August 28, 2009 Vol 3#31
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Upcoming State & National Events
Click here for a list of upcoming events to be held by other organizations in Michigan and across the country.
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Upcoming Health Observances
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The MPCA Communications Update is a weekly e-bulletin intended to keep MPCA members updated on issues important to Community Health Centers. Please feel free to forward this to interested individuals, or they may request to be added to the distribution list by registering here. Information from outside organizations does not represent an endorsement by MPCA, and opinions expressed by outside authors are not necessarily official positions or policies of MPCA. |
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Remembering Senator Kennedy, a Community Health Center Pioneer
Where would Community Health Centers be were it not for Edward M. Kennedy? It was this progressive thinker, champion for the underdog, “lion” in the Senate who passed legislation that secured funding for the first Community Health Centers over 40 years ago. Click here to read MPCA's tribute to the Health Center Program's founding father and to celebrate his legacy.
Health Reform Happenings
- How the passing of Senator Kennedy, longtime champion for health reform, will impact the health care reform effort of today is yet to be seen. Until Sen. Kennedy’s Senate successor is chosen by special election (no sooner than 145 days and no later than 160 days after his death) as required by Massachusetts law, Democrats temporarily only have 59 seats in the Senate. “The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.” – Sen. Edward Kennedy
- The White House released a report showing how health care reform can protect coverage for America’s seniors and strengthen Medicare. Read more
HRSA Releases Draft PIN on Health Center Governance
HHS Announces HITECH Priority Grant Programs
The first two HITECH priority grant programs, funded through the Recovery Act, support the national implementation of the electronic health records initiative. Approximately $598 million is being made available through the Health Information Technology Extension Program, to ensure that comprehensive support is available to health technology users. Under the State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program $564 million will be awarded to support efforts to achieve widespread and sustainable health information exchange within and among States through the meaningful use of certified Electronic Health Records. Read more
NACHC Issues Call for 2010 Presentations
If you are interested in presenting at one or more of NACHC’s conferences next year, click here for more information on how and when to submit a proposal.
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H1N1 Flu Vaccine to Arrive in Michigan in October
Doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine are scheduled to be released in October. Vaccine will be distributed to private providers under the auspices of Local Public Health Departments (LHD) via a system patterned after the distribution system of the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) in Michigan. All providers who wish to administer H1N1 flu vaccine to patients must contact their LHD and complete a special H1N1 Vaccine enrollment form, which will soon be published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a provider is not currently using the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR), contact your LHD to begin training.The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended that certain populations receive the two-dose vaccine first: pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical services personnel, persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years, and 25-64 year olds who are at higher risk for H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems. For more information about H1N1 and the vaccine for preventing it, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s web site. For MDCH's clinical laboratory preparation checklist and quick guide for making influenza specimen collection kits prepared, click here.
No Movement on State Budget
Passage of the state’s 2009-10 budget doesn’t appear to be getting any closer according to reports in Gongwer and MIRS, especially in light of the fact that budget targets haven’t even been set yet. Click here to read a commentary by Doug Paterson, MPCA's Director of State Policy.
Several Michigan CHCs Receive HHS Funding
Before a packed house at NACHC’s Community Health Institute & Expo in Chicago on Sunday, HHS Secretary Sebelius announced more than $25.7 million in grants to increase and improve health and support services at Community Health Centers across the country. Among the grant recipients are two Michigan Community Health Centers – InterCare Community Health Network (Bangor) and Northwest Michigan Health Services (Traverse City) – as well as two Michigan organizations that received planning grants to develop new Health Center delivery sites. Read more
Governor Granholm Unveils Helping Hand Web Site
Governor Granholm unveiled this week a new one-stop web site called Helping Hand to assist Michigan residents find programs and services that may help them during these difficult economic times, such as jobs and training, unemployment benefits, health care, family support, and housing.
Earlybird Registration Deadline for MPCA Annual Conference Nearing
If you haven’t registered for the 2009 MPCA Annual Conference to be held at the Amway Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids it’s not too late – but the early bird registration cutoff of September 8 is right around the corner. Mark your calendar for September 27-29 and register now – click here for the top 10 reasons you don’t want to miss out.
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Cristo Rey Community Center Hosting Fourth Annual Charity Golf Outing
Proceeds of the September 11th golf outing to be held at Brookshire Inn & Golf Club in Williamston, Michigan, will benefit the Cristo Rey Family Health Clinic. To register for the four-person scramble, donate items for the silent auction, or become a corporate/individual sponsor, call 517.372.42700. More information
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Funder: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Due: Letter of Intent-September 9, Application-October 26
Funder: Michigan’s Nonprofit Complete Count Committee
Due: September 28
Click here for a list of funding opportunities posted on the MPCA web site.
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Facebook, Twitter Provide Opportunity for Conversations
The beauty of the new social networking tools like Facebook and Twitter is that you can have conversations with people you might not otherwise have the opportunity to connect with. Whether it be your elected officials, a person from another state who has the same interests as you, or a journalist, Facebook and Twitter give you the power to reach out, voice your opinion, share your story, and collaborate. Read more
Archive of Recent MPCA-Hosted Educational Webinars, Workshops Posted Online
- 340B Webinar Series: Materials/Presentations from the first three webinars in the series are posted; the fourth webinar will be held September 1, 10 am - click here for more information.
- MPCA Customer Service Excellence Training Webinar: Health care veteran Sharon Black, RN focused on the core principles of customer service for Community Health Center patients and how these principles can be applied in practical situations. Access the archived video and slides, or order an archive copy of the training on DVD by e-mailing Phillip Bergquist at pbergquist@mpca.net.
- Plan Development Workshop: Two presentations focus on developing your 330 health care plan, and on developing effective 330 grant applications.
Free Residential Geriatric Oral Care Continuing Education Opportunity Available
Dental Hygienists and Dental Assistants have the opportunity to earn a free Residential Geriatric Oral Care Continuing Education credit by participating in a new online training sponsored by the Michigan Department of Community Health, Peak Performers, and the Michigan Oral Health Coalition. After completing Beyond the Dental Office: Dental Care Needs in Michigan’s Nursing Homes, participants will:
- Understand the need for better oral health care among residents in long-term care facilities, and how to take action toward that need
- Understand issues and health treatment considerations related to the oral health care of the elderly
- Understand how to provide clinical care to this population
- Know where to get more details and training on dental care for the elderly
MSA Issues CHAMPS Update Bulletin
MSA 09-46: Community Health Automated Medicaid Processing System (CHAMPS) Implementation Update
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Click here to see all Michigan Community Health Center and MPCA position announcements posted on the MPCA web site.
If you have job openings you would like to advertise on MPCA’s web site or in the MPCA Communications Update, e-mail dhughes@mpca.net with the details or call 517.381.8000 x200. |
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