Resources from Community Clinic Voice

Cal eConnect is now accepting Letters of Intent (LOIs) for new grant programs targeting health information exchange (HIE) initiatives and providers. These funding opportunities are focused on rapidly advancing HIE in California with particular focus on the federal priorities of e-prescribing, exchange of structured lab results, patient care summary exchange, and public health reporting. Letters of Intent are due June 5th. Informational webinar will be held May 24th at 2:00 pm PT. For more information, see: http://www.caleconnect.org/opportunities/grants/

And see: Cal eConnect Ends Agreement With State.

Please see the slides from Thursday's webinar for more information. A recording of the webinar is also available online at:

https://cci-tides.webex.com/cci-tides/lsr.php?AT=pb&SP=EC&rID=68475272&rKey=d198efbbc94c5874

The Community-based Care Transitions Program (CCTP), created by Section 3026 of the Affordable Care Act, tests models for improving care transitions from the hospital to other settings and reducing readmissions for high-risk Medicare beneficiaries.

The goals of the CCTP are to improve transitions of beneficiaries from the inpatient hospital setting to other care settings, to improve quality of care, to reduce readmissions for high risk beneficiaries, and to document measurable savings to the Medicare program.

Community-based organizations (CBOs) will use care transition services to effectively manage Medicare patients' transitions and improve their quality of care. Up to $500 million in total funding is available for 2011 through 2015. The CBOs will be paid an all-inclusive rate per eligible discharge based on the cost of care transition services provided at the patient level and of implementing systemic changes at the hospital level...

Competitive health insurance exchanges are a cornerstone of the Affordable Care Act. Starting in 2014, they will provide a one-stop shop for consumers to both review all their insurance options and purchase an affordable plan that meets their needs.

On 5/17/12, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued two guidance documents to advance the process of exchange implementation:

General Guidance on Federally Facilitated Exchanges: If a state decides not to operate an exchange, HHS will operate a federally facilitated exchange (FFE) in that state. This guidance describes how HHS will consult with stakeholders to implement a federally facilitated exchange, how states can partner with HHS through a state partnership exchange to implement certain functions of this exchange, and key policies for the exchange. Comments on the guidance are due on June 18, 2012, and should be sent to FFEcomments@cms.hhs.gov...

Conference Materials from CPCA's 2012 CFO Conference and new CFO Boot Camp are now available online.

And see: 2012 Billing Conference Materials.

Important Billing and Coding Updates
See the CPCA Billing Managers Peer Network website page for the latest FQHC Billing and Coding updates including: MEI, PPS, Change in Scope, CPCAs Reconciliation Workgroup updates and upcoming meetings with DHCS and ACS.

California is considering whether to establish a Basic Health Program, an option under the Affordable Care Act of 2010 that would cover those who are earning less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level and who are ineligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). To finance the Basic Health Program, the federal government would pay funds to the state that the feds would otherwise put toward coverage under the California Health Benefit Exchange. Legislation to establish a Basic Health Program in the state (Senate Bill 703, introduced by Sen. Ed Hernandez [D-West Covina, District 24]) is pending.

What the Basic Health Program would mean for California’s residents and health care stakeholders was the subject of a California HealthCare Foundation briefing, held in Sacramento in April, 2012...

The Bureau of Primary Health Care provides grantees with the opportunity to demonstrate quality through two initiatives: the Accreditation Initiative and the Patient Centered Medical Health-Home Initiative (PCMHHI).

BPHC has provided an updated comparison chart, highlighting the differences between HRSA’s Accreditation and Patient Centered Medical Health Home Initiatives (4/2012).

On May 30, from 10-11:30 am PT, representatives from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), The Joint Commission, and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), will review in depth the differences and benefits of the various accreditation/recognition processes. Representatives from the Office of Quality and Data will also discuss the enrollment procedure for the initiatives and expectations of becoming a medical home.

May 30, 2012, 10:00 –11:30 am PT

Call-in Number: 800-475-0512

Participant Code: QUALITY

Please call in at least 10 minutes early to give operator your name and participant code...

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will be funding 56 awards of up to $400,000 per year for four years to public and private nonprofit entities. The purpose of the program is to provide trauma treatment and services in communities for children, adolescents and their families who experience or witness traumatic events. Applications must be received by June 12;

For more information, please see: http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/2012/sm_12_007.aspx

This quick reference guide, published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) contains questions to ask and steps to initiate depending on risk levels.

http://m.drugabuse.gov/sites/default/files/files/screening_qr.pdf

Markle Connecting for Health on 4/30/12 released a wide-ranging compendium of resources designed to further support the interoperable, private, and secure sharing of health information.

