Prepare to be Prepared

You never know what old man winter will bring. You could wake up to icy roads, snowy sidewalks, and treacherous winds! Leaving the house might not even be an option for a lot of people. If you are prepared for winter weather before it hits, then you won't have anything to worry about once it arrives! Some tips to keeping your home safe during the winter are: 

• Heating your home safely
• Have battery-powered lights
• Use generators correctly
• Conserve heat
• Keep babies and older adults warm
• Store extra food and Clean water

You may be exposed to the elements despite not wanting to be. Being sure that you are prepared no matter what the situation is. In order to stay safe outdoors, it is important that you:

• Stay dry
• Wear lots of layers! Its easier to remove layers than to add them once you are outside.
• Stay off of ice
• Don't overexert yourself with outdoor activities

For more helpful winter tips:

• Winter Weather - CDC.gov
• Winter Safety Tips - Nationwide
• Cold Weather Safety Tips

Resolve to be Productive!

Baby its cold outside! Temperatures in Ohio have been fluctuating from the high 10s to the high 50s. If you haven't gotten sick yet, knock on some wood because you are a lucky duck. If you have gotten sick, then you know all too well what it's like to take advantage of being stuck in the house. Whether you had to work from home, drag yourself from room to room to clean or just take care of your normal adulting responsibilities while also trying to take care of yourself, being stuck in the house is generally no fun.

But! With a little motivation, you can turn your snow/sick days into productive days! If you are feeling up to it, spring clean in the winter. Even our homes can pack on the pounds in the winter, and now is a great time to clear out unwanted items. Many organizations will even come to your home to pick-up things you want to donate. Click here to locate your local Salvation Army. 

Want to hang out with friends but you want to save money? Invite them over! Besides, you are helping to build their immune system too! More and more people are opting for nights in for a variety of reasons, and with streaming services being readily available, it's becoming even easier to entertain friends by offering very little.

For more ideas on how to be productive in the winter:

• 12 Tips For Staying Productive Through the Bleak Winter Months
• 11 Creative Ways to Enjoy Date Night at Home
• How to Stay Productive During the Winter Holidays

Mental Health in the Winter

Wintertime can be the most wonderful time of the year for many of us, but it can also be a difficult time for many others. The snow glistening off of treetops, the beautiful decor everywhere and the fun-filled get-togethers with family and friends always seem to brighten even the grimmest of days. However, there are people who suffer from SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder. This type of depression affects individuals primarily in the months from October to March or April. People with SAD may experience daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating, feelings of hopelessness, increased irritability, lack of interest in social activities, lethargy among other things. SAD is not something that only can happen to people in the winter, this disorder can happen during any season.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a prime reminder of why it is important to promote mental health awareness. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in five US adults lives with a mental illness of some type. These can be of varying degrees and one should always be diagnosed by a physician.

If you ever need help, please reach out to one of the many resources out there and know that you are not alone! Also, look out for the warning signs in your loved ones. If you see someone who looks like they need help, get involved!

Helpful Links
Mental Health.gov
National Institute of Mental Health
Seasonal Affective Disorder
National Alliance on Mental Illness

Let's be Smoke Free!

Its that time of again! The Great American Smokeout was November 21st this year. This day puts emphasis on why it is important to quit smoking now! Over 30 million Americans still smoke cigarettes, and smoking remains the single largest preventable cause of death and illness in the world. Smoking causes about 1 in 5 deaths. Although the amount of people smoking has greatly dropped there are still many groups of people that smoke more than others disproportionately. 

If you quit smoking, you will see health benefits immediately. It takes a lot of courage and will power to quit smoking, but with the tools and knowledge, anyone can do it. 

The Great American Smokeout began over 40 years ago by the American Cancer Society to provide an opportunity for people who smoke to commit to healthy, smoke -free lives – not just for a day, but year-round. According to the ACS website: "The Great American Smokeout provides an opportunity for individuals, community groups, businesses, health care providers, and others to encourage people to use the date to make a plan to quit, or plan in advance and initiate a smoking cessation plan on the day of the event. The Great American Smokeout event challenges people to stop smoking and helps people learn about the many tools they can use to help them quit and stay quit."

