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WVPCA Weekly Outlook
A Newsletter on Community Centered Healthcare
June 18, 2021
In This Issue...
WVPCA News - Emergency Management News
Outreach and Enrollment News - School-Based Health Corner
State News - National News - Funding Opportunities
Upcoming Training Opportunities - What We're Reading
News Flash!
Supreme Court preserves ACA in 7-2 ruling that latest challenge doesn't have standing
Read the entire article from Fierce Healthcare here.

Congress approves bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday
Read the entire article from APNews here.

Almost all West Virginia counties are in green on DHHR's county alert map
Read the entire article from WVNews here.

As COVID-19 cases wane, vaccine-lagging areas still see risk
Read the entire article from APNews here.

Blood banks urge West Virginians to give blood, say shortage critical
Read the entire article from WVNews here.

The F.D.A. tells Johnson & Johnson that about 60 million doses made at a troubled plant cannot be used.
Read the entire article from The New York Times here.
WVPCA News
AZARA ACADEMY Webinar Series
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 webinar will have a separate registration (links included) for the upcoming sessions:
Using DRVS to Support Value-Based Initiatives on June 15, 2021 | 1:00 - 2:30PM

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.
Record Number Gain Security of Coverage through Affordable Care Act
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a new report that shows 31 million Americans have health coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) – a new record. The report also shows that there have been reductions in the uninsured rate in every state in the country since the law’s coverage expansions took effect. People served by the health insurance Marketplaces and Medicaid expansion have reached record highs.

In the Mountain State, 17,217 West Virginians effectuated ACA health insurance coverage in February 2021, and more than 193,341 accessed health insurance through Medicaid expansion, bringing the uninsured rate from 14 percent in 2013 to 6.7 percent in 2019. West Virginia is one of 39 states (including DC) to adopt Medicaid expansion.
May Special Enrollment Period Report
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a new report that shows that more than 1 million new and returning consumers have health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace that costs $10 or less per month after advance payments of premium tax credits (APTC) following the April 1 implementation of the American Rescue Plan’s (ARP) expanded APTC. Of the 1,034,624 consumers who selected a Marketplace plan with premiums of $10 or less per month, after APTC, 687,275 were returning consumers and 347,349 were new consumers. This means 4 in 10 (43%) new consumers and 3 in 10 (30%) returning consumers and more than one third (34%) of all consumers have selected a plan of $10 or less per month following the implementation of ARP expanded APTC. The ARP’s expanded premium tax credits have reduced premiums, increased savings, and given consumers access to quality, affordable health care coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

“Having access to quality, affordable health coverage gives Americans peace of mind when they need to seek care,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Thanks to the Biden-Harris administration’s Special Enrollment Period and expanded premium tax credits from the American Rescue Plan, each week we continue to see more Americans experience the relief and security that comes with affordable, quality health coverage.”
Generation Z and Mental Health
We have a long history of grouping people by many different metrics. One common way to learn more about a particular group is by generations. There is a lot of talk today about Generation Z, or those born between 1995 and 2010 and what is being discussed is that they are growing up in an age of increased stress and anxiety. The bad news is their mental health is worse off than any other generation, but the good news is they are more likely to seek help through counselors. 
New Toolkit from HHS and HUD
A new COVID-19 vaccination and testing toolkit, jointly developed by HHS and HUD, can help health centers and HUD-assisted housing and homeless programs to partner on COVID-19 vaccination delivery, COVID-19 testing, and health care for residents of public housing, low-income housing (including housing for older adults and people with disabilities), and people experiencing homelessness.
Vaccine Hesitancy Map
The Department of Health and Human Services recently developed an interactive map of state, county, and sub-state level predictions of hesitancy rates using the most recently available federal survey data, the Household Pulse Survey from April 14-26.
State News
Dr. Karen Fortuna to Present at the 2021 WV Peer Recovery Support Services Conference
HPV Vaccination Leadership Forum
Please plan to attend the virtual Ohio/West Virginia HPV Vaccination Leadership Forum on Thursday, June 24th from 9am-11am. Join colleagues in Ohio and West Virginia for a virtual learning session about how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted HPV vaccination rates. Gain tools and resources that will help you improve vaccination rates in your local community.

The Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (Ohio AAP) is accredited by the Ohio State Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Ohio AAP designates this live activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. West Virginia providers are also eligible for CME credit. This forum is open to anyone with an interest in HPV vaccination.

If you have any questions contact Shauna Shafer at shauna.shafer@cancer.org.
WV Food for All – American Rescue Plan Act Webinar
Counties and municipalities in West Virginia will be receiving $677 million in the coming months through the American Rescue Plan Act. What could this mean for advancing Community Food Security across our state? Join our coalition partner the WVU Food Justice Lab as they present preliminary research about the American Rescue Plan Act and ways to build local advocacy networks to advance the Right to Healthy Food in the Mountain State. 

We realize at the time of this newsletter publication, that the first webinar offering has passed. Please register for the second webinar to learn more about food insecurity in West Virginia and how your organization can collaborate with other partners in your area to address food insecurity in the communities you serve.
2021 West Virginia Addiction Conference
Save the Date: October 28-29, 2021
Appalachian Addiction and Prescription Drug Abuse Conference:
Pain and Addiction Best Practices and Proper Prescribing
2-Day Virtual Event!
National News
June is National COVID-19 Vaccine Month of Action 
The Department of Health and Human Services “We Can Do This” COVID-19 Community Corps has kicked off a month-long mobilization effort to get our communities vaccinated by July 4th! The National Vaccine Month of Action is a collaborative effort with thousands of national organizations, community-based partners, and everyday people, serving as trusted messengers, listening to people’s concerns and helping them make informed decisions about COVID-19 vaccinations. There are plenty of ways to act near you or virtually.
National HIV Testing Day
National HIV Testing Day is Sunday, June 27, 2021. This year's theme is “My Test, My Way." This is a chance to emphasize for your patients the importance of knowing their HIV status. If a patient is positive, it is an opportunity to link them to care and discuss treatments that can lower their viral load. Remind them that undetectable = untransmittable. These are major steps for ending the HIV Epidemic.

Get #HIVTestingDay resources to spread the word on CDC’s National HIV Testing Day page and HIV.gov’s National HIV Testing Day webpage.
Collecting Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data to Reduce LGBTQ Health Disparities
June is LGBTQ Pride month and as healthcare organizations work to increase health equity and form a more inclusive environment, it is important to capture sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data. LGBTQ healthcare consumers have unique healthcare needs and community health centers are positioned to offer equitable, inclusive, and quality services to these individuals.

Nationwide, community health centers have been charged with collecting SOGI data since HRSA added this component in 2016 to the annual UDS. However, a study published in the American Journal of Public Health in 2019 found that SOGI data was missing from annual UDS reports for 77.1% and 62.8%, respectively, of patients served by community health centers (Grasso et al., 2019)

In West Virginia's community health centers, according to public-facing 2019 UDS data, there were 114,729 patients or 24.3% missing sexual orientation data and 89,077 patients or 18.87% missing gender identity data. 

If you need assistance with workflow redesign to collect SOGI data, please contact Emma White RN, Clinical Quality Improvement Coordinator, at emma.white@wvpca.org.
Funding and Financial Opportunities
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:
  • Tuesday, August 17, 5 p.m. ET in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) 

Visit the fiscal year (FY) 2022 Optimizing Virtual Care technical assistance (TA) webpage for the Notice of Funding Opportunity, pre-recorded TA webinar, and other resources.
HHS Announces $1 Billion from American Rescue Plan for Construction and Renovation Projects
HHS has announced the availability of $1 billion for HRSA-Health Center Program funded health centers to support major construction and renovation projects across the country. The funding builds on President Biden’s commitment to ensuring equity in access to COVID-19 response efforts and high quality primary health care services.

