UPCOMING TRAINING
& EVENTS
click link(s) for details
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October 2
October 2-4
October 10-11
October 22-24
October 24
November 6-7
December 4
December 5
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Are you attending an event at TPCA?
Click here for a list of nearby hotels!
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Attention
health centers!
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If you would like to be added to the
TPCA Update mailing list, please
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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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BPHC All-Programs Webcast Next Week
(From HRSA)
-- Plan to join the BPHC All-Programs webcast next week to hear Health Center Program updates.
Tuesday, October 1
2-3 p.m. (Eastern)
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TennCare Block Grant Proposal
On September 17, TennCare released a
proposal
to convert a share of TennCare’s federal funding into a modified block grant.
Amendment 42
proposes a base funding amount calculated using average TennCare enrollment from FY 2016 to FY 2018, multiplied by the projected costs of Medicaid absent the state’s current 1115 waiver. The base amount will grow as enrollment grows and be indexed for an inflation factor. Certain expenses will continue to be funded under the current structure, including: outpatient prescription drugs; uncompensated care payments to hospitals; services provided to Medicare enrollees (dual eligibles); and administrative expenses.
A key component of the proposal is the ability for the state to share in 50 percent of any savings generated if TennCare expenditures continue to fall below federal projections. The Amendment states that the block grant will not rely on reductions to eligibility or benefits to generate savings to TennCare.
In exchange for block grant funding, TennCare is seeking flexibility in several areas, including: investing in non-medical services that affect health; implementing a formulary to control spending on prescription drugs; pursuing rural healthcare transformation; waiving benefit comparability requirements; and operating managed care organizations.
TPCA is working closely with our partners, including NACHC, as we respond to the block grant proposal.
A state public comment period opened on September 17; it closes on October 18, 2019
. The state has until November 20 to submit the proposal to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Comments can be emailed to public.notice.tenncare@tn.gov. TennCare also will hold public hearings to receive comments;
click here
for a list of locations, dates, and times.
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Funding Cliff Update
Without Congressional action, mandatory funding for the Community Health Center Fund, the National Health Service Corps, and the Teaching Health Centers Program would expire on September 30. Last week, the House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution to keep the government funded through November 21 and provide funding for health centers programs through November 21. The Senate is expected to vote on the legislation this week.
While the continuing resolution may avert another funding cliff, it is a temporary fix for community health centers and Congress must still take action to extend health center funding beyond the next few months. There are currently two pieces of legislation in Congress that would provide stable, long-term funding for community health centers.
H.R. 2328
and
S. 1895
would respectively provide four or five years of level funding for health center programs. Both bills passed out of committee and are awaiting votes before the full House and Senate while debates continue over other provisions in the legislation, such as surprise billing. There is still time to
take action
to ensure that Congress passes legislation that invests in the future of health centers in Tennessee and across the country.
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Health Centers in the News
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Be Prepared for Next Week's TPCA Annual Conference!
The 2019 TPCA Annual Conference is less than a week away! Visit the
conference website
to confirm general information regarding the agenda, hotel, exhibitors, and more. Conference registrants also have access to the HelloCrowd app for daily notifications of the most up-to-date information.
Following the pre-conference boot camps on Wednesday, attendees can enjoy the welcome reception and bingo bash from 5-7 p.m. before the conference officially kicks off Thursday morning.
We'll see you there!
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Register Now for UDS Training
Registration is now open for the 2019 UDS training to be held December 5 at TPCA. This training is a full-day program designed for people of all levels of prior UDS experience, and covers all aspects of the 2019 UDS Report.
The training addresses each of the report’s tables and provides an implementation-based explanation of how to successfully complete the UDS Report and how to avoid and resolve potential reporting issues. In addition to receiving UDS reporting instructions, attendees will understand the value of the UDS for health center operations and to the health center program, and receive tips to help facilitate a successful submission.
For more information and to register,
click here
.
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Coming Soon: 2019 Compensation, Benefits, and Workforce Development Survey
TPCA will once again be working with Compensation Resources Inc. (CRI) to administer this year’s Compensation, Benefits, and Workforce Development Survey. Surveys will be sent to health center CEOs, CFOs, and human resources staff beginning the first week in October and will be accepted online through Friday, November 1, 2019.
Results from the survey will provide health center leaders with data on salary and benefits from participating health centers across the state. We look forward to robust participation and sharing the information with you in early 2020.
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Next Steps in the Auto-HPSA Update Process
(From NACHC)
-- In late August, HRSA officially updated all data in its IT system to reflect the data included in the national update; opened a new online HPSA portal, where health centers and PCOs will be able to submit new data and request rescores directly from HRSA; and extended the "lock date" for the new auto-HPSA scores from January 1, 2020, to Feburary 1, 2020.
Even though the national update has occurred, there are still opportunities for health centers to furtner refine their auto-HPSA scores before they are "loced" on February 1, 2020.
Click here
for additional guidance from NACHC.
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NCQA PCMH Training in October
The Tennessee Primary Care Association, South Carolina Primary Health Care Association, and the North Carolina Community Health Centers Association, with support from HRSA, will host the National Committee for Quality Assurance's
"Introduction to Patient Centered Medical Home" and "Advanced Patient Centered Medical Home" training programs
on October 22-24. The programs will be offered at the very reduced rate of $185 per person (compared to the normal registration rates of $2,300). Health center staff who attend the training will be eligible to register for the PCMH Certified Content Expert Exam.
- Introduction to the Patient-Centered Medical Home, October 22-23
- Advanced Patient-Centered Medical Home Concepts, October 24
The training will take place in Asheville, N.C.
Click here
to register and for hotel information.
Registration deadline is October 11; because October is a busy month for Asheville travel, early booking is recommended
.
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