Register Today! – CHCANYS Annual Statewide Conference and Clinical Forum October 16-18, 2011
To register for the conference and view code for best hotel rates before September 1st, click here. To review the conference schedule click here.
CHCANYS’ Annual Statewide 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 NYS, OMH; Gina Capra, Director, Northeast Division, BPHC, HRSA and Tom Van Coverden, President & CEO, NACHC. 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!
Jeffrey T. Latman Foundation Scholarships – Submit Your Name By Sept. 9 Are you a Finance Director at a community health center? The Jeffrey T. Latman Foundation is generously providing scholarships for health center Finance Directors to attend the Finance and Operations workshops at CHCANYS’ Annual Statewide Conference this fall. These scholarships cover the conference registration fee. All FQHCs and FQHC Look-Alikes, including recently announced New Access Points, are eligible, and membership in CHCANYS is not required. Please note that the application process for this scholarship has changed and there is no longer an application form.
To submit your name for consideration by the scholarship committee, please email latmanscholars@chcanys.org and include "Jeffrey T. Latman Foundation Scholarship Request" in the subject line of your message. Include the following information: your name and job title; your current health center and how long you have held your current position there; the total number of years you have worked in community health centers (not just your current one); your email address and phone number; and a few lines on how you feel you would benefit from receiving the scholarship. Funding from the Jeffrey T. Latman Foundation also supports some Finance programming at CHCANYS’ conference.
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 OraSure Technologies J. H. Cohn, LLP CySolutions, Inc. Henry Schein, Inc. HF Management Services (Healthfirst) Affinity Health Plan RCHN Community Health Foundation
Region II Conference 2012 – Hold the Dates! June 12-14 are tentative dates for a Region II Conference including primary care associations/primary care offices and community health centers in Region II (NY, NJ, PR & VI). The conference is being hosted by the Virgin Islands Primary Care Office and will be held in the Virgin Islands. For more information, contact rwynn@chcanys.org.
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. Thank You for a Successful National Health Center Week 2011! We want to thank and applaud you for another successful National Health Center Week. Our visibility this year was especially critical leading up to and through National Health Center Week. With Congress debating cuts to all the major federal programs that support community health centers, our health center advocacy was and is more important than ever. The theme of National Health Center Week 2011, “Celebrating America's Health Centers: Serving Locally, Leading Nationally," created a prime opportunity for us to demonstrate the value of the FQHC model and ensure that our voices are heard as Congress considers key issues such as Medicaid cuts, FY2012 appropriations, deficit reduction, and debt ceiling extensions.
CHCANYS kicked off this summer with regional meetings that we held throughout the state to discuss our federal grassroots strategy as part of New York State’s Campaign to Save America’s Health Centers and to prepare for the National Call to Action Call-In Day and National Health Center Week. As a result, over 1,400 New Yorkers made over 3,500 calls to Members of Congress and the White House, ranking New York State’s response as the third largest in the nation. In addition, petitions containing over 7,500 patient signatures were sent to New York State’s Congressional Delegation. This year’s National Health Center Week began with an official proclamation statement from President Barack Obama designating August 7th - 13th as National Health Center Week 2011, and New York State Governor Andrew M Cuomo and New York City Mayor Michael R.Bloomberg also issued proclamations acknowledging the critical role of New York State’s community health centers as safety net providers. The vast majority of New York’s Congressional Members and their staff joined health centers to celebrate National Health Center Week, including our newly elected Congressional Members. New York health center advocates delivered the message that negotiators should not undermine Medicaid or the Health Centers program, and the message was received loud and clear!
By now, you have likely seen the news relating to the formation of a federal “Super Committee,” as well as the process for achieving the next round of deficit reductions. Things are moving quickly and will require unprecedented levels of activity, outreach and follow up. Please visit the CHCANYS Federal Policy web page for additional information, including an update on the Debt Limit Deal, and New York State’s Campaign to Save America’s Health Centers web page for additional advocacy resources.
