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WVPCA Weekly Outlook
A Newsletter on Community Centered Healthcare
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WVPCA News - Outreach & Enrollment
Emergency Management News - State News - National News
Funding and Financial Opportunities - Training Opportunities
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Pfizer asks FDA to authorize 2nd Covid booster for people 65 and older
Read the entire article from NBCNews.com here.
US adult smoking rate fell during first year of pandemic
Read the entire article from AP News here.
Senate passes bill that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent
Read the entire article from WVNews here.
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Clay-Battelle Health Services Association Celebrates Groundbreaking |
Clay-Battelle Health Services Association (CBHSA) held a groundbreaking ceremony on March 14 to start construction of their new Burton location health clinic.
Rebecca Thomas, BSDH, CEO, said the recent groundbreaking ceremony in Burton marked “a significant milestone” in continuing efforts to enhance healthcare for West Virginians in the area.
Once complete in late 2022, all services at the Burton location will move to the new building. This will provide increased space for existing services, as well as a significant increase in medical and behavioral health services.
“Providing high quality health care has long been one of our top priorities,” said Thomas. “This new state-of-the-art facility will provide more convenient healthcare access to West Virginians in this area.”
The project architect is Desmone Architects and the general contractor is March-Westin. CBHSA officials hope to open the center in November 2022 and plan to hold an open house event at that time.
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Please join the WVPCA and Azara Healthcare in a demonstration of the Azara DRVS platform. Azara DRVS is the foundation of our West Virginia Integrated Data System, and has been adopted by health centers in order to increase reporting capability and improve the quality of care provided to patients. Azara Healthcare is a leading provider of data-driven reporting and analytics for the Community Health marketplace. Azara’s solutions empower Community Health Centers, Primary Care Associations and Health Center Controlled Networks to improve quality and efficiency in all aspects of their care delivery through actionable data. Azara DRVS has a proven track record of improving patient outcomes, increasing reimbursements, and transforming practices.
Topics to be covered in the Demo include:
- Implementation Methodology
- Patient Visit Planning Report
- Care Management Passport
- Drill Down Measure Analyzer (UDS, HEDIS, etc.)
- Dashboards
- Registries
- Referral Management Reporting
- Risk Algorithm
- Transitions of Care
- Payer Integration
PRESENTERS:
Chris Neal, Azara Vice President of National Accounts and Colleen McIntrye, Azara Vice President of Delivery Solutions
TARGET AUDIENCE:
CEO, CHC Leadership, Clinical Managers, Quality and Care Management Staff, Nurses, and IT/EHR Managers.
This event in intended for Community Health Center Staff.
Registration closes on March 22, 2022 at 5:00 PM ET.
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New Resources for State Medicaid Agencies to Help Plan for Medicaid Unwinding |
To assist state Medicaid offices as they plan for a return to normal eligibility and enrollment operations, the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) has created a new Medicaid Unwinding webpage. This website highlights important resources and guidance for State stakeholders regarding the Unwinding, including but not limited to:
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A PHE Unwinding Communications Toolkit in English and Spanish for states and groups that assist people with Medicaid coverage to help beneficiaries through the eligibility renewal process.
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A new State Health Official (SHO) letter providing comprehensive guidance to make sure states are well-prepared to initiate eligibility renewals for all individuals enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP within 12 months of the eventual end of the PHE, and to complete renewals within 14 months. This guidance also provides strategies and flexibilities to states to ensure continuity of coverage.
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An Eligibility & Enrollment Planning Tool to help states in their planning efforts and ensure a smooth transition to normal operations following the PHE.
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An Updated Health Plan Strategy Slide Deck highlighting the role that managed care organizations can play in supporting states and individuals enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP during the unwinding process.
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Health Centers Urged to Sign Up for Cybersecurity Alerts |
Due to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, NACHC recommends that all health centers register for alerts from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), specifically for alerts on cyber activity targeting the health care and public health sector. View the latest alerts here. The NACHC Health Information Technology web page has additional resources, including readiness and response checklists from HRSA National Training & Technical Assistance (NTTAP) colleagues at HITEQ.
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J&J Vaccine Shelf-Life Extended |
The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced approval of a shelf life extension for Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine for an additional three months, updating the shelf life from 6 to 9 months. This decision is based on data from ongoing stability assessment studies. This shelf-life extension applies to all inventory dated to expire on March 7, 2022, or later. Vaccine dated prior to March 7, 2022, should be disposed of according to state and local regulation and reported as waste according to your COVID-19 provider agreement. Vaccine providers should visit the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Expiry Checker webpage to confirm the expiration dates. This shelf-life extension applies to refrigerated vials of J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine that have been held in accordance with the manufacturer’s storage conditions. COVID-19 vaccines that are authorized under an EUA do not have fixed expiration dates, and expiration dates may be extended as the FDA gets more stability data. Always check the manufacturer’s website to obtain the most up-to-date expiration dates for the COVID-19 vaccines you have on hand.
