State of the State
The Governor held his 10 th  annual State of the State address in Albany on January 7, 2020. Among the health-related proposals includes the creation of a state-only funded family planning program, an $8M investment to address maternal mortality, efforts to lower prescription drug prices, and protection of access to transgender health care coverage. The full briefing book, which includes summaries of all of the State of the State proposals, is available here . We anticipate that the Governor will release his FY 2021 budget proposal within the next two weeks and will keep members informed of any additional details and updates as we learn more.
 
DHS Public Charge Rule Update
On January 8, 2020, The Second Circuit ruled that the preliminary injunction stopping the new public charge regulation from going into place will remain, meaning that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is  not  allowed to apply the new public charge rule  to those applying for green cards from within the US while the case on the legality of the rule makes its way through the courts. The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) is offering a full day Training of Trainers event at their NYC office. The NYIC Public Charge Training of Trainers program will equip frontline staff members with the correct information about public charge, who it applies to and when, and who it does not affect. The intensive one-day training provides educational resources on public charge and access to ongoing technical assistance from their expert staff. The program is geared towards non-legal staff that interact with community members who may be fearful of using public benefits or healthcare for which they are legally eligible because of public charge concerns. For more information or to register, click here .
 
CHCANYS Submits Comments on DSRIP 2.0 to CMS
After the State submitted their DSRIP Waiver Amendment Request to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), CMS opened the waiver up for public comment until 11 pm on January 10, 2020. CHCANYS submitted comments expressing our support for NY to receive an additional $8B, while also describing the ways in which we hope a second waiver amendment will be more focused on community-based providers and social care organizations, like FQHCs, behavioral health organizations, and community-based social services. CHCANYS will continue to monitor the State’s moves with respect to DSRIP 2.0 and will update members accordingly. To read CHCANYS’ comments to CMS, click here .
CHCANYS Compliance & Risk Management Academy- Next Webinar ‘Focus on Fraud’ on 1/29   
Kick-start your 2020 compliance training with a webinar hosted by CHCANYS in partnership with   Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP  ( FTLF) –  Focus on Fraud: Prevention, Detection, and Response,  taking place on Wednesday, January 29 th  from 1:00 PM-2:30 PM EST. During this webinar, our presenter and FTLF partner   Matthew Freedus will discuss the latest guidance and provide participants with insights and actionable planning steps ensure compliance including an the top risks for fraud in health centers, activities to identify and minimize risks for fraud and strategies to implement fraud monitoring and reporting obligations.
 
Registration for CHCANYS members is $249 and includes access to the live session, as well as the recorded session on  learning.ftlf.com .
 
Register today and check out additional training opportunities scheduled for March (in-person; NYC) & June (virtual) 2020 on the   academy registration page .
I MPORTANT: Potential Cyber Threats
As a result of recent events involving the US and Iran, and the threat of retaliation (potentially cyber-based) by Iran, the New York State Department of Health (SDOH) would like to remind all healthcare providers regarding the need for increased vigilance for potential cyber events. While there is no specific retaliatory threat known at this time, Iran has historically utilized cyber as a means of attacking its adversaries. Accordingly, SDOH and all NYS agencies are taking additional steps to protect all information systems and critical infrastructure. 
 
Please remember these basic preventative measures to avoid phishing attempts, exposure of data from your systems and interruption of patient services:
  • screen emails for unknown senders;
  • avoid the use of personal email or social media at your workstations;
  • use caution in following email links and opening attachments without authenticating the sender;
  • monitor the functioning of medical devices throughout the facility and implement immediate action if any suspicious performance is recognized
Additionally, please remember that there is a SDOH notification protocol in place if you have discovered a breach of your systems. We are attaching the revised Dear Administrator Letter , updated Cyber reporting poster and Frequently Asked Questions (version October 2019). 

On the federal level, the DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently updated National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) bulletin and provided these helpful resources:
 
Any further questions may be directed to emteam@chcanys.org .
 
