Maine Primary Care Association

Introduction to Maine's Community Health Center Network
2025-10-14 15:00 - 15:45 (America/New_York)
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Registration
Maine’s Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), also known as Community Health Centers (CHCs), make up the largest, independent primary care network in the state, providing high-quality, accessible primary and preventive medical, behavioral, and dental health services. CHCs are innovative providers of choice and are always working to provide services that directly respond to the needs of their community.
Across the state CHCs are employers, providers, and partners of choice in the communities they serve. This webinar will assist new health center employees and board members, health professionals, and community partners in understanding how CHCs lower overall health care costs and improve the health of their patients and communities.
Key Learning Objectives:

Learn about Maine’s Community Health Center Network and the services they offer;
Explore the mission of Community Health Centers, how they promote health access and provide whole-person care; and
Learn about the Maine Primary Care Association and the training and technical assistance they provide.

Target Audience: New health center employees and board members, health professions students and job seekers, community partners and stakeholders.
For more information, contact Leslie Wolf: lwolf@mepca.org or (207) 707-4050.

MPCA 2025 Annual Conference
2025-10-22 - 2025-10-23 | Samoset Resort, 220 Warrenton St., Rockport, ME, 04856
***Information Coming Soon***

Back-to-School Spotlight: VitalCare for Kids and Communication Strategies for SBHCs
2025-10-29 12:00 - 13:00
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Registration
Back-to-school season is here, and we’re kicking it off with an informative session for School-Based Health Centers. This one-hour program begins with an introduction to VitalCare for Kids—the new name for MaineCare’s Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis & Treatment (EPSDT) program.
VitalCare for Kids is designed to ensure that children and youth under 21 receive timely screenings, care, and the support they need to thrive. In the second half of the session, we’ll highlight practical strategies to help School-Based Health Centers strengthen communication and advocacy—building stronger connections with students, families, school staff, and community partners through clear, meaningful, and effective engagement.
Key Learning Objectives:

Explore how VitalCare for Kids (EPSDT) can and cannot be used;
Identify the overall requirements for services to be covered, and the Prior Authorization (PA) process;
Learn how to bill for VitalCare for Kids (EPSDT) approved services;
Discuss the importance of telling the story of your SBHC through communications and advocacy;
Identify best practices for communications and marketing; and
Review important considerations for FQHCs engaging in advocacy.

Target Audience: School-based health Center staff, clinical staff, billing & coding staff.
For more information, contact Megan Cross: mcross@mepca.org or (207) 707-5112.

Intimate Partner Violence Safe Tables and Webinar Series
2025-11-12 12:00 - 13:00
Child Abuse – Webinar
November 12, 2025 |12:00 – 1:00pm | Register
Interpersonal violence is an epidemic in our culture with significant short and long-term health implications. We will embark on a year-long webinar series to understand these topics.
The IPV Safe Table will provide a brief, introductory overview of the incidence of various forms of IPV, the role of providers in treatment and intervention, and community resources especially Forensic Nurses, who are available throughout the state.
An SBIRT approach with particular attention to patient safety and documentation will be used.

Annual State/Territory-Based 2025 Uniform Data System (UDS) Training
2025-12-02 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-12-04 13:00 - 16:00
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Registration
Agenda
2025 Materials
– UDS Manual
– Annual UDS Training
– Annual Training Slides Handout
– Overview
– UDS Reporting Tables
– User Guide
– Submission Checklist
– Performance Indicators (by State)
– National Health Centers
– National Look-alike Health Centers
– Navigating CQM reporting for 2025 UDS Submission
This year’s annual UDS training will be conducted again virtually. Participants should plan to attend both sessions for a full and comprehensive understanding of the complete UDS report. Attendees will:

Gain an understanding of reporting the UDS including: the patient profile, reporting clinical services and quality of care indicators, operational and financial tables, and other required UDS reporting forms.
Learn about the new requirements included in 2025 reporting.
Learn tips for success including strategies for submission.
Receive valuable resources that provide further reporting guidance.

