From: "Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas" <chad+communityhealthcare.net.333@1042546.myactivecampaign.com>
To: <_t.e.s.t_@example.com>
Subject: CHAD Connection - August 5
Click here to see a web copy of this email
August 8-14 is Health Center Week in the Dakotas, proclaimed by Governor
Noem
and Governor Burgum
.
Health centers in North Dakota and South Dakota are taking this moment
to celebrate. CHAD staff is gassed up and taking this year's health
center week on the road! Next week, CHAD staff plan to visit every
delivery site in both states to attend events, bring treats, and thank
our members in person.
The Dakotas' network of health center organizations will be using this
opportunity to thank patients and the communities they serve and
highlight the important contributions they make to the health care
system in urban and rural communities. It is also an excellent
opportunity for health centers to recognize their outstanding staff for
all they do and to give back to the communities they call home. See our
next issue of the CHAD Connection for a collection of stories and
photos.
CHCs in the News
Lori Walsh with South Dakota Public Broadcasting interviewed Michaela
Seiber, CEO of South Dakota Urban Indian Health, about their successful
COVID-19 vaccination event
in Sioux Falls.
The Argus Leader interviewed Dr. Chima, Sioux Falls public health
director and executive director of Falls Community Health, about his
goals for community vaccination rates
.
CHAD staff attended the retirement party for Darrold Bertsch and others
from Coal Country Community Health Center.
Northland Health Centers CEO Nadine Boe welcomes fairgoers at the North
Dakota State Fair in Minot.
COVID-19 Vaccination Event in Sioux Falls
In July, South Dakota Urban Indian Health (Urban) partnered with South
Dakota Voices for Peace and the SDSU Dairy Extension to offer COVID-19
vaccinations for three evenings in the Empire Mall parking lot. The
event prioritized accessibility, including signage and other materials
in multiple languages, listing bus routes, and allowing patients to stay
in their vehicles during the vaccination process.
The three organizations provided education, refreshments, and $30
incentives for each patient. The event was considered a success, with
over 100 people vaccinated for COVID-19. The group is planning
additional vaccine clinics from August through October. Click here
for dates.
The Urban event showcases multiple best practices in the race against
COVID-19. The goal to vaccinate as many people as possible necessitates
one-on-one conversations, community partnerships, practical solutions to
accessibility and childcare issues, and, yes, incentives. CHAD applauds
the work of all of our member health centers for their monumental
contribution to the fight against COVID-19.
American Rescue Plan Act Lowered Health Costs for Millions of Americans
Ahead of August 15 Deadline
This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released
new data showing that returning consumers to the Marketplace can save,
on average, 40% off of their monthly premiums because of enhanced tax
credits in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Since implementing the
tax credits on April 1, 34% of new and returning consumers have found
$10 or less coverage per month on HealthCare.gov. A state-by-state
breakdown of savings is available here
.
In the final two weeks remaining in the 2021 special enrollment period,
we encourage all Dakotans who need quality, affordable health care
coverage to sign up at HealthCare.gov by August 15. Additionally,
consumers who received or who are approved to receive unemployment
compensation for any week
beginning in 2021 may be able to find even lower-cost plans and save
extra money on out-of-pocket expenses through HealthCare.gov due to the
ARPA's enhanced tax credits.
Federal Updates
Update on the Infrastructure Bill, Now Known as the Investment and Jobs
Act
On August 3, work began on amendments for consideration on the
2,700-page infrastructure package. The bipartisan bill is the first
phase of President Biden's infrastructure plan. It calls for $550
billion in new "physical" infrastructure spending over five years for
roads, bridges, waterworks, broadband, and electric grid above projected
federal levels. Later this year, the Senate will work on a second $3.5
trillion "social" infrastructure bill to be passed under the
reconciliation process that will address health care, education,
childcare, jobs, climate change, and other social issues. An August 2
update infrastructure article may be found here.
