Section: Spotlight Articles, May 2018
From the CEO's Desk
As I approach the end of a 27-year tenure as CEO of the Tennessee Primary Care Association, my reflections keep circling around to stories about the people and events of the past three decades. Mitch Albom, the author of Tuesdays with Morrie, writes about the impact of stories in our lives:  “There's a story behind everything. How a picture got on a wall. How a scar got on your face. Sometimes the stories are simple, and sometimes they are hard and heartbreaking.” I would add that sometimes the stories are inspiring, sometimes they are hilarious, and other times the listener swears you are making this stuff up.

The beginning of the Community Health Center movement is in itself a great story. A young physician named Jack Geiger had a transformative experience during a five-month stint in South Africa that crystallized for him the interrelationship between poverty, nutrition, education, and health, and showed him a new community-based model of care.  A young school teacher named Lyndon Johnson is shaped by the hunger he sees in the eyes of his students in a rural Texas schoolhouse, later compelling him to wage war on poverty. The stories of these individuals and many others come together during an opportune moment in history, giving birth to Community Health Centers. This story has generated thousands more, including the unique stories of 30 Community Health Centers in Tennessee.  Over the years, I have witnessed the incredible growth of health centers and worked alongside many of the characters that inhabit their stories.

CLICK THE HEADLINE to read more.
TPCA Names New Chief Executive Officer
The Tennessee Primary Care Association’s board of directors has named Terri Sabella, RN, JD, as its new chief executive officer. She will assume her role on May 21, 2018. Kathy Wood-Dobbins will retire as CEO in June after 27 years of leading the Association.

“The Board considered a number of qualified candidates, and Ms. Sabella impressed us with her knowledge of the healthcare landscape and her commitment to care for those patients our health centers serve,” said Phillip Tatum, chief executive officer of Three Rivers Community Health Group and president of the TPCA board of directors. “We look forward to working with her as she brings her unique background to TPCA.”

CLICK THE HEADLINE to read more.
State Office of Rural Health Annual Meeting Set
(from the Tennessee Department of Health)

The Tennessee Department of Health State Office of Rural Health and Health Access invites recipients of grant funds or service from their office to participate in discussions on furthering upstream Primary Prevention Initiative partnership and engagement activities in Creating Optimal Health for All. The meeting will take place on Thursday, June 21. Click here to view the flyer.
FTCA Redeeming Applications Due Monday, June 4
(from HRSA)

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has released Program Assistance Letter (PAL) 2018-01, Calendar Year 2019 Requirements for Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) Coverage for Health Centers and their Covered Individuals. This PAL describes the process and requirements for initial deeming or annual redeeming applications for calendar year (CY) 2019 and highlights updates to the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) deeming application requirements. PAL 2018-02, Calendar Year 2019 Requirements for Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) Coverage for Health Center Volunteer Health Professionals is also available. A recording of the April 17 technical assistance webinar will be available soon on the FTCA Program webpage.