Medicaid Redesign Team: Payment Reform & Quality Measurement Work Group The Payment Reform and Quality Measurement Work Group of the Medicaid Redesign Team will hold a meeting on Tuesday, August 30, 2011, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the NYSDOH Metropolitan Regional Office in Manhattan. The meeting is open to the public but space for meeting observers is extremely limited and only the first 20-25 people will be admitted. In addition, a conference call number to listen to the meeting will be posted on the MRT website at least one day in advance (link below). The Work Group will develop a series of payment reform and quality measurement recommendations to facilitate the transformation of our health care system. To the extent practicable the Work Group will seek consistency with the reform imperatives of both the MRT Phase 1 work, as well as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Work Group is Co-Chaired by Dan Sisto, President of the Healthcare Association of New York State, and William Streck, MD, Chair of the New York State Public Health and Health Planning Council. Paloma Hernandez, MS, MPH, President and CEO of Urban Health Plan and President of CHCANYS' Board of Directors, serves on the Work Group.
Medicaid Redesign Team: Basic Benefit Review Work Group The Basic Benefit Review Work Group of the Medicaid Redesign Team will hold a meeting on Wednesday, August 31, 2011, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the NYSDOH Metropolitan Regional Office in Manhattan. The meeting is open to the public but space for meeting observers is extremely limited and only the first 20-25 people will be admitted. In addition, a conference call number to listen to the meeting will be posted on the MRT website at least one day in advance (see link below).
The Work Group will conduct a thorough examination of the current list of covered benefits in the New York State Medicaid program that will extend beyond the list of covered services to current copay, coinsurance and premium levels. It will examine the latest cost-effectiveness research and value-based benefit design initiatives to see what lessons can be gleaned for New York State Medicaid, and will develop a series of recommendations for modifications to the Medicaid benefit package and cost-sharing policies that will both improve health care quality and lower costs in the program. Finally, the Work Group will focus on ways to monitor the impact of changes enacted in the budget regarding access to care and services.
The Work Group is Co-Chaired by Frank Branchini, President and CEO of EmblemHealth and Nirav Shah, MD, MPH, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Health. Paloma Hernandez, MS, MPH, President and CEO of Urban Health Plan and President of CHCANYS' Board of Directors, serves on the Work Group.
News from Health Center Support If you have questions about CHCANYS’ health center support, please contact Rebecca Gaige, rgaige@chcanys.org.
New York State Health Home State Plan Amendment: Letter of Intent Due Sept. 1, 2011 NYS DOH has announced an extension of the deadline for Health Home applications to October 3, 2011. However, they are now requiring all lead applicants to submit Letters of Intent by September 1, 2011. CHCANYS requests that all community health centers that submit a Letter of Intent share their letters with us. In addition, we ask that health centers participating in another lead applicant’s network notify us, by email, of their participation. This will assist us as we continue to advocate to both DOH and other providers that community health centers are essential to the success of health homes.
Currently, there are no restrictions on the number of Health Home applications being accepted by DOH. However, DOH has made clear that it will give priority to applications that demonstrate strong and extensive networks of community based organizations and direct service providers. The DOH has also stated it is interested in hearing from potential applicants about their challenges and obstacles in meeting Health Home network requirements and is willing to assist, as feasible, in resolving these issues. They are also likely to do some “match-making” in the interval between the Letter of Intent deadline and the application deadline.
CHCANYS has been proactive in trying to identify and encourage potential network partners through discussions with other provider trade associations. We have been actively engaging these potential partners and asking them to reach out to their membership to encourage collaboration. We hope to continue to do this work and will be better equipped to do so if we are aware of the networks community health centers are already participating in or leading.
Please send copies of your Letters of Intent or network participation information to Beverly Grossman, bgrossman@chcanys.org. Should any new information become available, we will share it with you. If you have questions, please contact any of the following CHCANYS staff: Lisa Perry (lperry@chcanys.org), Beverly Grossman (bgrossman@chcanys.org), or Stefanie Lindeman (slindeman@chcanys.org).
CMS FQHC Advanced Primary Care Practice Demonstration Project:Deadline Extended to Sept. 9, 2011 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: Extended to Sept. 9, 2011 Additional information:http://innovations.cms.gov/areas-of-focus/seamless-and-coordinated-care-models/fqhc/
HRSA Releases Program Assistance Letter (PAL) 2011-02: Free Clinics Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) Program Policy Guide This PAL supplements Program Information Notice (PIN) 2011-02, “Free Clinics Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) Program Policy Guide” and provides guidance on the Calendar Year (CY) 2012 deeming application process for medical malpractice liability coverage under the provisions of section 224(o) of the PHS Act and the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). This PAL contains instructions for free clinics on how to apply to HRSA for medical malpractice coverage under the FTCA for CY 2012 on behalf of their volunteer free clinic health care professionals, board members, officers, employees, and/or contractors. Redeeming applications for CY 2012 coverage are due no later than September 16, 2011.
