January 29 , 2019
  WVPCA Weekly Outlook Newsletter
    A Newsletter on Community Centered Healthcare
 

We offer this publication as a member service of the West Virginia Primary Care Association (WVPCA).

If you have questions regarding our organization, WVPCA membership, or if you have content to suggest for this newsletter, please contact Kelsey Clough, Education and Communications Coordinator, by email or by phone at (304) 346-0032.

Sincerely,

West Virginia Primary Care Association
1700 MacCorkle Avenue
Charleston, WV 25314-1518
304-346-0032
1-877-WVA-HLTH
Quick Links: In This Issue.....

 State  News

News 
Flash!

At public hearing, mostly opposition to managed care model for foster kids
Read the entire article from the Charleston Gazette-Mail  here

Samples: DHHR transitioning foster kids to managed care regardless of bill
Read the entire article from the  Charleston Gazette-Mail    here

FamilyCare to move Birth Center to Charleston's West Side
Read the entire article from the Charleston Gazette-Mail here

Groundbreaking for new Mountaineer Drug and FamilyCare Health Center in Marmet
See the entire story from WOWK here.
WVPCA NewsWVPCA
Next MCO Meeting Scheduled for February 22
The WVPCA invites Community Health Center staff and MCO representatives to attend the next CHC/MCO meeting to discuss quality measures and other opportunities to collaborate and improve care to patients.  The meeting will be held at the WVPCA office building - and via WebEx on February 22, 2019 from 1:00 - 2:30 pm.  We encourage you to participate by completing online registration form available here.
WV Project ECHO Chronic Pain Available 
The WV Project ECHO Chronic Pain series is scheduled for the first and third Thursdays from 12:15 - 1:15 PM. This series is targeted to Physicians, Physicians Assistants, Residents, Social Workers, and Psychologists who treat psychiatric conditions. Continuing Education credits are available. 

For more information click here
Seasonal Flu - Guidance and Educational Materials 
 The flu season is here and the Commissioner and State Health Officer, Dr. Cathy Slemp, has issued this Influenza Outbreaks in Schools, 2018-19 Season Memo. Schools can incorporate prevention mechanisms by making handwashing a daily routine for all students, providing education on cough etiquette, working with school nurses to provide flu vaccination information to students, staff and parents, and possibly coordinating school-located vaccination clinics with local health departments, school-based health centers and community providers. The WV Bureau of Public Heath- Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and CDC have provided the Flu Free Schools fact sheet, posters, Cleaning and Disinfecting Schools and other Resources for Schools.  The CDC also provides school information on their website and http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm
 
The WV Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report for MMWR Week 2 (week ending January 12, 2019) from Dr. Lauren Spadafora is available here.  
State NewsState
2019 WV Immunization Summit Exhibit Opportunity Now Open
The West Virginia Immunization Network (WIN) invites exhibitors, advertisers, and sponsors for the Annual West Virginia Immunization Summit. The Summit will be held June 13-14 at the Charleston Civic Center, in partnership with the WV Department of Education's KidStrong Conference. 

Participants of the WV Immunization Summit are anticipated to include over 250 representatives from hospitals, community health centers, school-based health centers, pharmacies, schools, private physician offices, health sciences programs, businesses and others concerned with improving the health of West Virginians by protecting them from the consequences of vaccine-preventable diseases.  However, attendees to the exhibit hall will also include those from the KidStrong Conference, totaling approximately 1200 attendees.

For more information, click here
National NewsNational
Registration Opens for Three 2019 HRSA Grants Management Workshops
 Registration is now open for three 2019 Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Grants Management Workshops:
To register, visit the website of the workshop that you would like to attend (links above). Each site includes a registration link, a FAQ, logistics information, and more.

The workshops will focus on HRSA grants administration from pre-award through close-out; and will feature a variety of break-out sessions designed to help HRSA grantees successfully administer their grants.

For more information, reach out to the workshop staff at [email protected].
Feldsman Tucker Leifer Fidell to host Patient Privacy and the Opioid Crisis Training in March
Feldsman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP will be hosting a new training on Patient Privacy and the Opioid Crisis on March 18 - 21, 2019 in Washington, DC. Led by three FTLF attorneys, Dianne Pledgie, Molly Evans, and Elizabeth Karan, this training provides a comprehensive overview of the HIPAA Privacy, Security and Breach Notification Rules and risk management strategies in responding to the opioid crisis.  

There are three options for attending this training:
The Early Bird rate for attending both trainings will end and prices will rise on March 1, 2019. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the FTLF training team at [email protected] or (855) 200-3822.
New Access Points Funding Opportunity Now Available (HRSA-19-080)
Recently, HRSA announced the availability of $50 million in New Access Points (NAP) funding for the delivery of primary health care services for underserved and vulnerable populations under the Health Center Program. HRSA expects to make approximately 75 awards in September.

The purpose of the Health Center Program NAP funding opportunity is to provide operational support for new service delivery sites under the Health Center Program to improve the health of the nation's underserved communities and vulnerable populations by expanding access to affordable, accessible, quality, and cost-effective primary health care services. Organizations can apply for up to $650,000 per year.

Applications are due in Grants.gov by Tuesday, March 12 (11:59 p.m. ET), and HRSA's Electronic Handbooks by Thursday, April 11 (5:00 p.m. ET).

