NYC’s Eleven Month Measles Outbreak Ends
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene announced on Tuesday, September 3, the end of the measles public health emergency declared on April 9 for parts of Brooklyn. According to DOHMH, measles outbreaks are typically declared over when two incubation periods for measles (the equivalent of 42 days) have passed since the last infectious day of the last persons with measles in affected areas. That time period has now passed for the people most recently infected with measles and reported to the Health Department. 
 
This was the largest measles outbreak in New York City in nearly three decades. According to DOHMH: 
  • Since the outbreak started in October of 2018, 654 individuals were diagnosed with measles. 
  • There have been 52 measles-related hospitalizations and 16 admissions to intensive care due to measles complications since the beginning of the outbreak. 
  • Most measles cases were diagnosed in people under 18 years of age (525 cases or 80%).
  • Most measles cases were among unvaccinated (73%), incompletely vaccinated (7%) or individuals or persons who did not know their vaccination status (15%).           
  • While there were cases of measles in all five boroughs, the majority of cases (72%) occurred in the Williamsburg neighborhood. 
 
Click here to read more.
 
CMS Offers Hurricane Dorian Support to Impacted States
CMS announced Tuesday, September 3, that it will be temporarily waiving or modifying certain Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP requirements. CMS will also issue a number of blanket waivers, and the CMS Regional Office will grant other provider-specific requests for specific types of hospitals and other facilities in Georgia and South Carolina. For more information on the waivers CMS has click here . CMS will also make available special enrollment periods for certain Medicare beneficiaries and certain individuals seeking health plans offered through the Federal Health Insurance Exchange. This gives people impacted by the hurricane the opportunity to change their Medicare health and prescription drug plans and gain access to health coverage on the Exchange if eligible for the special enrollment period. For more information, click here and here .
September is National Preparedness Month!
National Preparedness Month is recognized each September to promote family and community disaster and emergency planning now and throughout the year. Hurricane Dorian’s destruction serves as a great reminder of why preparedness is so important. The 2019 theme is " Prepared, Not Scared." Homeowners, families, communities, and businesses can use this opportunity to find ways or help others understand more about preparing for disasters and reducing risks to health and the environment.
 
Each week of National Preparedness Month, the Ready Campaign will emphasize a unique aspect of preparedness:
  • September 1-7: Save Early for Disaster Costs
  • September 8-14: Make a Plan to Prepare for Disasters
  • September 15-21: Teach Youth to Prepare for Disasters
  • September 22-30: Get Involved in Your Community’s Preparedness

For additional information, including graphics, videos, social media toolkit, and other resources, click here.
Latman Event ALMOST SOLD OUT—Ticket Deadline Sept 10
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! 

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.

  • CHCANYS Emergency Management Virtual Meet-Up at Annual Conference
CHCANYS Emergency Management (EM) team have set aside some dedicated time to answer questions, talk through relevant announcements, have an open conversation and provide a forum for exchanging ideas on the topic of Emergency Management. Join CHCANYS EM team in the ongoing conversation!
 
Our next “meet up” will take place during CHCANYS 2019 Annual Conference on October 29, 2019 from 7:30 am to 8:45 am . If you are attending the conference, we will see you in person, if not – you can attend virtually. If you haven’t yet registered, please do so here.
 
For additional information or with any questions, please contact us at emteam@chcanys.org .
NACHC Funding Cliff Fly-in Day is Almost Here!
Community health center federal funding is set to expire on September 30, 2019, unless Congress acts to extend funding. NACHC is inviting advocates from across the country to join together in Washington, DC on Sept. 9-10, 2019 to push long-term, stable community health center funding across the finish line. If you want to join CHCANYS and NACHC advocating in Washington, DC on September 10, you must RSVP to  hwoodman@chcanys.org   as soon as possible , even if you have already RSVP’d to NACHC. CHCANYS is scheduling all legislative meetings.

Itinerary
  • Monday, Sept. 9: Dinner and Strategy session 6:00 - 9:00pm
  • Embassy Suites DC Convention Center, 900 10th St, NW, Washington, DC 20001
  • Tuesday, Sept. 10: Congressional Visits
  • CHCANYS to provide schedule
Lodging
 
If you cannot attend, click here to send an email to Congress .

NYS Primary Care Service Corps Round 4 Funding Opportunity Announced
The New York State Department of Health has issued a Funding Opportunity under the Primary Care Service Corps (PCSC) Loan Repayment Program. PCSC is a service-obligated loan repayment program that is designed to increase the supply of certain clinicians in underserved areas. Clinicians eligible to apply under the program are:
  • Dentists
  • Dental hygienists
  • Nurse practitioners
  • Physician assistants
  • Midwives
  • Clinical psychologists
  • Licensed clinical social workers
  • Licensed marriage and family therapists
  • Licensed mental health counselors
 
For more information, click here .
 
