July 2019

In this issue...

CEO Connection

A Message from Your Board Chair

Director of Quality & Clinical Support

Annual Members' Meeting Recap

North Carolina’s Drug Depository Bill

Special Deal for Symposium

Upcoming Events

NAFC Update

Quick Links

Clinic News

Welcome to a new NCAFCC member!

Care Ring - Charlotte

Welcome to a new clinic director!

Linda Johnson, RN

Director of the Clinic and Pharmacy

Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry

Clinic Birthdays

NeighborHealth - Congratulations on your successful first year.

CEO Connection

Randy Jordan, CEO

Rising to Periscope Level

 

When my cousin (also named “Randy”) joined the Navy and was stationed on a nuclear submarine, I became fascinated by his work. Although Randy could not tell me where his missions were destined due to nuclear warheads being on board, he shared that he would stay under water for up to two months at a time moving through the ocean protecting our nation. Technology allowed the sub commander to know precisely where the boat was located on the map and at what depth in the ocean. However, when it was time to surface, the sub would rise to just below the water level and raise its periscope. The periscope allowed the commander a safe way to confirm visually that he was where he thought he was and that the sub was oriented appropriately. So, the “up periscope” command is a brief, but vital part of assuring the security of a submarine.

 

Likewise, there are times when leaders of free and charitable clinics and pharmacies need to exercise the “up periscope” command. Our commitment to serving uninsured and underserved patients often keeps us submerged in our daily work. Every now and then, we need to raise our vision to gain a broader perspective. That’s what we did at this year’s Annual Members' Meeting and Primary Care Conference in Asheville. In particular, the presentations about emerging healthcare developments in North Carolina by Dr. Adam Zolotor of NCIOM and the overview of Social Determinants of Health interventions and screenings by Dr. Deepak Palakshappa of Wake Forest School of Medicine were especially enlightening to me. From the comments, it appears they were to you too. Many thanks to Mark Scheerer and Katie Yarbrough of NCAFCC’s staff and Josie Lane, NCCHCA’s conference planner, for producing a program that broadened our views of healthcare in our state. Although we may often feel “underwater” in our work, it’s good sometimes to rise to periscope level and look around.

A Message from Your Board Chair

April Cook

Lake Norman Community Health Clinic

Happy Independence Day!

 

It seems our country is in a perpetual state of unrest from droughts, flooding, terrorism, and mass shootings just to name a few. That being said, I do believe this is the greatest country on the planet in all her glory along with her imperfections.   My son puts his life on the line every day to defend this country so I would like to give a big shout out to all the men and women that put their country before themselves!

We just wrapped up the annual Primary Care Conference in Asheville. It was well attended and it was great seeing how many of the FQHC’s that chose to attend our free clinic breakouts instead of their own. The breakouts for the free and charitable clinics were fabulous and very interesting. Our clinics absolutely shined which resulted in giving the FQHC’s another look at why our association and its members should not only be taken seriously, but why we have outstanding outcomes and deliverables for our patients.

That being said, just a reminder that the annual NAFC Symposium is quickly approaching. We have 33 members attending this year…. A RECORD! This year’s conference will be in Atlanta and they have fabulous breakouts planned. If you have never been to a National Conference, proximity makes this one easy to get to this year. That being said and in all seriousness, we are in a head to head battle with Texas to see who will have the “greatest attendance” at the conference. They have won this honor as long as I have been attending these conferences. WE CAN’T LET THEM GO UNCHALLENGED! They are already boasting a win and there is a wager on the line between the association ED’s. Our association is providing $175 scholarship to offset the price of the registration. You know you want to go, you know you want to experience magnificent breakouts, but more importantly, YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO WIN!!!! 

Quality and Clinical Support Updates

Cindy Jones, Director of Quality & Clinical Support

The 2019 Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation Top Performer Awards

The top performer awards are available to members that reported health gain outcomes on the 2018 Annual Outcomes Survey.