The Markle Connecting for Health Common Framework Policies in Practice for Health Information Sharing address current critical implementation issues for electronic health information sharing, including informed individual consent, governance, individual access, and procurement. A diverse group of leaders with expertise in health information sharing, technology, privacy, and consumer engagement developed these Policies in Practice resources through a collaborative effort.

The Markle Connecting for Health Common Framework for Private and Secure Health Information Exchange (Markle Common Framework) provides the initial elements of a comprehensive approach for secure, authorized, and private health information sharing based on Fair Information Practice Principles (FIPPs), so that patients and their authorized providers can have access to vital clinical data when and where needed.

See: http://www.markle.org/health/markle-common-framework/connecting-professionals

The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare is now accepting applications for the 2012 Same Day Access Multistate Initiative. This exciting initiative is an opportunity for community behavioral health organizations to design and implement strategies that will result in efficient access-to-treatment processes.

By taking part in this initiative, participating organizations will be provided with the tools necessary to assess current intake and assessment processes and re-design to reduce client wait times, develop cost effective intake and assessment forms, implement strategies such as centralized scheduling and concurrent documentation in order to increase treatment capacity, and better engage clients resulting in the reduction of no-show and cancel rates. Participating organizations will receive the benefit of consultation by MTM Services, have the opportunity to establish a Same Day Access model, and develop a standardized process flow that will minimize staff and client time.

The National Council will be selecting approximately 50 community behavioral healthcare organizations (CBHOs) that are members of the National Council from various states to participate in this 12 month initiative...

A wealth of briefs, papers, and resources that AHRQ has developed for various stakeholders interested in learning more about the medical home is available in the PCMH Resource Center.

Presentations and consensus statements from a September, 2010 high-level, invitation- only discussion about transforming health care hosted by the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative (PCPCC) and sponsored by The Commonwealth Fund and the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice:

http://www.pcpcc.net/files/better_best_guide_full_2011.pdf

Sample Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between health homes and hospitals, provided by the Missouri Dept. of Mental Health

The purpose of the YEP is to address unhealthy behaviors in minority at-risk youth and provide them opportunities to learn skills and gain experiences that contribute to more positive lifestyles and enhance their capacity to make healthier life choices. The YEP is intended to test the effectiveness of innovative approaches in promoting healthy behaviors among minority youth at-risk for poor health/life outcomes. These demonstration grants require a multi-partner approach involving institutions of higher education, primary and secondary schools, community organizations and institutions, and the community at-large.

Applications are due June 8, 2012. Download the full grant announcement at:

https://www.grantsolutions.gov/gs/preaward/previewPublicAnnouncement.do?id=14371

As of May 9, 2012, HRSA has not issued an RFP, but probably will.

The Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) has released a video on the HRSA YouTube site to introduce online technical assistance resources that are available to potential and existing health center grantees.

View the video "Introduction to the Health Center Technical Assistance Website" on on YouTube.

Office of Public Health and Science Deadline: June 8, 2012

The CHAT Program seeks to improve the HIV/AIDS health outcomes of high risk minority youth (13-19 years old) by supporting community-based efforts to increase HIV/AIDS prevention/education efforts, testing, counseling and referrals. The CHAT Program will integrate HIV testing, peer educators/lay health workers, counseling and linkages and social media and technology into a wide- ranging community model to reduce the risk of infection in high prevalence communities. This project will also encourage partnerships among traditional service providers targeting high risk adolescents, such as substance abuse prevention centers for youth; foster care agencies working with youth; youth serving organizations; yo uth runaway shelters; and peer-to-peer education programs.

The project will have three major components: 1) HIV testing, counseling, and linkages to services; 2) peer-to-peer educators/lay health workers for HIV/AIDS education; and 3) utilization of social media and technology. The project will make use of traditional outreach and innovative technology approaches to reach youth with safer sex tips, respond to questions and concerns, and to keep the youth connected with counselors and peer educators or lay health workers...

The purpose of the program is to develop and implement programs designed to increase adolescent immunization rates through the efforts of healthcare providers. Applications are due June 15.

See details on grants.gov.

California Family Health Council has produced a manual that guides Title X health center staff through the evaluation and development of low literacy and plain language health education materials.

The Evaluating Health Education Materials Toolkit guide can be downloaded at: http://www.cfhc.org/health%2Deducation/ResourceCenter/register-for-toolkit.html

It is available to CFHC’s Title X Delegate Agencies at no charge and can be purchased by others for $25.

CFHC also provides consulting services, training and technical assistance on use of the toolkit and development or revision of patient education materials.