Month: August 2020

Webinar: Building Provider Capacity to Address Diabetes Prevention

Date: September 22, 2020

Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Central

REGISTER
The American College of Preventive Medicine is partnering with the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) to support the development of novel approaches in addressing prediabetes among high-risk populations, with a focus on Black and Hispanic women. We are excited to be hosting a virtual session as part of this initiative.
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from three health systems which were awarded grants on how to increase prediabetes awareness, screening, and referrals of patients to diabetes prevention programs that are recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These organizations use innovative practice protocols to tear down barriers to health and address prediabetes in high-risk populations.

Attendees will also learn about addressing the social determinants of health within the National Diabetes Prevention Program, evaluating diabetes prevention efforts within healthcare organizations, high-touch coaching to improve engagement of Black and Hispanic women, and the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program.

The virtual session will also feature speakers from the CDC, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, ACPM, AMA, and BWHI. CME/MOC credits are pending for this session. There is no cost for this session.

 

Phase 2 General Distribution Funding Application Deadline Extended September 13, 2020

On July 20, 2020, HHS issued a public notice about forthcoming reporting requirements for certain providers that accepted one or more payments exceeding $10,000 in the aggregate funding from the Provider Relief Fund program. The reporting notice initially advised recipients that additional details regarding data elements would be provided by August 17, 2020. HRSA is continuing to refine its data elements and will provide those additional details at a date later than August 17, 2020. Providers will still be given the detailed PRF reporting instructions and a data collection template with the necessary data elements they will be asked to submit well in advance of the reporting system being made available – which is currently targeted for October 1, 2020. Providers should continue to check this website for the latest updates.

https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/cares-act-provider-relief-fund/for-providers/index.html

Trump Administration Launches National Training Program to Strengthen Nursing Home Infection Control Practices

August 26, 2020

Under the leadership of President Trump, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is implementing an unprecedented national nursing home training program for frontline nursing home staff and nursing home management. The training is designed to equip both frontline caregivers and their management with the knowledge they need to stop the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in their nursing homes. The training will be available immediately to staff of America’s 15,400 Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing homes and focuses on critical topics like infection control and prevention, appropriate screening of visitors, effective cohorting of residents, safe admission and transfer of residents, and the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) – all critical elements of stopping the spread of COVID-19. President Trump first announced the training in late July as part of the Trump Administration’s unwavering commitment to the safety of American seniors living in nursing homes. The training is only the latest in a long list of decisive actions the Trump Administration has taken to safeguard America’s nursing homes.

Full press release

Celebrating Health Center Quality Improvement

August 25, 2020

HHS announced over $117 million in Quality Improvement Awards (QIA) to 1,318 health centers across all U.S. states, territories and the District of Columbia. The QIA recognize the highest performing health centers nationwide as well as those health centers that have made significant quality improvements from the previous year.

Health centers are recognized for achievements in various areas, including:

  • Improving cost-efficient care delivery, while also increasing quality of care.
  • Reducing health disparities.
  • Increasing both the number of patients served and patients’ ability to access comprehensive services.
  • Advancing the use of health information technology.
  • Achieving patient-centered medical home (PCMH) recognition.

Health centers that ranked in the top 1 to 2% in one or more key areas—behavioral health, diabetes prevention and management, and heart health—received designation as National Quality Leaders (NQL).

The top 30% of health centers that achieved the best overall clinical performance received designation as Health Center Quality Leaders (HCQL).

See the fiscal year (FY) 2020 QIA recipients.    MISSOURI RECIPIENTS

Health Center Program Awardee Data pages display the QIA badges that a health center has received. If your health center received an NQL and/or an HCQL, you will receive certificates and QIA badge images to display on your website or in promotional materials. This year, certificates will be delivered electronically through HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) and will be mailed at a later date. Contact Health Center Program Support for questions about certificates and badges, or to request a high-resolution QIA badge.

To learn more about the overview and impact of QIA, and the FY 2020 QIA categories, criteria, payout, badges and terms of award, please join us for a webinar:

Thursday, September 3
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Join the webinar the day of session
Call-in: 888-469-1066
Passcode: 8944659

Webinar: Flu Considerations During COVID-19

Date: August 26, 2020

Time: 11:00 AM Central

REGISTER

Faculty presenters for this session include:

  • Mary Blankson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C;
    Chief Nursing Officer,
    Community Health Center, Inc.
  • Natalie Bycenski, RN, MSN;
    Nurse Manager, Chair of the Infection Control Committee,
    Community Health Center, Inc.
  • Lucy Golding, RN, MSN;
    Nurse Manager,  Chair of the Flu Subcommittee of the Infection Control Committee,
    Community Health Center, Inc.