Hello, just a reminder you are receiving this email because you expressed an interest in the West Virginia Primary Care Association.  Don't forget to add paula.beasley@wvpca.org to your  address book, so you don't miss any issues of the WVPCA Weekly Outlook!  
March 25, 2020
  WVPCA Weekly Outlook Newsletter
    A Newsletter on Community Centered Healthcare
NewsFlash




Read the entire article, originally from WVMetroNews  here.

Mylan to produce drug that could impact COVID-19 at Morgantown facility
Read the entire article, originally from  WVNews  here.

Nursing home is now West Virginia's 'ground zero' for virus
Read the entire article, originally from WDTV  here.

COVID-19 economic stimulus deal includes billions in hospital funding 
Read the entire article, originally from Modern Healthcare 
  here.

COVID-19 positive cases rise to 39 in WV, including one at VA Medical Center in Clarksburg
Read the entire article, originally from WVNews  here.
 
EmergencyManagement
HRSA COVID-19 Updates for Health Centers 
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is working to keep health centers and Health Center Program partners updated on the latest information regarding COVID-19. The Emergency Preparedness and Recovery Resources for Health Centers webpage now includes:
OCR Announces Enforcement Discretion for Telehealth Remote Communications During COVID-19

  The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it will waive potential penalties for HIPAA violations against healthcare providers that utilize communication platforms, i.e. Skype, for telehealth services during the COVID-19 outbreak. OCR offers further guidance for healthcare providers on responsibly offering telehealth to patients.
Direct Relief Protecting Health Workers Amid a Global Shortage of Protective Gear  


The Covid-19 pandemic has created an urgent need for protective equipment for doctors, nurses, and other health professionals being called upon to maintain regular health services and also care for those who become seriously ill and face the risk of death from the effects of the virus.

Direct Relief is working in overdrive to get protective gear into the hands of as many health workers as possible as quickly as possible, with emergency deliveries leaving daily for medical facilities across the U.S.

Read more  here.

Apply for assistance here.
Phishing attacks during COVID-19 up 40%

As organizations take their workforces remote, the number of phishing scams and spam have spiked, according to CNBC.

CNBC conducted a flash survey last week of members on its Technology Executive Council. Council members serve in senior technology positions at large companies, governments and nonprofit organizations.

More than one-third (36 percent) of respondents reported that cyber threats have increased as employees work remotely. One organization has seen phishing and other cyberattacks spike by 40 percent.

The level of cyber risks is likely to become higher in the upcoming weeks, per the survey.
"We are hearing from many clients and law enforcement that the level of cyberattacks, phishing attempts and scams occurring in light of COVID-19 has grown dramatically," said Miriam Wugmeister, partner and co-chair of law firm Morrison & Foerster's global privacy and data security group to CNBC. "The bad guys know that every IT department and every cybersecurity group is currently overwhelmed and stretched."
Documenting employee COVID-19 cases: 
3 OSHA guidelines

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has published guidance on when employers are responsible for documenting employee cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus. 

Employers are only responsible for documenting cases if:
  • The case is a confirmed COVID-19 case. 
  • The case is related to the person's job duties, as defined here.
  • The case involves at least one of the general criteria outlined here
More information is available on OSHA's Injury and Illness Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements page.
Health Center Project Directors: 
Look for Information Collection Emails

  In the bulletin Health Center COVID-19 Information Collection , we shared the HHS announcement requesting that health centers report on COVID-19-related activities.
  • The COVID-19 Survey emails to H80 grantees will come from BPHCAnswers@hrsa.gov.
  • These emails go to the Project Director registered in HRSA's Electronic Handbooks (EHBs).
  • The subject line of the emails is, "ACTION REQUIRED by [deadline]: Health Center COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Tracking Survey."
  • These emails will come on Mondays and Thursdays; the second email came out yesterday.
Project Directors, please check your spam or junk folders and add the email to your safe sender list.
You will also receive a separate email with the survey questions for you to review in preparation for completing the information collection request.

If you do not receive these emails, please reach out to Health Center Program Support online or at 877-464-4772 (option 2). 

COVID-19/ NOVEL CORONAVIRUS Pandemic


As you know, information on coronavirus is changing daily.  The WVPCA is working with Federal, State, and local health officials in emergency preparedness activities as well as disseminating appropriate and current information to our Community Health Centers.  This includes up-to-date resources and policies to ensure the continued health and safety of the communities we serve.  

