January 20,
2012 | Vol. 6
#3
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.
ADVOCACY
Register Now for Two
Upcoming Advocacy Events
Health Center advocates are encouraged to attend two upcoming advocacy
events: the MPCA
2012 Legislative Forum on February 28 in Lansing, and
the NACHC 2012
Policy & Issues Forum March 21-25 in Washington, DC.
Maintaining existing Health Center services/operations and expanding access
to care is an ever-present challenge due to the political climate at both
the state and federal level. Therefore, it is critical that every Health
Center advocate take every opportunity to stay up-to-date on issues
impacting Health Centers and to give Health Centers a voice. Attending the
MPCA 2012 Legislative Forum and the NACHC 2012 Policy & Issues Forum
are two such opportunities. We hope to see you at both of them! Click here for more information about each of the
events, including how to register.
Registration Open
for Grassroots Advocacy Leadership Program
NACHC is offering a day-long Grassroots Advocacy Leadership Program at the
2012 Policy Issues & Forum (March 21-25, 2012, in Washington, DC). The
program provides intensive training and hands-on experience in all aspects
of Health Center grassroots advocacy. Space is limited but open to all
Health Center advocates (staff, board members, patients, volunteers). Click here for the program details, schedule, and
registration.
Start Planning Now
for National Health Center Week 2012
It's not too early to start planning for this year's National Health Center
Week celebration, so mark your calendar for August 5-11, 2012, and start
brainstorming about how your Health Center will bring awareness to your
Health Center during the week.
MPCA NEWS
First Webinar in
Provider Retention Series Jan. 25
The first webinar in a six-part provider retention series hosted by MPCA,
the Michigan Department of Community Health, Michigan Health Council, and
Michigan Center for Rural Health will take place on January 25 and is free
to attend. "Developing the Business Case: Identifying the Need for
Provider Retention Training in 2012" will address the impact of
physician turnover on your practice and the community; why the Affordable
Care Act and projected physician shortages matter; 10 reasons why
physicians leave; how to recruit to retain; and what to expect if you don't
create a retention plan. Click here for more information and to register.
Registration Open
for February 2012 Billing/Coding Webinar
Michigan Health Center billing staff and healthcare providers are
encouraged to participate in MPCA's February 15th webinar, "Sorting
through Annual Wellness Visits versus Preventive Services versus Initial
Preventive Physical Examination" to learn the differences between
these CPT/HCPCS codes, how to determine when to use the specific codes, and
what combinations of codes can be billed together. One CEU will be
available through the American Academy of Professional Coders. Click here for more information and to register.
MPCA Seeks Input for Upcoming
Workforce Recruitment & Retention Conference
During the MPCA Strategic
Planning Session in November 2011, it was requested that MPCA provide
Health Centers with more support and resources around recruitment and
retention. Meeting this request is a high priority of MPCA, and our
workforce specialist, Kimberly A. Benjamin, PHR is charged with planning a
Recruitment and Retention Conference to address some of these training and
technical assistance needs. "I would really like to get the training
together by June 30, 2012, and want to hear from you about specific topics
and/or speakers that would be of interest to your Health Center," said
Benjamin. Please send your workforce seminar topics to kbenjamin@mpca.net by Tuesday, January
31, 2012. We appreciate your input.
MPCA Community HealthCorp
AmeriCorps Members Volunteer on MLK Day of Service
While January 16 was a holiday for many across the country, MPCA Community
HealthCorp AmeriCorps Members volunteered at Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of
Service events in Michigan communities. Some painted classrooms and
hallways at the Ann Visger Elementary School in Detroit. Others helped
remove invasive honeysuckle and glossy buckthorn plants from the grounds of
the Fenner Nature Center in Lansing. Others joined City Year Detroit and
the United Way of Southeastern Michigan to help transform two schools and a
community resource center supporting 700-plus volunteers within the River
Rouge School District. A preliminary survey done by the Michigan Community
Service Commission shows there were more than 3,000 volunteers who
performed nearly 8,000 hours of service as part of MLK Day projects!
We Are In Need of
Stories!
