February 25, 2011 | Vol. 5 #8
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.
FQHCs Are Part of Governor's
Strategy to Increase Access to Care, Reduce Costs
Following Governor Snyder's
release of his FY 2012 budget proposal, Michigan Department of Community
Health Director (MDCH) Ogla Dazzo presented the MDCH budget in more detail
to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on MDCH this week. A
highlight from the presentation is that reforming Michigan's health care
system is in the Governor's top 10 plan, which includes ensuring that every
resident has access to affordable and quality health care; placing value on
prevention, wellness, and personal responsibility; and moving Michigan to a
more patient-centered model to achieve large cost savings, promote
wellness, and improve overall service quality. Promoting the development of
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) is named as a strategy to help
achieve those goals.
FREE NRT for FQHC Patients - Limited Supply Available
MPCA has been a partner with HRSA in a tobacco project over the past few
years in which there has been a great exchange of information and education
for many of the Heath Centers. We now have access to free Transdermal
Patches and Nicotine gum to be shipped directly to FQHCs which will include
full courses of treatment for many patients unlikely to utilize the
resources available through the Michigan Quit Line. If you are interested
and would like to request NRT including patches and gum, please respond to lmeade@mpca.net. There
will be no special requirement for reporting just the assurance that best
practice will be used in the distribution. Please email Lynda with the
estimated number of patients you are likely to treat using this resource.
You must respond by February 28 to get the free NRT.
Reminder: Legislative
Forum Pre-event Conference Call on March 2
MPCA is hosting a pre-event
conference call on March 2, at 12-1 pm, for everyone who has registered to
attend the 2011 MPCA Legislative Forum. MPCA will provide an overview of
the 2011 legislative priories: maintaining the
integrity of Medicaid, maintaining the Medicaid adult dental benefit, and
promoting an all-payer patient-centered medical home model of care. Call-in
information is available in the Legislative Forum registration packet.
MPCA HR Network Kicks Off
Workforce Webinar Series
The MPCA HR Network's 10-part
workforce webinar series kicked off this week, but it's not too late to
register for the remaining nine webinars. The series offers creative ways
to help improve your Health Center's workforce recruitment and retention
efforts. It is a must attend for all recruitment and human resource
professionals. The second webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, March 16, so
register today. More
Mark Your Calendar: MPCA
Health Center Board Member Workshop
All Health Center board members
are invited to attend MPCA's annual Health Center Board Member Workshop on
May 20-21 at The H Hotel in Midland. This is a prime opportunity for board
members to gather tools and information to help increase their
effectiveness as Health Center board members. More
Have You Registered for MPCA's
Coding & Billing Webinar Series?
Three 90-minute webinar sessions
will be held on March 15, 22, 29. Together they offer a comprehensive
understanding of coding and how CHC reimbursement can be affected. More
MPCA Names New CHIPRA Program
Specialist
Lynette Mills, MPA joined the
MPCA staff this week as CHIPRA Program Specialist. Lynette received her BS
from Grand Valley State University and her MPA from Oakland University. She
adds considerable experience in case management and direct patient outreach
and education services to our program and will be managing the day-to-day
operations of our CHIPRA outreach and enrollment initiative. Her
responsibilities include strategic outreach direction, AmeriCorps member
supervision, training for members and other community-based organizations,
and partner development. You can reach Lynette at lmills@mpca.net or 517.827.0477.
Deadline Extended for Nominating
Hometown Health Heroes
The Michigan Public Health Week
Partnership is seeking nominations for Hometown Health Heroes. These are
individuals or organizations that deserve recognition for efforts to create
injury-free environments and promote safe behaviors. Do you know a person
or group that deserves the Hometown Health Hero Award? Nomination forms are
posted at the Michigan Public Health Week website and are due by
March 3. For more information about the Hometown Health Hero awards,
contact Jim Koval, MDCH, at 517.335.8150 or kovalj@michigan.gov.
U.S. House Approves Spending
Bill That Cuts Health Centers' Funding
The U.S. House of
Representatives approved a FY 2011 Continuing Resolution (HR 1) last
weekend that includes a $1.3 billion funding cut to the Health Centers
program for the remainder of this fiscal year. While the funding cut would
have a devastating impact on Health Centers in Michigan and across the
country, it is important to keep in mind that the House-passed Continuing
Resolution is the first step in a long process. The bill now goes to the
Senate, where action is expected to begin as early as Monday. Please contact Senators Stabenow and
Levin and urge them to vote against the Health Center funding cut in HR
1. Once the Senate passes its bill, the House bill
and the Senate bill will need to be negotiated and each chamber will then
need to pass the same exact bill. President Obama has already indicated
that he strongly opposes HR 1. Click here for an action alert that NACHC issued on
Thursday.
