Health Center Leaders Meet with Members of Congress
This week, as part of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) annual Policy & Issues Forum, OKPCA and community health center leaders met with members of Oklahoma's congressional delegation (pictured below).
Sen. Inhofe, Rep. Cole, Rep. Mullin, Rep. Lucas, and Rep. Bice joined Zoom calls—the conference went virtual this year—to discuss 340B, workforce, health center funding, telehealth, and other issues affecting health center patients. Sen. Lankford's legislative assistant also participated in a meeting with health center leaders.
Reps. Lucas and Mullin agreed to sign on to the Dear Colleague letter supporting health center appropriations. Rep. Cole, the ranking member on the Labor, Health and Human Services committee to which the letter is addressed, reiterated his support for health centers, saying, “I’ve always thought of [the health center program] as a really good investment for us to be making at a federal level. It really stretches the dollar.”
Congressman Mullin (pictured above) agreed to sign on to the CONNECT for Health Act, a bill on telehealth, when it is reintroduced to this Congress.
Congressman Lucas (pictured above) reissued his thanks for health centers serving hard-working rural Oklahomans in his district.
Congressman Cole (pictured above) said that health centers' response to COVID-19 had demonstrated that the investment in health centers over the years “has paid off not just for Oklahoma but the country and the globe.“
Congresswoman Bice (pictured above) joined health center leaders from a Capitol phone booth to introduce herself to her new constituents between votes.
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CMS Increases Medicare Reimbursement for COVID-19 Vaccine Administration
On Monday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced it is increasing Medicare COVID-19 vaccine reimbursement rates effective March 15, 2021. For services provided on or after March 15, 2021, Medicare will reimburse providers $40 for the administration of single-dose vaccines and $40 for each dose for vaccines requiring multiple doses. This is an increase from the payment for services rendered before 3/15—$28.39 for a single-dose vaccine or for a final dose and $16.94 for an initial dose in a vaccine requiring multiple doses.
Court Rules in Favor of Drug Manufacturer in Hospital 340B Lawsuit
On Tuesday, there was an important and disappointing development today in the ongoing effort to compel drug makers to ship 340B-priced drugs to contract pharmacies. The District Court of the Southern District of Indiana issued a preliminary injunction blocking HHS from “implementing or enforcing” the Administrative Dispute Resolution (ADR) regulation against drug maker Eli Lilly until HRSA goes through the full regulatory notice-and-comment process from scratch.
The court ruled that HRSA failed to comply with the procedural requirements outlined in the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) when promulgating the final ADR rule it originally published in 2016 and ultimately withdrew before re-submitting it in 2020. Community health centers have been counting on the ADR process to drug companies that have restricted sales of 340B drugs to contract pharmacies. More updates will be provided as the situation develops.
Biden Administration Rescinds Trump-era Public Charge Regulation
Last Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) formally rescinded the Public Charge regulation issued in 2019. Normally, rescinding a final rule that has already gone into effect would require the agency to go through the full notice-and-comment process. However, the Biden Administration told an appeals court last week that it would not defend the Trump-era regulation, which led the court to dismiss the case and allowed a judge’s nationwide injunction of the rule to go into effect. Because of the court’s action, DHS can simply rescind the regulation, rather than going through notice-and-comment. DHS is reverting back to its 1999 guidance, meaning that ICE officials can no longer consider a person’s actual (or potential) use of Medicaid, SNAP, Federal housing supports, or other factors when determining whether they will receive a Green Card.
Nonetheless, litigation over the Trump-era regulation is not necessarily over. Last Wednesday, twelve states filed a motion to intervene in a public charge case at the Ninth Circuit. It is unclear what the impact would be if a court ruled in favor of the states.
Supreme Court Cancels Medicaid Work Requirements Hearing
Last Thursday, the Supreme Court announced that it will no longer hear oral arguments this month on an appeal over the controversial Medicaid work requirements program in New Hampshire and Arkansas. This week, the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services sent letters to Arkansas and New Hampshire officials to inform them that the Biden administration was formally unwinding the federal government’s permission for states to mandate work requirements in the Medicaid population. Legal experts say the Supreme Court's move likely means the case won’t be heard this term and possibly may not be heard at all.
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Today with Macrae: Health Center Program Updates
Join Jim for more information about funding, the Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program, COVID-19 progress reporting, and more.
Tuesday, 3/23
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Use link to join the day of the session
If you prefer to join by phone: 833-568-8864.
Meeting/webinar ID: 160 886 4136
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OKPCA Director of Public Policy Brent Wilborn Inducted into NACHC Grassroots Hall of Fame: When the National Association of Community Health Centers 2020 Policy & Issues Forum was canceled last year due to COVID-19 concerns, we never got the chance to properly celebrate Brent's induction into the NACHC Grassroots Hall of Fame! Please join us in congratulating Brent for this well-earned honor recognizing his over 17 years of advocacy on behalf of Oklahoma community health centers and their patients!
Upcoming Trainings on Managed Care & Value-Based Payment: OKPCA will host a three-part webinar series this spring led by attorneys Kathy Ghiladi and Adam Falcone of Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell (FTLF). Oklahoma’s new Medicaid managed care program is scheduled to begin October 1, 2021. The series will offer health center leadership an opportunity to gain insights on FQHC payment protections applicable to Medicaid managed care programs and develop strategies for negotiating favorable managed care contracts.
- Friday, 4/2 at 11:00 AM - The first webinar will examine the terms in the managed care RFP and 1115 waiver against health center payment protections under federal law.
- Friday, 4/16 at 11:00 AM - The second webinar will identify sources of leverage that can be applied to negotiating favorable managed care contracts.
- Friday, 4/30 at 11:00 AM - The third webinar will explain how participation in provider networks can facilitate receipt of performance-based payments and overcome antitrust hurdles that otherwise apply to joint contracting activities.
