March 2022 Resources of the Month
Dear UCCCN members,

Here are your March 2022 resources and meeting summary.
Announcements

UCCCN meetings have a new Zoom link and require registration. If you haven't yet, please register for upcoming meetings. It's quick and easy! We've also published the meeting schedule in advance on the UCCCN webpage.

University of Utah Pediatric Project ECHO Spring sessions will continue with a presentation on Foster Care on March 30, 2022. Please see the schedule and register for any sessions you wish to attend. Recordings of past sessions can be watched, as well.

Our next Autism 101 ECHO course will be held next Wednesday, March 23rd and continue through October. The schedule and information is available on the Autism 101 page, where you can also register for the sessions you'd like to attend. Nurse contact hours and CME are available for those able to attend these sessions.

               Project ECHO : MHP 35649

Recognition of Practices - Idea

Would you be interested in a program for  recognition for practices doing an excellent job for efforts around Medical Home and Transition to Adult Healthcare? Perhaps, a Certificate of Recognition from UDOH, Intermountain and U of U? More to come on this idea. If you are interested in serving on state committees helping to shape policy and practices on each of these topics, please contact Eric Christensen, echristensen@utah.gov.


SPARK for Autism genetics study reminder – Parents and siblings of children with autism are encouraged to participate (from home, at no charge, gift cards possible). Registration is online at www.SPARKforAutism.org/utah.
Medical Home Portal Section
Content Updates


MHP Spotlight - Utah Advocacy Resources

Mindy highlighted the search bar and the ability to filter by focus (Resources, For Parents, etc.). Able to search for advocating for a child, individuals, community, and legislative change. The Advocacy/Finding Your Voice page is a great starting point to learn more.
Brainstorming

Resource #1: Tina Persels - The My Covid Risk app. Created by the Center for Digital Health, this resource was developed by Lifespan and the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

By answering a few questions about your health and activities, the app can help you check your risk for contracting COVID-19 and offers suggestions and steps to lower your risk. Could give parents of CYSHCN more peace of mind.

Disclaimer: These resources come from our members as part of the meeting brainstorming session; please check with your providers to make sure they are appropriate for your patient/families.

You can find a custom list of these and all the service providers discussed in this month's meeting, that can be printed, emailed, and more, here: March 2022 UCCCN Resources of the Month.
Utah State Legislative Updates

Gina Pola-Money and Janet Wade from the Legislative Coalition for People with Disabilities provided an update on the session that just ended, and what bills passed and didn't that have ramifications for the population we serve.

Quick list of actions in Utah with relevance to families of CYSHCN:

  • $15 million in one-time funding for housing preservation.
  • $24 million in ongoing appropriations and $4.9 million in one-time spending for Home and Community Based Services and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with various disabilities.
  • $6 million in ongoing and $3 million in one-time money to shorten the disabilities waiting list.
  • $5.1 million in one-time funding for Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD) caregiver compensation. 
  • $3.2 million in ongoing appropriations for targeted increases to state hospital and developmental center for frontline staff.
  • $3 million in ongoing funding for equal Medicaid reimbursement rate for autism.
  • $2 million in ongoing spending for domestic violence shelter-based support services.
  • $1 million in ongoing money to the Medicaid program for children with complex medical conditions including adding 130 more spots in the Medically Complex Children's Waiver program. (H.B. 200)
  • $1 million in ongoing appropriations for adult autism treatment. 

UT Legislative Session 2022 Summary - the full summary from the session. Utah's Legislative website is extremely user friendly and we encourage you to get involved at any level you feel you can. The Interim Committees are also important to watch throughout the year, including the Health and Human Services Interim Committee.

At the federal level ...

Gina mentioned the potential for compensatory educational services for losses due to Covid. This would be decided through the IEP process for each child. Learn more about it in this FAQ on Compensatory Education in the Time of COVID-19 on the Wrights Law website.

Other
Our next meeting date is April 20, 2022 and will be a presentation by URLEND trainees regarding ways to enhance and improve the referral process. Please register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting and it will give you the option to add them to your calendars.

Archived meeting recordings are available on our YouTube UCCCN 2022 Playlist.

Please use our listserv (ucccn-meetings@lists.hsc.utah.edu) to send questions or issues needing help, connect with UCCCN members in between meetings - ask for help, share resources, etc.

All the best,
Mindy Tueller, MS, MCHES
Director of Operations, Medical Home Portal
Facilitator, Utah Children’s Care Coordination Network
Department of Pediatrics
University of Utah
801-213-3920
Medical Home Portal | UCCCN | 801-213-3920 | mindy.tueller@utah.edu | Medical Home Portal