Executive Directors, Medication Assistance Caseworkers, and Child Health Outreach Workers Honored
The Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF)
recently highlighted the dedication of Executive Directors (EDs), Medication Assistance Caseworkers (MACs), and Child Health Outreach Workers at VHCF's 25th Anniversary Heroes in Healthcare celebration. We are very grateful for all of the work that each and every one of these individuals does to make a difference for Virginia's Health Safety Net patients. Check out the videos about the EDs, MACs, and Child Health Outreach Workers featured at the event on the VHCF
website
!
Like us on Facebook
and check out more photos!
Free Type 2 Diabetes Medications from Blink Health
Blink Health
is giving away $10 million worth of three of the most commonly prescribed generic Type 2 Diabetes medications for FREE, for one year!
Registration will run through September 12, 2017, but the program will end before this date if members sign up for more than $10 million of the covered medicines. Use
this flyer
to share this great opportunity with your staff and patients.
Anyone who has a prescription is eligible, and the program is free. If you are not currently a Blink member, you must create an account on
BlinkHealth.com
. Medications are requested online and then can be picked up at any of 57,000 participating pharmacies nationwide. If you have patients on these medications who are currently paying for their prescriptions through Rx Outreach or Xubex, they may be able to get these medications for FREE through Blink Health. Read the
program rules
and
FAQs
, and contact the Customer Care Patient Help Line at 844-366-2211 or
info@blinkhealth.com
.
Announcing Beyond Blue
To mark its 25th anniversary, VHCF recently announced a new $1.5 million behavioral health initiative designed to increase access to mental health services for medically underserved and uninsured Virginians. The new initiative, called Beyond Blue, will address mental health needs in the health safety net (HSN) by:
- integrating behavioral health services with primary medical care for diabetic patients with depression;
- preparing interested HSN organizations to implement a trauma-informed approach to care in their practices with a special focus on resiliency training; and
- increasing the number of psychiatric nurse practitioners practicing in the HSN and state.
Read more about Beyond Blue
here
and stay tuned for information about how to apply. Contact a Program Officer at (804) 585-5804 with any questions.
2017 Profile of Virginia's Uninsured Now Available - Here's a Few Highlights
The Virginia Health Care Foundation annually contracts with the Urban Institute to develop a
Profile of Virginia's Uninsured
using data from the U.S. Census, the American Communities Survey, and estimates from an analytical approach it has developed. Highlights from the newly released report include:
- 10.7 percent of Virginians under age 65 are without medical insurance - equaling 747,000 uninsured Virginians
- The vast majority of non-elderly uninsured (77.5%) are part of working families
- The majority (68.2%) are part of families with at least one part-time or full-time worker
- Nearly 40% of all uninsured Virginians live below the Federal Poverty Level (37.1%), and over 70 percent of uninsured adults have incomes at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (72.1% or 539,000)
- By far, the greatest percentage of uninsured Virginians are U.S. citizens.
Leading Through Change, Big and Small - A Learning Opportunity
On September 25-26, 2017, VHCF will partner with the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics and Virginia Community Healthcare Association to present a two-day program on Leading Change. As so many health safety net leaders are striving to lead their organizations through uncertain and changing times, this program aims to provide health safety net executive directors with helpful tools and resources to guide the process.
Key topics will include
the process of change, communicating change, resistance to change, and roles during change.
All health safety net executive directors are eligible to register for this workshop. Registration is $50 and includes meals. Sign up to receive more details and registration information here or contact Cat Hulburt for more information.
Everybody Loves Getting Mail - An Innovative Approach to Oral Health Integration
Eastern Shore Rural Health System wants to make sure parents understand how important it is for their children to visit a dentist when they get their first tooth. So how do they get their attention? They send a fun reminder in the form of "Happy First Birthday" cards to all of the children they serve. They back up this approach with dental goodie bags and repeated reminders from their pediatricians on the importance of oral health care for children. Learn more about
Eastern Shore's approach
in the Virginia Oral Health Coalition's
Oral Health Integration Toolkit
, which also includes clinical practice tools and links to both live and archived continuing education opportunities.
The Painful Truth about Teeth
A recent article in the Washington Post about a Mission of Mercy event in Maryland serves as a reminder of the difficulty many low-income people face in finding and affording dental care. Read the article
here
.
Announcing Health Safety Net Grant Recipients
In June 2017, the VHCF Board of Trustees awarded the following health safety net grants totaling $806,825 and providing a wide range of services. New grants include:
- $133,800 to Neighborhood Health to expand medical services in Arlington County by hiring a part-time physician
- $60,000 to Orange County Free Clinic to expand clinic capacity and add women's health services by funding a .6 FTE Nurse Practitioner
- $200,000 to Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems to establish dental services in Tazewell County
The Board also awarded the following continuation grants:
- $198,705 to Neighborhood Health to support the salaries of a full-time dentist, full-time dental assistant, and part-time dental hygienist at its site in South Fairfax County
- $91,478 to Free Clinic of Central Virginia to expand its dental serviced by supporting the salaries of a part-time Dentist, part-time Dental Hygienist, and full-time Dental Assistant
- $72,105 to Mel Leaman Free Clinic to expand patient capacity and transition to a new delivery model in partnership with Emory and Henry College by underwriting the salary of a full-time Physician Assistant
- $18,698 to Richmond City Health District to support the salaries of a part-time Nurse Practitioner and a part-time Registered Nurse at the Broad Rock Resource Center
- $32,039 to Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Psychology to underwrite salaries for two part-time psychologists and a part-time Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner to treat patients and provide interdisciplinary training to family practice and clinical psychology residents at the Hayes E. Willis Health Center.
Stay in the Know!
Are you signed up to receive all the information you can get? In addition to Vital Signs, VHCF sends out quarterly
SignUpNow Outreach
and RxConnect
newsletters related to Medicaid/FAMIS coverage and prescription access issues, respectively. Contact
Kari Parkhurst
to be added to the lists for one or both of these newsletters.
Upcoming deadlines/trainings/meetings
Beginner Training
For additional training dates or more information click
here
or contact
Lisa Hueston
, TPC Coordinator, at (804) 828-5803.
Your Colleagues Are Utilizing VHCF's Technical Assistance Funds - Are You?
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.
Does your clinic have any innovative programs or creative solutions to share?
VHCF is hiring!
Click
here
to learn more about the available job opportunities.
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