MACHC
Weekly E-Blast:  
Voicing the latest news on Communities in Need
In This Issue

Open Enrollment Countdown has officially started:

Days to NOVEMBER 1:
18 days
Have news to share with us? Want to be featured on our next E-Digest? Want to read about something in particular? Please email us at aneeqa@machc.com. 
October 13, 2015
MACHC SPOTLIGHT
Shoutout to those who attended the All FQHC Meeting!
Last week, the majority of Maryland FQHC's gathered along with Deputy Secretary of Health Care Financing, Shannon McMahon and her staff at DHMH to discuss topics including open enrollment, ICD-10 launch, behavioral health integration, and HSCRC planning grants. During the round table, newly appointed Deputy Secretary of Public Health, Dr. Howard Haft introduced himself to the group, providing assistance to health centers as need arises. Overall, the meeting prompted a fruitful dialogue between FQHC's and DHMH, trending best practices and common barriers among health centers. We hope to see continued participation at the next quarterly meeting! 

MACHC HAPPENINGS

MACHC EVENTS
   
(1) Outreach & Enrollment Call 
Friday, October 23rd, 2015
1-866-740-1260 Access 4319483
Who: Outreach Staff
Discuss state updates, best practices, barriers/issues that need attention and provide any support and advocacy where needed.

(2) Communifire Training
Please join MACHC on Friday, October 23, 2015 at 12:00 noon. for a webinar on using its social intranet platform, Communifire!  This is an important tool for communication for MACHC members and staff.
1.  Please join my meeting.
2.  Use your microphone and speakers (VoIP) - a headset is recommended.  Or, call in using your telephone.
United States: +1 (312) 757-3119
United States (toll-free): 1 877 309 2070
Access Code: 441-870-269
Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting
Meeting ID: 441-870-269

(3) Incident Command System 100 Training - Webinar
Tuesday, November 10, 2015; 12 am - 2pm  Register here
ICS 100, Introduction to the Incident Command System, introduces the Incident Command System (ICS) and provides the foundation for higher level ICS training. This course describes the history, features and principles, and organizational structure of the Incident Command System. It also explains the relationship between ICS and the National Incident Management System (NIMS). 
The Emergency Management Institute developed its ICS courses collaboratively with: 
National Wildfire Coordinating Group
U.S. Department of Agriculture 
United States Fire Administration's National Fire Programs Branch

(4) Registration is now OPEN!!!
Operations / Leadership Conference  
Dec 3rd, 2015;  8:00AM -5:00PM
Turf Valley Conference Center
2700 Turf Valley Road
Ellicott, MD 21042
The learning sessions promise to be informative and empowering for our membership, partners, and collaborators to learn from one another and leading experts in areas of:
Advanced Access, Payment Reform, Human Resources/Workforce Development, Operationalizing Fee Scales, Shared Services, Care Coordination Complexity Scale, Pathways of Communication for Referral, Making the Leap to Becoming ACO's, Maximizing Your Human Capital, Community Partnerships / Collaboration, Fostering Innovations in Your Clinic or Health Center, Leading with Laser Focus and Growing Your Health Centers Footprint Strategically.
Register HERE
Quarterly Conference Fees:
Operations/Leadership Conference
Member Price$ 175.00
Operations/Leadership Conference - Non Member Price$ 200.00
Operations/Leadership Conference and UDS Training Member Price$ 400.00
Operations/Leadership Conference and UDS Training Non- Member Price$ 450.00
Staff and Speakers$ 0.00

(5) Registration is now OPEN!!!
UDS Training
Dec 4th, 2015;  8:00AM
Turf Valley Conference Center
2700 Turf Valley Road
Ellicott, MD 21042
Register  HERE
UDS Training Fees:
MACHC Member Fee$ 250.00
Non-Member Fee$ 275.00
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Board of Directors Meetings:
(Third Friday @ 11:00 a.m.)
  • OTHER EVENTS

    • (1) 2015 Rural Health Conference
    Navigating the Present and Building the Future of Rural Health 
    October 29-30, 2015

    Orlando, Florida
    November 2-3, 2015

    (3) 2015 PCA & HCCN CONFERENCE
    Delray Beach, Florida
    November 16-18, 2015

    (4) Getting to Know the Federal Government and Funding Opportunities Webinar, Thursday, November 5, 2015, 3:30pm - 5:00pm, ET - HHS's Office of Minority Health is hosting a federal funders panel webinar to reveal best practices for responding to federal funding announcements. Opportunities for federal funding will be identified.

