1. Will DHCF make available EP and EH data such as number of eligible District providers, prevalent EHR’s to assist with establishing the preliminary project plan timeline for ambulatory integration?
Yes, once the Notice Of Grant Award (NOGA) and any required business associate agreements are completed, DHCF will be able to provide this information.
2. Can DHCF specify what other District priority programs the awardee will need to coordinate with to achieve the overall RFA goals?
Coordinating with the District’s care coordination programs is a priority to achieve the goals of the RFA. Examples include care coordination activities within both Health Home programs (I&II), Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Pay for Performance (P4P) programs, the Quality Improvement Perinatal Collaborative, Managed Care Organizations’ (MCOs) care coordination programs, and Elderly and Person with Disabilities (EPD) and Developmental Disabilities (DD) waiver programs.
3. Would the submission of a Certificate of Good Standing from the jurisdiction in which an entity is organized (as a non-profit) meet the requirements of Section III, Part G) Certificate of Good Standing? For example, if the organization is registered as a non-profit in Maryland, is a Maryland Certificate of Good Standing sufficient or does a DC equivalent need to be obtained as well?
Submission of a Certificate of Good Standing must be provided to DHCF prior to the award of any grant or sub-grant. However, while a Certificate of Good Standing may be provided as part of the grant submission, it is not required as part of the grant application.
According to the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), an organization registered in another state or country that seeks to transact business in the District of Columbia must obtain authority by filing an application for foreign registration. DCRA has an expedited one day filing process for a fee.
4. What information are we required to submit on sub-grantees and subcontractors? For instance, do they also need to submit a certificate of good standing?
A sub-grantee who is working to support the grant aims as authorized under statute should have a DC Certificate of Good Standing. A sub-contractor who is simply providing supplies or services does not necessarily have to possess a certificate.
5. Can DHCF provide the original file of Attachment B – Program Budget and Budget Narrative so that applicants can fill it in directly?
Yes. DHCF can provide an electronic copy of Attachment B upon request. Please email [email protected] to request a copy.
6. What, if any, documentation is required of applicants to demonstrate that they meet the third component of the eligibility requirements to:
“3. Be a health information exchange operating in the District as of January 1, 2016 to facilitate patient care for District residents through the secure electronic exchange of health-related information among approved, qualifying partners according to nationally recognized standards.”
To demonstrate compliance with the requirement that applicants must be “a health information exchange operating in the District as of January 1, 2016,” an applicant must be identified as a health information exchange in the District of Columbia Health Information Exchange Strategic Road Map (see Appendix A, p.9) or submit proof of health information exchange activities and contractual relationships. Applicants identified in the District of Columbia Health Information Exchange Strategic Road Map as an HIE should cite the Roadmap and provide a brief description of HIE services currently offered in the District.
Applicants not identified in the District of Columbia Health Information Exchange Strategic Road Map (Appendix A) must provide legally-binding supportive documentation that their health information exchange:
- Is operational in the District as of January 1, 2016
- Facilitates patient care for District residents through the secure electronic exchange of health-related information among approved, qualifying partners according to nationally recognized standards
- Connects to existing health information exchange(s) identified in the District of Columbia Health Information Exchange Strategic Road Map (see Appendix A)
7. Are applicants required to fill out and submit Attachment F - HIPAA Security Checklist as part of their submission?
No. The applicants should address the security/privacy requirements as part of their proposals, however, the checklist does not need to be completed as a required part of the submission. Applicants are encouraged to include the checklist as part of their work plan and reporting activities.
8. Page 19, number 7: Will the prime awardee be responsible for developing the HMIS API, or will an API be made available by DHS for integration into the care profile?
The HMIS API will be made available by DHS for integration into the Care Profile. HMIS is provided to DHS by a vendor. The HMIS vendor will develop an API for DHS use. The District’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer will integrate the HMIS API into DHS’ Enterprise Service Bus (ESB). The successful contractor must develop a web service that accesses the HMIS API through DHS’ ESB.
9. Can DHCF specify the data elements required for the HMIS integration and the name, model number of the HMIS system currently in use?
The specific data elements required for HMIS integration have not been finalized. Generally, however, the elements will enable the Care Profile to display an individual’s housing status (e.g. temporary shelter; permanent housing) and contact information for the individual’s housing-related case manager.
10. Page 21, number 3: Is there a web-based reporting portal currently in existence and functional for seamless integration with eCW? Are there technical specifications for the web-based application that will be made available for integration?
A web-based reporting portal does not currently exist for the purposes of eCW integration. The initial plan for data integration is to first enable integration between the HIE and the Prenatal-Registry using custom flat-file format (csv) transferable via SFTP, and then to eventually move to a SOAP or REST API infrastructure. By the conclusion of the grant period, the expectation is that the grantee will integrate data between the HIE and the Prenatal-Registry using custom flat-file format (csv) transferable via SFTP.