DHS Releases Final Public Charge Rule
The Department of Homeland Security published the final public charge rule  on August 14. It is scheduled to go into effect on October 15 th , 2019, pending any legal challenges. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that New York, joined by Connecticut, Vermont, and New York City, has filed a lawsuit against the public charge rule . CHCANYS has updated our public charge webpage  with resources from advocates around the country. Click here  to read the statement from CHCANYS President and CEO Rose Duhan. 
 
Health Centers Must Be in Compliance with Federal Title X Regulations
Although the State Budget set aside $16M to replace Title X funds in the event that the final Title X rules went into effect, Governor Cuomo has not yet indicated whether the State will access these funds to supplant Federal Title X dollars. Therefore,  at this time all health centers that receive Title X funds must be in compliance with the Final Title X rule and should promptly update their Policy and Procedure on Women’s Health Services to reflect the new rule . NACHC has published a frequently asked questions document and an updated Policy and Procedure template, which are available for your reference by clicking here .

60 Community Health Centers in NYS Received More Than $6.4 Million in Quality Improvement Awards from HRSA
These Quality Improvement Awards recognize the highest-performing health centers in each state nationwide, as well as those health centers that have made significant quality improvement gains from the previous year. The average award in New York State was $106,950 – 29% higher than the average award to health centers outside of the Empire State. Charles B. Wang Community Health Center received the prestigious National Quality Leader designation for the fourth year in row.   Click here to read more about the awards.
NYS DOH and OCFS Issue Emergency Regulations re: Medical Exemptions for School Vaccinations
The New York State Department of Health (DOH) and Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) issued  emergency regulations   on August 19 to clarify the process by which physicians can grant medical exemptions under the new state law which repealed non-medical exemptions for children attending school or child care.
 
The new regulations are effective immediately and provide clear, evidence-based guidance to physicians on appropriate issuance of medical exemptions. DOH previously issued a series of Frequently Asked Questions on the new law to provide additional guidance:
 
On June 13, 2019, Governor Cuomo signed legislation removing non-medical exemptions from school vaccine requirements for children. The legislation comes in the midst of the worst measles outbreak in the United States in more than 25 years.
 
A list of all childhood vaccines required in New York State can be found  here .
 
DOH Issues Health Advisory on Vaping-Associated Pulmonary Illness
The New York State Department of Health today announced that it has issued a  statewide health advisory  to health care providers following recent reported cases of pulmonary disease in people using vaping products in New York State. The advisory alerts providers of this emerging health threat and lists symptoms they should look for in patients. The Department recommends that anyone who uses vaping products and has concerning respiratory symptoms should stop using the product and consult their healthcare provider.
 
Cybersecurity Updates from NYS DOH
The New York State Department of Health (DOH) is implementing a new notification protocol that providers should use to inform DOH when they have experienced a potential cyber security incident at their facility. The attached document provides the contact information for each DOH Regional Office and gives additional information. 
 
Additionally, SDOH has recently issued an alert about the Ryuk ransomware, which may affect healthcare facilities, and provided guidance regarding this destructive malware. Please review relevant information here . 
 
If you have any further questions, please contact   emteam@chcanys.org .    
Join us on Sunday, September 22, 2019 to celebrate   The 22 nd  Annual Family Day at the Races  
The Jeffrey T. Latman Family Day at the Races is a fun-filled event to benefit CHCANYS mission to champion community-centered primary care in New York State through leadership, advocacy, and support of Community Health Centers. Family Day at the Races offers something for everyone, including raffles, paddock tours, and much more! 


Latman Scholars - Apply Now!
Jeffrey T. Latman was a visionary leader in community health center finance. In his name, The Jeffrey T. Latman Scholarship program was established in 2008 to provide financial assistance to community health centers who wished to send staff to the CHCANYS Annual Conference and Clinical Forum. This scholarship program benefits those selected by covering the  CHCANYS 2019 Annual Conference and Clinical Forum registration fees. Please submit a brief application form by  September 2nd, 2019. To access the application form, click here. For any questions, please contact Michael Sardone at  msardone@chcanys.org. Applicants must be employed directly by the health center they represent.
CHCANYS19 Register Now!
Date: October 28-30, 2019
Location: Tarrytown, NY
Register today for CHCANYS Annual Conference and Clinical Forum! CHCANYS19   will provide FQHC leadership, staff, and partners with an o pportunity to learn from industry experts and one-another about current issues and initiatives impacting New Yo rk’s community he alth centers – and to learn about our onsite sponsors and exhibitors.  
Click here to register . Email us at  conference@chcanys.org  with any questions.
Congrats to New York FQHCs on a Great National Health Center Week!
Officially declared "Community Health Center Week" by Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio, August 4-10 was a week of recognition and celebration of community health center. CHCs across the state hosted events all week, click here to view our Facebook album and to share your own photos.
CHCANYS Submits Federal Comments
CHCANYS submitted two public comments to the federal government recently.
  1. On August 8, CHCANYS responded to the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Request for Information on the Patients over Paperwork initiative to reduce regulatory burdens to provide care. CHCANYS commented on the CMS Medicare regulations that prevent FQHCs from co-locating and sharing space with other provider types, and the ways in which this regulatory hurdle is a barrier for FQHCs seeking to provide integrated care. Click here to read CHCANYS’ comments.
  2. On August 12, CHCANYS submitted comments forcefully opposing the Office for Civil Rights’ proposed rule relating to nondiscrimination under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. CHCANYS expressed fears that this rule would result in increased discriminatory practices against vulnerable populations, including the LGBTQIA+ community, individuals with limited English proficiency, individuals seeking reproductive health care and those living with HIV/AIDS. CHCANYS cautioned that these discriminatory practices could lead to increased adverse health outcomes and health disparities. Click here to read CHCANYS’ comments.
 