    (5) Managing Ambulatory   Health Care I: Introductory Couurse for Clinicians in Community Health Centers
    Delray Beach, Florida
    January 11-18, 2016
    Emergency Preparedness Events: 

    What we learned from Ebola
    It was the largest Ebola epidemic in history. It took thousands of lives. It was a wakeup call, and today we are better prepared because of it.
    In the year since Ebola spread through three West African countries and into the United States, we've taken a coordinated approach to be better prepared today for the threats of tomorrow. We implemented a screening process for travel from West Africa to the United States. We've strengthened our hospital system and have given U.S. hospitals the resources they need to care for someone who might have Ebola. Today, we're on the tail end of clinical trials for two vaccines and a treatment in West Africa. We learned that with good medical care Ebola is a survivable disease.

    Important Announcement for Maryland FQHCS
    Please get in touch with your Regional Coordinators if you have not already done so and be more active in your Regional Coalition. MACHC has reached out to you in order to make sure you know who your coordinators are and has planned MINI GRANTS as incentives to help with travel for the Coalition meetings.
    You should already have their contacts in emails I have sent within this year numerous times. Please find them below: 
     
    Regions I and II Health Care Coalition 
    [Allegany, Frederick, Garrett and Washington Counties]
    Alison Robinson
    Allegany County Health Department
    12501 Willowbrook Road
    Cumberland, MD  21502
    301-759-5238 (Office)
    443-934-2232 (Mobile)
    301-777-2069 (Fax)
    alison.robinson@maryland.gov 

    [Baltimore City; Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard Counties]
    Edward Johnson
    Harford County Health Department
    120 S. Hays Street, Suite 230 
    Bel Air, MD  21014 
    410-877-1031 (Office)
    443-388-6290 (Mobile)
      
    Region IV -
    [Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester Counties]
    Kristin McMenamin
    Kent County Health Department
    A.F. Whitsitt Center
    300 Scheeler Road, P.O. Box 229
    Chestertown, MD  21620
    410-778-4861 (Office)
    443-690-3091 (Mobile)
    410-778-4862 (Fax)
    Check out the DHMH's Ebola Table Top Exercise's After Action Report RIGHT HERE!!!

    Preparedness Resources 
    September is National Preparedness Month, a time for everyone to plan how to stay safe and communicate during the disasters that can affect your community. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) developed resources that can help you spread the word about preparedness in your community.
    , and public service announcements. 

    What to look forward to:
    MACHC has been working diligently to finalize this year's Emergency Preparedness Plan. The tentative goal for us is to 1.) increase participation at DHMH Regional Meetings (we are looking into mini grants to incentivize this effort further; we will keep you posted) 2.)  Gather the number of FQHCs that have existing MOUs and those who are currently working/partnering with a neighboring hospital/clinic (please email this information to Aneeqa Chowdhury at aneeqa@machc.com with the subject: EP MOU Status) and 3.) Conduct two Tabletop exercises and two Functional Exercises this year. The focus of our exercises this year will be mass care, ebola and pathogen illnesses. 
    Please remember to participate during Fall Regional Public Health and Medical Preparedness Conferences. The DHMH HPP Regional Preparedness Conferences are being held in October 2015. Please see below for schedule:
     
    Region IV
    October 23, 2015 / Princess Royale Conference Center (Ocean City, MD)
     
    Region V
    October 16, 2015 / Universities at Shady Grove Conference Center (Rockville, MD)

     
    Items on this year's agenda: Ebola "In Progress" Review; Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Planning; Regional Updates; 3M Fit Testing and PPE Donning & Doffing Training
     
    Who should attend: acute care and specialty hospitals, DHMH state facilities, community health center/FQHCs, local health departments, regional healthcare coalition members (current and prospective)
     
    To register, visit the DHMH/OP&R Events Calendar:
     

     
    NEW REGION V COORDINATOR
    Region V  Emergency Preparedness Coalition
    [Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George's and St. Mary's Counties]
    Casey Owens
    Office of Preparedness & Response
    Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
    300 W. Preston Street, Ste. 202
    Baltimore, MD  21201 
    casey.owens@maryland.gov
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 

    How Prepared Is Your Community for an Emergency? 

    Download the kit checklist: 

    Family communication and evacuation plan: 


    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Past: ATTENTION MD FQHCS 
     
    1. MACHC's Table Top Exercise (see slides attached) After Action Report Improvement Plan (AARIP). Please find AARIP attached here. Additionally, the Situational Manual discussed during the discussion is attached here. 

    2. DHMH Satellite Phone Recall FQHCs that still have the satellite phones distributed by DHMH 4 years ago, please send them back to: 
    L. Kay Webster, MPH
    Office of Preparedness & Response
    Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
    300 W. Preston Street, Ste. 202
    Baltimore, MD  21201 
    3. 

