AMA Announces CPT Update for Monkeypox Testing and Vaccination

The American Medical Association (AMA) announced an update to Current Procedural Terminology (CPT)®, the nation’s leading medical terminology code set for describing health care procedures and services, that includes a new laboratory test code for the orthopoxvirus and two codes for the vaccines being utilized to prevent monkeypox infection.

These new CPT codes are effective for immediate use and are designed to clinically distinguish the diagnostic test and vaccinations for monkeypox to support data-driven tracking, reporting and analysis necessary for resource planning and allocation during the public health response to the outbreak.

Read more and view the codes here >>>

Also from AMA:

• What is monkeypox?
• Monkeypox: Physician Frequently Asked Questions

CDC Resources:

• Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity
• Monkeypox Resources and News
• Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System

We look forward to celebrating National Health Center Week 2022 with you!

Did you know, NHCW is a great time to invite members of the Tennessee General Assembly and Congress out to your center? If you would like assistance reaching out to elected officials and inviting them to your health center, please email emily.waitt@tnpca.org.

If your health center is holding a NHCW event, please let TPCA know by emailing emily.waitt@tnpca.org with a short description of the event. 

Learn more about National Health Center Week >>> 

Tennessee Primary Elections

State and federal primary and state and county general elections will be held tomorrow, Thursday, August 4. There will be significant turnover in the Tennessee General Assembly as about 18 state legislators are not running for re-election.

To learn more, visit https://sos.tn.gov/elections/services/august-4-election-information

TennCare III Waiver - Amendment 4

On June 30, 2022 CMS sent a letter requesting TennCare address issues in the current TennCare III demonstration (the 'modified block grant'), which has been in effect since January 1, 2021. 

TennCare will submit Amendment #4 to the existing TennCare III waiver. Amendment 4 would address the structure of the budget neutrality cap, demonstration expenditure authority, drug formulary, and limitations on reductions of benefits and coverage. The amendment will be submitted to CMS following a 30-day public notice and comment period.

Please reach out to rebecca.woods@tnpca.org by tomorrow, Thursday, August 4 with health center feedback on the proposed amendment. Comments are due by Friday, August 19. 

Comments may also be submitted by email to public.notice.tenncare@tn.gov or comments may be mailed to Aaron Butler, Director of Policy Division of TennCare 310 Great Circle Road Nashville, TN 37243. 

View the Notice of Change to the TennCare III Demonstration >>> 

View Amendment 4 >>> 

Reconciliation Package

Last week, Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced an agreement with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on the budget reconciliation package. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 includes climate change and tax provisions as well as health care provisions to lower drug costs and extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies under the American Rescue Plan.

FY23 Appropriations

The FY23 Appropriations process is underway in Congress. The Senate Appropriations Chairman, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) released his version of the drafts of the 12 appropriations bills.

The bills would provide $1.9B for community health centers, which is a $170M increase from last year’s level. The funding includes $172M for Ending the HIV Epidemic and $50M for contraceptive care. There is also $135M for the National Health Service Corps, including $10M to expand substance use disorder treatment in rural areas.

The House already passed a portion of its 12 spending bills. If Congress doesn’t pass the appropriations bills before the end of the fiscal year on September 30, Congress will have to pass a short-term continuing resolution to keep the government funded at current levels.

Telehealth Bill Passes House

Last week, the House passed the Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act, led by Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Liz Cheney (R-WY). The bill was supported by every Tennessee House member.

The legislation would extend the COVID-19 flexibilities in Medicare reimbursement through December 31, 2024, or the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, whichever occurs later. During this time, reimbursement would remain at the fee schedule rate. Under the legislation, audio-only services would be covered. The bill would also continue to delay the in-person visit requirements for Medicare behavioral health services delivered via telehealth.  

Learn more about Families Matter, a Memphis non-profit is working to help families grow located in Christ Community Health Services Center.

Watch the segment here >>>

The non-profit community healthcare provider Connectus Health is introduces its new full-service clinic on wheels to the middle Tennessee community, enabling medical professionals to deliver state-of-the-art care from anywhere.

Read more here >>>

Erlanger's Community Health Centers host a Back-to-School Bash!

Watch the segment here >>>

BPHC-BH TA SDoH Roundtable:

Building the Evidence Base for Social Determinants of Health Interventions

August 24, 2022

2 - 3PM Eastern

Patients with lower household income on average have a higher number of underlying chronic conditions, experience higher medical costs and utilization of medical care, including emergency services, and are hospitalized more often and for longer periods of time. Health Centers can apply their in-house data and community-based data to drive their health equity strategy. They can also use insights culled from other data sources to identify health care disparities, find root causes, and craft targeted interventions that address issues related to Social Determinants of Health.

Register here >>> 

Virtual Danger Assessment Training

for Healthcare Providers

This training is designed to improve your knowledge of identifying and addressing domestic violence. Although there are many forms of abuse, certain behaviors indicate that a victim is at a greater risk of being seriously injured or killed by their abuser. It is important to recognize the factors and behaviors that indicate an increased risk of danger to our clients. Understanding these risk markers can help practitioners educate their clients about their risk of lethality or serious injury, and to inform their decision-making and referrals. This training will explore the behaviors and circumstances that increase a victim’s risk, ways to assess a victim’s risk, and strategies to help clients seeks safety.

August 25, 2022

10:00-11:30AM Central

Virtual 

If you have any questions please contact Tina Evans at tina.evans@tn.gov.

Register here >>> 

Do you have any questions about cybersecurity?

You are invited to join a HITEQ webinar on September 8, 2022 at 2:00pm EST to ask anything related to cybersecurity.

This session will seek to motivate and educate health center staff and leadership on current critical cybersecurity threats, concepts, and methods for the defense of health data. A panel of cybersecurity experts will address your questions on how to protect your health center from both internal and external network leaks, through malware such as ransomware, and through physical means on-site.

Register here >>> 

Tennessee Community Health Worker Association:

Building Community Health Worker Skills: Encouraging Health Promotion & COVID-19 Prevention

Thursdays – September 15 and 22

10AM-12PM Central 

Wednesdays – October 5 and 12

12-2PM Central

Thursdays – November 3 and 10

2-4PM Central

CHWs will learn how to use non-blaming conversations to help people consider ways to stay healthy. Topics will include active listening, health coaching, building rapport, and basics of COVID-19 prevention.

Complete the interest form here >>> 

COVID-19

TPCA created a COVID-19 Resources page that contains information and tools for health centers and the general public on a variety of COVID-19 related topics, including COVID-19 vaccines, updates, human resources & operations, telehealth, and PPE.

TPCA Members may also access the COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit for the latest in TN COVID-19 Vaccine distribution as well as timely and relevant resources.