Register Now for Health Safety Net Legislative Day!

The 2018 General Assembly is in session, and Virginia legislators are considering several bills which would expand Medicaid eligibility to Virginians at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) ($16,642 for one, $33,948 for a family of 4). Medicaid expansion would help many of your patients and nearly 400,000 eligible adult Virginians by providing health insurance that covers hospitalizations, doctor visits and all of their needed medicines.

Please plan to join us in Richmond for Health Safety Net Legislative Day on Wednesday, February 14, 2018. We'll tell the legislators that Virginia is for Lovers and Medicaid Expansion! Register now!

For more information on Medicaid expansion click here .

Defeating the Deadly Double Grantees Have Been Selected
 
In August 2017, VHCF announced it was making approximately $1 million in grants available for Defeating the Deadly Double: Depression and Diabetes (DDD). This special new initiative was designed to help health safety net (HSN) organizations elevate the degree of integration of behavioral health services and primary medical care for HSN patients who suffer from the co-morbidities of depression and diabetes. DDD is a part of Beyond Blue , the three-pronged behavioral health initiative which VHCF undertook to mark its 25th anniversary.
 
The following organizations have been selected to participate in this exciting two year initiative. Each will work to reduce depression in diabetic HSN patients so they can more fully engage in adhering to their diabetes treatment plans. Learn more about DDD here .
  • Blue Ridge Medical Center - $200,000
  • Central Virginia Health Services - $128,800
  • CrossOver Healthcare Ministry - $249,990
  • Neighborhood Health - $272,675
  • New Horizons Healthcare - $236,035
Patterson Dental Wants to Save the Dental Safety Net Money!  

 

Do you provide dental services? If so, you know that dental equipment and supplies can be expensive. To help, the Virginia Health Care Foundation recruited Patterson Dental 10 years ago to extend its deepest discount to dental safety net clinics throughout Virginia, no matter how small the order. Through this  partnership, Virginia dental safety net clinics have saved more than $2 million in costs in the past 10 years. Eligible dental safety net organizations receive discounts on supplies (20%), equipment (20-34%), dental practice management software (50%), and service and maintenance bills (15%), as well as waived service call fees.  Ready to save? Contact Ally Singer Wright, Dental Opportunities Champion at VHCF today f or more information or a quote! 
 
Spotlight on Oral Health Integration: Neighborhood Health Brings Dental Hygiene to its Pediatric Practices


A young patient gets a lesson in tooth brushing from 
Neighborhood Health's hygienist and her friendly helper
 
Last summer Neighborhood Health (NH) launched a three-month oral health integration pilot that brought a dental hygienist to its Fairfax pediatric practice. Once a week, the dental hygienist, accompanied by a bilingual dental assistant, provided oral assessments and applied fluoride varnish to patients during their medical appointments.
 
In addition, the hygienist provided oral health education, conducted and entered caries risk assessments into NH's electronic dental record, and scheduled follow-up dental appointments, as needed. Patients with urgent dental needs received an immediate consultation with a dentist. This pilot provided needed dental services to 176 children! It also helped NH improve its dental payer mix by treating more children covered by the FAMIS programs. The pilot project was so successful that NH has since expanded it to its pediatric practice in Alexandria. 
 
Interested in learning more about NH's integration pilot? Contact Dr. Montressor Upshaw , DDS, NH's Dental Director. For additional resources on oral health integration, check out Virginia Oral Health Coalition's Integration Toolkit .
 
Announcing Health Safety Net Grant Recipients
 
The Virginia Health Care Foundation has awarded $1,397,171 in grants, effective January 1, 2018, to the following organizations:
  • $220,000 to Arlington Free Clinic to build and outfit three new dental operatories
  • $168,750 to Rockbridge Area Health Center to underwrite the salary of a dentist at a new satellite dental clinic in Buena Vista
  • $122,250 to Harrisonburg Community Health Center to support the salary of a full-time dentist
  • $91,500 to Northern Virginia Dental Clinic to support the salaries of two part-time dentists, a part-time dental hygienist, and a full-time dental assistant
  • $235,000 to VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital Foundation to help establish a dental practice in South Hill
  • $22,863 to Augusta Regional Clinic to support the salaries of a part-time endodontist and a part-time dental assistant
  • $22,500 to CrossOver Healthcare Ministry to support the salary of a part-time dental hygienist
  • $20,344 to Charlottesville Free Clinic to underwrite the salary of a part-time dental hygienist
  • $87,048 to Rockbridge Area Health Center to underwrite the salaries of two full-time counselors and a part-time Psychiatrist
  • $75,619 to ChildSavers to support the salaries of two full-time counselors and a part-time Psychiatrist
  • $31,409 to Sinclair Health Clinic to underwrite the salary of a part-time Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • $116,377 to MCV Foundation/Virginia Treatment Center for Children to underwrite the salary of a full-time Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • $50,000 to Vision to Learn to purchase a mobile unit to provide vision screenings to children in Richmond
  • $54,000 to Eastern Shore Rural Health System to underwrite the salary of a full-time Physician Assistant at the Onley Health Center
  • $41,107 to Richmond City Health District to support the salaries of a part-time Nurse Practitioner and part-time Registered Nurse
  • $10,799 to Ledwith-Lewis Free Clinic to support the salary of a part-time Nurse Practitioner
  • $27,605 to NOVA ScriptsCentral to underwrite a portion of the salary of a Pharmacist
  Upcoming trainings/meetings
  • TPC Trainings
Beginner Training

February 8, 2018  9:30AM-1:30PM-Norfolk

February 22, 2018  1:00PM-4:00PM-Online

March 12, 2018  9:00AM-1:00PM-Online

Advanced Training

April 10, 2018 
10:00AM-12:00PM-Online

For additional training dates or more information click
here or contact Lisa HuestonTPC Coordinator, at (804) 828-5803.
 
Don't Forget About the Professional Development Funds Available to You!
 
Dental hygienists at Eastern Shore Rural Health System are using Professional Development Funds to attend a continuing education course that enables them to work under remote supervision. Are you (or a staff member) considering taking advantage of learning opportunities in the community? VHCF has a variety of informational resources to help you and your staff meet your goals. Check out some of our resources for providers here ! Don't see what you are looking for? Let us know!
 
VHCF also offers funding for capacity building, including:
  • Up to $3,500 to underwrite the development of a new strategic plan
  • Up to $650 per organization per year to pay for professional development opportunities that enhance the skills or knowledge of health safety net staff or board members
Contact a Program Officer at (804) 828-5804 to learn more.
 
Need Help Marketing Your Clinic?

Google is currently giving qualifying nonprofits free advertising grants worth up to $10,000 a month. With a Google Ad Grant, your organization can set up multiple advertising campaigns targeting those people most interested or in need of your services. Your ad will automatically pop up at the top of the google search results whenever an individual searches for one of your designated adwords (such as "affordable healthcare") provided no other organization has entered a higher bid for that particular adword. The Google Grant application is quick and easy and setting up your Google Adwords campaign is simple. Learn more here .

Does your clinic have any innovative programs or creative solutions to share?
 
We'd love to hear from you! Please contact Cat Hulburt or Andrea Lancaster .