Member Spotlight
The MPHCA team joined CEO leadership from across the state on Tuesday, January 16 th at the state Capitol to advocate for continued support of the Mississippi Qualified Health Centers Program (MQHC) through targeted visits with legislators.
Among the top 3 priorities articulated by CHC leadership, inclusive of the MQHC program, were 2 additional priorities addressed during visits which included 2) Prospective Payment System Reimbursement for CHCs with an ask to be included in the Medicaid technical amendments bill, which is set to sunset this legislative session; and 3) Alignment of Credentialing between Medicaid and the state’s managed care plans.   
Pictured from left to right are CEOs of respective health centers: 1 st row: Angel Greer (Biloxi); Shirley Ellis-Stampley (Fayette); Aurelia Jones-Taylor (Clarksdale); Dr. Geroldean Dyse (Hattiesburg); and Jill Bishop (Sebastopol); 2 nd row: Pam Poole (Liberty); John Fairman (Mound Bayou) and Marilyn Sumerford (Smithville). Dr. Margaret Gray (Pearl) was also a part of the team leading sessions but was not able to make the photograph.
More on Capitol Days!



During the reception, CHCs themselves were recognized and honored in the photo to the right.
In addition to the above sessions, on Tuesday night, January 16 th , amid one of the coldest days of the season, MPHCA hosted its annual legislative awards ceremony. Along with enjoying great company and food, awards were given in recognition of great dedication to the work of CHCs by Mississippi legislators. Senator David Blount was awarded the James L. “Jim” Bean, Jr. Health Care Leadership Award; Representative Chris Brown was awarded the Jamie Whiten Award; Rep. Gregory Holloway the MPHCA Health Care Leadership award; Senator Willie Simmons was awarded the MPHCA Lifetime Achievement Award; Rep. Stephen Holland and Sen. Hob Bryan were each awarded the Legacy Award; Rep. John W. Hinds, Sr. was awarded the Aaron Shirley Award. The final award for Grassroots Advocacy was awarded to Outreach Health Services and Ms. Sabrina Howze, CEO accepted.
 
Thanks to everyone who took part in our very successful MPHCA Capitol Days!
Several MPHCA team and board members, along with our government affairs team from Capitol Resources had a great meeting with Legislators Mims, Johnson, and Brown about Community Health Center priorities. 
Government Shutdown
The House has passed a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to approve funding to operate the federal government until mid-February, which did not make it pass the Senate on January 19th resulting in a government shutdown. Included in this package was funding for CHIP for a 6-year time span without funding for health centers, NHCS or Teaching Health Centers. Federal budget scoring found that this CHIP proposal could be revenue neutral, however, there is not yet agreement on the source of funding for other health programs, including CHCs. As it relates to passing any spending package, Congress remains in a state of filibuster.
Listen Out for further Updates from
MPHCA Board President & CEO after
this week’s NACHC Winter Strategy Session!


Passing The Gavel
Last week, in addition to Capitol Days, MPHCA held its annual board meeting. The meeting by the “passing of the gavel” from outgoing president Dr. Rashad Ali to the new President Angel Greer. 
 
Angel is the CEO of Coastal Family Health Center and has been working with CHCs for over a decade. She shared with the group that her passion in-part stems from the fact that she was a CHC patient during her teen years. 
News to Use
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Useful Info
APPROVED UDS Changes for 2018 Announced
The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) has released  Program Assistance Letter (PAL) 2017-08  highlighting the approved changes to the Uniform Data System (UDS) for calendar year 2018. Changes include updates to clinical quality measures to align with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) electronic-specified clinical quality measures (CMS eCQMs), removal of the Patient-Centered Medical Home measure (identified as redundant), an expanded telehealth question, and updates to the medication-assisted treatment and Meaningful Use questions. The reporting changes detailed in this PAL will be used by Health Center Program grantees and look-alikes for reporting data  beginning Jan. 1, 2019 . The forthcoming 2018 UDS Manual will include additional details regarding these changes.

