Member Spotlight:
American Heart Association Recognizes MS CHCs
Family Health Center Team, Laurel
The Target: BP Recognition Program celebrates p ractices and health systems, who treat patients with hypertension, for achieving blood pressure control rates >70 % . These achievements will ultimately lead to a reduction in the number of Americans who suffer heart attacks and strokes. 
Access Family Health Services Team, Smithville
The American Heart Association (AHA) & American Medical Association acknowledged early adopters of this initiative and recognized over 300 organizations. Mississippi had 7 FQHCs to submit their 2017 data: Aaron E. Henry, ACCESS, Central Mississippi Health Services, Coastal, Family Health Center, Jackson Hinds, and Jefferson Comprehensive Health Centers.
During the May, 2018 Transformation Leaning Session of the Mississippi Quality Improvement Initiative 2 (MSQII2), Dr. Helen Beady, Senior Director Multicultural Initiatives with the AHA, presented each health center with a plaque to commemorate the accomplishment. The health centers also received awards for completion of the 2017-2018 year of MSQII2. 
Central MS Health Services Team, Jackson
Dr. Beady reports that Crystal S. Cook, DNP, NP-BC, Medical Director for Jefferson Comprehensive , was recognized for being the FIRST in Mississippi to submit data. 
Some CHC CEOs are just plain ole Rock Stars:
CEO Aurelia Jones-Taylor of Aaron E. Health Center takes center stage at the 2018 Children’s Health Fund Gala, NY. AEH became the third member of the National Children's Health Fund’s network of mobile based clinics in 1991.
Update your PCMH Recognition via EHBs Due by July 1, 2018 to receive Quality Award
The Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition Quality Awards recognize health centers’ commitment and investment in quality improvement activities. Health centers that have PCMH recognition by July 1, 2018, are eligible to receive a 2018 Health Center PCMH Recognition Quality Award. The award amount of the PCMH recognition award in fiscal year (FY) 2018 will be determined based upon the availability of federal funding.

Please review the table here , which lists the health centers with valid PCMH recognition status and the number of sites with PCMH recognition.

You can now submit updates to your PCMH recognition information to BPHC through EHBs .
  • Log in to your EHBs Grant Folder
  • Click the “HRSA Accreditation/PCMH Initiative” link
  • Choose the “Request PCMH Recognition Update” button and follow the instructions

Note : In order to ensure that your update is accepted into EHBs, the recognition date, expiration date, and current PCMH level must match your attached documentation of PCMH recognition for each appropriate site and address. If the recognition information is different for each site, please upload separate submissions.
June 2018 Bulletin: Working to Address Changes to the Ordering of Medical Supplies, Equipment and Appliances 
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently required that the Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM) update its 2006 state plan language to comport with 42 C.F.R. § 440.70, which explicitly permits only a physician to order medical equipment, supplies and appliances. In May pursuant to the CMS communication, DOM announced that it will no longer cover medical supplies, equipment and appliances ordered by non-physician practitioners effective September 1, 2018 .
 
"DOM shares the concerns of providers who believe this interpretation of the C.F.R. poses an additional barrier to needed services and care. The agency is actively working with CMS and other stakeholders to address compliance, while ensuring that non-physician providers continue to serve as a vital access point for patients enrolled in the Mississippi Medicaid program. To that end, DOM is in discussions with the Mississippi Board of Nursing, the Mississippi Nurses Association, the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure, and the Mississippi Academy of Physician Assistants on how compliance might be achieved through collaborative agreements and/or standing orders between non-physician providers and physician providers."
 
For more information regarding the ordering requirements of medical supplies, equipment and appliances, please contact the Office of Medical Services at (601) 359-6150.
Effective July 1, 2018, reimbursement of certain primary care services provided by eligible providers will be at 100% of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, which is updated July 1 of each year and takes effect January 1.

