Meeting Highlights

Coalition Evaluation Administered During Meeting

If you have not yet completed the evaluation, please evaluate the NYC Hep C Task Forces online

Discussion of the Hurricane impact on Queens, Far Rockaway Hep C Programs

In particular:

• Addabbo – first floor destroyed
• ACQC offices were closed for period of time. Syringe Exchange Mobile Unit has gone out – few regular SEP participants are showing up for harm reduction supplies.
• Many Far Rockaway patients have been displaced, organization considering laying off staff.
• Recovery Funding & Resources will be posted on the Coalitions website Funding Page and also the NYC Liver Health Facebook page as they arise.

Discussion of Specific Obstacles to Hep C Testing, Linkage to Care & Attendance at Hep C Support Groups in Queens

• Obstacles brought forth: Lack of transportation; cost of transportation; lack of basic Hep C awareness & education in general community; multiple complete bio-psycho-social-economic concerns; private practice medical providers typically not screening; Funding streams force outreach workers to focus on one disease at a time rather than support integrated screening.
• Solutions suggested: Develop 1 minute TV PSA Awareness Video; Find unique places where people at high risk congregate and bring education & services there (including housing facilities);  Collaborate with Home Visiting Programs to meet patients where they are (home nursing programs); Provide transportation to patients (pick them up); enhanced outreach to high risk neighborhoods and buildings in remote areas; Peer Outreach to increase trust,  comfort & role modeling; incentives that are perceived as valuable; identify medical provider champions in each specialty (including primary care) who will influence their peers to increase screening (learning collaborative);  Test in Emergency Departments (the only health care access many patients have); advocate for more integrated disease screening programs (screen for STDs, HIV, Hep B & C, etc together).

✔Check Hep C Update Queens:

Check Hep C offers Free: Hep C Rapid Testing, Confirmatory Testing, Patient Navigation & Support to get into Medical Care. Referrals are welcome!

• Johanna Caicedo, Patient Navigator AIDS Center of Queens County (ACQC)  jcaicedo@acqc.org
• Celia Correa, Check Hep C Patient Navigator – Community Health Care Network – CCorrea@chnnyc.org

Faith Based Outreach & Hep C

New efforts underway! – William Cuadrado wcuadrado@steinway.org

• Discussion of approaches in working with Faith Based Organizations (FBO): Collective focus;  target incentives to benefit the collective (the FBO) rather than the individual; work to include Hep C info and events in FBO newsletters; dress appropriately for the community; approach the FBO through the main leader; connect with the Health Ministry in each FBO; Consider a blood drive rather than a testing event to reduce stigma; conduct needs assessment within each FBO.
• Forming small leadership group with goals to connect FBOs with Hep C Education, Screening, Linkage to Care through collaboration with a local Hep C Program and to develop a citywide network of Faith Based Hep C leaders who can be called upon for events, advice and assistance.
• Queens group formed: Organizer: William Cuadrado wcuadrado@steinway.org. Participants: Ira Weiss IWeiss@projectsamaritan.org; Celia Correa CCorrea@chnnyc.org; Shellyann Vassell, RN (SVassell@NSHS.edu); Raquel Algarin, RN ralgarin@acqc.org.

Holistic Health & Hep C

A new area of focus for the Task Force – Raquel Algarin, LPN, ACQC Syringe Exchange Coordinator – ralgarin@acqc.org

• Provided info the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association Training Opportunity.
• See also: Self Acupressure for Hepatitis C by www.HCVAdvocate.org
• Stress reduction improves liver health. See: Stress & the Liver by www.HCVAdvocate.org
• View further holistic health information on the coalition website Holistic Health page

CDC Funding for new Hep C Testing & Linkage to Care Programs in Queens

• Damian Family Health Center – Hema Santhanam, MSN, CFNP, AAHIVS  HSanthanam@Damianfcc.org
  • Hiring an RN for the Hepatitis program, refer interested candidates to: Hema Santhanam
  • Establishing an enhanced Pre-Post Test Counseling protocol; a Hep C Peer Program and a Patient Navigation Program
    • Peer Based Hep C Program. Centerforce
    • Albert Einstien College of Medicine/Montefiore: Division of Substance Abuse has robust Hep C Peer Program. Contact: Lauren Cockerham-Colas, MPH, HCV Program Coordinator (LCockerham-Colas@DOSA.AECOM.YU.EDU).
    • Multiple Hep C Pre-Post Test Counseling Guides on the Coalition Website Program Tools for Testers
• HELP/PSI – Jonathan Zellan, MD JZellan@projectsamaritan.org

Program Enhancement Opportunity Alert!