House Appropriations Passed
The House Appropriations Committee passed H.R. 4502
, which includes
$7.5 billion for the Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA), an increase of $1.6 billion above the 2021 enacted level, and
$910 million above the President's budget request. This bill includes
$1.8 billion for the Health Center Program, an increase of $148 million
above the fiscal year (FY) 2021 enacted level. Within this funding,
there is $50 million for school-based health centers, $25 million to
establish the new Alcee Hastings Cancer Screening Program, and $152
million for the Ending HIV Epidemic Initiative. There is $1.6 billion
for HRSA's Bureau of Health Workforce, an increase of $341 million
above the FY 2021 enacted level, roughly a 50% increase for the National
Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program.
Medicare and Dental Coverage
Medicare beneficiaries who have difficulty accessing and affording
dental care would benefit significantly by adding dental benefits to
Medicare. A new analysis
found that almost half of all Medicare beneficiaries (47%) did not have
a dental visit within the past year as of 2018, with rates higher among
those who are Black (68%) or Hispanic (61%) compared to White
beneficiaries (42%). Rates were also higher among those with low incomes
(73%) or those in fair or poor health (63%). In 2020, the Community
Action Partnership of North Dakota, the state association of Community
Action Agencies, evaluated the needs of and services for individuals.
About one out of four 65+ adults had a current need for dental
insurance/affordable dental in our state. The House has included a
standard dental, vision, and hearing benefit to Medicare as part of a
sweeping $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package. The Senate must
now consider the bill. If the request makes it through Congress, it
would be the most significant expansion of Medicare benefits since the
inception of Part D prescription drug coverage in 2006.
340B Updates
On Friday, July 9, Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and David
McKinley (R-WV) introduced the first-ever comprehensive federal
anti-pickpocketing bill
,
Preserving Rules Ordered for the Entities Covered Through (PROTECT) 340B
Act of 2021. The PROTECT 340B Act protects 340B safety net providers and
communities from discriminatory pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). The
bill adds a new section 2730 to the Public Health Service Act, which
applies to private insurance plans. The PROTECT 340B Act will prohibit
insurers and PBMs from treating 340B providers and their contract
pharmacies differently regarding reimbursement, fees, participation in
networks, audits, and inventory management systems. It also prohibits
interfering in patient's choice receiving drugs from a pharmacy,
whether in person or by mail, requiring 340B providers or pharmacies to
identify 340B drugs, refusing to contract with 340B provider or
pharmacy, and imposing any other restrictions as specified by Department
of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. The PROTECT Act
will impose civil monetary penalties through enforcement mechanisms.
Read more here
.
COVID-19 Billing and Coding Guidelines Update
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) has updated the current
COVID-19 billing and coding guidelines in response to rapidly changing
medical technology and updates to the coding sets. The information can
be located at COVID-19 Billing and Coding Guidelines
. For questions,
contact the BCBSND provider contact center at 1-800-368-2312.
New CDC STI Treatment Guidelines for 2021
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released new
sexually transmitted infections (STI) treatment guidelines for 2021
. This
document provides current evidence-based diagnostic, management, and
treatment recommendations and serves as a source of clinical guidance
for managing STIs. Find the main STI diagnostic, treatment, and
management updates for providers here
.
STIs are common and costly
.
With 26 million new STIs occurring each year, totaling nearly $16
billion in medical costs, evidence-based prevention, diagnostic, and
treatment recommendations are critical to STI control efforts now more
than ever. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC provided guidance for
the disruption of STI clinical services
, focusing on
syndromic management and STI screening approaches to maximize the number
of people with STIs identified and treated while prioritizing those most
likely to experience complications. However, most drug and testing kit
shortages have since been resolved. Many health care providers are
returning to normal clinical practices, which include conducting STI
evaluation and management according to CDC Sexually Transmitted
Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021
. Stay
informed on the latest STI recommendations and clinical guidance with
CDC and partner resources here
.
The monthly North Dakota lunch and learn webinar will be held on August
25 at 12:00 pm CT/ 11:00 am MT to review this guidance's major changes
and recommendations. To register, click here
.
