March 16, 2015
March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Did you know that over 5 million Americans fit the criteria for gambling addiction? Learn more about Problem Gambling here and watch our newest video blog here.
In This Week’s Issue
Announcements
Trainings, Webinars & Conferences
Funding Opportunities
Ask CHCACT!
Upcoming CHCACT Meetings
Resources
This Week in Health Policy News
Events/Educational Opportunities
Announcements
This Thursday, March 19th, is Federal Funding Cliff Call-In Day! Join advocates from across the country in calling Members of Congress to raise awareness of the impending funding cliff for federally-qualified health centers (FQHCs), National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and Teaching Health Centers (THCs). Without Congressional action, FQHCs stand to lose 70% of their federal funding; NHSC and THC will lose all of it. Get the details on how to call and what to say here.
Connecticut’s Mission of Mercy Dental Clinic will occur March 20-21 at Western CT State University in Danbury. Community HealthCorps members will be volunteering! Learn more here.
Tweet of the Week
At @CTMedicaid meeting hearing presentations on @HUSKYHealthCT. Check out consumer-friendly web site: http://t.co/7FeFuXUwcj #Medicaid
— CHCACT (@CTHealthCenters) March 13, 2015
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New on Get-Centered
Our Get-Centered Blog features the first in a series of video blogs by Lisa Moon of UCFS regarding problem gambling and the Bettor Choices program!
SBIRT in Your Corner
Learn more about CT SBIRT here!
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Trainings, Webinars & Conferences
Wednesday 3/31 CHCACT will be presenting a 1 hour “Community Health Center Workplace Safety” Webinar Training – in partnership with Yale New Haven Health System Center for Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response (YNHHS-CEPDR). The training will be online from 2-3pm and is intended for the Community Health Emergency Response Network (CHERN) and FQHC Safety Committee Members.
The National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership Summit will be held April 8-10, 2015. Click here for more information about this summit, which will focus on medical-legal partnerships in community health centers this year.Have you checked out the MyNACHC Learning Center? It’s full of webinars, courses and other training/assistance opportunities!
Be sure to check the Events/Educational Opportunities calendar at the end of this newsletter for more webinars and trainings!
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Funding Opportunities
NEW! SAMHSA has announced grants available for Screening, Brief Intervention, & Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Health Professions Student Training. Colleges/universities and medical residency programs are eligible to apply. The deadline is March 27th. Learn more here.
NEW! SAMHSA has announced a Capacity Building Initiative for Substance Abuse & HIV Prevention Services for At-Risk Racial/Ethnic Minority Youth and Young Adults. Community-based organizations are encouraged to apply by Thursday, April 23rd. Learn more here.
HRSA has announced the FY 2015 Health Infrastructure Improvement Grant application, due April 21, 2015. Approximately $150 million in ACA funding will be made available to support 150-175 awards for existing Health Center Program grantees to increase their patient capacity and to provide additional comprehensive primary and preventive health services to medically underserved populations through the alteration/renovation, expansion, or construction of a facility. Learn more here.
The Northeast Regional Nutrition Center of Excellence has announced a new grant to support the implementation of research programs in the northeast region that will expand the evidence base that supports effective nutrition education for diverse low-income program participants. The agency will support 4-5 proposals of $50,000 each. Proposals are due April 16th. Learn more.
The Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program allows non-profit organizations in CT to apply for “Focused Giving” projects. Proposals can range from $25,000-$250,000 and can be submitted April 20th-May 1st. Learn more here.
The Office of Policy & Management will likely issue a new RFA for its Nonprofit Grant Program by March 31, 2015. Potential applicants are advised to begin formulating ideas. The official RFA will be cross-posted here once released.
The Connecticut Health & Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA) has announced two grant opportunities for non-profit organizations. Please click here to read about the Nonprofit Grant Program and the Targeted Investment Program.
HHS has announced a modified FOA for Healthy Food Access Project Funding under the Health Food Financing Initiative. The agency seeks to fund projects that increase healthy food access in low-income communities and foster self-sufficiency for low-income families by creating sustained employment opportunities in low-income communities. Deadline to apply is April 24, 2015.
The National Institute of Food & Agriculture has issued a funding opportunity for Community Food Projects, to help eligible non-profits, tribal organ and food program service providers in need of a one-time infusion of federal assistance for projects that promote self-sufficiency and food security, address specific needs and provide comprehensive, community based solutions in low-income communities. Deadline to apply is March 17, 2015.
HRSA has announced an RFP for its Rural Health Care Coordination Network Partnership Program, to support the development of formal, mature rural health networks that focus on care coordination activities for diabetes, congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Closing date for applications is April 6th. Learn more here.
Oral Health Advocacy Funding: The Connecticut Health Foundation will make two awards of up to $40,000 to diversify and strengthen oral health advocacy in Connecticut. The deadline to apply is March 17, 2015. Learn more here.