Screening Brief Intervention & Referral for Treatment (SBIRT) for Alcohol & Substance Abuse is a billable service under Medicaid, Medicare and Commercial Insurance.

• All patients with Hep B or C should be screened for alcohol use and provided with alcohol reduction counseling & intervention if consuming alcohol.
• Both time for the screening and several counseling appointments may be reimbursable.
• The NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene – Bureau of Alcohol, Drug Use Prevention & Treatment will provide technical assistance in implementation of SBIRT at your program, including: SBIRT Trainings (4 hour training for licensed professionals, 12 hour training for non-licensed professionals); Work flow analysis; Billing & coding; and Electronic Medical Record (EMR) integration.
• Contact: John R. McAteer, LCSW-R, SBIRT Health Care Systems Coordinator (jmcateer@health.nyc.gov) (347) 396-7031.

Hep C & the New NYS Medicaid Health Homes for People with Chronic Conditions: What can we expect? – Frank Winter, CMS frank.winter@cms.hhs.gov

• Hep C is currently not designated as one of the chronic conditions that qualifies an individual for Medicaid Health Home enrollment. If 2 other qualifying chronic diseases are present, such as depression and heart disease or diabetes, the individual would qualify. Individuals can also qualify if they have one chronic disease and are at high risk for another.
• Goal of the Health Homes is to increase coordination of care within and between systems. Electronic reporting and collaboration between large health institutions & Community Based Organizations are encouraged.
• Please view the NYS DOH website for full details: NYS Medicaid Health Homes for People with Chronic Conditions
• Further training on this subject will be provided at the following two events:
  • 2012 Navigating Health Care Access: Hepatitis Special Issues Training. November 29 (10 – 4 PM).
  • Bringing the Affordable Care Act Home: Linking Communities with Prevention and Chronic Disease Management. January 24th (9-5).

Policy & Advocacy Update

See latest Action Alerts!

• Medicaid Survey for Patients about experience with medication coverage. New York Health Works. Chance to win $100!

Meeting Closing

After meeting newly formed Faith Based Outreach group met until 5:45 PM to discuss next steps.

In Attendance:

Johanna Caicedo, Patient Navigator (jcaicedo@acqc.org);

Marvin Siegel, Dir Clinical Services (marvin.s@TownTotal.com);

Frank Winter (frank.winter@cms.hhs.gov);

Nicole Bannister (nbannister@health.nyc.gov);

Yelena Mullokandova (ymullokandova@health.nyc.gov);

Michael Simmons, Check Hep C Tester (msimmons@chnnyc.org);

Miryah Morris (miryah_morris@vrtx.com);

Gladys Jennerjahn (gjennerjahn@acqc.org);

Steve Linick (SLinick@Echodrx.com);

Greg Romen (greg@livercare.org);

William Cuadrado, Community Liaison (wcuadrado@steinway.org);

Ira Weiss (iweiss@projectsamaritan.org);

Tiffany Rojas, Youth Counselor (trojas@acqc.org);

Deborah Greene, Assis Dir (greened@nychhc.org);

Vassell, Shellyann (SVassell@NSHS.edu);

Elaine Poulos, Outreach Coordinator (Ekaniaris@KBHHomecare.com);

John Mcateer, LMSW (jmcateer@health.nyc.gov);

Celia Correa, Patient Navigator (CCorrea@chnnyc.org);

Carl Stubbs (carl.stubbs@rocketmail.com);

Raquel Algarin, SEP Coordinator (ralgarin@acqc.org);

Hema Santhanam, FNP (HSanthanam@Damianfcc.org);

Eric Rude (erude@health.nyc.gov);

Nirah Johnson (njohnso2@health.nyc.gov)

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