 

The awards are granted to members that provided primary care and placed within the top performance results for both diabetic and hypertension outcomes; and to those unique members that did not provide primary care services but demonstrated their distinctive values by meeting or exceeding projected goals that measured patient and/or community impact.

 

Congratulations to the 2019 Top Performer Awardees:

* Free Clinic of Rockingham County – Reidsville

* John P. Murray Community Care Clinic – Albemarle

* Scotland Community Health Clinic – Laurinburg

* Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic – Cashiers

* Shelter Health Services – Charlotte

 

2018 Annual Outcomes Report

Major Findings include:

* Patient Volume – Total number of patients = 80,366 (61 members reported)

* Total number of patient visits = 163,601 (53 members reported)

* Number of Volunteers – 7,211 volunteers worked 246,477 hours (58 members reported)

* Number of Prescription Medications – Provided per 30 day supply or less = 1,065,535 (53 members reported)

* Value of Investment:

For every $1 spent, $7.38 in healthcare services were provided

Average cost per patient was $420

Average value of services provided to each patient was $3,102

Estimated hospital emergency department diversion savings was $279,754,046

 

Be sure to review the annual outcomes report to see how your organization compares.

 

Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Transformation Initiative

Review & Update

* May 2018, 34 clinics completed a PCMH Transformation Survey.

* June 2018 – June 2019, 29 clinics participated in an on-site PCMH Readiness Assessment.

* August 2018 – Two clinics were selected as PCMH Pilot Clinic grant awardees, Alliance Medical Ministry in Raleigh and Cape Fear Clinic in Wilmington. Both clinics will be pursuing National Committee of Quality Assurance (NCQA) PCMH Recognition status.

* Fourteen other clinics are currently participating in the PCMH Support Program, with 6 – 8 more due to begin participation this month.

* One non-pilot clinic, Moore Free and Charitable Clinic, elected to pursue NCQA PCMH Recognition status and began the process in April.

Annual Members' Meeting Recap

On June 26th, NCAFCC members gathered in Asheville for our annual members' meeting. Along with two thought-provoking speakers, we presented the 2019 Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation Top Performer Awards and honored Leona Doner and Dr. Douglas Maynard.

T he PowerPoint from the meeting can be found in the Members Only section of our website. This includes Adam Zolotor's presentation on Healthy North Carolina 2030 and Deepak Palakshappa's talk on Screening for Social Determinants of Health in Clinical Care Settings.

Spirit of Free and Charitable Clinics Award

This award is presented each year to one individual who exemplifies the spirit of free and charitable clinics and pharmacies in North Carolina. This person has exhibited the leadership characteristics critical to advancing the cause of the uninsured in North Carolina; demonstrated the passion and determination needed to sustain the vitality of the free and charitable clinic movement; and has actively been engaged in the activities, projects and initiatives of the North Carolina Association of Free and Charitable Clinics.



Congratulations to Leona Doner, Executive Director, Shepherd’s Care Medical Clinic, winner of this year's Spirit of Free and Charitable Clinics Award!

The Don Lucey Award

This award is named after Don Lucey who has been a champion for improving the state of health care in underserved populations for over 30 years.

The North Carolina Association of Free and Charitable Clinics established an award in Dr. Lucey’s honor in 2001 and continues to recognize influential volunteer leaders from the free and charitable clinic community.

This year's winner is Dr. Douglas Maynard whose vision helped establish a free pharmacy at Crisis Control Ministry in Winston-Salem.

The Association congratulates Dr. Maynard as this year's winner of the Don Lucey Award.

New N.C. law paves way for uninsured to receive more donated medication

Charitable clinics can accept and dispense larger pool of

donated drugs for people in need

Gov. Roy Cooper has signed a bill amending North Carolina’s Drug Depository Program to broaden the availability of donated prescription drugs and allow free and charitable clinics to better serve people who are uninsured and underinsured.

