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June 12, 2020
  WVPCA Weekly Outlook Newsletter
    A Newsletter on Community Centered Healthcare







West Virginia nursing homes can allow visits next week
  

Read the entire article from The Weirton Daily Times  here. 

Dentists Struggle to Protect Themselves From Covid-19
 

Read the entire article from The Wall Street Journal   here.

Medicaid Needs Direct Funding to Providers and More Federal Funds for States
Read the entire article from  CBPP.org   here.

Read the entire article from WSAZ    here.
EmergencyManagement
FAQs Regarding COVID-19 Funding Reports

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) posted new FAQs related to the COVID-19 supplemental funding (H8C, H8D and H8E).

Do health centers need to submit a separate progress report for each coronavirus-related funding award (H8C, H8D, and H8E)?
Yes. The CARES Act legislation created new reporting requirements for all enacted and subsequent coronavirus-related emergency supplemental appropriations. Each round of coronavirus-related funding requires awardees to submit a separate quarterly progress report that provides status updates on the implementation of the proposed activities supported with the funding, any changes to the initially identified activities and any issues or barriers to the implementation of the activities. Awardees will submit quarterly progress reports until all activities to be supported with the funding are completed and all funds are drawn down.

When will the first progress reports be due, and what will be the quarterly reporting cycle?
The first progress reports will be available for awardees starting July 1, 2020 and will have a submission due date of July 10, 2020. The quarterly reporting cycle will continue with further progress reports starting October 1, 2020, January 1, 202, and April 1, 2021


Stressors cause by the pandemic--from social isolation to job loss--can exacerbate negative health outcomes for people with, at risk of, or in recovery from substance use disorders (SUD). 

NIDAMED, a clinician-focused initiative from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, created a new resource library including materials focused on the intersection of COVID-19 and addiction:
  • Practice considerations for telehealth and SUD.
  • Recovery resources.
  • Treatment and practice guidance.
  • General information around COVID-19 and your practice.
WHO official clarifies comments on asymptomatic spread of COVID-19


A top World Health Organization official backpedaled on comments she made that transmission of the new coronavirus by infected but asymptomatic people is "very rare," The New York Times  reports.

On June 8 Maria Van Kerkhove, PhD, head of the WHO's emerging diseases and zoonosis unit, said that although a person with COVID-19 who is not showing symptoms can spread the virus, "it still seems to be rare."

Dr. Van Kerkhove confirmed June 9 that the comments were based on two or three studies and saying that transmission of the virus by asymptomatic individuals worldwide is rare is a "misunderstanding."
She further clarified that the estimates of asymptomatic transmission came from models, which do not provide an accurate picture of the spread of the virus.
Scientists and health experts were quick to call out the comments as confusing and even "irresponsible."

Scientists also criticized the comments in light of the fact that they may have policy implications, as many countries have implemented rules around wearing masks and social distancing due to the risk of asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic spread.

Dr. Van Kerkhove and WHO officials reiterated the importance of social distancing, along with other measures, such as testing, tracing, quarantine and isolation, to help curb the pandemic, the Times reports.
COVID-19/ NOVEL CORONAVIRUS Pandemic


As you know, information on coronavirus is changing daily.  The WVPCA is working with Federal, State, and local health officials in emergency preparedness activities as well as disseminating appropriate and current information to our Community Health Centers.  This includes up-to-date resources and policies to ensure the continued health and safety of the communities we serve.  

Guidance and resource information can be found on the WVPCA website here and coronavirus.gov.
WVPCA NewsWVPCA_news

Over the last few months stay-at-home orders helped slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. However, these restrictions combined with parental concerns about potentially exposing their children to COVID-19 during well child visits have contributed to a decrease in the number of children getting their recommended vaccinations. Join the WIN for two upcoming webinars:  Maintaining Vaccinations During a Pandemic. These webinars will explore strategies to recover childhood vaccination rates and tools to help do so.  Complete registration information can be found here.  


This webinar will provide information about the WV Statewide Immunization Information System (WVSIIS), challenges, and tools available through it. It will also provide an overview of medical exemptions and present opportunities for providers to improve vaccination coverage rates.

