December 4, 2009 Vol 3#44
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Michigan Primary Care Association
www.mpca.net
517.381.8000
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Quote of the Week:
“Community Health Centers are going to play a crucial role in the delivery of health care services around the country in the next decade. They are going to play an ever-expanding role.” - Congressman David Obey, Chair of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee after touring Thundermist Health Center in Rhode Island
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Upcoming MPCA Events
MPCA Budget & Finance Committee Conference Call
December 7, 1 pm
MPCA Human Resources Network Conference Call
December 8, 10 am
MPCA Board Meeting
December 15, 1 pm
MPCA Billing Managers Network Conference Call
December 15, 1 pm
MPCA Health Policy Committee Conference Call
December 21, 3 pm
Finance Officers Workshop
(held in conjunction with UDS Training)
January 13, 12-5 pm
Radisson Hotel
Lansing, MI
UDS Training
January 14, 8 am-4 pm
Radisson Hotel
Lansing, MI
2010 MPCA Legislative Forum
February 2, 2009
Anderson House Office Building
Lansing, MI
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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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NATIONAL NEWS
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U.S. Senate Opens Debate on Health Reform Bill
On Monday, the U.S. Senate began debate on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (HR 3590) introduced recently by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. This bill merges the two health care reform bills passed earlier by the Senate’s Finance Committee and the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. Debate is expected to continue until December 23, during which time Senators will consider amendments in the hopes of passing a bill out of the chamber and into conference committee before they adjourn for the year. Senate floor proceedings are broadcast on CSPAN2 on network television and online streaming. To stay up-to-date on daily updates about the bill, visit the Senate’s web site. As posted on NACHC’s blog, “It’s worth remembering that we aren’t sure when or how amendments will come up that impact Health Centers, so be sure to keep a close watch on your email inboxes for advocacy alerts and updates.
The new United We Serve: Feed a Neighbor initiative is aimed at combating hunger this winter by raising awareness of hunger issues and provide Americans with the resources to mobilize against the hunger crisis. The two major components of the initiative include an anti-hunger volunteer toolkit developed by the USDA and access to service opportunities in local communities on Serve.gov.
HHS’ National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Dr. David Blumenthal, announced last week plans to make available $80 million in grants to help develop and strengthen the HIT workforce ($70 million for community college training programs and $10 million to develop educational materials for the programs).
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STATE NEWS
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According to new data that the Obama administration provided to U.S. House and Senate members last week, 1.3 million Michigan residents are uninsured. Should health care reform include a national insurance exchange, 459,000 state residents with individual policies would be eligible to get guaranteed coverage for less (Detroit Free Press, 11/24).
MDCH Among Organizations To Receive Funding for Asthma Control Initiative
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health has approved the award of 13 contracts to local organizations across the country - including MDCH - to develop, implement, and test science-based approaches to improve asthma control using evidence-based national guidelines for diagnosing and managing asthma. Strategies will target health care providers, adult and pediatric patients, or patients' families, school personnel, and others who play a role in helping patients manage asthma.
Dental Crisis Looming in the State
Jacqui Day hasn’t seen a dentist for a checkup for more than a year. And she’s bracing herself for the dull, throbbing pain ahead. One of 400,000 Michigan adults who lost Medicaid dental coverage with state budget cuts in July, the 60-year-old Lansing woman remembers what happened the last time Michigan eliminated the benefit in 2003. To address a $2.8 billion shortfall, state lawmakers decided to continue the Medicaid cut into the fiscal budget that began Oct. 1 — about $5 million. But advocates say the cut means the state is losing out on $16 million in federal funds and will face higher Medicaid costs as more low-income people with acute dental needs end up in hospital emergency rooms.
For quite some time, a coalition of organizations including Michigan Primary Care Association have been advocating for the dire need to restructure the state’s tax system to generate more revenue. Lack of revenue has caused severe cuts to the state’s health and human services, putting residents’ health and quality of life at risk. Last week, State Representative and gubernatorial candidate Alma Wheeler Smith (D-Salem Township) unveiled a $6.5 billion tax reform proposal that would bring fiscal relief to the state.
