Stay Informed: Me asles O utbreak
The measles outbreak in New York City continues to spread. Of the 75 new cases reported across the country last week, the Centers for Disease Control says 66 of them were in New York City. As of Monday, the most current update from the CDC, 839 cases had been reported so far this year nationwide, the most in a quarter-century.

In addition to New York, there are currently measles outbreaks in six other states: California, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The CDC says the outbreaks are linked to travelers who brought measles back from other countries where large measles outbreaks are occurring, including Israel, Ukraine, and the Philippines, and encouraged everyone to get vaccinated against measles.

Digital Toolkit for Healthcare Providers
To support healthcare providers during the current multi-state measles outbreak, the CDC has developed a digital toolkit with information and resources for healthcare providers and their patients about vaccines and measles. The resources include accurate, science-based evidence you can provide to patients that will help you counter misinformation about measles and MMR vaccine.

Community health centers are encouraged to conduct outreach and education with patients and visitors about the availability and importance of measles vaccination. Health centers are also encouraged to expand immunization services and hours as possible, including to the broader community.

CHCANYS EM team will continue to monitor the situation and provide relevant updates. Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

Webinar: Combating the Chilling Effects of Public Charge
The Final Rule implementing changes to public charge determination is expected to be published this summer. In the meantime, CHCANYS and other organizations have
heard anecdotal reports of fear and confusion resulting in immigrants disenrolling from or refusing to use health, nutrition, and housing benefits. The Protecting Immigrant Families campaign is hosting a webinar on May 28th, 1 pm – 2 pm ET: How Community-Based Organizations Can Help Document the Chilling Effects from the Proposed Public Charge Regulation. To register for the webinar, click here .

For more information on public charge, visit CHCANYS’ public charge webpage .
CHCANYS19 Keynote Speaker: Dr. Mona Hanna- Attisha
Date: October 28-30, 2019
Location: Tarrytown, NY
We are excited to announce that Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha will be the Keynote speaker at CHCANYS’ 2019 Annual Conference and Clinical Forum . Dr. Hanna-Attisha is the crusading pediatrician who first researched and revealed the lead in the blood of Flint, Michigan's children. Named one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World,” she continues to work to mitigate the impact of the water crisis on Flint’s children.
Email us at  [email protected]  with any questions.

CHCANYS19 Annual Conference: Call for Abstracts!
CHCANYS welcomes your proposal to share expertise, innovative strategies, cutting-edge ideas and measurable implementation plans with our 2019 conference attendees. Abstracts may be submitted for an individual presenter or a panel as part of a workshop; abstracts may also be submitted for a poster presentation. The deadline to submit abstracts is June 14, 2019 at 5:30PM. Click here to get started. Questions? Email [email protected] .

CHCANYS19 Awards: Nominate outstanding health center advocates and employees today!
Each year, CHCANYS recognizes outstanding employees and health center partners who are working to ensure access to high quality health care for all. We invite you to submit your nominations for CHCANYS' Statewide Conference & Clinical Forum Awards Celebration, during which we will celebrate those whose work and dedication represents the ideals of the Health Center Movement. The Awards Dinner will take place Monday, October 28 at The Westchester Marriott during CHCANYS19. To learn more and to make your nomination before the June 14 th  deadline, click here  
CHCANYS is Hiring: Navigator Program Supervisor
CHCANYS is seeking to hire a Navigator Program Supervisor to manage and oversee Navigators in Upstate New York offering in-person enrollment assistance for affordable health coverage through the New York State of Health. Qualified candidates will have a minimum of five years of experience providing assistance to consumers and/or advocates on health insurance and health care access issues, two of which must have been in a leadership or supervisory role, among other qualifications. The position will be located in Albany or some other Upstate New York location, with frequent travel to Wayne, Yates, and Ontario counties. To review the full position announcement and for instructions on how to apply, click  here  
ONE MONTH LEFT! REGISTER NOW for CHCANYS Finance University!
CHCANYS is excited to bring together New York State health center finance staff for a two-day, in-person Finance University to be held on June 11 – 12, 2019 at Baruch College in New York City. CHCANYS, in collaboration with CohnReznick, Atria, NYS health center finance leaders, and other external partners, will provide training and technical assistance on a variety of financial operations topics. The two days will offer sessions geared toward providing tools and support relative to the complicated world of health center finance offices. The agenda has a wealth of workshops planned for both new and seasoned health center finance staff. Specifically, the agenda will include sessions on: FQHC Finance 101; Critical Financial and Grants Management Activities and Regulatory Reporting; NYS-Specific Rate-Setting and Regulatory Reporting Requirements; NYS-Specific Billing Concerns; Maximizing 340b; HRSA OSV considerations; Revenue Cycle Management; and more. All levels of financial operations staff are encouraged to attend.
Click here to learn more. 
Thanks for Joining Us at the Payment Reform & Clinical Summit
On May 1 and 2, health center representatives from across the state convened in Tarrytown for CHCANYS’ Payment Reform & Clinical Summit:  Lessons from DSRIP and The Future of Payment and Care Delivery Reform at New York Health Centers.  While together, we heard from Sara Rosenbaum (George Washington University), Peggy Chan (DOH), David Sandman (NYS Health Foundation), Ann Monroe (Chair of DSRIP’s PAOP), Craig Hostetler (former President of OPCA), and Kevin Grumbach and Chris Chirinos, (UCSF Center for Excellence in Primary Care). Thank you to everyone who participated in this meeting exploring key payment and care model considerations relevant to NYS FQHCs’ success in value-based care delivery.