Click here to see what is being covered each day.
Target Audience: CEOs, CFOs, Billers, and any health center staff involved in UDS submission.
For more information, contact Megan Cross: mcross@mepca.org or (207) 707-5112.

Intimate Partner Violence Safe Tables and Webinar Series
2026-01-14 12:00 - 13:00
Elder Abuse – Webinar
January 14, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:00pm | Register
Interpersonal violence is an epidemic in our culture with significant short and long-term health implications. We will embark on a year-long webinar series to understand these topics.
The IPV Safe Table will provide a brief, introductory overview of the incidence of various forms of IPV, the role of providers in treatment and intervention, and community resources especially Forensic Nurses, who are available throughout the state.
An SBIRT approach with particular attention to patient safety and documentation will be used.

Comprehensive Emergency Management Program (CEMP): Requirements and Best Practices
2026-01-27 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-02-24 12:00 - 13:00
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Registration
This 2-part training will review federal requirements and discuss best practices for developing and maintaining a health center’s comprehensive emergency management program. The value of using the Integrated Preparedness Cycle (IPC) to guide all-hazards emergency preparedness activities will be highlighted. The complementary relationship between emergency preparedness and continuity planning, and how to integrate business continuity considerations into a CEMP will be explored. Lastly, hazard-specific planning and response within the structure of a CEMP, using cybersecurity and cyber incident response as examples, will be discussed briefly.
Key learning objectives:

Review federal emergency management and continuity requirements for health centers.
Describe the Integrated Preparedness Cycle (IPC) and how it should guide development of a Comprehensive Emergency Management Program (CEMP).
Discuss strategies for effective emergency management and continuity planning.
Define key inputs for setting CEMP priorities.
Discuss practical ideas to address important preparedness challenges.
Describe an approach for hazard-specific planning and response within the structure of a CEMP.

Target Audience: All heath center staff involved in emergency management and planning.
For more information, contact Megan Cross: mcross@mepca.org or (207) 707-5112.

2026 Physician Fee Schedule Updates
2026-01-28 12:00 - 13:00
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Registration
Annually, Medicare releases policy decisions in their Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) that affect FQHCs. Join MPCA on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 from 12:00 – 1:00pm to learn of the many changes and additions to Medicare services for FQHCs in CY 2026.
In this webinar, Kevin Reynolds, MPCA’s Data Quality Program, will explore updates related to technology based services, the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program, Advanced Primary Care Management, Care CoordinationServices, and the 340B Rebate Model Program.
You don’t want to miss out on this informative webinar. Register today!
Target Audience: Billing and coding staff, CFOs, CEOs.
For more information, contact Kevin Reynolds: kreynolds@mepca.org or (207) 707-4535.

Clear, Calm, and Connected: Communication Skills for High-Pressure Federally Qualified Health Center Work
2026-01-29 12:00 - 13:00
Quick Links:
Registration (This webinar is for MPCA members only)
In Federally Qualified Health Centers, support staff manage patients in crisis amid packed schedules, interruptions, and rushed hallway talks. Misunderstandings and emotional flare-ups in these settings easily lead to conflict, errors, and emotional exhaustion. This one-hour interactive workshop provides tools to prepare for tough interactions, communicate clearly under stress, and recover afterward to protect care quality and resilience.
Participants will learn to:

Spot common communication pitfalls in fast-paced, high-stress clinics.
Plan for effective conversations by clarifying goals, language, and limits.
Use simple tools to stay centered and respectful under pressure.
Recover after difficult encounters with patients and across roles and departments.
Ask for what they need and set boundaries while sustaining teamwork.

Target Audience: Clinical support staff.
For more information, contact Leslie Lorentzen: llorentzen@mepca.org or (207) 707-4534.

