NMASBHC Newsletter
December
2014
       
 

A Note from the Executive Director 

 

Are you working on your new year's resolutions? As we close out 2014, the New Mexico Alliance for School Based Health Care is reflecting on accomplishments in the field and what more we can do to support young people and those of you working so hard to care for them. Please know that we are always striving to be of service and hope 2015 will be a year in which you see tangible benefits from your relationship with our organization. If you have any suggestions or ideas to share about how we can help, please don't hesitate.  In the meantime, please enjoy your holiday vacations and read on for news and information about school-based health care.

 

Wishing you and yours health and happiness in the new year!

 

Nancy Rodriguez

nancyrodrigueznmasbhc@gmail.com 

What You'll Find In This Newsletter (click to jump to section):

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highlightsSBHC Highlights: Good News You Can Use!
 
Pojoaque SBHC

NMASBHC would like to congratulate the hard-working staff at the Pojoaque School-Based Health Center and their sponsoring FQHC, Las Clinicas del Norte, for their recent designation by the National Center for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Level II Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH). The application and review process for this designation is extremely rigorous, and this is the first such designation of an SBHC in the state and possibly the nation. As health plans across the nation and in our state look at "pay for performance" and PCMH enhanced reimbursement models, we hope that SBHCs will be poised to take advantage of these opportunities. The Pojoaque SBHC and Las Clinicas del Norte will be a model of best practices to look at as other SBHCs devise their PCMH strategy. Congratulations on leading the field!  

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fundingFunding Opportunities
 
NMDOH/OSAH RFP Announcement

The Office of School and Adolescent Health (OSAH) has released a request for proposal (RFP) for school based health center operations beginning July 1, 2015 (FY 2016) for a period not to exceed four years. The full announcement and instructions can be found on the Department of Health website using the following link: http://nmhealth.org/publication/view/rfp/955/  The deadline for proposals is Friday, January 16, 2015 by 5:00pm. Please note the following guidance from OSAH:

No late submissions will or can be accepted. All proposals must be postmarked by January 16, 2015. Proposals can be mailed or delivered in person - be sure to follow ALL instructions regarding the format and the number of copies. Please keep in mind the review process is conducted by and independent panel of reviewers. Although OSAH staff review proposals, we do not score or select the proposals for funding. Our role during the review/scoring process is to provide technical assistance, clarifying information, and programmatic guidance and funding information.  It is important to pay close attention to ALL the requirements in the Request for Proposal instructions. Be very thorough in your proposal and make sure you have fully complied with all sections and requirements. Keep in mind that the independent reviewers may or may not have extensive knowledge or understanding of school-based health care. What you write will be what they use to determine their final score and funding recommendation. We do anticipate much more competition for the funds during this process.

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trainingTraining Opportunities

 

School Based Health Alliance (SBHA) Webinars
Interested in LARCs for your patients? Looking to protect your patients' confidentiality? The SBHA has resources for you. Click here to access:

An archived webinar entitled, "Protecting Confidentiality in School-Based Health Settings" presented by Abigail English, JD, Director, Center for Adolescent Health & the Law

Registration instructions for an upcoming members-only webinar entitled, "Yes You Can! Provide LARC Services at Your SBHC: An Example of Successful LARC Implementation" on Thursday, January 22, 2015, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST in which SBHC staff and community partners from Seattle, WA talk about lessons learned in their clinics.

Medicaid Presumptive Eligibility Determiner Resource
All PEDs are required to utilize the YESNM-PE system for PE screening and ongoing Medicaid application submissions and to utilize the Portal for all PE approval submissions. The NM Human Services Department has YESNM-PE demo sessions the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month for existing PEDs who feel like they need more detailed instruction. If you have questions or want information about the demo sessions, email the MAD PE Program Staff at
HSD.PEDeterminers@state.nm.us.

CYFD Children's Behavioral Health Division Training
CYFD invites interested stakeholders to the Seven Challenges Training on Tuesday January 13 from 8:30 to 9:45am at the Marriott Pyramid.  Led by Rick Barr, through NMSU, this training will be an overview of the model of evidence-based practice for co-occurring mental health problems and drug use.  The Seven Challenges® Program was developed specifically for adoles­cents-paying heed to their stage of change and developmental challenges. The program provides a framework for respectfully challenging youth to engage in self-evaluation and a decision-making process. For more information and to find out how to participate, contact Michael Hock, Adolescent Substance Use Reduction Effort Manager at NM-CYFD at michael.hock@state.nm.us.

