CROSSROADS CONFERENCE LUBBOCK, TEXAS JUNE 5, 2013 Building An Effective Coalition & Basic Requirements of the Federally Qualified Health Centers Program “FQHC 101” West Texas Area Health Education Center – Big Country Region Texas Association of Community Health Centers 1

Specific Problem Addressed Identify if there is a problem regarding access to care in Abilene 2

Steps to Create Our Coalition AHEC – Responded to community need (neutral) Recruiting the Right People Formed the Coalition Devise a Set of Preliminary Objectives/Activities Process Begins 3

Who is Our Coalition? Facilitator – AHEC Office Representatives from the Hospitals Mayor/Other City Officials County Officials Community Foundations/Leaders Medical Society 4

Steps Taken with the Coalition Additional Resources Nonprofit Luncheon/Workshop Data Collection Physician Survey Dental Survey What did the data indicate? Patterns Strengths of Taylor County Barriers to Care 5

Community Needs Assessment Gaps in Health Services Access to Care and Barriers to Care Health Disparities of the Community 6

Service Provider Workshop Primary Health Care Dental Care Medical Specialists Mental Health Treatment 7

Primary Care Provider Survey Results 30 Primary Care Providers Responded 14 Accept Medicare 16 Accept Medicaid 14 Accept Uninsured Patients 8

Next Steps of the Coalition Explore Expansion Opportunities with Existing Clinics Establish a FQHC Other 9

Topics of Discussion FQHC characteristics BPHC Section 330 program expectations/requirements Benefits received from FQHC status How FQHC addresses needs assessment components 10

Characteristics of a FQHC Community based non-profit or public primary health care clinics Located in or serving a designated Medically Underserved Area/Population (MUA or MUP) Consumer Board governance structure Provide health services to persons in all stages of the life cycle 11

Characteristics of a FQHC (cont’d) Provide services to all persons regardless of ability to pay Charge for services on a sliding-fee scale based on patients’ family income and size Comply with Section 330 program expectations/requirements and all applicable federal and state regulations 12

Paths to Becoming a FQHC Collaborate with an existing FQHC to apply for HRSA New Access Point (NAP) grant Create new not-for-profit that will/does meet all program requirements to apply or HRSA NAP grant Extremely competitive grant application – less than 10% success rate Apply to be an FQHC Look-Alike (FQHCLA) Not-for-profit that meets all program requirements at the time of application No grant support when designated as a FQHCLA More competitive when applying for 330 funding 13

Section 330 Program Requirements Four components: Governance Mission and Strategy Clinical program Management and finance 14

FQHC Governance Board composition Governed by community board Non-consumer requirements 9-25 members By-laws prescribe method for selecting board members Employees and relatives are ineligible 15

FQHC Governance Board of Directors responsibilities Carries legal and fiduciary responsibility for clinic operations and grants Strategic planning and evaluation of progress toward organizational goals Approve Annual Budget & Grant Application Meet At Least Monthly / Keep Minutes Full authority over all aspects of clinic operations No other entity/individual can have the ability to override or veto governing board decisions 16

Mission and Strategy Mission: improve health status of underserved populations Strategy: Needs assessment - starting point but can be based on specific parameters in grant application guidance Design culturally and linguistically appropriate programs Measure effectiveness through health and financial outcomes Operate efficiently – maximize revenue and grow net assets Collaborate with other health care and social service providers 17

Why Demonstrating Need for FQHC is Important HRSA NAP guidance (HRSA ) “Information provided on need should serve as the basis for, and align with, the proposed activities and goals described in the clinical and performance measures and throughout the application.” “Response” section of NAP application should propose activities that address health care and other needs in community 18

Clinical Program Provides a continuum of care Primary, secondary and tertiary Relies on collaboration with system providers to prevent duplication of services Service Delivery Model Must have direct control of majority of health care services Contracting Only to secure services not provided by center Written agreements are required Health Care Planning Develop goals to impact health care needs and monitor via health outcomes performance Clinical Staff Clinical Systems & Procedures Focus on electronic health and dental records implementation and meaningful use Others tied to operations and patient satisfaction 19

Required Services Primary care Dental Mental health Substance Abuse Diagnostic lab and x-ray Prenatal and perinatal services Cancer and other disease screening Blood level screenings Lead levels Communicable diseases Cholesterol Well child services Child and adult immunizations Eye and ear screening for children Family planning services Emergency medical Pharmaceutical Case management Outreach and education Eligibility/Enrollment services Transportation and interpretation Referrals 20 FQHC must provide directly or through written agreement

Management and Finance Systems Systems must ensure that CEO and Board of Directors have access to timely information that is critical to sustainability MIS combines financial and utilization data for informed decision-making Implementation and meaningful use of electronic health/dental records Utilization is reported to federal authorities annually in the Uniform Data System report Financial system must provide for: Accounting and Internal controls Budget Billing and Collections Independent Financial Audit Facilities 21

Benefits of FQHC Status CENTER Federal grants to support costs of uncompensated care* Prospective Payment System reimbursement for services to Medicaid and Medicare patients Medical malpractice coverage under Federal Tort Claims Act * PHS Drug Pricing Discounts Grant support and loan guarantees for capital improvements Right to have outstationed eligibility workers on-site COMMUNITY  Community-based organization  Medical home for underserved  Improved access to comprehensive health services  Reduction of use of Emergency Rooms for non-emergent care  Economic impact of federal and state investments  Potential for additional federal investment 22 *FQHC look-alikes do not get federal grant or FTCA coverage

Benefits of FQHC Status (cont’d) CENTER Reimbursement by Medicare for “first dollar” of services (deductible is waived) Access to Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program Access to National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Placements Closely align with definition of Essential Community Providers for participation in Health Insurance Exchanges COMMUNITY Assistance with streamlined Medicaid and CHIP enrollment Less financial strain on Medicare patients Free immunizations for uninsured children Additional sources of primary care and other health providers Access to comprehensive primary care and additional services for newly insured 23

How FQHC Addresses Taylor County Needs Assessment Components Required to serve Medically Underserved Area and target services to persons under 200% of Federal Poverty Level Mission is to increase access to care for uninsured and underinsured Required to provide linguistically and culturally appropriate care History of reducing health disparities Dental and behavioral health services Eligibility assistance for public insurance Need for clinic that will accept uninsured, Medicaid, and Medicare Sliding fee discount for services 24

Contact Information Kelly Cheek Center Director West Texas Area Health Education Center Big Country Region Daniel Diaz Director of Community Development Texas Association of Community Health Centers