New Jersey Health Care Providers, Community Members, and Researchers Come together to Address Disparities and Improve Screening Opportunities for Colorectal and Lung Cancers Challenges, data, education and research discussed at all-day conference May 24, 2018 – Health care providers, community members, and researchers from across the state came together this week at the ‘Conference for Strategic Change’ event, hosted by the New Jersey Primary Care Association and sponsored by ScreenNJ to address screening among two of the most common cancers – colorectal and lung. At the Conference, participants discussed comprehensive strategies to increase screening rates as well as promising practices …
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For Immediate Release May 17, 2018 Contact: Toni Granato, NJPCA Communications Coordinator, (609) 455-8782 or tgranato@njpca.org. NJPCA Women’s Luncheon Engages Health Activism The New Jersey Primary Care Association (NJPCA), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and stakeholders throughout the state joined today for the 14th annual women’s health week celebration at the Women’s Health and Policy Luncheon. The theme of the luncheon was “Health Activism: The Significance of Engaging in Healthcare Advocacy.” Every year, NJPCA hosts this event to celebrate National Women’s Health Week from May 13-19. The week is promoted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office …
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For Immediate Release April 24, 2018 Contact: Douglas Clark, OHI Marketing Manager, (732) 719-9026 or dclark@ohinj.org. Toni Granato, NJPCA Communications Coordinator, (609) 455-8782 or tgranato@njpca.org. Sexually Transmitted Infection Alert: FQHCs and Partners Help Spread Awareness Ocean Health Initiatives, (OHI), the New Jersey Primary Care Association, (NJPCA), the New Jersey Department of Health, and LabCorp hosted a press conference today to highlight Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Awareness Month. At the press conference, a patient advocate who was diagnosed with an STI shared her experience. Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling from New Jersey’s 11th district attended the press conference. Representatives from UnitedHealthcare, Amerigroup NJ, …
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For Immediate Release February 6, 2018 Contact: Toni Granato, Communications Coordinator of the New Jersey Primary Care Association, 609-689-9930 Community Health Center Advocates Urge Congress to Reinstate Funding Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) patients, doctors, nurses, and other advocates are in Washington D.C. today for a national press conference to discuss the urgent need to reinstate FQHC funding. The “Day of Demonstration-Red Alert for Community Health Centers” Fly-In press conference was held on Tuesday, February 6th at 10:30 AM. The press conference took place at the Capitol Triangle (outside the Capitol Building). Since 1965, FQHCs (also known as Community Health …
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For Immediate Release January 11, 2018 Contact: Toni Granato, Communications Coordinator of the New Jersey Primary Care Association, 609-689-9930 ext. 19 Osborn Family Health Center Named Newest FQHC in New Jersey Osborn Family Health Center in Camden has been named the newest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in New Jersey. FQHCs are community-based health care providers that receive funds from the Health Resources & Services Administration to provide primary care services in underserved areas. Community Health Centers, also known as FQHCs must meet a stringent set of requirements, including providing care on a sliding fee scale based on ability to …
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http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/naacp-honors-tyner-community-members-during-annual-awards-breakfast/article_bb9e5637-b941-5f17-93d5-fd27bb94d2a8.html The Atlantic City Branch of the NAACP honored several business and community leaders Saturday during the 46th annual Freedom Fund breakfast. With recognition from the state senate, legislator, county freeholders and Atlantic City, six individuals received awards for their work in the fields of business, education, health, environmental protection and community service. Each award recipient echoed the event’s theme “We Will Not Be Silent,” with a continued call for community members to support and encourage one another, as they were encouraged to succeed in their fields. Mary Abdur-Rasheed, of Serenity Funeral Homes, and Wasseem Boraie, of Boraie Development, LLC …
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HRSA awards $200 million to health centers nationwide to tackle mental health and fight the opioid overdose crisis Today, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded more than $200 million to 1,178 health centers and 13 rural health organizations in every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Pacific Basin to increase access to substance abuse and mental health services. “No corner of our country, from rural areas to urban centers, has escaped the scourge of the opioid crisis,” said HHS Secretary Tom Price, M.D. “The Trump Administration is taking strong, decisive action …
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At a time when access to healthcare seems to many people to be threatened, Metropolitan Family Health Network – which serves many of the underprivileged throughout Hudson County – will hold its annual summer party to highlight its services. The Republican Congress is actively seeking to repeal the Affordable Health Care Act (known as Obamacare,) which according to local leaders could leave many people without health insurance. For many of the neediest in the county, MFHN may be the answer, since payment for services is based on income and determined by a sliding scale. To make people aware of these …
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Yesterday, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced more than $87 million in funding for 1,310 health centers in every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Pacific Basin. The funding will support health information technology enhancements to accelerate health centers’ transition to value-based models of care, improve efforts to share and use information to support better decisions, and increase engagement in delivery system transformation. To support these goals, all purchases or upgrades of electronic health record systems made with the funding must use technology that is certified by the Office …
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NJPCA is pleased to announce that New Jersey health centers have received a total of 21 Health Center Quality Improvement Awards totaling $1,882,596 for the 2016 fiscal year. A complete list of the various awards and recipients is provided below: EHR Reporter Awards: were awarded to centers that employed EHRs to report on all clinical quality measures (CQM) data for all of the health center’s patients. Nine (9) health centers received a total of $90,000. The recipients are: Atlanticare Health Services CAMCare Health Corporation Eric B. Chandler Health Center Horizon Health Center Metropolitan Family Health Network Newark Community Health Centers …