SPARK Grants Available in North Dakota
The Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) Caring Foundation
will provide a limited number of one-year grants annually of up to
$50,000 to North Dakota communities and organizations undertaking
efforts to support health and community-based wellness and prevention.
Caring for Communities SPARK grants aim to enhance collaborative efforts
and community involvement that results in long-lasting change.
Those interested in applying for a grant must submit a letter of intent
(LOI) form by 5:00 pm CT on February 15 to be considered for the spring
funding cycle or 5:00 pm CT on August 15 for the fall funding cycle.
Eligible organizations must be North Dakota-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits,
municipal entities (i.e., park boards, public health), or school
systems. Once an LOI is submitted, applicants may be invited to submit a
grant application. All documents must be electronically submitted to
caringfoundation@bcbsnd.com . For
more information, click here
.
South Dakota Department of Social Services Mini-Grants Available
The South Dakota Department of Social Services, Division of Behavioral
Health invites organizations to apply for several funding opportunities
that can be used to support the expansion of evidence-based approaches
to the prevention, treatment, and recovery supports for mental health
and substance use disorder issues. Applications
received before the
next deadline on August 11 will be reviewed for projects beginning as
soon as October 1. Additional deadlines are available in October 2021
and into 2022, but interested applicants are strongly encouraged to
apply sooner rather than later, as funds are limited.
Opportunity #1 | South Dakota SBIRT Mini-Grants
Funds are available to support screening for behavioral health issues
and behavioral health integration within primary care clinics as part of
the South Dakota SBIRT
****Program. SBIRT, or Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to
Treatment, is an evidence-based practice used to identify, reduce, and
prevent problematic use, abuse, and dependence on alcohol and illicit
drugs. Successful funding requests have included EMR enhancements to
activate screening protocols, purchase of technology to support
screening integration, training time offset for clinic staff and
providers in select evidence-based practices, staff time to plan for and
initiate SBIRT practices on site, and integrated behavioral health
supports.
Opportunity #2 | State Opioid Response Mini-Grants
Funds are available to organizations seeking to deliver professional
education or training in efforts that prevent, respond to, treat, or
support recovery for opioid use. Funds may also address stimulant use
disorder. A subject matter expert must provide supported training with
developed expertise in addiction.
More information on supported activities for both opportunities can be
found in the program descriptions within each application form. Awards
for mini-grants will be up to $50,000 and must meet all requirements of
each program. To discuss a proposal before applying, please contact the
individuals identified in each application or simply call 605-367-5236
and indicate you are interested in learning more about these funding
opportunities.
2021 Immunize SD Conference:
**Getting Back on Track** September 10
Register now for
the 5th annual statewide Immunize South Dakota conference:
**Getting Back on Track.** Held on September 10 in Sioux Falls, this
in-person event will bring together health care professionals to network
and learn the most recent vaccine news and developments.
This conference is intended to promote immunizations throughout South
Dakota by supporting health care providers through education and
community outreach resources. Session topics will include vaccine
innovations, increasing vaccine confidence, addressing rates of adult
and adolescent immunizations, combatting vaccine misinformation, and the
most recent information on the COVID-19 vaccines. Attendees will also
hear a state epidemiology update from the South Dakota Department of
Health.
The conference will be from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm CT. The full agenda will
be available soon at ImmunizeSD.org .
CCHN/CHAMPS Health Equity Learning Series
The three-part Colorado Community Health Network (CCHN)/CHAMPS 2021
Health Equity Learning Series builds on the foundation from last
year's series
and continues efforts in the journey towards a more equitable and just
health system. Participants will come away from the series with a
greater understanding of organizational and personal position in health
equity and tangible strategies and tools to assist in moving forward.