June 29, 2020 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
This webinar will discuss the importance of vaccines and why they are essential to continue during a pandemic. Communication strategies and best practices for providing immunizations will be explored.
PCMHCorner
2020 Health Center PCMH Recognition Quality Improvement Awards

Health centers that have Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition by Wednesday, July 1, 2020, may be eligible to receive the 2020 Health Center PCMH Recognition Quality Award.
View the table of health centers with valid PCMH recognition status and the number of sites with PCMH recognition . If your health center serves multiple states, please be certain to check the number of sites for EACH state to calculate the total number of PCMH-recognized sites in HRSA's Electronic Handbooks (EHBs).
  • If your health center's PCMH recognition is accurate, no action is needed.
  • If it is inaccurate, please submit an update to your PCMH recognition information via the EHBs no later than Sunday, July 5. View instructions for submitting an update, including the acceptable forms of required documentation.
If you have questions, please contact HRSA . To make sure you receive our reply email, add ' [email protected] ' to your address book.
NCQA (PCMH) Regional Training

July 13-17,2020 - Now Virtual
   
The West Virginia Primary Care Association (WVPCA), District of Columbia Primary Care Association (DCPCA), and the Mid-Atlantic Community Health Centers (MACHC) and are excited to offer National Committee on Quality Assurance's (NCQA) Patient-Centered MedicalHome (PCMH) Training.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-Supported National Committee on Quality Assurance's (NCQA) Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Region 3 Training is now being offered VIRTUALLY!

Facilitators:  Bill Tulloch, Director, Quality Solutions Group, NCQA & Christina Borden, Director, Recognition Program Policy Resources, NCQA
Who Should Attend Any person implementing the PCMH model at their clinical practice, pursing PCMH 2017 recognition, and/or PCMH status through annual reporting.  
Cost:  This training is offered at NO COST to participants.

Registration information can be found here.  

For more information, please contact Shannon Parker, MBA, PCMH CCE at  shannon.parker.wvpca.org.
State NewsStateNews
Wednesday Webinar Series: June and July

The West Virginia Primary Care Association, the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers and the MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center have created this six-part webinar series for Community Health Centers who have an integral role in Ending the HIV Epidemic. Participants will hear from fellow Community Health Centers and clinic leaders for a strategy-gathering information exchange to learn more about HIV Routine Testing, Implementation of Routine Testing, Importance of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and how to access funding for PrEP. The webinars will be an hour in length and will include Q&A as well as audience interaction via polling. CME, CNE, and CEU are available.   For more information and registration information click here
WVHRA 2020 Virtual Event


Due to the COVID-19, the 2020 West Virginia Rural Health Conference has been changed to a virtual event.  Additional information and registration will be added to their web-page soon.
Vaccine Super Hero Contest  

The WV Immunization Network announces their Vaccine Super-Hero Contest: Fighting Infectious Diseases: Vaccine Heroes At Work. This contest is open to West Virginia students in grades 5 to 12. Judges will select one winner from each of the following age categories: grades 5-8 and grades 9-12.
 
Create your own comic strip or short graphic novel (4 pages maximum) about a superhero(es) that develops a vaccine and saves lives. Your submission should have a simple story-line that includes your hero's name their life saving adventures. 

The comic strip or graphic novel can tell the story of either:
  • A historic figure who has developed a vaccine; or
  • A future superhero that creates a vaccine to prevent COVID-19. 
For full contest details, visit here.   
GKVF Announcing Virtual Trainings


The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation is launching a Virtual Nonprofit Capacity Building series to assist partners to work remotely.  Below are several of the webinars they will be offering.  Registration is required and descriptions of the webinars can be found via the registration links.  For more information visit TGKVF's website.

Strategies for Writing Grants when your Organization is Understaffed presented by Global Partners President Patrick Patterson 
 July 9th from 10:30-11:45am
 
Tech Tools for Nonprofits presented by our own Grants Manager Candace 
Krell; these include short, 15-minute tutorials on a variety of tools.  
You can find them here.
National NewsNationalNews
Protests In Top 25 Virus Hot Spots Ignite Fears Of Contagion

As demonstrators flooded streets across America to decry the killing of George Floyd, public health experts watched in alarm, fearing that the close proximity of protesters and their failures in many cases to wear masks, along with the police using tear gas, could fuel new transmissions of the coronavirus. 