Guidance and resource information can be found on the WVPCA website here and coronavirus.gov.
WVPCA NewsWVPCA_news
Five Keys to Virtual Meeting Success

COVID-19 has turned our lives upside down. We are in a whole new world that features terms like "social distancing" and encourages frequent hand-washing, disinfecting, and, for many of us, working from home. That transition can be challenging as we seek to produce quality work in a remote setting. One of the most challenging aspects of remote work is how to handle meetings. Even before COVID-19 many of us thought meetings were pointless, unproductive, and a waste of time (at least that's what clients tell us). How much worse will they get if we are meeting virtually? Perhaps these five tips will help to ease the pain and ensure we have high functioning virtual meetings. 
  • Choose a stable platform. Glitchy platforms are the worst! But no platform is seamless, so look for platforms that offer smooth, reliable connection. We've had success using Zoom, FreeConferenceCall.com, and WebEx.  
  • Don't skip the video. We know it's tempting to "call in" (multi-tasking, anyone?), but we may need video accountability to help us focus and to avoid miscommunication that comes from being unable to see body language. 
  • Mic check! Just like we'd prepare an agenda to have a productive meeting, we also need to make sure our virtual meeting tools work. We suggest all participants perform a test run prior to the initial meeting. 
  • Location. Location. Location. Establish a designated work space and use that location for virtual meetings. Not only will it help us to focus, but it also may cut down on distractions ("Hey, turn the TV down!"). 
  • Mind the details. Use headphones and an external microphone when possible. Mute tech like we would in a face-to-face meeting (e.g., alerts for texts, calls, emails, etc.). Close other device applications to help with focus. Be mindful of how background noise (BARK, BARK) at our houses may impact others. 
Bonus Tip. Be patient with yourselves and others during this season. Many of us are in new territory and we will have some growing pains. We will get through this together! 
State NewsStateNews
WV Work Remote Connection Initiative Launched to Help Businesses Support Remote Workers During Pandemic
Alpha Technologies has launched the West Virginia Work Remote Connection Initiative (WV-WRC) to help small to medium size businesses obtain the network capacity and bandwidth they need to support their remote workers.

The program offers secure server and connectivity to any business that needs it at no cost for 90 days.

"As we all come to grips with the new paradigm brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining the health and productivity of West Virginia's economy is critically important," said Doug Tate, President/CEO of Alpha Technologies. "This new remote working environment has created significant challenges for employers across the state and we want to ensure businesses can continue operations effectively."The West Virginia Work Remote Connection (WV-WRC) Initiative, is available to any small-to-medium sized business operating in West Virginia.

The program is FREE for 90 days and then Alpha will return the business back to normal and/or original operation, if desired.


 

Contact Alpha at (304) 201-7485 or email   wv-wrc@alpha-tech.us for more information.

To view press release,   click here.
HHS Awards $1.7 Million to WV to Community Health Centers for COVID-19 Response

The, HHS, through HRSA, awarded $100 million to 1,381 health centers across the country with funding provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020. HRSA-funded health centers may use the awards to address screening and testing needs, acquire medical supplies and boost telehealth capacity in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The funding supports health centers across the country in their emergency planning and response efforts. The awards will give health centers the flexibility to meet the evolving COVID-19 needs in their respective communities including but not limited to, expanding COVID-19 screening and testing capacity, purchasing supplies such a personal protective equipment (PPE) and providing safety education. 

See a list of award recipients  here .
WV Ranked Highest By Percentage of Adults at Risk of Serious  COVID-19 Illness

West Virginia has the highest percentage of adults at high risk of developing a serious illness if they become infected with the new coronavirus, according to new data from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

The data is based on an analysis of the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a survey that collects state-level data about U.S. residents regarding their health.

Kaiser defined "high-risk adults" as adults ages 60 years or older, and adults between the ages of 18 and 59 with heart disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or diabetes.

Kaiser also included the following disclaimer: "We recognize that our collective understanding of risk factors will continue to evolve as the disease spreads, and as CDC and others learn more about its effects on different populations."
The United Way is here to help!


#WV211 is ready to help people facing difficulties. Their resource navigators can help connect individuals and families with food pantries, health care services, tax prep assistance, utility and eviction prevention assistance and more. Those seeking help should dail 2-1-1 or visit wv211.org.
 
Dail 2-1-1 or text your Zip Code to 898-211 today, help is available 24/7. 

WV 211 is a program of the United Ways of West Virginia.
WV Project ECHO Special Session on COVID-19


WV Project ECHO will be holding a special session on COVID-19 next Thursday, March 26 from 12:15 to 1:15 pm as part of their HCV/HIV series.  Dr. Sally Hodder will presenting the latest updates and answering any questions.

If you cannot attend, the presentation will be recorded and uploaded on WV Project ECHO's YouTube page for you convenience.
 
The Zoom link can be found here.

