CHAD Connection September 19, 2024

The ND Oral Health Coalition (NDOHC) held the annual in-person meeting on September 11 in Bismarck, ND. CHAD facilitates the coalition with a grant from ND HHS, and I have the privilege of being the facilitator for this group of highly engaged partners.

CHAD’s mission to foster healthy communities by promoting and supporting programs that increase access to affordable, high-quality care for all aligns well with the NDOHC mission to foster collaborative solutions to achieve oral health equity. The overarching purpose of the coalition is to coordinate partners and organizations throughout the state of North Dakota to create a collective impact by targeting oral health disparities through strategies such as increasing access to oral health, improving North Dakotans’ oral health literacy, and developing integration between all professions impacted by oral health.

Coalition members heard from several presenters about progress and areas of opportunity related to the coalition action plan objectives of increasing access to dental care for Medicaid members, community-based outreach, and addressing the dental workforce crisis.

Dr. Shawnda Schroeder, evaluator for the ND HHS Oral Health Program with the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences, shared several recent reports on the impacts of the Oral Health Program, including a report on the impact of Dental Student Rotations at CHCs in North Dakota. Family HealthCare, Spectra Health, and Bridging the Dental Gap (an FQHC look-a-like) hosted 33 dental students who served 2,296 Medicaid patients from January 2019 through May 2024. Jackie Nord, DDS with Family HealthCare, shared how the rotations allow dental students to learn about North Dakota and practice dentistry in a public health setting. The rotations create a willingness in those students to consider working at CHCs or at least provide care to Medicaid patients in their private practices.

Sarah Aker, Director of ND Medicaid, and Rachael Buchwitz, Utilization Review Administrator for ND Medicaid, shared the results of a recent survey of dentists and some of the next steps Medicaid is taking to address the challenges identified, especially related to enrollment. ND Medicaid enrollment and policy staff were on hand to answer questions.

Patrick Mineer, founder and CEO of Golden Path Solutions, shared the application his company created, which is called Compass. Compass helps connect students preparing for the future with employers who need their talents. Compass highlights work-based learning opportunities for students and long-term careers, helps describe employers and what they do, and promotes sponsorships and colleges and post-secondary programs. Compass is available to every high school and middle school student in North Dakota as part of the ND Department of Career and Technical Education (CTE). Anyone can create a free profile in Compass. Patrick encouraged coalition members to look for hands-on opportunities to engage students early and build the workforce pipeline.

Courtney Koebele, Executive Director of the ND Medical Association, shared insights on the legislative process and thoughts on the legislative landscape for the 2025 session. Coalition members identified ideas for how the coalition can impact oral health either through legislation or actions the coalition can take without legislation. The results will be shared at the next virtual coalition meeting scheduled for October 17. There will also be additional legislative session planning for interested coalition members.

Coalition members were asked to share the “wins” or successes they had in oral health this year, which were displayed on a, “wall of wins.” While we focus on solving problems, it’s important to remember that there is much success to celebrate.

Overall, it was great to meet in-person to celebrate where we’ve been and determine where we’re going together as the North Dakota Oral Health Coalition!

We're excited to introduce our new Resources landing page, designed to provide easy access to a wide range of tools and materials tailored for health centers. Whether you're looking for webinar recordings and materials, toolkits, communications guidance, or industry best practices, our Resources page offers a centralized hub to help you enhance your outreach and support your community.

Visit communityhealthcare.net/resources to explore our growing collection of resources, updated regularly to meet the evolving needs of health centers in the Dakotas. Take advantage of these valuable materials and share them with your teams to ensure your center thrives in delivering high-quality care.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Comprehensive, ACA-compliant health insurance plays a vital role in expanding access to mental health care for patients at community health centers. By covering essential health benefits like mental health and substance use disorder services, these plans make it easier for individuals to seek the care they need without facing financial barriers. This is especially important for vulnerable populations, who often face higher rates of mental health challenges and limited access to services.

