CHCANYS NEWS
GOVERNOR CUOMO'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
On January 15, 2019, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo presented the State of the State and released the FY 2019-20 executive budget proposal. Many programs that are essential to New York's FQHCs, including the D&TC Safety Net Pool, Patient-Centered Medical Homes, School Based Health Centers, Doctors Across NY, and Migrant Farmworkers programs maintained level funding in the new proposed budget. To access the State of the State book, click here . As budget negotiations get underway, CHCANYS will be advocating for our two priority asks: to add $20M to the D&TC Safety Net and to maintain robust support for the PCMH program. Please join us on March 4 th at CHCANYS Advocacy Day and support New York State health centers!
 
Governor Signs Reproductive Health Act
On January 22, Governor Cuomo signed the Reproductive Health Act. The legislation codifies Roe V. Wade into New York State law. The Reproductive Health Act amends the public health law, de-criminalizing women's access to abortions and protecting the doctors who perform them.
ADVOCACY DAY 2019 REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
Calling all Community Health Care CHAMPIONS! Registration is now open for our annual Grassroots Advocacy Day in Albany on March 4, 2019. We need your help  to ensure that Community Health Centers have the resources they need to continue to provide high-quality comprehensive primary and preventive care to all who need it, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. There is power in numbers -- please join us and recruit your co-workers, friends and family to come along! Click here  to register.
 
CHCANYS DOROTHY KARTASHEVICH CONSUMER BOARD MEMBER AWARD – NOMINATE TODAY!
Each year during our Community Health Center Grassroots Advocacy Day event, CHCANYS honors Community Health Care Champions who are working to ensure access to high quality health care for all. We will honor an outstanding consumer board member on March 4, 2019 at the Empire State Plaza in Albany. The honoree will be recognized in front of hundreds of patient advocates. CHCANYS invites you to submit your nominations by January 31. To learn more click here .

DOES YOUR HEALTH CENTER HAVE AN ADVOCACY COORDINATOR?
CHCANYS asks that each FQHC appoint an Advocacy Coordinator to represent his/her health center during regularly-scheduled advocacy phone calls and to help coordinate participation in critical action alerts and events.
 
The Advocacy Coordinator is not just CHCANYS’ go-to person – he or she is the health center’s lead on all things advocacy. If you haven’t already, please click here to fill out the form and let us know who your health center's Advocacy Coordinator is.
 
CHCANYS SUBMITS FEDERAL COMMENTS 
CHCANYS has submitted comments in response to CMS' proposed rule for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Programs. CHCANYS' comments primarily focused on several issues that relate to FQHC participation in Medicaid managed care arrangements and the enforcement of federal Medicaid law that requires FQHCs be reimbursed for FQHC services for an amount no less than would be received through the Prospective Payment System. To view CHCANYS' comments, click here . 
FEDERAL UPDATE
Health Center Funding Bill Introduced
Senate Health Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) have introduced legislation that would extend federal funding for community health centers for five years at current amounts. The legislation would also extend level funding for four other federal health programs, including the National Health Service Corps and Teaching Health Centers Graduate Medical Education program, which are set to expire in September 2019. The Committee will hold a hearing on the legislation on January 29, 2019 at 10am. You can watch it live by clicking here.
 
HRSA Announces $50 Million in NAP Funding
The Health Resources & Services Administration recently announced the availability of $50 million in New Access Points funding to provide operational support for new service delivery sites under the Health Center Program.
 
HRSA expects approximately $50,000,000 to be available annually to fund 75 recipients. Of this total, approximately: 
  • $40,750,000 is expected to be available for section 330(e) – Community Health Center (CHC) applicants, 
  • $4,300,000 for section 330(g) – Migrant Health Center (MHC) applicants, 
  • $4,350,000 for section 330(h) – Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) applicants, and 
  • $600,000 for section 330(i) – Public Housing Primary Care (PHPC) applicants. 
 
Applications are due in Grants.gov on March 12, 2019 and in HRSA EHB by April 11, 2019. CHCANYS is available to provide general technical assistance, data and analytics supports, a state-wide environmental scan, and access to letters of support from State and City health departments and CHCANYS. For more information, please visit our  website. You can also visit the NAP technical assistance webpage for more information and join a live Q&A on January 31 from 12-1:00 p.m. EST.
Link to Join | Call-in: 888-233-9404 / Passcode: 4021879
Congratulations to Ryan Health President and CEO Brian McIndoe on being named to City & State’s “Health Care Power 50.” Read more and see their list of the 50 most influential health care figures in the world of New York politics here .
 
