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WVPCA Weekly Outlook
A Newsletter on Community Centered Healthcare
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WVPCA News - Emergency Management News
Outreach and Enrollment News - State News - National News - Funding Opportunities - Upcoming Training Opportunities - What We're Reading
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As CDC comes to Kanawha, WV doctors look to what comes next
Read the entire article from Charleston Gazette Mail here.
Walmart launching its own low-cost insulin to 'revolutionize' affordability for diabetics
Read the entire article from USA Today here.
Will one dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine protect me?
Read the entire article from WVNews here.
Two private WV schools will require student vaccination
Read the entire article from USNews here.
HIV SOS: Action sought for spike in cases in West Virginia
Read the entire article from WOWK TV here.
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Happy Independence Day from All of Us
at the West Virginia Primary Care Association
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The West Virginia Primary Care Association wishes you and your family a Happy Independence Day! As we celebrate our nation’s freedom, we honor and thank the courageous men and women that have dedicated their lives to preserving it. Have a happy and safe Fourth of July!
In observance of Independence Day, our office will be closed on Monday, July 5th. We will reopen with normal business hours on Tuesday, July 6th.
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Barbour Community Health Association Nurse Practitioner Recognized by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners |
Barbour Community Health Association (BCHA) nurse practitioner Joyce Wilson, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, has been nationally recognized by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). AANP chooses a nurse practitioner annually from each state to accept the State Award for Excellence.
During the school year, Wilson works at the Brandon Wellness Center at Philip Barbour High School. She also does house calls to see home-bound patients and makes home visits at Talbott Personal Care Home. She has clinic hours at the Belington Clinic on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.
“We are so happy to hear Joyce is this year’s West Virginia recipient for American Academy of Nurse Practitioners’ Excellence Award,” said Eric Ruf, BCHA CEO. “Joyce exudes everything a health organization and patient would want in a nurse practitioner. She handles each patient with kindness, care, and empathy. She continues to work tirelessly for her patients, her community and the wellbeing of all West Virginians.”
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Ready to take your Azara DRVS utilization to the next level? Want to learn more about maximizing the Azara tools for performance improvements? Need to refresh your knowledge of the basic concepts DRVS? If so, please join the West Virginia Primary Care Association (WVPCA) and Azara Healthcare for the exciting AZARA ACADEMY webinar series. During these ninety minute webinars, health centers will have the opportunity to learn more about Azara DRVS, digging deeper into functionality and tools. Azara DRVS experts will demonstrate how DRVS can be leveraged for value based initiatives, care management, efficient patient visit planning, quality improvement, and other important functions and uses.
Each of the remaining webinars will have a separate registration (links included) for the upcoming sessions:
Here are just a few of the topics to be covered:
- Leveraging clinical, payer and HIE data to improve your performance.
- Exploring the continuum of care management tools to support population health and PCMH.
- DRVS Patient Visit Planning Best Practices
- Implementation of the Care Management Passport amongst the Care Team
- Development and optimization of scorecards and dashboards
- How to use DRVS to track patients with chronic conditions
- Overview of Social Determinants of Health in DRVS
Click below for details of the webinar series.
After attending these sessions health centers will have the opportunity to schedule their NO-COST ninety-minute WVPCA AZARA ACADEMY Learning Lab session hosted by an Azara Coach. The Learning Lab will offer hands on training to assist the health center in further exploring the topics covered in the DRVS Academy sessions within their own organization. Please contact the WVPCA for more details.
Target Audience: All levels of DRVS users including but not limited to: CHC Leadership, Clinical Managers, Quality and Care Management Staff, Nurses, IT/EHR Managers, Behavioral Health and School Based Health Directors.
This event is intended for Community Health Center Staff at no cost for participants.
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Consumers Should Visit HealthCare.gov to
See if They Qualify for New Financial Help
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As part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) signed by President Biden, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is again lowering the cost of health insurance and opening more pathways for Americans to obtain affordable and comprehensive health coverage. Starting July 1, 2021, consumers who received or are approved to receive unemployment compensation for any week beginning in 2021 may be able to find even lower cost plans and save extra money on out-of-pocket expenses through HealthCare.gov.
To take advantage of these additional savings, consumers who received or have been approved for unemployment compensation in 2021 need to visit HealthCare.gov to submit a new application or update their existing application to maximize the savings they can get for the rest of 2021. An average of three out of five eligible uninsured Americans can access $0 plans after advance payments of tax credits and an average of four out of five current HealthCare.gov consumers will be able to find a plan for $10 or less per month after advance payments of tax credits. CMS encourages current consumers who have received unemployment income for any week beginning in 2021 to update their application and enrollment between July 1 and August 15 to maximize the savings on their Marketplace coverage for the rest of the year.
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U.S. District Court Judge Temporarily Blocks West Virginia Needle Exchange Restrictions |
A federal judge in West Virginia has issued a temporary restraining order to stop a new state law that would put strict restrictions on needle exchange programs.
In a court filing issued, U.S. District Court Judge Robert C. Chambers issued a temporary restraining order to block the implementation of Senate Bill 334. Governor Jim Justice signed the measure into law in April, with an effective date set for July 9.
The pending law doesn’t explicitly wipe out harm reduction programs, but would set standards that operators say could bar access to care.
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UV Safety Awareness Month |
UV Safety Awareness Month happens every July. However, eyes are at risk to UV rays all year round. Sunlight is not the only culprit though—tanning beds offer a higher dose of UV rays than sunlight. This makes it important to protect the eyes from UV rays in all situations by wearing proper eye protection—either UV blocking sunglasses or appropriate tanning goggles.
