2016 Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Offerings for ClinicNET Affiliates

Through a generous grant from Kaiser Permanente's Community Benefit Program, ClinicNET is pleased to be able to offer to contributing ClinicNET Affiliates access to Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) registration scholarships and travel support funding! Upcoming 2016 in-person and web-based training opportunities. If interested in participating in a training or conference, click here to complete an online application!   

Expedition:  Behavioral Health Integration - Beyond the Basics
Begins August 17, 2016
Session Details

IHI Summer Immersion
August 1 - 5, 2016, Cambridge, MA
Session Details

Improvement Coach
Web-based session:  September 1, 2016
1st in-person session:  September 13-15, 2016, Boston
2nd in-person session:  October 25-27, 2016, Boston
Session Details

Expedition:  Bundled Payments - Transitioning to Value-Based Care
Begins September 15, 2016 (enroll asap - program fills up fast)
Session Details

Improvement Advisor: Professional Development Program
1st Meeting - September 19, 2016, Cambridge, MA
Session Details

Patient Safety Executive Development Program
Septebmer 8 - 14, 2016, Cambridge, MA
Session Details

IHI Quick Course:  Better Quality Through Better Measurement
September 27, 2016, Philadelphia
October 25, 2016, Chicago
November 7, 2016, Denver
Session Details

Breakthrough Series College: Three-day professional development program that puts you on the path to Collaborative​ start-up
October 18 - 20, 2016, Cambridge, MA
Session Details

Applying Value Management to Health Care
November 2 - 4, 2016, Washington D.C.
Session Details

28th National Forum on Quality Improvement in Health Care
December 4 - 7, 2016, Orlando, FL
Conference Details

18th Annual Summit on Improving Patient Care in the Office Practice & the Community
April 20 - 22, 2016, Orlando, FL
Conference Details

Contact Brooke Powers at brooke.powers@clinicnet.org or 720-863-7803 with any questions.  

[Source:  IHI]

ClinicNET mourns the loss of Cara Russell

ClinicNET is shocked and saddened to learn of this week's death of Cara Russell, the former Executive Director of the Chaffee People's Clinic, a now-closed ClinicNET affiliate, in Salida. Click here to read more.

The Chaffee People's Clinic was a community safety net clinic dedicated to serving the uninsured in the Chaffee county area. Prior to serving as its Executive Director, Cara served as the Mayor of Buena Vista from 2006-2010. Cara was the Executive Director of the Chaffee People's Clinic from 2010 until its closure at the end of 2013. Most recently Cara was the new Executive Director of the Colorado Association of Recycling.

"Cara was so committed to community and she made a notable contribution as a leader in Colorado's health care safety net. She was good at staying in touch and her smile is so memorable -- I will miss her" shared Sharon Adams, ClinicNET's Executive Director.

2010 Safety Net Clinic Week

Cara Russell, Executive Director, Chaffee People's Clinic, Salida

Safety Net Clinic Week 2016 "toolkit" is ready to use!

It's time to start preparing for Safety Net Clinic Week (SNCW) 2016, August 15-19! We have created a “toolkit” to help clinics have the most successful SNCW possible. We also hosted a webinar on June 28 to walk clinics through the toolkit and talk about SNCW 2016; click here to watch the webinar!

Included in the “toolkit” are many easily customizable documents:

• Short Overview of Safety Net Clinic Week
• Safety Net Clinic Week 2016 Logo: use as content for your website, blogs, social media, newsletters, email signatures, etc.
• Sample Letter to the Editor: for submission to your local media
• Governmental Proclamation or Resolution: request a proclamation from your city and/or county
• Safety Net Clinic Week Invitation: consider inviting your city and/or county public officials, local businesses and community leaders to visit your clinic during SNCW
• Open House Invitation template: consider hosting an open house so folks can see and hear firsthand about the important work you are doing!
• Safety Net Clinic Week Fact Sheet: include with any invitation you extend and use, in addition to specific information about your clinic, as speaking points during SNCW
• Safety Net Clinic Week Press Advisory/Release: submit to your local media
• Social Media Tips: don't forget to utilize social media and connect with us @clinicnet!
• List of all Community Safety Net Clinics and federally certified Rural Health Clinics

Please contact Safety Net Clinic Week 2016 coordinator Sidharth Tripathi with any questions: 720-863-7805 or sidharth.tripathiclinicnet.org.