DOH Releases Statewide CBO Directory and Engagement Survey
On August 15, the NY State Department of Health (DOH) released a community based organization (CBO) directory and engagement survey. The purpose of the survey is to capture information about CBO service provision for the purpose of making connections with Managed Care Organizations and Value Based Payment Contractors. It is open to all non-profit CBOs and can be found by clicking here .

CHCANYS Telehealth Task Force Holds First Meeting
The CHCANYS Telehealth Task Force will hold its first meeting on Wednesday, August 28 at 12pm . The videoconference call is open to CHCANYS members with an interest in telehealth opportunities and challenges for community health centers. It is not necessary to have a telehealth program in place to join. Please email Amy Grandov at agrandov@chcanys.org with questions or to register to attend. 
CHCANYS Compliance & Risk Management Academy with FTLF- Register Today!
This fall, CHCANYS will launch the Compliance & Risk Management Academy, our latest initiative in partnership with Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP (FTLF). The academy will consist of a series of four training events (two in-person meetings & two virtual meetings/webinars). Each session will focus on health center-specific considerations for effective program development and strategies for addressing substantive risk areas. The target audience for the academy is health center leadership and compliance officers, as well as risk management and quality improvement staff. The first session will take place on the third day of our annual conference, CHCANYS19 with additional dates through June 2020.  Please note space is extremely limited for the in-person events.  Early Bird discounted rate applicable through August 31. Registration options and more information available  here .
CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention 1-day Workshop coming to NYC on September 14, 2019!  
We have a great training opportunity coming up at our NYC CHCANYS office -  Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® 1-day Training. Please note that this training is available exclusively to CHCANYS organizational FQHC members.  
 
About This Training: 
CHCANYS staff have been certified to teach the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) hands-on training on Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® techniques. Developed by CPI, this training is an internationally recognized behavior management program that has proven effective in managing disruptive and assaultive individuals. The goal of the program is to give you the skills to provide the best possible Care, Welfare, Safety, and Security for staff and those in your care, even during crisis situations. To learn more about CPI, click here .
 
During This Workshop You Will Learn: 
  • How to identify behaviors that could lead to a crisis. 
  • How to most effectively respond to each behavior to prevent the situation from escalating. 
  • How to use verbal and nonverbal techniques to defuse hostile behavior and resolve a crisis before it can become violent. 
  • How to cope with your own fear and anxiety. 
  • How to assess risk levels and consider the issues that impact decision making. 

When:  September 14, 2019 
Time:  9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Registration starts at 8:45 AM) 
Where:  CHCANYS NYC Office – 111 Broadway, Suite 1402, New York, NY .   
Cost:  $249 before September 3, 2019 ( NOTE: CPI charges $1175 for same training ). Groups of 3 or more will receive a 20% discount on registration.   
Registration and Additional Information:  Please click here  and see the attached flyer as well. 
CHCANYS 340B Webinars with Hudson Headwaters Available On-Demand  
Join CHCANYS and  Hudson Headwaters 340B    for two webinars on navigating 340B Program Compliance. The first webinar  Staying Afloat: 340B Program Fundamentals  is available  here  and an intermediate level webinar,  Diving In: 340B Program Complexities  is available  here . There is no cost to view the webinars but registration is required. 

New York State Cholesterol Management Forum
The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and the Community Health Care Association of New York State (CHCANYS), with support from ProVention Health Foundation are hosting a cholesterol management forum on Wednesday, September 25 from 9am to 3:30pm. Join key partners including health systems, payers, pharmacists, and more to look for ways to better understand the cholesterol management landscape, share recent successes and challenges, and begin to build a framework for action. 
 
Click here to register. Additional details, including agenda, to follow. Contact Mercy Mbogori  mmbogori@chcanys.org  or Meital Fried-Almog  malmog@chcanys.org   with questions.

Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) Risk Management Virtual Conference:  Reinforcing Resilience in a Culture of Safety  
Date: September 11, 2019 
Time: 11:00am to 4:00pm 
Please click here to register f or a full day virtual conference that will provide participants with practical recommendations and informative guidance. The 2019 conference topics include: 
  • Preventing Staff Burnout and Creating Joy and Meaning in Work 
  • Addressing Clinician Burnout: A Closer Look at EHRs and Workflow 
  • A Fresh Approach: Introduction to Safety-I and Safety-II 
  • Responsiveness and Preparing for the Future 

CHCANYS-CPG Partnership to Save You Money
More than forty FQHCs Statewide actively participate in CHCANYS’ unique partnership with the Commonwealth Purchasing Group (CPG) to save on operational expenses. Collectively these centers realized $2.7 million in savings last year. With an expansive portfolio of vendors including employee screening, credentialing and compliance services, telehealth, language services, recruitment services, medical and dental suppliers and day-to-day business solutions to name a few, for 20 years CPG’s strategic contracts are designed to benefit FQHCs. To learn about a no-obligation assessment of current purchases or to discuss new site or specific project needs, please click here. Do you have plans for a new site or expansion or need to assess your operations for savings? By joining CPG, you are able to leverage the following resources. Click here for the 2019 catalog. Contact: rwynn@chcanys.org, pdubois@cwpurchasing.com or smason@cwpurchasing.com to schedule an appointment today!