July 4, 2019
In This Update ...
Federal & State News ◦ Policy ◦ News & Resources ◦ Clinical ◦ Health IT ◦
Workforce ◦ Health Center News ◦ TPCA News ◦ Funding Opportunities ◦
Partner-Sponsored Education & Training ◦ Training & Events
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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 .
FEDERAL & STATE NEWS
Apply to Become a Certified Application Counselor Designated Organization for Plan Year 2020

(From HRSA) -- CMS invites organizations that would like to become Certified Application Counselor Designated Organizations (CDOs) to submit an application by Monday, September 16 . Any organization seeking to use certified application counselors to provide enrollment assistance to consumers for plan year 2020 must be a certified CDO. Access the CDO application and email your questions to CACQuestions@cms.hhs.gov.
National Health Center Week

Mark your calendars for National Health Center Week 2019, August 4-10!

This year’s theme is "America’s Health Centers: Rooted in Communities." Please send details about events at your health center to emily.waitt@tnpca.org. If your health center is hosting an elected official during any Health Center Week activity, TPCA can provide guidance and information on policy topics and relevant legilsation, and also attend events upon request.

Check out this page if your health center is looking for creative event ideas.
POLICY
Federal Funding Update

Funding from the Community Health Center Fund (CHCF), which comprises about 70 percent of Section 330 grant funding, was reauthorized for a two-year period in February 2018 and will expire on September 30, 2019. Several pieces of legislation have been introduced that support sustained, long-term health center funding. View this chart for a helpful comparison of legislation.

Senate HELP Committee Chairman Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Murray (D-WA) released new legislation in June to address health care system costs and surprise billing. The bill, S.1895, the Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019 , also includes five additional years of level funding for health centers, the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program (THCGME), and the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). S. 1895 contains the text of bill the HELP Committee released earlier this year, S.192 , with the addition of a funding mechanism to pay for health center program extensions. S.1895 passed out of the Senate HELP Committee on June 26, and is expected to come up before the full Senate for a vote some time in July.

Thank you to everyone who has contacted their Members of Congress! Your hard work is paying off, and we are proud of the continued work of Tennessee’s Members of Congress to support the Community Health Center Fund and other critical programs. Please be sure to thank your Senators and Representatives for their support.
TPCA Advocacy

TPCA CEO Terri Sabella recently met with several members of Tennessee’s Congressional delegation to reiterate the importance of providing long-term, stable funding for community health centers. Shortly thereafter, Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (R-3) signed on as a co-sponsor to H.R. 2328, the Community Health Investment, Modernization, and Excellence (CHIME) Act of 2019, which provides five years of funding for the Community Health Center Fund with $200 million in annual growth. TPCA staff and TPCA Board President-Elect Katina Beard will be traveling to Washington, D.C., later this month as part of a NACHC-organized fly-in to advocate for health center funding.

On the state level, TPCA Chief External Affairs Officer Libby Thurman gave a presentation to the TennCare Subcommittee on June 18 to provide legislators with an overview of community health centers and the unique role they play in healthcare delivery across Tennessee.
Conscience Protections

Implementation of Protecting Statutory Conscience Rights in Health Care regulations has been postponed until at least November 22, 2019. The regulations from HHS would expand nondiscrimination protections for health care providers who decline to participate in certain health care services with which they have religious or moral objections. Such services include, but are not limited to, abortion, hormonal birth control, and treatment for HIV/AIDS, gender transition services, and services for LGBT care. The regulations were originally slated to take effect in July; at least 23 cities and states sued the federal government over the regulations. HHS agreed to the delay, but has indicated intent to eventually implement the regulations.
NEWS AND RESOURCES
Due Friday, July 5: Have You Verified Your Health Center's PCMH Status?

(From HRSA) -- Health centers that have Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition by July 1, 2019, may be eligible to receive the 2019 Health Center PCMH Recognition Quality Award .

The PCMH data in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) was recently updated based on data from the following recognition bodies: the Joint Commission; the National Committee on Quality Assurance; the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care; Oregon Patient-Centered Primary Care Home Program; and Minnesota Health Care Homes. Last month, a table was posted of health centers with valid PCMH recognition status and the number of sites with PCMH recognition. HRSA has updated the table with data available as of May 31, 2019 .