For Tools to Help you Quit Smoking:

• Be Tobacco Free.gov
• Cancer.org
• Smoke Free.gov
• Tips From Former Smokers

Paramount Advantage: NCQA Rating & Open Enrollment Communication

Congratulations to our Corporate Partner, Paramount Advantage!

Paramount Advantage Medicaid recently earned a rating of 4 out of 5 in the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA) Medicaid Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2019-2020. This is the highest NCQA rating of all five Medicaid managed care plans in Ohio.

“We are very excited about our NCQA results. Paramount is dedicated to consistently providing quality experiences to our Medicaid members and providers. Our employees have impacted this rating through their daily interactions. We are extremely proud of their hard work and dedication,” says Lori A. Johnston, president, Paramount Health Care.

NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of healthcare organizations and manages the evolution of HEDIS®, the performance measurement tool used by more than 90% of the nation’s health plans. It rates each health plan on dozens of quality measures related to consumer satisfaction, prevention and treatment.

Paramount Advantage members and their families receive the following benefits at no cost to them:

·        Medical coverage

·        Dental cleaning

·        New glasses

·        Flu shots and immunizations

·        Rides to medical appointments

·        Access to many local doctors, hospitals, dentists, and pharmacies

·        Rewards just for going to routine appointments like wellness and prenatal checkups

Medicaid members can switch from other Ohio plans to Paramount during open enrollment from Nov. 1 – 30. All they need to do is call the Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline at 800-324-8680 or visit www.ohiomh.com. Representatives are available Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

To learn more about NCQA ratings, visit:
http://healthinsuranceratings.ncqa.org/2019/search/Medicaid.

To learn more about Paramount Advantage, visit:
paramounthealthcare.com/Medicaid

Diabetes Awareness Month

Diabetes Awareness Month

Every November shines awareness on Diabetes. In the US, 30 million people have some form of diabetes and 1 in 4 of them don’t know they have it yet. Most people with this disease have type 2, but others have type one. Over 84 million people have prediabetes too. Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the US. 

Type 2 Diabetes is when your body doesn't respond to insulin properly. This is called insulin resistance. Your pancreas makes more insulin to try to get cells to respond. Since your pancreas can’t keep up, your blood sugar rises thus causing prediabetes and eventually type 2 diabetes. High blood sugar can be damaging to the body and can cause other serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.

Type 1 Diabetes makes up about 5% of people with diabetes. No one knows how to prevent type 1 diabetes, but it can be managed. By living a healthy lifestyle, controlling your blood sugar, getting regular health checkups, and getting diabetes self-management education, you can live a long healthy life.

Learn More about Diabetes:

•  Beyond Type 1
•  National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases
•  Diabetes.org
• Diabetes Quick Facts

                    

Pancreas Health

First things first. What is your pancreas? It is a large gland that sits behind your stomach and next to your small intestine. Your pancreas releases digestive enzymes into your small intestine to help you digest food properly. It also releases insulin into your bloodstream. What you consume is important to your overall organ health. Overeating, unhealthy eating, smoking, and drinking can put major stress on your pancreas. 

So what can you do to keep your pancreas healthy?

• Eat a balanced diet with whole grains, fruits, and vegetables
• Exercise 
• Avoid rapid weight loss
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Quit smoking
• Have an annual physical

Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Cancer can be difficult to detect so having a yearly physical by a doctor to help you stay on top things, will keep you healthy and can help you in the long run.


Learn about your Pancreas!

• Alex Trebek in Global PSA for World Pancreatic Cancer Day 
• Pancreatitis Diet
• Power Your Pancreas
• What is the Pancreas?

Stay Healthy my Friends.

As cold flu season rapidly approaches us, its time we give ourselves some tlc. The change in the seasons can be rough on anyone no matter what age you are. Whether you are experiencing extreme allergy symptoms, have caught the flu early or just have a plain old sore throat, going through these aches and pains is no fun. Knowing the difference between your symptoms is important too. If you are ever unsure of how you are feeling, consulting your physician would be your safest bet.