Are you prepared for the important changes for FQHC participation in Medicare? Several significant changes have been made to the process for health center enrollment and participation in the Medicare program. Perhaps even more significantly, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are now validating compliance with the requirements for Community Health Centers enrolled in the Medicare program and are ramping up the consequences of non-compliance. It is critical that both FQHCs and FQHC Look-Alikes ensure compliance to avoid financial jeopardy.
In March, HRSA released Program Assistance Letter 2011-04, Process for Becoming Eligible for Medicare Reimbursement under the FQHC Benefit. CMS requires community health centers to enroll each site separately and bill Medicare services under the unique CMS certification number (CCN) for the site where care was provided. This requirement is now being strictly enforced. PAL 2011-04 indicates that CMS counts every seasonal and permanent site of an FQHC as a separate organization. A site with five locations is considered five organizations by Medicare. CMS requires all claims to reflect the unique CCN of the site where the service was delivered. Failure to do so can be interpreted as fraud. The penalties can now be as significant as being asked to repay all Medicare payments plus interest as well as disenrollment from the Medicare program. Click here to see Section III of PIN 2008-01, which includes the definition of permanent and seasonal sites under the scope of project.
In the past, health center New Access Points (NAPs) were encouraged to apply for Medicare as soon as word was received of approval as an FQHC. According to HRSA, CMS is now prohibiting new sites from submitting applications to enroll in Medicare until the day the site becomes operational.
It is also important to note that FQHCs must promptly report to their Medicare contractor any change to the information furnished in the initial enrollment application. These changes include but are not limited to: board member composition; organization’s legal business name; practice location; licensing information; adverse legal actions affecting the organization; board members; managing employees; and/or billing agency (if applicable). Failure to report these changes within the required time frame may result in the deactivation or revocation of Medicare billing privileges.
Effective March 23, 2011, the Affordable Care Act requires CMS to charge a fee for any enrollment or revalidation application for participation in the Medicare program. For FQHCs, the current fee is $505, which the statute requires be adjusted annually for inflation. Health centers may apply to CMS for hardship waiver of this enrollment fee; however, because CMS has 60 days to review the waiver application, a fee waiver request can result in a significant delay in Medicare site approval and caution is therefore suggested.
To read a detailed Program Assistance Letter containing more information, click here. If you have questions, contact Rebecca Gaige at rgaige@chcanys.org.
The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) Offers Seminar on Essentials for Establishing a Health Center Finance Department Working with RSM McGladrey and with support from the Bureau of Primary Health Care, NACHC has developed this new seminar to provide health centers with the training they need to orient CFOs and COOs to financial management, accounting principles and terminology unique to health centers. For more information visit NACHC’s website at www.nachc.com.
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 Saturday, 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.
Visit CHCANYS’ Online Clinical Library! Don’t forget to visit CHCANYS’ Online Clinical Library, a repository of clinical guidelines and best practices that you are helping us build! To go directly to the Clinical Library page, click here.
CHCANYS’ NYC Childhood Obesity Prevention & Management Consortium to be Featured at APHA Annual Meeting in Washington, DC The Community Health Care Association of New York State will have the honor of organizing and presenting a special panel discussion, “Childhood Obesity Prevention in New York City Community Health Centers: Best Practices and Lessons Learned,” at the 2011 American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting in Washington, DC (Oct. 29-Nov. 2, 2011). This conference will provide a national platform for CHCANYS to disseminate the outcomes, best practices and lessons learned from its successful New York City Obesity Prevention and Management Consortium. Panelists from CHCANYS, Morris Heights Health Center and the Children’s Museum of Manhattan will expound on three essential aspects of the consortium’s work: (1) the integration of evidence-based guidelines and nontraditional partners into a prevention consortium; (2) the consortium health center learning team approach and best practices; and (3) the implementation of fun and interactive methods of educating children regarding physical activity and nutrition using collaborations between health care organizations and parents. The panel will be featured in APHA’s food and nutrition track. For further information, please contact the presentation organizer, Candy Magaña at cmagana@chcanys.org. For the panel description and corresponding presentation abstracts, click here.