     
    4. Find ATTACHED (Please click here) the guide was developed to provide hospitals in California with a useful tool for developing and implementing effective respiratory protection programs, with an emphasis on protecting health care workers from aerosol transmissible diseases. It was prepared by the Occupational Health Branch (OHB) of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) with funding from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOS H) National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL).  It sure looks like something that we can perhaps modify for Maryland.   
    , you will find the template for setting up a respiratory protection program in hospitals.  

    5. MACHC conducted two FQHCs with Planning for Onsite Drill/Exercise in February 5th & 6th, 2015. The follow up call with ALL MACHC member health centers and partners was held Thursday, March 12th. Due to the large file size of Active Shooter documents, an email to all attendees and FQHC POIs was sent out. Please alert Aneeqa Chowdhury (aneeqa@machc.com) if you have not received the link.

    6. MACHC provided support to all Baltimore Health Centers during the Baltimore Riots end of April-May 2015. We thank all of our member FQHCs and partners for the support and seamless communication which created transparency and effective communication of needs during the pressing time. Please email us at MACHC if you have any comments regarding the events that occurred. 

     
    *** Look for the latest EP related updates RIGHT HERE!
    Policy, Advocacy and Legislation
    National News
    House Speaker John Boehner's announcement last month that he will resign from Congress at the end of October leaves key positions in the House Republican leadership up for grabs. The elections process begins this Thursday October 8th, with internal elections for Boehner's replacement within the Republican Conference. Later in the month, the full House will vote on a new Speaker, and to fill any resulting vacancies, should House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) move up in the ranks. 
    340B registration is now open for Health Center Program grantees and look-alikes. Note that any sites must be verified as 'active' status in the health center's scope of project (Form 5B: Service Sites) in EHB order to complete the site's registration for the 340B Program.
    The deadline for registration is Wednesday, October 15, 2015. Register for the 340B Program.
    Newborn babies have a modest risk of hypertension if their mothers took a widely prescribed antidepressant drug late in pregnancy, according to a study in the June 2 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study examines the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and the risk associated with newborns' persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN), a life-threatening condition in which babies do not get enough oxygen due to high blood pressure. AHRQ-funded researchers studied records of nearly 3.8 million women, of whom 128,950 filled at least one prescription for depression medications late in pregnancy -- 102,179 using an SSRI and 26,771 using a non-SSRI antidepressant. They found that 7,630 infants not exposed to any antidepressant were diagnosed with PPHN (20.8 per 10,000 births), compared with 322 who had been exposed to an SSRI (31.5 per 10,000 births) and 78 who had been exposed to a non-SSRI (29.1 per 10,000 births).
    It's the latest battle over screening: Should healthy women skip annual pelvic exams? A controversial recommendation last year by the American College of Physicians, which represents the nation's internists, strongly urged that doctors stop routinely performing the invasive exam on women without symptoms and who are not pregnant." 

    This week, medical specialty groups, politicians, and other healthcare experts expressed markedly different views of CMS's Meaningful Use program, which aims to leverage electronic health records and improve patient outcomes. And a new drug for treating schizophrenia earns FDA's approval. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released final rules for Stage 3 of its Meaningful Use program for electronic health records, frustrating politicians and medical organizations that had called for a delay. 

    Acknowledging at least tacitly the difficulties of some health care consumers, the Obama administration plans major changes to HealthCare.gov this year to make it easier for shoppers to find health insurance plans that include their doctors and to predict their health care costs for the coming year. With substantial premium increases coming in some states in 2016, administration officials are expecting that many consumers already in the Affordable Care Act's networks will have to switch health plans and find new doctors as they scramble for cheaper alternatives

    Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush is proposing to repeal and replace President Barack Obama's health care law with one that would increase tax credits for individuals, allowing them to buy coverage protection against "high-cost medical events." But the two-page proposal, which would give more power to states to regulate health insurance, contained no specific details on how many people could be left without coverage. It does, however, guarantee coverage for people with pre-existing health conditions, which is part of Obama's 974-page federal health law. Bush was expected to release more details Tuesday, during a three-day swing through New Hampshire. 

    A new front is emerging in the war on the overuse of antibiotics: the nursing home. Health officials and health-care executives, concerned by a rise in dangerous drug-resistant infections, are turning more attention to nursing homes, where antibiotics are some of the most frequently prescribed medications. They have concentrated over the past several years on curbing misuse of antibiotics in hospitals. 

