BABY & ME in the Community  The Baby and Me Tobacco Free Program is building new partnerships in the community. One of those partners is SIPPS Baby Café. Rochelle Fields (pictured on right below) , the Baby and Me Counselor from GA Carmichael Community Health Center and a certified lactation specialist, is a part of the team at the SIPPS Baby Café housed within the Mississippi Urban League. SIPPS Baby Café operates under the umbrella of Mississippi Roadmap to Healthy Equity, Inc where Beneta Burt (pictured on left below) is the Executive Director. Baby Café is a space for mothers, soon-to-be-mothers and their support systems to learn about breastfeeding, the Baby and Me Program and other related health topics.   The Baby and Me Program is experiencing outstanding success in accomplishing its goal. Over ninety-six percent (96%) – 22 out of 23 - moms delivered at 36 weeks or greater. Ninety-one percent (91%) – 21 out of 23 - infants weighed 5.5 lbs or greater.

Currently, Community Health Center Association of Mississippi and the 9 participating CHCs (Aaron Health, Coastal, Family Health Clinic, GA Carmichael, Greater Meridian, Jackson Hinds, Jefferson Comprehensive, Mallory and Southeast Rural Health Initiative) are actively seeking new participants as well as new community partners. If you are interested in joining a winning team for moms and babies, contact 601-981-1817 for more information.

Beneta Burt & Rochelle Fields

Community Health Center Providers on Coding & Documentation:

CHCAMS held its third annual Provider Documentation & Coding Training in Memphis at the Big Cypress Lodge on February 15 & 16. On February 15, attendees heard from Kara Aldridge from the Mississippi State Department of Health’s Office of Rural Health & Primary Care on National Health Service Corps loan repayment and scholarship opportunities. On February 16, Gary Lucas from the Association for Rural & Community Health Professional Coding presented a 4-hour training session on Evaluation & Management (E&M) documentation guidelines, ICD-10-CM official guidelines for coding & reporting, surgical package differences, preventive visits, and modifiers. Among the 28 attendees, 10 Mississippi CHCs were represented, including 19 providers.

Here's what a few of the attendees had to say....   "Excellent", "Very well done". "Great course!" "Class was excellent. However, my learning curve requires more study." "Excellent meeting. Length of program was very appropriate for me." "This information should be provided to all new providers. None of this is taught in school."

Next BPHC All-Programs Webcast Tuesday,  March 5 ! Don’t Miss These Important Updates.  Join the webcast the day of the session; Tuesday, March 5 from 1:00-2:00 CST.  For questions, send an email to  bphcta@hrsa.gov with the subject line "BPHC All-Programs Question." Official deadline for questions was March 1st.

Medicare-Covered Telehealth Services Expand

As it relates to virtual care, CMS officials said that provisions in the CY 2019 Physician Fee Schedule would support access to care using telecommunications technology. Always note that CMS and state reimbursement laws vary and are not always aligned. Under the final rule, Medicare will pay providers for new communication technology-based services, such as brief check-ins between patients and practitioners, and pay separately for evaluation of remote pre-recorded images and/or video. CMS is also expanding the list of Medicare-covered telehealth services.   In the future, there will be major E&M reforms include replacing the current E&M codes in year 2021 with a new, single blended payment rate for E&M office visit codes Level 2 through 4 visits, while maintaining the payment rate for E&M office/outpatient visit code level 5 in order to better account for the care and needs of complex patients.

The new Chronic Care Remote Physiologic Monitoring codes:    CPT code 99453:  “Remote monitoring of physiologic parameter(s) (eg, weight, blood pressure, pulse oximetry, respiratory flow rate), initial; set-up and patient education on use of equipment.”   CPT code 99454:  “Remote monitoring of physiologic parameter(s) (eg, weight, blood pressure, pulse oximetry, respiratory flow rate), initial; device(s) supply with daily recording(s) or programmed alert(s) transmission, each 30 days.”    CPT code 99457:  “Remote physiologic monitoring treatment management services, 20 minutes or more of clinical staff/physician/other qualified healthcare professional time in a calendar month requiring interactive communication with the patient/caregiver during the month.”

NEW CMS Reimbursement for Virtual Services Effective January 1, 2019

CMS has finalized reimbursement for virtual check-ins, remote evaluation of pre-recorded patient information and interprofessional internet consultation, which CMS believes fall outside the scope of Medicare telehealth services. Each is described below.   Brief Communication Technology-based Service, e.g. Virtual Check-in (HCPCS code G2012 Remote Evaluation of Pre-Recorded Patient Information (HCPCS code G2010):  Interprofessional Internet Consultation (CPT codes 99452, 99451, 99446, 99447, 99448, and 99449)   CMS made very clear that the codes will only be available to practitioners who furnish E/M services which would exclude clinical staff such as RNs and physical therapists and that co-payments will continue to apply. See additional information here .

Final Title X regulation released by HHS February 2019   A summary of the ruling focuses on compliance with the underlying Title X statute. It also provides clarity between permissible Title X activities and impermissible ones by requiring clear financial and physical separation for Title X funded programs from programs and facilities where abortion is a method of family planning. Read the facts  here .

News to Use

Legislative Report – Feb, 2019 Capitol Resources Group

Update on the State of MS Rural Hospital Closures

Mississippi Medicaid Cost Attributable to Tobacco Use

Mississippi County-Level Data on the Uninsured

In Preparation for the NACHC Policy & Issues Forum, please check out the action pages for other issues to aid in connecting Members of Congress

Spread the Word

More Action Items

Tips for Working with Elective Officials

Call for Posters at NACHC’s 2019 Community Health Institute in Chicago— Due April 3  We know that Mississippi Health Centers have interesting innovations that have expanded access to needed services, improved outcomes, or lowered total costs of care? Are you conducting research that demonstrates the value of health centers? All health centers, PCAs, networks, and researchers are invited to present their Research & Innovations at the 2019 NACHC Community Health Institute from August 18th – 20th in Chicago! Deadline for abstract submissions is April 3rd. To submit a poster abstract or for more information click here . Please contact Dr. Sonja Fuqua if we may be of assistance with your presentation.

