UPCOMING TRAINING
& EVENTS
click link(s) for details
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June 24
June 25
June 30
TPCA Closed for Independence Day
July 3
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Are you attending an event at TPCA?
Click here for a list of nearby hotels!
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If you would like to be added to the
TPCA Update
mailing list, please
click here.
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Health centers may utilize the TPCA Exclusion and Debarment Service to screen employ- ees, contractors, vendors, directors, and volunteers. This service helps health centers save valu-able resources and achieve operational excellence.
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This publication is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $1,830,669, with 15 percent financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit
HRSA.gov
.
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Health centers across Tennessee continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic while finding innovative ways to provide high-quality care to their patients and connect with their communities. Check out the photos below to learn about the creative methods health centers are implementing to serve their communities:
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Morgan County Medical Center: Morgan County Medical Center provided bags to Morgan County Head Start for their home visits. The bags included information about COVID-19 and Well-Child Checks, a beach ball and a frisbee. Pictures are MCMC CEO Theresa Brock and Peggy Morgan, Morgan County Head Start.
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Neighborhood Health: Thanks to the support of Cigna, Neighborhood Health has deployed a safe outdoor intake shelter at our Downtown Clinic. This outdoor shelter enables us to safely provide care for our patients experiencing homelessness during this pandemic. Photo credit: Cigna
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Cherokee Health Systems: #DYK Cherokee offers pediatric dentistry through our Talbott clinic? Above, our Talbott team is mid-cleaning a new patient.
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HHS Rule on Gender Identity
On June 12, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a
final rule
that removed certain gender identity protections against discrimination in health insurance and health care. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) made it illegal to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, or sex. In 2016, a regulation clarified the definition of sex included gender identity. The new HHS rule reverses the 2016 regulation and returns to a narrow interpretation of sex, defined as ‘biological sex,’ or a person’s genetic sex at birth. The final HHS rule was issued mere days before the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects LGBTQ persons from sex discrimination in the workplace.
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Federal Funding and Advocacy Actions
TPCA continues to work with the National Association of Community Health Centers to advocate for health center funding. During the summer, NACHC is hosting monthly days of action to mobilize advocates in a push for emergency and long-term health center funding. Thank you to everyone who participated in the June 17 National Day of Action with the theme: Stand Up, Stand Together: Community Health Centers Protect Children’s Health. The next day of action will be held on July 15.
Virtual July 4 Parade
NACHC is hosting a virtual July 4 parade to celebrate community health centers. Submit pictures of your staff and patients to
grassroots@nachc.org
by
Friday, June 26
to be featured in the parade. Consider including July 4 themed
posters
into your photos and explain why you value community health centers. The grassroots advocacy staff at NACHC will use the pictures to create a video parade, which will be posted online on July 4. Please share the video on social media and tag your elected officials at the state and federal level to ensure they work to support community health centers.
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National Health Center Week (NHCW)
National Health Center Week will be held from August 9-15 with the theme,
Community Health Centers: Lighting the Way for Healthier Communities Today and in the Future.
National Health Center Week 2020 will honor front line providers, staff, and patients who have lost their lives during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. To learn more about NHCW, visit
NACHC’s webpage
. Since the COVID-19 pandemic has altered many plans and events, NACHC composed a
l
ist of ideas
for modified events or virtual events. TPCA is also working on developing resources to assist health centers as they reimagine what NHCW will look like in the era of COVID-19. If you already know you are hosting a National Health Center Week event, please email details of the event to
emily.waitt@tnpca.org
.
National Health Center Week Webinar
NACHC will be hosting a 2020 NHCW Planning Webinar on Wednesday, June 24 at 3 PM (EST). During this webinar, NACHC will discuss this year’s theme, best practices for sponsorship, and go over event ideas on how to create space to celebrate your work during NHCW in the time of COVID-19.
Register here.
National Health Center Week Event Sponsorship
NACHC wants to award at least one National Health Center Week event sponsorship to a health center in every state. In order to be eligible for the $500 sponsorship, the event must meet the following criteria:
- The event must be community-wide (either virtual or in-person) during NHCW;
- The health center must use social media to promote the value of CHCs using #ValueCHCs;
- The health center must invited elected officials to visit (virtually or in person) the health center
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State Updates
COVID-19 Testing
TPCA continues to work closely with our partners at the Tennessee Department of Health to ensure that health centers are incorporated into the state’s testing strategy. Several health centers are in discussions with Tennessee Department of Health and other community partners to plan events and several events have already been held. Please share photos of your testing events with TPCA by emailing
emily.waitt@tnpca.org
for a chance to be featured in the TPCA Update!
Tennessee General Assembly
The General Assembly seeks to adjourn later this week once it passes an amended budget. Last week, the Senate passed its revised budget, which closely tracked with the governor’s proposal. On Monday night, the House Finance Committee passed a version of the budget that differs slightly from the Senate’s proposal. The full House voted to pass the budget on Wednesday evening, but the chambers will have to negotiate over some of the differences before passing the final budget. Both the Senate and House versions preserved $30 million in funding for the healthcare Safety Net.