Here are some tips from the American Academy of Ophthalmology:
- Don’t focus on color or darkness of sunglass lenses: Select sunglasses that block UV rays. Don’t be deceived by color or cost. The ability to block UV light is not dependent on the price tag or how dark the sunglass lenses are.
- Check for 100 percent UV protection: Make sure your sunglasses block 100 percent of UV-A rays and UV-B rays.
- Choose wrap-around styles: Ideally, your sunglasses should wrap all the way around to your temples, so the sun’s rays can’t enter from the side.
- Wear a hat: In addition to your sunglasses, wear a broad-brimmed hat to protect your eyes.
- Don’t rely on contact lenses: Even if you wear contact lenses with UV protection, remember your sunglasses.
- Don’t be fooled by clouds: The sun’s rays can pass through haze and thin clouds. Sun damage to eyes can occur anytime during the year, not just in the summertime.
- Protect your eyes during peak sun times: Sunglasses should be worn whenever outside, and it’s especially important to wear sunglasses in the early afternoon and at higher altitudes, where UV light is more intense.
- Never look directly at the sun. Looking directly at the sun at any time, including during an eclipse, can lead to solar retinopathy, damage to the eye’s retina from solar radiation.
- Don’t forget the kids: Everyone is at risk, including children.
- Protect their eyes with hats and sunglasses. In addition, try to keep children out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun’s UV rays are the strongest.
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Quarterly 340B Program Registration |
Quarterly 340B Program site registration is open from July 1 to 15. Health centers will be able to register a site that has been verified as implemented and with a site status reflected as “active” in EHBs Form 5B through Friday, Aug. 27. After that date, the system will close to prepare for the Oct. 1 start. Email the 340B Prime Vendor Program or call 888-340-2787 (Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-6:00 pm) to register a new site or ask questions. You will need to provide the following information when calling: health center name, site/clinic name, site IDs for all sites, HRSA/BPHC grant number, contact name and email address and authorizing official name and email address. The authorizing official will receive an email message that the account is unlocked, and a registration may be submitted.
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Funding and Financial Opportunities |
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HRSA Announces $50 Million in Funding to Optimize Use of Virtual Care in Health Centers |
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has announced the availability of up to $50 million for HRSA-funded health centers to further efforts to advance virtual care. This competitive, one-time funding opportunity will support health centers in optimizing the use of virtual care to increase access and improve clinical quality for medically underserved communities and vulnerable populations.
Application Due Date:
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Tuesday, August 17, 5 p.m. ET in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs)
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Upcoming Training Opportunities |
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SAVE THE DATE:
Today with Macrae: Health Center Program Updates
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Join Jim to hear the latest information on funding, the Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program, and more.
Thursday, July 29, 2021
3:00 - 4:00 PM ET
Thursday, August 19, 2021
3:00 - 4:00 PM ET
Thursday, September 9, 2021
3:00 - 4:00 PM ET
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HIV and Aging Webinar: Identifying and Incorporating into Practice Screening Tools for People with HIV who are Aging in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program |
Join the HIV/AIDS Bureau for a national HIV and aging webinar.
This webinar will feature two Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) providers, who will present on how specific screening tools that assess functional and cognitive impairments can be selected for use and integrated in clinical settings.
Presentations will also consider how challenges and barriers can be navigated to assist in the development of effective plans of care and treatment. The target audience for this webinar is RWHAP providers and people with HIV.
Tuesday, July 20, 2021
1:00 PM ET
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Reducing Health Disparities by Addressing Integrated Behavioral Health in a Maternal Child Health Care Setting |
COVID-19 has exposed and exacerbated behavioral health disparities experienced by minority and vulnerable populations, including pregnant and post-partum women, their children, and families.
This webinar explores the intersection of COVID-19, health disparities, and integrated behavioral health care within a maternal child health context. Presenter Sharon Morello brings over 25 years of experience working with pregnant women and new mothers experiencing mental health and substance use disorder challenges. She will discuss recent behavioral health data trends within this population, outline opportunities for providing behavioral health care within a health center setting, and offer integrated behavioral health care strategies to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes.
Tuesday, July 29, 2021
2:00 PM ET
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Staffing Transformation Following PCMH Recognition among HRSA-Funded Health Centers |
Join HRSA for a webinar exploring how PCMH recognition at health centers has affected staffing capacity to deliver team-based integrated care. PCMH recognition aims to improve patient outcomes, and has been promoted through the Health Center Program with training, TA, and funding support. We’ll feature findings from a recent analysis of data from the Uniform Data System and the HRSA accreditation and PCMH recognition initiatives to identify changes in health center staffing infrastructure.
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
1:00 PM ET
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Community Health Center Resources |
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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.
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Pandemic Operational Recovery Guide |
Operational disruptions to ambulatory care during and after a pandemic are significant. These disruptions may change many aspects of care delivery in ways that impact providers, staff, and patients alike.
Care may be temporarily limited or delivered in nontraditional ways, and recovery of operations may represent a "new normal."
The handbook contains links to tools as well as links to additional resources for a more comprehensive discussion of individual topics. Readers can refer to descriptive "Strategy" headings in each section, and consult the recommendations, tools, and resources that follow for more detailed information. Although some tools and resources focus on the COVID-19 pandemic, they can be adapted to respond to other public health emergencies.
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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
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Debra Boyd | Chief Financial/Chief Operations Officer
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To sign up to receive the WVPCA Weekly Newsletter: |
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1700 MacCorkle Avenue, SE
Charleston, WV 25314
Phone: 304.346.0032
Toll Free: 1.877.WVA HLTH
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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. |
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