Many of the protests broke out in places where the virus is still circulating widely in the population. In fact, an Associated Press review found that demonstrations have taken place in every one of the 25 U.S. communities with the highest concentrations of new cases.
NACHC'S "Reimagining Care" Webinar Series


Join NACHC to move beyond "Flattening the COVID-19 Curve" to NACHC's new webinar series, "Reimagining Care." This series will focus on how Health Centers will continue to lead the primary health care industry through flexibility and innovation in a post-COVID world.

The first webinar entitled "Reimagining Care: Reopening Dental Practicesfrom June r4, 2020 can be found here.
 
Speakers: 
Moderator: Donald L. Weaver, MD, Senior Advisor, Clinical Workforce, NACHC
Isaac Zeckel, DDS, Chief Dental Officer, HealthLinc, Indiana
Stephen Davis, DDS, Chief Dental Officer, Yakima Valley Farmworkers Clinic, Washington
E. Michele Chambliss, DNP, MS, RN, FAAN, Director, Federal Tort Claims Act Division, HRSA

Guest speakers and panelists will change from webinar to webinar as the topics change and as new issues emerge, but will feature individuals from NACHC, CDC, HRSA / BPHC, community health centers, and/or key experts from the field. 
 
Save the date for webinars on 
June 25, July 9, July 23 & August 6 from 1:00 pm -  2 pm EDT.
Amazon employees sue over 'sloppy' contact tracing

Three Amazon warehouse workers have sued the tech giant over its contact tracing efforts during the pandemic, according to CNBC

The lawsuit alleges Amazon didn't follow proper guidelines from CDC and other public health agencies when it comes to contact tracing and stopping the spread of COVID-19. Derrick Palmer, a worker at the company's warehouse in the New York City borough of Staten Island and one of the individuals filing suit against Amazon, said his supervisor tested positive for COVID-19; when Mr. Palmer reported he had recently been in contact with his supervisor, the company still told him to go to work the next day.

There have been several new cases of COVID-19 at the warehouse since Mr. Palmer's supervisor tested positive, according to the report. The lawsuit claims Amazon's "sloppy contact tracing" has put its workers at risk. However, Amazon maintains that it has followed local and federal guidelines at its sites, including the CDC's guidelines for contact tracing. Amazon has cameras at its warehouse and told CNBC that it reviews the cameras for information about employee location at its sites, as well as interviews individuals about their contact with others.

Amazon reviews videos from 24 hours prior to the COVID-19 test, but the virus can spread 48 hours before symptoms become apparent, according to the report. The employees have requested that the court procure an injunction requiring Amazon to follow public health standards; they aren't seeking financial compensation.
Year 2021 FTCA Health Center Deeming Applications

Applications for medical malpractice coverage under the FTCA  are open in EHBs. We've extended the completion deadline to Monday, July 13.

HRSA guidance for both new applications (deeming) and renewal of existing coverage (redeeming) for health center staff is available in
Program Assistance Letter (PAL) 2020-02
.
Upcoming Training OpportunitiesUpcomingNationalTraining


Project ECHO, is hosting a free 16-week webinar series that provides primary care providers and other members of a multidisciplinary diabetes care team with case-based learning and consultation to empower them to address the needs of patients with diabetes during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Webinars are held every Wednesday at 12:00 - 1:15 pm discussing a new topic each week. CME credits are offered for attendance.
_____________________________

or check  with the organizer's 
websites and  contacts to 
verify the status  of ALL 
events  and trainings
__________________________





The goal of this HRSA webinar is to increase awareness of provider burnout in a clinical setting, including risk factors and preventive measures. After the webinar you should be able to describe causes and appearance of clinician burnout and identify preventive measures for early intervention. Perhaps most importantly, you will gain insight into recognizing risk factors for new providers, who are often recruited by Community Health Centers . Connection information for the webinar will be available soon.

Wednesday, June 17, 2020 |2:00 PM ET

Harm Reduction and Isolation During COVID-19

This webinar is hosted by the Corporation for Supportive Housing, a HRSA funded NCA.

