June 18, 2010 Vol. 4 #21 Michigan Primary Care Association www.mpca.net 517.381.8000 Visit Our Blog Visit us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Upcoming MPCA Events   Health Policy Committee Conference Call June 21, 3 pm 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 Continues to be Front and Center There is a real desire on the part of Michigan legislators to get the budget for this year and next resolved so they can go home to begin campaigning and avoid criticism for not getting their job done.  However, several big issues remain:  how to fix the $300 million hole in the FY 2010 budget, and what targets to give sub-committee chairs in light of several unknowns.  Read more   Vanguard Health System Finalizes Sale of Detroit Medical Center Vanguard Health Systems and the Detroit Medical Center signed a $1.26 billion agreement on June 11 that allows the for-profit health company to buy the Detroit hospital group.   Pediatric Environmental Health Trainings Coming to Lansing Mid-August Clinicians and outreach staff are invited to attend educational trainings aimed at increasing awareness and understanding about pediatric environmental health and improving the quality of life of local farmworker communities.      NATIONAL NEWS   Senate Continues to Debate Extenders Bill      The U.S. Senate continued to debate the Extenders Bill this week, which includes a 6-month extension of the enhanced FMAP rate from ARRA.  If you recall, the House passed the Extenders Bill minus the FMAP language due to the huge cost of extending it.  The Senate then took up the bill and Senator Baucus reinserted it.  The Senate held a test vote this week and found it did not have the 60 votes to pass the bill, so it is being redrafted.  There appears to be support from many Senators for extending FMAP but the associated cost continues to be a concern.  Meanwhile, the Center on Budget Policy and Priorities recently released a report detailing the consequences to state budgets should the enhanced Medicaid FMAP fail to be extended.  "In Michigan, the governor's budget assumes the extension. If the funding doesn't come through, the state will face an additional shortfall of $500 million.  A number of cuts have been proposed recently, all of which are more likely to be enacted if an extension of the enhanced FMAP falls through."  Click here to read the report in its entirety.   HRSA Issues Program Assistance Letter for FQHC 'Look-Alike' Program PAL 2010-07 addresses FQHC 'Look-Alike' registration for implementation of electronic information systems.  Beginning June 16, 2010, all current 'Look-Alikes' will be required to register their organization within HRSA's Electronic Handbooks.    HHS Announces New Investment to Strengthen Primary Health Care Workforce HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced this week $250 million in investments through the Affordable Care Act to strengthen the primary health care workforce by increasing the number of health care providers.  The funding will be used to create additional primary care residency slots, support physician assistant training in primary care, encourage students to pursue full-time nursing careers, establish new nurse practitioner-led clinics, and encourage states to plan for and address health professional workforce needs.   New Data Shows Ranks of Uninsured Keep Growing The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released findings this week based on data from the National Health Interview Survey showing that 46.3 million people (just over 15% of the U.S. population) lacked health insurance when surveyed last year.  In the 2008 survey, 43.8 million were uninsured at the time of their interview.   NACHC Comments on Federal Efforts to Define Criteria for Medically Underserved NACHC submitted comments last week to HRSA in response to its May 11 Notice of Intent to form a Negotiated Rulemaking Committee that will establish a compressive methodology and criteria for the designation of Medically Underserved Populations and Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas.  The core of NACHC's comments focused on its concerns that HRSA's notice did not adequately address the issue of access to the availability of health services and providers.   HHS Launches Let's Move Cities and Towns Let's Move Cities and Towns is a component of the Let's Move campaign of First Lady Michelle Obama aimed at tackling the challenge of child obesity.  Let's Move Cities and Let's Move Towns asks local communities to support the Let's Move initiative and its four pillars:  helping parents make healthy choices, creating healthy schools, providing access to healthy and affordable food, and promoting physical activity.   Attention Rural Health Providers Farmworker Justice has launched a new health initiative, Poder Sano, which aims to promote health and reduce health disparities in rural Latino communities. As part of that effort Farmworker Justice is developing a database of organizations that provide health services to rural Latino communities.  Rural health providers are encouraged to fill out an organizational profile (which only takes 5 minutes) by clicking here.  An important result of this process will be the publication of a compendium of organizations providing HIV/AIDS services to rural Latino communities. This compendium will be available on FJ's Poder Sano website: www.podersano.org     NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK   August 8-14 is inching closer - how are you going to celebrate National Health Center Week?  The goal is for 100% of Michigan's Community Health Centers to celebrate National Health Center Week, whether by holding an event, submitting press releases, or inviting legislators for a tour.  MPCA and NACHC are here to help - click here to learn what tools and resources are available.  Keep in mind that securing a commitment from a Member of Congress to attend your event may earn you a financial sponsorship through NACHC.  So...what are the plans at your Health Center?  Please email the details to dhughes@mpca.net and she will post your event at www.healthcenterweek.org.  So far, Michigan events to be held by Health Delivery, Inc. and Hamilton Community Health Network have been posted.  Click here for some tips from the pros shared by NACHC.   HEALTH CENTERS IN THE NEWS    The mission of Advantage Health Centers is to improve the health status of the individuals and the communities it serves by providing access to high quality, respectful, and efficient health care services.  Advantage Health Centers will also be a catalyst for access to health care and other resources for those who would otherwise go unserved.  As such, the Thea Bowman Community Health Center location recently collaborated with the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan to conduct diabetic workshops at the Health Center.  Participants met once weekly for six weeks (May 2 - June 16) and a seventh week was added (June 23) to address the many questions and concerns of participants.  The workshops covered meal preparation, medications, wound care and overall diabetic health.      REPORTS & RESOURCES   List of Grant Proposal Writers & Consultants for Michigan Community Health Centers Included in the list are things to consider when hiring, meeting, and negotiating with grant writers and consultants, as well as names and contact information.  To request a copy of the list, contact Andrea Charlton at acharlton@mpca.net.   Archive of Workforce Development Webinar: M-SEARCH Introduction (MPCA, June 2010) Volunteering in America Report Shows Greatest Spike in Volunteers Since 2003 (Corporation for National and Community Service, 6/15/2010)   Moving Toward Health Equity: Health Reform Creates a Foundation for Eliminating Disparities (Minority Health Initiatives Department at Families USA, June 2010)   Presentations from the National Influenza Vaccine Summit (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 2010)   2010 Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program Manual (MDCH, April 2010)   Tobacco Cessation via Public Dental Clinics (American Journal of Public Health, July 2010)   New Immunization Campaign Launched to Honor Dads The Real Guys Immunize Campaign is a platform to empower dads to protect themselves and their families from vaccine preventable diseases. In many families, the dad is the protector but every super dad needs help.  Why is this so important?  Diseases are emerging in the United States that have not been experienced for decades.  Dads can play their part to make sure they and their families are safe!     FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES   Partnership for Oral Health Leadership Cooperative Agreement (Funder: HRSA  Due: July 14)   FY10 Leading Ladies Promoting Healthy Lifestyles and Healthy Families: An HIV/AIDS Awareness Project (Funder: Office of Public Health and Science Due: July 15)   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.