This Week in CHCACTion! May 24, 2016

May 24, 2016

Announcements

• New! HRSA has extended the CY2017 FTCA Deeming Application deadline until 11:59PM on Friday, May 27th, 2016. Click here for more information. 
• Bloom with Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell’s upcoming trainings and webinars this spring. Click here to learn more.
• Register now for the Better Health Conference and learn how to better manage healthcare through reliable information and resources. Click here to learn more.
• 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!
• The HIV/AIDS Bureau is pleased to announce a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for Leadership Training for People of Color living with HIV. Learn more!
• 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!
• 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!

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:  Consumers have been inquiring about how long they can wait after a Qualifying Life Event before they enroll in a plan without getting a penalty.

A: A Qualifying Life Event includes getting married, divorce/separation, adoption/fostering, recently moved to CT, loss of a job, and aging off a parent’s medical insurance plan. If any of these events occur, the person has 60 days from the date of the event to seek or change insurance coverage. After the 60 days are up, the person will no longer be able to enroll in coverage and may be subject to a penalty.

Upcoming CHCACT Meetings

Clinical Quality Committee. The Clinical Quality Committee meeting will be held via webinar on Wednesday, May 25th, 2016 from 9:00AM – 11:00AM. For registration information, please contact Antonio Diaz-Carrera.

Medicaid Outreach/CAC Meeting. The Medicaid Outreach/CAC meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 25th, 2016 from 9:30AM – 3:00PM at the Wilson Public Library (303 Washington Avenue, New Haven, CT 06519). For more information, please contact Kathy Pitner.

Teaching Health Center Informational Session. The Teaching Health Center Informational Session will be held on Thursday, May 26th, 2016 from 9:30AM to 11:30AM at the Community Health Center Association of Connecticut, Inc. (1484 Highland Avenue, Suite 2, Cheshire, CT 06410). For more information, please contact Brenda DelGado.

SHAPE Learning Collaborative – Population Health Webinar. The SHAPE Learning Collaborative – Population Health webinar will be held on Thursday, May 26th, 2016 from 12:15PM to 1:00PM. For registration information, please contact Greg Mankevich.

SHAPE Learning Collaborative – Sharing Call. The SHAPE Learning Collaborative – Sharing call will be held on Thursday, June 2nd, 2016 from 12:15PM to 1:00PM. For registration information, please contact Greg Mankevich.

SHAPE Learning Collaborative – Diabetes Self-Management Education Webinar. The SHAPE Learning Collaborative – Diabetes Self Management Education webinar will be held on Thursday, June 9th, 2016 from 12:15PM to 1:00PM. For registration information, please contact Greg Mankevich.

Community HealthCorps Monthly Member Meeting. The Community HealthCorps Monthly Member meeting will be held on Friday, May 27th, 2016 from 9:30AM to 4:00PM at the Community Health Center Association of Connecticut, Inc. (1484 Highland Avenue, Suite 2, Cheshire, CT 06410). For more information, please contact Claudine Constant.

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

5.20.16 The Day: Course Focuses on Learning to Recognize, Respond to Youth in Crisis (feat. UCFS)
5.18.16 Hartford Courant: Suicides Rising, Including Dramatic Jump Among Girls (feat. Wheeler)

State Health News
 5.18.16 CT Mirror: Can An Apartment Cut Health Care Costs of Homeless Super Users?
5.18.16 CT NewsJunkie: Discussion on Prescription Drug Costs Leaves Panelists Looking for Answers

ACA/Health Reform News
5.20.16 Hartford Business Journal: Contracts Drive Up Access Health CT’s Budget
5.19.16 TrendCT: Uninsured Rates Dropping in CT and Across the Country
5.18.16 Hartford Business Journal: Study – ACA Fuels Insurer Mega Mergers

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