    The number of people approved for coverage under Arkansas' expanded Medicaid program rose to 263,387 in July before falling by almost 29,219 by the end of September, according to numbers released Friday by the state Department of Human Services. Meanwhile, the cost per person of the so-called private option, which covers most of the newly eligible adults, has increased from June to September by $6.89, from $484.94 to $491.83. The federal waiver authorizing the program sets a monthly cost target of $500.08 per enrollee for 2015
    State News
    DELAWARE
    An aggressive form of breast cancer is hitting Delaware women particularly hard, and community leaders, researchers and clinicians have no clear idea why.
    The state ranked first for cases of triple negative breast cancer, according to a March report from the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries and the National Cancer Institute. State and national cancer experts say that study only used one year's information and may not reflect the full picture, but Delaware would still rank in the top five even with more data, they believe.
    MARYLAND
    Audit Cites Financial Problems With Md's Health Exchange
    Maryland's health care exchange, plagued by a website crash the day it opened in 2013, suffered from a host of problems - including how it paid companies and secured sensitive personal information, according to a state audit released Friday. The audit also noted that the exchange's board violated open meetings law seven times between June 2011 and March 2014, according to the State Open Meetings Compliance Board. The violations related to untimely notification and inadequate disclosures. The content of closed sessions also exceeded the scope of topics allowed by state law, the audit said.
    Finance & Business
    MedStar Georgetown University Hospital has applied to build a new six-story, $560 million building featuring a 33-bay emergency room, a surgical pavilion with expanded operating rooms, underground parking and a rooftop helipad. The building would replace a parking lot and attach to the existing hospital on the Georgetown campus. "Our goal is to build a medical and surgical pavilion that will meet the needs of our patients, families, staff and community not only today but for years into the future," said Dr. Richard Goldberg, president of MedStar Georgetown.

    The pending demise of Health Republic, the largest of the nonprofit cooperatives created under the Affordable Care Act and the only co-op in New York, removes a significant player from the state's insurance industry. It also left the insurers' 215,000 members, about half of whom are individuals and half are insured through small businesses, in need of new coverage. Individual Health Republic plans will end on Dec. 31, and small-group plans end as early as Oct. 31, although some will continue into next year

    A new breed of health insurers created under the Affordable Care Act - representing one of the government's most innovative attempts in decades to foster better coverage - is on shaky financial ground in many of the 23 states where the plans began. ... But in recent months, nearly half of the unorthodox start-ups have been told by federal regulators that their finances, enrollment or business model need to shape up. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which oversees the health-care law, recently sent warning letters to 11 of the "co-ops," as they're known. The agency placed them on "enhanced oversight" or required them to produce a plan of "corrective action," or both, according to federal figures not previously made public. Several have been notified in the past two weeks. 
    The
    Latest News on ACA
    OUR WORK CONTINUES
    FY 2016 Outreach and Enrollment Supplemental Funding Opportunity - HRSA released the FY 2016 Health Center Outreach and Enrollment Assistance Supplemental Funding Opportunity to support health centers that received initial Health Center Program operational funds in FY2015. These funds are targeted to raise awareness of affordable insurance options and provide eligibility and enrollment assistance through in-reach with uninsured patients of health centers and outreach to residents in approved service areas. 
    Applications are due in HRSA's Electronic Handbooks (EHB) by 5:00pm, ET on Tuesday, October 20, 2015.

    Last week, approximately 100 Health Center Program grantees that have not received HRSA O/E supplement funding were notified via an EHB email that they are eligible to apply for FY 2016 HRSA O/E assistance supplemental funding. HRSA will award approximately $8 million under the FY 2016 Health Center Outreach and Enrollment Assistance supplemental funding opportunity through formula-based supplemental awards to eligible Health Center Program grantees.  These funds are being invested in health centers newly funded in FY 2015 to expand current outreach and enrollment assistance activities and facilitate enrollment of eligible health center patients and service area residents into affordable health insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplaces, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. 
    The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) HRSA-16-091 and technical assistance materials are available at http://bphc.hrsa.gov/programopportunities/fundingopportunities/default.aspx?id=daa46604-7b1d-4fbf-a388-a693345d32c0. Attached to this email is the list of eligible health centers, along with the notification email sent to them through EHB.
    If you have any questions about this message, please contact us at bphc-pca-oe@hrsa.gov. 

    QPR Reminder 
    The next Outreach and Enrollment (O/E) Quarterly Progress Report (QPR), covering the period of July 1, 2015 - September 30, 2015, is due Thursday, October 15, 2015.
    The following O/E QPR, covering the period of October 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015, is due January 14, 2016. The data fields for this reporting period will be reset to zero, as of October 1, 2015.
    If you have questions, please email bphc-oe@hrsa.gov.

    Marketplace Updates   (Delaware)
    • Updates
      • CMS began sending notices (in English and Spanish) to a small number of consumers in federally facilitated marketplace (FFM) states who were enrolled in both marketplace coverage with financial assistance and Medicaid/CHIP coverage.
        • Consumers in this situation will likely have to pay back all or some of their advanced premium tax credits for the months they were simultaneously enrolled in marketplace coverage and Medicaid/CHIP. 
           
