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Clinical/COVID-19

NC Will Receive $500,000 to Support Broadband Access

On March 17, Gov. Cooper announced that North Carolina will get $500,000 via an FCC Affordable Connectivity Program Outreach Grant to help more low-income households afford monthly high-speed internet service; more than 690,000 N.C. households are currently participating, and state hopes this funding will help enroll 1 million households by the end of 2024. 

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) offers eligible low-income households a $30 per month discount on high-speed internet service, with households on qualifying tribal lands eligible for up to a $75 per month. Participating families can also get a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer with a co-payment of more than $10 but less than $50.

Many leading internet providers in North Carolina offer eligible households a high-speed internet plan for no more than $30 per month. Eligible families who pair their ACP benefit with one of these plans can receive high-speed internet at no cost. Visit http://getinternet.gov for more details and to enroll.

Medicaid

Lantus Move to Preferred on NC Medicaid Preferred Drug List for NC Medicaid Direct

Due to reports of access challenges with the insulin glargine vial / SoloStar® (authorized biologic for Lantus), Lantus® SoloStar® / Vial will move to preferred on the NC Medicaid Preferred Drug List (PDL), effective March 24, 2023. Both insulin glargine vial / SoloStar® and Lantus® SoloStar® / Vial will have preferred status on the PDL. Insulin glargine continues to be the most cost-effective option for NC Medicaid. Read more.
 



ICYMI: NC DHHS Report Details Proposed Modernization of Medicaid Reimbursement for FQHCs

As required by the 2022 state budget law, NC Medicaid worked with NCCHCA to develop a comprehensive reimbursement reform proposal for FQHC reimbursement under Medicaid, detailed in a report recently submitted to the state legislature. Modernizing this reimbursement methodology will help maintain access to health centers as in-network providers for Medicaid beneficiaries, enable full FQHC participation in value-based payment arrangements under managed care, and lead to more stable and predictable reimbursement for FQHCs.

 



Medicaid Bulletin Roundup

The following recent bulletin(s) from NC Medicaid may be of interest to health centers:

Follow this link to view all NC Medicaid Bulletins
 


Problems with Managed Care Claims Denials? 

Contact the Medicaid Provider Ombudsman
at this link and notify NCCHCA by email at mmc@ncchca.org.

Funding Opportunities

 

NEW: NACHC Digital and Health Literacy Funding Opportunity
Deadline: Mon., March 27, 2023
Apply

NACHC, through its Center for Community Health Innovation, in partnership with NACHC’s experts from Informatics, Population Health, and Training and Technical Assistance and with funding support from the global healthcare company Abbott, has designed a new initiative to guide health centers in using a human-centered design approach to improve health equity by addressing digital and health literacy.

With initial seed funding, access to leading experts, and training on human-centered design principles, selected health centers will design and test their solutions – all with the broader goal of sharing what works with health centers nationwide. The NACHC Innovation Incubator program will launch in March 2023. The award amount is $40,000 (plus travel stipend).
 



HRSA School-Based Service Expansion Funding
Deadline: Grants.gov by Fri., March 31; HRSA EHB by Mon., May 1
More Info

HRSA has released the fiscal year 2023 School-Based Service Expansion (SBSE) notice of funding opportunity (HRSA-23-097). HRSA will make $25 million available for approximately 70 awards to increase access to primary health care services, including mental health services, through new and/or existing school-based service site(s). 

Health Center Program operational (H80) grant award recipients are eligible to apply. Health centers must make mental health services available at all school-based service sites where they propose to use SBSE funding.



HRSA Funding Opportunity Expands, Enhances Nurse Practitioner Residency Programs with Primary Care Focus
Deadline: Tues., April 11
More Info

HRSA released the Advanced Nursing Education Nurse Practitioner Residency and Fellowship Program NOFO, which will award approximately $30 million to up to 43 grantees to effectively provide primary care by supporting transition to practice through the expansion and/or enhancement of existing nurse practitioner residency programs. 
 



