contact PERM Project staff at (518) 402-0066 or (518) 408-486-7153 with any questions.
Mandatory Compliance Program Certification Requirement Social Services Law (SSL) § 363-d, and Part 521 of Title 18 of the New York State Codes, Rules and Regulations (NYCRR), both entitled Provider Compliance Programs, have been actively enforced by the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) since 2009. This regulation requires all Medicaid providers who fall under the following categories to certify in December of each year that they have adopted and implemented an effective compliance program.
persons subject to the provisions of Articles 28 or 36 of the New York State Public Health Law;
persons subject to the provisions of Articles 16 or 31 of the New York State Mental Hygiene Law;
other persons, providers or affiliates who provide care, services or supplies under the Medicaid program, or persons who submit claims for care, services or supplies for or on behalf of another person or provider for which the Medicaid program is or should be reasonably expected by a provider to be a substantial portion of their business operations.
Under 18 NYCRR § 521.2 (b), "substantial portion" of business operations means any of the following:
when a person, provider or affiliate claims or orders, or has claimed or has ordered, or should be reasonably expected to claim or order at least $500,000 in any consecutive 12-month period from the medical assistance program;
when a person, provider or affiliate receives or has received, or should be reasonably expected to receive at least $500,000 in any consecutive 12-month period directly or indirectly from the medical assistance program; or
when a person, provider or affiliate who submits or has submitted claims for care, services, or supplies to the medical assistance program on behalf of another person or persons in the aggregate of at least $500,000 in any consecutive 12-month period.
Each compliance program must contain the eight elements required under SSL § 363-d and 18 NYCRR § 521.3 (c). Upon applying for enrollment in the medical assistance program, and during the month of December each year thereafter, 18 NYCRR 521.3 (b) requires providers to certify to the Department and OMIG that a compliance program meeting the requirements of the regulation is in place. The regulation, certification form, and FAQ's are available on the OMIG Web site at: http://www.omig.ny.gov. Additionally, New York State’s Medicaid providers are advised to review OMIG’s Web site and review the Compliance Alerts that are published under the Compliance tab on OMIG’s home page. The following Compliance Alerts may be helpful to Medicaid providers as they consider their obligations under this requirement:
Compliance Alert 2010-02: Effectiveness of Medicaid Provider's Compliance Program;
Compliance Alert 2011-05: Compliance Program Requirement for New Medicaid Providers.
Lastly, OMIG will be updating New York’s Medicaid Provider Certification of Effective Compliance Program during 2011 for use during December 2011. When the new form becomes available, it will be announced in the Medicaid Update and on OMIG’s Web site. One of the new features of the 2011 certification form will be questions on whether a Medicaid provider uses the services of a Service Bureau for billing, coding and eligibility determinations. The Bureau of Compliance intends to issue a Compliance Alert during 2011 on Service Bureaus as a supplement to OMIG’s Webinar #6, which is available under the Resources tab on OMIG’s home page.
New York’s Medicaid providers are recommended to sign up for e-mail notices from OMIG by subscribing to OMIG’s listserv. Anyone can become a subscriber at no cost by signing up on OMIG’s home page. The listserv is a great way to keep informed of new compliance tools and information on compliance. Questions? Please contact the OMIG’s Bureau of Compliance at (518) 473-3782 or via e-mail at: compliance@omig.ny.gov.
News from Workforce Development If you have questions about CHCANYS’ Workforce Development Program, please email us at workforce@chcanys.org.
Recently Released: Important Studies on Health Workforce Just in time to assist you preparing your application for funding through the New York State Health Workforce Retraining Initiative (due Sept. 16--more information available at www.health.ny.gov) the New York Center for Health Workforce Studies, School of Public Health, University at Albany, has released several important new studies:
The Health Workforce in New York, 2009: Trends in the Supply of and Demand for Health Workers The Center routinely monitors annual health care employment patterns and other indicators of the supply of and demand for health workers by occupation and by setting in New York. The most recent report of this research, based primarily on 2009 data, has just been released. A regional analysis of primary care capacity is included in the report. Health sector employment continues to be a vital part of New York’s economy. However, health care providers across the state reported recruitment and retention difficulties for a wide array of health care professionals and paraprofessionals. Providers in all settings and regions cited persistent problems recruiting and retaining experienced registered nurses (RNs), but much less difficulty finding newly-trained RNs. Download the report here: .
Residency Training Outcomes in New York, 2010 The Center conducts an annual survey of all physicians completing a residency or fellowship training program in New York in order to better understand demand for new physicians and the outcomes of training. A key finding from the 2010 survey was that demand for primary care physicians was stronger than demand for specialists on a number of key indicators including ease of finding a job and changes in median starting income. Also, only 44% of newly-trained physicians reported plans to practice in New York. The in-state retention of new physicians has been declining in recent years and this year was the lowest since the survey began. The two most common reasons cited by newly-trained physicians to leave New York were proximity to family (31%) and better jobs in desired locations outside of New York (12%). View the full report here.