Sessions in the series include:
It Starts with Us: The Journey of Dismantling Institutional Racism
Tuesday, August 31
1:00-2:15 pm CT/ 12:00-1:15 pm MT
Applying the Health Equity Lens: Serving Indigenous People
Tuesday, September 14
1:00-2:30 pm CT/ 12:00-1:30 pm MT
Applying the Health Equity Lens: Weight Bias in Health Care
Tuesday, September 28
1:00-2:30 pm CT/ 12:00-1:30 pm MT
Registration is open and free for participants from Region VIII health
centers and Primary Care Associations. To learn more and register for
each event in the series, visit the CHAMPS Upcoming Live Distance
Learning Events
web page.
Better Choices, Better Health® South Dakota - A Better Way
Thousands of South Dakotans live with at least one chronic condition.
Additionally, South Dakota has a significant aging population, and
chronic health conditions tend to increase in prevalence with age.
Although chronic health conditions are among the most common and costly
health problems, they are also among the most preventable.
Better Choices, Better Health® South Dakota
(BCBH-SD) is a licensed, statewide program for adults offering a suite
of free self-management education (SME) programs facilitated by trained
BCBH-SD leaders. This suite includes programs for chronic conditions,
pain, diabetes, and cancer available in a variety of workshop formats,
including face-to-face, virtual, and toolkit self-study. New in 2021 is
the chronic conditions program offered in Spanish. The workshops
introduce evidence-based information and skills that are proven to help
those with chronic physical and mental health conditions improve their
quality of life.
If any health center staff are interested in becoming trained as a
leader for the BCBH-SD program, there is a virtual training scheduled
August 19 through September 30, meeting twice-weekly (Mondays and
Thursdays) from 2:30 - 5:00 pm CT. Click here to register
,
call 1-888-484-3800, or visit www.betterchoicesbetterhealthsd.org
for more information.
NWRPCA/CHAMPS Fall Primary Care Conference October 24-26
Registration is now open for the Northwest Region Primary Care
Association (NWRPCA)/CHAMPS 2021 Fall Primary Care Conference. This
multi-day, multi-track conference will offer a variety of keynote
plenaries, educational sessions, networking opportunities, exhibitors,
and more designed to meet the needs of health center staff. The theme
for this year's conference is
**Re
*****Connect: Re
*****Envisioning Community Health for 2022 & Beyond.**
The conference will be held on Sunday, October 24 - Tuesday, October
26, in Seattle, WA and is currently planned to include both in-person
and virtual options. To learn more and register, please visit the CHAMPS
Annual Primary Care Conference
webpage.
COVID-19 Vaccine Social Media Material
Health care professionals are doing everything they can to encourage
those around them to vaccinate against COVID-19. CHAD designed several
social media posts to highlight the benefits of a COVID-19 vaccination
that health centers can use to promote different vaccination activities.
To gain access to this campaign or for specific health center branding,
contact Kayla Hanson at CHAD.
August is National Immunization Awareness Month
Governor Noem has proclaimed
August as Immunization Awareness Month (IAM) in South Dakota. This
annual observance highlights the importance of getting recommended
vaccines throughout one's life. Everyone has the power to protect
loved ones against serious diseases, like whooping cough, cancers caused
by HPV, and pneumonia through on-time vaccination.
During IAM, organizations like CHAD and Immunize South Dakota encourage
people to speak with health care providers to ensure their family is up
to date on recommended vaccines, including COVID-19 and influenza. As
children head back to school this fall, parents should make sure
well-child exams and vaccinations are at the top of their checklist.
Adults need vaccines too. Check the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention's (CDC's) adult vaccine assessment tool
to evaluate personal vaccine
needs.
GP11 Network News
CISA Ransomware Resource Website
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently
announced a new website to be a
central resource for public and private organizations to assist with the
rise in ransomware cyberattacks. The CISA website will provide partners
and stakeholders with ransomware protection, detection, and response
guidance in a single place. Resources include ransomware alerts,
reports, and information from CISA, the FBI, and other federal partners.
GPHDN will highlight and provide additional information on specific
website resources beneficial to member health centers in future
newsletters.