NEW: HRSA Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) Capacity
Deadline: Tues., May 9, 2023
Apply

There will be 29 awards of up to $200,000 per award per year.
 



NEW: HRSA Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) Technical Assistance (TA) Center
Deadline: Tues., May 9, 2023
Apply

There will be one award of up to $3 million per year.
 



NEW: HRSA Integrated Maternal Health Services (IMHS)
Deadline: Wed., May 24, 2023
Apply

There will be 5 awards of up to $1.8 million per award per year.

Policy & Advocacy

NCGA Has Passed Medicaid Expansion!

Today, on the 13th anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the North Carolina General Assembly passed H.B. 76, the bill that will expand Medicaid. The bill will now head to the Governor’s desk. The timing of implementing Medicaid expansion will depend on a state budget getting signed into law. However, we have achieved a momentous milestone with this bill passing the NCGA and we wish to thank our members for their tireless advocacy for more than a decade to expand health care access.

Read and share NCCHCA's statement on passage of the Medicaid expansion bill. 



Updated with New Details: NCCHCA’s State Policy Agenda 

NCCHCA recently added new information and resources to its online state policy agenda. Click on the following priorities on the agenda to see new details: Expand Medicaid, Modernize Medicaid Reimbursement for Health Centers, and Expand Medical Assistance Apprenticeships to Address Workforce Shortages.
 



RSVP for Next Week's NCGA Advocacy Day by Tomorrow

We are ONE WEEK OUT from our Community Health Center State Advocacy Day in Raleigh on Wednesday, March 29! We are so excited to get together and demonstrate the power of the community health center movement.

Even though the NCGA has passed Medicaid expansion, Advocacy Day is still important. We need to not only advocate for our current state policy priorities, but we also need to demonstrate the power of health centers and build relationships with decisionmakers by turning out to our state capital.

Two Steps to Take Now:

  • RSVP by tomorrow, Friday, March 24. We need a headcount for breakfast beginning at 8:30 am. The program begins at 9:00 am at the NC Museum of History.
  • Contact Lawmakers for meeting scheduling after 10:00 am.

How to Identify Your State Legislators

Here are some tools to help you identify the state legislators that represent your service area:

  1. NEW: NCCHCA Health Center Sites by State Legislative District - Jan 2023: This spreadsheet lists the State Senators and State Representatives whose districts contain all 400+ clinical N.C. FQHC sites (downloaded from HRSA as of January 2023).

  2. Find legislators that represent your entire service area: Keep in mind that there are 120 NC House Representatives and 50 NC Senators, so your service areas will often span multiple legislative districts. Here are tools to find legislators serving your broader service area:

    1. Representation By County: Find a list of state legislators in the House and Senate by the counties they represent in their districts.

    2. Find Your Legislators Tool: This tool includes an interactive map into which users can enter their address and look up their elected officials in the United States House of Representatives, the N.C. House, and the N.C. Senate.

Workforce

Preparing the Health Center Workforce for the Post COVID-19 Era
Wed., March 29 | 1:00-2:00 pm
Register

Join the National Center for Health in Public Housing for a webinar to learn about strategies health centers can use to address the staffing shorting challenges which have been prevalent and ever evolving since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics of discussion will cover both the recruitment and the retention of a talented, qualified, and diverse workforce.
  



HRSA Virtual Job Fair – Registration Now Open 
Wed., April 19, 2023 | 6:00 - 9:30 pm
Learn more

HRSA is hosting a virtual job fair that will allow health centers to highlight job vacancies and connect with hundreds of engaged health care professionals. There is no cost to participate in this event meaning you can save valuable recruiting funds, and you will be able to share materials with attendees immediately during the fair. Space is limited so follow this link to learn more about this opportunity today.  
 



NCCHCA Workforce Workgroup Meeting
Wed., May 10, 2023 | 10:00 – 11:00 am
Register

Join your health center colleagues to discuss successes, current challenges and best practices for workforce planning and development at your CHC. Stay tuned for more information about special workforce-related trainings that will be offered during the May and June workgroup meetings. 