Health centers that receive this funding will be able to use it for COVID-19 related capital needs and to construct new facilities, renovate and expand existing facilities, and purchase new equipment. Read the press release.

Applications are due in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) by 5:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 24. Visit the American Rescue Plan funding for Health Center Construction and Capital Improvements technical assistance (TA) webpage for award submission guidance, information about upcoming question and answer sessions, and other resources.
Upcoming Training Opportunities

Today with Macrae: Health Center Program Updates 
Join Jim to hear the latest information on funding, the Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program, and more.

Thursday, July 8, 2021
3:00 - 4:00 PM ET
The Evolution of LGBTQ Care: The History of Health Centers' Impact on LGBTQ Health 
Health centers have driven monumental change in LGBTQ medical and behavioral health care guidelines, provider and staff training, policy and advocacy, and research, including the standardized collection of sexual orientation and gender identity data to identify and address inequities. The LGBTQ community has faced an myriad of concerns during COVID-19 from economic insecurity to lack of access to consistent medical and behavioral care, and like many, questions about the vaccine.s. NACHC recognizes the essential voices and resilience of the LGBTQ community and welcomes national advocates and leaders for a discussion on their organizations’ historic and continued efforts to assure quality, affordable, and accessible health care to all.

Tuesday, June 29, 2021
2:00 PM ET
Capital Project Financing Sources for Rural Health Centers
This webinar session is specifically designed for rural health centers looking to learn more about the various avenues of financing available for capital projects, including USDA, New Markets Tax Credits, and the HRSA Loan Guarantee Program.

Capital Link will highlight a recent case study of a rural health center that has successfully completed a capital development project in order to provide insight into the facility expansion process.

Participants will also be joined by staff from a rural health center who will share their experiences with planning, financing, and completing a capital project.

Thursday, June 24, 2021
2:00 PM ET 
Maternal Health Webinar Series: Substance Use Disorder and Pregnancy
The Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA), Office of Regional Operations (ORO) in Regions 5, 6, and 7 invite you to a webinar on Substance Use Disorder and Pregnancy. This webinar is part of ORO Regions 5, 6, and 7’s Maternal Health Webinar Series. The series’ goal is to highlight innovations and promising practices as well as resources to promote and further maternal health and well-being across the lifespan.

Tuesday, June 22, 2021
12:00 PM ET
Community Health Center Resources
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.
ECRI Institute
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 Pandemic Operational Recovery Guide for Health Centers and Free Clinics was written to assist health centers and free clinics in identifying and minimizing risks as they recover from operational disruptions related to a pandemic.
 
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.
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

View an archived webinar that provides a guided tour of the Manual and key features. For access to the ECRI Institute Clinical Risk Management Program website or any other questions, email clinical_rm_program@ecri.org.
WVPCA Staff
Sherri Ferrell, MBA | Chief Executive Officer
Debra Boyd | Chief Financial/Chief Operations Officer
Staci Arnold, MBA | Data Service & Integration Specialist
Joshua Austin | Policy & Communications Director
Paula Beasley | Education & Communication Coordinator
Jennifer Boyd, PA-C, PCMH-CCE | Clinical Consultant
John Kennedy, MA | School-Based Health/Behavioral Health Coordinator
Pam Moore | Member Relations Coordinator
Shannon Parker, MBA, PCMH-CCE | Director of Health Center Operations
Ruby Piscopo | Outreach & Enrollment Coordinator
Amanda West | Staff Accountant
Emma White, RN, PCMH-CCE | Clinical Quality Improvement Coordinator
To sign up to receive the WVPCA Weekly Newsletter:
1700 MacCorkle Avenue, SE
Charleston, WV 25314
Phone: 304.346.0032
Toll Free: 1.877.WVA HLTH
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.