Current policy objetives include:
Nurse Practitioner Fellowship/ Residency programs
New graduate NP skills are largely varied due to lack of ACGME requirements for NP education programs. CHN runs two NP fellowship programs (family medicine and community psychiatry) to address this variability in training. In 2016, CHN’s FNP Fellowship Program was recognized as a best practice by HRSA. The program has been highly successful and recruited and retained many nurse practitioners. It is CHN’s mission to (1) ensure that the program receives continued funding (as per ACA requirements), (2) push for standardization of NP education programs, and (3) encourage the development of additional fellowship programs throughout the state and country. View a one-page overview of the program and our ask HERE
Statewide Colonoscopy Registry
CHN providers work hard to ensure that our patients are up to date on all of their life-saving screenings and testing, but more often than not, patients are unable to recall the date or results of their last colonoscopy. A statewide registry would go a long way to ensuring that every patient receives the appropriate tests, and will eliminate the ordering of necessary colonoscopies. View our recommendation HERE
Title X Family Planning Funding
Title X family planning centers have provided high quality and cost-effective family planning and related preventive health services for low-income women and men – and CHN is one of these. Our providers offer services to all young men and women in need of care. CHN, alongside many other organizations, depend on Title X funding to ensure that we can provide this. View a list of our services HERE
K-12 Sexuality Education in Schools
The Sexuality Education Alliance of New York City (SEANYC) advocates for comprehensive, K-12 sexuality education that meets the National Sexuality Education Standards for all New York City youth. This implies that the curriculum must be medically accurate, developmentally appropriate, evidence-based, culturally competent, unbiased, inclusive of LGBTQ experiences, and respectful of all. New York City schools have barely begun to provide this level of curriculum. CHN partners with other concerned stakeholders to advocate for the implementation of the National Sexuality Education Standards.
View the testimony of CHN family planning provider, Corey Westover, to city council HERE
Idling Reduction
Many of CHN’s clinics are located in congested city areas where, due to limited regulation, trucks and large vehicles often idle across the street. As a health center, it is our mission to provide the best possible care to our patients both inside and outside the clinic. This means ensuring that our patients are not subjected to air pollution each time they come to our sites to receive care.
LGBTQ issues
Click HERE to view CHN’s press statement on Governor Cuomo’s proposal to allow minor consent for HIV treatment.
Telemedicine
According to state law, FQHCs can only bill for telemedicine visits if (1) patients are physically in the clinic when they receive the service, and (2) the provider is physically in an Article 28 clinic when they provide the care. This serves as a significant barrier to patients who need care but are unable to get to the clinic for a variety of reasons (i.e. transportation, employment, severe sickness, etc.). Additionally, it bars providers from conducting visits from their home on weekends/weeknights and/or from administrative sites.
Provider Credentialing
The credentialing process for Medicaid providers is up to 180 days longer than that of commercial providers. In addition to receiving a licensure and DEA through the State Department of Education, Medicaid providers must also be enrolled in the NYS Medicaid Program, and subsequently the Medicaid Managed Care and CHIP programs. During this time, providers are unable to see or bill for patients, resulting in decreased access among underserved populations.
Food Access
Despite the expansion of New York City’s Green Truck program, many neighborhoods still do not have access to healthy foods. The majority of Green Trucks are located outside of food deserts – areas with limited to no access to healthy food. Since nutrition is significant predictor of health, we are committed to ensuring that our patients have access to – and are incentivized to buy – healthy fruits and vegetables.
Same Day Billing
Federally Qualified Health Centers are generally unable to bill for more than one visit type per patient per day (i.e. primary care and behavioral health). This presents a significant barrier to continuity and quality of care, particularly within the team-based care setting where “warm handoffs” are encouraged.
Provider Credentialing
The credentialing process for Medicaid providers is up to 180 days longer than that of commercial providers. In addition to receiving a licensure and DEA through the State Department of Education, Medicaid providers must also be enrolled in the NYS Medicaid Program, and subsequently the Medicaid Managed Care and CHIP programs. During this time, providers are unable to see or bill for patients, resulting in decreased access among underserved populations.
Food Access
Despite the expansion of New York City’s Green Truck program, many neighborhoods still do not have access to healthy foods. The majority of Green Trucks are located outside of food deserts – areas with limited to no access to healthy food. Since nutrition is significant predictor of health, we are committed to ensuring that our patients have access to – and are incentivized to buy – healthy fruits and vegetables.