MPCA is in need of stories from Health Center patients, board members, and
staff about what their Community Health Center means to them, how they have
benefited from its services, or why they work or volunteer at a Community
Health Center. Please send stories and photos, or names of individuals who
can be contacted for a brief interview, to Dana Lawrence, MPCA
Communications Manager, at dlawrence@mpca.net.
How is Your Health Center
Observing Children's Dental Health Month?
February is National Children's
Dental Health Month, a campaign of the American Dental Association aimed at
raising awareness about the importance of oral health. The theme for this
year's campaign is "Rock Your Smile." Is your Health Center
holding special events during the month to educate children and families in
your community about developing good habits at an early age, and to help
them access dental care? Please share the details with Dana Lawrence at dlawrence@mpca.net. Read more
IRS Temporarily
Suspends Series 990 Tax E-Filing
The IRS announced in Notice 2012-4 that it will be suspending e-filing for
series 990 (990, 990EZ, 990PF, and 1120-POL) returns from January 1 to
February 29, 2012. E-filing will not be available during that timeframe.
Organizations affected will be those with tax return due dates of January
17, 2012, and February 15, 2012. How they are affected will depend on
whether it is the initial due date, first extended due date, or final due
date.
Click here for media coverage of Michigan Community
Health Centers.
Governor Snyder's
State of the State Reviews 2011, Lays out Priorities for 2012
Governor Snyder delivered his 2012 State of the State Address this week,
recognizing accomplishments of 2011 - such as beginning discussions of
public health challenges in Michigan, like obesity - and laying out
his priorities for 2012 to continue reinventing Michigan - such as passing
the MiHealth Marketplace to help Michigan residents make more informed
decisions when selecting high-quality, affordable health care. "We are
getting it right, we are getting it done," he said. Click here to watch recorded broadcast.
Governor Announces
New Pilot for Combating Childhood Obesity
During his State of the State address, Governor Snyder announced a new
collaboration between the State, Gerber Products, the Michigan Grocers
Association, and the Michigan Health and Hospital Association to attack
Michigan's childhood obesity problem. Pure Michigan Fit will educate
parents about good nutrition and making healthy choices for their children.
Estimating
Conference Identifies State Revenue Surplus
According to numbers released during the January 13th Consensus Revenue
Estimating Conference (a major part of the state's annual budget process as
it establishes the targets for the budget for the upcoming fiscal year),
the State of Michigan had a surplus of revenue for FY 2011, which ended
September 30, and will have more to spend this fiscal year and in FY 2013
due to increased revenue projections. This is the first time in at least 10
years the state has operated with more money than expected, and while the
surplus isn't a windfall, it shows that employment, tax revenue, and other
economic indicators are on the up-swing. How Governor Snyder proposes to
spend this surplus is likely to be part of his FY 2013 budget presentation
on February 9. Read more
House Panel Hears
Testimony on Insurance Exchange
The House Health Policy Committee heard testimony January 19 on the state's
proposed health insurance exchange, called the MiHealth Marketplace. Among
those providing testimony in support of the MiHealth Marketplace was Doug
Paterson, MPCA's Director of State Policy. "The MiHealth Marketplace
is of particular interest to the Michigan Community Health Center network
because so many of the people we treat are uninsured and will benefit from
an insurance exchange in Michigan. We believe legislation creating a
Michigan exchange is needed now so that planning efforts can begin as soon
as possible," said Paterson. Click here to read the testimony in its entirety.
Governor Snyder announced on September 14, 2011, his intent to create a
state-based health insurance exchange and the Senate passed legislation in
November 2011 for creating the exchange. The House, however, has failed to
act on it. Representative Gail Haines (R-Waterford), chair of the
committee, said the House will stop action on the exchange until the U.S.
Supreme Court makes a decision about the constitutionality of the
Affordable Care Act. Supreme Court hearings are scheduled for the end of
March with a decision expected in June. By delaying passage of the
legislation, Michigan risks having the federal government run the exchange.