 

Sponsored by Rep. Wayne Sasser, a Stanly County pharmacist, the bill was championed by the North Carolina Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NCAFCC) in an effort to make more drugs available to many of the 80,000 patients they serve across the state. Other sponsors included Representatives Bobby Hanig and Chris Humphrey. Sen. Tom McInnis presented the bill on the Senate floor.

 

House Bill 658 amends the law governing the conditions under which prescription drugs, supplies and medical devices can be donated to pharmacies and free clinics by allowing those facilities to now accept and dispense sealed, unadulterated medications that have not reached their expiration date. The new law is in effect. Read the complete press release here. 

Some of the topics include,

* Providing an Integrated Dental Clinic in the Primary Care Setting 

* An Integrated Non-Opioid Pain Management Program in a Free Clinic Setting

* Dollars and Sense: Hospital and Free Clinic Collaboration with Real Results

* Hope and Healing: Healthcare for Domestic Violence Survivors

* Free Clinic Financial Sustainability: Making the Case for Medical Community Investment

Announcing a special deal for members of the Association.

As you are probably aware we are in a "friendly" competition wit h the Texas Association of Charitable Clinics to see which state will have the most attendees. As of now, we have 33 attending and Texas has 33. Here's the special deal...the NAFC is extending the early-bird rate to both of our associations to encourage people to attend the conference. This is a special rate because of the contest taking place between our state associations. The rate is $350 to our members as compared to the current registration fee of $499. The code you need to use when registering is earlybird149. Keep in mind, o ne person from each clinic is eligible to receive, from the Association, $175 to help offset the cost of the registration fee. Once you register, email your Symposium confirmation to Mark and $175 will be sent to you. Click here to view the agenda .

Register here . Let's lead the country!

So far 24 clinics from North Carolina will be represented at the conference. To date, the following people are attending the Symposium.

Leadership Retreat

September 19-20

Historic Brookstown Inn - Winston-Salem

More information coming soon!

National Health Care Symposium

October 27-29, 2019 / Atlanta

HealthConnex Deadline -- NEW

June 1, 2020

Read more .

Deadlines To Watch in July

 

RWJF - NAFC Health Equity Award: July 16, 2019

Nominate a health practitioner who excels in building a “culture of health and achieving health equity” in communities across the country. The awardee will receive a $3,000 prize and be honored by the NAFC and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. https://www.emailmeform.com/builder/form/jeb7IXf5eQvY

 

2020 NAFC Board of Directors' Nominations: July 31, 2019

The NAFC is calling for 2020 Board Nominations. If you are interested in being considered for the NAFC Board, please complete the following online application and return by July 31, 2019 at 5:00 pm EST:  https://www.emailmeform.com/builder/form/hAb8fMeyHZ2cRee0oWa09cV4

  

Immigration Information

In light of recent immigration-related headlines in the news, we want to make sure you have the following resources available. 

 

Letter from NAFC Lawyers to Members - Practical Recommendations for Private Healthcare Providers to Prepare for Contact with Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents:  https://bit.ly/2LAeBBT

 

Healthcare Providers and Immigration Enforcement: Know Your Rights, Know Your Patients' Rights

https://www.nilc.org/issues/immigration-enforcement/healthcare-provider-and-patients-rights-imm-enf/

 

How to Talk About Public Charge with Immigrants and Their Families

https://protectingimmigrantfamilies.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/PIF-How-to-Talk-to-Immigrant-Families-April-2019.pdf

 

Will using benefits hurt my chances of getting a Green Card or becoming a U.S. Citizen?

https://www.clasp.org/sites/default/files/legalaidsociety_usingbenefitsflyer.pdf

  

Know Your Rights: Is it Safe to Apply for Health Insurance or Seek Healthcare?

https://www.nilc.org/issues/health-care/health-insurance-and-care-rights/

 

Know Your Rights

https://www.nilc.org/get-involved/community-education-resources/know-your-rights/

 

What to do if Immigration Comes to Your Workplace

https://www.nilc.org/issues/workersrights/employer-guide-workplace-imm-enforcement/

The 2018 Annual Outcomes Report is now available for you to read and is posted on our website.