May 14, 2010 Vol. 4 #16 Michigan Primary Care Association www.mpca.net 517.381.8000 Visit Our Blog Visit us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Upcoming MPCA Events   Annual Health Center Board Member Workshop May 14-15 Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort Conference Center Mt. Pleasant, MI MPCA Health Policy Committee Conference Call May 17, 3 pm MPCA Executive Committee Conference Call May 18, 3:30 pm MPCA Membership Committee Conference Call May 20, 10:30 am   NurseICON Web Site Introduction Webinar May 26, 10 am Building Cultural Competency Skills in CHCs June 2 Ramada Inn Lansing Functional Spanish for Healthcare Providers June 4 Ramada Inn Lansing   M-SEARCH Webinar June 15, 10 am Developing Effective FQHC Programs & Applications June 23-25 MGM Grand Detroit   SAVE the DATE MPCA Immunization Face-to-Face Meeting July 22 Lansing, MI More information coming soon   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   Action Alert:  Urge Congress to Act on Extending Temporary Increase to Medicaid Funding As Michigan faces an estimated shortfall of $1.8 billion in its fiscal year 2011 budget, further deep cuts in health services will be inevitable if lawmakers fail to address the need for new revenue by modernizing the state's tax system to match our current economic realities.  Congress has signaled intentions to extend the temporary increase in federal funding for Medicaid through passage of the American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010, but momentum has stalled as Congressional leadership work out the differences between the two chambers' bills.  Click here to contact your U.S. Representative and Senators Levin and Stabenow to urge them to call on Congressional leadership to move quickly on the American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010, which includes provisions to extend the increased federal Medicaid funding for six months.  Meanwhile, the National Conference of State Legislatures sent a letter to Congress last week advocating for provisions that would extend the enhanced Medicaid match for an additional six months to June 30, 2011.   Update from the Capitol Legislators were up until 4:30 this morning (May 14) when they finally passed an early retirement bill for teachers, reportedly saving local school districts $3.1 billion over the next 10 years.  This is one of the "reforms" that the Senate had been demanding. In the meantime, the two chambers continue to hold hearings and work sessions to finish various departmental budgets before a self imposed deadline of July 1. As for the Department of Community Health Budget, you may recall that it was passed by the Senate in March.  The House Subcommittee has held six hearings and now has announced that their decision will be released May 19.  We will then know the "points of difference" which will then go to a conference committee for resolution.  The Senate bill restores Medicaid adult dental benefits and there are indications that the House will go along with that restoration. Please encourage your states legislators within the next couple of weeks to support this restoration.  This is one of MPCA's legislative priorities for 2010.  In next week's MPCA e-update we will outline the decisions made by the House subcommittee.   Have You Registered to Attend Training on Developing Effective FQHC Programs and Applications? Space is limited for this intensive two-day workshop hosted by MPCA and presented by NACHC, so register todayy!  Learn all about the FQHC program, the benefits of becoming one, and how to develop effective programs and applications.  Please note that the first staff member to register from each MPCA member Health Center receives a complimentary registration - don't miss out!   MPCA Continues Enrolling Children in MIChild, HealthyKids MPCA is enrolling children in MIChild and HealthyKids as part of our CHIPRA Outreach and Enrollment Initiative at community events across the State of Michigan everyday!  Community Outreach Specialists are dedicated to reaching families with uninsured children, getting them covered and linking them with Community Health Centers for care from Marquette to Detroit and everywhere in-between. You can check our calendar of enrollment events for upcoming opportunities in your community or contact our staff for more information.  If your Health Center would like to participate in an upcoming enrollment opportunity by promoting your services or sharing promotional materials with the public please contact the Outreach Specialist listed for that event on our calendar.   MPCA Hosting Training on Functional Spanish for Healthcare Providers Designed by a bilingual Registered Nurse, this workshop helps participants learn Spanish with minimum effort.  