Updates from your ACE team
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What is your 2020 vision?
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Didn't 2019 just start? As we look back on the year, we'd like to review the highlights of the FQHC industry and what it's meant for you and us... and what 2020 looks like for us, you and the industry.
In the past 365 days, we were successful in bringing more of our clients closer to becoming more financially independent and thus we had to grow. We've added departments, expanded into another suite for our operations, finance, marketing, HR, IT and credentialing departments and special project team, partnered with Children's Restoration Network and Friends of Joshua House Foundation, Inc. to provide children with school supplies for the 2019 school year and Feeding Tampa Bay to provide warm meals to the less fortunate during the holiday season. We couldn't have done any of it without you - thank you for allowing us to be a part of your team and extended work family.
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We wish you and your family nothing but the best this holiday season!
In observance of the Christmas holiday, our office will be closed on Wednesday, December 25.
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Looking back to project forward
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2019 was the year of stats and showing how important your work is for the communities in which you operate. Community health centers' revenue and the number of
Medicaid and non-Medicaid patients served have increased. From 2010 to 2017, revenue increased from $12.7 billion to $26.3 billion.
According to NACHC, it was estimated that “in 2019:
- Community health centers [would] serve as the primary care medical home for over 29 million people – including more than 385,000 veterans – in over 12,000 communities across America.
- Nearly 45 percent of health centers are in rural communities, where people drive long distances for a hospital or doctor visit.
- Health centers generate $54.6 billion in economic activity for their local communities each year and employ over 236,000 people.
- Health centers work with emergency responders on the ground when natural disasters strike [in addition to] ‘man-made’ disasters, such as the opioid epidemic, which caused 47,000 overdose deaths in 2017.
- Health centers are a unique model run by patient-majority governing boards who navigate how the centers target chronic disease and safeguard resources.”
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Alongside community health centers, we saw that
"the 340B Drug Pricing Program continued to [grow] at double-digit rates.
According to [Drug Channels'] contacts, 340B purchases, in 2018, were a record $24.3 billion, 26% higher than in 2017, and accounted for 7 to 8 percent of the 2018 market." This growth is explained by the fact that Americans are taking more prescription medications than ever.
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What does this mean for you?
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According to NACHC, 1 in 12 patients - 29 million people - will utilize a community health center in 2020. Does your vision for 2020 include the predicted increase of patients? What programs do you have in place to support these patients?
Practice Expansion
Do you currently offer your patient base a full range of services? Bringing specialties in-house translates to a better patient experience, improved compliance and increased revenue. We can help you partner with nearby like-minded practices such as
behavioral health and pediatrics to expand your patient base.
340B Program
Where are your patients filling their prescriptions? 340B is a powerhouse of your service! We can help you expand your 340B program and assist with
auditing and compliance to maintain the integrity of your program.
Revenue Cycle Management and Credentialing Services
Are you taking advantage of the financial benefits available to you as an FQHC? We can help you optimize every phase of your revenue cycle to maximize your reimbursements.
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Media watch and other useful info
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Last month we talked about how you can expand your practice and increase your patient base through partnering with various providers. Foley & Lardner LLP have a series of articles that are of interest to FQHCs that include provider partnership, how
Medicaid coverage works and the most common billing issues. Tune into our January newsletter where we'll discuss some of these issues in more detail, including
how to maximize on payments the first time.
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HRSA UPDATES
Is your sliding fee scale compliant with the most recent HRSA updates?
Join HRSA's finance expert Steve Weinman for the
HRSA Requirements for a Compliant Sliding Fee Scale webinar on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 from 2-3 p.m. EDT.
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HHS UPDATES
HRSA has a funding opportunity! HRSA plans to invest approximately $20 million through the AMF program over 5 years to increase access to board certified addiction providers practicing in underserved, community-based settings that integrate behavioral health with primary care services.
The letter of intent is due Monday, January 6, 2020 and applications are due Tuesday, February 25, 2020!
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CMS UPDATES
CMS released another podcast:
Healthcare Price Transparency with Administrator Seema Verma and Vanderbilt University's Dr. Larry Van Horn. This podcast discusses transparent pricing in health care and how CMS is delivering on the President's executive order on price and quality transparency to empower patients and increase competition among providers.
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