COIPA June Advocate
6/3/2020
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In this issue:
- Welcome COIPA's Newest Members
- Part 2 of the COVID-19 Response ECHO for Oregon Clinicians
- VIM Receives National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics / Direct Relief COVID-19 Relief Grant
- New 6-week series: Yoga & Mindfulness for Health Care Workers
- Preparing for Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness: A message from First Interstate Bank
- Short Weekly Clinician Survey (ORPRN at OHSU and Larry A Green Center )
- Clinics Open & Here To Help
- Staying Informed On COVID-19
- CORD (Central Oregon Resource Directory): Central Oregon Health Council
- Washington State Department Of Health
- Oregon Health Authority
- First Interstate Bank
- Pacific Office Automation
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May Members
Erika N Adams, FNP
Lance S Adams, MD
James R Ballard, MD
Joan B Friderici, MD
Jennifer M Hendi, MD
Theodore B Jennermann, MD
Michael S McLaughlin, MD
Erin J Murphy, PA
Bradley E Scott, PA
Sundrayah N Stoller, MD
Non-Member Integrated Participating Providers
Chanda M Driscoll, LCSW
Lindsay A Kittredge, PhD
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Sign up now for Part 2 of the COVID-19 Response ECHO for Oregon Clinicians
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The second series of virtual, interactive sessions on the COVID-19 virus and the Oregon clinician response begins Thursday, June 11, noon - 1:15 p.m.
Presented by the
Oregon ECHO Network
, along with the Oregon Health Authority, the sessions will provide the latest information on best practices in clinical management, infection prevention and control, testing, and the community public health and delivery of care response.
A specialist panel, including public health experts, infectious disease specialists, primary care clinicians, and epidemiologists, will share up-to-date knowledge and answer questions. There will also be an opportunity for Oregon clinicians to present workflow and other practice situations relating to the pandemic for discussion and recommendations.
The sessions are free and no-cost CME is available.
Sessions will take place on the 2
nd
and 4
th
Thursdays of each month, June 11 through September 24, noon - 1:15 p.m. Participation takes place in a virtual meeting space — join from your own computer or cellphone.
All Oregon clinicians are encouraged to
register
.
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Please click the registration button to register, visit our website at
connect.oregonechonetwork.org
or email the Oregon ECHO Network at
oen@ohsu.edu
as soon as possible if you are interested in participating.
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New 6-week series: Yoga & Mindfulness for Health Care Workers
Led by 500hr Yoga Teacher and RN of 13 years, Suzy Aragon
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VIM Receives National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics / Direct Relief COVID-19 Relief Grant
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The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC) approved a grant of $15,000 made possible through the generosity of Direct Relief. This funding will support the VIM charitable pharmacy prescriptions-by-mail program, in addition to staff salaries to keep the clinic functioning and to keep volunteer providers active.
One week into VIM's Telehealth program, the clinic transitioned to mailing medications, Patients were struggling with transportation and worried about social distancing. Our volunteer pharmacists were reluctant to work in the clinic because they are in the high-risk category for COVID-19. Mailing medications means our part-time pharmacy director can fill and prepare mailings when his schedule allows, and patients save the time and expense of driving to the clinic. Education takes place over the phone, with a three-way call including the patient, pharmacist, and interpreter. We are shipping 90-day supplies to further decrease refill demand.
NAFC
Mission: To ensure that the medically underserved have access to affordable quality health care.
Twitter: @nafclinics
Instagram: @nafclinics
Direct Relief
Mission: Direct Relief is a humanitarian aid organization, active in all 50 states and more than 80 countries, with a mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies – without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay.
Twitter: @DirectRelief
Instagram: @directrelief
About Volunteers in Medicine Clinic of the Cascades
Volunteers in Medicine Clinic of the Cascades (VIM) is a nonprofit clinic in Bend that provides free medical care to low-income, uninsured adults from working families in Central Oregon. Our mission is “to improve the health and wellness of the medically uninsured or critically underserved through the engagement of professionals, community partners, and dedicated volunteers.” VIM is the only clinic in Central Oregon that cares for the uninsured without charge. Patients receive primary and specialty medical care, medications, mental health care, surgery, physical therapy, lab work, medical tests, and education programs. All care is provided through medical and support volunteers.
Mary Overman
Development Director & Communications Manager
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Preparing for Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness
A message from First Interstate Bank
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Greetings,
As your trusted lender, we want to make sure you understand and have what you need to request forgiveness of your Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has released a draft
Loan Forgiveness Application
and
Interim Final Rule
that offers insight into the forgiveness requirements as well as helpful examples of how to calculate your forgiveness amount.
We are not accepting forgiveness applications just yet; we'll email you with next steps when it's time to apply.
In fact, we suggest you wait to complete the forgiveness application. The rules and guidance regarding the PPP loans are evolving—and forgiveness is no different. We are waiting for more details from the SBA about the forgiveness process, and Congress is considering legislation that could change key forgiveness requirements. Payments on your loan are deferred for the first six months, so you have until that time to complete the forgiveness process.
