Member Spotlight
Outstanding Service Recognized at SEMRHI
SEMRHI Board President Bill Folkes (photo to right, on left) and CEO Dr. Geroldean Dyse (right) recognized outstanding employees at the Southeast Mississippi Rural Health Initiative's annual Employee Appreciation Awards Breakfast on Wednesday, December 4, 2019.
Vicky Martin was recognized for 25 years of service. Mrs. Martin is Director of Operations at SEMRHI.
Vickie Martin (Director of Operations) – 25 Years of Service Award
Picayune Family Health Center – Exceptional Customer Service Award. Pictured left to right: Lesley Osborn (Nurse Manager), Tracy Ladner, FNP-BC, Kaneshia Holder and Stephanie Lumpkin-Freeman, FNP-BC. Front row: Maegan Futch (Center Manager)
UDS Training Offered to Full House
CHCAMS held its annual Uniform Data System (UDS) Training in Jackson on December 3. Michelle Dawson, a consultant for JSI, led the training which guided attendees through the general requirements and nuances of UDS reporting as well as changes from previous years. UDS reports are required to be submitted by February 15, 2020, so this was a timely training that prepared Community Health Centers for reporting season. Attendees included 113 Community Health Center, Primary Care Association, and Health Center Controlled Network staff from all over Mississippi. 

More than 110 health center industry representatives attended the day-long workshop.
Michelle Dawson of JSI
Colorectal Initiative Recognizes CHCAMS Staff
Dr. Sonja Fuqua, CHCAMS Director of Clinical Quality, was recenterly recognized as a 70x2020 Champion at the Annual 70x2020 conference held last week. The 70x2020 Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative is a statewide grassroots effort to ensure at least 70 percent of Mississippians are up-to-date with colorectal cancer screening by the year 2020. Congratulations, Dr. Fuqua.
Advocacy Center of Excellence (ACE) Applications Due
December 16
The ACE Program goals include increasing the number of advocates on the ground, building the health center movement, and passing long-term stable funding by the September 30th deadline. Find more information on the ACE program here.

2020 Open Enrollment for Health Insurance Now Thru December 15, 2019
Please note: 2020 Open Enrollment is only for a few weeks. Those seeking health insurance throug the ACA must sign up by December 15 to get 2020 coverage unless applicants qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Plans sold during Open Enrollment start January 1, 2020.
Health Center Funding Extended to Dec. 20
Congress passed and the President signed a second short-term continuing resolution (CR) to continue to fund the federal government through Dec. 20, 2019. The CR includes a one-month extension of the Community Health Center Fund, the National Health Service Corps, and the Teaching Health Center program. Advocates are still asking for a multiyear (four- to five-year) extension of health center funding.



Call for Submissions for
2020 Emerging Leader Awards
The nomination period is open for the 2020 Emerging Leader Awards, presented by the Geiger Gibson Program in Community Health Policy. Awardees will be recognized at the 2020 NACHC Policy & Issues Forum. The Emerging Leader Award highlights the accomplishments of exceptional staff 35 years of age or younger working in community health centers, primary care associations, and health center controlled networks. If you have a wonderful staff member deserving of recognition on a national stage, click here to nominate them by January 6, 2020 . 
Please Complete
Medicaid’s New Provider Survey – Deadline: January 2020

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) State Plan Amendment (SPA)18-0010 was approved by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to allow the Division of Medicaid (DOM) to cover vision services for low-income children throughout the state at certain Mississippi schools when provided by qualified CHIP providers, effective October 1, 2019. You can view the CHIP SPA and CHIP State Plan via this link: https://medicaid.ms.gov/childrens-health-insurance-program-chip-state-plan/


Reminders: Medicaid Policy Changes that Impact Provider Reimbursement
Prior authorization requirement for certain physician administered drugs and implantable devices-Effective 12/01/2019
Read more here.

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) provide a copy of protocols and practice settings approved by the appropriate licensure board- Effective 12/01/2019 Read more here .

