CDPHE will be closed on Jan. 1, 2016

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will be closed on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016 in observance of New Years Day. We hope you have a safe and happy weekend. The WWC team will return emails and calls when we return to the office on Monday, Jan. 4.

Leadership opportunities through the Colorado Cancer Coalition

As you may know the Colorado Cancer Coalition has been undergoing many changes and it’s an exciting time to rewrite the future of the Colorado Cancer Coalition. The newly restructured Colorado Cancer Coalition has the unique opportunity to move the cancer plan forward by realigning priorities, working with new partners and leveraging membership strengths to make a difference in the Colorado Cancer Community. 

The new leadership structure of the Colorado Cancer Coalition (CCC) will be a Steering Committee that consists of a Chair, Vice Chair, Past Chair, leadership from each task force, up to 2 at-large representatives; and representatives from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Comprehensive Cancer program and the CCC’s fiscal sponsor agency. They are excited to announce that Tim Byers MD MPH from the University of Colorado will be serving as the Past Chair in an ex-offico capacity for the next year. 

They are asking for your help in finding new leaders for the Colorado Cancer Coalition, specifically a Chair and Vice Chair. They are looking for individuals who have the following skills: 

• Strong communication
• Experience in leading diverse groups
• Transparent, collaborative leadership style
• Broad view and understanding of cancer prevention and control: from prevention to end-of-life and survivorship
• Fiscal management experience
• Fundraising/resource gathering experience
• Experience collaborating with partners to reach goals
• Strategic thinker

A summary document about the roles and responsibilities for the Chair and Vice Chair can be viewed here: CCC Leadership Roles Summary (More detailed roles and responsibilities can be found here: CCC Leadership Roles and Responsibilities.)

They really need your help to reach your networks far and wide to recruit possible candidates for this leadership opportunity with the Colorado Cancer Coalition. A brief leadership application can be found here: CCC 2016 Leadership Application. Nominations will be accepted through January 17, including self nominations. An online election will run from January 19 - January 26.

Did you miss the December 17 Health Improvement Team (HIT) Call?

Don't worry! The recording is now available online. Agencies shared successful processes and tips for meeting and improving performance on CDC core indicators. After you take a moment to review the call, take some time to review the list of FY 2016 Shirley Hass Schuett Quality Award recipients. Stay tuned...the statewide winner will be announced in July 2016.

Clinical Corner: Evaluating clients with a past history of breast cancer

Question: Currently, we are allowed to reimburse for evaluation of clients with a past history of breast cancer after treatment is complete. What are the parameters and/or time periods allowed for "after completing treatment?"

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month!

Did you know January is Cervical Health Awareness Month? We have put together a swiss cheese press release to assist you in getting the word out! 

Does your agency need any of the following (free) materials?

• WWC marketing materials
• Cervical health flip books
• Make it Your Own (MIYO) communication

Do you have events planned for Cervical Health Awareness Month? Place them in the comment section below!

CDPHE will be closed on Friday, Dec. 25

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will be closed on Friday, Dec. 25 in observance of the Christmas holiday. We hope you have a safe and happy weekend. The WWC team will return emails and calls when we return to the office on Monday, Dec. 28.

Could clients with Medicare Part B qualify for WWC services as underinsured?

Question: Clients with only Medicare Part A qualify for WWC clinical services. Could clients with Medicare Part B qualify as underinsured if they are unable to pay their co-pay/co-insurance?

Answer: Clients who have Medicare Part B as health insurance are not eligible for WWC clinical services. If they are under 65, however, they can be enrolled in WWC care coordination.

In general, Medicare Part A covers hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, nursing home care, hospice, and home health services. Medicare Part B cover two types of services, medically necessary services and preventive services. Part B will cover a screening mammogram once every 12 months and diagnostic mammography when medically necessary in women 40 or older. Part B also covers Pap tests, pelvic exams, and clinical breast exams every 24 months for all women and every 12 months for those considered high risk for cervical cancer.

Additional information can be found here: https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/your-medicare-coverage.html.

Tips on preparing for mid-year data clean up

Budgets for WWC clinical services, WWC care coordination, and WISEWOMAN programs will be reviewed and adjusted based on spending as of the Jan. 15, 2016 bill run. Therefore it is important to make sure you data is up to date in eCaST before that time. The data team compiled tips to ensure your agency’s data are an accurate reflection of services provided since July 2015.