So what
can
you do now? Download the draft forgiveness application and related guidance and read both closely. Familiarize yourself with the important terms and forgiveness requirements that may affect your business; we highlighted a few key items below. Be sure to keep up with the PPP guidance as it evolves; the SBA continues to publish updates on the
Treasury website
.
Eligible Expenses
As you know, all or a portion of your PPP loan may be forgiven if the money is spent on payroll costs, as well as mortgage interest, rent, or utilities—if established before February 15, 2020. Payment of mortgage principal and prepayment are not included as eligible expenses.
At least 75 percent of the loan must be spent on payroll costs, which can include salary, wages, commissions, and cash tips; paid time off, parental, family, medical, or sick leave; allowance for separation or dismissal; employee benefits including insurance premiums and retirement; and payment of state and local taxes assessed on compensation of employees. (Remember, employee pay is capped at $100,000 annually for purposes of this calculation.)
Payment Period Flexibility
The SBA has allowed some flexibility in timing for the use of PPP funds. Businesses may seek forgiveness for payroll costs paid or incurred during the eight weeks beginning on either:
- The date you receive the funds ("covered period"), or
- The first day of the first payroll cycle in the covered period ("alternate covered period")
Payroll costs paid or incurred during the eight-week period are eligible for forgiveness. Payroll costs incurred during the eight-week period are eligible for forgiveness if paid on or before the next regular payroll date. Otherwise, they must be paid during the eight weeks. Payroll costs are considered "paid" on the day paychecks are distributed or your business originates an ACH credit transaction. They are considered "incurred" on the day the employee earned the pay.
Mortgage interest, rent, and utilities need to be paid during the covered period or paid on or before the next regular billing date, even if the billing date is after the covered period.
Forgiveness Amount Reductions
The forgiveness amount is reduced if the salary or hourly wages of employees who make less than $100,000 annually was reduced by more than 25 percent during the eight-week period compared to the period from January 1 to March 31, 2020.
The forgiveness amount also is reduced if the business reduces its average full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. The loan application includes instructions for calculating the number of FTE employees. And there are exceptions; the following may be excluded if you didn't hire a replacement:
- Employees who declined a good-faith, written rehire offer.
- Employees who were fired for cause, voluntarily resigned, or voluntarily requested and received a reduction of their hours.
The SBA has also extended "safe harbor" to businesses that rehire employees by June 30, 2020. You may be exempt from the FTE reduction if these two conditions are met:
- You reduced the business' FTE levels between February 15 and March 31, 2020
- You restored the business' FTE levels by June 30, 2020, to the FTE levels in the pay period that ended February 15, 2020
We understand the rules and guidance regarding the PPP have been complicated and have evolved throughout the program. Thank you for your patience as we await clear instructions; we will do our best to keep you updated throughout the forgiveness process. If you have questions or need assistance, don't hesitate to contact
your First Interstate banker
.
Sincerely,
First Interstate Bank
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Short Weekly Clinician Survey by
ORPRN at OHSU and Larry A Green Center
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The Oregon Rural Practice-Based Research Network (ORPRN) at OHSU has partnered with the Larry A. Green Center to survey primary care clinics in Oregon. COIPA encourages our members to participate in this important survey and take a look at the results so far (see links below). NOTE: ORPRN and COIPA are working together to support SBIRT adoption and reporting in an unrelated project called ANTECEDENT.
“The Larry A. Green Center is conducting a short weekly clinician survey to better understand response and capacity of US primary care practices to COVID-19. The Green Center generously shares
Oregon results
with ORPRN so we can keep track of impacts in our state.
The survey takes less than 3 minutes to complete. We encourage you to participate on a weekly basis, or as often as you are able. Note that the survey opens on Fridays and closes on Mondays.
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Clinics spreading the word that they are open, offering telehealth, and here for you.
COIPA created a
PSA
that has been airing in our community for the last few months, feel free to share this on your site to help spread awareness on telemedicine.
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Staying informed on COVID-19
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The Department of Health for Washington has created a web page dedicated to keeping our community up to date and informed on the current state of COVID-19. Click the link below for the most current information.
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Central Oregon Health Council has created a web page dedicated to keeping our community up to date and informed on the most impactful COVID-19 communications. Below is link to the new site.
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Oregon Health Association has a dedicated site to keep you update on the pressing COVID-19 impacts. Below is a quick link to the site.
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Clinics Needing Additional Funding During This Time
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For our clinics needing information regarding obtaining a loan from First Interstate to assist with operations during the COVID-19 outbreak please reach out to:
Dawn Cofer
541-330-7555
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The team at Pacific Office Automation can help with setting up at home workstations to help keep your office and staff going.
Sean Walsh
Doug Judish
541-388-1276
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Mission
COIPA is committed to our members' success by:
- Providing sustainable support services
- Incentivizing quality care
- Engaging individuals for improvement
- Partnering with the community
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We want to hear all of the exciting changes, new services, promotions, and events that our members have scheduled in 2020 and share it monthly in the Advocate.
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