        • Remember to communicate with consumers to let them know to cancel their marketplace plan if they enroll in Medicaid/CHIP. Many of these consumers are likely enrolling in Medicaid/CHIP because their income has decreased, which makes them eligible for Medicaid/CHIP.  
           
        • For more detail on this, see these frequently asked questions that CMS sent to state Medicaid and CHIP agencies. Or tune into CMS' webinar this Friday at 2pm EST. 
      3.    Resources
      • Enroll America has three updated resources on our Enrollment Assister Resource Center: Get Ready to Get Health Coverage (bilingual); Health Insurance Options for Latinos (English and Spanish version); and Health Insurance Basics: Key Words and Phrases You Need to Know (English and Spanish version). Stay tuned: we'll be posting updated materials in the coming weeks to help everyone get ready for open enrollment. 
         
      • Last week, the State Health Access Data Assistance Center (SHADAC) released a great new tool: detailed  state and county-level coverage estimates for 2013 and 2014. Each state has a 2-page profile showing uninsured rates that are broken down by certain characteristics, such as age, race, and income. Check out this tool to view county-level data on how much progress we are making in reaching uninsured consumers. 
         
        • You may be familiar with Enroll America's maps that show changes in uninsured rates at the county level from 2013 to 2014. Keep in mind that these estimates are slightly different than SHADAC's estimates; Enroll America looks at the uninsured rate for just the non-elderly adult population while SHADAC looks at the full population. For example, our Senior Policy Analyst, Elizabeth Hagan, is from Cuyahoga County in Ohio, and here is how her county looks different in the two datasets: with Enroll America's data, her county goes from 18 percent uninsured in 2013 to 11 percent uninsured in 2014. With SHADAC's estimates, her county changed from about 11 percent uninsured in 2013 to 8 percent uninsured in 2014. 
           
      • The Commonwealth Fund and Health Affairs each released publications this week highlighting some of the work enrollment assisters across the country are doing. 
      • Enroll America published an issue brief and blog looking at the intersection between health coverage and tax-filing. In it, they have a number of policy suggestions for leveraging the tax-filing moment. 

    Marketplace Call Center and SHOP Call Center Hours
    Health Insurance Marketplace Call Center: For customer service support, to start or finish an application, compare plans, enroll or ask a question. 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325).  Available 24/7. Closed Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
    SHOP Call Center: For customer service support, including assisting employers and employees apply for and enroll in SHOP. 1-800-706-7893 (TTY: 711).  Available M-F 9:00 am-7:00 pm EST. 
    MACHC Conference Call Updates
    ***Reminder***
    Join MACHC's next IMPORTANT O/E Call on October 23rd!  (see events section for full details--rescheduled again due to the MHBE CAC Training last week)
    As you are aware, there have been some changes for the 2016 ACA Open Enrollment Period. With these changes come the need for client recertification through the MD Healthcare Exchange. This mandate presents opportunities for the FQHC's to get a head start on their enrollment counseling. For this year's campaign, MACHC is working with Patrice Wallace again on a new broadcast and print creative (as discussed during the last call); and, a new radio format that will not only reach our target demos but will enhance the diversity of the demos. Please attend the call for some more details. Remember, those who want to join the call have to submit their decisions for the campaign NO LATER THAN THIS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23rd. If you do NOT inform Aneeqa Chowdhury (aneeqa@machc.com)  via email, then you will miss out on this MACHC funded OE opportunity for your health center!
    Also, a representative from The White House may be joining our call so I highly suggest high participation (you and/or others from your health center), to join this call! 

    In a speech at the Howard University College of Medicine on Tuesday, Sept. 22 U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Sylvia M. Burwell reflected on the progress of the first five years of the Affordable Care Act and provided a look at the upcoming third Open Enrollment period. In her speech, the secretary described how the law is working to deliver access, affordability, and quality coverage and outlined how HHS will meet the challenges of the upcoming Open Enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplaces.


    Thank you to those who joined MACHC's O/E Conference Call last week. 
    • We had the opportunity to talk about the Outreach & Enrollment Fall 2015 Campaign details. Those who are interested and want to submit their responses, please do so by email to Aneeqa Chowdhury at aneeqa@machc.com. 
    • During the call we discussed some major barriers including, but not limited to: access to the internal portal, the help line/number (wait times), redetermination letter delays. MACHC will discuss with MHBE and other advocates and bring you the latest as they become available.
    • We are also preparing for the new Enrollment season so please email us topics for the webinars.
     
