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Nevada Primary Care Office Newsletter
April 2017, Issue 19
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National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program Cycle Now Open!
You can apply to the Scholarship Program if you are committed to primary care and accepted to or enrolled in an accredited U.S. school as a primary care p
hysician (MD or DO),
dentist,
nurse practitioner (post graduate degree with clinical practice focus),
certified nurse-midwife or
physician assistant.
There are also additional resources for you below:
Please contact Joseph Tucker of the Nevada Primary Care Office by email at jtucker@health.nv.gov
, or by phone at 775-684-2232 if you have any questions.
Learn more about the NHSC Scholarship Program at these webinar sessions:
NHSC Scholarship Application Webinar
Thursday, April 6
7:00 - 8:00 PM ET
Access Link
Dial in: 1-888-324-7510 Passcode: 4080222
NHSC Scholarship Application Q & A Session #1
Thursday, April 20
7:00 - 9:00 PM ET
Access Link
Dial in: 1-888-324-7510 Passcode: 4080222
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Nurse Corps Scholarship Application Cycle is Now Open
Eligible applicants enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a full-time or part-time student in an accredited nursing degree program are eligible to apply. This pre-recorded webinar goes into more detail about specific eligibility requirements, the funding preferences and overall application process.
The scholarship covers tuition and fees, other reasonable costs and provides a monthly stipend of $1344 for full-time students. The stipend amount is reduced for part-time students.
Scholars are required to practice at an eligible Critical Shortage Facility located in a primary care HPSA with a score of 14 or higher. Scholars are committed to work one year for every year they receive funding with a 2 year minimum. A list of eligible facility types is located on page 22 of the
2017 Program Guidance packet. Browse eligible facilities online at the
Health Workforce Connector. The
scholarship is highly competitive. Therefore, our office recommends that you read through the Application and Program Guidance carefully and begin completing your application as soon as possible.
Please contact Joseph Tucker of the Nevada Primary Care Office by email at jtucker@health.nv.gov
, or by phone at 775-684-2232 if you have any questions.
Learn more about the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program at these webinar sessions:
Technical Assistance Call #1
April 5, 2017 - 3-5 P.M. ET
Dial-in: 888-989-9859
Passcode: 4280610
Instant Replay
(available an hour after the call)
Dial: 866-406-3306
Instant Replay Expires 4/5/2018
Technical Assistance Call #2
May 2, 2017 - 3-5 P.M. ET
Dial-in: 888-989-9859
Passcode: 4280610
Instant Replay
(available an hour after the call)
Dial: 866-454-2121
Instant Replay Expires 5/2/2018
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National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program Application Cycle is Closing Soon!
National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program offers medical, dental and behavioral health providers up to $50,000, tax-free, in exchange for two-years of service at an NHSC-approved site. There are over 100 approved sites in Nevada. Priority consideration is given to eligible applicants whose NHSC-approved site has a HPSA score of 26 to 14, in descending order. The application and program guidance manual reviews detailed information about program requirements.
Feel free to contact Joseph Tucker with any questions or concerns at 775-684-2232 or jtucker@health.nv.gov
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National Health Service Corps New Site Applications
Healthcare sites can apply to become approved during the new site application cycle so that their providers can be eligible to apply for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program.
The NHSC Loan Repayment Program offers medical, dental and behavioral health providers up to $50,000, tax-free, in exchange for two-years of full-time service at an NHSC-approved site.
To become an approved site:
- An organization must be physically located in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA);
- Be a primary care outpatient facility, or a CMS-certified Critical Access Hospital that provides medical, dental, or mental health services;
- Utilize a qualified sliding fee schedule and have had it in place for at least 6 months;
- Accept all patients regardless of their ability to pay, accept Medicare, Medicaid, or a state Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP);
- Display a statement in common areas stating that no one will be denied access to services based on their inability to pay, and that a sliding fee schedule is available.
Joseph Tucker of the
Nevada PCO Office (PCO)
is available to answer questions and assist you with completing your application. We recommend that each potential site complete our mock application, which our office will review to provide you feedback, before the submission of the final application. The PCO does not have the final authority to approve or disapprove sites in Nevada, but, we can share best practices and provide technical assistance. Currently, there are over 100 approved sites in Nevada.
Please contact Joseph Tucker with any questions at 775-684-2232 or jtucker@health.nv.gov
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How to Hire a J-1 Physician in Nevada
Internationally-trained physicians with a J-1 Visa would usually need to return to their home country for two years after residency and/or a fellowship. This requirement can be "waived" under the Conrad 30 program if the physician commits to serve underserved populations.