This is accomplished by teaching participants to use sentence templates, vocabulary lists and scripts to develop basic phrases based on their personal needs for communicating with Spanish-speaking patients.  The workshop will be held June 4 at the Ramada Hotel & Conference Center in Lansing.   Providers Asked to Take HIT Survey The Michigan Medicaid program will launch an electronic health records incentive program in 2011.  The Medical Services Administration is asking providers to complete a short survey at www.MichiganHealthIT.org to provide the state with the baseline information necessary to understand Michigan's current health information technology capacity and plan for future HIT activities.   Registration Now Open for Michigan Oral Health Conference Watch this YouTube Video invitation to the 2010 conference to be held June 10-11 in Lansing.   Michigan Association for Local Public Health Names New Executive Director After nearly a year and a half, the Michigan Association for Local Public Health has hired a new executive director, Meghan Swain, to replace Mark Bertler who moved to California.    MPCA Hosting Upcoming Workforce Webinars May 26:  NurseICON Web Site Introduction June 15:  M-SEARCH Webinar   May is Hepatitis Awareness Month May 2010 is the 15th anniversary of Hepatitis Awareness Month.  The goal is to raise awareness of hepatitis and encourage families to protect themselves from hepatitis.  Resources are available at www.cdc.gov/hepatitis (under Resource Center).  Click here for a special edition of Immunization Timely Tips, a publication of the Michigan Department of Community Health, which is focused on hepatitis.     NATIONAL NEWS   Michelle Obama Releases Plan to 'Reverse Childhood Obesity' First Lady Michelle Obama released a plan this week to reverse the epidemic of child obesity in a task force report titled, Solving the Problem of Childhood Obesity Within a Generation.   National Health Center Week 2010 Less than 100 Days Away This year marks the 45th anniversary of the Health Center Program, making the 2010 National Health Center Week celebration extra special.  Events have already been posted on the National Health Center Week web site at www.healthcenterweek.org - take a look and you might get some ideas for your own Health Center's event.  MPCA will be hosting a webinar to kick off National Health Center Week planning in Michigan.  More information coming soon!         HEALTH CENTERS IN THE NEWS   Prognosis Positive for Health Care Jobs Over the past year, Michigan has received more than $12 million in federal stimulus dollars to expand services offered at more than 29 community health centers.  Last summer, Detroit's five federally qualified health centers received more than $3 million in federal stimulus dollars to fund much-needed capital expansion projects to accommodate a growing number of uninsured patients. (Crain's Detroit Business, 5/9/10)   It Takes A Community Health Center The recession has affected every American. But in Michigan, the effect of the recession is amplified. It has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. Without jobs, many will lose health coverage. And without access to healthy foods (those in areas without grocery stores rely on fast food restaurants and convenience stores as their food sources), people are at higher risk for health conditions such as diabetes. This is a bad combination.  Thankfully, community health centers help individuals and families in cities like Detroit to get the help and care they need to lead healthier lives despite setbacks and hardships.  (Stand Up for Health Care, 5/13)   Stupak Announces $2.1 Million Grant for Alcona Health Centers "This funding will allow Alcona Health Centers to continue to provide critical health care services, including medical, dental and prescription drug services, to underserved residents in these four counties," Stupak said.  "Health centers will continue to play a crucial role as we work to make sure every American has access to affordable, quality health care and I am pleased the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has recognized the important work being done by Alcona Health Centers in northern Michigan." (News from Congressman Bart Stupak, 5/12/10)   Groundbreaking Set for Heart of the City Health Center in Grand Rapids Soon, West Michigan will have a unique one-stop location in the new Heart of the City Health Center where underserved populations will receive blended medical and mental health care. It is expected to put Grand Rapids on the map as a national model.  (The Grand Rapids Press, 5/13/10)   Construction of $12 million Center for Family Health Facility in Downtown Jackson Expected to Start Next Month "The (community) response has been incredibly supportive," said Jane Robinson, the center's development coordinator.  "When they see that we're serving almost 25,000 people each year, they see the impact we have on the community."  (Jackson Citizen Patriot, 5/12/10)   West Michigan Clinics Prepare to Get Busy With Health Care Reform Changes With Medicaid coverage expanding to far more people, and a growing focus on community health clinics, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act means a lot for Shea, executive director of Cherry Street Health Services.  "We figured if (Cherry Street) gets a fair share of the funding, we would be able to serve 40,000 more people per year within five years," Shea said. (The Grand Rapids Press, 5/2/10)   Low Cost Clinic to Move to Larger Location The Family Medical Center of Michigan, a low-cost clinic serving the Adrian area, moved to a larger location last week that will allow it to serve more patients.  (The Daily Telegram, 5/4/10)   Do you have news or testimonials from patients, board members, or staff to share?  Please e-mail information to dhughes@mpca.net.     REPORTS & RESOURCES    MPCA Spring 2010 Newsletter Focsues on Health Reform Sometime's All That's Needed is a Wheel Alignment MPCA Clinical Consultant Carolee Besteman recounts her recent volunteer experience at a Haitian orphanage.  Community Health Center Links to Foundation Funding  Tips from Phyllis Meadows of The Kresge Foundation for CHCs as they plan to approach Foundations as a resource for future programming. Health Reform Implications for Wayne County  A look at how health reform will impact health care delivery in Wayne County by Chris Allen, Executive Director and CEO of the Detroit Wayne County Health Authority. The Impact of Health Care Reform on Public Health & Prevention  An overview by Jean C. Chabut, Chief Administrative Officer, Public Health Administration, Michigan Department of Community Health. Health Reform is Good for Michigan Families  A perspective from Janet Olszewski, Director, Michigan Department of Community Health on how reforms being implemented will give Michigan families more control over their own health care. Someone's Knocking on the Door  Chris Shea, MPCA Board President and Execuctive Director of Cherry Street Health Services, outlines what Michigan Health Centers need to do to be successful under health reform. America's Health Centers:  Realizing the Promise of National Health Reform  "Health Centers Work" and this reform bill recognizes that record of success, as penned by Craig Kennedy, Associate Vice-President, Federal & State Affairs, National Association of Community Health Centers. Manual on Effective Collaboration Between Critical Access Hospitals and FQHCs Released by HRSA's Office of Rural Health Policy.   Medical Services Administration Releases Bulletins MSA 10-13:  Implementation of National Council for Prescription Drug Programs for coordination of Benefits Claims MSA 10-14:  Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System/Current Procedural Terminology Code Updates for Laboratory Services and Immunizations MSA 10-15:  Reporting National Drug Codes for Physician Administered Drugs and Tamer Resistant Prescription Pad Policy   Health Affairs May Issue Focuses on Reinventing Primary Care     FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES   Patient Navigator Outreach and Chronic Disease Prevention Program Authorizes funds for the development and operation of projects to provide patient navigator services to improve health care outcomes for individuals with cancer or other chronic diseases, with a specific emphasis on health disparity populations (Funder: HRSA  Due: June 11)   CHIPRA Pediatric Healthcare Quality Measures Program Centers of Excellence Solicits Cooperative Research Demonstration and Dissemination Projects (U18) grant applications from applicant organizations that propose to advance and improve measures of children's healthcare quality in specified priority areas.  (Funder: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality  Due: June 1)   Telehealth Resource Center Grant Program To support the establishment and development of Telehealth Resource Centers; the centers are to be an impartial, independent source of technical assistance to health care organizations, health care networks, and health care providers in the implementation of cost-effective telehealth programs to serve rural and medically underserved areas and populations.  (Funder: HRSA  Due: June 15)   Frontier Community Health Integration Demonstration Program Develop and test new models for the delivery of health care services in frontier areas through improving access to and better integrating the delivery of health care to Medicare beneficiaries.  (Funder: HRSA  Due: June 22)   Click here for a list of funding opportunities posted on the MPCA web site.     CAREER OPPORTUNITIES   Click here for a list of CHC career opportunities posted on the MPCA web site.