Ways that you can stay healthy this season include: 

• Avoid close contact with those who are sick
• Stay home if you are sick
• Cover your nose and mouth
• Wash your hands regularly
• Avoid touching your face
• Practice general healthy habits

This can be the most wonderful time of year and the most stressful time of year all at the same time. Don't let the temperature bring you down with it. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Check out this list of 60 fun things you can do this Fall!

Helpful Links:
Tips for Staying Healthy This Fall

Differences between Cold and Flu

Respiratory Hygiene

Respiratory Care Week
CDC tips on Preventing the Flu

Trick or Treat

Boo!

Did you know that the average American will spend approximately $25 on candy to pass out this October 31st? The cost of candy doesn't include decorations, costumes or even greeting cards individuals will pass out this holiday season. The cost of candy alone that Americans will spend comes to almost $2.6 billion cumulatively nationwide. Don't let this frighten you! Halloween is one of the most celebrated holidays in the US. 

As more and more children are being diagnosed with food allergies, sometimes it can be hard to know if what you are passing out will be safe for all kids to consume. Instead of passing out candy, try passing out small trinkets! Children of all ages will enjoy:

• Glow Sticks
• Stickers
• Bubbles
• Water
• Slap bracelets

Many of these items can be found for similar pricing too if you order them ahead of time. If you are still wanting to give out that "sweet treat" but don't want to give candy, they are creative ways you can still treat your little tricksters without overloading them. Wendy's sells Frosty Coupon Boo Books. This way, a parent would have to at least take their child to the restaurant to purchase the frosty instead of the child just having a hoard of candy. 

Helpful Halloween Tricks and Treats:

• Wendy's Jr. Frosty Coupon Books
• Non-Candy Halloween Treats
• Things to Hand out to Trick-or-Treaters on Halloween that aren't Candy
• Halloween Health and Safety Tips

Think Pink for October!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This month puts focus on the number one cancer-causing diagnosis among women in the US. After lung cancer, it is the leading cause of death for women. 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

Albeit alarming, there are things you can do to fight breast cancer. A woman can lower her risk by getting frequent breast cancer screenings. It is important for women who are 50 to 74 to get a mammogram every two years. Women who are 40 to 49 should talk to their health care professional about when and how often to get mammograms. If you have a family history of breast cancer, you may need to get exams more frequently than others, again, consulting with a doctor first is best. 

Also doing self-checks is also important. Knowing how your breasts look and feel can help you notice symptoms such as lumps, pain, or changes in size that may be of concern. If you notice any changes, you should report this to your doctor or health care provider. 

Raising awareness and donating your time and money can help in the aid of cancer research to one day find a cure!

For more information about Breast Cancer and How to Raise Awareness:

• Breast Cancer Screening Information
• www.cancer.com
• ww5.komen.org

Listen to your Heart!

The end of September means Heart Awareness! Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States? Over half a million people die from it each year. This is also a highly preventable disease. People that are most at risk for heart disease are those that lead to unhealthy lifestyles. This can include but does not limit to those who have a poor diet, are physically inactive, smoke, and have excessive alcohol use.

Heart disease is preventable! 

By making lifestyle changes you can vastly improve your overall well-being.

• Quit smoking
• Control other health conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes
• Exercise at least 30 minutes a day
• Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Manage stress
• Practice good hygiene

For more heart-healthy tips, visit:
Heart Disease Prevention
World Heart Day
Heart Disease Information
American Heart Association

Welcome Humana! Our New Gold Corporate Partner!

Humana is OACHC's Newest Gold Corporate Partner

Humana is a leading national provider of Medicare, Medicaid, commercial, and military health plans. They have over 200,000 members across Ohio and employ 2,600 Ohioans in every corner of the state. 

Humana supports physicians and other health care professionals as they work to deliver the right care in the right place for their patients, our members. Their range of clinical capabilities, resources, and tools – such as in-home care, behavioral health, pharmacy services, data analytics, and wellness solutions – combine to produce a simplified experience that makes health care easier to navigate and more effective.

