A Call For Change for All Americans Community Health Centers stand with all Americans condemning the horrific killing of George Floyd in Minnesota. We are distressed, angry and afraid – especially for the men and women of color in the nation who face harm and discrimination simply by going about their daily lives. Because a 17 year-old girl bravely recorded this brutal murder at the hands of the police – no one – not even the most callous or indifferent – can now ignore what has been neglected and shunned aside in America for far too long. Mr. Floyd’s death, and the scores of those who have suffered similar fates, sadly are a part of a historical legacy of injustice and racism that pervades and is ingrained in our society. Born out of the civil rights and social justice movement of the 1960s, the nation’s Community Health Centers serve to this day as advocates for quality care and health equity for all. As community-based health care providers to 30 million people in over 14,000 medically underserved communities across America, we are first-hand witnesses to the direct effect of violence, stress, physical and mental abuse on the health and well-being of our patients – people on the receiving end of racism and discrimination because of the color of their skin, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, income level or insurance status. We as a nation must do more if we are to believe and hold true to the principles of our democracy.  And we must do it together. We must usher in real change to protect and improve the lives of all people – from our local policing practices to our judicial and legal systems, to our educational institutions, to our health care systems. Most importantly, we must move forward public policies at local, state and national levels that reflect the true needs and priorities of a country in crisis.  Community Health Centers were created for and by the communities they serve. We are ready to work for real change. We are the catalyst for real change in this country; if not us, then who? Tom Van Coverden, President & CEO and Lathran J. Woodard, Board Chair, National Association of Community Health Centers

Member Spotlight

Delta Health Center Receives Donation from International Photography Society Rory Doyle, the U.S. Ambassador for the RAW Society, presented a donation from the group of $3,336.47 to support DHC’s COVID-19 efforts. Pictured are Robin Boyles, Rory Doyle (The RAW Society), CEO John Fairman, Dr. Palmer, Board Member James Hodges, and Dr. Blue. Mr. Doyle is based in the Mississippi Delta.

CHC Leader Speaks to Mississippi Senate Committee Marilyn Sumerford, Executive Director of ACCESS Community Health Services, was invited by Senate Leader Hob Bryan to provide information to the Public Health and Welfare senate committee of the Mississippi Legislature. Ms. Sumerford said her presentation focused on the effects of COVID-19 on the state's community health centers.

Coastal Signs on with New Chronic Care Management Program with PCA Partner

Coastal Family Health Center in Biloxi is launching its first Chronic Care Management (CCM) program with one of the association's newest business partners,  ChartSpan. ChartSpan is the largest, fully-managed CCM provider in the nation. Its CCM services will extend additional care to Medicare patients in between office visits while providing new recurring reimbursements. The program also supports improved quality measures and patient outcomes, as gaps in care are identified and addressed.

COVID-19 Response Updates

Family Health Center Partners with City, County Governments for Testing

Family Health Center in Laurel held several remote testing events the week of June 1 - 4 in communities in the FHC service area and partnered with local governments, including the City of Laurel and the Jones Co. Board of Supervisors. Photo above: FHC provides COVID-19 testing in partnership with the City of Laurel at the Cameron Center.

Dr. Rashad Ali (left) and Travares Comegys, Beat 5, Jones Co. Board of Supervisors

Please Wear a Mask in Public Places According to the Mississippi Department of Health, all Mississippi residents should wear non-medical grade cloth face masks when shopping, running errands, or otherwise away from home. Face covering is especially important when a distance of at least 6 feet cannot easily be maintained between persons. This recommendation does not include manufactured (surgical) or N95 masks, which should be reserved for healthcare workers and first responders. For more information, visit the CDC website.

Translating Data for Impact Translating data into graphics provides a visual guide that raises the impact of the work CHCs are doing in Mississippi. That is why CHCAMS has created an infographic based on the HRSA-reported data of May 29, 2020. Please email Kathryn Rodenmeyer for access to the file.