Family Planning/Reproductive Health
FDA Investigates Birth Control Pills The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is informing the public about new information that is being assessed as part of FDA's ongoing safety review of birth control pills that contain drospirenone. This review will further evaluate the risk of blood clots in women who use these products. Two recently published studies reported a greater risk of blood clots for women taking birth control pills containing drospirenone as compared to the risk in women taking birth control pills containing another progestin known as levonorgestrel. Previously published studies have also addressed the risk of blood clots in women using birth control pills containing drospirenone. A large study exploring the association of blood clots with hormonal contraception has been commissioned by FDA, and results of that study are currently being finalized and reviewed. For more information on drug safety communication, click here.
Trainings/Conferences
Free Online Course from FDA OWH and NIH ORWH The FDA Office of Women's Health collaborated with the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health to develop a new, web-based course entitled “Sex and Gender Differences in Health and Behavior.” The new course is the second in a series on “The Science of Sex and Gender in Human Health.” Participants will learn about sex and gender differences in the course of disease and consider issues that arise when treating and managing these conditions. A research methodology framework to incorporate sex and gender differences in the design of studies is also included. The course includes 6 lessons and takes approximately 6 hours to complete. CME credits are available from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. For more information about the course, click here. Free BodyWorks Training Online The Office on Women’s Health announces FREE BodyWorks internet-based trainings through WebEx. Upon completion of the 6-hour training, participants will be prepared to do the following:
1. Implement the BodyWorks program with parents and caregivers in their communities 2. Train others to be trainers in the BodyWorks program
For more information on becoming a trainer and to register for the online training please click here.
To read the most recent newsletters from BodyWorks, click below:
National Primary Oral Health Conference "Envisioning a Better Future for Oral Health" Gaylord National Hotel National Harbor, MD
The National Primary Oral Health Conference is the only national conference designed exclusively for Health Center oral health dental providers. This annual conference is hosted by NNOHA as part of a Cooperative Agreement with the Health Resources and Services Administration.
If you haven't signed up for the annual conference yet, do it today! The conference will take place October 23-26, 2011, in National Harbor, Maryland (close to D.C.). Click here to find out more information on the conference, hotel reservations, or to register today! “Re-Examining LGBT Healthcare” Date: Wednesday, September 7, 2011 Time: 2:00 pm-3:00 pm (EST)
The New York State Department of Health Bureau of Community Chronic Disease Prevention and Bureau of Chronic Disease Control are pleased to invite you to a cultural competency webinar entitled "Re-Examining LGBT Healthcare,” presented by Liz Margolies, LCSW, founder and executive director of the National LGBT Cancer Network. The National LGBT Cancer Network is an organization that addresses the needs of LGBT people with cancer and those at risk through education, training and advocacy.
"Re-examining LGBT Healthcare" is an introduction to providing culturally competent care to LGBT patients and clients in healthcare settings. It begins with the belief that most providers intend to offer welcoming and respectful care, but that they are unaware of how current practices (e.g., intake forms and office environment) send messages of "unwelcome" to LGBT people. The well-intentioned idea that "I treat all people the same," does not take into account the specific needs of LGBT patients. To more effectively serve LGBT patients, this training provides concrete information and action steps. The training also stresses that culturally competent care is not just compassionate treatment, but it is good medicine that is ethically mandated by professional standards of care.
At the end of the presentation, participants will:
Know why it is critical to identify which patients are LGBT, regardless of the health issue being addressed or treated.
Understand it is not apparent from either intake forms or the appearance of patients who is LGBT.
Recognize and accept it is natural to feel awkward as one learns to use new language and practices with LGBT patients.
To register for this training session. Click here to register. Once you are approved by the host, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions for joining the session.
Quality Improvement
Recognizing improvement success HRSA has incorporated some new technology within the Healthcare Communities portal. This allows them to share some of your photos from recent events. This could include photos of your quality improvement team receiving recognition for quality improvement, public–private partnerships, improvement results, etc.
Please send your photo(s) to Fred Butler at fbutler@hrsa.gov along with names of individuals in the photo, organization name, event and/or outcome achieved.