CHCANYS Upstate Regional Meetings on Integrated Care
On May 14, CHCANYS was joined in Rochester by our central/western NY health centers, members of the NYS Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, the Department of Health, Office of Mental Health, and the Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services to discuss challenges and successes in integrating care and participation in value-based payment arrangements. Thank you to everyone who joined our successful meeting.

The next Upstate Regional meeting for health centers from the Capital District and North Country will be held on June 4, 2019 at the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. This will be the third meeting in a series of regional meetings hosted by CHCANYS and the NYS Councilfor Community Behavioral Healthcare, with the support of the Delta Center for a Thriving Safety Net and RCHN Community Health Foundation. To register for the last Regional Meeting, please email Cindy Levernois, with the NYS Council, at  [email protected] . Please indicate your name, title, organization, and email address when registering.
 
NYS Outreach & Enrollment Update: Policy & Advocacy Updates Session
On Wednesday, June 19, join CHCANYS staff for a special O&E focused discussion of recent federal and state policy issues. We will review relevant provisions in the 2019 NYS Budget and share other policy updates relevant to NY State of Health. Please register in advance for this O&E session. E-mail [email protected] with any questions or concerns.
Upcoming Webinars on CPCI's Substance Use Disorder (SUDS) Module!
Join us in June for a webinar series presented by CHCANYS in collaboration with Azara to learn more about how to best utilize the Substance Use Disorder Module in CPCI.
 
  • Webinar #1 – June 5th 12pm -1:30pm - Substance Use in CPCI: Tools to Support Identification, Prevention and Management.
  • Webinar #2 – June 12th 12pm -1:30pm - Supporting Your Substance Use Program: Strategies and Promising Practices for using the SUDS Module
 
Target Audience: FQHCs providing services to SUDs patients and/or are applying for 2019 HRSA Integrated Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) Funding. Click here to register. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Ava Rose, at [email protected] .  

CHCANYS EXCLUSIVE: CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention One-day Workshop coming to Albany on July 15!
CHCANYS is excited to announce a great training opportunity that has been in the making for a while – Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® 1-day Training . Please note that this training is available exclusively to CHCANYS organizational FQHC members.

About this Training:
CHCANYS staff have been certified to teach the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) hands-on training on Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® techniques. Developed by CPI, this training is an internationally recognized behavior management program that has proven effective in managing disruptive and assaultive individuals. The goal of the program is to give you the skills to provide the best possible Care, Welfare, Safety, and Security for staff and those in your care, even during crisis situations. To learn more about CPI, click here .
During this Workshop You Will Learn:
  • How to identify behaviors that could lead to a crisis.
  • How to most effectively respond to each behavior to prevent the situation from escalating.
  • How to use verbal and nonverbal techniques to defuse hostile behavior and resolve a crisis before it can become violent.
  • How to cope with your own fear and anxiety.
  • How to assess risk levels and consider the issues that impact decision making. 

WHEN: July 15, 2019
TIME: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Registration starts at 8:45 AM)
WHERE: CHCANYS Albany Office – 90 State Street, Suite 600, Albany, NY (NOTE: we only have 20 spots available total).
COST: $249 before June 1, $299 after. ( NOTE: CPI charges $1,175 for same training if booked directly with them ).

May Aware Prepare
Aware Prepare is a monthly electronic newsletter. It is your guide to upcoming trainings related to preparedness. These trainings may be provided in one or more of the following formats, including: live webcasts, webinars and in person training; archived webcasts, webinars and on demand eLearning. To view May 2019 issue, click here .

Health Care Coalitions in New York Continue to Grow
Health care coalitions (HCCs) are groups of individual healthcare and response organizations – such as hospitals, emergency management organizations, public health agencies, federally-qualified health centers and more – working in a defined geographic location to prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies. HCCs collaborate to ensure each member has what it needs to respond to emergencies and planned events, including medical equipment and supplies, real-time information, communication systems, and educated and trained health care personnel.

New York is home to four regional HCCs in Western and Central New York, Capital District and Lower Hudson Valley / Long Island, as well as a so-called “coalition of coalitions” in New York City. CHCANYS continues to represent community health centers in the HCC structure and serve as a link between HCCs and those health centers that want to be more actively involved.

To learn more about New York’s HCCs or if you are interested to become a more active member, contact CHCANYS EM Team at  [email protected] .