To receive the increased payment for dates of service beginning 7/1/2018, eligible providers must send a completed and signed 7/1/2018 – 6/30/2021 Self-Attestation Statement form to Conduent Provider Enrollment by 6/30/2018 through one of the following means:

Fax: 888-495-8169
Postal mail: P. O. Box 23078, Jackson, MS 39225 

Providers must notify Conduent of any change(s) to their completed 7/1/2018 – 6/30/2021 Self-Attestation Statement form. Providers can verify the processing of self-attestation statement forms they have submitted electronically by accessing the Envision Web Portal at https://www.ms-medicaid.com/msenvision/
 
Additional information can be found on the DOM website.
The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) received $105 million for separate NHSC Loan Repayment Program awards that expand and improve access to quality opioid and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in rural and underserved areas Instructions to NHSC points of contact at health centers about how they must opt-in so their clinicians may be eligible to apply for this separate LRP funding, were recently mailed. ALL BPHC Grantees MUST OPT-IN by JULY 17 for clinicians to be eligible for SUD separate LRP awards.
SERVICE AREA COMPETITION (SAC) Notices:

FY '19 SAC NOFO was issued on June 7 (for Jan. 1 project starts;deadline Aug. 21) and the second on June 14 (for Feb. 1 project start; deadline Aug. 30).  Check the SAAT table  to see if your health center must compete this year. Additional SAC NOFOs will be issued in the coming weeks.
Click here to make Hotel Reservations (Room Block ends June 30, 2018)
As a vendor or sponsor, you will get the opportunity to have a captive audience during a special vendor reception with targeted decision makers and promote your brand with hundreds of community health care professionals from around the state and beyond.

You're invited to attend the DCM Quarterly Meeting on August 3rd from 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. at the MSU Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems Extension: 153 Mississippi Parkway Canton, MS 39046.  
News to Use
Training Opportunities
340b Basics (Webinar)
June 25, 2018|2:00 - 3:00 pm (EST)|
Integrating Data Between Primary Care and Behavioral Health Services (Webinar)
June 26, 2018|3:00 – 4:00 pm (EST) | Price:  FREE
Federal tort Claims Act University Conference
July 19-20, 2018|Myrtle Beach, SC | Price:  $235.00
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES 
HHS Makes $350 Million Available to Fight the Opioid Crisis in Community Health Centers Nationwide
June 15 – HHS announced the availability of $350 million in new funding to expand access to substance use disorder and mental health services at community health centers across the nation. These funds will support health centers in implementing and advancing evidence-based strategies, including expanded medication-assisted treatment (MAT) services, and are expected to be awarded in September of this year by HHS's Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
“Local communities have played a vital role in combating our country’s opioid crisis,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. “The contributions of HRSA-funded health centers in particular have been invaluable. These new grants, provided by the government funding bill President Trump signed earlier this year, will allow centers to expand their important work providing high quality substance abuse and mental health services.”
The Rural Communities Opioid Response Funding Opportunity

June 15 – HRSA's Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) has released the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the new Rural Communities Opioid Response (Planning) (RCORP) initiative for FY 2018. HRSA plans to award approximately 75 grants to rural communities as part of this funding opportunity.

All eligible high risk rural communities are encouraged to apply.

Successful awardees will receive up to $200,000 for one year to develop plans to implement opioid use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery interventions designed to reduce opioid overdoses among rural populations.
New Opioid Funding Opportunities:
BD Helping Build Healthy Communities aims to identify, award, and share successful community health innovations with other safety net providers, officials, and the public to generate awareness of health centers’ unique ability to address community needs.

Up to five (5) Awards of $200,000 each will be made in 2018 for Medication Therapy Management Programs.
Eligibility Criteria
  • Organizations from all 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are eligible to apply
  • Applicants must be federally-qualified health centers, or look-alikes, and NACHC member
  • Regional health center consortia and statewide associations are not eligible to apply
  • Past Award winners may reapply if they have not received funding the past two award cycles
To learn more about the awards program and to apply, click here.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity is now accepting applications for the next   Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH)  program cycle. The 5 - year cooperative agreement will "provide funding to communities to improve health, prevent chronic diseases, and reduce health disparities among racial and ethnic populations with the highest risk, or burden, of chronic disease." Deadline, July 16th.

Application Deadline: July 1, 2018
Awards grants in the areas of education, human services, and health. Specific project initiatives include food and hunger; economic development; daycare programs; hospital and healthcare agencies; health screenings; health education; AIDS/HIV prevention and education; and equipment for healthcare facilities.


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.
The Hearst Health Prize , in partnership with the Jefferson College of Population Health, is now accepting applications for the 2019 award. The winner will receive a $100,000 prize, with $25,000 awarded to up to two finalists, in recognition of outstanding achievement in managing or improving population health. The goal is to discover, support and showcase population health programs that have made a measurable difference. Deadline, August 9th, 3:00 p.m. (ET).