    Maryland--Call Center Note:
    Direct Line for Navigators and CAC to MHBE Call Center--Regarding the Call Center # 844-224-6762 It should be noted that: If you need customer assistance from the call center, CAC's should call this number.
    Grants & Funding Opportunities

    Service Area Competition (SAC) Funding Opportunity Announcement May 1, 2016 Starts  PHC released the FY 2016 SAC funding opportunity announcement (HRSA-16-007) for service areas with a May 1, 2016, project period start date. 
    Applications are due to Grants.gov by 11:59pm, ET on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 and in HRSA's Electronic Handbooks (EHB) by 5:00pm, ET on Thursday, December 17, 2015. Technical assistance materials are available on the SAC technical assistance website.


     

    Deadline: SAC Funding for March 1, 2016 Starts - Applications in response to Service Area Competition FOA (HRSA-16-005) for service areas with a March 1, 2016 project period start date are due in EHB by Wednesday, October 14, 2015.

    Does your health center offer substance abuse services? Yesterday HRSA announced a new funding opportunity to section 330 grantees for up to $325,000 per year for a two-year (2016-2018) project period.  Applications are due September 28th. Click here for more. 

    Fiscal Year 2016 MAERDAF Grant
     
    For FY16 the Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund (MAERDAF) Grant received $167,000 in funding.  During this grant cycle, the Rural Maryland Council received 53 applications with requests amounting to over $850,000.
     
    The MAERDAF Grant Review Board made full or partial grant awards to 16 organizations.  The Grant Review Board was created in statute and consists of Secretaries of the Departments of Agriculture, Business and Economic Development, Housing and Community Development, Health and Mental Hygiene, and Natural Resources or their designees.
     
    Administered by the Rural Maryland Council, MAERDAF provides grants to rural-serving nonprofit organizations that promote statewide and regional planning, economic and community development, and agricultural and forestry education.  Also eligible are rural community colleges that support small and agricultural businesses through enhanced training and technical assistance.
     
    MAERDAF's goal is to increase the overall capacity of rural-serving nonprofit organizations and community colleges to meet a multitude of rural development challenges and to help them establish new public/private partnerships for leveraging non-state sources of funding.


    The National Council on Aging is accepting applications for qualified organizations and agencies to become BECs. BECs help low-income seniors and persons with disabilities find and enroll in all the benefits programs for which they are eligible, and create coordinated, community-wide systems of benefits access. Up to 8 grants of $100,000 each will be awarded; proposals are due on Friday, November 13, 2015. 


    HRSA is pleased to announce the release of the Fiscal Year 2016 Substance Abuse Service Expansion Funding Opportunity Announcement (HRSA-16-074). This funding opportunity will provide approximately $100 million through competitive supplements to support an estimated 300 existing health centersto improve and expand the delivery of substance use disorder services, with a focus on medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.
    Applications are due in Grants.gov by September 28, 2015 at 11:59pm, ET. Required supplemental information must be submitted via HRSA EHBs by October 14, 2015, 5:00pm, ET. 

    Application Deadline: None  
    Eligible state and local government agencies and nonprofit organizations, including health centers, can obtain property that the federal government no longer needs through the Federal Surplus Personal Property Donation Program.

    Application Deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
    Funding for hunger prevention, self-sufficiency, healthcare, and education to those who are underserved. 

    Application Deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
    Provides seed funding to emerging nonprofits, or to new projects of established organizations in the areas of education; environment; health and human services; and hunger and nutrition. Pennsylvania is one of 13 eligible states.

    Application Deadline:  Applications Accepted on an Ongoing Basis
    The Community Response Fund supports organizations, activities, and events that address access to needed oral health care and community resources that improve oral health. Programs that address an immediate response to an urgent issue that impacts access to clinical care, provide short-term access to needed care for the underserved, or sustain organizations experiencing short-term challenges are the focus. A limited number of program concepts that provide longer term solutions or essential services for particularly underserved populations will also be considered. The program will also support Missions of Mercy clinics.


    Rural Health Funding Opportunities
     
    Walmart Foundation Community Grant Program
    Application deadline: Dec 31, 2015
    Grants to support the needs of local communities in the areas of hunger, nutrition, women's economic empowerment, career opportunities, and sustainability.

    Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grants to community collaborations and initiatives that have used shared data and information to increase their capacity for planning, implementing, and evaluating health improvement activities. These community collaborations would be part of a nationwide learning collaborative that would create a cadre of lessons learned and promising practices.