Visit Humana's Website for more information: www.humana.com

Contact Frances Lucivero-Pelletier with any questions: 

614-210-8001, flucivero@humana.com

September is Emergency Preparedness Month

Be Prepared, Not Scared!

This month puts focus on Emergency Preparedness and with everything that has been going on in the US lately from natural disasters to other displays of unexpected situations, it is good to have a plan of action in any circumstance. 

Each week this month has a different type of focus:

Week 1 Save Early for Disaster Costs

Week 2 Make a Plan to Prepare for Disasters

Week 3 Teach Youth to Prepare for Disasters

Week 4 Get Involved in Your Community’s Preparedness

You can learn more about each of these events by visiting www.ema.ohio.gov.

A few things you can do to keep you, your family and friends safe are:

• Have a plan of action (ie; escape plan, communication plan)
• Have emergency kits (ie; first aid, food, water)
• Know life-saving skills like CPR and Heimlich maneuver 
• Know about your insurance information (ie; what is covered, who is covered)

Getting to know the people around you can be helpful too! Many people have been getting away from social media, however, apps like Meetup and NextDoor are great ways to connect to your local community and learn about things you may have previously been unaware. Be sure to keep in contact with your child's school and know what their emergency plan is too.

For more information on how to stay ready, so you won't have to get ready:

• RedCross.org/take-a-class
• Plan Ahead for Disasters
• OACHC - Emergency Preparedness
• Ready.gov

Cyber Security - Phone Edition

Is your phone your actual “everything?” For many of us, it’s our personal computers in our pocket, our assistant, our window into the world! What if that world stopped spinning? What if someone hacked into your phone? 

A few ways to notice that your phone has been hacked are:

• Your battery is draining faster than usual
• Suspicious activity on one or more application
• Calls are missing
• Data usage is up 

Someone could have hacked you from a phishing scheme, by you connecting to an unsecured wifi network or even downloading an app that has been compromised. 

If this happens, you should immediately change all passwords and update your accounts. If you have a personal computer or a work computer, you should also make sure you check these devices as well for bugs as well. You never know where your virus may have come from and it's better to be safe and secure everything than to be sorry.

Ways you can protect yourself in the future would be;

• make sure the websites you visit are credible
• one way to tell is whether or not it has the "http's'" The 's" means the site is secure
• never click on pop-ups, especially from sites you are not familiar with
• never give out your personal information (credit cards, social security number, mothers' maiden name)

Although iPhones tend to be more 'bug' resistant, they are not completely safe. You still need to be wary of click on suspicious links and giving your out your personal information. If you are still not sure of how to keep your phone safe, contact an IT professional for some advice. If your company has an IT company, reach out to them first. 

Helpful (and not suspicious) Links:

• McAfee: How to tell if your Smartphone has been Hacked
• Geek Squad
• How to Spot, Avoid and Report Tech Support Scams

Apps you can use to keep your device safe:

• Dashlane
• Last Pass
• Malwarebytes
• McAfee for your phone

Simplify for the Summer!

Are you getting back from vacation and unpacking your 500 emails? Have you even turned your "OOO" (out of office) off yet? Does your desk look like a recycling center? Now that it is the end of August, it is too late to spring clean, but there is always time to simplify! Taking basic steps to clear out your inbox and physical mailbox will help you to get on the path to organization.

There are so many free versions of applications that can be used to help you on your path to simplifying tasks. For example, many of us struggle with too much paper! If you find yourself in a situation where you don't have easy access to a scanner, your phone will double as one. Apps like Scanner App and Adobe Scan make it easy for you to turn a picture into a PDF and send it on its way!

Need help keeping track of tasks? Depending on the tasks you have and the who/how it involves others, you can try using Evernote, Trello, or Microsoft OneNote to help organize your thought and then delegate responsibilities to others. 

Lastly, staying connected to others in your profession can be daunting. Are you feeling like you missed important events or information that went out within your organization? Staying connected to others through Slack and your company's membership organization can help you stay up to date on any shared info or events that may go out. All of this information can be found in one place instead of having to search multiple locations. 