MPCA’s annual legislative forum will be held February 2, 2010, at the Anderson House Office Building in Lansing, just one block from the State Capitol. This forum provides an opportunity for advocates of the medically underserved in Michigan like you to talk one-on-one with state legislators about issues important to your community and patients, further develop relationships with the legislators and their staff, and learn more about the current legislative environment as it pertains to health care. Registration information is coming soon – watch your e-mail inbox and MPCA's web site at www.mpca.net.
MDCH announced on World AIDS Day, December 1, that for the fourth consecutive year Michigan is experiencing significant increases in HIV among teenagers – a trend that is occurring nationally as well. This highlights the importance of prevention efforts through health education/risk reduction, early diagnosis, and proper treatment for those found to be infected. Several Michigan Community Health Centers—such as Detroit Community Health Connection in Detroit, St. Mary’s Health Care Community Health Centers in Grand Rapids, Covenant Community Care in Detroit, and Health Delivery, Inc. in Saginaw—receive Ryan White CARE Action Title III Early Intervention Services program funding to provide a comprehensive continuum of outpatient HIV primary care services.
There are many reasons 150,965 of Michigan’s children don’t have health insurance coverage – parents have lost their jobs, employer-sponsored coverage has been eliminated or it simply costs too much. Yet thousands of families are eligible for low-cost or free health insurance for their children and haven’t taken advantage of the opportunity. An overwhelming number of these eligible families think they can’t get health insurance coverage because they make too much money. Wrong! The majority of children covered by MIChild, Michigan’s Childrens Health Insurance Program, come from working families. In fact, a family of four making up to $41,000 a year may be eligible. Misconceptions like this one and other barriers are keeping Michigan families and children from taking advantage of the health insurance coverage they need … that’s where we come in.
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H1N1 & SEASONAL FLU
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Flyers, brochures, and fact sheets to help you share information about H1N1 and how people can protect themselves are available for downloading and printing.
Status of Vaccine Availability
Vaccination is STILL for the five high-risk target priority groups recommended by the CDC and vaccination will not be opened up to the general public UNTIL all people in the target groups who want it can get it. Vaccine shortages previously caused some local health departments to only vaccinate a smaller group. For the latest information on high-risk priority groups, visit Michigan’s flu Web site at www.michigan.gov/flu.
Vaccine Safety
Health care personnel continue to get frequent questions on the safety of the H1N1 vaccine such as, "Is it safe? But it's so NEW!" The CDC is very concerned that everyone understand what has been done and what continues to be done to ensure the safety of this vaccine. Click the link above for information from the CDC.
CDC Web Site Posts Three Important Tables on Spacing Intervals for H1N1 and Seasonal Influenza Vaccine
Google Flu Shot Locator
Google Inc. in corporation with CDC, the American Lung Association and HHS recently launched a flu vaccine locator service, based on its popular Google Maps feature. Patients looking for seasonal or H1N1 influenza vaccine can search for sites close to the address they enter on the flu vaccine locator web page. If you are a health care provider and would like to enter your clinic information, the American Lung Association provides directions on how to do so. Additionally, Michigan has information posted for consumers and healthcare providers who are asking for information on where to find flu vaccine.
HHS and the Department of Homeland Security released a communication toolkit for businesses and employers on preparing for the Flu. It includes fact sheets for both employees and employers, sample email and text communication messages for employees, as well as helpful communication links.
In the summer of 2009, the Center for Biosecurity of UPMC sought to investigate social threats to the health and well being of Latino migrant and seasonal farm workers (MSFWs) in the U.S. in connection with the 2009 H1N1 influenza outbreak. Such threats included stigmatization, limited access to care, and material circumstances interfering with the ability to follow public health guidelines on disease containment. This Center for Biosecurity issue brief presents preliminary study findings, concluding with recommendations to providers on serving a population that is highly vulnerable to pandemic influenza due to their marginal social position and already compromised health status. (Source: NACHC)
An e-mail claiming to be from the CDC is circulating that states anyone 18 and older has to provide a personal “Vaccination Profile” on its Web site. The CDC has NOT implemented such a program. This is a scam aimed at obtaining personal information. Please direct your patients to ignore and delete these e-mails.
Reminder: National Influenza Vaccination Week Set for December 6-12
If you are planning an activity during National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) and beyond to encourage influenza vaccination, the CDC would like to hear from you. Click here for an event submission form. Click here for a NIVW media toolkit; free web site buttons, banners, and badges; and resources for health professionals.
