Eric Ruf, CEO of Barbour Community Health Association, has been appointed as president of the West Virginia Primary Care Association, a private, nonprofit membership association that represents safety-net health-care providers.

He succeeds John Schultz, CEO of New River Health Association.

When asked about his new role, Ruf said, “I’m very honored to be serving in this role for the next 2 years. Community health centers serve 1 in 4 West Virginians across the state and provide a full range of health services to all ages from all walks of life. Working closely with my peers, we wish to continue growing and spreading the message that everyone deserves quality health care in our home communities so that our friends and families can live long, productive lives.”

Please join the WVPCA and BOLDplanning, as we are excited to offer our members a four (4) part webinar series of Emergency and Continuity Planning (ECP) Workshops. Health centers and their staff play a key role in emergency preparedness efforts for all types of events, including natural or man-made disasters, pandemic outbreaks, or terrorist attacks. To further strengthen health center emergency preparedness, BOLDplanning experts will cover plan fundamentals along with specific details. Each workshop builds off the next.

After attending these presentations health centers will have the opportunity to have a customized ECP consultation by a BOLDplanning expert free of charge!

TARGET AUDIENCE: Emergency Management Personnel

The Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign, a national outreach and enrollment initiative funded under the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) and the Affordable Care Act, has recently launched a Mental Health Initiative, which includes a digital video, print materials and social media graphics that promote mental health services, which are covered under Medicaid and CHIP.

CMS invites NEW applicant organizations who want to become a CDO for Plan Year 2022 to apply during CMS’s Open Season, running from June 1 through August 31, 2021.

CDOs are a vital component of the assister community. In the FFM, CDOs oversee certified application counselors (CACs), who are trained and able to help consumers seeking health coverage options through the Marketplace. For an overview of the CAC Program, visit the technical assistance page of Marketplace.CMS.gov.

IMPORTANT: This notification applies only to organizations operating in a FFM state, that do not currently have an active CMS-CDO agreement with CMS, who wish to become a CDO for Plan Year 2022. Organizations with an active CMS-CDO agreement should disregard this message. If you are unsure if your organization has an active CMS-CDO agreement with CMS, please contact us at CACQuestions@cms.hhs.gov.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides daily updates and guidance, including a section specific to rural health care, a vaccine locator by state, and COVID-19 Vaccination Trainings for new and experienced providers. NEW: Updated Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 vaccination, including new guidance for use in adolescents 12 and older. 

Below are five sometimes-overlooked factors that keep Americans from getting vaccinated against COVID-19, per a GoodRx report.

“This determination by HHS is a step in the right direction for West Virginians who rely on the 340B program to access affordable medications through their healthcare providers,” said US Senator Joe Manchin. “These six companies blatantly violated the statutes they agreed to and have impacted many West Virginia families that were already struggling to find and pay for essential medications during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is unacceptable that these companies implemented these policies in the first place, and I will continue fighting to ensure these companies return to providing low-income families with vital life-saving medicines.”

“We are delighted that HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, through HRSA, has taken bold steps to stop the attack by pharmaceutical companies on the 340B program,” said Sherri Ferrell, CEO of the West Virginia Primary Care Association. “The undermining of the 340B program by pharmaceutical companies and pharmacy benefit managers has taken its toll on West Virginia’s community health centers and their contract pharmacy partners. We are also thankful for the backing of the state’s Congressional delegation regarding the 340B program. The 340B program allows health centers to continue providing prescription drugs to those in need and to stretch scarce resources as far as possible to help the underserved.”

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) Bureau for Behavioral Health (BBH) received a grant award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to support the State’s response to opioid use. The State Opioid Response Grant (SOR) funding was used to expand the availability of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment and evidence-based services that identify and engage individuals in treatment and provide supports to help keep them in treatment and long-term recovery.