Capital District Regional Meeting on Integrated Care
Please join CHCANYS and NYS Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare at our Capital District Regional Meeting for community health centers and behavioral health providers on Thursday, September 19 th , 2019 from 1 pm – 4 pm in the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Rite Aid Lounge. This meeting is part of a series of regional meetings that CHCANYS and NYS Council, with the support of the Delta Center for a Thriving Safety Net and RCHN Community Health Foundation, are convening over the next two years to bring together community health centers and behavioral health providers to advance integrated care and support participation in value based payment arrangements. The meeting is free to attend and light refreshments will be served. The meeting will focus on regional-specific issues and allow attendees to talk with government officials from DOH, OMH, and OASAS, and other local organizations. To register for the meeting, please email the Cindy Levernois, with the NYS Council, at  cindy@nyscouncil.org . Please include your name, title, organization, and email address.
 
New HPSA Scores Finalized
On August 30, 2019, HRSA finalized the national Auto-HPSA update. Updated scores are available on the HRSA Data Warehouse here . According to HRSA, Auto-HPSA Points of Contact (POCs) have received an email letting them know that the online Auto-HPSA portal is available for their use. Organizations can submit rescore requests at any time. The deadline to guarantee that their rescore requests are processed before the 2020 National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program (LRP) application cycle is November 1, 2019. Please see this HRSA FAQ on the National Update of Auto-HPSAs and the online portal.
CHCANYS to Host New York State UDS Training Sessions
Registration Now Includes Two (2) Webinars with John Snow Inc.
Register today for the UDS Training in  Rochester or New York City!  These one-day UDS training sessions are directed at fiscal staff, including new fiscal directors; clinical staff responsible for clinical measure reporting (e.g. QI Directors, Clinical Site Directors and Medical Directors); and senior staff of new FQHCs. Those interested in attending may select either the Rochester or NYC session.
 
NEW THIS YEAR—Additional Training Support : As part of your registration for the UDS in-person training, CHCANYS, in partnership with John Snow Inc. (JSI), is offering two (2) webinars that will “book-end” the in-person trainings. The first webinar on  September 18, 2019  will provide an overview of the changes between 2018 and 2019 UDS reporting. The second webinar on  January 8, 2020  will address key NYS health center questions and challenges; we hope to provide answers to all the questions health center staff may have before and/or after the in-person sessions.

Click here for more information.
Register Today! CHCANYS Compliance & Risk Management Academy with FTLF
For our latest initiative in partnership with Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP (FTLF), CHCANYS will launch the Compliance & Risk Management Academy, a series of four training events (two in-person meetings & two virtual meetings/webinars) with the initial session taking place after the conclusion of the third day of our annual conference  CHCANYS19 . See the scheduled dates and locations below. 

  • The Health Center Landscape: Models for Compliance & Risk Management Programs
  • October 30, 2019 (1:00 PM -5:00 PM; Westchester Marriott, Tarrytown NY)
  • Focus on Fraud: Prevention, Detection, and Response
  • January 29, 2020 (1:00 PM-2:30 PM; Zoom Virtual meeting)
  • Internal Investigations 101: Planning, Conducting and Concluding Internal Investigations
  • March 12, 2020 (1:00 PM - 5:00 PM; Hispanic Federation, NYC)
  • Beyond HIPAA: Ensuring Patient Privacy and Confidentiality
  • June 23, 2020 (1:00 PM-2:30 PM; Zoom Virtual Meeting) 
 
The target audience for the academy is health center leadership and compliance officers, as well as risk management and quality improvement staff.  Please note individual registration is required for the series sessions and space is extremely limited for the in-person events .
 
 
If you have questions or need assistance with registration, please contact  questions@chcanys.org .    
Registration is now open for the 2019 NYS Farmworker Conference in Syracuse
Registration is now open for the 2019 NYS Farmworker Conference in Syracuse, sponsored by Finger Lakes Community Health. Historically farmworkers have faced many barriers when coming to work in the United States. With the current negative sentiments by many towards immigrants, it is imperative that those that serve this population or have an interest in farmworkers understand the current regulations and likely pressures they will face in the future. 
 
The all-day conference will be held Thursday, September 19 from 9am to 4pm at the Holiday Inn Syracuse/Liverpool. To register, click here .
 
Attn: Finance Directors – Cost Savings Webinars & Opportunities
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 finance services, 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 . Learn more about upcoming CPG webinars on  Credentialing  September 11 and  Cash Flow Maximization September 25. 
 
CHCANYS 340B Webinars with Hudson Headwaters 340B 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. 
 
Now Available: MURPH Audit Report Card Tutorial
Check out this  quick video tutorial about the Audit Report Card  module in the Meaningful Use Registration for Public Health (MURPH) system. It demonstrates how to use the self-service tool for Eligible Professionals and Eligible Hospitals. The Audit Report Card displays the history of onboarding statuses for each registry that providers participate with. Additionally, make sure to review the  MURPH Onboarding Status Quick Reference Guide . This document defines the onboarding statuses that providers may encounter when using the MURPH Audit Report Card. For more information about MURPH and the Public Health Reporting Objective, the  NYSDOH website  or contact their support team at 1-877-646-5410 Option 3 or  MUPublicHealthHELP@health.ny.gov.
 
