HHS Extends Application Deadline for CARES Act Provider Relief Funds to September 13 |
HHS has extended the application date for Phase 2 Provider Relief Funds to September 13, 2020.
Each health center should have received funding totaling at least 2% of their 2018 net patient revenues from the “General Distribution” of the Provider Relief Fund (PRF.) This funding was provided via two allotments – the first around April 10 and the second coming any time from late April through June. (This is separate from the $103,253 provided for each “rural” site under the Rural Allotment.)
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Additional COVID-19 Resources |
New NACHC Finance Office Hours for Health Centers: Strategies for Managing COVID-19
Wednesdays this fall from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET
NACHC and partners at BKD, LLP have joined forces again to provide to provide timely information and resources to support health centers through this challenging time. Topics will change weekly to address real-time challenges based on health centers input and feedback.
Registration is free – sign up for one or more sessions today!
COVID-19 Resources Page
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 TPCA’s COVID-19 Updates, human resources & operations, telehealth, and PPE. |
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPATION |
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The National Center for Primary Care at Morehouse School of Medicine is recruiting primary care clinicians working in Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee to participate in a virtual focus group assessing the adoption and use of digital health tools (DHTs).
The focus group will follow an afternoon session at the Tennessee Primary Care Association’s 2020 Annual Conference September 30 – October 2. The goal of the focus group will be to listen to clinicians’ experiences using DHTs in your practice and the benefits and challenges you have faced in using them. Participants will be provided with a $100 gift card for participation.
If you would like to participate, please follow this link to register or scan our QR code. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at dhtsncpc@msm.edu.
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Academic Detailing in Tennessee
Share information with your clinical colleagues for safe and effective management of opioid treatment for pain.
ONE Tennessee is seeking 8-10 participants for training Sept. 29-Oct. 1, and commitment of compensated 5 hrs/month thereafter for engagement with local clinicians to share evidence about best practices for opioid prescribing.
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ROUTE ONE: Pilot of Mobile App for RN Training
4.0 CNE credits
As you have been busy with response to COVID-19, there is another epidemic that is ongoing: opioid use disorder, which resulted in 1,304 deaths in 2018, as well as 16,363 outpatient visits and 7202 inpatient stays for non-fatal overdoses.
What can you do to help reduce the risk for the patients under your care? Enroll now to receive information that will help you provide safe and effective care for your patients with prescribed opioid medications.
Beginning on Sept. 23, 2020, short daily messages will be sent to your mobile device for 30 days, containing brief informational content about evidence-based clinical practices and a question to help you test your knowledge.
the Tennessee Hospital Association.
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Federal Funding
Congress returned from August recess this week with only a few weeks of legislative time before members return home before the November election. Prior to the August recess, negotiations over another comprehensive COVID-19 stimulus package had come to a standstill. In response to the impasse in Congress, the Senate developed a trimmed down version of the HEALS Act that would have included additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program and a boost to unemployment benefits. On Thursday, the Senate voted on this pared down bill but failed to pass the legislation. Congress must also come to an agreement on funding the federal government before the fiscal year ends on September 30.
Civic Engagement-Get Out the Vote
Access to 340B Medications at Risk
The 340B Drug Pricing Program is a critical program for health center patients, ensuring that they can obtain medications at affordable prices. Without the program, access to medications would be out of reach for millions of patients, negatively impacting their health. Recently, several manufacturers have announced new restrictions on 340B medications, focusing on medications dispensed at contract pharmacies. These restrictions endanger the intended purpose of the 340B program and health centers’ ability to provide care to their patients. NACHC, Primary Care Associations, and community health centers across the country are talking with Members of Congress and HRSA, urging action to stop these damaging provisions from going into effect. HRSA is currently weighing whether the restrictions proposed by manufacturers violate the 340B statute and legal action is expected. NACHC has published a statement outlining the issue.
As a reminder, NACHC has released a 340B Toolkit with more detailed information on each of these developments. If you would like to receive a copy of the template, please contact Emily Waitt at emily.waitt@tnpac.org.
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HRSA RFI: HPSA Scoring Criteria and Maternity Care Health Professional Target Areas
HRSA is seeking feedback on Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) scoring and to inform policy on criteria for Maternity Care Health Professional Target Areas (MCTAs). HRSA is seeking feedback on how HPSA’s are being scored and which data sources to use to ensure accuracy and suitability of HPSA scoring methodology. While many sources of data are available for shortage designation, HRSA is open to using any additional data sources that will help fulfill the statutory mandate to distribute resources and providers to the areas of the greatest need.
Comments will be received up until September 18, 2020 at 7:30 PM EST.
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TennCare NP/PA Prescribing Legislation for CMHCs/FQHCs Webinar Presentation
On Monday, August 31, TennCare hosted this webinar to provide guidance for nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) looking to prescribe buprenorphine medication assisted treatment (MAT) for TennCare members.
TennCare Telehealth Guidance Extension
This week, TennCare released a memo announcing Amerigroup, BlueCare, and UnitedHealthCare are all extending current telehealth coverage policies through December 31, 2020.
Learn more by visiting TennCare MCOs’s websites:
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Marlita Colbert-White recognized in Memphis Business Journal |
Meet 40 Under 40 honoree Marlita Colbert-White. A year-and-a-half ago, Colbert-White was named CEO of the Hardeman County Community Health Center. At 37, she was the youngest person to hold that title and the first African-American CEO in its 28-year history.
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ADDITIONAL NEWS & RESOURCES |
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THANK YOU TO OUR
2020 CONFERENCE SPONSORS & EXHIBITORS!
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Share your news!
We want to help spread the word about what's going on at Tennessee's health centers.
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This publication is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $1,830,669, with 15 percent financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
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