For more times on how to simplify your work-life:

10 Apps for Small Business Success

Hacks For Simplifying Your Life

2019 Fall Operations Conference! Are you Ready?

Have you registered yet? This is one of our largest gatherings of Ohio’s FQHC professionals in the state of Ohio. At this conference, you can expect over 20 informational sessions! For the first time at this conference, we will be offering several different options for credit hours, (pending approval). We will be offering the opportunity to receive CCB credits for some of our sessions as well as CME, CPE and Social Work & Counselor CEUs.

You won't want to miss Maureen Corcoran our opening keynote!

Maureen is the Director of the Ohio Department of Medicaid and will be providing valuable information and updates for Ohio's FQHCs.

And back by popular demand, our closing keynote speaker, Angela Dawson as our closing keynote from Ohio Commission on Minority Health.

Angela will be discussing the importance of having culturally competent organizations and how they can produce effective results.

Also, get ready for all of our opportunities for networking! There will be ample time to meet your counterparts from across the state throughout the conference, including during our reception.

OACHC DOESNT LIE! Turn your world upside-down: step into our fictional land and experience an alternate universe with virtual reality, provided by Cincinnati Circus!

Have you registered yet?! Early bird ends today (Friday 8/23/19)!! Online registration is open until 9/11/19. Learn More and Register Here: www.ohiochc.org/conference 

NHCW 2019 Highlights

This National Health Center Week, OACHC traveled alllllll across the Buckeye State! 

We made some fun friends in Cincinnati and Dayton...

We joined a SWAT team in Mansfield....

We tried some yummy food and supported some amazing causes in Columbus...

And we saw some pumped up kids get bookbags and prepare for school in Bowling Green and Akron!

Thank you to all of our staff that traveled this week far and wide throughout Ohio for #NHCW19  and thank you to our NHCW sponsor UnitedHealthCare! For all of our travel pictures and event descriptions, check us out on social media at www.facebook.com/oachc and www.twitter.com/ohiochc

Breastfeeding!

August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month and this week is World Breastfeeding Week! According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), it is recommended that infants are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months of their life. Breastfeeding helps build a child's immunity, allows a mothers body to recover faster after childbirth and can increase bonding. Did you know that 60% of mothers do not breastfeed for the recommended amount of time? This is due to a number of factors including; lactation and latching issues, infant

nutrition, mothers' medication and health history, lack of support, and cultural norms.

To help with breastfeeding insecurities, there are lots of products out there that help women maintain modesty while still feeding their child. Check some out here!

If you need help with lactation, many hospitals offer support groups and nurses will provide onsite help too! Find one near you!

If you are not able to produce enough milk you can always reach out to a group that will provide you with some of their own milk. Or, you can look for a formula that is high-quality. At the end of the day whatever you choose to feed your child is up to you. We all just want to have happy healthy children!

Helpful Links:
World Breastfeeding Week
Breastfeeding Facts
Women's Health.gov
Supporting Nursing Moms at Work

Ohio’s State Budget & Community Health Centers

Ohio’s State Budget & Community Health Centers: 

A Policy Wonk’s Perspective

House Bill 166, the state biennial operating budget, was enacted into law officially on July 18 with Governor DeWine’s signature and his subsequent vetoes. Overall, health center advocates are pleased with the progress made (and/or maintained) in HB 166, and we thank each and every advocate that contributed along the way!  Your advocacy matters, and truly made a difference. See a bulleted list of our priorities below:
•Medicaid Expansion remains intact!
•FQHC Primary Care Workforce Initiative (OPCWI) was fully restored (and slightly increased)!
•Names FQHCs to the Health Care Workforce Preparation Task Force - The Ohio Physician and Allied Health Care Workforce Preparation Task Force is created to study, evaluate, and make recommendations with respect to health care workforce needs in Ohio. FQHC representation is specifically noted in the Task Force composition
•Pharmacy/PBM Items: 