For more information, including eligibility requirements and key changes since the fiscal year 2017 NAP funding opportunity, please read the Notice of Funding Opportunity and visit the NAP technical assistance webpage.

If you have questions, contact the NAP Technical Assistance Team.
New FTCA Site Visit Protocol
FTCA-deemed health centers are already familiar with FTCA site visits. Now we have streamlined the process into one document, the FTCA Site Visit Protocol, to help you find the information you need.
New HRSA Program Will Help Clinicians and Patients in the Fight Against Opioid Addiction 
New National Health Service Corps (NHSC) loan repayment program provides substance use disorder treatment in underserved areas of the country. More information is available here
UDS 2018 Reporting Season Opens
Access to report Uniform Data System (UDS) data for calendar year 2018 is now available to health centers through HRSA's Electronic Handbooks (EHBs). All HRSA-supported health centers are required to submit complete and accurate UDS reports by Friday, February 15.

The 2018 UDS Manual and other resources are available on HRSA's website to help you complete an accurate report. The Manual includes an introduction to the UDS, instructions for completing each of the tables, and information on how to submit UDS data through EHBs
Community Health Center ResourcesResources

Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
 
Avoiding conflicts of interests should be prime concern for all nonprofit organizations, including Federally Qualified Health Centers ("FQHCs"). A conflict of interest arises when any member of the governing board, an officer, and certain other key individuals within the FQHC, or any of their immediate family members, has a financial or other interest in or a tangible personal benefit from a transaction with the FQHC.
 
A transaction between an FQHC and another organization that involves a conflict of interest on the part of someone at the FQHC is not necessarily illegal if the conflict of interest is disclosed in advance to the governing board and the disinterested board members otherwise approve the transaction. A best practice is for the conflicted board member to recuse himself or herself from any discussions by the governing board concerning the transaction.
 
To detect and address situations of conflicts of interest, a FQHC must maintain written standards of conduct covering conflicts of interest and governing the actions of its board members, officers, employees, and agents engaged in the selection, award, or administration of contracts. Such standards must:
  • Apply to all FQHC employees, officers, board members, and agents involved in the selection, award, or administration of contracts;
  • Require an annual written disclosure of real or apparent conflicts of interest;
  • Prohibit individuals with real or apparent conflicts of interest from participating in the selection, award, or administration of a contract;
  • Restrict FQHC employees, officers, board members, and agents involved in the selection, award, or administration of contracts from soliciting or accepting gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value for private financial gain from such contractors or parties to sub-agreements (including subrecipients or affiliate organizations); and
  • Enforce disciplinary actions on FQHC employees, officers, board members, and agents for violating these standards.
Additionally, for FQHCs that have parents, affiliates, or subsidiaries, there may be other policies needed to address procurement actions involving a related organization.
 
Finally, it is imperative for FQHCs to educate its employees, officers, board members, and agents of the standards of conduct covering conflicts of interest, including organizational conflicts of interest.
 
For additional information, see West Virginia Code § 31E-8-860; Sections 330(a)(1) and 330(k)(3)(D) of the PHS Act, as well as 42 CFR § 51c.113, 42 CFR § 56.114; and 45 CFR § 75.327.
 
***
 
Rachel Ludwig is a member of the healthcare group at Jackson Kelly PLLC.  She is available for consultation through a special retainer relationship with the WVPCA.  Rachel can be reached (304) 340-1185.
Jackson Kelly PLLC
 
The WVPCA has retained the law firm of Jackson Kelly, PLLC to provide legal guidance to the WV Primary Care Association and its members.
 
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.  
ECRI Institute 
 
The  ECRI Institute  offers numerous policy templates that can be used as guidance consistent with the needs of community health centers. To take a look at their library of policy templates, click  here .

If you are not an ECRI member, creating a free account before accessing these materials is required. ECRI Institute resources are provided for free on behalf of HRSA.

To Access Policies: 
  • From the main page, click on the clinical risk management link on the left hand side of the page
  • Click sample policies and tools listed under tool-kits on left side of page
Click on the + sign to access individual templates.
Tracking and Referral Resources Available at ECRI
 
ECRI has released a Test Tracking and Follow-Up Toolkit and the Get Safe! Communication Ensuring Care Coordination of the Medically Complex PatientAll resources are provided for free by ECRI Institute on behalf of HRSA.  If you do not currently have access and would like to set up an account, just email them or call (610) 825-6000.  For those who have already registered on the site, the links will take you to these tools.  
WVPCA Staff

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Financial/Chief Operations Officer
Data Services & Integration  Speci alist

 Jennifer Boyd  PA-C, PCMH-CCE Clinical Consultant
Education & Communications
Coordinator
 Warne Dawkins, MBA
Health Data Analyst
J ohn Kennedy
School-Based/Behavioral Health Coordinator
Member Relations Coordinator
Shannon Parker, 
MBA, PCMH-CCE 
Director of Health Center Operations
Special Programs Coordinator
Staff Accountant
Clinical Quality Improvement Coordinator
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West Virginia Primary Care Association
  1700 MacCorkle Ave. Charleston, WV 25314| (304) 346-0032 | WWW.WVPCA.ORG
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