President Obama Releases
FY 2012 Budget
Although Congress has yet to pass a final FY 2011 spending bill, the FY
2012 appropriations process kicked off last week when President Obama
released his FY 2012 budget request. His budget proposes a 5-year freeze on
non-security discretionary spending, and it proposes $2.12 billion for the
Health Centers program. More
MedPAC Discusses Health
Centers
The Medicare Payment Advisory
Commission (MedPAC), a nonpartisan, independent agency that advises
Congress on Medicare issues, held its first ever discussion on Health
Centers this week. The Wednesday session focused on Health Centers' role in
providing team-based primary care in underserved areas, as well as the new
Medicare reimbursement structure in the Affordable Care Act. More
Direct Relief, NACHC
Distributing Insulin Syringes to Safety Net Providers
Direct Relief USA is partnering with NACHC, the National Association of
Free Clinics, and BD to distribute 5 million insulin syringes to safety net
providers for their uninsured patients with diabetes. If you are interested
in participating, please visit the Direct Relief website for additional details. This donation offer ends February 25,
2011.
ARRA Two-Year Anniversary
Celebrated
February 17 marked the two-year anniversary of President Obama signing
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. Since its
enactment, HHS has made more than $3.6 billion in stimulus funds available
in the State of Michigan to provide fiscal relief, improve health care,
expand access to health care services, establish the infrastructure of
health information technology, and more. More
HEALTH CENTERS IN THE
NEWS
Health Care Law and
Community Health Centers (C-SPAN)
Dr. Gary Wiltz, a
Louisiana Health Center executive director and doctor, talked about the
impact of the Affordable Care Act and the House approved funding cuts to
Community Health Centers during a C-SPAN interview this week. More
Please share articles, photos,
and stories of your Health Center with Dana (Hughes) Lawrence at dlawrence@mpca.net.
Click here for media coverage of Community Health
Centers.
Not the Usual Suspects: CHIPRA
Outreach and Enrollment Best Practices (MPCA)
During a national webinar this week, MPCA released a report focused on
best practices learned in year one of its CHIPRA outreach and enrollment
program. Click here to access the video archive of the webinar,
as well as supporting documents.
Health Center Twitter Chat (NACHC)
CHC staff, board members, and anyone else interested in exploring how
to improve individual, family, and community health through CHCs can now
meet on Twitter. Follow it for regular updates and to see growing lists of
CHCs and community health partners on Twitter. More
States and the Affordable Care
Act: More Funding, More Flexibility (HHS)
This HHS report shows that the Affordable Care Act provides states with
significant flexibility and resources to improve health care benefits and
protect consumers. More
Federal Tort Claims Act
Webinar Series (NACHC)
Part 1 on March 16 will cover key requirements for a Health Center to
be deemed under the FTCA program; criteria used to determine if an
individual is protected by the FTCA; and how the claims process works when
an allegation of professional negligence has been made. Part 2 on March 30
will follow a real claim from filing to its closure; discuss the newly
published definition of a Health Center patient and its implications;
review some of the most common factors that lead to non-coverage decisions;
and review how to secure prior approval for FTCA coverage for care to
non-Health Center patients. Register
Click here for a list of funding opportunities posted
on the MPCA web site.
Family Practice Physician, Sterling Area Health Center,
Sterling, MI
Family Practice Physician, Great Lakes Family Health
Care, Cadillac, MI
Family Practice-Oriented Physician Assistant or Family
Nurse Practitioner, Great Lakes Family Care, Cadillac, MI
Family Practice-Oriented Physician Assistant or Family
Nurse Practitioner, Family Medical Center of Michigan, Monroe, MI
Chief Operating Officer, Baldwin Family Health Care,
Baldwin, MI
Family Practice Physician, Baldwin Family Health Care,
White Cloud, MI
Click here for a list of CHC career opportunities
posted on the MPCA web site.
Radisson Hotel, Lansing, MI
Held in conjunction with
Legislative Forum
Anderson House Office Building,
Mackinac Room, Lansing, MI
Upcoming State &
National Events
Click here for a list of upcoming events to be held by
other organizations in Michigan and across the country.
Michigan Primary Care
Association
Are you an MPCA Facebook
fan? You can learn timely Health-Center related information by
becoming a fan as new posts are posted daily. Click here to become a fan.
|
|