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The Zufall Health network of community health centers has been awarded a total of $191,721 in grant awards as part of a health center quality-improvement program from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program awarded more than $100 million to 1,304 health centers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and seven territories for quality-improvement efforts. New Jersey healthcare centers received 21 awards overall, totaling $1,882,596. Zufall received separate amounts for quality-improvement, quality leadership, national quality leadership, access enhancement, high value and Patient-Centered Medical Home recognition. Source: Daily Record …
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Over the past four years Direct Relief has worked with BD and the National Association of Community Health Centers to identify, fund, and share innovative programs in community health through the Helping Build Healthy Communities initiative. This partnership aims to expand access and improve care in the prevention and treatment of the most pressing health conditions for underserved and vulnerable populations throughout the United States. Since 2013, $2.6 million in awards have been given to 26 health centers in 13 states to support new and enhance existing programs. For more information on the program, including past awardees, initiatives, and the …
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Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced more than $36 million in funding for 50 Health Center Controlled Networks (HCCNs) in 41 states and Puerto Rico. This increase in health information technology support will impact over 1,020 participating health center organizations in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. View a list of the New Jersey awardees here Source: HHS …
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On Thursday, June 16th, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell Burwell announced nearly $156 million in funding to support 420 health centers in 47 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to increase access to integrated oral health care services and improve oral health outcomes for Health Center Program patients. The following NJ FQHCs receiving awards are below: 6 awards totaling $2,624,999 Health Center Grantee City Award Amount COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE, INC. BRIDGETON $525,000 HENRY J. AUSTIN HEALTH CENTER, INC. TRENTON $350,000 NEWARK COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, INC. NEWARK $350,000 NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, CITY OF, (INC) NEWARK $524,999 …
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SAMHSA is announcing the availability of up to $4.7 million for Improving Access to Overdose Treatment grants Monday, April 9, 2018 The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is accepting applications for Improving Access to Overdose Treatment (Short Title: OD Treatment Access) grants totaling up to $4.7 million over the next five years. SAMHSA will award OD Treatment Access funds to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), Opioid Treatment Programs, or practitioners who have a waiver to prescribe buprenorphine to expand access to Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs or devices for emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid …
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Source: NJSPOTLIGHT State Expands Access to Hepatitis-C Drugs for Medicaid Patients Lilo H. Stainton | April 2, 2018 Proposed rule change would allow patients to receive treatment before they exhibit some degree of liver damage Medicaid patients suffering from hepatitis C could soon get coverage for potentially life-saving medications — before they suffer serious liver damage — thanks to a policy change and new funding the Murphy administration said brings New Jersey’s program in line with those in neighboring states. New Jersey officials have proposed a rule change that would enable those individuals to access drugs that can potentially cure …
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NACHC has released a new, data-driven issue brief showcasing how health centers have responded to a rapidly growing need for substance use disorder (SUD) services over the past two decades. The brief, Rising to the Challenge: Community Health Centers are Making Substance Use Treatment More Accessible than Ever, shows how health centers across the nation are breaking down barriers to care, integrating behavioral health with primary care, and providing community-level solutions to towns and cities hit hardest by substance use disorder, including opioids. The brief also lays out important policy supports to build on health centers’ important contributions to battling …
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HRSA Health Center Program Quality Leader Recognition As part of HRSA’s commitment to recognize clinical quality, HRSA is issuing Health Center Quality Certificates to the 47 health centers that achieved National Quality Leader recognition and the 393 health centers that achieved Health Center Quality Leader recognition. Click here to read more …
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Statement from HHS Secretary Alex M. Azar “President Trump is laying out bold actions, ambitious goals, and historic investment to stop the opioid crisis in its tracks. The administration’s three-point plan unveiled today will prevent Americans from falling into addiction, reduce the supply of illicit drugs coming into this country, and provide treatment for those struggling with opioid addiction.” Statement from HHS Region II (NY, NJ, PR, VI) by Dennis E. González, Acting Regional Director & Executive Officer NJ “New Jersey has been hit hard by the opioid epidemic – it’s one of the top twenty states in per capita …
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Community Health Center funding has been restored! …
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Wondering what happens after 80% by 2018? Read the “Beyond 2018 FAQs” to learn how NCCRT is charting the course for our work to increase colorectal screening beyond 2018, including how the 80% by 2018 pledge has recently been changed to the 80% Pledge to reflect our intention to continue our efforts to increase colorectal cancer screening to 80% or higher across the nation after the 80% by 2018 initiative concludes on December 31st, 2018 …
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A couple waits for an appointment at the Community Health Center of NE Wetzel County March 22, 2017 in Burton, West Virginia. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images For several months, the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) was in limbo. Its budget expired and Congress took no action to reauthorize it. Then, relief came as part of the bill that ended the government shutdown last week. But the future of another vital health service remains uncertain. The more than 10,000 community health centers that treat low-income Americans have not seen a funding reauthorization. The centers, funded by the Affordable Care Act, retain bipartisan …
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December 14, 2017December 14, 2017 | by Gerrard Jolly Even before the expiration of the Community Health Centers Fund, workforce shortages posed a challenge for health centers. A 2016 NACHC survey found that almost all health centers were experiencing at least one clinical vacancy and more than two-thirds were recruiting for at least one family physician. To combat this problem, NACHC is working with several colleges and universities to expand online education and training opportunities for health center staff. Through these partnerships, staff at NACHC member health centers are now eligible for tuition discounts of up to 25% for a …
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