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Legislation
We are excited to announce that TPCA’s bill to allow nurse practitioners and physicians at community health centers and community mental health centers to prescribe buprenorphine for Medication Assisted Treatment has passed the Tennessee General Assembly. TPCA partnered with the Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations on
SB 1060/HB 656
; the bill was carried by Representative Matthew Hill and Senator Steve Dickerson. The legislation will now go to Governor Lee for his signature and is slated to take effect on July 1, 2020. We are grateful for everyone who advocated with their state legislators in support of this bill and we are thankful to be part of an effort to expand MAT treatment to reach even more Tennesseans.
TPCA was also advocating in favor of
SB 1942/HB 1890
which would have prohibited discriminatory contracting by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in the 340B program. This bill was sent to summer study by the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee. A TPCA member health center, Cempa Community Care, led the effort to pass this legislation.
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2020 Census
There is still time to
fill out the 2020 Census
. The results from the Census are used not only to determine Congressional reapportionment, but to guide millions of dollars in funding for health programs including the Health Centers Program, Medicaid and CHIP, and Medicare.
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UnitedHealthcare Awards Grant Funds for PPE
Statement from United Healthcare
-UnitedHealthcare Community & State is proud to partner with and support Federally Qualified Health Care (FQHC) providers who serve our members across the country and in Tennessee. We’re thankful for the work they do every day to improve healthcare outcomes in our local communities. UnitedHealthcare Community & State recently provided the Tennessee Primary Care Association $20,000 through a grant to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) for four FQHCs in Tennessee including Cherokee Health System, Citizens of Lake County, Memphis Heath Center and Neighborhood Health as they provide care in the midst of the COVID-19 public health crisis. These organizations received PPE donations including gowns, surgical masks, KN95 masks, shoe covers, face shields, gloves and testing supplies.
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TPCA CEO, Terri Sabella, celebrates UnitedHealthcare’s grant to purchase PPE for health centers.
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COVID-19 Resources
TPCA created a
COVID-19 Resources page
that contains information and tools for health centers and the general public on a variety of COVID-19 related topics including TPCA’s Daily COVID-19 Updates, human resources & operations, telehealth, PPE.
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Rural Community Toolbox Launch
On June 24, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy is holding a virtual launch of the Rural Community Toolbox website. The website will be a clearinghouse for funding and resources from amongst several federal agencies to assist rural areas in responding to addiction. To register, participants must RSVP
using this link.
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Gilda’s Club Self-Care Resources
Gilda’s Club of Middle Tennessee, an affiliate of the Cancer Support Community, developed a
Self-Care Resource Guide
, which includes resources on health and well-being including self-care, mental health, and financial wellness.
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Quiztime- Conntrolled Substance CE Credits
The Tennessee Department of Health is offering a continuing education opportunity to share knowledge about opioid prescribing. The program will use quizzing technology, which will be delivered to mobile devices on a daily basis over a four week period. Participants will earn four Continuing Education credits that satisfy the state licensure requirements for controlled substance CE.
Click here
to watch a short video about the program.
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TNAAP Virtual Coding Webinar: 2021 E/M Coding Changes
The Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (TNAAP) will be hosting a live virtual coding webinar, on July 17 from 9 AM to 1 PM. The workshop will review the 2021 E/M coding changes and how they will impact your practice.
Click here to register.
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Diabetes, Social Isolation, and COVID-19
The National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions is holding a webinar on June 25 at 2 PM (EST). The webinar will provide information for Human Resources and Benefits executives about how to help employees at risk with diabetes during social isolation and COVID-19.
Click here to register.
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TPCA's 2020 Innovative Care Summit
The
2020 Innovative Care Summit
is a three-track virtual learning summit that features nationally renowned experts focusing on key topics designed to help health centers face the challenges of today’s environment while preparing them to thrive in the future. The Summit content aligns with TPCA’s 2020 theme of
Strengthening Patient Care through Innovation
, recognizing foundational elements, care delivery elements, and relationships as the major components of achieving the quadruple aim.
Leadership Track
Presented by Jackie Gaines, StuderGroup
Workforce Engagement & Retention
- Tuesday, June 30, 2020 from 10 - 11:30 a.m. Central
Clinical Services Track
Presented by Art Jones, MD, Health Management Associates
Primary Care Practice Redesign Supported by a New Payment Model
- Tuesday, July 14, 2020 from 1 - 2:30 p.m. Central
Managing the Full Continuum of Care
- Tuesday, July 21, 2020 from 1 - 2:30 p.m. Central
FQHC Value-Based Care: The Menu of Options and the Tennessee Selection
- Tuesday, July 28, 2020 from 1 - 2:30 p.m. Central
The Telehealth Track webinar took place on May 6, 2020. If you would like to access the recording,
you can find it here.
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