January 15, 2010 Vol. 4 #2 Michigan Primary Care Association www.mpca.net 517.381.8000 Visit Our Blog Visit us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Upcoming MPCA Events MPCA Executive Committee Conference Call January 19 3:30 pm MPCA Membership Committee Conference Call January 21 10:30 am MPCA Budget & Finance Committee Conference Call February 1 1 pm MPCA Board Meeting February 1 5-8 pm (dinner followed by meeting) Radisson Hotel Lansing, MI 2010 MPCA Legislative Forum February 2 Anderson House Office Building Lansing, MI Click here to learn about more MPCA events. Upcoming State & National Events Click here for a list of upcoming events to be held by other organizations in Michigan and across the country.     The MPCA e-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.

STATE NEWS   Next Year's State Budget Projections Underscore Need for Revenue On Monday, January 11, Michigan economists met to determine the revenue number that will be used to craft the budget for the state's 2011 fiscal year.  Staff of the House Fiscal Agency, Senate Fiscal Agency and Treasury came together and presented information showing the state budget is in good shape for the current year, but they foresee big deficits in the 2011 budget as revenues keep dropping.     Have You Registered for the 2010 MPCA Legislative Forum? Registration for the 2010 MPCA Legislative Forum is open now through January 22.  By attending on February 2 in Lansing, you will learn about the current legislative environment as it pertains to health care and Community Health Centers; learn about MPCA's legislative priorities for the year; and have the opportunity to develop and nurture relationships with your elected officials at the annual legislative luncheon and one-on-one visits.  Click here to register.   MPCA Hosting Pediatric Integrated Pilot Conference Topics will include defiant behavior/antisocial behavior, basic elements of counseling adolescents using illegal substances, collaborating with adolescents and school staff, and working with teens with psychosis. It will be held at MPCA on February 19.   MPCA Co-sponsoring State of the State Address For the second consecutive year, MPCA is proud to be a co-sponsor of Governor Granholm's State of the State address broadcast by WKAR-TV.  It will air statewide on all Michigan Public Television Stations on February 3 at 7-8:30 pm .     NATIONAL NEWS   Health Care Reform Update As reported by NACHC, staff of the House and Senate are continuing to work toward resolving the differences between the two versions of health care reform legislation. While few expect a bill to be signed by the State of the Union later this month, there is tremendous pressure to move as quickly as possible. Health Center advocates have been weighing in to preserve the Health Center-specific priorities during the negotiations, including fair reimbursement for Health Centers that serve newly insured individuals, and the final funding levels for essential primary care programs.  It is essential that every U.S. Senator and Representative let their respective Congressional leaders know they want these critical Health Center provisions included in the final health reform bill.  Click here to contact your Senators and Representative NOW and ask them to support the Health Center provisions in health care reform legislation.  Click here for NACHC's new side-by-side analysis of the general provisions.  If you missed last week's tele-town hall hosted by NACHC about health care reform, click here to listen to the archived audio or read the transcript.   HRSA Announces Accreditation Initiative Update PAL HRSA announced Program Assistance Letter (PAL) 2009-12 this week, which lists the accrediting organizations that are contracted to provide surveys and educational services under the Accreditation Initiative for the new 3three-year contract period (October 2009 to September 2012).  It also outlines the processes and requirements for applying for accreditation and highlights the broad array of technical supports available under the Accreditation Initiative.   HRSA Releases Look-Alike Guidelines and Application PIN Policy Information Notice (PIN) 2009-06 outlines the revised FQHC 'Look-Alike' program guidelines and application package.   HHS Accelerates Head Start Quality Improvements and Submits Impact Study on 2002-2003 Head Start Programs HHS announced this week plans to strengthen the Head Start and Early Head Start programs as part of an Administration-wide effort to close achievement gaps and promote early learning through the first eight years of life for the nation's most vulnerable children.   Year One at HHS Secretary Sebelius posted her reflections on the year in health care on The White House Blog.     H1N1 & SEASONAL FLU   President Obama Declares National Influenza Vaccination Week This week was National Influenza Vaccination Week, a campaign aimed at raising awareness about the importance of getting vaccinated against the flu.  "This week presents a window of opportunity for us to prevent a possible third wave of H1N1 flu in the United States.  I strongly encourage those who have not yet received the H1N1 flu vaccine to do so," said President Obama.   2009 H1N1 Vaccine Safety Last week, CDC posted the following guidance document: Fact Sheet: Safety of Thimerosal in Vaccines Against 2009 H1N1 Flu.   Continue to check the following web sites for up-to-date information:  www.michigan.gov/fllu, www.cdc.gov/flu, www.flu.gov, www.mpca.net.   HEALTH CENTERS IN THE NEWS   Muskegon Heights' Schools Hopes to Open Teen Health Center Research shows that statewide, on-site teen health centers in schools provide valuable services resulting in improved academic performance through reduced truancy, suspensions and in-school altercations, sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy rates. Click here for more about CHCs in the News.  Do have news or testimonials from patients, board members, or staff to share?  Please e-mail information to dhughes@mpca.net.     REPORTS & RESOURCES   New Kids Count Data Released The Michigan League of Human Services released The Kids Count in Michigan Data Book 2009, showing that childhood poverty, abuse, and neglect continue to rise in Michigan but child deaths are down dramatically.   Progress Toward Eliminating Disparities in Vaccine Coverage Among U.S. Children Disparities in vaccine coverage among socioeconomic groups are shrinking as more U.S. children receive full immunization against common childhood illnesses, according to a new study from the CDC as published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.   Low-Income Access Open Door Forum and HIT Resources, Weblinks     FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES   Best Practices in Women's Health To identify best practices in community settings and to use collaborative improvement processes to test ways to improve delivery of care in key community settings. (Funder:  HRSA; due February 26)   Click here for a list of funding opportunities posted on the MPCA web site.     CAREER OPPORTUNITIES   Workforce Development Program Specialist, MPCA, Lansing, MI Community Health Planning Specialist, MPCA, Lansing, MI Financial Analyst, Covenant Community Care, Detroit, MI Physician Assistant, Family Medical Center of Michigan, Temperance, MI Click here for a list of career opportunities in Michigan Community Health Centers.