To be eligible for the program in Nevada, a physician must work at a site that serves all patients regardless of ability to pay and complies with Nevada's program requirements.
The Nevada Primary Care Office (PCO) has a detailed guide on how to hire a J-1 Physician in Nevada online here. A popular method for linking J-1 physicians with safety net health facilities is the 3RNet website, where e
mployers can post positions. When physicians register on 3RNet and list Nevada as a location of interest, the PCO receives a referral that we forward out to interested organizations. Email us to be added to the listserve.
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Informational Webinar on Updates to The Shortage Designation Process
Just a friendly reminder that the Nevada Primary Care Office (PCO) will be facilitating a public webinar on updates to the shortage designation process and how these will affect Nevada:
Nevada HPSA Designation Outreach Webinar #2
April 6, 2017
2:00PM-3:00PM
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
is developing a new process by which Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) are maintained and updated. HPSA scores are used to identify areas of greatest need so that federal loan repayment and practice incentive payments can be targeted to these areas. HRSA is now requiring all geographic and population HPSAs in Nevada and throughout the country to be updated in the next three months by July 2017. Because the methodology is still being developed, facility HPSAs for Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics will be rescored after July 2017.
All individuals who participate are encouraged to share their expertise on the geographic and demographic makeup of Nevada. In addition to this webinar,
the PCO can also facilitate webinars on the National Health Service Corps, the Nurse Corps and the Nevada Conrad 30/J-1 Visa Waiver program on demand.
Please contact Joseph Tucker at 775-684-2232 or at
jtucker@health.nv.gov
for more details.
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United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Temporarily Suspends H-1B Premium Processing
Beginning April 3, 2017, the
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will temporarily suspend the premium processing for all H-1B work visa petitions. Previously with premium processing,
USCIS would guarantee application processing within 15 days of the application submission. For more information, click here.
Historically, this is a process that has been used by many of the international physicians working in the
Conrad 30 Waiver Program
, to expedite their applications to work in underserved areas in Nevada
.
USCIS has indicated that they are suspending the premium processing in order to reduce the backlog of long-pending petitions. This suspension, according to their
website, may last up to 6 months.
Certain petitioners, that meet the
expedite criteria
, may submit a request to expedite an H-1B visa.
For more information please contact Joseph Tucker at 775-684-2232 or at
jtucker@health.nv.gov
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| Nevada Department of Health and Human Services |
New Benefits For Family Planning Services Covered by Medicaid
Medicaid recently approved coverage for family planning, counseling and education by qualified physicians. Insertion of Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives immediately following delivery is now a covered benefit. Providers bill their evaluation and management codes, as CPT code 58300. If provided immediately postpartum, modifier 51 is needed. Refer to Medicaid Service Manual Chapter 600 for additional family planning information.
Additionally, Postpartum Depression Screenings are a covered Medicaid benefit as part of a Healthy Kids Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Exam for mothers of a covered child, up to one year of age, as a service billed to the child's Medicaid, on its own claim line. Health risk assessments should be done at the well child check with the primary care physician. T
here is a limit of three screenings during the child's first year to align with the typical well child checks. Providers bill their evaluation and management codes, on a separate line as CPT code 99420. This should be billed separately, under the baby's name. No modifier is needed.
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New Program Unveiled to Help Keep Mom and Baby Healthy
Help promote Text4Baby!, which is a free health text messaging service supporting new and expectant moms by providing accurate, text length health information resources. Participants may sign up online or by texting 'baby' (or 'bebe' for Spanish) to 511411 to receive messages each week, timed to the baby's first birthday.
If participants have limited texting per month, Text4Baby won't take away from the total messages.
Even if text messaging isn't part of the phone plan, participants will get these messages at no cost.
Please contact
christinaturner@health.nv.gov
if you are interested in referral cards, flyers or other incentives.
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Nevada Maternal and Infant Health Program
Sober Moms Healthy Babies is aimed to help pregnant women struggling with tobacco, alcohol, and drug use. This public awareness campaign includes a website with educational and treatment resources for women who are using, concerned family and friends, as well as providers. It also emphasizes the importance of women identifying they are pregnant, when entering SAPTA funded treatment, as they receive top priority for service.