Save the Date: Colorado Cancer Coalition & Colorado Cancer Plan Kick Off Event

Save the Date for the 2016-2020 Colorado Cancer Plan ​and Colorado Cancer Coalition Kickoff Event!

​When: ​February 11-12, 2016
Estimated: Thursday full day, Friday half day
​Where: ​Marriott Westminster
Book your hotel with the group rate

​Join Comprehensive Cancer Program to: ​

• Celebrate the official launch of the new cancer plan!
• Participate in the first meeting of the reinvigorated Colorado Cancer Coalition, including meeting new leadership.
• Identify priorities from the new cancer plan to be implemented over the next 2 years​.​
• Learn about the cancer landscape in Colorado, including data, opportunities and gaps.

For more information, contact cdphe_cancerplan@state.co.us.

Please share this announcement through your networks.

How to avoid 2 common data entry issues

WWC reviews the quality of data entered into eCaST each month to ensure the program is reimbursing appropriately and accurately for services your agency has provided. Below are tips for avoiding two common data entry issues identified through monthly review: 

FY 2016 Shirley Hass Schuett Quality Award recipients

The Shirley Hass Schuett Quality Award is presented annually to the Women’s Wellness Connection (WWC) clinical services agency that provided the highest quality care to women as demonstrated by meeting program performance indicators and improving performance during the preceding fiscal year.

Shirley Hass Schuett was a nurse practitioner who served as the nurse consultant for WWC and was instrumental in the program's success in achieving positive clinical outcomes for women and helping the program to meet all core performance indicators.

The FY 2016 regional award winners, announced at this year’s Road Shows, were selected by WWC staff based on FY 2015 performance indicators. The staff selected agencies that were top performers in program performance indicators and agencies that demonstrated the most improvement in these measures.

Training opportunities at the National Consortium of Breast Cancers (NCBC)

Below are a couple training opportunities that will be available at the NCBC 26th Annual Interdisciplinary Breast Center Conference. The conference is April 9-13, 2016 in Paris Las Vegas.

Dr. Harold P. Freeman
Patient Navigation Institute
Navigation Review Course
Tuesday, April 12, 2016  8:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Presented by:

• Harold P. Freeman, MD
• Rebecca Crane-Okada, PhD, RN, CNS, AOCN
• Courtney Bowen MS

Healthcare professionals and advocates including but not limited to nurses, radiology technicians, other licensed providers and non-licensed navigators will be presented with the most current information on navigation of breast patients across all phases of the healthcare continuum including outreach, screening, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship.

The curriculum will include various modules of navigation which will familiarize participants with the skill sets required to navigate breast patients through various phases of the health care continuum. The trainees will be provided with pertinent information in preparation of the NCBC certification examination.


Breast Patient Navigator Certification
Tuesday and Wednesday April 12-13, 2016 7:30 - 11:30 a.m.

The Breast Patient Navigator Certification has been developed to set standards of achievement and the professional's role; enhance patient safety; improve the quality of care and delivery of services; and recognize professionals who advance beyond basic knowledge in a field of specialty. The Breast Patient Navigator Certification validates the medical professional's knowledge and performance standards through testing. Certification reflects an individual's achievement beyond licensure requirements and a basic level of knowledge. It exhibits dedication to validating a specific set of skills to provide enhanced care and services for patients and clients through advanced competency.

Core Committee Members are:

Imaging: Andrew Newman, MS(M), RT(T), CN-BI
Management: Janell Clark-Brown, MSN, APN-BC, CN-BP, CBEC
Advocate: Becky Olson, BA, CN-BA
Clinical: Julie Schisler, LPN, BS, CN-BC
Provider: Cathy Cole, NP, MPH, CN-BP
Nurse: Colleen Sullivan-Moore, RN, CNN, CN-BN
Community Liaison: Linda Kramer, BS
Chair: Melissa Hopkins, RN, BA, CN-BN
Medical Advisor: Dr. John Bell, MD, FACS
Medical Advisor: Dr. Ernie Bodai, MD, FACS
NCBC Staff Manager: Jennifer Cobb-Hayes, MSM, Ed.D (ABD)

View the conference brochure

Visit the registration web page

Updated guidance on combined WWC clinical services and care coordination consent

We’ve received a couple of questions from agencies regarding the combined WWC clinical services and care coordination grant program consent, specifically regarding clients who move between the two programs and whether or not the same consent is valid for both programs.