Making Customer Service a Reality at Your Health Center
2026-02-03 09:00 - 11:30
Quick Links:
Registration (This webinar is for MPCA members only)
The quality of customer service in community healthcare significantly influences the health of patients and the health center itself, yet in today’s fast-paced and challenging landscape, health centers may find it difficult to create and maintain a culture of service excellence. This session – focused specifically for CHC leaders, managers and supervisors – provides important skills, strategies and guidance to make customer service a realistic expectation both now and for the long term.
Participants will learn to:

Understand and communicate the crucial nature of customer service in all areas of community healthcare.
Lead, foster and drive a culture of service excellence in your department or organization.
Create and implement clear, realistic and impactful expectations.
Utilize a practical, step-by-step change management model to facilitate smooth and successful culture change.
Ensure customer service skill-building, reinforcement and accountability for all team members to make both internal and external customer service the priority it needs to be!

Target Audience: CHC leaders, managers and supervisors.
Important Note: There is limited capacity for this training: 50 participants max. Once 50 people have registered, Zoom will not allow additional registrants.
For more information, contact Emily Ferry: eferry@mepca.org or (207) 707-4548.

Customer Service: The Art of Caring
2026-02-10 09:00 - 11:30
Quick Links:
Registration (This webinar is for MPCA members only)
Providing a high level of customer service is crucial to achieving your health center’s mission and effectively serving your community, and service excellence is both a mindset and a skill that can be learned! In this high-impact and interactive training focused for health center employees at all levels, participants gain practical and immediately applicable skills, tools and strategies to make customer service a realistic part of every interaction.
Participants will learn to:

Understand the crucial nature of customer service in all areas of community healthcare.
Maintain a mindset of “service-first.”
Achieve successful outcomes in a wide range of potentially challenging interactions.
Communicate clearly with care, tact and compassion.
Take initiative to enhance a positive work environment.
Strengthen satisfaction for patients, families and co-workers!

Target Audience: This training is recommended for health center employees at all levels.
Important Note: There is limited capacity for this training: 50 participants max. Once 50 people have registered, Zoom will not allow additional registrants.
For more information, contact Emily Ferry: eferry@mepca.org or (207) 707-4548.

Coping Strategies for Clinical Support Staff at FQHCs: Prepare, Perform, and Unwind
2026-02-19 12:00 - 13:00
Quick Links:
Registration (This webinar is for MPCA members only)
Clinical support staff are the backbone of Federally Qualified Health Centers, fielding constant demands, managing complex patient needs, and absorbing stress from every direction. This training shines a light on the unique pressures they face and offers practical, evidence-informed tools to help them navigate the overwhelm. Participants will learn three focused sets of coping strategies tailored to their realities: how to prepare for unpredictable days, stay sharp during high-intensity challenges and difficult people encounters, and unwind after emotionally taxing shifts.
Participants will learn to:

Prepare: Get centered before shifts to handle heavy caseloads, changing demands, and limited resources.
Perform: Remain focused and adaptable during crises, patient escalations, and workflow disruptions.
Unwind: Let go of stress, manage compassion fatigue, and recharge outside work.

Target Audience: Clinical support staff.
For more information, contact Leslie Lorentzen: llorentzen@mepca.org or (207) 707-4534.

Intimate Partner Violence Safe Tables and Webinar Series
2026-03-18 12:00 - 13:00
Sexual Assault – Webinar
March 18, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:00pm | Register
Interpersonal violence is an epidemic in our culture with significant short and long-term health implications. We will embark on a year-long webinar series to understand these topics.
The IPV Safe Table will provide a brief, introductory overview of the incidence of various forms of IPV, the role of providers in treatment and intervention, and community resources especially Forensic Nurses, who are available throughout the state.
An SBIRT approach with particular attention to patient safety and documentation will be used.

Intimate Partner Violence Safe Tables and Webinar Series
2026-06-17 12:00 - 13:00
MePCA PSO Safe Table: Intimate Partner Violence Series Wrap-up
June 17, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:00pm | Register
Interpersonal violence is an epidemic in our culture with significant short and long-term health implications. We will embark on a year-long webinar series to understand these topics.
The IPV Safe Table will provide a brief, introductory overview of the incidence of various forms of IPV, the role of providers in treatment and intervention, and community resources especially Forensic Nurses, who are available throughout the state.
An SBIRT approach with particular attention to patient safety and documentation will be used.