For patients at community health centers, ACA-compliant insurance ensures that mental health care is integrated into their overall health care experience. Providers can offer a full range of services, from counseling and therapy to medication management, all under one roof. This comprehensive approach allows patients to address both their physical and mental health needs in a coordinated manner, leading to better outcomes and improved well-being.

In addition, having ACA-compliant health insurance empowers patients to prioritize their mental health without worrying about high out-of-pocket costs. With coverage for mental health screenings, treatment, and follow-up care, patients can access the resources needed for ongoing support, fostering long-term recovery and resilience.

Join DAETC, North Dakota Health & Human Services Sexually Transmitted Bloodborne Diseases Unit, and CHAD for an engaging virtual seminar on “Integrating HIV Testing, Management, and Prevention in Primary Care.” Presented by Jennifer Sobolik, CNP, AACRN, AAHIVS, sexual and reproductive health provider at Complete Health in Rapid City, SD, this seminar will cover essential best practices for effectively caring for people with or at increased risk for acquiring HIV and seamlessly integrating these practices into primary care.

This seminar is a must-attend for all primary care clinicians who care for individuals at risk of acquiring HIV and individuals living with HIV, placing a particular emphasis on addressing primary care management issues related to HIV. Participants will explore the vital topics of HIV testing, management, and prevention/PrEP in primary care, and develop knowledge to provide exceptional care in this critical area. This training is a unique opportunity to expand expertise and make a meaningful difference!

Wednesday, October 16
9:00 am – 12:30 pm CT / 8:00 am – 11:30 am MT
Register Here

The South Dakota Department of Health is proud to announce the Nexus SD Implementation Award, designed to address critical health disparities through collaboration and innovation. This funding opportunity supports organizations dedicated to improving health outcomes by addressing social determinants of health in underserved populations. Nexus SD provides a streamlined platform for health care and social service providers to coordinate care, ensuring individuals receive the support they need. By participating in this initiative, organizations can enhance their services and access resources that improve both individual and community health outcomes.

Apply Here

Application Deadline: October 18, 2024 at 5:00 pm CT

Anticipated Notification of Funding: December 1, 2024

Anticipated Project Period: January 1, 2025-May 31, 2025 (project period may start earlier if awarded before the submission deadline)

Funding Amount: Up to $10,000 per organization

View the Nexus training recording from June 2024 here.

The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) has announced they will introduce an updated sliding-scale membership dues rate in January 2025. In examining their membership data, NACHC identified that only 35 percent of health centers with budgets below $10 million were members. In contrast, 77 percent of health centers with budgets of $25 million or more were NACHC members last year. To address these imbalances, NACHC will introduce a new tiered-rate approach that better reflects NACHC’s commitment to inclusivity and equity by more fairly adjusting dues rates across health centers of varying budgets. With this change, 49 percent of health centers will see dues decrease. Learn more and see where your health center would fall in the sliding-scale here.

As of 2024, health centers are required to report on how many patients were screened for their family planning needs using a standardized screening tool. The goal of asking about reproductive health screening and pregnancy intention is to ensure that patients are able to receive the reproductive health care that they need and desire – whether that is birth control, STI screening, or pregnancy planning. Health centers can improve access to contraceptive and prenatal care and ensure all patients are offered care that can improve their health and well-being.

HRSA recently released a helpful resource that states that Self-Identified Need for Contraception (SINC), One Key Question, and the PATH Framework are all examples of approved screening tools for this new requirement. HRSA further says that adaptations of those screeners, screeners developed internally by your health center, and other third-party screeners used to identify family planning needs of patients would all count. The HRSA resource is available here.

CHAD has also developed a resource for health centers to assist with implementing the family planning question into workflows and additional resources to provide patient education around pregnancy planning and contraception. Access the CHAD resource here.