  • If the information in the table is correct, NO FURTHER ACTION IS NEEDED.
  • If the information in the table does not reflect your current PCMH status, please submit a recognition update request through EHBs. Updates must be submitted by Friday, July 5, 2019.
  • 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.
  • You must include documentation of PCMH recognition (e.g. official certificate, copy of the email confirmation from the recognition body, or a screenshot of your information on the recognition body’s website).

EHBs can only accept one site per PCMH recognition request . If you need to update the PCMH status for multiple sites, you will need to submit an individual request for each site. For example, to update the status of three sites, you would submit three separate PCMH recognition requests, each with its own respective documentation. DO NOT use the “Select All” button in EHBs to update the status for multiple sites.

If you have questions, please contact Health Center Program Support.
Quarterly 340B Program Registration

(From HRSA) -- Quarterly 340B Program site registration is open from July 1 to 15. Health centers are still able to register a site that has been verified as implemented and with a site status reflected as “active” in EHBs Form 5B through Friday, August 23, after which the system will close to prepare for the October 1 start. Email the 340B call center or call 888-340-2787 (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Eastern time) to register a new site or ask questions.

You will need to provide the following information when calling:
  • health center name;
  • site/clinic name;
  • site IDs for all sites;
  • HRSA/BPHC grant number;
  • contact name and email address; and
  • authorizing official's name and email address.

The authorizing official will receive an email message that the account is unlocked and a registration may be submitted.
CLINICAL
Clinician Consultation Substance Use Warmline

(From HRSA) -- Providers can access free peer-to-peer clinical consultation on substance use disorder assessment and treatment on the HRSA-supported, University of California San Francisco Substance Use Warmline . Expert clinical staff offer advice on patient-centered approaches and decision-making, use of evidence-based strategies, including medication-assisted treatment harm reduction,diversion mitigation, and treatment strategies for co-occurring behavioral health issues and chronic pain.

Connect by phone, toll-free at 855-300-3595, or upload patient cases securely. The Warmline operates from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. (Eastern) Monday through Friday.
HEALTH IT
TestIT: How Fast Is Your Broadband?

(From NACo) -- The National Association of Counties (NACo), the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP), and Rural LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) have partnered to address the critical need for affordable high-speed internet for rural communities across the country. Together, the three organizations developed a mobile app, TestIT, which gives mobile phone users the power to accurately identify areas with low or no internet connectivity and share that information to push for change.

Click here to learn more and to view the TestIT summary sheet.
WORKFORCE
National Health Service Corps Rural Community Loan Repayment Program Application Webinar

(From HRSA) -- The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Rural Community Loan Repayment Program will make fiscal year 2019 loan repayment awards, in coordination with HRSA’s Rural Communities Opioid Response Program initiative to provide evidence-based substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, assist in recovery, and prevent overdose deaths across the nation.

Health care clinicians qualified to provide SUD treatment may be eligible for loan repayment in return for service at an NHSC-approved SUD treatment facility. The application closes Thursday, July 18 , at 7:30 p.m. (Eastern). HRSA will hold online question and answer sessions; you may join a session anytime between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Eastern) on Thursday, July 11, or Tuesday, July 16.

If you join after a session starts, you can scroll back to past questions.
Workforce Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program

(From HRSA) -- HRSA is accepting applications for the fiscal year 2020 Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program . The application deadline is Friday, August 30.

The THCGME Program provides funding to support the training of residents in a new or expanded primary care residency training program in rural and underserved communities

Join a TA webinar for application questions:
Wednesday, July 10
203 p.m.(Eastern)
Call-in: 888-795-2173
Passcode: 4462445
HEALTH CENTER NEWS
Visits from Elected Officials

This week, TPCA staff and Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center hosted Conor Carney, senior legislative assistant to Congressman Rose (R-6), while he was in Nashville. Visiting health centers is a great way for elected officials and their staff to learn more about the health center model and gain an understanding of the critical role health centers play in a changing health care landscape.