HCCN Digital Health Workshop: Interoperability in Practice
Join CHCANYS in an intensive day and a half workshop on Interoperability in Practice New York City January 29 and 30, 2020. This workshop will walk participants through many of the ways interoperability flows through the care provided at Community Health Centers. Both days will be organized around a patient visit with topics covering pre-visit, at-visit, and post-visit. Day one will focus on provider uses of interoperability and will include topics such as responding to RHIO alerts, prescription drug management using the NYS PDMP, and referral management from a partner perspective. Day two will switch things around and look at the systems that support interoperability, including topics on data quality, patient matching, patient privacy and security and data exchange standards
The target audience for this workshop content includes executives/managers, providers, EHR staff, technicians, and other staff involved in interoperability efforts. This workshop is free to attend, but pre-registration is required. Click here  to sign up for the event. If you have any questions, please contact us at   hccn@chcanys.org

Need Board Training? Apply to Participate in the CHCANYS Governance Training Pilot Project
CHCANYS is seeking three (3) New-York based Community Health Centers to participate in a governance training pilot project. The objective of this pilot project is to identify and explore current health center board training needs and opportunities for CHCANYS to support board members in their efforts to fulfill the unique, diverse, and complex roles prescribed by federal, e.g. Health Resource and Service Administration (HRSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and New York State-specific requirements, as well as governance best practices. Feedback and input from participating CEOs and board members will contribute to the development of a governance training curriculum made available to health centers statewide. For more information contact  gvanwinkle@chcanys.org  and/or apply  here  by Thursday, January 23rd. 
 
Now Available: Joint HIV/Hep C/STD and Sexual & Reproductive Health Sub-Committee Call Recording
The HIV/Hep C/STD and Sexual & Reproductive Health Sub-Committees joined forces on January 9, 2020 to discuss “Facilitators in Creating a Sex-Positive Environment for Patients.” Guest speakers included Cecilia Gentili, Principal/Owner at Transgender Equity Consulting and Jesus Barrios, Supervisor, Care Coordination Department at Callen Lorde Community Health Center. Please   click here   to access the recording from that call (discussion begins at the 37 second mark). Links to more information below:
 
PCMH Office Hours: Risk Stratification Series 
Please see the following materials from the December 19 th , 2019 PCMH Office Hour Session, Part I of the three-part Risk Stratification and Population Health Management learning series, featuring Comagine Health and Care for the Homeless. 
Each monthly session will include presentation of key information about system design considerations by Comagine Health and sharing from one or two community health center colleagues about how they are building their Population Health Management system and capabilities to serve their patients . Make sure you catch the rest of the series by registering here . This call is free to attend, but advanced registration is required. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the NYS-HCCN at  hccn@CHCANYS.org .
  • Part II: Risk Stratification, Care Coordination & Care Management for Rising Risk Patients - January 23, 2020 from 12:00-1:00 pm
  • Part III: Risk Stratification, Care Coordination & Care Management for the Highest Risk Patients - February 20, 2020 from 12:00-1:00 pm
 
CUNY Interns 2020: Searching for Health Center Opportunities
Brooklyn College Masters students in Community Health are currently seeking internship sites for the Semester beginning the week of Jan 27. Students are required to work 90 hours over 15 weeks in support of health promotion efforts under the supervision of a Masters level or equivalent staff person. An element of the internship includes the requirement that students conduct a research project such as a needs assessment or program evaluation. Brooklyn College students represent a diverse variety of backgrounds and interests. Students are covered for liability at internships by CUNY. For more information, please contact Professor Bill Stackhouse, PhD at RWStackhouse@brooklyn.cuny.edu .
   
