December 11, 2009 Vol 3#45
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Michigan Primary Care Association
www.mpca.net
517.381.8000
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Quote of the Week:
“One of the first investments we made through the Recovery Act was in supporting our nation’s community health centers – and today we build on that progress by funding new construction and improvement projects at more than 80 facilities nationwide. This is what the Recovery Act is all about – providing immediate assistance for hard-hit families, improving our nation’s infrastructure and creating new opportunities for stable, well-paid work.” - Vice President Biden.
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Upcoming MPCA Events
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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Senate Health Reform Debate Continues
Among the amendments voted on during the Senate’s debate of its health care reform bill this week was one proposed by Senator Stabenow to protect Medicare beneficiaries – click here to read a statement she issued following approval of the amendment.
Health care reform has been at the forefront of the national debate, and the public reaction to pending reform legislation has intensified. It is critical to the future of Michigan and the country that all children are covered; have access to high-quality, affordable health care; and, are not worse off as a result of reform. Advocates for children must not miss this opportunity to ensure that our youngest and most vulnerable citizens have access to high-quality, affordable coverage, including the approximately 160,000 uninsured Michigan children who are not receiving the health care they need to grow and thrive. Now is the time to contact YOUR members of Congress! Read the complete action alert from Michigan's Children.
CMS Update Medicare Payment Cap for FQHCs for 2010
Thanks to a provision in the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, Health Centers will see a $5 increase in addition to the 1.2% increase in the Medicare Economic Index in the caps, which will take effect January 1, 2010. This will provide many Health Centers nationwide with much needed relief from the Medicare payment cap, which negatively affects more than 75% of Health Centers according to a NACHC study. The new rates will be $125.72 for urban centers, up from $119.29 in 2009, and $108.81 for rural centers, up from $102.58 in 2009. Health Centers currently serve more than one million Medicare beneficiaries nationwide; recipients represent the fastest growing population at Health Centers. (Source: NACHC)
HRSA Issues Updated Health Center Quarterly Report Manual for ARRA Reporting
HRSA has issued an updated Health Center Quarterly Report (HCQR) Reporting Manual in connection with the submission of ARRA-related reports for the quarter ending December 31, 2009 (reports are due to HRSA on January 10, 2010). The updated manual includes the same guidance as previous manuals with respect to the required information for the NAP and IDS grants and was revised to include required information regarding the expenditure and use of CIP and the just-announced FIP funds. Given that the deadline for reporting is fast approaching, Health Centers are encouraged to review the manual as soon as possible. Click here to access the updated HCQR Reporting Manual. (Source: NACHC)
Senate Committee Approves Reauthorization of Indian Health Bill
The U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee approved legislation this week that would permanently reauthorize and expand many health programs for American Indians. Specifically, the Indian Health Care Improvement Reauthorization and Extension Act of 2009 would authorize programs to increase the recruitment and retention of health care professionals; establish mental and behavioral health programs beyond alcohol and substance abuse; and establish demonstration projects that provide incentive to use innovative facility construction methods. The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
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STATE NEWS
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On December 9, President Obama announced nearly $600 million in Facility Investment Program awards funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to support major construction and renovation projects at 85 Community Health Centers nationwide. Among the grant recipients are two Michigan Community Health Centers – InterCare Community Health Network and Baldwin Family Health Care. This has garnered significant media attention with articles published in the Detroit Free Press , Ludington Daily News, Kalamazoo Gazette, Michigan.gov. Click here to read a press release issued by Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin. Click here to watch a video of the announcement.
State Legislature Passes Statewide Smoking Ban
After years of debate, legislation banning smoking in indoor workplaces including bars and restaurants – but exempting the gaming floors of Detroit’s three casinos, cigar bars, and tobacco specialty stores – is headed to Governor Granholm for her signature. On Thursday, December 10, the Michigan Senate voted 24-13 in favor of HB 4377 and the House quickly concurred with a vote of 75-30. The ban would take effect May 1. Businesses not in compliance with the ban would be subject to a fine.
Dire Forecast for State's 2011 Budget
At a forum organized last week by the Michigan League for Human Services titled “Putting Michigan’s Fiscal House in Order”, House Fiscal Agency Director Mitch Bean presented a dire forecast for the 2011 budget cycle. The 2011 budget that is beginning to be drafted by the administration and will be released early next year is going to make this year’s budget debate look tame. Projections currently predict an additional $1 billion shortfall beyond all the cuts already implemented this year.