HCPF Policy Updates

Elimination of Five-Year Bar for Lawfully Residing Pregnant Women and Children

"Effective July 1, 2016, the removal of the five-year waiting period is extended to all Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program) children in the following non-MAGI categories: the Health First Colorado Medicaid Buy-In Program for Children with Disabilities, Health First Colorado Medicaid Buy-In Program for Working Adults with Disabilities, Breast and Cervical Cancer and all Home and Community Based Services Waiver programs and the Nursing facilities Hospital Institutionalized program. The removal of the five-year waiting period will also apply to children in the state-subsidized adoption group and the Chafee independent foster care adolescent group.

Following this change, the Department will have eliminated the five-year bar for all lawfully residing pregnant women and children in Colorado who qualify for Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program) or CHP+.
Click here for the Department's updated FAQs on this change

Medicaid Policy Update for Individuals Residing in Community Corrections Facility (or "Halfway Houses")

In response to recent federal guidance, the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) issued a policy statement which explains, effective June 1, 2016, Medicaid-covered services are available to residents of Community Corrections facilities (often referred to as half-way houses) who meet other Medicaid eligibility criteria, including individuals who reside at the facility involuntarily.

When applying through Colorado.gov/PEAK for Medical Assistance benefits, applicants should not indicate they are currently incarcerated if they are living in a community corrections facility. At this time, it will also be possible for individuals to receive real-time eligibility determinations. For the full policy statement click here.

Community Corrections facilities and certified medical assistance sites are also available to assist individuals who wish to apply in-person. Click here for a list of county MA assistant sites."

[Source: PEAKview]

Delta Dental of Colorado Innovation Grants

"Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation is offering financial support to Colorado-based organizations, entrepreneurs, researchers or individuals to develop and test the most creative ideas and approaches to improve the state’s oral health. Applicants must address how their idea can:

• Significantly improve the quality of oral health care.
• Develop and test new oral health technologies.
• Increase oral health literacy.
• Increase dental practice efficiencies.
• Connect and integrate oral health and overall health.
• Increase focus on prevention and/or early intervention.

Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation will award up to $200,000 to implement innovation grants. Grant awards will range from $5,000 to $50,000. Projects can take up to 18 months to complete.

-Applications need to-
Originate in Colorado – Out-of-state applications will not be accepted.
Demonstrate innovation – New, untested, cutting edge ideas.
Be impactful – Funded ideas will advance the field of oral health in a meaningful way.

Applications will not be considered that are solely for equipment, capital funding, marketing campaigns (e.g., brochures, videos, etc.) and sustaining ongoing programs.

Submit an online application by September 1, 2016. The project team can answer questions during the application process. Please contact Lisa Konen at lkonen@ddpco.com

-Key Dates-
Thursday, July 21, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Funding Overview Webinar
Thursday, September 1 – Applications due by 5:00 p.m. MDT
Week of September 19-23 – Applicant meetings/Site visits
Monday, October 17 – Notify applicants of awards
November 1 – Begin issuing grant agreement"
[Source:  Delta Dental Foundation of Colorado]

LAST DAY to Attest for Meaningful Use Year 2015!!!

The Colorado Registration & Attestation site for Program Year 2015 Eligible Professionals will close today, June 30th, so be sure to get your attestation completed. 

Questions?

• Contact Kelly Hernandez, Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Coordinator, by email at MedicaidEHR@corhio.org or by phone at 720.285.3232.
• For system/technical questions and support, contact the ACS Help Desk at 866.879.0109 or SLRHelpdesk@acs-inc.com

 [Source: COHRIO]

MID-JULY: Notification of Primary Care Fund Awards

"Announcement of the FY 2016-17 Primary Care Fund Grant award was tentatively set for June 27, 2016. The Department is rescheduling the award notification to mid-July.

Improvements in the application evaluation process have required more time than initially anticipated. The Department conducted an internal review of the Primary Care Fund Program in FY 2015-16. Following findings and recommendations from that review, improved and additional steps are now taken by staff during the evaluation process to ensure that each application is reviewed thoroughly and uniformly. Furthermore, the Department has contracted with a professional outside entity to validate FY 2015-16 data submissions from selected Primary Care Fund Grant recipients. This has been informative for both the Department and participating clinics. The Department is diligently evaluating the FY 2016-17 applications based on what we have learned through the data validation and appeals process for the previous year's applications. Our highest priority is to ensure that the FY 2016-17 awards will be made to qualifying clinics and calculated using accurate unduplicated, uninsured patient counts.

We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience and partnership.  Please direct any questions to primary.care@hcpf.state.co.us"
[Source: HCPF]