After reviewing the current combined consent, our legal staff person noted that the instructions say “Please choose the left or right box to complete.” This means that the client is consenting to only one of the programs and therefore the client would need to fill out a new consent to enroll in the other program. In addition, if the client did not check all of the boxes on the current consent, the agency would need to go back and have the client to check the boxes to make their consent official.

To making obtaining consent from clients easier, we will be modifying the combined WWC clinical services and care coordination consent by changing most of the check boxes to bullets and changing the language to allow the client to consent for either program if they are eligible or become eligible.

We apologize if we have given conflicting guidance on these consents previously. Please assist us in ensuring your clients have a complete and signed consent for the program(s) for which you are requesting reimbursement. Please go back and obtain appropriate consents if you find you do not have them. We will let you know as soon as new consents become available.

If you have any questions about this, please contact your program coordinator.

December bill run is complete!

Your December 2015 grant activity statement is now available. Please run your grant activity statement from eCaST using December 1-31 as your date parameters. Make sure to select fiscal year 2016. When choosing the contract type, select "WWC" for WWC clinical services or "CCGP" for the care coordination grant program

Please contact either Nick Roth or Marina Milzer for any questions regarding viewing your reports.

If you have questions about your bill or spending in general, contact your WWC program coordinator, either Ivy Hontz or Kris McCracken.

Quick Review before HIT Call on 12/17: What are the CDC Core Performance Indicators?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Core Performance Indicators are evidence-based benchmarks established by the CDC to measure progress toward program goals for screening and quality clinical care. WWC clinical services agencies are required to meet or exceed all six indicators.

1. Rarely or never screened for cervical cancer: At least 20 percent of all clients newly enrolled for cervical cancer screening should be clients who have never been screened for cervical cancer or who have not had a Pap test in the past five years (rarely screened).
2. Women 50 and older receiving mammograms: At least 75 percent of all screening mammograms performed should be provided to clients who are 50 years of age and older.
3. Percentage of abnormal breast cases with complete follow-up should be at least 90 percent. Follow-up is complete when cases have a final diagnosis, cancer or not cancer.
4. Timeliness of follow up for breast cases: At least 75 percent of all completed abnormal breast cases must be completed within 60 days or less.
5. Percentage of abnormal cervical cases with complete follow-up should be at least 90 percent. Follow-up is complete when cases have a final diagnosis, cancer or not cancer.
6. Timeliness of follow up for cervical cases: At least 75 percent of all completed abnormal cervical cases must be completed within 60 days or less.

Join the HIT call Thursday, Dec. 17 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m to discuss these indicators and get your questions answered​! To gain access, go to https://stateofcolorado.centurylinkccc.com/CenturylinkWeb/WWC. Click on the “Guest” tab, enter your name, and email address. Century Link will prompt you to provide a phone number to join the webinar, however you will still need to call 1-877-820-7831 and enter pass code: 335241# (Press # after the pass code) for audio.

(Free) Training Opportunities from the Patient Navigator Training Collaborative!

Continue building your skills with these advanced courses offered by Patient Navigator Training Collaborative (PNTC).

ISO: Non-licensed patient navigators! Respond by Dec. 18!

As an experienced and skilled patient navigator (other job titles may be used at your work place), Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) would like to invite you to play a part in an important statewide project by participating in the development of a skills test/examine that will be used in the voluntary credentialing process for non-licensed patient navigators (PNs).

On Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, the Center for Advancing Professional Excellence (CAPE*) on the University of Colorado, Anschutz Campus in Aurora needs 30 experienced non-licensed PNs to assist in pilot testing the state’s future skills exam. This pilot test of the skills examine requires experienced PNs to work with professional patient actors using real-life patient scenarios. This is the same process that CAPE uses to evaluate physicians and other licensed providers’ ability to work with and communicate with patients.

Although the PNs at this pilot test are not personally being evaluated, your participation offers the opportunity to provide feedback and obtain experience related to the future testing procedures. Participants will receive a $25 gift card and be reimbursed for travel. Please see the invitation, summary of project activities, description of activities and competencies for more information.