And congratulations to Bedford Stuyvesant Family Health Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pascale Kersaint and BSFHC’s CenteringPregnancy Program, featured in NYCDOHMH’s Third Annual “Take Care New York 2020” report. Read more here .
UPCOMING WEBINARS AND EVENTS
Don’t miss this opportunity! CHCANYS Telehealth Webinar Series with FTLF, NACHC, and FLCH 
This five-part webinar series will provide the latest information and insights from Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell (FTLF) , the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) Policy Team and Finger Lakes Community Health , an innovator in implementing telehealth in the health center setting. Register today for individual webinars or the full series. Webinar recordings are available for purchase in addition to the live events. Discounted rates are available for CHCANYS members. For more information and registration click here . The series was launched last week but you can still register for the full series or individual sessions with reduced rates for CHCANYS members. Registrants for the full series will receive access to the recordings of previous webinars.  
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week ®
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® runs through Sunday. The week sheds light on the science behind the effects of drug and alcohol use on the brain, body, and behavior. Check out NIDAMED’s adolescent-focused CME/CE activities for courses on talking with your teen patients about substance use and prescription medication misuse.

Oral Health Integration Webinar Recordings Available
HRSA has added two new webinar recordings to our Oral Health and Primary Care Integration quality improvement webpage .

Provides information on the relationship between and importance of oral health care and diabetes prevention and management in health center settings. Presenters highlight HRSA and CDC initiatives, health center models, partnerships, and resources that support integrated oral health and diabetes care.

Provides information on the relationship between and importance of HIV/AIDS and oral health care in community health center settings. Presenters highlight HRSA initiatives and models that support integrated Oral Health and primary care for people living with HIV (PLWH). Features lessons learned by two health centers that have integrated oral health and primary care for PLWH.

SAVE THE DATE: BPHC All-Programs Webcast
The next All-Programs webcast will take place Tuesday, January 29 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. Webcast information coming soon.
Registration is open for the 2019 Azara Healthcare Annual Conference
May 21-23 in Boston. Click here for more information.

REGISTRATION OPEN! 2019 ICS Webinar Series: Feb 6, 13, 27 & Mar 5
It is recommended that all healthcare systems train staff in the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS). NIMS courses include ICS-100, ICS-200 and ICS-700 or their equivalents. New York’s Regional Training Centers (RTCs) will be hosting a series of webinars on this very topic! This webinar series is designed to provide an overview of each course and to prepare staff for the FEMA exam/certification. Most updated FEMA materials will be used.

To learn more and to register, click here.

Registration Now Open! 5 th Annual Emergency Preparedness Seminar – March 14, 2019
On March 14, 2019, in partnership with NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), Community Health Care Association of NYS (CHCANYS) and its NYC-based emergency management initiative PCEPN, will host its Fifth Annual Emergency Preparedness Seminar for Primary Care.

The presenters for this year's Seminar, will discuss the role that community health centers, aka federally-qualified health centers (FQHC) and other types of primary care facilities can play in regards to response and recovery during and after emergencies and disasters. We will be covering the following topics:

  • Hurricane Harvey response and recovery - an FQHC perspective
  • Working with community health centers during emergencies - the Massachusetts model
  • Resources for community health centers via National Cooperative Agreement (NCA) holders with Health and Resources Services Administration (HRSA)
  • New York City health care coalition - news and updates
  • Priority communication programs 
  • Cybersecurity 101
  • Active shooter threats - building an effective policy and procedure 
 
To learn more and to register, please click here or download the flyer.

REGISTRATION OPEN! Safety and Violence Education (SAVE)
Safety and Violence Education (SAVE) is specifically designed to provide proactive violence prevention strategies for clinical, case management, and other human service and law enforcement staff who serve adults with mental illness in community settings.

May 21, 2019 @ 8:30am - 4:30pm (Lunch On Own)
Office of Emergency Management and Fire
6087 State Route 19, Crossroads, Suite 110
Belmont, NY 14813

How to Register:
To register for Safety and Violence Education (SAVE) training please click here  and search course catalog for: FLRTC-SAVE-BP1x

To learn more, click here. 
QUALITY AND TECHNOLOGY NEWS
New Clinician Tool: Screening for Substance Use
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDAMED) announces a new tool for clinicians: Science to Medicine—Screening for Substance Use . This clinician-informed tool summarizes the research on screening in different practice settings and provides practical recommendations.
The six clinicians interviewed for this resource share screening tools, resources, and helpful tips from their own experiences to help health care providers streamline screening. They also discuss next steps to take when a patient screens positive.
 
HRSA Launches Diabetes Quality Improvement Initiative
To improve diabetes outcomes and lower health care costs, HRSA has launched a Health Center Program Diabetes Quality Improvement (QI) Initiative. The Initiative leverages the resources of multiple HRSA partners, which includes, health centers, health center controlled networks, Primary Care Associations (PCAs), technical assistance and training partners, and others. By working in a coordinated fashion, utilizing principles of QI and data driven decision making, and sharing promising practices and lessons learned, HRSA is building a continuous, learning health system that will reap improvement in diabetes control for health center patients. To learn more, click here .
 
