Please join the WVPCA and BOLDplanning, as we are excited to offer our members a four (4) part webinar series of Emergency and Continuity Planning (ECP) Workshops. Health centers and their staff play a key role in emergency preparedness efforts for all types of events, including natural or man-made disasters, pandemic outbreaks, or terrorist attacks. To further strengthen health center emergency preparedness, BOLDplanning experts will cover plan fundamentals along with specific details. Each workshop builds off the next.

After attending these presentations health centers will have the opportunity to have a customized ECP consultation by a BOLDplanning expert free of charge!

TARGET AUDIENCE: Emergency Management Personnel

                                     

“This is an important step in our fight against the pandemic,” said Dr. Ayne Amjad, state health officer and commissioner of the DHHR’s Bureau for Public Health, in a news release following Wednesday’s CDC approval.

The Health Group of the Appalachia Funders Network is pleased to host the virtual Appalachian Oral Health Summit on Friday, May 21, 2021. The summit will engage oral health coalition leaders from around the region, oral health researchers and practitioners, and national experts in the field advocating for oral health care access. We invite you to engage with our impressive docket of speakers, learn about the promising trends, and consider how to address current challenges.

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) Bureau for Behavioral Health (BBH) received a grant award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to support the State’s response to opioid use. The State Opioid Response Grant (SOR) funding was used to expand the availability of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment and evidence-based services that identify and engage individuals in treatment and provide supports to help keep them in treatment and long-term recovery.

The intent of SOR funding is to reduce/prevent Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) related morbidity and mortality by expanding access to prevention, treatment, and recovery services. SOR funding is time limited and focuses on expanding West Virginia’s service delivery infrastructure, funding mechanisms, and relationships internal to the organization that will help sustain the system. Services are trauma informed and staffed by individuals with effective client engagement skills who are prepared to link individuals—or their loved ones—with Opioid Use Disorder to a full array of early intervention, treatment, and recovery resources.

Treatment is ultimately a decision between provider and patient; therefore, individuals must be able to make an informed decision. Increasing access to and retention in Treatment with Medication, an evidence-based treatment, using the three FDA-approved medications for OUD is a key factor in the opioid continuum of care. Implementation of evidence-based approaches, such as contingency management, is essential to individuals diagnosed with Stimulant Usage Disorder.

This presentation to be held on May 24, 2021 is to learn more about stimulant use disorders and contingency management. Please register to attend this presentation by Dr. Patrick Marshalek and Dr. Josh Carter.

The 2021 National Health Service Corps (NHSC) new site application cycle is now open for eligible health care sites that have never been approved as NHSC sites. This year’s application is also open to formerly approved NHSC sites that have become inactive. Eligibility includes health care sites that provide outpatient, ambulatory and primary healthcare services (i.e., medical, dental, and behavioral health) in Health Professional Shortage Areas. Additional eligible site types include facilities providing general substance use disorder treatment, a medication-assisted treatment program, or an opioid treatment program. Applications are due at 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 25. Click below to learn more about the NHSC new site application. 

Health centers that receive this funding will be able to use it for COVID-19 related capital needs and to construct new facilities, renovate and expand existing facilities, and purchase new equipment. Read the press release.

Applications are due in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) by 5:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 24. Visit the American Rescue Plan funding for Health Center Construction and Capital Improvements technical assistance (TA) webpage for award submission guidance, information about upcoming question and answer sessions, and other resources.

Applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will be accepted through May 31, 2021. Health centers are eligible for First Draw PPP Loans if they have 500 or more employees but fewer than 500 employees per location. Existing PPP borrowers that did not receive loan forgiveness by December 27, 2020, can reapply for a First Draw PPP loan.

If borrowers previously returned some or all of their First Draw PPP loan funds, they may request to modify their First Draw PPP loan amount if they did not accept the full amount for which they were eligible. Second Draw PPP Loans are only available to entities that have received, plan to use, or have used the First Draw PPP loan for authorized uses in its entirety. Entities must have no more than 300 employees per location and demonstrate at least a 25 percent reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020. 

As the coronavirus pandemic wanes, there is tension brewing between patients and providers versus insurers regarding telehealth. The former want the convenience and simplicity of telehealth while the latter wishes to ensure it is a good investment. A “Health Affairs” blog post explores potential compromises in terms of payment for telehealth. 

New research in “Pediatrics” regarding marketing to children finds that fast food companies—namely McDonald’s—are not following their self-imposed marketing guidelines. Instead, these companies focus their advertising primarily on “premiums” such as toys and games rather than the food. 

If you come across something worth sharing, please feel free to forward to Joshua Austin, WVPCA Policy and Communications Director, at joshua.austin@wvpca.org.

Justin M. Harrison is a labor & employment lawyer with Jackson Kelly PLLC. He is available for consultation through a special retainer relationship with the WVPCA. Justin can be reached at 304.340.1358 and via email at justin.harrison@jacksonkelly.com.

The Pandemic Operational Recovery Guide for Health Centers and Free Clinics was written to assist health centers and free clinics in identifying and minimizing risks as they recover from operational disruptions related to a pandemic.

The Risk Management Manual for Health Centers is now available on the ECRI Institute Clinical Risk Management Program website! Designed to support a proactive approach to risk management at health centers and free clinics, the Manual provides background, tips, and how-tos in a manageable format.

View an archived webinar that provides a guided tour of the Manual and key features. For access to the ECRI Institute Clinical Risk Management Program website or any other questions, email clinical_rm_program@ecri.org.