Beyond the Basics: Azara Tools to Support Care Management and Coordination

Care management and coordination services are essential elements of value-based care success and are required for many national accreditation programs like Patient Centered Medical Home. These programs must be designed to work across a population and require both strong clinical and data analytics workflows. In this webinar, we will discuss how Azara tools support care management and coordination with DRVS and Azara Care Connect tools and hear from customers how they are managing their own programs using Azara data. This webinar is intended for practices with, or plans to build, care management and coordination programs and/or those looking to learn more about how Azara supports these efforts.

Thursday, September 26

1:00 pm CT/12:00 pm MT

Back to Basics: DRVS 101

Join us as we kick off our Back to Basics series with a DRVS 101! During this webinar, participants will gain more knowledge and understanding of core functionality in DRVS. This webinar is designed for practice staff who may have recently joined the organization or for those who could benefit from a refresher on all that DRVS has to offer.

Tuesday, October 1

12:00 pm CT/11:00 am MT

Data-Driven Cancer Care: Using Evidence-Based Insights to Enhance Screening and Follow-Up

This webinar is designed to empower practices with advanced data analytics for improving care among colorectal, breast and cervical cancers. Discover how to leverage patient data to identify screening gaps, implement effective follow-up strategies, and refine your screening programs to achieve optimal patient outcomes and operational efficiency.

Thursday, October 3

1:00 pm CT/12:00 pm MT

Hidden in Plain Sight: The Impact of Human Trafficking – HIV/STI/TB/Viral Hepatitis Lunch and Learn
Human trafficking is a growing criminal industry, affecting millions of people globally, nationally, and locally. As community advocates and health care professionals, realizing the complex needs of those who have been impacted by the trauma of human trafficking can make a difference in someone’s life. In this presentation, individuals with two organizations will provide education and awareness about what human trafficking and sexual exploitation looks like, available programs, and how to assist those impacted in the Dakotas.

Wednesday, September 25

12:00 pm CT/11:00 am MT
Register Here

Sick Days, Smart Ways: Navigating Diabetes Management During Illness

Managing diabetes during periods of illness presents unique challenges that require careful consideration and proactive strategies. This presentation aims to provide insights into the complexities of diabetes management in the context of illness, emphasizing the importance of education, preparation, and adaptive strategies.

Thursday, September 26

12:00 pm CT/11:00 am MT

Postgraduate Nurse Practitioner (NP) and NP/Physician Associate (PA)

This six-session series will equip health centers with the knowledge and resources to launch their own Postgraduate NP and NP/PA Training Program. This learning collaborative provides health center participants with a roadmap and coaching support on how to implement the formal training program, including program drivers, program structure, recruiting, curriculum development, evaluation, and program accreditation. The learning collaborative is led by two expert faculty members, Charise Corsino (CHC’s Postgraduate NP Residency Program Director) and Kerry Bamrick (Executive Director of the Consortium for Advanced Practice Providers).

Tuesday, October 8

12:00 pm CT/11:00 am MT

Comprehensive and Team-Based Care Learning Collaborative

This eight-session series will support health centers beginning or restarting their move to high performance team-based comprehensive primary care.

The learning collaborative provides health center participants with quality improvement concepts and skills to systematically achieve a specific aim and identify areas for process improvement and role optimization. With coaching support and transformational strategies, health centers will develop highly trained clinical primary care teams and work to improve at least one UDS measure.

This learning collaborative is led by multiple experts, including Dr. Tom Bodenheimer (Founder, the Center for Excellence in Primary Care), Deborah Ward (Former Senior Quality Improvement Manager), and Kathleen Thies (Consultant). To learn more, download the syllabus here!

Wednesday, November 13

12:00 pm CT/11:00 am MT

Trauma-Informed Motivational Interviewing
Matt Bennett, Optimal, LLC presented a two-part webinar on Trauma-Informed Motivational Interviewing. These sessions were targeted to emergency preparedness personnel, front desk and patient intake staff. After the training, participants were able to state the relationship between trauma and health risk behaviors, implement the Spirit of Motivational Interviewing into their relationship with patients, and utilize the trauma-informed motivational interviewing to process change talk.

View the recordings and presentations on the CHAD Resources page.