CDC’s Comprehensive Resource for Achieving Success in Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES)
The purpose of this toolkit is to increase use of DSMES services among people with diabetes and promote healthcare provider referrals. Expanded use of DSMES can help ensure that all people with diabetes receive the support they need. The toolkit provides resources and tools in one place to assist with the development, promotion, implementation, and sustainability of DSMES services. Click here to view.

Community Health Grants Available to Support Reduction of Type 2 Diabetes and Hypertension
The American Medical Association Foundation (AMAF) announces the availability of funds through the Community Health Program. AMAF seeks to financially support innovative programs targeting the prevention and reduction of type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Grant funding will support community-based organizations such as free health clinics that provide services to vulnerable and underserved populations. The AMA Foundation aims to increase health equity and improve health outcomes among vulnerable populations utilizing evidence-based models of care. Committed to fostering focused and measurable health improvements, Community Health Grants will be awarded in amounts up to $60K and are renewable for up to three years. The deadline for all applications will be Friday, March 8, 2019 at 11:59pm CST. Click here for details.

Meaningful Use Public Health Registration and Audit Report Card Update
The Meaningful Use Registration for Public Health (MURPH) System is excited to announce the new Audit Report Card. This is an additional application feature that provides new functionality to the MURPH system. The Audit Report Card is a self-service utility that provides direct access to Meaningful Use (MU) Public Health On-boarding Statuses for Eligible Professionals (EPs), Eligible Hospitals (EHs) and their representatives. This new feature allows eligible providers and their representatives quick and easy access to a report of their public health status history for all of the Public Health registries with which they have registered intent to submit data
 
Feel free to visit the state’s website for more information on how to access your audit report card .
 
Using Health IT to Facilitate SBIRT Service Delivery in Health Centers
Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is an approach to the delivery of early intervention and treatment to people with SUD and those at risk of developing this disorder.
To promote continuous quality improvement in SBIRT implementation, the Health Information Technology, Evaluation, and Quality Center (HITEQ), a HRSA-funded NCA, will host a webinar on promising practices for the use of health IT to facilitate SBIRT workflow integration.
Thursday, January 17
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
 
Free MAT Training and Mentoring to Become a DATA-waived Practitioner Webinar
Recording Available In a recent HRSA webinar, experts from SAMHSA’s Providers Clinical Support System (PCSS) – Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program gave an overview of no-cost training and mentoring programs available to health center prescribers (physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants) and their primary care teams. These programs support evidence-based treatment of opioid use disorder. Watch the webinar recording .
 
CDC Quality Improvement and Care Coordination Implementation Resource
Get the tools you need to fight the opioid epidemic! CDC’s Quality Improvement and Care Coordination resource may help providers looking to implement the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain .
HEALTH CENTER SUPPORT NEWS
HRSA Releases New FTCA Site Visit Protocol
HRSA has released a new document to provide streamlined guidance on the FTCA-deeming process for health centers. Read it online here . 

Last Chance to Receive the CHCANYS Member Rate for Continuous Compliance Webinar Series Recordings on Learning.FTLF.com      
In September, CHCANYS launched the 9-part Continuous Compliance Webinar Series with presenters from Cohn Reznick, Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell (FTLF), and HRSA Consultants. Throughout the series, industry experts presented detailed guidance and resources to enhance a health center’s organizational approach while providing insights and recommended strategies for achieving continuous compliance as outlined in the Health Center Program Compliance Manual. The full series of recordings is now made available on https://learning.ftlf.com. Through the end of January , CHCANYS members can access the full series at discounted pricing. To inquire about purchasing access to the series recordings please contact us at [email protected] For webinar descriptions and more information on the series, click here.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT NEWS
FREE TRAINING AVAILABLE - Emergency Management In-Person Training for Community Health Centers
CHCANYS Emergency Management (EM) team, through funding from the New York State Department of Health, is offering complimentary EM in-person on-site training to community health centers across New York State (except New York City). This training and technical assistance visit may be customized based on the current needs of the health center in emergency management.
 
This training is being offered on a first come, first served basis, until available funds are exhausted. If you are interested and would like to submit a request, please click here .
 
Any questions regarding this opportunity or the registration form may be directed to [email protected] .
Preparing for an Expansion Project? We Can Help You Save Money
More than 40 FQHCs Statewide actively participate in CHCANYS’ unique partnership with the Commonwealth Purchasing Group (CPG) to save on operational expenses. To learn about a no-obligation assessment of current purchases or to discuss new site or specific project needs, please click  here  or contact  [email protected]  or (212) 710-3806. To learn about CPG’s past and upcoming educational webinars, e-mail Phil Dubois at [email protected] .