Monday, June 15, 2020 | 2:00 PM ET
 Register here
______________________________


Please save the date for these upcoming sessions:

 Thursday, June 29, 2020
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET
Access details coming soon
 ______________________________ __
FinancialAnchorFinancial and Funding Resources

The HRSA Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) will be making approximately 50 awards of $200,000 each to rural communities to enhance capacity to address substance use disorder, including opioid use disorder. Over the course of an 18-month period of performance, grant recipients will conduct a series of planning activities, engage multi-sector consortiums and participate in the RCORP-Planning learning collaborative. Applicant organizations may be located in an urban or rural areas; however, all activities supported by this program must exclusively target HRSA-designated rural areas  (per the Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer ). FORHP recorded an hour-long webinar that is available upon request.   Apply by Monday, July 13.

USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants

The USDA Rural Development announced a second application window for funding under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant program due to the current public health emergency. This program helps rural communities use the unique capabilities of telecommunications to connect to each other and to the world, overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density. Eligible applicants include most entities that provide education or health care through telecommunications. Apply by Monday, July 13.
CommunityHealthCenterResourceCommunity Health Center Resources
 
Jackson Kelly attorneys provide limited consultation to all members of the WVPCA at no charge, as part of the WVPCA contract. There is no limit to the number of calls which any member may make. All inquiries within the scope of professional competence of firm attorneys will be addressed. Inquiries which require expertise not available through the firm will be promptly identified and, when requested, Jackson Kelly will assist in referring the matter to accounting firms, insurance agents, or others as circumstances warrant.

All inquiries, responses and consultation services provided by the firm lawyers will be provided without additional charge beyond the retainer amount, except for matters which require formal opinions, representation of record in litigation, transactional work, e.g. the purchase or sale of real property, or matters which require continued representation, research or consultation beyond a single inquiry or document review.

Justin M. Harrison is a labor & employment lawyer with Jackson Kelly PLLC. He is available for consultation through a special retainer relationship with the WVPCA.  Justin can be reached at 304.340.1358 and via email at [email protected].
Risk Management Manual for Health Centers Now Available!
 
The Risk Management Manual for Health Centers is now available on the ECRI Institute Clinical Risk Management Program website! Designed to support a proactive approach to risk management at health centers and free clinics, the Manual provides background, tips, and how-tos in a manageable format.

Specific areas that are covered include:

Risk Management Programs & Plans
Claims and Lawsuits
Role of the Risk Manager
Patient Grievances and Complaints
Communication with Patients
Credentialing and Privileging
Communication among Providers, Staff, and Community Partners
Tracking Systems for Diagnostic Tests, Referrals, and Hospitalizations

View an archived webinar that provides a guided tour of the Manual and key features. For access to the ECRI Institute Clinical Risk Management Program website or any other questions, email [email protected].
COVID-19 Resources for Health Centers
ECRI Institute 
 
Federally qualified health centers and free clinics are on the front line in testing and treating patients who may have been exposed to COVID-19. Use these resources to keep your staff and patients safe:
In addition, ECRI's COVID-19 Resource Center includes free resources addressing the provision of clinical care and managing the supply chain. Updated several times per week, highlights include:
Additional guidance is available directly from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), including:
WVPCA Staff

Sherri Ferrell, MBA | Chief Executive Officer
Debra Boyd | Chief Financial/Chief Operations Officer
Staci Arnold, MBA | Data Service & Integration Specialist
Jennifer Boyd, PA-C, PCMH-CCE | Clinical Consultant
John Kennedy, MA | School-Based Health/Behavioral Health Coordinator
Pam Moore | Member Relations Coordinator
Shannon Parker, MBA, PCMH-CCE | Director of Health Center Operations
Amanda West | Staff Accountant
Emma White, RN | Clinical Quality Improvement Coordinator 
Paula Beasley | Education and Communications Coordinator 
To sign up to receive the WVPCA Weekly Newsletter, click HERE
West Virginia Primary Care Association
  1700 MacCorkle Ave. Charleston, WV 25314| (304) 346-0032 | WWW.WVPCA.ORG
STAY CONNECTED:
This project is/was supported partially/fully by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U58CS06834 State and Regional Primary Care Associations. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.