Submit specific questions to be addressed here.
PCMHCorner
 Congratulations
Congratulations to Bluestone Health Association, Inc. for achieving NCQA PCMH Recognition for the Bluestone Health Center, Bluestone Family Practice, Bluestone Medical Center, and Prudich Medical Center sites.  
Q-PASS updates will be available on March 30
Q-PASS will not be available from 5pm (ET) Friday, March 27, until we complete testing, no later than 8am (ET) Monday, March 30.

What's changing?

Based on your input, NCQA changed some features and added new ones:
  • Enhanced workflow for ROC COI sign-off. Sign the ROC COI as part of the Recognition process; only sign annually for all your sites. This will reduce the time between your submission and the Recognition decision.
  • See snapshots of your evaluation scoring and reporting history.*
  • Improved operational checks and balances:
    • Q-PASS will only allow you to work on Annual Reporting for the next reporting year after the new version of the requirements is available. This ensures that you have up-to-date specifications.
    • You can more clearly identify the product version you are working in, which simplifies the process if sites are pursuing Recognition under more than one product version at the same time.
    • To ensure accuracy and clarity, each bundled invoice will allow a maximum of 40 line items. If you have more than 40 line items, simply create additional bundled invoices.
 
If you have any further PCMH questions, contact Shannon Parker at shannon.parker@wvpca.org or Emma White at emma.white@wvpca.org.

Coronavirus and NCQA
Based on ongoing updates from the CDC and other authorities, NCQA has enacted new policies for NCQA staff, contractors and events.
 
NCQA is prepared to conduct all business activities virtually, if necessary. They will continue to deliver all systems, surveys, support services, contract and grant-related services. Also, they are assessing large meetings, events and conferences with the goal of converting them to virtual events.
 
NCQA will update policies as new information about COVID-19 becomes available.
 
They will continue to follow the COVID-19 situation and make decisions accordingly.
 
They will continue to keep staff, colleagues and partners informed as they learn more.
 
Click here for the latest updates. 

 Announcing 2017 Standards Training 
   
The West Virginia Primary Care Association (WVPCA), the District of Columbia Primary Care Association (DCPCA), and the Mid-Atlantic Community Health Centers (MACHC) and are excited to provide our members with the National Committee on Quality Assurance's (NCQA)  Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) 2017 Standards Training Tuesday, July 14 - Thursday, July 16, 2020. The training will be conducted in-person by NCQA's own expert staff members. Our PCAs have worked collaboratively to bring this special training opportunity to our members.
 
During this 2 ½-day training, we are offering two classes: Introduction to PCMH 2017: Foundational Concepts of the Medical Home (1½ days) and Advanced PCMH 2017: Mastering the Medical Home Transformation (1 day). Both these classes are an essential component to understanding all the components of the new PCMH 2017 standards and earning the official NCQA PCMH "Certified Content Expert" designation. For those who do not intend to pursue certification, the training is extremely valuable for implementing PCMH, earning PCMH 2017 recognition and sustaining PCMH status through annual reporting.  
 
This training is being offered to WVPCA, DCPCA, MACHC and at a  greatly-reduced cost of only  $200 per person. For comparison, similar trainings administered by other entities normally costs almost $2,000. We recommend you send 1-3 key people from your health center to the training. Breakfast, lunch, and continuing education are included as part of the registration fee.
 
Please see the "HRSA-Supported NCQA PCMH Training Fact Sheet" for additional information about this training such as training description, agenda, Continuing Education Credit, and benefits of PCMH.
 
 
WVPCA members please use the coupon code: WVPCA2020
 
We ask that all WVPCA members register before Thursday April 30th 2020, as we want to ensure that all PCA members are registered before we share this training invitation to non-members.
  
Additional details on registration:  
  • If staying overnight, the Kellogg Conference Hotel will be offering a special rate of $139  for registrants. In order to obtain the special $139 discounted rate, you will need to call the Kellogg Conference Hotel directly at  (202) 651-6000 and request the rate using DCPCA as a group code. Overnight parking will be available for $40 a night and daily parking will be free for all attendees.
  • Two weeks before the training you will receive a welcome email from NCQA with instructions on how to complete NCQA's portion of your registration for the training. This message will contain links and information directing you to register with NCQA's system in order to receive the training's e-materials, evaluation and certificate distributions. COMPLETE your registration for the training by following the links to NCQA's website and register in their system. There are no additional fees associated with registering on NCQA's system. They will only use the information to manage the training's e-materials, evaluation and certificate distributions.
  • Several weeks before your training date, NCQA will send out a welcome email that contains all PowerPoint presentations from both training which include the 2017 standard for this training. It is the responsibility of each register to download and/or print out these materials prior to the training. No training materials will be made available during these trainings.
National NewsNationalNews
Blood Banks Facing Critical Shortage 

In the midst of the  COVID-19 pandemic , another medical crisis could be on the horizon--a blood shortage.