In the News
CDC awards more than $49 million to strengthen State and local health departments. On August 15, 2011, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius awarded $49 million in grants, partly supported by the Affordable Care Act, to improve the quality of health care and strengthen the public health infrastructure. Awarded to all fifty States, the grants strengthen state, local and territorial health departments’ capacity to perform critical epidemiology and laboratory work, detect and prevent healthcare-associated infections and support immunization programs. This is double the spending for the same programs in 2010. Click here to learn more about the awards.
Important Update: Dosing and Concentration Changes for OTC Infants’ Acetaminophen Products The makers of over-the-counter (OTC) liquid acetaminophen medications will no longer produce the products in concentrated infant drops. Therefore, there are new dosing directions for these products. For more information click here.
NIH-Funded Study Finds Broadest Immune Response from Nasal Spray Vaccine According to researchers funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, children younger than 3 years old receive the same protective antibody response from the recommended two doses of licensed seasonal influenza vaccine regardless of whether the doses are injected by needle, inhaled through a nasal spray or provided through one dose of each in any order. Read more about this clinical trial here.
Announcements
New HIV/AIDS Funding Data Statehealthfacts.org has posted new data on federal funding streams for HIV/AIDS. Collected in partnership with the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), the data for Federal Fiscal Year 2009 is available by state and for the nation, and represents the latest available state-level data on all major federal funding streams for HIV/AIDS in the U.S. Updated data include HIV/AIDS funding by state from the Ryan White Program, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program, and the Office of Minority Health (OMH).
National Diabetes Prevention Program CHCANYS Clinical Quality Initiatives staff are certified Lifestyle Coaches of CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP). As NDPP Lifestyle Coaches, CHCANYS’ staff can facilitate 16-week sessions for pre-diabetic patients in your facility. This evidence-based program reduces the patient’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes by empowering them to make lifestyle changes resulting in modest weight loss and increased physical activity.
Women’s Health Care Chartbook The Women's Health Care Chartbook presents findings from the Kaiser Women’s Health Survey of women ages 18 to 64 and provides a look at the experience of women in the health care system. The Chartbook includes data on insurance coverage, affordability of and access to care, use of health care services, prevention, and family health. The survey was conducted in 2008 and builds on data collected during previous women's health surveys conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation in 2001 and 2004. To review the Chartbook online, please visit: http://www.kff.org/womenshealth/8164.cfm.
New Teen Pregnancy Prevention & Adolescent Health Resources The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shares new resources on Teen Pregnancy and Adolescent health. Visit the CDC Teen Pregnancy webpage for more information.
WomensHealth.gov Redesigned! HHS is pleased to announce that womenshealth.gov has been redesigned and is now live! You’ll be able to find all of your favorite women’s health information with an updated and modern look. The site includes A-Z health topics geared towards women’s health, publications, and a Government in Action section that highlights programs and actions that the government is taking to improve the health of women nationwide.
New Draft Standards for Data on Race, Ethnicity, Sex, Disability Status, Language On June 29, 2011, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced new draft standards for collecting and reporting data on race, ethnicity, sex, primary language and disability status, and announced the administration’s plans to begin collecting health data on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) populations. Both efforts aim to help researchers, policy makers, health providers and advocates to identify and address health disparities affecting these communities. For the complete press release, click here.
"We Connect Now" Website Serves College Students with Disabilities We Connect Now connects college students with disabilities in a virtual community and gives them a voice on important issues. Since it was launched in 2008, it has been used as a resource by institutions of higher learning and has been linked by colleges and universities as well as groups serving people with disabilities in 50 states and at least 5 foreign countries. Visit the site at http://weconnectnow.wordpress.com/
CELEBRATING OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, SEPT. 2011, AND HBOC AWARENESS WEEK AND PREVIVOR DAY, SEPT. 25TH – OCT. 2ND
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. 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. Cancer Services Program of Genesee & Orleans will have a table at Brick House Corners Fair in Pembroke, NY.
Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI): Prostate & Ovarian Cancer Expo Boulevard Mall (near Sears), 10 am – 3 pm Join the experts from RPCI to learn about the latest in the diagnosis, research and treatment of prostate and ovarian cancer. For more information, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or visit www.RoswellPark.org/expo
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, 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.