The intent of SOR funding is to reduce/prevent Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) related morbidity and mortality by expanding access to prevention, treatment, and recovery services. SOR funding is time limited and focuses on expanding West Virginia’s service delivery infrastructure, funding mechanisms, and relationships internal to the organization that will help sustain the system. Services are trauma informed and staffed by individuals with effective client engagement skills who are prepared to link individuals—or their loved ones—with Opioid Use Disorder to a full array of early intervention, treatment, and recovery resources.

Treatment is ultimately a decision between provider and patient; therefore, individuals must be able to make an informed decision. Increasing access to and retention in Treatment with Medication, an evidence-based treatment, using the three FDA-approved medications for OUD is a key factor in the opioid continuum of care. Implementation of evidence-based approaches, such as contingency management, is essential to individuals diagnosed with Stimulant Usage Disorder.

This presentation to be held on May 24, 2021 is to learn more about stimulant use disorders and contingency management. Please register to attend this presentation by Dr. Patrick Marshalek and Dr. Josh Carter.

The 2021 National Health Service Corps (NHSC) new site application cycle is now open for eligible health care sites that have never been approved as NHSC sites. This year’s application is also open to formerly approved NHSC sites that have become inactive. Eligibility includes health care sites that provide outpatient, ambulatory and primary healthcare services (i.e., medical, dental, and behavioral health) in Health Professional Shortage Areas. Additional eligible site types include facilities providing general substance use disorder treatment, a medication-assisted treatment program, or an opioid treatment program. Applications are due at 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 25. Click below to learn more about the NHSC new site application. 

Health centers that receive this funding will be able to use it for COVID-19 related capital needs and to construct new facilities, renovate and expand existing facilities, and purchase new equipment. Read the press release.

Applications are due in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) by 5:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 24. Visit the American Rescue Plan funding for Health Center Construction and Capital Improvements technical assistance (TA) webpage for award submission guidance, information about upcoming question and answer sessions, and other resources.

Applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will be accepted through May 31, 2021. Health centers are eligible for First Draw PPP Loans if they have 500 or more employees but fewer than 500 employees per location. Existing PPP borrowers that did not receive loan forgiveness by December 27, 2020, can reapply for a First Draw PPP loan.

If borrowers previously returned some or all of their First Draw PPP loan funds, they may request to modify their First Draw PPP loan amount if they did not accept the full amount for which they were eligible. Second Draw PPP Loans are only available to entities that have received, plan to use, or have used the First Draw PPP loan for authorized uses in its entirety. Entities must have no more than 300 employees per location and demonstrate at least a 25 percent reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020. 

The Trevor Project released its annual survey on the mental health of LGBTQ youth in the United States. The results show that the majority of those surveyed report poor mental health during the coronavirus pandemic. For instance, 70% of youth surveyed stated that their mental health was poor always or most of the time during the pandemic. 

Will your staff be splitting time remotely and in-office now that most of them are fully vaccinated against COVID-19? There is likely a need to re-establish ground rules for communication. The “Harvard Business Review” has a timely article by Erica Dhawan, an expert on 21st century teamwork and collaboration, on how to do just that.

If you come across something worth sharing, please feel free to forward to Joshua Austin, WVPCA Policy and Communications Director, at joshua.austin@wvpca.org.

Justin M. Harrison is a labor & employment lawyer with Jackson Kelly PLLC. He is available for consultation through a special retainer relationship with the WVPCA. Justin can be reached at 304.340.1358 and via email at justin.harrison@jacksonkelly.com.

The Pandemic Operational Recovery Guide for Health Centers and Free Clinics was written to assist health centers and free clinics in identifying and minimizing risks as they recover from operational disruptions related to a pandemic.

The Risk Management Manual for Health Centers is now available on the ECRI Institute Clinical Risk Management Program website! Designed to support a proactive approach to risk management at health centers and free clinics, the Manual provides background, tips, and how-tos in a manageable format.

View an archived webinar that provides a guided tour of the Manual and key features. For access to the ECRI Institute Clinical Risk Management Program website or any other questions, email clinical_rm_program@ecri.org.