May 9, 2016

Announcements

• NEW! Bloom with Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell’s upcoming trainings and webinars this spring. Click here to learn more.
• NEW! Register now for the Better Health Conference and learn how to better manage healthcare through reliable information and resources. Click here to learn more.
• NEW! Association of Clinicians for the Underserved 2016 Annual Conference registration is now open. Click here to learn more.
• SAMHSA has released a new pocket guide for health professionals, Medication-Assisted Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder. Click here to download your copy today!
• The Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) has announced a new toll-free number connecting residents seeking treatment and services for an opioid addiction to local walk-in assessment centers. Residents will now be able to call 1-800-563-4086, 24 hours a day, to connect them or a loved one to a walk-in assessment center in their area. Click here for more information.
• Consultants Providing Direct TA to Grantees/Mock OSV. BPHC and MSCG are providing clarification regarding the “Mock OSV” policy reminder included in the September 2015 e-news. BPHC will not use MSCG contract funds to pay for consultants to conduct Mock OSVs or provide training/technical assistance on the OSV process. Also consultants who are contacted by a grantee or PCA to provide such services should clearly communicate that they are not representing BPHC or MSCG. Grantees and PCAs should first contact their BPHC Project Officer for assistance with the OSV self-assessment and/or questions regarding the OSV process.
• CHCACT is Hiring. Check our job bank for opportunities to work at CHCACT or Federally Qualified Health Centers in Connecticut.

Trainings, Webinars & Conferences

• Please check our Calendar of Events for upcoming trainings!

Funding Opportunities

• Check out the CHCACT Funding Opportunities page here!
• NEW! The Healthiest Cities and Counties Challenge offers an opportunity for small and mid-sized U.S. cities and counties, as well as federally recognized tribes, to compete over the course of several years to develop practical, evidence-based strategies to improve measurable health outcomes and promote health and wellness, equity, and social interaction. Learn more!
• NEW! The Miscarriage Care Initiative is an effort by the Reproductive Health Access Project (RHAP) to expand access to evidence-based, patient-centered miscarriage care in primary care settings. Through the Miscarriage Care Initiative, five organizations will receive intensive support from RHAP to integrate and expand miscarriage treatment into a primary care practice site. Learn more!
• Connecticut’s Department of Public Health is seeking proposals to support the development and/or expansion of sustainable school-based/school-linked dental sealant programs. Funding will be for a two (2) year period beginning approximately September 1, 2016 through August 31, 2018. Learn more!
• The RGK Foundation awards grants to nonprofit organizations in the general areas of education, community and health/medicine. These grants are not geographically-restricted and are awarded on an ongoing basis. Learn more!
• The Cigna World of Difference Grants Program looks for nonprofits with which to collaborate on projects to overcome barriers to their health and well-being. Learn more!

Ask CHCACT!

“Ask CHCACT” features Outreach & Enrollment and other questions from health center staff, answered by your favorite CHCACT staff members! Send your questions to ask@chcact.org!

Arianne Cacciatore answers this week’s question:

Q: We recently discussed life qualifying events that would allow people to apply for health insurance outside of the Open Enrollment period. These events include (but are not limited to) loss of a job, birth of a family member and moving. I’ve heard that the regulations have now changed – can you explain?

A:  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently stated that those using moving as a life qualifying event to enroll outside of the normal enrollment period must have had coverage for 60 days prior to seeking coverage.

 Some insurers have said people are gaming the system and people only seek coverage when they need it; some have been moving just to get coverage. This new rule ensures that people cannot purchase coverage from moving unless they previously had coverage. Please be sure to educate your clients that, if they move, they will only be able to purchase an insurance plan outside of Open Enrollment if they had insurance 60 days before they try to enroll.

Upcoming CHCACT Meetings

SNAP Outreach Worker Monthly Meeting. The SNAP Outreach Worker Meeting will be held on Thursday, May 12, 2016 from 12-3:00 at CHCACT, 1484 Highland Avenue, Cheshire, CT. For more information, please contact Gabrielle Torres.

Practice Transformation Network Quality Forum. The PTN Quality Forum will meet on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm at CHCACT, 1484 Highland Avenue, Suite 2, Cheshire, CT 06410. For more information, please contact Greg Mankevich.

All CHCACT Staff can be reached by calling 860.667.7820.

This Week in Health Policy News

Here is a sampling of health policy news from around the state. If you see something in your local newspaper that you would like featured here in future weeks, please contact Deb Polun at dpolun@chcact.org. Check out all the Health Policy News from the past month here!

Featured Stories 

5.4.16 Yale News: Listening to Lupus (feat. Fair Haven, CS-Hill)

State Health News
 5.9.16 Hartford Business Journal: CT Docs Join Lawsuit Frenzy Against Medical Waste Giant
5.9.16 WNPR: Health Equity – Gail Christopher on Why Place Matters
5.7.16 CT Health I-Team: Thousands of Children Suffer from Lead Poisoning; Many Not Tested
5.4.16 CT Mirror: Revised Physician Non-Compete Bill Wins Final Passage

ACA/Health Reform News
5.9.16 CT Mirror: Feds Want Medical Bills Simplified
5.6.16 The Hill: Administration Tightens Obamacare Sign-Up Rules

Resources

CHCACT maintains and regularly updates resources on clinical issues, human resources, HIPAA, SNAP and more! Click here to check out CHCACT’s Resources!*

• The Connecticut Department of Public Health has new information about the Zika Virus on its web site, including symptoms and testing guidelines.
• Scope of Project Webpage: HRSA has released a new “Scope of Project” Page on the BPHC website. This page provides a “one-stop-shop” for Health Center Program Scope of Project and Change-in-Scope policy, process, and resources. View the new Scope of Project webpage.
• Capital Link Publications. As part of their assistance to health centers, Capital Link has developed a collection of resource publications to assist health centers in accomplishing specific tasks related to the capital development process. These publications are provided to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Primary Care Associations (PCAs) free of charge. Their resources, including publications, reports, and past webinars are available here.

* Some Resources are password-protected. If you would like a password for www.www.chcact.org, please contact Tasheenah Brown.

Events/Educational Opportunities