Continue to check www.michigan.gov/flu, www.CDC.gov/flu, Flu.gov, and www.mpca.net for up-to-date information about the seasonal and H1N1 flu.
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HEALTH CENTERS IN THE NEWS
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Michigan Community Health Center Executive Director Honored for Leadership
AJ Jones, ND, president & CEO of the Family Health Center of Battle Creek (FHC), received the 2009 Dale G. Griffin Healthcare Leadership Award. This accolade, which recognizes exemplary contributions that improve the quality and accessibility of health care in greater Battle Creek, is presented annually by Battle Creek Health System.
Dedication, passion, attention to detail – those are the words that describe Carolee Besteman’s unending support of Community Health Center immunization programs. As Michigan Primary Care Association’s Clinical Consultant, Carolee serves as a resource for Community Health Centers on everything immunization. For her outstanding achievement in immunizing Michigan residents, Carolee is being honored by the Alliance for Immunization in Michigan (AIM). AIM is a coalition of organizations that focuses on improving all facets of immunization services in Michigan.
American Indian Health & Family Services and National Indian Health Board Interviewed on Detroit Public Radio
Marquette Alger Health Center To Open in Upper Peninsula
A new clinic will soon open its doors to offer primary health care, dental and behavioral health services for residents of Marquette and Alger counties. The new Marquette Alger Health Center, located at 700 W. Washington St. in downtown Marquette, will specialize in providing services to the uninsured and underinsured, and will also offer a convenient location for anyone with health insurance in need of care.
Share Your Stimulus Stories
With the one-year anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) coming in February, NACHC is collecting economic stimulus stories. Please send to Dana Hughes a brief description of how stimulus dollars have expanded care and created jobs in your community; please include a photo if available, as well as your Health Center’s name, address, web site address, and telephone number with a contact person. Dana will then pass the stories on to NACHC for posting on its online stimulus map, and include the them in an MPCA publication.
Click here for more about Community Health Centers in the News.
Do you have news or testimonials from patients, board members, or staff to share? Please e-mail information to dhughes@mpca.net.
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REPORTS & RESOURCES
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In order to meet the ever-growing need for health care services, Michigan Community Health Centers are in need of additional health care professionals and facilities. MPCA has added to its web site a page dedicated to capital development, which links to capital opportunities and financing options for expanding health care services. Check it out at www.mpca.net/capital.html.
Health IT Buzz will allow readers to learn more about health information technology (HIT) and provide a forum for consumers, providers, policymakers, and technology experts to share their ideas regarding health IT.
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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The Special Diabetes Program for Indians seeks to support diabetes treatment and prevention activities for American Indian/Alaska Native communities. Activities will be targeted to reduce the risk of diabetes in at-risk individuals, provide services that target those with new onset diabetes, provide high quality care to those with diagnosed diabetes, and/or reduce the complications of diabetes. (Indian Health Service, due December 13)
Grants are awarded to eligible applicants to increase nursing education opportunities for individuals who are from disadvantaged backgrounds, including racial and ethnic minorities underrepresented among registered nurses, through projects that incorporate retention, pre-entry preparation, and student scholarships and/or stipends. (HRSA, due January 20)
The purpose of this program is to expand and/or enhance substance abuse treatment and related recovery and reentry services to sentenced juvenile and adult offenders returning to the community from incarceration for criminal/juvenile offenses. (SAMHSA, due February 2)
Click here for a list of funding opportunities posted on the MPCA web site.
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CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
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- Deputy Health Officer, Ingham County Health Department Community Health Care Services, Lansing, MI
- Operations Director, American Indian Health & Family Services of SE Michigan, Detroit, MI
- Health Assessment Program Specialist, MPCA, Lansing, MI
- Communications Specialist, MPCA, Lansing, MI
- Medical Billing Coordinator, American Indian Health & Family Services of SE Michigan, Detroit, MI
- Physician Assistant, MidMichigan Health Services, Houghton Lake, MI
- Nurse Practitioner, Health Delivery Inc., Saginaw, MI
- Nurse Practitioner, MidMichigan Health Services, Houghton Lake, MI
Click here for a list of career opportunities in Michigan Community Health Centers.
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