PCMH Office Hours are back! 
Date: Thursday, September 26 th  from 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Join us for our yearly series of PCMH Office Hours with Karen Vest-Taubert, PCMH CCE at Comagine Health, and your health center colleagues to discuss annual reporting readiness, and explore other important topics that will be discussed during the course of the year. Come prepared with your questions, concerns, and challenges, and share your own tips and strategies with your colleagues during this interactive and engaging call. This call is free to attend, but advanced registration is required.  Click here  to get started. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the NYS-HCCN at  hccn@CHCANYS.org .
 
NACHC Telehealth Office Hours for Health Centers Begin September 12
NACHC is now offering monthly office hour resources to interested health centers in partnership with HRSA, HITEQ, Center for Connected Health Policy, and regional Telehealth Resource Centers. These webinars will be offered on the 2 nd  Thursday of each month at 2:00pm. Each session will include updates, Q&A with participants, and focus on a specific topic of concern. Participation is free and no preregistration is required. For more information, click here .
 
Register for the NYS Cholesterol Management Forum
The New York State Department of Health and CHCANYS, with support from ProVention Health Foundation, invite you to join key partners – including health systems, payers, pharmacists, and more – as we seek to better understand the cholesterol management landscape, share recent successes and challenges, and begin to build a framework for action. To register, click here .
 
Funds are available to reimburse for travel-related expenses, on an as needed and first-come-first-serve basis. Please note, you will be required to provide receipts of travel expenses to ensure reimbursement. If you would like more information, please contact Tiana Wyrick at tiana.wyrick@health.ny.gov.

New 2019 Colorectal Cancer Screening Guide to Help Convince the Unscreened
A new  2019 Colorectal Cancer Screening Messaging Guidebook: Recommended Messaging to Reach the Unscreened  is now available. The guidebook is designed to help clinicians, health plans, health organizations, employers, family members and others convince more people to get recommended screening. It includes new market-research tested messages, insights into reaching common personas and other findings that will better inform our efforts to improve colorectal cancer screening rates to 80% in Every Community.
 
Infection Control and Epidemiology Bootcamp Training Opportunity 
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), in partnership with the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is exploring an opportunity to provide a two (2) day infection control “bootcamp” for outpatient infection control coordinators. All costs would be covered by DOHMH, but participants will need to commit for two days to attend.
 
This dynamic and engaging event was designed by APIC for practitioners looking to advance their career. These educational sessions will increase your fundamental knowledge and provide practical skills you need to protect patients in your facility. This bootcamp will focus on two key themes fundamental to the effectiveness of all infection prevention (IP) programs:
  • Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization
  • Microbiology and Antibiotics for the IP
If you, or any of your staff are interested, please fill out this short form by September 4, 2019 . If there is critical mass of interest, DOHMH will proceed with hosting the event. 
CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention 1-day Workshop coming to NYC on September 14, 2019!  
We are excited to announce a great training opportunity for NYC-based health centers -  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 Emergency Management is Kicking Off its Program Year!
We are very excited to officially launch our 2019-2020 season of Emergency Management (EM) activities for NY Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in partnership with both the New York State Department of Health (SDOH) and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).
 
For NYC FQHCs:
  • FQHC Leadership Advisory Council – we are currently seeking fifteen (15) community health center leaders to serve on the Leadership Advisory Council (LAC). The LAC will serve as representatives for NYC-based community health centers and provide input and feedback to inform current and future primary care EM programmatic activities. To learn more and sign up, click HERE.
  • 6th Annual full-day Emergency Management Seminar – will take place on March 19, 2020. SAVE THE DATE!!!
  • Functional Exercise for NYC FQHCs – coming your way in April 2020! Stay tuned as we will be opening the sign-up list shortly. In-person Learning Session will be taking place on November 14, 2019. SAVE THE DATE!!!
  • EM Capability Assessment – CHCANYS will be conducting a round of capability assessment with all NYC FQHCs to identify areas for assistance needed. More information coming soon.
  • Notification Drills – CHCANYS will conduct 2 notification drills in October 2019 and February 2020. More information coming soon.
For NYS FQHCs:
  • Complimentary EM Site Visit - CHCANYS offers complimentary in-person on-site training in emergency management to FQHCs. This training and technical assistance visit may be customized based on the current needs of the organization. If you are interested and would like to submit a request, please click here.
For ALL:
  • 4-part Webinar Series on CMS EP Rule - CHCANYS EM Team will be hosting a series of four (4) free webinars on CMS Emergency Preparedness final rule in October 2019 and will provide participants with relevant updates and resources. The sessions are scheduled as follows:
  • October 4, 2019 – 1 pm – 2:30 pm
  • October 15, 2019 – 1 pm – 2:30 pm
  • October 18, 2019 – 1 pm – 2:30 pm
  • October 25, 2019 – 1 pm – 2:30 pm
Register here! Additional information coming soon!
Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) Risk Management Virtual Conference:  Reinforcing Resilience in a Culture of Safety  
Hosted by ECRI on behalf of HRSA
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