If you have been thinking of inviting a legislator out to your health center, National Health Center Week is the perfect time. TPCA can provide guidance to health centers preparing for legislator visits by supplying information on policy topics and relevant legislation. TPCA staff also can attend visits upon request.

Please let us know if you have an opportunity to host a legislator or other official at your health center by contacting emily.waitt@tnpca.org.
TPCA NEWS
Save the Date ... TPCA Annual Leadership Conference

Mark your calendars for the Tennessee Primary Care Association's 2019 Annual Leadership Conference, October 2-4, in Murfreesboro. The conference will take place at the Embassy Suites Murfreesboro.

Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.
Nominations Open for TPCA Awards of Excellence

Is there someone on your staff or in your community who needs to be recognized for contributing to your health center's success? Nominate him or her for a TPCA Award of Excellence .

Each year, TPCA honors health center staff, board members, and community supporters for their exceptional gifts of time, effort, and dedication to the community health movement. Nominations are being accepted now for the Awards of Excellence, to be presented at the 2019 Annual Leadership Conference in October.

Award information and nomination forms for the following categories can be found on TPCA’s website .
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Department of Justice: Rural Responses to the Opioid Epidemic

On behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR) recently released the Rural Responses to the Opioid Epidemic Grant solicitation . BJA is sponsoring this initiative in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the State Justice Institute (SJI). This is part of a series of demonstration projects funded under the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program (COAP). These demonstration projects are designed to build local capacity, foster cross-sector collaboration, and support innovation. Under this solicitation, up to eight rural communities or regions will be selected for grant awards up to $750,000, each for a 24-month period.

Applications are due by July 26, 2019.  
PARTNER-SPONSORED EDUCATION & TRAINING
PCMH Trainings for Health Centers

(From HRSA) -- HRSA contracts with The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) to provide training and TA to health centers on the NCQA PCMH recognition process.

HRSA is sponsoring regional trainings, organized by PCAs, on NCQA’s Introduction to PCMH and Advanced PCMH courses. Learn more about the trainings available in your region: add all links
FTLF Announces Health Center Compliance Workshops

(From FTLF) -- Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP will host "Health Center Compliance: Fundamentals," a workshop for new compliance officers or those launching a new program or initiative. The training is designed specifically for health center compliance officers, and will be held July 23-24 and September 30-October 1. The curriculum focuses on understanding the seven elements of a compliance program, developing strategies to assess the compliance risks in your health center, and addressing implementation challenges. 

Participants will learn how to:
  • Develop and refine a compliance work plan and budget.
  • Gain buy-in from management and the board of directors.
  • Determine who needs to receive compliance training and how often.
  • Identify when and how to conduct a compliance audit.
  • Navigate the environment of new requirements and emerging risk areas.

For more information and to register, click here .
Lincoln Memorial University Hosts "ENT for the Primary Care Practitioner," October 11-13

(From LMU) -- Many common ear, nose, and throat conditions can be managed at the primary health care level with the potential for decreasing financial burden, reducing referrals, and improving quality and timeliness of care. Using demonstrations, realistic learning experiences, and hands-on skill building techniques, this workshop will provide an appreciation of allergy testing, protocols for evaluating hearing loss and dizziness, Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), and training for in-office flexible nasolaryngoscopy. After completing requirements, attendees may obtain both a continuing medical education (CME) Certificate and the Certificate of Proficiency in flexible nasolaryngoscopy.

Registration will open in September. Click here for more details.
South Carolina PCA Hosts Cybersecurity Forum

(From the SCPHCA) -- Registration is now open for the South Carolina Primary Health Care Association's inaugural Cybersecurity Policies and Strategies Forum. The forum will take place on Friday, August 2, in Greeneville, SC.

Creating a security culture within a business is all about training and awareness. Chief information officers and chief information security officers need to ensure that every employee in an organization is aware of the potential threats they could face, whether it’s a phishing email, sharing passwords, or using an insecure network. Compliance officers need to ensure adherence to the policies that are created to help protect organizational information.

This training will feature industry professionals to help you ensure the safety of your organization’s data and other information, and create a culture of security. For more details and to register, click here . The deadline to register is Friday, July 26.
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