Registration for the Mental Health Roundtable on May 11 Closes Soon!
Roundtable attendees will:
- Get the latest news and priority updates from Nelson Smith, the new DBHDS Commissioner,
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Hear a Legislative Update on mental health-related topics, including bills from this Session and relevant items in the House and Senate budgets,
- Understand the impact innovative care models can have on not just quality, but also access to and efficiency of mental health care, and
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Connect with colleagues from around the state.
Register by COB on May 10 for this virtual Mental Health Roundtable taking place on Wednesday, May 11 from 10 am – 12 pm. You won’t want to miss this!
This Roundtable is sponsored by AmeriHealth Caritas, a national leader in health care solutions for people who are at a low-income level and/or are chronically ill. |
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The Public Health Emergency Will End Soon: What Does That Mean for Those Covered by Medicaid?
In 2020, when the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE) due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it allowed Virginia to create helpful new Medicaid policies, flexibilities, and waivers; leverage enhanced federal Medicaid dollars; and, continue members’ Medicaid coverage without renewing eligibility annually.
The PHE is expected to conclude in Summer 2022. When this happens, all 2 million+ of Virginians covered by Medicaid will have to renew their eligibility. Virginia’s Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) will have 14 months to accomplish this.
Some of the renewals can be achieved electronically without renewal forms having to be completed. One of the most important things to do NOW to help those currently covered stay covered when the PHE ends is to remind them to keep their contact information up-to-date. This will help ensure that they are automatically renewed, if they are eligible for auto-renewal. It will also help ensure that they receive DMAS’s communication about their renewals. To help make this happen, DMAS has developed Unwinding Tool Kits. Members who have moved or changed phone numbers in the last 3 years can report this important change:
- Directly to their Managed Care Organization,
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Online at commonhelp.virginia.gov,
- By calling the local Department of Social Services,
- By calling Virginia’s One Benefits line at 1-833-5CALLVA.
For up-to-date information about the steps DMAS is taking to ensure eligible members remain covered after the PHE concludes (and to learn about other health insurance options for those no longer eligible for Medicaid), visit the Cover Virginia PHE Planning page.
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Health Insurance Marketplace Announces NEW Special Enrollment Period!
Individuals who missed the January 15 deadline to enroll in 2022 health insurance through the Marketplace and have incomes at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level may be able to get a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to enroll in coverage through the Marketplace!
The Marketplace will begin conducting outreach to individuals it believes may qualify for the new SEP. Virginia adults whose income exceeds the limit for Medicaid can access this SEP, and because of the enhanced financial help the Marketplace now offers, they may be able to sign up for a silver plan for $0 per month!
If you believe an individual or family might be eligible for coverage on the Marketplace, a Navigator or Certified Application Counselor (CAC) can help! Check out the Health Insurance Marketplace “Find Help” Page on Cover Virginia to find a Navigator or CAC near you. Reminder: Virginians can apply for and enroll in Medicaid/FAMIS year-round!
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3D-Printing Making More Smiles Possible
High-tech tools are allowing dentists to do more than ever to help patients achieve better oral health. Among the advances is 3D-imaging and printing to get a more precise product with fewer visits. In Southwest Virginia, Dr. Scott Miller, DDS uses an intraoral scanner to capture images for dentures and teeth in both his private practice and his work with the Appalachian Highlands Community Dental Center. He points to the time-savings on both sides of the dental chair as one of the reasons to be interested in digital (3D) dentures. “Instead of a five-appointment process, it’s a two-appointment process, [which] opens that chair up for others and keeps the patient from having to come in so many times.” Dr. Miller also touts the turnaround time for the final product, which can be as little as a few days.
To learn more, check out this 2021 article from the Journal of the American Dental Association sharing results from a survey of dentists about the use of intraoral scanners.
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Celebrating Adult Medicaid Dental Benefit Utilization
More than 123,036 adults enrolled in Medicaid have used this new coverage to access dental care since it went into effect in July 2021! Looking to find dental care near you? Use this simple search tool to get the information you need.
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In Case You Missed It
VHCF’s Assessment of the Capacity of Virginia’s Licensed Behavioral Health Workforce, released earlier this year, uses state and national data sources to provide a comprehensive picture of the capacity, distribution, and demographics of the Commonwealth’s licensed behavioral health ( BH) workforce. It also includes insights from interviews with leaders of Virginia’s associations of licensed BH professionals and leaders of Virginia’s BH graduate programs. A few highlights include:
- A large and disproportionate number of Virginia’s licensed BH professionals are at or nearing retirement age (ex. 61% of Psychiatrists are age 55 or older).
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Virginia’s BH workforce does not reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the Commonwealth’s population.
- 93 of Virginia’s 133 localities are federally-designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas; 37% of Virginians (2 million) live in them.
- Although Virginia’s 40 graduate-level BH programs, combined, graduate nearly 800 individuals annually, the number who ultimately become licensed is insufficient to maintain even the current inadequate supply of BH professionals.
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Tools and Learning Opportunities from our Partners
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elevation is a virtual learning network facilitated by Community Health Solutions and guided by a goal to bring people together to learn and share innovative strategies for creating healthier communities. elevation provides comprehensive resources and information and is offered at no cost as a community service. Join here.
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Benchmarking Telehealth Usage in Virginia - From October through December 2021, the Virginia Telehealth Network led a multipronged “state of the state” of telehealth in Virginia research initiative. The comprehensive report offers insights into the experiences of medical, dental, and behavioral health providers offering services via telehealth, and their plans to expand or continue those offerings. Read the full report here.
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Don't Forget About the Professional Development Funds Available to You!
Are you (or a staff member) going to engage in learning opportunities? VHCF offers up to $650 per organization per year to pay for professional development opportunities that enhance the skills or knowledge of staff or board members.
VHCF also has a variety of informational resources to help you and your staff meet your goals. Check out some of our resources for providers here! Don't see what you are looking for? Let us know!
Is it time for you to update or create a new strategic plan? VHCF provides up to $3,500 to underwrite the development of a new strategic plan.
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Upcoming VHCF Trainings/Meetings
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Sign Up Now trainings are designed for administrators, staff, and volunteers in community programs serving individuals and families who are interested in Virginia’s Medicaid/FAMIS programs. Learn more about them here. Upcoming online trainings are full, but you can join the eNews distribution list to hear about new dates as soon as they become available!
- Trainings on how to use The Pharmacy Connection:
Beginner Trainings
Advanced Training
For additional training dates or more information click here or contact Lisa Hueston, TPC Program Manager, at (804) 828-5803.
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Does your organization have innovative programs or creative solutions to share?
We'd love to hear from you so we can help share it with others! Please contact Andrea Lancaster with your stories!
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