PCPCC is Hosting a webinar on Artificial Intelligence and Primary Care on May 15, 2019 3-4pm ET.
PCPCC will host a panel of experts who will discuss strategies to ensure emerging technologies strengthen relationships and team-based primary care, while also reducing administrative burden and maintaining security.
Speakers Include:
  • Julie Schilz, BSN, MBA (moderator) , Senior Director, Commercial Health Innovation, Mathematica Policy Research
  • Lisa Bari, MPH, MBA, Health IT and Interoperability Lead, CMS Innovation Center
  • Anil Jain, MD, VP & Chief Health Information Officer, Watson Health at IBM
  • Steven Waldren, MD, Vice President & Chief Medical Informatics Officer, American Academy of Family Physicians
Click here to register!

STD Federal Action Plan: Have your comments and voices heard
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy (OHAIDP) have offered an opportunity for you to submit your comments and recommendations to inform the federal action plan addressing the exponential rise in STDs. Provide your responses in writing by  Monday, June 3 rd  by 5:00pm at  [email protected] . Click here to find more information on topics of interest.

Register Now for Our Upcoming PCMH Office Hours!
The following PCMH Office Hours remote calls will provide ample opportunity to learn and share among your peers on a variety of topics pertinent to your NYS PCMH Recognition and Annual Reporting requirements and journey. Please register now and share these opportunities with your colleagues!
 
  • Thursday, May 16 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – register here in advance for the session (Topic of discussion: Preparing for the upcoming year of hot topics by reviewing your concerns, challenges and pain points)
 
  • Thursday, June 6 from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. – register here in advance for the session (Topic of discussion: Risk stratification practices revealed using various models)

  • Thursday, July 18, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – register here in advance for the session (Topic of discussion: Leveraging the NYS PCMH Model when pursuing VBP contractual arrangements)
 
Please do not hesitate to e-mail Meital Fried-Almog at  [email protected] with any additional questions.

Join HRSA Webcast on the Future of Grantee Performance Management
This afternoon, HRSA is hosting a webcast on the ongoing development of a future value-based performance approach for the Health Center Program. As an initial part of this research, HRSA plans to conduct an environmental scan and gather stakeholder input to identify opportunities and make recommendations for improving health center performance management. This webcast is an opportunity to learn about this ongoing effort, share your thoughts, and ask questions. Use this link   to join the webcast the day of the session, Thursday, May 16 from 1:00- 2:00 pm; call-in: 877-917-6903; passcode: 7031544 .

Reminder: NACHC offers Monthly Pharmacy Office Hours – Next Call Today (5/16) at 2:00 pm
The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) hosts Pharmacy Access Office Hours on the third Thursday of each month at 2:00 pm ET. This is a monthly opportunity for health center staff to ask questions and share information about pharmacy-related issues. Participation is free and there is no pre-registration; click here to join on Thursday May 16at 2:00 pm ET. Contact Colleen Meiman with questions or requests for more information: [email protected]
 
Request for Feedback from Health Centers on Service Area Considerations
HRSA announced the opportunity to submit feedback for the Health Center Program Service Area Considerations under a Request for Information(RFI) that will remain open until Monday, July 8. Click here for more information and instruction on how to provide your input.
 
Free Resource: ERCI releases Risk Management Manual for Health Centers
The ECRI Institute released a the Risk Management Manual for Health Centers, a resource 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 covering risk program management, planning, and specific risk areas including credentialing and privileging, tracking systems, communications, and more. Register for an account on the ECRI website to download the manual and watch an archived webinar that provides a guided tour of the manual. Questions can be directed to [email protected] .

HRSA Updates Site Visit Protocol for 2019- Now in Effect 
The new Site Visit Protocol (SVP) is in effect for site visits occurring after Thursday, April 18 th . Changes were made in response to feedback from stakeholders, including health centers, strategic partners, site visit team reviewers, and HRSA staff. No changes were made to the Compliance Manual or to Health Center Program requirements. A summary of changes was released along with the full 2019 SVP Update .
 
FTCA Redeeming Period begins tomorrow (5/17)- Read the Latest HRSA PAL
Program Assistance Letter (PAL) 2019-02 describes the process for Health Center Program grantees to submit applications for Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) initial deeming and redeeming. The redeeming application period (for coverage for CY 2020) begins on Friday, May 17, and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, July 1. Initial deeming applications are accepted year-round. See the FTCA Program Webpage for more information.

CFOs: Save Time & Money
More than 40 FQHCs Statewide actively participate in CHCANYS’ partnership with the Commonwealth Purchasing Group (CPG) to save on operational expenses. Collectively, these centers realized $2.7 million in savings last year.

With an expansive portfolio of vendors including employee screening, credentialing and compliance services, telehealth, language services, recruitment services, medical and dental suppliers and day-to-day business solutions to name a few, for 20 years CPG’s strategic contracts are designed to benefit FQHCs.

To learn about a no-obligation assessment of current purchases or to discuss new site or specific project needs, please click here. Contact: [email protected] , [email protected] or [email protected] to schedule an appointment.