Cancer Services Program of Genesee & Orleans – Coordinator, Lisa Franclemont, will appear on WBTA 1490AM to speak about ovarian cancer from 10:00 am to 10:30 am.
September 21st Support Connection, Inc.: “A Toll-Free Educational Teleconference for women living with ovarian cancer.” Guest speaker: Dr. Afshin Bahador of South Coast Gynecologic Oncology in La Jolla, California, a board certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist with a subspecialty board certification in Gynecologic Oncology. Topics include: Issues pertaining to recurrence, such as: Treatment options following the conclusion of first line therapy; The role and promise of clinical trials; Some of the categories of drugs being evaluated in clinical trial settings and some initial results. Genetics and hereditary risk factors for those diagnosed with ovarian cancer. A question and answer period will follow the presentation. 8:00pm – 9:00pm (NY time) Call Support Connection in advance for instructions to join this toll-free teleconference: 914-962-6402 or 1-800-532-4290.
September 23rd Cancer Services Program of Genesee & Orleans will have a manned display table for ovarian cancer in each hospital in Genesee & Orleans Counties.
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
KC You There and the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance: Teal Carpet Affair The second annual “Teal Carpet Affair” to create and generate awareness in Western New York will be a night to remember with a fabulous customized teal carpet leading you into a night of entertainment, food and beverages. 7:00pm to 11:00pm at Social (228 Franklin, Buffalo, NY 14202). Go to: http://kcyouthere.wordpress.com/ to purchase tickets.
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
Benedictine Health Foundation: New Autumn Garden Party to benefit the Linda Young Ovarian Cancer Support Program at Benedictine Hospital 3:00-6:00 pm Hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Struzzieri 40 Stroomzeit Lane Saugerties, New York For more information, please call (845) 334-3017
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 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.
Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE): "In the Family" Screening 3pm in Manhattan. Contact laura.r.royse@gmail.com for location details.
October 5th SHARE – Self Help for Women with Breast or Ovarian Cancer - “The Doctor Is In”: Q&A Session About Ovarian Cancer with Dr Stephanie Blank Time: 6:00-7:30pm SHARE Main Office 1501 Broadway, Ste 704A NY, NY Dr. Blank will answer your questions on the use of Avastin, PARP Inhibitors and other new treatments.
October 21st SHARE – Self Help for Women with Breast or Ovarian Cancer: La Dra. Hannah Ortiz, de Sound Gynecologic Oncology, les ofrecerá información importante sobre los avances científicos del cáncer ovárico. Dr. Hannah Ortiz of Sound Gynecologic Oncology will present information about scientific advances in ovarian cancer. Please note that this event is in Spanish. Queens Center Mall Group 90-15 Queens Blvd. 92nd Street (entre avenidas 57 y 59) Salón Comunitario Elmhurst, NY, Time: 6:30-8:30pm.
October 29th LI OCEANS "Footsteps of Hope" 5K Walk/Run Time: 8:30 am 655 Main Street Islip, New York. Call 631-928-0298 for information.
News from HIT If you have questions about CHCANYS’ HIT work, please contact Lisa Perry, lperry@chcanys.org.
PCMH/Health Home funding opportunities--see 'News from Health Center Support'
Next Quarterly Statewide Health IT call/meeting: 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 t2heir 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 http://www.health.ny.gov/funding/rfa/1106081010/index.htm 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.
For a copy of the e-Newsletter for the Center for Health Workforce Studies, click 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 email: 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.
Community HealthCorps Positions Still Open 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 two positions left to be filled. The openings are for Spanish translator/ Preventative Health Coordinators at our Upstate 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.
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, and there are some seats available for non-HeathCorps members. 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 learning about public benefits. Space is limited and attendees will be accepted on a first come, first served 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
HealthCorps Pre-Service Orientation 2011 CHCANYS will be conducting its annual Pre-service orientation for our upcoming 2011-2012 HealthCorps Members from September 4th through September 9th. We will begin our orientation by traveling to Camp Ramapo located in Rhinebeck, New York for a three day team building excursion. The remainder of our orientation will be held at our New York City Office. HealthCorps members will learn about the history of the community health center movement and about their service assignment and placement site, and will also receive an overview of larger public health and social justice issues affecting New York State.
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. __________________________________________________________________________________________