New Markets Tax Credits Allocation Awards Announced. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) announced $3.5 billion in New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation awards aimed at revitalizing low-income communities and increasing economic opportunity nationwide. More information is available here. Applications for CDFI & CDE Certification are being accepted on an ongoing basis. Click here for application trainings and deadlines.
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Ask CHCACT!
“Ask CHCACT” features Outreach & Enrollment questions from health center staff, answered by your favorite CHCACT staff members! Send your questions to ask@chcact.org! Ask CHCACT columns are also archived on the Outreach & Enrollment Resources section of the CHCACT web site. This site is now available to the public, with no log-in requirement!
Sam Pach
Community Health Corps Member
Sam Pach answers this week’s question:
Q: I have heard about the upcoming Special Enrollment Period for the month of April, but I don’t think it will apply to me. I had insurance last year but just lost my job and now have a new one that doesn’t offer health coverage. Can I still apply for coverage on Access Health CT?
A: Yes! You lost your health coverage because of a job loss, and because of this you experienced a “Qualifying Life Event.” This makes you eligible for a Special Enrollment period. There are a number of situations that are regarded as “Qualifying Life Events.” Marriage, change of household size, moving to the state and a change of immigration status can all trigger special enrollment periods outside of Open Enrollment. You need to enroll on Access Health CT within 60 days of the qualifying event in order to qualify for coverage. For more information on the Access Health CT website, click here.
Upcoming CHCACT Meetings
HR Directors’ Work Group. The HR Directors will be meeting by conference call, Tuesday, March 17th, from 10:30-11:30 am. Please call 888-994-2509, passcode 519603# to participate. Contact Tasheenah Brown with questions.
SBIRT Brief Treatment Training. The SBIRT team is holding a brief treatment training for behavioral health clinicians at SBIRT-participating FQHCs, Wednesday, March 18th from 9:30-4:00 at Southwest Community Health Center, 46 Albion Street, Bridgeport. For more information, and to register, please contact Antonio Diaz-Carrera.
Medicaid Cost Report Training. The Department of Social Services will be conducting a training on Medicaid cost reporting, Monday, March 23rd from 1-3:00 pm at CHCACT, 100 Great Meadow Road, Suite 400, Wethersfield. For more information, contact Jennifer Succi.
Coffee and EnRolls. The next Coffee & EnRolls call will be Tuesday, March 24th from 9-10:00 am. All CACs and supervisors are invited to join. Please call 866-670-8282, participant passcode 240 419 3770#.
All CHCACT Staff can be reached by calling 860.667.7820.
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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.
Featured
3.12.15 Norwich Bulletin: UCFS To Discuss Problem Gambling
State Health News
3.16.15 CT Mirror: On Polarizing End-Of-Life Issue, What Changes Minds?
3.13.15 Hartford Courant: Parents Tell Legislature – Allow Children to Use Medical Marijuana
3.12.15 CT Mirror: In Controversial Health Care Bills, Some Agreement on Transparency
3.12.15 CT News Junkie: Should E-Cigarettes Be Added to Smoking Ban?
3.12.15 CT Mirror Op-Ed: Connecticut Can Do More to Address Substance Abuse Disorder
3.11.15 CT News Junkie: Service Providers Warn of Mental Health Budget Cuts
ACA/Health Reform News
3.10.15 CT Mirror: Enrollment Rose, But Age Distribution Remained the Same in CT Exchange
National/Other Health News
3.12.15 Governing: Powdered Alcohol Wins Federal Approval Despite States’ Concerns
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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 resources, including data, for chronic diseases on its web site. Check out the information here!
Blueprint for Impact is a database designed to help nonprofits demonstrate their impact. Check it out!
The United Ways of Connecticut have released a report on low-income families in our state. “ALICE” is a study of “Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed” families. Get the report here.
The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) has created a resource page with information about the potential health center funding cliff, which could cut FQHC federal grants by 70%. The page has background information, talking points, external analysis, sign-on letters and more. Check out NACHC’s page to arm yourself with the tools you need to advocate for Congress to “Fix the Cliff!”
The CT Health Foundation has created “Covering Connecticut 2014: Because Coverage is the Foundation for Good Health,” a resource packet providing town-by-town information about health insurance coverage and health care access.
Weekly Outreach & Enrollment Newsletter. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) produce the CMS Weekly Assister Newsletter. This weekly Newsletter is the best resource for O/E staff to stay up-to-date on information on health insurance marketplace changes, frequently asked questions, and general advice. To sign up, email CACQuestions@cms.hhs.gov with the subject line: “Add to listserv”
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.chcact.org, please contact Deb Polun.
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Events/Educational Opportunities
Click here to view our full events calendar. Click here for NACHC Seminars/Conferences/Webcasts.
Welcome to our events calendar! The calendar is updated on a regular basis with upcoming events, webinars, educational opportunities, outreach activities and more. You can sort the calendar by category and subscribe to calendar updates by clicking here.
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