PEAK Updates: March Enhancement Rescheduled

“Please update your calendar with the new dates and times for the Post-Build Follow-Up and PEAK Support calls to discuss the upcoming PEAK enhancements. The open enrollment period to purchase health insurance coverage ends March 31, 2014. To minimize potential impacts to those applying for assistance or purchasing health coverage during the open enrollment period, the PEAK system enhancements that were scheduled for last night have been postponed until Saturday, April 5, 2014. With the enhancement schedule being postponed, the support calls have been rescheduled, as well.

New March Enhancement Support Call Timeline

• CBMS and PEAK Outage: Saturday, April 5, 6:00AM - 8:00AM
• March Post-Build Follow-Up Call for Community-Based Organizations: Thursday, April 10, 3:00PM - 3:45PM.  Phone: 1-877-820-7831 | Passcode: 349141#
• PEAK Support Call: Wednesday, April 16, 12:00PM - 1:00PM.  Phone: 1-712-432-0220 | Passcode: 5642211#

Click here to learn more about the enhancements. Please contact PEAKOutreach@bouldercounty.org with further questions.”  [Source: PEAK]

Webinar on New JNC8 High Blood Pressure Treatment Guidelines Available

“The JNC 8 committee was appointed in 2008 by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and was charged with reviewing and synthesizing the most recent available scientific evidence, updating existing clinical recommendations and providing guidance for clinicians on the best approaches to manage and control high blood pressure. This guideline has been long-awaited and much anticipated with the last revision, the JNC 7 report, having been published in 2003. Join Colorado Foundation for Medical Care and speaker Mori Krantz, MD for a review of these new guidelines. View the recorded webinar here – registration is required.  Also view the presentation and handout.” [Source: COPrevent]

Study Participation: Uncertainty in Medical Decision Making

“The University of Houston is conducting a study about how patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers handle uncertainty when they made medical decisions.  Please consider volunteering to participate in a brief, online questionnaire where you share your experiences pertaining to uncertainty in medical decision making.  Your participation will help improve models for making more effective healthcare decision products. Click here to take the survey.”  [Source: University of Houston-Downtown]

Million Hearts Colorado: New Provider App Helps Estimate Health Disease Risks

“The ASCVD Risk Estimator app is published jointly by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) to help health care providers and patients estimate 10-year and lifetime risks for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) using the Pooled Cohort Equations and lifetime risk prediction tools. This app is intended as a companion tool to the 2013 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk and the 2013 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Treatment of Blood Cholesterol to Reduce Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Risk in Adults.

The ASCVD Risk Estimator provides easy access to recommendations specific to calculated risk estimates. Additionally, the app includes readily accessible guideline reference information for both providers and patients related to therapy, monitoring, and lifestyle.”  [Source: COPrevent]

ClinicNET Annual Contribution Reminder!

If you have not done so already, please become a contributing affiliate or contributing partner organization in 2014! Click here to learn more and to access our contribution form. As a contributing affiliate you receive the discounted member registration fee for The Forum 2014 coming up April 9-11th! Register now!!

ClinicNET affiliates please be sure to complete the 2013 Data Request and return it to johanna.gelderman@clinicnet.org.  Click here to fill out the electronic version.  We greatly appreciate you taking the time to complete this request so we can more accurately represent ClinicNET affiliates in this time of great change in health care!

HCPF Updates

“2014 Federal Poverty Level Guidelines: The income limits for the MAGI Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) programs are based on Federal Poverty Level (FPL) guidelines that are updated by the Federal government annually. The income guidelines are used to determine eligibility for the MAGI Medicaid and the CHP+ program and are subject to change annually as the FPL is adjusted by the Federal government. Beginning April 1, 2014, the new FPL guidelines will be in effect. CBMS will be updated to reflect the new income guidelines for each program. For more information click here.

FAQs Available Online: Stakeholder FAQs are available at Colorado.gov/HCPF/ACAResources. Still have questions? Send your questions about Colorado’s implementation of the health reform law to: ACAImplementation@hcpf.state.co.us. Responses will be posted on the website.

Click here to view the latest ACA Implementation News from March 21st.”  [Source:  HCPF]

National Community Health Worker Survey - Make sure Colorado is represented!

Calling all Community Health Workers: Take the National Community Health Worker Survey!

So far only 2 CHWs from Colorado have responded, and it is important that Colorado is represented!  This survey is for CHWs, who are known by many titles such as: Promotora/es de Salud, Community Health Representatives, Community Health Advisors, Patient Navigators, and many more. The survey should take 15 minutes and is completely voluntary. You will not be asked for your name or any personal information.  Data gathered will be ‘open source’ and available for states and CHW networks to use for planning and workforce sustainability efforts.

This complements our Colorado specific Community Health Worker/Patient Navigator work group, state survey and related activities.  Thanks in advance for participating!  Click here to take the survey!