• Dispensing Fees – Requires ODM to adopt rules to provide to pharmacies a supplemental dispensing fee under the care management system. Provides that the dispensing fee must include at least three different payment levels 
• Single PBM- Requires the Medicaid Director, not later than July 1, 2020, to select a provisional single state pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) to administer pharmacy benefits for Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) 
• Requires the Director to collect from the state PBM clinical data
• Requires a PBM under contract with a Medicaid MCO to administer pharmacy services under the care management system to: (1) Upon the request of ODM, disclose all of its received payment streams, including drug rebates, discounts, credits, clawbacks, fees, grants, chargebacks, reimbursements, or other payments
• Prescribed Drugs - Permits, instead of requiring, ODM to include prescribed drugs in the Medicaid managed care system
• Prescribed Drug Spending - Requires the Medicaid Director, not later than July 1, 2020, to establish an annual benchmark for prescribed drug spending growth under the Medicaid Program
• Establishes an appeals process for prescription drugs maximum allowable cost- Requires the Medicaid Director to establish an appeals process that pharmacies can use to bring to the Department of Medicaid disputes about the maximum allowable cost set by the state PBM for a prescription drug
• Prescribed Drug Claims Processing Pilot Program- Requires ODM by Jan 1, 2020, to establish a Southeast Ohio pilot program for pre-audit processing of Medicaid MCOs and pharmacy benefit manager prescribed drug claims 

•Telehealth - Effective Jan.1, 2021, requires all commercial health benefit plans to provide coverage for telemedicine services on the same basis and to the same extent as in-person services. Prohibits such plans from excluding telemedicine services from coverage solely because they are telemedicine services but does not ensure payment parity. Note, expanded telehealth rules on Medicaid effective date of July 4

•Infant Vitality –includes funding under the Department of Health and Medicaid for home visiting and infant vitality interventions and for Produce Perks Midwest. Additional funding for birth spacing was unfortunately removed
•Improves Access to the Breast and Cervical Cancer Project (BCCP): increases eligibility to 300% of the FPL, eliminates the requirement that women be younger than 65, and lowers the age from 25 to 21 at which women with a family history or clinical exam results are eligible for screening and services
•School Wellness and Success Funding – Increases the amounts to $275M in FY20 and $400M in FY21 and expands permissible uses of student wellness and success funds (FQHCs are eligible partners; funding can also be used for capital expenses)
•SDOH – Requires the Medicaid Director to implement strategies that address social determinants of health and employment
•CPC/CPC for Kids – Funding intact 
•Managed Care

• Medicaid Prompt Pay – Requires Medicaid MCOs to submit claims in accordance with requirements established by the Department of Insurance (i.e. mirroring commercial prompt pay law) 
• Medicaid managed care performance - Requires that ODM's website include the metrics ODM uses to determine a Medicaid managed care organization's contract performance. 
• Requires ODM, in addition to the MCO performance payment program to establish performance metrics, which may include financial incentives and penalties, to evaluate and compare Medicaid MCO contract performance and then post the metrics to the website
• Requires ODM to update its website quarterly to reflect any changes to the metrics used

•MyCare Ohio / Standardized Claims Forms -  

• Requires the Director to (1) select a standardized claim form for each provider type from among universally accepted claim forms used in the US and (2) require that a provider that renders a medically necessary health care service under MyCare Ohio use the form
• Requires the Medicaid Director to create standardized claim codes that allow a provider that renders a medically necessary health care service under MyCare Ohio to use the same code for that service, regardless of the payor

From the OACHC Policy Team, THANK YOU again for all you have done and continue to do!

Space Oddity

This year on July 20th, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. In 1969, 2 young astronauts did something no one had done before. They took "one small step for man" and "giant leap(s)" for mankind. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin are not only held in high regard to the space program and America, but Neil is one of the many astronauts from Ohio!

Neil Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio in August of 1930 and was later a professor at the University of Cincinnati. Along with him, John Glenn, Judith Resnik, and Jim Lovell all hail from Ohio as well. Each one of these individuals had a significant impact on the space program and continue to be remembered for their accomplishments now. Ohio is one of the top states in the US to produce astronauts to the NASA program and to ultimately take flights. 

