Noting his extensive strategic leadership experience in the community health care environment, Indian Stream Health Center (ISHC) has named Gregory A. Culley, M.D., as its Clinical Director.

“We’re excited to bring Dr. Culley to our practice,” said Gail Fisher, Board President of Indian Stream Health Center.  “In addition to his very impressive clinical background, he has a broad range of skills in organizational development.”

Dr. Culley will also serve in a dual role as ISHC’s Interim CEO, working closely with senior leaders Graham Rae, Allie White and Sharon Cleveland while the practice recruits a new CEO to lead the organization.

A nationally recognized health care consultant, Dr. Culley has also held critical leadership roles in both the provider and insurer environments.  Prior to coming to Indian Stream, Dr. Culley was Chief Medical Officer at South End Community Health Center in Boston, MA, where he was responsible for clinical operations, quality management and provider oversight.  Other leadership posts included as Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Family Health Center of Worcester in Worcester, MA, as Principal of GAC Consulting in Chilmark, MA, as Acting Senior Medical Director and Chief Medical Officer of Capital Blue Cross in Harrisburg, PA, as Vice President of Medical Affairs at HealthFirst Corporation in Wellesley, MA and as Medical Director at Humana, Inc. in Louisville, KY. 

As we head into the final month of 2017, our advocacy to deliver the Health Center message to Congress loudly and persistently has never been more important. Congress returned to work this week and is facing a long to do list of “must-pass” items before the end of the year. One such item is the long-overdue extension of funding for Community Health Centers and other key programs like the National Health Service Corps and the Teaching Health Centers Program.  
As Congress begins their work for the remaining month of 2017, we want to make sure you as Advocates are informed and have the latest updates from Capitol Hill. Here is what we can share as of today:

• Without some action by December 8, the government will shut down. 

• A fix to the Health Center funding cliff is tied to passage of an extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and other “health extenders.”

• December 8th is when the current Continuing Resolution (CR) which has been funding the government since the end of the fiscal year (back on October 1), is set to expire. Congress will likely pass a short-term CR on December 8th, which would kick the can for an additional two, possibly three, weeks. However, the negotiations are currently up in the air.

• Congress must also review the extension of funding for important health programs like the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, which covers nearly 9 million children. Of most interest to health center advocates is the extension of the Community Health Centers Fund (CHCF), which accounts for more than 70% of federal grant funding for health centers, and which, like CHIP, expired on October 1. Without action to extend the fund this month, health centers will begin seeing restricted funds as soon as January 1st. 

• To read a more detailed update on the state of affairs in Washington DC, visit the NACHC Blog. 

While the endgame and timing remains unclear, the good news is the progress in the overall negotiation over these health extenders. And, without question, an enormous part of what has caused this progress is massive advocacy produced by Advocates like you. Visit the HC Advocacy blog for a more complete report on the history and impact of Health Center Advocacy.
Today, we urge Health Center Advocates to stay engaged and contact your Senate offices! The message remains simple - ask your Senators to act immediately to fix to the Health Centers Funding Cliff, you can ask them to include the Health Center Cliff fix as a part of the earliest available legislative vehicle, which right now appears to be the Continuing Resolution (CR) that must pass by December 8th.

Keep up to date at http://www.hcadvocacy.org/

Innovative grant will support expansion of vital behavioral health services at center
To support its ongoing efforts to help those struggling with behavioral health issues related to the opioid epidemic, Indian Stream Health Center has received a major grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

“This is an important grant for our organization,” said Jonathan Brown, CEO, Indian Stream Health Center (ISHC).  “It is part of a major national grant to health centers across the United States to increase access to substance abuse and mental health services.” 

According to HRSA, the overall grant is approximately $200 million and will support 1,178 health centers to support expansion and integration of mental health services and substance abuse services. These services focus on the treatment, prevention, and awareness of opioid abuse in the primary care setting by increasing personnel, leveraging health information technology, and providing training.

Indian Stream Health Center reminds local residents to apply for, or renew policies
Enrollment on the 2018 Health Insurance Exchange opens on Wednesday, November 1 and Indian Stream Health Center is standing by with information and resources to help local residents either renew their coverage, or apply for a plan.