4 things you need to know for the Health Improvement Team (HIT) Call on Dec. 17!

The next HIT Call is on Dec. 17 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

1. Topic: Improve performance in CDC Core Performance Indicators

2. Purpose: The purpose of this HIT call is to discuss strategies to improving performance; share successes your agency has had in improving performance; and, answer your questions about the CDC Core Performance Indicators.

3. Review before HIT Call: Please review chapter 7: Quality assurance and improvement of the WWC provider toolkit.

4. Webinar information:

To gain access, go to https://stateofcolorado.centurylinkccc.com/CenturylinkWeb/WWC. Click on the “Guest” tab, enter your name, and email address. Century Link will prompt you to provide a phone number to join the webinar, however you will still need to call 1-877-820-7831 and enter pass code: 335241# (Press # after the pass code) for audio. 

Bring your strategies, successes and questions. We look forward to the dialog!

Clinical Corner - Cryotherapy Reimbursement

Question: We have a patient that has a history of persistent CIN I and the provider wants to do cryotherapy instead of a LEEP. The provider states that a LEEP is too invasive and cryotherapy is more appropriate. Can we use WWC funds for this procedure?

Answer: Cryotherapy is considered treatment for this patient and WWC funds cannot be used for treatment. WWC reimburses for diagnostic LEEPs only. WWC would not cover the LEEP if it is for treatment purposes.

If you have a clinical question that you would like answered, please email Angela.FellersLeMire@state.co.us.

HCPF develops county-by-county Medicaid fact sheet

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) offers a new resource that provides information about the impact of Medicaid expansion and Medicaid spending by county. The county fact sheets contain Medicaid caseload information and the local RCCO and BHO data. Medicaid funding is broken out by medical spending on children, Non-Expansion and Expansion adults.

The Department will update the fact sheets on an annual basis. The next update will likely be in late March/early April 2016 (after claims run out for the 2015 calendar year).

Job Announcement: RN Nurse Practitioner-Community Health

Community Health Services has an opening for a Nurse Practitioner to serve as their Family Planning Clinical Coordinator & Trainer. Will provide professional nurse practitioner care specific to family planning clients. Will provide group and individual training on all long-acting reversible contraceptive methods to providers, residents and clinical students. Experience as a nurse practitioner providing women’s health and family planning services required. Experience with Title X family planning program preferred. Clinical evaluation and management of adolescents and adults seeking family planning services. Ability to work independently and in collaboration with multiple departments. Strong leadership, teaching and public speaking skills. Bilingual (Spanish/English) skills preferred.

Provide advice: How do you talk to clients about care coordination?

The most frequently asked question I get about care coordination is, “How do I get insured clients to sign the consent form for care coordination?" It’s much easier to explain a program that pays for breast and cervical cancer screenings (WWC clinical services) than it is to explain a program that provides patient navigation services (WWC care coordination).

I know some of you have had some luck enrolling clients into WWC care coordination. What works for you?

Webinar: Shared decision-making with low health literacy patients

Registration is open now for a webinar on Dec. 9 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. ET that will address how clinicians can effectively engage patients who have limited health literacy skills in shared decision-making. Shared decision-making occurs when a health care provider and a patient work together to make a health care decision that is best for the patient. Research shows that implementation of shared decision-making in clinical practice increases patient satisfaction, enhances patient understanding of their treatment options and increases their involvement in decisions about their care. Yet shared decision-making has not been widely adopted in clinical practice and can be particularly challenging to implement with patients who have limited literacy skills. The webinar will be accredited for continuing education for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists and certified health education specialists. Determination of continuing education credit through Professional Education Services Group is pending. The webinar is offered via AHRQ’s SHARE Approach initiative, a five-step process for shared decision-making.

New breast cancer risk assessment tool

A new online tool, Breast Screening Decisions, has been made available to assist average risk women 40-49 in deciding whether a screening mammogram is right for them.

The tool gives women in their 40s an individual breast cancer risk assessment and then uses easy-to-understand infographics to show what is likely to happen across a population of similar-risk women. The decision aid is not meant to drive women toward or away from mammography, but to help them make an informed decision. The tool is based on the data the USPSTF used to develop their 2009 recommendations. You can read more about this tool in a NPR article.