Registration Open The 33nd annual conference, held online this year, promises to engage and enlighten participants. Sessions on lessons learned and best practices in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic will be offered. Visit this link to register or for more info.

Coverage of Enhanced Telehealth Services Extended through June 30, 2020 DOM’s Emergency Telehealth Policy was originally effective through July 27, 2020. To read policy FAQs, click here . Administrative Code Update Rule: Title 23 Medicaid, Part 102: Non-Financial Requirements, Chapter 1 - 9, Summary: This Administrative Code is being filed to remove all outdated references to families, children, and CHIP (FCC) programs to modified adjusted gross income (MAGI); to update all regulatory citations and to remove all examples. Also, to move Rules 7.10-7.13 to Part 306. System Number: 24923 Notice can be accessed here

Considerations for School-based Health Centers: Updates from Miss. Dept. of Education on Reopening Schools This week, the MDE will issue the document,  Considerations for Reopening Mississippi Schools, which outlines a three-month timeline of strategies.  Members of the Superintendents’ Workgroup and MDE will lead virtual meetings June 16 and June 25 at 10:00 am to discuss the specifics and logistics related to six key issues on reopening schools (Academic Programming; Operations; Family and Community Support; Communications; Health and Safety; Technology/Learning Management Systems) Find a list of the Superintendents’ Workgroup members and more information here.

Please Save the Date for this Upcoming Session with Jim Macrea Thursday, June 29th* 1-2 p.m. CST *updated date

CHCAMS Training Opportunities

Thursday, June 11, 2020 2- 3 p.m. CST UDS Mapper & COVID-19 (CHCAMS webinar) Presenter:  Dr. Jennifer Rankin, HealthLandscape The UDS Mapper has been successfully used by health centers for more than 10 years as a strategic and clinical planning tool. The functionality and data within the UDS Mapper can also be used for emergency preparedness and response to events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In this session we will highlight how a health center can use data and tools in the UDS Mapper to identify target populations and create response plans that take population risk factors into account. At the end of the session attendees will be able to identify areas that may warrant special consideration for emergency response.   Learning objectives: Identify populations at risk for COVID-19 within your service area Identify people who are not currently patients at a health center and are also remote from other health care providers. Register Here Friday, June 12, 2020 noon - 1 p.m. CST Developing Strategic Partnerships to Optimize Substance Use Disorder Treatment (CHCAMS webinar) Presenter:  Daniel Edney, M.D., FACP, Addiction Medicine Specialist CHCAMS, in collaboration with State Targeted Response Technical Assistance (STR-TA), known as the Opioid Response Network, will host a Lunch & Learn Webinar to discuss the development of partnerships with other providers to expand access to substance use disorder treatment. The expected outcome is for participants to identify at least one collaborative model for consideration in SUD treatment. Register Here

More Training Opportunities

Tuesday, June 9, 2020 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. CST PCMH Office Hours: Behavioral Health This interactive forum allows health centers to ask National Committee for Quality Assurance subject matter experts questions regarding the importance of behavioral health integration and how the PCMH model assists providers in addressing their patients' behavioral health. Register here

Friday, June 26, 2020 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. CST Creating Access and Optimizing Care: Virtual LGBTQ Health Disparities Conference Presented by University of Mississippi Center for LGBTQ Health, Mississippi AIDS Education and Training Center in collaboration with the National LGBT Health Education Center Join us for our third year as we continue to address the health disparities impacting persons who identify as LGBTQ. The goal of this conference is to provide an opportunity for health care professionals to gain information on how to provide treatment while creating environments that are culturally responsive to persons who are LGBTQ. Register  here .

News To Use

Opinion: Will we see a 'wounded generation' because of COVID-19? Primary care doctors could be COVID-19's next victims

Senate passes small-business loan tweaks that will help healthcare providers Telehealth's post-COVID challenge: Integrating in-person care

Funding Opportunities

Grants with ongoing deadlines can be found here .

The recording of the HRSA grant writing webinar “Creating a Competitive Grant Proposal” is available here .

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