Measles Outbreak Continues
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cases of measles have now been confirmed in 26 states. Nationwide, the CDC says 940 individual cases of measles have been confirmed – an increase of 60 cases from the previous week. There have been 785 cases of measles reported statewide as part of the current outbreak, the vast majority in New York City.

In the latest edition of its Primary Health Care Digest, HRSA points to the critical role health centers play in protecting our most vulnerable patients from vaccine-preventable diseases. To learn more, click here .
 
CHCANYS Submits Testimony to Joint Committee Hearing: New York Health Act
CHCANYS submitted written testimony to the Tuesday, May 28 Joint Assembly Committee on Health and Senate Health Committee Hearing on the New York Health Act, proposed legislation that would enact a single payer health care system across the State. CHCANYS’ written testimony, which can be found  here , expresses support for the legislation and underlines the need for all New Yorkers to have access to high quality health insurance and care.
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.
June is Pride Month!
This June is particularly meaningful not only because it is the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising , but also WorldPride 2019 is taking place in New York City.

If your health center is hosting any Pride Month events, please email Hannah Woodman , our Advocacy & Outreach Manager, with the details of your event. 

Make Your Voice Heard: Submit Comments on the State’s VBP Roadmap
The NYS Department of Health recently released proposed changes to the 2019 Value Based Payment Roadmap, available here . Of particular concern to CHCANYS is a recently announced prohibition on FQHCs participating as lead contractors in VBP arrangements with downside risk (NYS Roadmap levels 2 and 3), and changes to how dollars for FQHC attributed patients are counted toward VBP targets. CHCANYS is in direct conversations with DOH to clarify the parameters of FQHC participation in VBP arrangements, and will also be submitting written comments expressing our concerns. We urge health centers to submit comments as well. Comments are due to DOH at  [email protected]  by  5 pm on Wednesday, June 5, 2019  (note extended deadline). If you have any questions, or would like to use CHCANYS’ template comments, please email Lacey Clarke:  [email protected] . 
 
NOW OPEN: Mandatory Critical Asset Survey through Health Commerce System
The New York State Department of Health (SDOH) is requesting that all health centers complete and submit their information on the 2019 Critical Asset Survey (CAS) for Community Health Centers, which has been activated in state’s Health Commerce System (HCS). CAS is a questionnaire, designed to identify each health center's emergency preparedness capabilities, equipment, special attributes, and emergency resources. Survey results will also provide important information regarding health center assets and needs in the event of a catastrophic accident or health emergency. This survey is critical to the SDOH and its planning partners. You can preview this CAS here . To support the roll out of the newly designed CAS survey, SDOH will host two webinar information sessions (content will be the same, so you only need to attend either session).
 
Your designated staff member with access to the Healthcare Emergency Response Data System (HERDS) module in HCS must complete the survey before June 30, 2019 . Please note that SDOH will be releasing an official Dear-Administrator-Letter (DAL) regarding this survey shortly.

For additional information including a full schedule and sign-up information, click here. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected] .

Upcoming Event: Capital District Regional Meeting on Integrated Care
CHCANYS is hosting a regional meeting on integrated care for Capital District, Central NY, Hudson Valley, and North Country located health centers and behavioral health providers on June 4, 2019 at the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in the Rite Aid Lounge. The meeting will be held from 1 pm – 4 pm and is the third meeting in a series of regional meetings hosted by CHCANYS and the NYS Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, with the support of the Delta Center for a Thriving Safety Net and RCHN Community Health Foundation. We will focus on regional-specific issues and attendees will have the opportunity to talk with government officials and other local organizations. To register for the last Regional Meeting of 2019, please email Cindy Levernois, with the NYS Council, at  [email protected] . Please indicate your name, title, organization, and email address when registering.

National LGBT Health Education Center launches 2019 Fenway Health Transgender Health ECHO- Apply by June 5 th
Through the use of the groundbreaking Project ECHO model, TransECHO creates a network of health centers and faculty expertise to increase clinician access to knowledge and support needed to provide culturally responsible, comprehensive, primary care for transgender and gender non-binary patients. The TransECHO clinic has serviced over 100 health centers all who have come together to share cases, receive advice and learn from expert faculty. The center is currently accepting applications for the July 2019 program. Applications are due June 5, 2019 11:59pm ET. For more information and application, click here .
CHCANYS is Hiring: Navigator Program Supervisor and Bilingual Navigators in Ontario, Wayne, Yates Counties
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 .
 
CHCANYS is seeking to hire three bilingual (Spanish/English) Navigators to provide in-person enrollment assistance to consumers and small businesses in Ontario, Wayne and Yates counties through the New York State of Health. Navigators must have a valid NYS driver’s license, be available for occasional evening and weekend hours and will travel to various community locations in each of the relevant counties to provide enrollment services. Minimum of one year related experience providing assistance to consumers and/or advocates on health insurance and health care access issues. To review the full position announcement and for instructions on how to apply, click here .

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. 

For more information:

Upcoming Assembly Committee on Health Hearing: Rural Health Care Services
On Friday, May 31 st , the State Assembly will be holding a hearing on Rural Health Care Services in Albany at 10 am in the Legislative Office Building Hearing Room C. Persons wishing to testify are asked to submit a public hearing reply form, available here . Rose Duhan, President & CEO of CHCANYS, will be testifying in person, and CHCANYS’ testimony will be available on our website after Friday.
 
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.
 
Webinar Recording Now Available: Staying Afloat: 340B Program Fundamentals
On April 17, CHCANYS and ATRIA 340B by Hudson Headwaters hosted a webinar to provide insights on how to navigate the complex waters of the 340B Federal Drug Discount Program. In this webinar takes a shallow dive into diversion and duplicate discounts, internal auditing best practices, maintaining policy and procedures, and working with 340B vendors. Learn 340B program basics from the perspective of a participating entity, third party administrator, and consultant in the space. There is no cost to participate but registration is required. Register to watch the webinar on-demand here .
 
Telehealth Webinar Series with FTLF, NACHC, and FLCH- Recordings on Learning.FTLF.com
Launched in January, this five-part webinar series provides the latest information and insights on telehealth implementation. Presenters include Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell (FTLF) attorney Carrie Riley, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) Policy Team and staff from Finger Lakes Community Health , an innovator and national advocate for the adoption of telehealth in the health center setting. For more information and registration visits, click here .
 
HHS Priorities Summit
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 4 Priorities Summit will be held June 6 in Newark, New Jersey. The summit will include segments and panel discussions focusing on each of the HHS Secretary’s four priorities including the Opioid Crisis, Health Insurance Reform, Drug Pricing and Value Based Care.
The purpose of the conference is to inform and update regional partners and stakeholders with detail and progress made regarding each of the priorities, as well as sharing information regarding the impact of state and local initiatives in these four areas. Space is limited, register here .

For additional details or questions, please contact [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. 

NYSDOH Commissioner’s Letter
Dr. Howard A. Zucker, Commissioner of Health for New York State, sent a letter that includes a call to action around colorectal cancer screening, safe sleep practices for infants and details for an upcoming Commissioner’s Medical Grand Rounds titled, “Vaccine Hesitancy” on Thursday, June 13th, from 9:00 to 11:00 A.M. Click here to read the letter.
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.