Sexual & Reproductive Health Sub-Committee 2020 Q1 Learning Sessions
The Sexual and Reproductive Health Sub-Committee will be hosting learning session at a new date and time: the 2 nd  Thursday of the month from 12:00 – 1:00 pm. The Zoom link, call-in number as well as some upcoming learning topics are listed below:
 
Webinar link:  https://zoom.us/j/150586730
Dial-in number: 646 558 8656
Meeting ID: 150 586 730
 
  • Feb 13, 2020: Managing Contraception for People with Chronic Medical Issues, Dr. Linda Prine, Director of Women’s Health at the Institute
  • March 12, 2020: The benefits of utilizing Peer Educators to reach and educate special populations, Kristin McDonough, Supervisor of Health Education & Outreach at The Door
  
Register now for the CHCANYS x Health People Webinar on Diabetes Self-Management Program
Join CHCANYS and Health People on Friday, January 24 th , 2020 for a lively webinar on starting and sustaining the well-known Diabetes Self-Management Program (DSMP). DSMP is a six-session course positively shown to reduce blood sugar, depression, emergency/hospital utilization, and costs! How can clinics train staff and peer educators and engage patients in the DSMP? Health People, a groundbreaking Bronx peer education program, which has enrolled almost 2,000 Medicaid patients in the DSMP, will relay its strategies and tips for success, with plenty of time to ask questions and learn more. Please   click here   to register in advance for this meeting; after registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
January is Winter Safety Month!
The winter months are a great time for outdoor activities and all sorts of fun. It is also important to remember simple tips to avoid issues like hypothermia, frostbites, road accidents, house maintenance issues and other unpleasant things winter can bring us. Take some basic precautions to ensure your family remains safe and injury-free throughout the season.
 
Additional resources:
 
January Aware Prepare
Aware Prepare is a monthly electronic newsletter. It is your guide to upcoming trainings related to preparedness. These trainings may be provided in one or more of the following formats, including: live webcasts, webinars and in person training; archived webcasts, webinars and on demand eLearning. To view January 2020 issue, click here .
 
FREE TRAINING AVAILABLE - Emergency Management In-Person Training for Community Health Centers
CHCANYS Emergency Management (EM) team, through funding from the New York State Department of Health, is offering complimentary EM in-person on-site training to community health centers across New York State (except New York City). This training and technical assistance visit may be customized based on the current needs of the health center in emergency management .
 
This training is being offered on a first come, first served basis, until available funds are exhausted. If you are interested and would like to submit a request, please click here.
 
Any questions regarding this opportunity or the registration form may be directed to emteam@chcanys.org .
 
National Diabetes Prevention Program Updates and Announcements
Please see two recently published documents by the Department of Health relative to the launch of the New York State Medicaid Program's coverage of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) for Medicaid Fee-For-Service (FFS), and Medicaid Managed Care (MMC) members. Questions related to NYS Medicaid NDPP should be directed to:   NDPP@health.ny.gov .
  • November 2019 letter from Howard A. Zucker, M.D., J.D., NYS Commissioner of Health, to the state’s physicians highlighting the Department’s initiative to implement the CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program as a Medicaid covered service in an effort to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes for Medicaid members.
  • November 2019 Medicaid Update which presents additional information for providers interested in becoming a Medicaid-enrolled NDPP service provider. Medicaid NDPP service providers assist Medicaid members to make lasting behavior changes through group-based training and individual support.
Advancing Excellence in Sexual and Gender Minority Health: 
A Core Course for the Whole Care Team  
The conference, hosted by the National LGBT Health Education Center, is designed to train the whole health care team in providing competent, confident and affirmative health care to patients who identify as a sexual or gender minority. Conference topics include:
  • Achieving Health Equity: Terminology, Demographics, Stigmas and Disparities
  • Creating a Welcoming and Inclusive Environment
  • Behavioral Health for LGBTQ Patients
  • Primary Care and Preventative Health Needs of LGBTQ Patients
  • LGBTQ Youth and Adolescents
  • LGBTQ Older Adults
  • Obstetrics and Reproductive Options for LGBTQ People
  • HIV/STI Treatment and Prevention for LGBTQ People
  • Collecting Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data
  • Sexual Health and Fulfillment 
  • Implicit and Unconscious Bias

The conference will be held March 20 - 22, 2020 at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. For additional information and to register, please click  here  or reach out to  questions@chcanys.org  for more information.