So what does this all mean? With more school programs being geared towards science, schools specifically meant for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and even toys having a space theme, its showing kids that being a "rocket scientist" may not be such a far grasp after all. Back-to-school is only a few weeks away and with all of the upcoming back to school events, its time to inspire kids to take their dreams to a galaxy far far away! 

Links to help send you into orbit:

• 13 Colleges That Have Produced the Most Astronauts
• 11 things to know about the historic Apollo 11 mission
• Ohio STEM Learning Network
• Lego's 'Women of NASA' sale lifts off, lands as best-selling toy

Eye See You!

Your eyes are a very important part of your body and taking care of them should be a priority. Have a comprehensive dilated eye exam is one way that you can take care of your vision health. According to the National Eye Institute, many eye disorders do not have outward symptoms and one must have an eye exam to diagnose these.

Staying up to date on your family's eye health history is important in order to know if you are prone to develop issues in the future. However, there are many actions you can take to keep your eyes healthy all year long! A few things you can do are:

• living a healthy lifestyle
• wearing protective eyewear
• quit smoking
• keeping your eyes/eyelids clean
• giving your eyes a rest (put your phone down once in a while!)

Did you know that the average American looks at screens as much as 12 hours a day! Just like any other muscle in your body, putting that much wear and tear on a body part is going to cause some side effects. For more information on how to keep your eyes healthy, visit: Eye Health Tips

Schedule a vision care visit with an Ohio Community Health Center near you!

Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming!

Literally, keep swimming! Swimming is a great exercise for people of all ages and can provide amazing health benefits to those who are looking for a low impact workout. There are lots of reasons swimming can be beneficial to your health. 

It can:

• Improve cardiovascular health
• Build lean muscle
• Gives your body a break from higher-impact activities
• Increase your endurance
• Promotes adventure

Swimming is also an activity that doesn’t require much other than a swimsuit and a body of water. With the weather being warmer, you can swim in or outside and in a pool or fresh water! Don’t forget to take safety precautions too! If you are a first time or long time swimmer, it's always important to be aware of your surroundings and knows when the water is too deep-cold-murky-warm-shallow or whatever! And always remember sunscreen when swimming outdoors.

Learn more about how to be safe when swimming and more health benefits:

• Time Magazine: Why Swimming Is So Good For You
• Swimming at Ohio State Parks
• 12 Benefits of Swimming
• Water & Swim Safety
• Health Swimming

A Summer of CHC Love

Looking for ways to get involved, take action and support long-term funding for your Community Health Center this summer? You’ve come to the right place – there are contests, resources and action campaigns – so grab your sunscreen and let’s get advocating!

Share Your Love for Health Centers and Win

Summer lovin’ could score you one of two $100 Amazon gift cards! The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) is hosting a fun contest aimed at sharing the love of Health Centers.
From June 21 – July 30, snap photos with one of these posters, or even one of your own, stating why YOU value community health centers. Then…

• Post the picture on social media using the #ValueCHCs.
• Tag your member of Congress and @hcadvocacy.

Engage your coworkers, friends, family, and neighbors to be involved. Creativity is key – it IS a contest! 

Prize drawings will happen August 2 – stay tuned to NACHC social media for the winners.

Take Action Today!

To date, several bills have been introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to extend the Community Health Center Fund (CHCF) for five years alongside funding for critical workforce programs. Check out NACHC’s Current Legislation webpage for a breakdown of each of these efforts and review this chart outlining the differences between each bill.

Most importantly, TAKE ACTION NOW to let our Ohio delegation know that a long-term fix for the Community Health Center Program is essential for the 800,000+ Ohioans that rely on us for their care.

NHCW

And while we’re talking summer fun and Community Health Centers, we MUST mention National Health Center Week. Head over to the OACHC NHCW webpage to submit your event, learn about our Ohio contest (yes, the Ultimate Health Center Champs contest is back!), and find out how you can receive a $250 sponsorship for your event.