The National Association of Community Health Centers will host its 2021 Policy & Issues Forum in a virtual format, March 15-18, 2021.

Planning for the virtual 2021 Policy & Issues Forum is underway and promises to provide a full and productive program focused on a host of health center operational, clinical, governance and policy/advocacy areas.

What are the prospects for closing the coverage gap in Tennessee in 2021 and beyond? Is there a new way forward? The expansion of Medicaid, a joint federal and state program, has been thwarted numerous times in Tennessee. As we transition to the administration of President-elect Biden, Governor Lee continues his term, and the 112th session of the Tennessee General Assembly is convened, what will it mean for access to care in Tennessee? The purpose of this webinar is to present and discuss prospects for extending coverage from several perspectives. 

• The Value of Health and Health Care Coverage, Dr. Katie Cahill

• What to Expect from the Biden Administration , Dr. Carole R. Myers

• The Perspective of a Healthcare Provider, Katina Beard 

• The Scott County Story of Rural Hospital Closures, The Honorable Jeff Tibbals

HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau launched the Promoting Pediatric Primary Prevention (P4) Challenge competition last month to respond to declining rates of childhood vaccination coverage and well-child visits due to COVID-19.

The P4 Challenge will award $1 million in prizes for innovative approaches to increase access to and utilization of well-child visits and/or immunizations services within primary care settings. Partnerships with state and local organizations are encouraged, and submissions must include a primary care provider who delivers health services to children.

HRSA expects to select up to 50 Phase 1 winners and up to 20 Phase 2 winners.

Join RCORP for an online policy forum where community leaders will share their perspectives about telehealth, the opioid crisis in East TN, and possible policy solutions.

Facilitators include Representative Robin Smith, Tennessee General Assembly; Mary Shelton, TennCare; and Dr. Robert Pack, East Tennessee State University.

Join BKD and Achieve Revenue Management for this four-day virtual training event, where our healthcare pros will cover revenue cycle management issues specific to community health centers (CHC). This session is tailored for CEOs, CFOs, finance directors, controllers, and CHC revenue cycle managers.

Pain and substance use disorders (SUD) co-occur frequently, and access to medical treatment for both has been appreciably disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this webinar, consultants from the National Substance Use Warmline will provide a detailed discussion of buprenorphine, which can be used effectively for managing chronic pain in patients with SUD. Following this webinar, participants will be able to more confidently assess and manage pain in persons with opioid use disorder and other SUDs.

Don't miss out on early registration rates for NACHC's All-Virtual Financial Operations Management (FOM) training series!

Are you getting the most out of your Medicare program and payments? Join Feldesman + Tucker + Leifer + Fidell attorney Susannah Vance Gopalan and revenue cycle management expert Rebekah Wallace Pardeck for this leadership workshop designed specifically for community health centers.

UTHSC nurse researchers are seeking RNs who want to share their stories of caring for COVID-19 patients. These nurses will be interviewed as part of a study on the Grief Experience of Nurses working on the Frontlines during the COVID19 Pandemic.

Participation includes completing a brief survey and participating in a virtual focus group. To participate, the RN must meet the following criteria:

1. Be an RN working in an acute care facility providing direct care to COVID-19 patients.

2. Must have experienced at least one patient death from COVID-19.

3. Must have worked at least 24 hours per week for a minimum of 3 weeks.

4. Must have met all of the above criteria between March 2020–September 2020.

Those who complete the study will receive a $25 Target e-gift card.

Uniform Data System 2020 Reporting Due February 15, 2021

The Uniform Data System (UDS) reporting period for 2020 begins on Friday, January 1, 2021. HRSA-funded health centers and Health Center Program look-alikes are required to submit complete and accurate UDS reports by Monday, February 15, 2021. Upon successful submission, we will assign your UDS report to a UDS reviewer who will work with you to finalize your data submission.

The 2020 UDS Manual includes detailed instructions for completing each of the tables and appendices, as well as information on how to submit the UDS through HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks. The Manual, COVID-19-specific guidance, and other UDS reporting resources are available on our UDS Resources webpage. The UDS Training website may also assist you in reporting.

Direct any electronic reporting questions to Health Center Program Support online or by phone: 877-464-4772, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, Monday-Friday (except federal holidays). Direct all UDS content questions to the UDS Support Center: 866-UDS-HELP (866-837-4357) or udshelp330@bphcdata.net.

The Tennessee Center for Health Workforce Development (TCWD) staff have created concise descriptions of available financial incentives for select physicians and nurse practitioners in Tennessee (including those of TCWD).