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Register Today for a Certified Tobacco Treatment Training Program (CTTTP) - |
West Virginia University School of Dentistry in cooperation with the Health Sciences Center’s Office of Interprofessional Education is recognized nationally/internationally as one of twenty-five Tobacco Treatment Training Programs and is certified by the Council of Tobacco Treatment Training Programs (CTTTP). Professionals in the fields of medicine, dentistry, social work, pharmacy, nursing and public health will present evidence-based strategies to enable attendees to effectively assist their patients/clients/ communities with tobacco cessation. Scholarships (limited to approximately 95) are available for this program.
This course is recommended for physicians, physician assistants, dentists, dental hygienists, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, respiratory therapists, licensed practicing counselors and other health care providers who encounter tobacco using patients/clients.
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Health Equity Colorectal Cancer Forum |
Join medical professionals from across West Virginia and Ohio for a two-hour virtual forum with experts in the field of oncology discussing the colorectal cancer disease burden with an emphasis on addressing disparities in prevention and early detection.
This forum is free, but registration is required. Each forum will offer 2 continuing medical education (CME) credits. The American Academy of Family Physicians has reviewed and approved the forum for 2 live Prescribed CME credits.
The Health Equity in Cancer Virtual Series is hosted by the American Cancer Society (ACS) thanks to the contributions of sponsors Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation and the Harry C. Moores Foundation, with support from the Ohio Partners for Cancer Control.
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Registration Now Open
WV COPD Readmissions Institute
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The COPD Foundation is hosting a first-ever COPD Readmissions Institute in West Virginia.
This is one full day and ½ day virtual event, showcasing best practices from practitioners from WV and around the U.S. involving the diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with COPD.
When: April 28-29, 2022
Cost: Free
Where: Virtual event
Who Should Attend? – Physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, nurses, pharmacists, quality staff, and others involved in the care of patients with COPD.
Registration is limited to 65 organizations -- this allows for an organization to register and have several staff to attend the virtual event, with the organization receiving resources and educational materials from the COPD Foundation.
Information will be shared in the coming weeks on registration for this event.
If you have any questions concerning this rare training workshop event, please contact Stephanie Williams, Senior Director of Community Education Programs, with the COPD Foundation, at swilliams@copdfoundation.org.
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National Poison Prevention Week |
National Poison Prevention Week (NPPW) is March 20-26. It is an opportunity to highlight the dangers of poisonings for people of all ages and promote community involvement in poisoning prevention.
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funds 55 poison control centers across the U.S., as well as the Poison Help Line (1-800-222-1222). Over 2 million poisonings occur annually, with nearly 43% of all exposures involving children younger than age 5. Two-thirds of calls to the Poison Help line are successfully resolved over the phone, preventing unnecessary visits to the hospital and reducing medical costs.
HRSA regularly provides updates and information through public service announcements and social media on how to recognize common poison threats.
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Bureau of Health Workforce Virtual
All Grantee and Stakeholder Meeting
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As critical part of the health care landscape and your voice plays an important role in the work we do at HRSA's Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW).
On April 5-6, BHW will host the first ever BHW Virtual All Grantee and Stakeholder Meeting. The meeting theme is, “Equity, Resilience, and Community Needs: The Future of America’s Health Workforce.”
This meeting will provide an opportunity for BHW’s network – grantees and their trainees, stakeholders, Federal Advisory Committees, and BHW staff – to discuss their programs, develop partnerships, and share successes in order to impact the larger rural and underserved health care landscape. The meeting agenda includes additional information.
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2022 NHSC New Site
Application Cycle is Now Open
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Eligible healthcare facilities can apply to become National Health Service Corps (NHSC)-approved sites. NHSC-approved sites provide outpatient, primary health care services to people in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). Sites must contact their State Primary Care Office (PCO) when applying for, or inquiring about, a HPSA designation.
The 2022 NHSC New Site Application Cycle is now open for sites that:
- Have never been approved for NHSC, including sites that have applied and had their application denied or cancelled.
- Are currently an inactive NHSC site due to expiration or past compliance issues.
Interested sites and treatment facilities should review the Site Reference Guide (SRG) for details on how to become NHSC approved.
Why be NHSC approved?
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Recruit and retain qualified providers using NHSC loan repayment programs and attract NHSC scholars who are ready to fulfill their service obligation at sites like yours.
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Post vacancies to the Health Workforce Connector.
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Participate in HRSA Virtual Job Fairs to connect with job-seeking primary care trainees and practicing clinicians.
Accepting applications through Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. E.T.
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Congress Approves Historic Funding
for School-Based Health Centers
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After months of negotiations and several short-term funding bills, Congress passed the Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus Appropriations package (H.R. 2471) on Thursday, March 10. President Biden signed it into law on Tuesday, March 15.