Read more here .
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2020 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule addressing Medicare payment and quality provisions for physicians in 2020.
See new CPT code alignment with E/M and new codes for telehealth and updates on ACO measures. Full updates here .
HR and Workforce Resource to Help Make Competitive Offers
O*NET OnLine is an application created to provide broad access to the O*NET database of occupational information. It is a helpful tool for HR managers when creating job descriptions for health center staff and looking at salary data to make a competitive offer. This application was developed for the U.S. Department of Labor by the National Center for O*NET Development. Check it out! https://www.onetonline.org/"
Telehealth Office Hours
2nd Thursday of Each Month | 1:00 PM CST
NACHC’s Telehealth Office Hours is a monthly opportunity for health center, PCA, and HCCN staff to ask questions and share information about telehealth-related policy and operational activities. In addition to updates, each session will include Q&A and a discussion of a specific topic. Participation is free, and there is no pre-registration required. Please add the WebEx link to your calendar . Archived presentations and resources can be found here. Please submit questions to telehealth@nachc.org.  
News To Use
Webinars
Patient-Centered Medical Home Teleconferences : PCMH Standards, Part 1
Hosted by NCQA
Call-in for all sessions: 1-844-676-8471
Conference ID: 1362694
Monday, December 9, 1-3 p.m. CST
Funding Opportunities
Deadline: December 6, 2019
Delta States Rural Development Network Grant Program
Grants for the development of integrated healthcare networks that work to address health problems that could not be solved by single entities working alone. Networks will achieve efficiencies; expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of essential health care services; and strengthen the rural healthcare system. For more info, click here .
Deadline: December 16, 2019
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHSA) will make 13 awards of up to $400,000/year for a five-year project. The purpose of this program is to support the development and/or expansion of local implementation of a community infrastructure that integrates substance use disorder treatment, housing services, and other critical services for individuals (including youth) and families experiencing homelessness. Eligible applicants are domestic public and private nonprofit entities, including tribal organizations, public or private universities and colleges, and community and faith-based organizations. For more information, click here.
Deadline: December 20, 2019
Healthy Minds Alliance Helping Bring Americorps Members
to Address Community Mental Health Needs
Healthy Minds Alliance is accepting applications from agencies interested in hosting a full-time Healthy Minds Alliance AmeriCorps member to help build capacity for mental health initiatives . Notice of Acceptance – Jan 10, 2020 AmeriCorps Member Service Year Start Date is flexible based on host site's needs. Click here to complete our host site application:  HMA Host Site Application

Deadline: January 24, 2020
HRSA Primary Care Training
and Enhancement: Residency Training in Primary Care (PCTE-RTPC) Program
The purpose of this program is to enhance accredited residency training programs in family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, or combined internal medicine and pediatrics (med-peds) in rural and/or underserved areas and encourage program graduates to choose primary care careers in these areas.

Eligible entities include accredited public or nonprofit private hospitals, schools of allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine, or a public or private non-profit entity which the Secretary has determined is capable of carrying out a residency training program in family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, or combined internal medicine and pediatrics (med-peds), which for the purposes of this program are those accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Click here for more info.
Grants with Ongoing Deadlines
DentaQuest Community Response Fund
The Community Response Fund supports organizations, activities, and events that address access to needed oral healthcare and community resources that improve oral health. Priority is given to projects that: address an immediate response to an urgent issue that impacts access to clinical care; provide short term access to needed care for the underserved; and sustain oral health organizations experiencing short term challenges. For more info, click here .

COMPASS Initiative Core
Grants to community-based organizations that prioritize HIV/AIDS prevention and/or care services across the southern United States. Funding may be used for a variety of organizational and staff resources, including technology and software, meeting space costs, conference attendance fees, professional development, and continuing education. For more info, click here.

COMPASS Initiative SPARK!
Grants for community-led campaigns and education initiatives across the deep south that work to reduce stigma and change knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors around HIV and AIDS. For more info, click here.

Grants for projects that effectively impact arts and culture, community improvement/enrichment, education and literacy, the environment, and healthy families. For more info, click here .

Foundation For the Mid South
Grants for organizations in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi working in the areas of health disparities, physical health, mental health, education, financial security, and the growth and prosperity of communities. For more info, click here .
Mississippi Capital Improvements Revolving Loan Program (CAP)
Loans for municipalities and counties in Mississippi for the improvement of public facilities and infrastructure, including hospitals, sewer systems, and water supply systems. For more info, click here .
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