NC Farmworker Health Program Funding Opportunity: SFY 2018-2019

North Carolina Farmworker Health Program,

Office of Rural Health, NC Department of Health and Human Services

Application Guidance for NC Farmworker Health Funding for 18-19 Funding

NC Farmworker Health Program Funding Opportunity: SFY 2018-2019

DHHS Division/Office issuing this notice: Office of Rural Health

Date of this notice: January 3rd, 2018

Working Title of the funding program: NC Farmworker Health Program

Purpose- description of function of the program and reason why it was created:
The North Carolina Farmworker Health Program (NCFHP), within the Office of Rural Health (ORH), NC DHHS is anticipating the receipt of federal funds to increase access to primary and preventive health care services for migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFWs) and their families in North Carolina. NCFHP grant awards are meant to supplement existing resources in communities and reduce barriers to care so that farmworkers and their family members have access to comprehensive and continuous health care services. NCFHP supports the development of sustainable services for farmworkers by encouraging local partnerships and collaborations to facilitate the inclusion of farmworkers in services that are available for the general community. When applicants maximize the use of existing resources and only use funding to fill the gaps in care, NCFHP can extend services into new regions where access to care for farmworkers is limited or non-existent.

Funding Preferences:
Preference will be given to applicants applying for enabling (outreach and case management), medical, behavioral health, and/or dental services based on the following criteria:

Demonstrates a need for increased health care services for migrant and seasonal farmworkers in their community;
Demonstrates capacity to effectively provide culturally sensitive, patient-centered, high quality services;
Proposes an efficient strategy that utilizes local resources and responds to health care gaps that the farmworker population faces in their community; and
Can meet NCFHP requirements and expectations outlined in this document.

Proposed Project Period or Contract Term:
April 1, 2018 - March 31, 2019 or July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019

Funding Availability:
Awards will depend on the availability of funds.

Restrictions:
Due to restrictions placed upon NCFHP by the Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA), agencies receiving migrant health center funding (330g) are not eligible for funding.

Deadline for Submission:
Submissions are due to Elizabeth F. Lambar at elizabeth.freeman@dhhs.nc.gov by February 6, 2018.

Renewal applicants must submit the grant application and associated documents listed below in the Application Checklist section.
New applicants must submit a Letter of Intent using NCFHP’s Letter of Intent Form (form can be requested from NCFHP).

Technical Assistance:
A conference call led by NCFHP will be held on January 9, 2018 at 3:00 p.m.
(Dial 1 866-434-5269, access code: 8736809)

Renewal Application Checklist

Completed Application for Funding
Completed Budget (on required budget template)
Signed Assurances page
Completed Internal Control Questionnaire (both excel document & PDF with signature page)
Privacy & Security (HIPAA) Policy and Procedures inclusive of outreach services
Proof of sufficient vehicle insurance if staff’s personal vehicles used for transporting patients

For additional information about grant requirements or instructions for submitting the application or Letter of Intent, contact:

Ann Watson, 919-527-6470, ann.watson@dhhs.nc.gov or

Elizabeth F. Lambar, 919-527-6455, elizabeth.freeman@dhhs.nc.gov

Additional Grant Requirements and Expectations
As a recipient of HRSA’s health center funding, NCFHP must abide by HRSA’s 19 Health Center requirements and other expectations some of which are also expected of NCFHP grantees. And as a program within the Office of Rural Health, NC DHHS, NCFHP grantees must abide by associated state requirements and expectations.

Grantee documents NCFHP must have on file (required upon request)

Sample referral and tracking log, unless an electronic system is used
Hospital admitting privileges policy or written agreement with hospital
Sliding fee policy, eligibility form and application
Billing and collections policy
Signed NCFHP confidentiality form for all FHASES users
NCFHP Credentialing and privileging forms for NCFHP supported paid, contract, or volunteer providers and licensed health care professionals (process must be completed prior to seeing farmworker patients)

Grant Assurances
All applicants must abide by the Farmworker Health Grant Assurances included with the grant application.

Electronic Health Record Utilization and HIE Connection requirements
In 2015 North Carolina passed a law (NCGS 90-414.7) establishing the North Carolina Health Information Exchange Authority (NC HIEA) to oversee and administer the NC Health Information Exchange Network called NC HealthConnex. NC HealthConnex is a tool that links disparate systems and existing HIE networks together to deliver a holistic view of the patient record through a secure, standardized electronic system so that providers can share important patient health information. The use NC HealthConnex promotes the access, exchange and analysis of health information to improve patient care and coordination of care.

The law requires hospitals as defined by G.S. 131E-176(3), physicians licensed to practice under Article 1 of Chapter 90 of the NC General Statutes, physician assistants as defined in 21 NCAC 32S .0201, and nurse practitioners as defined in 21 NCAC 36 .0801 who provide Medicaid services and who have an electronic health record system shall connect by June 1, 2018. All other providers of Medicaid and state-funded services shall connect by June 1, 2019.

To meet the state’s mandate, a provider is “connected” when its clinical and demographic information are being sent to NC HealthConnex at least twice daily.”
For additional information, contact Lakeisha Moore at the Office of Rural Health: Lakeisha.moore@dhhs.nc.gov or refer to the HIEA website: https://hiea.nc.gov.

Access
Migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFWs) and their family members should have access to comprehensive health care including the delivery of preventive, acute, and chronic care. Programs should assist MSFWs with accessing services directly or through referral including: primary care, diagnostic x-ray and laboratory, family planning, immunizations, well child services, gynecological care, obstetrical care, dental services, pharmaceutical, and behavioral health services. Funding to support these services should only be requested when they are not accessible locally or when the services are not sufficient to meet the needs of farmworkers

Quality Medical Services
Grantees are expected to have a clinical Continuous Quality Improvement committee that meets regularly to monitor and improve upon clinical outcomes. In addition, grantees must submit credentialing and privileging information to NCFHP for providers and all other licensed health care professionals who volunteer or who are hired or contracted to see farmworkers with NCFHP grant funding. Credentialing and privileging are done initially and may take several weeks. Privileging is repeated every two years and for providers includes a medical chart review by the NCFHP medical director. Contact Dr. Thomas for the forms and with any associated questions at gayle.b.thomas@dhhs.nc.gov. The credentialing and privileging process must be completed prior to providing medical care with grant funding.

Quality Enabling Services
Grantees are expected to provide quality enabling services including outreach, health education, case management, eligibility assistance, and referrals to health care. Interpretation and transportation should be arranged when needed. Grantees are required to utilize NCFHP’s pediatric, adolescent and adult Health Assessments with farmworkers and their family members to identify health risks.

Data management and reporting
NCFHP-supported enabling, medical, behavioral health, and dental encounters should be documented accurately and completely in accordance to NCFHP’s reporting requirements for care management, monitoring and reporting purposes. Encounter data should be entered within 2 weeks of the encounter date.

New or Special Initiatives
Applicants requesting funds for a new initiative or special project must include at least one objective and detail related activities in the Goals and Objective section of the grant application.

Please note that this is a 2 step system: Current applicants submit the full grant application and associated documents. New applicants submit a letter of intent using the attached Letter of Intent form. Depending upon the availability of funding and the need in the region of the interested applicant, we may then ask to submit a full application. So, attached are the following documents:

Farmworker Health Program Grant Application (Full Document)

Internal Control Questionnaire for 2018

Farmworker Health Budget Template for 2018-2019

Request for Letters of Intent Form