Michigan Gets Mixed
Grades in Tobacco Report Card
The American Lung Association gave Michigan mixed grades for its progress
on key tobacco control policies, laws, and regulations in the State of Tobacco Control 2012
report card (the 10th annual such report) released this week. Michigan
received an F in the tobacco prevention and cessation categories, B in the
smokefree air category, and C in the cigarette tax category. Read more
School-Based Health
Center Awareness Month Event Feb. 2
In honor of School-Based Health Center Awareness Month in February, the
School-Community Health Alliance of Michigan, Michigan Department of
Community Health, Michigan Department of Education, and American Public
Health Association are holding an event on February 2, 2012, 12-4 pm at the
Speaker's Library at the State Capitol. They will present how school-based
health care is advancing not only public health, but educational success. Click here for more information and to register.
Nominations Sought
for 2012 Governor's Service Awards
The Michigan Community Service Commission is accepting nominations for the
2012 Governor's Service Awards, given annually by the Governor to
individuals, organizations, and businesses to acknowledge their commitment
to serving their communities through volunteerism. The nomination deadline
is March 1, 2012. Read more
The Year in Review:
2012
In this year-end blog post, NACHC recaps major events of 2011 and their
impact on Health Centers and the patients and communities they serve. Read more
Congress Returns to
Session
Congress officially returned to session this week after the holiday recess,
although it was a short week because both the Republican and the Democratic
Caucuses are meeting to discuss their goals for the year. This NACHC blog
post gives an overview of what Congress is focusing on to start 2012. Read more
HHS Issues Final
Rule on Preventive Health Services
In August 2011, HHS issued an
interim final rule that will require most health insurance plans to cover
preventive services for women including recommended contraceptive services
without charging a co-pay, co-insurance, or a deductible. The rule
allows certain non-profit religious employers that offer insurance to their
employees the choice of whether or not to cover contraceptive services.
Today HHS announced that the final rule on preventive health services will
ensure that women with health insurance coverage will have access to the
full range of the Institute of Medicine's recommended preventive services,
including all FDA-approved forms of contraception. Read more
NASHP Launches Medicaid Safety
Net Learning Collaborative
The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP), with support from
HRSA, has launched the Medicaid Safety Net Learning Collaborative. The goal
is to advance partnerships to improve access to care for Medicaid
enrollees. Seven states will be competitively chosen to participate in this
technical assistance initiative. State teams must include Medicaid and at
least one provider or organization that represents safety net providers,
such as FQHCs, Rural Health Clinics, Free Clinics, and School-based Health
Centers, among others. The application deadline is February 16, 2012. Read more
HEALTHCARE HEADLINES
& REPORTS
Doctor Shortage
Predicted in Michigan
Michigan is facing a serious shortage of primary care physicians, and it's
predicted to get worse in coming years if policymakers don't implement a
long-term strategic plan. This article features an interview with Doug
Paterson, MPCA's Director of State Policy, about the crisis and why
Michigan should develop a strategic plan to address the crisis. Read more
The Affordable Care
Act Is Already a Success
This Center for American Progress report shows how the Affordable Care Act
is lowering costs and expanding healthcare coverage for millions of
Americans. Among the highlights is that 350 new Community Health Centers
were built and nearly 19,000 new jobs were created in 2011 alone to provide
critical healthcare to 50 million Americans living in medically underserved
areas. Read more
Top 12 Healthcare
Quality Concerns in 2012
HealthLeaders Media interviewed top quality experts around the country to
identify the top 12 healthcare quality concerns for 2012. Among them:
ICD-10, meaningful use, and outcome measures versus process measures. Read more
CDC Reports Obesity
Rates in U.S. Plateau
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the
prevalence of obesity in the U.S. has leveled off over the last 10 years,
even as some individual groups saw increases. The data shows that 35.7% of
U.S. adults and almost 17% of children and teens are obese. The most recent
data is available by county - click here to access an interactive map where you can
type in your zip code. Read more
2012 Progress
Report: States are Implementing Health Reform
This report of the Obama Administration tracks the progress of states in
building their healthcare exchange, highlighting the efforts of Michigan
and nine other states. Read more
A Blueprint for
Improving the Promotion and Delivery of Adult Vaccination in the U.S.