New York Registered Nursing Graduations, 1996-2011 The Center annually surveys deans and directors of New York's nursing education programs to better understand trends that affect the supply of RNs in the state. The most recent survey was conducted from the fall of 2010 through the spring of 2011. RN graduations in New York increased in 2010, rising by nearly 250 or almost 3% over 2009. However, the vast majority of additional graduates were existing RNs completing bachelor’s degrees in nursing. Nursing deans continue to report a weak job market for their graduates, with only 25% of deans and directors reporting "many jobs" for newly-trained RNs. This is in stark contrast to previous years, when over 90% of deans and directors reported "many jobs" for newly-trained RNs. Download the report here.
Research Brief: A Profile of Active Dental Hygienists in New York In 2010, there were approximately 10,000 licensed dental hygienists in New York. In September 2007, the Center, with support from the New York State Departments of Health and Education, began conducting a survey of dental hygienists at the time of license renewal. Between September 2007 and September 2010, 5,388 surveys were completed, representing 53% of the licensed dental hygienists in the state. Over 94% of the survey respondents reported actively working in dental hygiene, while 4% reported being retired. This research brief presents information about active dental hygienists in New York, including demographic, educational, and practice characteristics. Notably, survey data showed wide regional variation in the distribution of dental hygienists per capita in the state as well as in the ratio of dental hygienists to dentists. Download the research brief here.
The Community Health Center Workforce in New York To better understand the health workforce of community health centers (CHCs), the Center conducted a survey of the CHC workforce in New York. This report describes findings from the survey, including the composition of the CHC workforce as well as the most pressing recruitment and retention issues faced by these providers. The health care workers employed in the greatest numbers by CHCs were medical assistants, licensed practical nurses, family physicians, RNs, dental assistants, and nurse practitioners. CHCs reported the most recruitment difficulty for psychiatrists, obstetricians/gynecologists, geriatric and psychiatric nurse practitioners, and dentists. Occupations with relatively little recruitment difficulty included dental assistants and medical assistants. Download the report here.
Health Center HR Staff - Recruitment opportunities - staff qualified for management-level careers in public service. During the school year, graduate students and alumni from some of the finest colleges and universities in the tri-state region attend the School of Public Affairs Career & Internship Fair, with the goal of obtaining employment in public service settings. These highly qualified graduate students/alumni represent a diverse range of public affairs-related degree programs and experience levels. The Baruch College School of Public Affairs is pleased to invite your agency/organization to participate in the Nonprofit / Government Career & Internship Fair which will take place on both Friday, October 28th, 2011 and on Friday, March 2nd 2012 at Baruch College. For detailed information about this event and to register as a recruiter contact: Elyse Mendel, Director Career Services & Alumni Affairs Baruch College, School of Public Affairs Ph: 646-660-6754; Fax: 646-660-6756 elyse.mendel@baruch.cuny.edu
News from CHCANYS Community HealthCorps If you have questions about CHCANYS' Community HealthCorps program, contact David Davis, ddavis@chcanys.org.
HealthCorps Training Program CHCANYS is dedicated to the quality improvement of its Community HealthCorps program and program staff are fully vested in developing CHCANYS HealthCorps members both professionally and personally through volunteerism, mentorship, counseling, and training. It is with these goals in mind that we have formulated the AmeriCorps training development committee, which will be developing better and more comprehensive AmeriCorps trainings that will encourage HealthCorps member to explore future careers in community health.
Public Benefit Training, Sept. 7 On Wednesday, September 7, 2011, CHCANYS' HealthCorps program will host a Public Benefit Training at its New York City office from 10 am-3 pm. This is an introductory level training on Food Stamp and Medicaid eligibility and applications that will be of interest to new case managers, enrollment specialists, and others interested in learnng about public benefits. Space is limited and attendees will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis. If you are interested in attending this training event, please contact David Davis via email at ddavis@chcanys.org.
Featured Presenters:
Terrence Kelly, Associate Director of Benefits Access at The New York City Coalition Against Hunger Nathalie Khan, Enrollment Manager at The Children’s Aid Society
Open Community HealthCorps Positions CHCANYS Community HealthCorps is presently in the midst of recruiting HealthCorps members for the 2011-2012 program year, which begins on Sept. 4, 2011, and there are still four available positions left to be filled. Two of these positions are open for our Upstate Health Center sites and the other two for our New York City Health Center Sites. If you know someone who would like to be a part of Community HealthCorps, please share with them the details on how to apply and the information on CHCANYS’ HealthCorps program available 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.