The National Cancer Institute’s Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool is also an evidence-based screening tool (recommended by WWC) that can be used to determine risk.

Did You Know? Video Series: Informing the public about key cancer statistics

The Did You Know? Video Series provide 2- to 3-minute informational videos on various cancer topics. The videos communicate key statistical data on different types of cancers to a lay audience in understandable, clear, and concise language. Each video also provides background information on cancer types and risk factors, and encourages action when appropriate. Incidence rates, mortality rates, 5-year relative survival rates, geospatial patterns, and other relevant statistics are highlighted in these videos. The data and information shown in this series comes from SEER, the Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, gis.cancer.gov, cancer.gov, and other government sources including CDC.

There are currently 16 videos in the Did You Know? Video Series. Some videos focus on specific cancer types such as Leukemia and Thyroid Cancer while others describe overarching topics like Cancer Health Disparities, Cancer Statistics, and Survivorship. Please share these videos and use this as a resource within your networks. Follow the National Cancer Institute's YouTube page or @NCICancerStats on Twitter to stay up to date on the most recent Did You Know? Videos.

Job Announcement: CEO, Susan G. Komen Colorado

The Colorado Affiliate of Susan G. Komen® (www.komencolorado.org) seeks a CEO who brings a personal commitment to and demonstrated history in advancing equal access to quality breast cancer care and medical research, particularly among medically underserved communities. 

Position Summary: The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is a highly-skilled professional that provides leadership, vision and direction to the Affiliate, the broader Susan G. Komen organization and the entire cancer community. This leader will work closely with the Affiliate Board of Directors, Komen Headquarters and the Affiliate Network and will be responsible for expanding systems and procedures to accomplish the mission and reach the strategic goals set forth by the Board. The CEO will represent the affiliate to the public, lead organizational development and strategic planning, optimize financial performance, build donor relationships, supervise and develop staff (9 FTE), and impact education and public policy.

Timeline to hire is very aggressive, with the search process being managed by The Tennison Group executive search firm. Feel free to contact John DellaSalle directly at jdellasalle@tennisongrp.com. View the job description.

Call to action: Send your stories!

WWC is putting together user-friendly handouts to explain ways sites can implement evidence-based interventions (EBIs) to increase breast and cervical cancer screening rates and we want to hear from you! What are things that your agency have done to help reduce structural barriers, send client reminders or small media, or educated women to increase breast and cervical cancer screening rates?

If you have a success story that you want to share, please email cdphe_wwc@state.co.us by Thursday December 17, 2015. Please include:

1. tactics used, 
2. challenges faced/overcome, 
3. and if the intervention helped increase screening rates (and by how much if possible). 

Program input is what makes WWC a success and helps make a positive impact in Colorado. We look forward to hearing from you!

WWC staffing changes at CDPHE

December 17, 2015 will be Flora Martinez's last day with WWC/WISEWOMAN. Flora has decided to return to school on a full-time basis. 

WWC/WISEWOMAN plans to hire another program coordinator soon to fill Flora's position and will notify all agencies when that occurs. In the interim, please contact your former program coordinator (Kris or Ivy) for program-related questions/topics and continue to contact Marina or Nick for eCaST questions. A list with the interim agency/program coordinator assignments and the contact information for all current state WWC/WISEWOMAN staff is on the website.

How to dial an interpreter in 3 steps

Connecting with a professional interpreter over-the-phone (OPI) can be one of the most convenient ways to interact with your Limited English Proficient (LEP) client(s). However, establishing professional OPI services can be a daunting task for anyone who is unfamiliar with the industry and the many specification to consider. Becoming an informed buyer of language services will go a long way in helping you determine what combination of services best fit your needs.

1. Establish service with a professional Language Service Provider (LSP), if you haven't already. Having a LSP in place provides consistent support in multiple languages and reduces the risk that comes with untrained "bilinguals." 
2. Training of staff on policies and procedures for accessing LSP to interact with your LEP clients at all points of contact. It's helpful to include tips on how to work with a telephone interpreter such as: introducing yourself, briefing the interpreter, speaking in slow and short segments as well as knowing what to expect from a professional interpreter like: impartially, and fully communicating everything that is being said.  
3. Repeat. From time to time refresh your procedures and train staff to be sure you are able to meet your clients needs in an accurate and timely manner.