    Community Response Fund
    The Community Response Fund supports organizations, activities, and events that address access to needed oral healthcare and community resources that improve oral health. Programs that address an immediate response to an urgent issue that impacts access to clinical care, provide short-term access to needed care for the underserved, or sustain organizations experiencing short-term challenges are the focus. A limited number of program concepts that provide longer term solutions or essential services for particularly underserved populations will also be considered. The program will also support Missions of Mercy clinics.
    DEADLINE: ongoing basis
    ELIGABILITY: The DentaQuest Foundation makes grants to a variety of organizations that are engaged improving oral health. Grants are not made to individuals.
    CONTACT: Matthew Bond, Grants and Programs Manager: Matthew.Bond@DentaQuestFoundation.org 

    Substance Abuse Service Expansion
    Funds to support the improvement or expansion of substance abuse services in existing Health Centers, with a specific focus on treatment of opioid use disorders in underserved populations. Programs should establish a new, or enhance an existing, integrated primary care/behavioral health model of care in order to coordinate the services necessary for patients to achieve and sustain recovery.
    Total funding available: $100,000,000
    Number of awards: Up to 310 awards
    Award amount: Up to $325,000 per year for 2 years
    DEADLINE: Sep. 28, 2015
    ELIGABILITY: Existing Health Center Program award recipients that currently receive funding under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act. Health Centers that received new start/new award funding in FY 2015 are not eligible to apply.
    CONTACT: For business, administrative, or fiscal questions:
    Joi Grymes-Johnson
    jgrymes@hrsa.gov
    301.443-2632
    For programmatic or technical assistance questions:
    Shannon McDevitt
    bphcsa@hrsa.gov
    301.594.4300

    340B Peer-to-Peer Program
    The purpose of the 340B Peer-to-Peer Network is to connect 340B entities and stakeholders with high performing sites, called leading practice sites that have exemplary 340B pharmacy service offerings. These sites serve as guides for covered entities that are interested in improving patient care. This approach provides the opportunity for practice sites to reach their peers and strengthen the 340B program from inventory management to quality care initiatives.
    Sites that receive the status of a 340B Peer-to-Peer recognized site will be asked to dedicate two members of their team to share their expertise and leading practices - for a limited amount of time per month - with other safety-net organizations to help these organizations achieve results and establish sound business practices.
    FUNDING AVALIABLE: Peer-to-Peer annual stipends of $10,000/year
    ELIGABILITY: Applications must be submitted by a 340B entity listed on the Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) 340B database as a participating 340B entity.
    Healthcare Connect Fund
    The Healthcare Connect Fund provides funding to healthcare providers for telecommunications and internet access services, as well as network equipment, at a flat discounted rate of 65%. Participants can apply as a member of the consortium or a stand-alone entity.
     
    FUNDING AVAILABLE: Participants will receive a flat rate discount of 65%. There is an annual spending cap of $400,000,000.
    ELIGIBLITY: Rural public or nonprofit healthcare providers (HCPs) are eligible. Consortia may be comprised of both rural and non-rural HCPs. All consortia must consist of more than 50% rural participation within three years of receipt of the first funding commitment obtained through the HCF Program. Connections to, and equipment located at, eligible off-site data centers and administrative offices are eligible for support.
    CONTACT: rhc-assist@usac.org

    USAC Rural Health Care Telecommunications Program
    Health care providers are permitted to apply to receive reduced rates for a variety of telecommunications services under the Rural Health Care Program. Health care providers may seek support for multiple telecommunications services of any bandwidth and for monthly Internet service charges.
     
    FUNDING AVALIABLE: The level of support depends on the HCP's location and the type of service chosen. Health Care Providers are permitted to apply to receive reduced rates for a variety of telecommunication services under the RHCD program. HCPs may seek support for multiple telecommunications services of any bandwidth.

    As a result of recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) action, health care participants may be eligible to receive a 25% discount on their monthly Internet service charges. These services are limited to the monthly Internet net access charge, monthly charges for web hosting and web addresses.
    ELIGIBILITY: Community health centers or health centers providing health care to migrants
    CONTACT: rhc-admin@universalservice.org

    Wells Fargo Corporate Giving Programs
    Wells Fargo supports nonprofit organizations that work on a community level in the areas of human services, arts and culture, community development, civic responsibility, education, environmental consciousness, and volunteerism.
    CONTACT: Ashley Williams -- Community Support Rep -- Wells Fargo
    ashley.l.williams@wellsfargo.com   

     
    Maryland Small Grants Program
    The Maryland Small Grants Program awards funding to nonprofit organizations that provide direct services to poor and vulnerable populations.
    FUNDING AVALIABLE: Award Ceiling: $50,000
    CONTACT: Amy Kleine, Program Director, Basic Human Needs
    410-654-8500, ext. 268
    Email: akleine@hjweinberg.org


    Accelerating Community-Centered Approaches in Health
    Accelerating Community-Centered Approaches in Health will support innovative population health programs and policies that work to improve health at the community level, including the use of new financial models to achieve cost effective solutions.
    CONTACT: Phone: 248.643.9630
     