As Americans continue to practice social distancing, events all over the country have been canceled, including blood drives. According the the American Association of Blood Banks, which monitors the nation's blood supply, 4,000 blood drives have been canceled resulting in 104,000 fewer donations.

"Inventories were strained before...now the situation is much worse," a spokesperson from the American Association of Blood Banks says.  

The American Red Cross on Tuesday tweeted that the nationwide organization is facing a severe shortage, indicating that 2,700 blood drives had been canceled as of Monday. That works out to 86,000 fewer donations. 

Anyone who is healthy is asked to consider giving.
Upcoming Training OpportunitiesUpcomingNationalTraining


The host is the MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Centers: WV Regional Partner. This conference intends to inform medical providers of vulnerable counties in West Virginia regarding the rapid transmission of HIV and other infectious diseases, importance of identifying people with HIV, discussions of the AIDS Crisis of the past and Intimate Partner Violence. Also, included will be faculty discussing issues surrounding the opioid epidemic. 

The yearly goals of this conference are to enhance health care providers' knowledge base regarding the provision of health care for those with HIV and to augment improved patient outcomes for the HIV positive individual.
Target Audience: Physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, advance practice nurses, social work and ancillary team members.

Friday, April 24, 2020
Stonewall Conference Center
940 Resort Drive, Roanoke, WV 
7:30 AM - 4:00 PM ET
_____________________________

Many upcoming trainings and events have been canceled 
or postponed due to the COVID-19 emergency. 
It is best to call 
ahead or check 
with the organizer's websites and contacts to verify the status 
of ALL events and trainings.
_________________

Provider Workshops CANCELLED
As the country is embracing the fluid situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) is sensitive to our employees' and providers' health and well-being. As a result, the in-person Provider Workshops planned for March 30th - April 9th have been cancelled. The WV DHHR, Bureau for Medical Services (Medicaid) and WV Children's Health Insurance Program (WVCHIP) and its contractors, DXC Technology, KEPRO, and the Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) are dedicated to providing needed information during this time and will make the workshop materials available electronically as soon as it is feasible.
 __________________________ _____
Join this webinar to learn more about how your telehealth and remote communication can be a long tern solution to maximizing your impact on the Quadruple Aim.  

Virtual Communication involves using a communication tool to allow proactive communication to go out to your patients with specific messages to positively impact staff and patient safety and outcomes!

This webinar will focus on how to make telehealth and other virtual communication service lines sustainable post COVID.

Sustaining Telehealth and Virtual Communication Post COVID-19
Wednesday, April 22, 2020 |3:00 PM ET
SchoolBasedHealth

Helping Kids Deal with School Closings and Social Distancing

Schools around the United States are being forced to close due to C0VID-19 which is forcing families into different routines and halting most social interactions. A first, this may be exciting for children with the thought of not having to attend school, but after a few days they might feel differently with all the changes happening in their lives and being separated from friends and classmates. This article talks about ways to acknowledge, empathize and create new senses of normal with children during the C0VID-19 pandemic. To read more on this and to find other resources for children click here .
CommunityHealthCenterResourceCommunity Health Center Resources
 
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.
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

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.
ECRI Institute 
 
The  ECRI Institute  offers numerous policy templates that can be used as guidance consistent with the needs of community health centers. To take a look at their library of policy templates, click  here .

If you are not an ECRI member, creating a free account before accessing these materials is required. ECRI Institute resources are provided for free on behalf of HRSA.

To Access Policies: 
  • From the main page, click on the clinical risk management link on the left hand side of the page
  • Click sample policies and tools listed under tool-kits on left side of page
Click on the + sign to access individual templates.
WVPCA Staff

Sherri Ferrell, MBA | Chief Executive Officer
Debra Boyd | Chief Financial/Chief Operations Officer
Staci Arnold, MBA | Data Service & Integration Specialist
Jennifer Boyd, PA-C, PCMH-CCE | Clinical Consultant
John Kennedy, MA | School-Based Health/Behavioral Health Coordinator
Pam Moore | Member Relations Coordinator
Shannon Parker, MBA, PCMH-CCE | Director of Health Center Operations
Amanda West | Staff Accountant
Emma White, RN | Clinical Quality Improvement Coordinator 
Paula Beasley | Education and Communications Coordinator 
To sign up to receive the WVPCA Weekly Newsletter, click HERE
West Virginia Primary Care Association
  1700 MacCorkle Ave. Charleston, WV 25314| (304) 346-0032 | WWW.WVPCA.ORG
STAY CONNECTED:
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.