Monthly "Office Hours" on 340B and Other Pharmacy Issues
Starting this month on Jan. 18, NACHC staff will hold monthly office hours on 340B and general pharmacy issues. These sessions, made possible by HRSA funding, will be an opportunity for health center and PCA staff to ask questions and share ideas and information about 340B and pharmacy activities. Each session will begin with a brief overview of a timely issue, and the bulk of the time will be left for Q&A and discussion. Office Hours will be held on the third Thursday of each month, at 2:00 ET. Participation is free, but you must  register here  by 2:00 ET on Tuesday Jan. 16. Contact  Colleen Meiman  at NACHC for more information.
Mark your calendars for the MPHCA Annual Conference this July 31- August 3, 2018. Join us at the Beau Rivage Resort in Biloxi MS for a great conference capped off by a keynote presentation by Dr. Elisabeth Rosenthal, Editor in Chief of Kaiser Health News. Dr. Rosenthal with speak on "A Prescriptive for Leaders of the Safety Net in Healthcare Transformation."



Elisabeth Rosenthal, MD
Keynote Presenter
August 1, 2018, 9:00 am
Training Opportunities

Webinar Lunch & Learn Series  focuses on clinical and financial outcomes starting  February 2, 2018 .  See February 2nd Agenda and Course Objectives.

Please mark your calendars for First Fridays. starting in February.

Check back for CME & CEUs
 Operational Site Visit & New HRSA Compliance
February 8, 2018 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm CST More information here :
NEW TIME!!!
MPHCA One-Day
Clinical Conference



When: March 7, 2018, 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. (Registration/breakfast 8:30 a.m.)

Where: Holiday Inn Trustmark Park ( 110 Bass Pro Drive  t  Pearl, MS 39208)

The Quality Improvement Workgroup will host their Spring One-Day Clinical Conference for community health centers and interested safety net providers. This training is actually important for all health center staff…..particularly health center providers, clinical leads and quality improvement personnel as it addresses not only the dynamics of the opioid crisis but screening, linkage to care and treatment options, as well as behavioral health as it relates to opioid addiction.   Click here for full details .
Please check back for CME & CEUs
Webinar
Documentation & Reporting Evaluation And Management In 2018
Date/Time: January 30, 2018 - 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm following by live Q&A

Where: Live Webinar with Q&A - Instructions to access will be emailed on 1/29/18

Price: Members - $29.99 Non-Members - $39.99

CEU: 1 CEU Approved by AAPC and ARHPC (If more than 1 person needs CEU’s they will need to register individually)

Each year about 12,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer. Two screening tests (Pap test and HPV test) can help prevent cervical cancer or find it early.   More than 1.9 million patients received Pap tests at HRSA-funded health centers in 2016 . Learn more about best practices for screening and preventing cervical cancer in these resources:

  FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES 

Application Deadline: Wednesday, February 21, 2018
T he SAMHSA, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2018 Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) grants. The purpose of this program is to implement screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment services for adolescents and adults in primary care and community health settings. This program is designed to expand/enhance the state and tribal continuum of care for SUD services and reduce alcohol and other drug (AOD) consumption and its negative health impact, increase abstinence, reduce costly health care utilization, and promote sustainability and the integration of behavioral health and primary care services.


Application Deadline: Friday, February 23, 2018
Up to 20 rural public and nonprofit entities forming a consortium of three or more organizations will be awarded total funding of $2 million from HRSA to assist in the planning and development of an integrated health care network at the local level. Emphasizing the role of networks, the program creates a platform for medical care providers, social service providers, and community organizations to coalesce key elements of a rural health care delivery system to improve local capacity and coordination of care. Previous grantees have focused on behavioral health and health information technology. If you have any questions about the program, please contact Sara Afayee at SAfayee@hrsa.gov . 
Funds Care Coordination, Among Other Projects

Application Deadline: Varies
See UnitedHealthcare's free Grant Guide that features more than 50 opportunities from state and federal government and national foundations. You can also register for UHC's Creating a Competitive Proposal webinar, facilitated by experienced grant writer Allison Rojas, offered on the second Wednesday of each month.

Application Deadline: Rolling
Support well-established nonprofit organizations across the nation that address issues within four major areas of interest: education, health, culture, and social service. Health interests include cancer, geriatrics, neonatology, perinatology, pediatrics, women's health, and the disabled.