MISSION: GRADUATE Summit
SBHC staff and partners in the four-county area of Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance and Valencia are cordially invited to the January 22, 2015 Mission Graduate Summit.  Students who receive health services in schools have improved school attendance and graduation rates so you have an important role to play in this summit.  This summit will provide an opportunity for schools, community organizations and partners to develop collaborations to increase attendance and reduce truancy throughout Central New Mexico.  The keynote speaker is Debra Duardo, MSW, Ed.D, Executive Director of Student Health and Human Services for the Los Angeles Unified School District.  The summit will include interactive workshops on research and best practices and facilitated discussions with school districts in Central New Mexico to strengthen partnerships.  If you are interested in attending, email Emily.Padilla@uwcnm.org to receive a full invitation in early January, and save the date today! For more information about Mission Graduate, visit:

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advocacyAdvocacy Opportunities
 
SBHC Funding Efforts
A series of bills related to the funding of SBHCs are poised to move forward to the Legislative Finance Committee for consideration when the new session begins in January. One, put forward by NMASBHC through the support of the Behavioral Health Sub-Committee of the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee, will include funding for expanding the NMDOH budget for SBHC services. Another, drafted by Senator Jacob Candelaria in consultation with YDI, Inc. is focused on funding for a new SBHC at West Mesa High School in Albuquerque. Stay tuned for e-alerts from NMASBHC about contacting your legislators to voice your support. Also, consider hosting your elected representatives for an SBHC tour to garner their support. For resources on hosting a tour and other advocacy tips, visit our website: http://www.nmasbhc.org/advocacy.html

 

Preservation of Healthcare Confidentiality for Privately Insured Youth

NMASBHC recently received a grant to convene a coalition of community partners interested in addressing the challenge of breaches of patient confidentiality when the insurance policy holder is someone other than the patient.  We have heard from many of you that this problem poses a real risk to young people and to the financial sustainability of SBHCs. We know that many SBHCs bear the cost of care when a patient is seeking confidential services and private insurance cannot be billed for fear that the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) or other communication will be sent to the primary policy holder. NMASBHC is holding meetings with youth advocates and other groups that serve vulnerable populations that may be effected (disability community, LGBTQ community, domestic violence community, etc.). If you are interested in participating in this effort, either by participating in the coalition or by advocating for the solutions it generates, please let me know by email at nancyrodrigueznmasbhc@gmail.com.

 

Advocacy Days at the Round House

There are many special events coming up during the legislative session that you can participate in to advocate for the health and education needs of young people.  Check out the following list and let us know if you need more information about contacts for participating:

  • Jan. 20 - Celebrating Children and Youth Day
  • Jan. 26 - Public Health Day
  • Jan. 28 - School Nutrition Day
  • Feb. 5 - Primary Care Day (including NMASBHC's primary SBHC advocacy efforts)
  • Feb. 11 - Dental Access for All New Mexicans Day
  • Feb. 18 - GRADS Day (focused on expectant and parenting teens/students)

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shoppinggSupport NMASBHC By Shopping this Holiday Season and Throughout the Year
 

You can help support the work of NMASBHC to advocate for SBHCs by shopping! Check out the ways you can shop at Amazon, Albertson's and Smith's and get cash to the organization:

  • Amazon Smile: If you're shopping at Amazon.com, .5% of your eligible Amazon purchase can go back to NMASBHC when you make it through: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/27-0859783. Set this up as your default Amazon account page for easy shopping. Many of the eligible items are also eligible for Prime shipping.
  • Albertson's: Shop with the Albertson's Community Partners program and 1% of your purchase value goes back to NMASBHC when you participate! Ask NMASBHC for the special key tag you'll scan when you shop to benefit NMASBHC.
  • Smith's: 1% of your purchase value goes back to NMASBHC when you assign your value card to our organization. Sign up today! Register at: www.smithscommunityrewards.com. If you already have a rewards card, you'll have to associate it in your online account with NMASBHC. If you haven't yet created an account, you can do so online or in the store.

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focusAdolescent Patient Resources: Focus on Young Men

This is our monthly feature on adolescent health resources focused on, but not limited to, young men. SBHCs typically serve more female than male patients. If you're working to better draw and/or serve young men, think about these topics and check out these resources:

A growing number of injuries to young men in New Mexico come from ATV (all terrain vehicle) accidents and improper use. Do your patients ride ATVs for fun or work? The ATV Safety Institute and 4-H have partnered to create an educational and fun website with ATV safety information, including links to age-appropriate e-courses and an online ATV game called "Treadsylvania."  Consider sharing this helpful website with your patients, particularly if they indicate on the student health questionnaire or in your clinical visit that they ride ATVs: http://www.atv-youth.org/

 

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