June 4, 2010 Vol. 4 #19 Michigan Primary Care Association www.mpca.net 517.381.8000 Visit Our Blog Visit us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Upcoming MPCA Events   Budget & Finance Committee Conference Call June 7, 1 pm   M-SEARCH Webinar June 15, 10 am MPCA Board Meeting June 15, 1 pm MPCA Lansing, MI   Finance Officers Workshop June 15-16 Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort Mt. Pleasant, MI Developing Effective FQHC Programs & Applications June 23-25 MGM Grand Detroit, MI SOAR Training July 20-21 MPCA Lansing, MI   Immunization Face-to-Face Meeting July 22 MPCA Lansing, MI   2010 MPCA Annual Conference October 10-12 Amway Grand Plaza Grand Rapids, 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   State Budget Update This week, two meetings of the leadership of both Houses were scheduled to begin setting targets for each Department's budget.  Unfortunately, they were both cancelled and most legislators left town on Wednesday for the Detroit Chamber of Commerce Policy Forum on Mackinac Island.  In the meantime, federal legislation that would have extended the enhanced FMAP rates for Medicaid another two quarters into FY 11 failed to pass the House of Representatives.  If such legislation continues to fail to pass, about $500 million dollars that are assumed in the Governor's budget for FY 11 will not be available, exacerbating the state budget problems for next year.  Also of significance was the Friday, May 21 meeting of the "revenue estimating conference" which projected a deficit in the FY 2010 general fund budget of about $250 million.  The good news was that the revenue estimate for the school aid fund (SAF) was higher than estimated in January.  The question now becomes whether some of the SAF revenue will be used to plug the General Fund hole or not, which appears to be unlikely.  If not, an executive order making cuts to the current year budget will be necessary, again complicating next year's budget.  Needless to say, the budget issues continue to be major and are not likely to be resolved soon.  It is extremely unlikely that the state legislature will meet its self imposed deadline of June 30 for a budget.  It is more and more likely that they will go home to campaign for the summer and come back in September to deal with the budget.   Reminder:  Registration Now Open for the Following MPCA Events Finance Officers Workshop:  June 15-16 M-SEARCH Webinar:  June 15 Disney Institute's Customer Service Workshop:  June 18 Developing Effective FQHC Programs & Applications:  June 23-25 2010 Immunization Workshop:  July 22 MPCA Enrolling Children in MIChild, HealthyKids This enrollment is part of MPCA's CHIPRA Outreach and Enrollment Initiative that is taking place at community events across the State of Michigan everyday.  Our staff of 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. You can find more information on our program here.   MPCA, MDCH Sponsoring SOAR Training This SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery training will provide an in-depth explanation of the SSI/SSDI applilcation and disability determination process; strategies for working with homeless persons with serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders; practical application exercises and worksheets; release-of-information samples, sample reports, letters, assessment forms, and SSA forms with explanations.  One training will be held at MPCA on July 20-21.  Late June dates for trainings in Southeast Michigan will be announced soon.  Watch for registration information.   MDCH Establishes Michigan Nursing Education Council The Office of the Chief Nurse Executive within the Michigan Department of Community Health recently established the Michigan Nursing Education Council, a leadership group that will be the driving force behind the transformation of nursing education in Michigan.     NATIONAL NEWS   HRSA Releases Program Assistance Letters and Draft FTCA Policy Manual PAL 2010-05:  Instructions for Preparing the FY 2011 Budget Period Progress Report PAL 2010-06:  CY 2011 Requirements for FTCA Medical Malpractice Coverage Draft FTCA Policy Manual:  Comments are due to HRSA by August 16   FTC Delays Red Flags Rule Yet Again The Red Flags rule, which requires many businesses and organizations offering credit to establish a written Identity Theft Prevention Program designed to detect the warning signs of identity theft in their day-to-day operations, has been delayed AGAIN - this time until December 31.  The delay will give Congress additional time to consider legislation that would affect the scope of entities covered by the rule.  The American Medical Association and two other medical groups have filed a suit to exempt physicians from the rule.   Medicare to Participate in State Multi-Payer Health Reform Efforts to Improve Quality, Lower Costs HHS and CDC have invited states to apply for participation in the Multi-payer Advanced Primary Care Practice Demonstration, an initiative in which Medicare will join Medicaid and private insurers in state-based efforts to improve the delivery of primary care and lower health care costs.   HHS Launches Initiative for Sharing Community Health Data To help residents, clinicians and local leaders use data to improve health and value of health care, the Community Health Data Initiative (CHDI) is turning to web application developers, mobile phone applications, social media, and other cutting-edge information technologies to increase amounts of federally generated community health data that will be made publicly available, in easily accessible and useful formats.   