The website provides an option to call 2-1-1, the Substance Abuse Hotline (775-825-4357 or 1-800-450-9530) and Tobacco Quit Line (1-800-QUIT-NOW). Please contact Christinaturner@health.nv.gov if you would like referral cards.
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| Nevada Department of Health and Human Services |
The State of Nevada Aims to Increase Access To Healthcare for Adolescents
On November 3, 2016, Nevada state officials and experts gathered in Carson City, Nevada to discuss how the state can most effectively increase access to health coverage and health care for adolescents between the ages of 15-18 years. Special attention was paid towards strategies serving currently uninsured and uninsurable populations such as individuals who are undocumented. Two key goals emerged with regards to adolescent coverage and care:
Goal 1: Reduce the percent of uninsured adolescents, ages 15-18 years, from the current rate, 8% to the national average, 5%.
Goal 2: Increase utilization of health services by adolescents, ages 15-18 years, for wellness visits to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services benchmark levels.
If you would like additional information about this project and/or would like to know about possible upcoming meetings in which this plan will be discussed, including plans for implementing activities, please reach out to Eileen Hough, Adolescent Health and Wellness Coordinator, ebough@health.nv.gov and your contact information will be placed on a distribution list.
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| Nevada Department of Health and Human Services |
Maternal Child and Health is Participating in Mortality Surveillance System Program with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Nevada participates in the Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System (PMSS) by submitting maternal mortality data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
CDC uses the PMSS information to determine the cause and time of death related to the pregnancy. CDC defines pregnancy-related deaths as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 1 year of pregnancy termination-regardless of the duration or site of the pregnancy-from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, but not from accidental or incidental causes.
CDC periodically releases PMSS data through the CDC Web site.
Interested parties can view the most recent
Maternal Mortality Report
that was presented at the Nevada November 2016 Maternal and Child Health Advisory Board (MCHAB) meeting.
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HPV Vaccination: A Pinch of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure
April 06, 2017 at 2:00 pm ET
This will be a national webinar for dental professionals, medical professionals, health professions students and medical office staff. Speakers include Dr. Lori Racha, assistant professor of pediatrics at the Robert Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, and Dr. Damon Silverman, associate professor of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at the Robert Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont.
HPV is one topic that both primary care and oral health professionals have in common. Dr. Racha is concerned that not enough pre-teens are getting the HPV vaccination while Dr. Silverman is seeing a growing number of life-threatening HPV diseases of the head and neck in his practice.
Please promote this continuing education offering to dental professionals, medical professionals, health professions students and medical office staff in your regions! Continuing education credits are pending.
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Save the Date: AHEC Pre-Professional Healthcare Workforce Conference
April 7-8, 2017
High Sierra Area Health Education Centers (AHEC)
is a small but mighty public health outreach nonprofit in Northern Nevada with a focus on preparing upcoming health professionals. Last year alone, we reached over 2,500 students. This is made possible by our incredible team of volunteer Student Ambassadors. who have voiced what they are missing in their education and have put in the effort to fill those gaps themselves by creating a Pre-Professional Healthcare Workforce Conference
taking place on April 7-8, 2017. More information about the event is available at this
Event Facebook Page, and you can
register here
.
During this conference, you are invited to participate in a networking dinner on April 7th from 6:00 pm at the University of Nevada, Reno. Bonnie Ferrara, MD, a UNR Family Medicine Center resident doctor, will be kicking off the keynote and networking dinner.
Dinner attendance is limited, so please register today!
For more information and to find out how to get involved, contact
Andraya Dickens at
andrayad@nevada.unr.edu
or by phone at 775.338.8854.
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Save the Date: Closing the HPV Gap: The Fundamentals of HPV for Oral Health Care Providers
April 19, 2017 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm PDT
Are you a licensed dental professional? This special webinar is tailored just for you and will provide you with the opportunity to learn your key role as an oral health provider in HPV prevention. To kick off Oral Health Awareness Month, please join Christina Demopoulos, DDS, MPH, of University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine as she provides evidence based strategies to promote the HPV vaccine in the dental setting. This is a multi-state online Webex event hosted by High Sierra AHEC and Great West Division American Cancer Society, located in Reno Nevada.
FREE Continuing Education opportunity for Nevada providers!
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
DIVISION OF PUBLIC AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
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Brian Sandoval
Governor
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Richard Whitley, MS
Director
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Cody L. Phinney, MPH
Administrator
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John M. DiMuro, DO, MBA
Chief Medical Officer
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