Training Opportunities

NEED CME's?

CHCAMS officially accredited to provide Direct Continuing Medical Education to Physicians Contact Desiree Stinson at 601.981.1817

CHCAMS One-Day Clinical Conference March 8, 2019, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Hilton Garden Inn, 118 Laurel Park Cove, Flowood, MS 39232 Visit the web link for online reservation or call 601-487-0800 and use Group Code PHC https://bit.ly/2WlS4M6   FEE: Per participant, Includes continental breakfast and lunch CHCAMS Members - Free Non-Members - $49.00   Systems of Care: Best Practices for Clinical Integration With a substance use disorder/behavioral health focus, this training will consider the systems approach to best practices for clinical integration.    Presentations: ·     Recovery Oriented Systems of Care ·     Trauma Informed Care Across the Addiction Continuum ·     Motivational Interviewing ·     Patient-Centered Medical Home Update ·     CENTENE Behavioral Health Outcomes   Register Here

CHCAMS 1 st  Friday Webinars (Apr 5/June 7) (participant feedback to be considered)    April 5th –Beyond positive screening—illegal substances found and implications for treatment programs—Dr. Daniel Edney June 7th –Telemedicine/ECHO—Dr. Melissa Holland

Primary Care Association and Health Center Controlled Network Workforce Professional Development Series Hosted by The Association of Clinicians for the Underserved’s STAR 2  Center, a HRSA-funded NCA Register here for the series    HPSAs, National Health Service Corps, and Federal Resources Thursday, March 7 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET   Understanding HR Metrics Thursday, April 4 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET Mississippi Telehealth Association 2019 Annual Conference Wednesday, March 20, 2019 |  Jackson Marriott Register online

NACHC Advocacy Platform & Website transition COMPLETE The Health Center Advocacy Network is now operating on the SparkInfluence platform. The web address (along with the overall look/feel/organization of the website) remains the same: www.hcadvocacy.org .

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Application Deadline: March 13, 2019   Current Clinical Scholars program overview and projects  http://clinicalscholarsnli.org Start an application   http://clinical-scholars.org Clinical Scholar video  Clinical Scholars 2 min Video   Clinical Scholars  is a national leadership development program for experienced health practitioners. Clinical Scholars fellows include pharmacists, physical therapists, veterinarians, dentists, social workers, nurses, physicians, and many others working in clinical or academic settings. Through mentoring, networking, and an intensive curriculum centered on equity,  they deepen their influence and impact as leaders with the power to transform their workplaces and communities . Working in teams of two to five representing diverse disciplines, they design an innovative project to address a complex health problem in their area. Teams receive  annual grant funding up to $525,000  so members can participate in the three-year program at no cost to themselves or their organizations. Clinical Scholars is  one of several programs created by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation  to develop a network of strong, interdisciplinary leaders from every sector working to create a nation where everyone can reach their best possible health and well-being.

Y our health center may be eligible to apply for one of five $200,000 BD Helping Build Healthy Communities Awards (Coastal featured here in their honor as a previous recipient)! BD Helping Build Healthy Communities is a multi-year initiative that expands access and improves care for underserved and vulnerable populations throughout the United States. The initiative, funded by BD and implemented together with Direct Relief and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), provides awards to community health centers with innovation programs in Medication Therapy Management. The funding is to support programs that operate over a two-year period. 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 2019 for Medication Therapy Management Programs.   Eligibility Criteria Organizations from all 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands Applicants must be Direct Relief partners, to become a Direct Relief partner, contact usaprograms@directrelief.org Applicants must be federally-qualified health centers, or look-alikes, and a 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 .

N otice of Funding Opportunity for Rural Providers: Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Program HRSA recently released a notice of funding opportunity that will support up to 32 public or private nonprofit health care providers located in rural areas to improve patient care in their communities. HRSA expects to invest approximately $6.4 million for this program, which aims to improve the quality of rural health care through an evidence-based approach to primary care that has proven effective in rural areas. Previously funded organizations under this program designed and carried out projects focused on coordinated care for patients, chronic disease management, integrated care delivery systems, and reduced admissions for emergency rooms and hospitals, among other issues for rural providers. Objectives for this program, which is competitive every three years, include improved health outcomes, better engagement of patients and their caregivers, and continuous improvement to chronic disease management. Grantees also are encouraged to implement quality improvement activities that measure value by outcomes, establish and maintain PCMHs, and integrate behavioral health into the primary care setting. View the announcement on Grants.gov to learn more. Applications are due by Monday, April 22. 

Blue Cross/Blue Shield Mississippi Foundation Application Deadline: None The Foundation provides targeted grants for health and wellness projects that typically span a one-year period of time. The initiatives funded by the Foundation have a focus on healthy eating and exercise, with measurable outcomes demonstrating improvement in the health of Mississippians.

Mississippi Community Development Block Grant Program: Economic Development and Public Facilities Application Deadline: Rolling application deadline on an ongoing basis   Contact Steve Hardin   601.359.3179   shardin@mississippi.org Offers funding to counties and municipalities to assist with the location, expansion, and retention of job-creating businesses, including healthcare and other public facilities. Projects must result in the creation or retention of jobs for low-to-moderate income individuals. Eligible projects include: Buildings (rehabilitation/expansion) . Eligibility: Counties or municipalities apply on behalf of industry

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