Preventive Services Payment Clarification for Health Centers in Extender Bill The U.S. House passed the Extender Bill (whose long name is the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010) last Friday, sending it to the Senate.  The House stripped the bill of several key health provisions, including the FMAP extension and COBRA benefits, but clarifies that Medicare will reimburse FQHCs and 'Look-Alikes' 100% of the reasonable cost of providing preventive services to Medicare beneficiaries (with no cost to the beneficiaries).   FDA Alerts Health Care Professionals Not to Use Certain IV Bags On May 29, the FDA alerted health care professionals not to use certain intravenous bags of metronidazole, ondansetron, and ciprofloxacin because of potential contamination.    Joint Commission Alert:  Violence Rising at Health Care Facilities A new Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert warns that health care facilities are being confronted with steadily increasing rates of crime.  The Alert suggests that facilities take a series of 13 specific steps to prevent violence.         HEALTH CENTERS IN THE NEWS    Reform Leads to Bigger Role for Community Health Centers Health Centers..."have been given a crucial role - and with it, a huge increase in funding - to help meet the expected rise in demand that will accompany health care reform." (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)  This is a prime example of spreading the good news about the investment in Community Health Centers through health reform.  Help raise awareness of Michigan Health Centers and the vital services they provide to community members by submitting a letter to the editor or opinion-editorial (templates provided by NACHC).   Center for Family Health Board Member Highlighted as NACHC's 'Quote of the Week' "The new facility (a downtown Community Health Center in Jackson, MI) is a long-standing dream finally coming true...The project is an investment in our community's health and its economic well-being."- Ted Hilleary, Center for Family Health board member   Do you have news or testimonials from patients, board members, or staff to share?  Please e-mail information to dhughes@mpca.net.     NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK   With National Health Center Week just two months away, and this year's celebration extra special because it marks the 45th anniversary of the Health Centers program, NACHC and MPCA are here to help in your planning!  The goal is for 100% of Michigan Health Centers to participate in some way to help highlight the great work you are doing. Tools and resources are available at www.healthcenterweek.org New Health Center Advocate Video Contest Health Delivery, Inc. (Saginaw) is hosting two Health Round Up Rodeos in honor of NHCW - one on August 11 at Bayside Community Health Center and the other on August 13 at Janes St. Academic Community Health Center.  HDI held a similar event last year, giving away 44 bicycles to young patients.  This year they are also offering sports physicals, immunizations, dental exams, Head Start exams, and providing lots of fun and educational activities for the kids.  How is your Health Center celebrating NHCW?  Email the details of your event to Dana Hughes, MPCA Communications Manager, at dhughes@mpca.net and she will post the event on the NHCW web site.   REPORTS & RESOURCES   Medicaid Coverage and Spending in Health Reform:  National and State-by-State Results for Adults at or Below 133% FPL (Kaiser Family Foundation, May 2010)   Health Reform, A Closer Look:  Help for Michiganders with Pre-Existing Conditions (FamiliesUSA, May 2010)   NHSC and Health Centers:  Together Making a Difference (National Health Service Corps TA Conference Call, May 17, 2010)  To listen to a replay of the conference call, dial 1-866-400-9641   Medical Services Administration Bulletins MSA Bulletin 10-18:  Maternal Infant Health Program Policy Chapter MSA Bulletin 10-22:  Updates to the Medicaid Provider Manual   MDCH's Bureau of Health Professions Newsletter Public Forum is a quarterly newsletter that provides information regarding activities of the Bureau of Health Professions and of health issues relevant to health care consumers.  Click here to register for this free electronic newsletter.   MDCH Adolescent Immunization Toolkit Provides links to resources for immunization providers in Michigan, including immunization schedules, storage and handling, vaccine administration, vaccine safety/patient education, school immunization rules for 2010, Vaccines for Children program information, MCIR, adolescent immunization data, and more.     FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES   The Community Based Doula Program Will provide grants to urban communities to support community-based doulas.  Doulas have specialized knowledge in perinatal care and support. (Funder: HRSA  Due: July 1)   NHSC Recovery-Act Funded Loan Repayment Awards Next application help conference call is June 17, 2:30-4:30 pm ET Funder:  National Health Service Corps   Click here for a list of funding opportunities posted on the MPCA web site.     CAREER OPPORTUNITIES   Physician Assistant, Family Health Center, Kalamazoo, MI Chief Medical Officer, Family Health Center, Kalamazoo, MI Physician in Charge, Covenant Community Care, Detroit, MI Certified Nurse Midwife, Covenant Community Care, Detroit, MI Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, Covenant Community Care, Detroit, MI   Click here for a list of CHC career opportunities posted on the MPCA web site.