A link will be available to register soon! Registration is free for OKPCA members.
HIV /AIDS Workshop: The South Central AIDS Education & Training Center (SCAETC) and Oklahoma Area Health Education Program (OK-AHEC) are co-hosting an HIV /AIDS Workshop on Epidemiology, Treatment Considerations,
PrEP, and Case Management. This series aims to increase knowledge and improve skills regarding HIV Care Continuum topics so they may be applied in the primary care setting. Continuing education credits are provided for medical, nursing, pharmacy, and social work. Join Friday, 4/9 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. View the flyer for more information.
Deadline Extended to 4/2- School-Based Service Sites Health Center Program Service Expansion: Funding is available from HRSA to community health centers for new in-person and/or virtual sites in or on school grounds or expanding of an existing site. Twenty-five grants of $200,000 per year for two years will be awarded. The expansion can be for medical, dental, vision, behavioral health, substance use disorder, or enabling services. View more and apply by April 2.
Medication-Assisted Treatment Waiver Training: The OSU National Center for Wellness & Recovery is offering Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) waiver training on March 22 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Click here to register and learn more!
HRSA and CDC Expand Community Health Center Vaccine Program: During the first phase of the health center vaccine program, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) invited 250 health centers to participate and is now inviting an additional 700 health centers to join the program over the next 6 weeks. The next group includes those serving a high proportion of low income and minority patients, those providing services to rural populations, health centers operating Tribal/Urban Indian Health Programs, and/or health centers using mobile vans to deliver services. Please remember that health center responses to the Weekly HRSA/BPHC COVID-19 Survey are one element considered to determine which health centers are prepared to receive vaccinations.
Marketplace Special Enrollment Period Materials: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) opened a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for the Health Insurance Marketplace from February 15 through May 15. Technical guidance from CMS describes the SEP and provides answers to frequently asked questions. CMS has created a partner toolkit with outreach and education materials on the SEP to share with your members and others in your community. The toolkit includes the following social media posts, images, ads, videos, and flyers.
Upcoming NACHC Trainings:
- Virtual Training for New Clinical Directors
- 3/30-4/1, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Hosted by NACHC
- 5/4-6, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM - Hosted by the Health Center Association of Nebraska
- Provides the core knowledge and competencies all health center Clinical Directors need to function as effective managers, leaders, and advocates for their health centers and communities. In addition to providing contextual knowledge regarding the history, terminology, political evolution, and regulatory expectations of the health center movement, course content also focuses on developing competencies in evolving health center issues. For more information, contact klaepke@nachc.com.
- 2021 Cultivating Health Center Operations
- April 13–14
- Cultivating Health Center Operations is an intermediate to advanced level training for health center operations leaders and managers. You will learn techniques to align the right people, processes, and places to support operational efficiencies and responses to an ever-changing environment. Register Here! For questions about Health Center Finance, contact Brandon L. Jones at trainings@nachc.org.
- Financial Operations Management 2 (FOM 2)
- April 21 - 22, 2021 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
- Early bird registration deadline: April 8, 2021
- This two-day training provides insight into the core qualities needed to approach the business aspects of financial operations, management, and service delivery. Attendees can earn up to 11.4 CPE credits.
ECHO Series - AIDS Education & Training Center Program: Click here to register for upcoming OUHSC Infectious Diseases & HIV TeleECHO sessions, including:
- 3/24, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Pediatric HIV Update
- 4/21, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: HIV PrEP & PEP
- 5/5, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Women & HIV
- 6/23, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: HIV & Aging
FTLF Webinar on Perils and Pitfalls of Stimulus Funding: Attorneys from Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell are hosting a training with the National Grants Management Association titled, "What should I Care About? CARES Act and Other Pandemic Response Funding, Perils and Pitfalls." This session will discuss CARES Act (and additional relief funding, if any), requirements and what is coming next. Specifically, we will discuss experiences post-Recovery Act, common audit findings, how to avoid them and what to expect when the Inspector General audits start. The webcast will air 3/31 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.
Dental SBIRT Curriculum Modules Now Available: The Opioid Response Network is offering a new dental curriculum on SBIRT (screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment), an evidence-based approach to managing patients with or at risk of developing a substance use disorder (SUD). The curriculum consists of three core modules supported by resource and reference materials:
- Module 1: Foundational Knowledge
- Module 2: Case-Based Learning
- Module 3: Virtual Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
Interested? Click here to take the course and read more about this virtual learning program.
On-Demand HIV Education from OUHSC/AIDS Education & Training Center: The South Central AIDS Education & Training Center (SCAETC) has free, online, archived trainings available. Learn more and view the trainings. Subjects include:
- HIV 101
- HIV PrEP
- COVID-19 in Patients with HIV
- HIV Medication Update
- Social & Sexual History Taking
- HIV & Pregnancy
- Mental Health & HIV
- Dental Implications in the Treatment of HIV Positive Patients
- Caring for the LGBT+ Patient & Family
- Implications of Communication on Providing HIV Care to the LGBTQ Community
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- Oklahoma Becomes 1st State To Expand Medicaid Coverage To Include Opioid Treatment (News 9)
- State responds to lawsuit seeking to stop privatization of health care (Tulsa World)
- Anyone in Oklahoma can now get the Covid-19 vaccine, thanks to several Native tribes (CNN)
- Judge halts 340B dispute rule, siding with Eli Lilly in lawsuit over program (Fierce Healthcare)
- Community Health Centers, FQHCs Step Up in Vaccine Health Equity (Patient Engagement HIT)
- Becerra squeaks through confirmation vote to become HHS secretary (The Washington Post)
- Biden administration begins throwing out Medicaid work rules (Politico)
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