“To ensure insurance coverage in 2018, those eligible must enroll in a plan or renew their coverage between November 1 and December 15,” said Sharon Belleville of Indian Stream Health Center.  “This refers to those who purchase insurance through the Insurance Marketplace (healthcare.gov) or from the Vermont Health Connect.”

“These are individuals that don’t have health insurance through an employer, Medicare, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or another source that provides qualifying health coverage.”

Ms. Belleville, who is a Certified Application Counselor (CAC) for the insurance marketplace and her colleague Brenda Puglisi, also a Certified Application Counselor, provide support and assistance to area residents.

It should come as no surprise that your advocacy is getting through and Congress continues to make progress toward fixing the Health Center funding cliff. Just this week Representatives Stefanik (R-NY) and Tsongas (D-MA) joined together to lead a bi-partisan Health Center Cliff Dear Colleague Letter addressed to Speaker Ryan and Minority Leader Pelosi seeking immediate action to extend Health Center funding and fix the cliff once and for all. This is an important new step in Congressional efforts to move toward a final cliff fix – this happened as a direct result of the outpouring of advocacy from Health Center Advocates like you!
In addition to the Stefanik-Tsongas letter, it is critical to add as many members possible to list of co-sponsors for the CHIME Act – S. 1899 in the Senate and HR 3770 in the House. As Advocates will recall, the CHIME Act lays out a five-year extension to Health Center funding to fix the Health Center funding cliff. By co-sponsoring this important legislation, Members of Congress demonstrate their public support for specific action to fix the cliff.
Chris– we are asking you to take action once again to put the pressure on Congress take action to fix the cliff. There are two easy ways to take action right now:

1. Send your Members of Congress a message through the Health Center Advocacy network asking them to co-sponsor the CHIME Act – click here to send your message.
2. Call your Representative using the toll-free Advocacy Hotline 1-866-456-3949 and ask that they co-sign the Stefanik-Tsongas Health Center Cliff Letter addressed to House Leadership asking for immediate action to fix the cliff. You can access a call script to help with your call here.
   

Every day we see proof of the power and effectiveness of Health Center Advocacy. We are closer than ever to a fix for the Health Center funding cliff – this is because of YOU, and tens of thousands of Health Center Advocates that have recommitted to fighting for as long as it takes until the cliff is fixed. Help keep the pressure up and the volume high – keep fighting until the cliff is fixed!

In recognition of its efforts in supporting improved public health, Indian Stream Health Center (ISHC) has received a special grant from the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

“This grant is a true reflection of the daily dedication of our providers and staff to deliver the highest quality of care and services to our patients and their families,” said Jonathan Brown, CEO, Indian Stream Health Center.  “It is a wonderful recognition for our team.”

Mr. Brown added that the grant is supporting the practice’s Quality Improvement (QI) activities which includes tracking health outcomes for its patients and using that information to improve internal processes and systems.  “Beyond the clinical and behavioral health care we provide, our mission is to improve and enhance the daily health of our patients,” noted Mr. Brown.  “Grants such as this support that work by helping us to improve infrastructure and monitor our internal processes.”

Serving about 4,000 patients across New Hampshire’s North Country and parts of Maine, Vermont and Canada, ISHC provides medical and behavioral health care via its practice locations in Colebrook and Canaan, VT as well as a broad range of community-based health services.

To highlight awareness and support for the recovery movement toward health and wellness, Indian Stream Health Center (ISHC) is holding its Walk for Recovery on Saturday, October 7 at 11:00 a.m.

“Issues surrounding the use of alcohol and drugs have a profound effect on our families, our schools and our communities,” said Laurie Connors, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Work (LICSW) and Director of Behavioral Health at ISHC.  “Our event will focus on raising awareness that recovery is possible while paying tribute to the memory of those lives claimed by the use of substances.”

The walk will start and end at the Monadnock Community Church and there is no cost to participate.  Attendees are urged to make a sign in memory of someone they’ve lost to alcohol or drugs.

To learn more, please contact Susan Davis at Indian Stream Health Center at (603) 388-2463 or via email at sdavis@indianstream.org.