July 11, 2016

Announcements

• Welcome to new CHCACT staff: Debbie Amodio-Gross (Chief Financial Officer), Stacey Kamienski (Executive Assistant) and Vivian Rivera (Grants Manager)!
• The latest version of the CT Statewide Environment Report is here. This report, published 2-4 times each year, provides updated information on HUSKY enrollment, poverty and other demographic data, state budget updates and more!

• Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Corps: The MHFA is expanding! This is your opportunity to join this exciting program as an AmeriCorps member host site. The MHFA Corps is an innovative AmeriCorps program that supports implementation of Youth MHFA in communities across the nation. To learn more about this program, click here.

Trainings, Webinars & Conferences

• Please check our Calendar of Events for upcoming trainings!

Funding Opportunities

• Check out the CHCACT Funding Opportunities page here!
• Updated! The State of Connecticut has released two addenda to its RFP for participating entities in the State Innovation Model (SIM) Medicaid Quality Improvement Shared Savings Program (MQISSP). This program is open to FQHCs and “advanced networks.” Learn more!
• Updated! The State of Connecticut has released an addendum to its RFA for the Community & Clinical Integration Program (CCIP) through SIM. Read more!
• New! Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation seeks to fund organizations in CT and NJ to improve oral health access for the uninsured and underinsured, in one of three specific populations: children, people with developmental disabilities and older adults. Learn more!
• HRSA has released the Delivery System Health Information Infrastructure funding opportunity. Applications must be submitted into EHB by July 20th. Learn more!
• The CT Health Foundation announces the availability of funding to continue to increase the diversity of consumers participating in health reform engagement and advocacy. To qualify, organizations mustbe 501 (c)(3) and meet two or more of the following criteria (learn more!):
  • Nonprofit is led (e.g., executive director, CEO) by a person of color (PoC); and/or
  • Nonprofit is governed by a board composed of a majority (51%+) of PoC; and/or
  • Nonprofit serves populations/communities of color.
• The NBC 21st Century Solutions grant is seeking organizations that are implementing progressive programs that address emerging or ongoing community challenges in the areas of: Civic Engagement, Education, Environment, Jobs and Economic Empowerment, Media, and Technology for Good. Learn more!
• The HRSA 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 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: What happens if a person enrolled in a Qualified Health Plan has an income change that results in him/her losing his/her tax credits?

A: If a consumer has a complete loss of Advanced Premium Tax Credits (APTC) as a result of reporting a change, this is considered a Qualifying Life Event. In this case, the consumer is then eligible for a special enrollment period (which allows him/her to change coverage). Please note that this does not apply to consumers whose APTCs are reduced after reporting a change.

Upcoming CHCACT Meetings

SNAP Outreach Workers’ Meeting. SNAP Outreach Workers will meet on Tuesday, July 12th from 12:30-2:30 pm at CHCACT, 1484 Highland Avenue, Suite 2, Cheshire. For more information, contact Gabby Torres.

CFO Meeting. Chief Financial Officers will meet on Tuesday, July 12th from 2-3:00 at CHCACT, 1484 Highland Avenue, Suite 2, Cheshire. For more information, contact Jennifer Succi.

Practice Transformation Network Congress. Save the dates of September 15th-16th for CHCACT’s first PTN Congress! More information to follow.

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
6.30.16 WTNH: Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center to Receive Government Funding
6.30.16 New Haven Register: Fair Haven Community Health Center Opens Location in East Haven 

State Health News
7.11.16 CT Health I-Team: Acute Drug Shortages Forcing Workarounds in Hospitals
7.5.16 New Haven Register: Narcan’s Availability Has Grown, But the Stigma of Addiction Keeps People from Seeking It
7.1.16 CT NewsJunkie: 15% of HUSKY Parents Get Insurance With One Month to Go Before Losing Coverage
6.30.16 CT NewsJunkie: State Officials Express Concern About Supply of Overdose Reversal Drug
6.30.16 Fairfield County Business Journal: Telemedicine – Health Care’s New Frontier 

Health Insurance/Health Reform News
7.11.16 Hartford Courant: Insurers Pushing for Changes in Substance Abuse Battle
7.8.16 CT Mirror: Access Health CT Faces Growing Challenges As Insurers Drop Out
7.5.16 CT Mirror: State Deems Insurance Co-Op HealthyCT Financially Unstable
7.5.16 CT Mirror: Anthem-Cigna Controversy Exposes Gaps in Ethics Rules
6.30.16 CT Mirror: Comptroller Says Wade Should Recuse Herself on Cigna Merger 

National/Other Health News
7.9.16 LA Times: Clinton Vows to Expand Funding for Health Centers

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