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H1N1 & SEASONAL FLU
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The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) in partnership with the 45 local health departments is entering the next phase of its distribution strategy and will expand H1N1 influenza vaccine to all Michigan residents by Monday, December 14. Residents are advised to call their local health department to determine vaccine availability.
National Influenza Vaccination Week Rescheduled for January
National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is a national observance that was established to highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination, as well as foster greater use of flu vaccine after the holiday season into January and beyond. This year’s NIVW, originally scheduled for December 6-12, 2009, is being rescheduled for January 10-16, 2010. Click here for free resources.
“Together We Can All Fight the Flu” is designed to reach children, parents, pregnant women, young adults, people with underlying conditions, and Spanish-speakers.
Updated December 7 on Flu.gov.
This podcast created by the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities discusses high-risk medical conditions that put children at risk for flu complications and how to protect children from the flu.
Has Your Health Center Completed the Michigan Migrant/Community Health Center Emergency Preparedness Survey?
By now everyone should have received the log in and password to complete the survey. Each survey completed will help guide technical assistance from MPCA and other partners. A stipend of $2,000 for each completed survey, which is to be used on preparedness-related expenses, will be distributed in early 2010. If you have any questions or are having difficulty accessing the survey please contact Lynda Meade, MPCA Program Manager, at lmeade@mpca.net or 517.381.8000.
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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Calling All Community Health Centers
If the doors of your Community Health Center opened in 1965 or earlier, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) would like to hear from you. NACHC will be highlighting stories in its Community Health Forum magazine throughout 2010 in recognition of the 45th anniversary of the Health Centers Program. If you have an interesting story, please e-mail Yvette Crenshaw at NACHC or call her at 301.347.0400.
The Detroit Wayne County Health Authority approved this week a 2010 work plan to address the rising numbers of unemployed and uninsured people who are flooding emergency departments, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and physician offices.
A New Year of Michigan’s AmeriCorps
Click here to read a Michigan AmeriCorps Member Council blog post written by a Cherry Street Health Services Community HealthCorps team member.
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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OMB Launches New ARRA Tracking Site
FedSpending.org provides an immediate listing of the number of jobs created by ARRA dollars by recipients in order of rank. Visitors to the web site are able to view how much money each Health Center has received and how many jobs they were able to create so far. NACHC is developing communications tools and webinars aimed at helping CHCs in communicating their ARRA-related activities. Stay tuned!
Watch for OIG Survey
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is conducting a study related to language access services. As part of this study OIG will be sending a survey directly to all Medicare providers this month. It will focus on the language access services that providers have available for their service population. Please be on the lookout for this survey and respond accordingly.
MSA Bulletin
MSA 09-58: Change in Standard Dispensing Fee Reimbursement (distributed to pharmacies)
The Geiger Gibson Program in Community Health Policy has established an Emerging Leader award to honor the next generation of community health leaders. The fourth annual Emerging Leader award will be presented at the 2010 Geiger Gibson Symposium, which will be held Saturday, February 27, in conjunction with the National Association of Community Health Centers' Policy and Issues Forum in Washington, DC. You are invited to nominate an Emerging Leader from your Health Center or Primary Care Association. All nominations must be received by Friday, January 15, 2010.
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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Will provide funding to communities to build and strengthen their health information technology (health IT) infrastructure and exchange capabilities to demonstrate the vision of the future where hospitals, clinicians and patients are meaningful users of health IT, and together the community achieves measurable improvements in health care quality, safety, efficiency, and population health. (Office of the National Coordinator for HIT, letters of intent due January 8, applications due February 1)
The HITECH Act authorizes a Health Information Technology Extension Program. The extension program consists of Regional Extension Centers and a national Health Information Technology Research Center (HITRC). This funding opportunity announcement seeks applications from qualified entities to serve as regional centers within the extension program. (Office of the National Coordinator for HIT, preliminary application due December 22, full application due January 29)
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
- Family Nurse Practitioner, Ingham County Health Department, Community Health Care Services, Lansing, MI
- Health Assessment Program Specialist, MPCA, Lansing, MI
- Community Outreach Specialists, MPCA (Detroit, Saginaw, Jackson, Marquette, Baldwin, Bangor, Charlevoix, MI)
Click here for a list of career opportunities in Michigan Community Health Centers.
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