Measuring and Maximizing Provider Satisfaction
Join CHAD for this three-part series explaining the importance of
provider satisfaction, its effect on health center performance, and how
to identify and measure provider satisfaction. The webinar series will
culminate in a final session at the CHAD in-person conference in
September, discussing how to improve satisfaction using health
information technology (HIT). Presented by CURIS Consulting, the series
will include the process of distributing a survey to providers to
evaluate satisfaction and analyze the results of CHAD members and the
Great Plains Health Data Network (GPHDN). The intended audience for this
three-part series is c-suite staff, HIT staff, clinical leads, and human
resources staff.
Measuring Provider Satisfaction
In this final webinar, presenters will share how to measure provider
satisfaction and how to evaluate the data. The CHAD and GPHDN provider
satisfaction survey results will be analyzed and shared with attendees
during the presentation.
Wednesday, August 25
11:00 am CT / 10:00 am MT
Register here
.
Webinars & Meetings
Find these and other events on the CHAD website
.
Whole Person Care: Oral Health Webinar Series
Oral health can play a critical role in systemic health. Integration of
oral health and primary care practice is a strategy to increase access
to oral health care. Presented by the Wyoming Primary Care Association
and the National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA), this webinar
series will share the framework for integration of oral health, primary
care practice, and behavioral health.
This series will also describe the importance of medical and dental
integration in primary care to promote whole-person care. Presenters
will also review the clinical relationship between diabetes and oral
health and the action steps primary care providers can take to assess,
evaluate, and manage the impact of oral health status on an
individual's diabetes.
Monday, August 9
12:00 pm CT/ 11:00 am MT
Register here
.
South Dakota Department of Health COVID-19 Update
The South Dakota Department of Health hosts a monthly COVID-19 webinar
for health care facilities, medical providers, laboratorians, long-term
care facilities, EMS providers, and other health professionals.
Thursday, August 12
11:00 am CT/ 10:00 am MT
For call-in information, please join the listserv here
. Find archived
calls and slides here .
Staffing Transformation Following PCMH Recognition among HRSA-Funded
Health Centers
****Register today for this webinar exploring how a patient-centered
medical home (PCMH) recognition at health centers has affected staffing
capacity to deliver team-based integrated care. PCMH recognition aims to
improve patient outcomes and has been promoted through the Health Center
Program with training, TA, and funding support
.
The speaker will feature findings from a recent data analysis from the
UDS and the HRSA accreditation and PCMH recognition initiatives to
identify health center staffing infrastructure changes.
Thursday, August 26
12:00 pm CT/ 11:00 am MT
Register here
.
2021 CHAD Conference
Registration is open for the 2021 CHAD Conference this fall in Rapid
City, SD. Paired with the Great Plains Health Data Network summit, the
2021 CHAD Conference will feature speakers and panelists who will look
at the history of the health center movement as a way to inform the
current moment and look forward to the future's potential.
Participants will connect to the past through stories and learn how to
use stories to continue to be community-driven, equity-oriented, and
patient-centered organizations and how we can continue to live out the
values of the health center movement in the current context. Tracks
include workforce, leadership, health equity, clinical quality, and
behavioral health. Visit our conference website
for
registration, schedule, and room details.
September 14 and 15
Register here .
CHAD Network Team Meetings
Thursday, August 5 at 12:00 pm CT/ 11:00 am MT - Clinical Quality
Network Team
Friday, August 20 at 12:00 pm CT/ 11:00 am MT - Behavioral Health Work
Group
Tuesday, August 31 at 1:00 pm CT/ 12:00 pm MT - Outreach & Enrollment
Network Team Meeting
Tuesday, August 31 at 3:00 pm CT/ 2:00 pm MT - CFO & Finance Manager
Roundtable
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This account is supported by the Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $1,499,709.00 with 0 percent
financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the
author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an
endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information,
please visit HRSA.gov.
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Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas, 196 E 6th Street, Suite 200, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104, United States