Member Spotlight


Robeson Health Care Corporation Hosts NC Rep. Jarrod Lowery

CEO Tim Hall talks with NC Rep. Jarrod Lowery during a tour of the Red Springs and Lumberton Health Centers on March 16. Rep. Lowery got a first-hand look at the critical role FQHCs play in communities like Robeson County. Great work building a relationship with your legislator, Robeson Health Care Corporation!

Rep. Lowery responded to our tweet by saying: I appreciate Robeson Health Care's commitment to the community. I thank them for their time and showing me the critical role they play in the community!
Health Access Resources

Events and Trainings
Click "view entire message" below or this link to view the complete events section.



Today: NCDHHS Livestream Fireside Chat and Tele-Town Hall: Whole Person Health in Rural Communities featuring NCCHCA Member AppHealthCare
Thursday, March 23 | 6-7 PM
Livestreamed via Facebook, Twitter and YouTube
Call in to ask questions: (855) 756-7520 Ext. 92464#.

This NC DHHS fireside chat will discuss the importance of whole person health with a focus on realities in rural communities and available resources across the state. Event participants include: Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, M.D., NC State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer, NCDHHS; Angela Caraway, Executive Director of the Caraway Foundation; Jennifer Greene, CEO and Health Director of AppHealthCare.

 


RSVP for March 29 Health Center Advocacy Day at the NCGA
Wed., March 29 | 8:30 am - 2:00 pm | Raleigh, NC
RSVP Link

NCCHCA is holding a health center state advocacy day at the North Carolina General Assembly in Raleigh on Wednesday, March 29. The advocacy day will feature a morning program at the NC Museum of History followed by meetings with state legislators at the NCGA. Board members are encouraged to stay overnight on March 29 in preparation to attend the March 30 board meeting. Look for an email from Alice Pollard about a Wednesday night dinner and room block for Board Members.
 


NACHC Medicaid Redetermination Listening Sessions
Register for all four sessions

 The upcoming listening session dates are:

March 29, 2023 (2-3 PM ET)
April 28, 2023 (2-3 PM ET)   
May 18, 2023 (2-3 PM ET)   
June 29, 2023 (2-3 PM ET)

 For questions please email federalpolicy@nachc.org.
 



Live HIPAA & Cybersecurity Training Sponsored by NCCHCA Partner PCIHIPAA
Wed., April 5, 2023 | 1:00 - 2:30 pm 
Register

FREE WEBINAR AND 1.5 CE CREDITS! 
 



Registration Closing Soon: NCCHCA's 35th Annual East Coast Migrant Stream Forum
April 5-7, 2023 | Rosen Plaza Hotel, Orlando, Florida

Register

Join NCCHCA at our 35th Annual East Coast Migrant Stream Forum*, which focuses on increasing access to care and reducing health disparities among vulnerable populations, with an emphasis on migrant and seasonal agricultural workers. The 2023 theme is: “Our Food, Our Health, Our Earth: A Just Future for Farmworker Communities.”

 


Medicaid Managed Care Webinar Series
Every 3rd Thursday of the month from 5:30-6:45 PM
Next Session: Thurs., April 20, 2023
Register for sessions and access past archives on this webpage.

 

NACHC 340B Grantees Conference
May 3-5, 2023 | New Orleans
Register

Join NACHC at the JW Marriott in New Orleans, May 3-5, 2023 for the second 340B Grantees Conference! Hosted by NACHC and RWC-340B, the conference provides a platform for 340B Grantees like Ryan White Clinics, FQHCs, and FQHC Look-alikes to collaborate and share best practices, learn from experts in the field, and network with colleagues from around the country.

Hosted by Shannon Dowler, MD, Chief Medical Officer, NC Division of Health Benefits. Moderated by Hugh Tilson, Director of the NC AHEC Program.
 

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