This RAND Corporation report provides insights useful for strengthening the
promotion and delivery of adult vaccination in the United States. Among the
recommendations is promoting immunizations as a part of routine
office-based medical practice. Read more
RESOURCES
2012 Calendar of
National Health Observances
HHS' Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion recently released
the calendar of National Health Observance days, weeks, and months for
2012. Many are great opportunities for Health Centers to show their value
in educating the public about preventive care and wellness, and to work
with media outlets in bringing awareness to that value. Read more
Social Media Course
for Health Centers
This course (open to all Health Centers nationwide) hosted by the Northwest
Regional Primary Care Association (NWRPCA) is ideal for any Health Center
that is at the beginning stages of utilizing social media. It consists of
five sessions (March 6, 20; April 3, 17; May 1) conducted as live webinars,
and a face-to-face session at NWRPCA's Spring Primary Care Conference in
Portland, Oregon, on May 15 (which will also be available after the
conference as a recorded webinar). Read more
Q & A Follow-Up
to Jan. 11 Webinar on Blending Behaviorists into the PCMH
On January 11, 2012, MPCA hosted the second webinar in its series
supporting behavioral health/primary care integration. Dr. Dennis Freeman
discussed "Blending Behaviorists into the Patient Centered Medical
Home." This document lists the questions that webinar attendees asked
following the webinar and Dr. Freeman's answers. Read more
Resolve to Be Ready
Tools
FEMA's Resolve to Be
Ready campaign is aimed at helping individuals and
businesses/organizations prepare for emergencies. It provides tools and
resources for staying informed about the different types of emergencies
that can happen and appropriate responses, making a communications plan,
building an emergency kit, and getting involved in community preparedness.
Web banners and communications templates are also included. Read more
Click here
for a list of funding opportunities posted on the MPCA web site.
MPCA Billing Network Conference
Call
February 7, 2012, 1 pm
UPCOMING STATE &
NATIONAL EVENTS
Meaningful Use and the Medical
Home Alignment Webinar
January 24, 2012, 2 pm ET
During this NACHC webinar you will learn how to help your Health Center
achieve PCMH recognition and Meaningful Use. The online registration
deadline is January 22. More information
Using New Markets
Tax Credits to Finance Health Center Facilities
January 25, 2012, 2 pm ET
During this webinar Capital Link will review the basics of the New Markets
Tax Credit Program and discuss how it can be advantageous to your Health
Center. Capital Link will also review how New Markets Tax Credits can be
combined with HRSA and other capital grants and various loans to lower
financing costs. Register
Joint Commission
Technical Assistance Training Teleconference
January 26, 2012, 12:30-2 pm ET
The primary topics for this teleconference are influenza vaccination for
staff (effective July 1, 2012), review of changes to 2012 BPHC Self-Report
Tool, launch of the redesigned Electronic Application (E-app), Primary Care
Medical Home updates and quiz, and other emerging news and hot topics.
Call-in number: 877.271.1828, passcode 357356
Tobacco Use
Treatment: Helping Providers Work with Patients to Quit
January 26, 2012, 12 pm ET
This free webinar hosted and facilitated by the MDCH Tobacco Section will
discuss implementing evidence-based, brief interventions for treating
tobacco use and dependence; utilizing effective counseling skills to
facilitate treatment; benefits of combining pharmacotherapy and counseling;
how to present pharmacotherapy options to patients; and how to refer
patients to the Michigan Tobacco Quit Line. To register, email lyone@michigan.gov by January 23 and
include your name, title, employer and employer address, phone number, and
email address.
Not Funded? Now
What?
January 26, 2012, 2-3:30 pm ET
This is the first webinar in NACHC's "What is an FQHC 'Look-Alike'?
series. It will review the definition of an FQHC 'Look-Alike' and the
differences between a 'Look-Alike' and a 330 Grantee including all
financial, compliance, and regulatory requirement. The online registration
deadline is January 24. More information
Click here for
a list of other upcoming events to be held by other organizations in
Michigan and across the country.
Michigan Primary Care
Association
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