The bicameral, negotiated bill includes $30 million for school-based health centers within the Section 330 Health Centers program, a $25 million increase from Fiscal Year 2021. While this funding level is lower than in earlier House and Senate appropriations bills and is limited to Health Center Program grantees, it represents an unprecedented and historic investment in operations funding for school-based health centers.
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Funding and Financial Resources |
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Important Updates on Uninsured Program and Coverage Assistance Fund |
Health centers play a crucial role in testing, treating, and vaccinating uninsured individuals, or those with limited health care coverage, in their communities. Below are important updates about HRSA’s COVID-19 Uninsured Program and HRSA’s COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund.
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At 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 22, the Uninsured Program will stop accepting claims for testing and treatment due to a lack of sufficient funds.
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At 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 5, the Uninsured Program will also stop accepting vaccination claims due to a lack of sufficient funds.
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At 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 5, the Coverage Assistance Fund will stop accepting vaccination claims due to a lack of sufficient funds.
Claims that have been submitted by these deadlines will be paid subject to eligibility and availability of funds.
Questions about HRSA’s COVID-19 Uninsured Program?
Refer to HRSA's website or contact the Provider Support Line at (866) 569-3522; for TTY dial 711. Hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
Questions about HRSA’s COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund?
Refer to HRSA's website or contact the Provider Support Line at (833) 967-0770; for TTY dial 1-888-970-2920. Hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
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Registration Open for NACHC Financial Operations Training |
The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) training workshop, Financial Operations Management 2 (FOM2), is an intermediate-level workshop that provides insight and understanding of the core qualities needed to approach the business aspects of financial operations, management, and service delivery. This is an intermediate-level seminar approved for up to 11.4 CPE credits. The FOM2 training agenda is packed with the essential financial management tools and techniques to help empower health center CFOs, CEOs, COOs and managers to maximize financial performance, engage in contract negotiations and leverage technology for better decision-making. Learn more and register for this May 25-26 virtual training.
Early bird registration ends May 11, 2022.
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Upcoming Training Opportunities |
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Developing Workforce Retention and Resiliency within an Integrated Care Setting |
This webinar will cover strategies to bolster healthcare workforce retention and prevent workforce burnout.
The impact of COVID on healthcare worker retention and burnout has been staggering. According to the American Medical Association, nearly half (49%) of healthcare workers reported experiencing burnout.
The National Healthcare Retention & RN Staffing Report states that since 2015, the average hospital has turned over 89% of its workforce and COVID has accounted for a 10% decrease in healthcare employment.
Earn 1.0 continuing education credit for attending this webinar.
Presenters: Philip H. Rainer, M.S.W., LCSW-R, SAP; Fran Basche, M.A.
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
1:00 PM ET
1.0 CE is available
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Creating an Organizational Culture of Resilience to Manage Stress and Burnout in Health Center Teams |
Join the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved’s (ACU) STAR² Center for this hour-long webinar designed to highlight the role of health center leadership in fostering an organizational culture of resilience and providing concrete tips to spur this culture change, combat stress, and reduce burnout among their staff—ultimately building stronger teams.
Studies show that in an integrated, team-based environment, just one burned-out staff member can disrupt team dynamics. But even in times of high stress, health center staff are more likely to be engaged and satisfied with their jobs if given the tools they need to succeed, in an organization that fosters resiliency.
Tuesday, March 29, 2022
3:00 PM ET
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Community Health Center Resources |
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Jackson Kelly attorneys provide limited consultation to all members of the WVPCA at no charge, as part of the WVPCA contract. There is no limit to the number of calls which any member may make. All inquiries within the scope of professional competence of firm attorneys will be addressed. Inquiries which require expertise not available through the firm will be promptly identified and, when requested, Jackson Kelly will assist in referring the matter to accounting firms, insurance agents, or others as circumstances warrant.
All inquiries, responses and consultation services provided by the firm lawyers will be provided without additional charge beyond the retainer amount, except for matters which require formal opinions, representation of record in litigation, transactional work, e.g. the purchase or sale of real property, or matters which require continued representation, research or consultation beyond a single inquiry or document review.
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.
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Risk Management Manual for Health Centers Now Available! |
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.
Specific areas that are covered include:
Risk Management Programs & Plans
Claims and Lawsuits
Role of the Risk Manager
Patient Grievances and Complaints
Communication with Patients
Credentialing and Privileging
Communication among Providers, Staff, and Community Partners
Tracking Systems for Diagnostic Tests, Referrals, and Hospitalizations
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Debra Boyd | Chief Financial/Chief Operations Officer
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To sign up to receive the WVPCA Weekly Newsletter: |
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1700 MacCorkle Avenue, SE
Charleston, WV 25314
Phone: 304.346.0032
Toll Free: 1.877.WVA HLTH
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This project is/was supported partially/fully by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U58CS06834 State and Regional Primary Care Associations. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. |
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