    Commonwealth Fund Health Grants
    The Commonwealth Fund promotes a high performing healthcare system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency, particularly for society's most vulnerable, including people with low-incomes, the uninsured, minority Americans, young children, people with disabilities, and the elderly.
    The Fund supports independent research on healthcare issues and makes grants to improve healthcare practice and policy. The Commonwealth Fund actively seeks to support projects on innovative approaches to addressing problems within its areas of focus.
    CONTACT: Email: grants@cmwf.org
    Phone: 212.606.3800

    USDA Community Facilities Loan and Grant Program
    The USDA Community Facilities Loan and Grant Program provides loans, grants, and loan guarantees for essential community facilities in rural areas. Priority is given to healthcare, education, and public safety projects. Funds may be used to construct, enlarge, or improve facilities.
    AVALIABLE FUNDING: Amount varies. Grants are authorized on a graduated scale. Applicants located in small communities with low populations and low incomes will receive a higher percentage of grants.
    CONTACT: Bill McGowan, State Director
    1221 College Park Drive, Suite 200
    Dover, DE  19904
    Voice: (302) 857-3580 www.rd.usda.gov/de
    www.rd.usda.gov/md
    PCMH Corner 
    10 Steps to a Patient-Centered Medical Home
    The Future of Family Medicine (FFM) report published in 2004 called for a new, idealized model of care that had 11 key elements
    • Personal medical home,
    • Patient-centered care,
    • Team approach to care,
    • Elimination of barriers to access,
    • Advanced information systems, including a standardized electronic health record (EHR),
    • Redesigned, more functional offices,
    • Whole-person orientation,
    • Care provided in a community context,
    • Focus on quality and safety,
    • Enhanced practice finance,
    • Defined basket of services
    Clinical Quality 
    StudyAdults living with HIV are more likely to be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days than those not infected with the virus, according to a new AHRQ study. Risk-adjusted 30-day hospital readmission rates are a commonly used benchmark for hospital care quality and Medicare reimbursement. In this study, researchers used AHRQ's 2011 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project hospital discharge data from nine State Inpatient Databases to compare readmission rates. Nonadjusted readmission rates for people without HIV were 11.2 percent and were 19.7 percent for those with HIV. Predicted, adjusted readmission rates were higher for people with HIV in every insurance category, including Medicaid and Medicare, and within every diagnostic category. The findings should encourage policymakers and insurers to consider HIV status when setting readmission standards, researchers said. 

     The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Services (CDC) has once
    again provided linkages on their website on several topic areas for this year's flu season.  You can access: What You Should Know for the 2015-2016 Influenza Season; Information for Health Professionals; the Weekly Flu View; and Planning and Preparedness:  Health Professionals and Seasonal Flu. 
    Health Observances This Week
    October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
     
    One in four women in America will experience domestic violence. In October, CalVCP observes Domestic Violence Awareness Month in hopes of helping victims through their pain and moving forward in the fight to eradicate domestic violence from our world. Join us in spreading awareness, helping survivors, and doing everything possible to stop violence before it begins.
    Stop the Cycle of Violence!
    All of you know how much needs to be done to take meaningful steps to end domestic violence and sexual assault. We need tough law enforcement, aggressive prosecutions, effective prevention programs and available shelters for families in distress. Most importantly, we need to insure that more people know and understand that domestic violence is not a private matter. It is a critical national problem that affects us all -- in every community, in every work place and in every school.
     
    Each of us can do more - and this handbook shows us how.
    President Clinton recognized the seriousness of the problem when he signed the Violence Against Women Act as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. In the past year, the Department of Justice has sought to combine tough federal penalties along with substantial resources to the states to begin dealing with the problem of domestic violence in a comprehensive, multi-faceted way. States and local law enforcement agencies have been encouraged to begin programs that will enhance their ability to prevent domestic violence, to punish it and to stop the cycle of violence.
    Has your FQHC joined the National Branding Campaign?

     

    With more than 43 billion people  eligible to enroll in private insurance starting this October 1, FQHCs strive to create an identifiable unifying identity for themselves. This is where the National Branding Campaign for Our Health Centers comes into place. 

    The campaign is a national branding effort to strengthen recognition of our Health Centers as a unified and nationwide network of quality community-based primary care providers.  Initially created at the state level by the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers (PACHC) and its membership, the National Association of Community Health Centers has expanded the campaign nationwide.

     

    The FQHC Brand Components  

    MACHC recently hosted a Branding Webinar for MD and DE Health Centers with CEO of PACHC, Cheri Reinhart and Event and Communications Coordinator, Kirsten Keyes, as guest speakers. If you missed the webinar and would like access, please click here.

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