July 22, 2011 | Vol. 5 #28
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.
CAMPAIGN FOR
AMERICA'S HEALTH CENTERS
In 2011 Health Centers have
already seen their funding cut by $600 million and are in danger of further
cuts as Congress focuses on reducing spending. Yet, there are still 60
million Americans who lack access to primary care and these cuts have
already eliminated Health Centers' ability to serve 5 million more
underserved patients. To build support for the Campaign for America's
Health Centers - which is working to stop these threats to Health Centers
and patients, and to provide a way for every Health Center, every patient,
and every community that has or needs a Health Center to Step Up for Health
Centers - NACHC is putting the finishing touches on a new Campaign website,
www.stepupforchcs.org, and has launched a Facebook Page and Twitter stream @CFAHC. These tools
will help keep advocates engaged and activated and help in recruiting new
advocates...please check them out.
MPCA Launches New Alliance of
Michigan Health Centers Webpage
Last week MPCA hosted a webinar to introduce the proposed Alliance of
Michigan Health Centers. This week we created a webpage for sharing
materials related to the Alliance. Go to http://www.mpca.net/alliance.html for a fact sheet and
a recording of the webinar that can be used to educate your Board of
Directors and staff about the proposed entity, as well as a Q & A
document with responses about the Alliance.
MPCA Health Center
Operations Team Wants to Hear From You
The MPCA Health Center Operations Team sent a brief online survey to members this week to gather feedback
that will guide the work of the Team. The Health Center Operations Team is
tasked with assisting MPCA members along the continuum of development. Its
focus is on maintaining financial stability and compliance with all
applicable laws and regulations, and ensuring you have what you need to
operate a stable, efficient, growing, and innovative organization. Please
take a minute to complete the 9-question survey that focuses on operational
issues and finance and billing/reimbursement topics. Thank you in advance for
your input.
It's Not Too Late to
Register for the MPCA Annual Conference
Although the earlybird registration deadline has passed, it isn't too late
to register for the 2011 MPCA Annual Conference. More information about the
Conference continues to be posted at www.mpca.net. We look forward to helping you
"build connections that matter" August 7-9 at the beautiful
Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa.
Michigan's Obesity
Rate Tops 30 Percent
According to data analyzed and released this week by the CDC, Michigan's
obesity rate is now 30.9%. Ten other states have a rate that is 30% or
above, and no state reported less than 20% of adults were obese in 2010.
This means not one state met the national Healthy People 2010 goal to lower
obesity prevalence to 15% within the past 10 years. Read more
New Program Launches
for Michigan Nurses
The Michigan Center for Nursing, in collaboration with the Community
Foundation of Southeast Michigan and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Foundation, is launching a new program for nurses in Michigan called Leading Towards Tomorrow.
The goal is to create a community of nurse leaders in Michigan through a
six-month intensive experience that will provide nurse leaders from across
the spectrum of care with the skills needed to excel in today's complex and
changing healthcare environment. Funding for the program comes from a
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Northwest Health Foundation grant. The
first of three sessions will be held August 22-24. Learn
more
Interested in the
M-SEARCH Program? Getting Started is as Easy as 1, 2, 3
Contact M-SEARCH today to connect with students who are ready to conduct a
rotation at your Health Center.
- Visit www.michigan.gov/msearch
- Apply for an M-SEARCH Clinical Rotation using the online application system
- Receive the Rotation Orientation Package, which includes
documents you must submit before and after your rotation
2012 Election News
Late last week Congressman Dale Kildee (D-Flint) announced that after 36
years in Congress he will retire at the end of this term and not run for
re-election in 2012. Meanwhile, former Congressman Pete Hoekstra announced
this week that he will run for Senator Debbie Stabenow's seat in the U.S.
Senate. Senator Stabenow is expected to announce her candidacy soon.
Administration, Congress
Continue Working Towards Deficit Deal
As the clock continues to tick
closer to August 2, the Gang of Six (a bipartisan group of Senators)
released a new proposal this week, the House passed the "Cut, Cap, and
Balance" measure in a largely symbolic vote, and President Obama and
House Speaker John Boehner continued efforts toward reaching a grand deal.
The Gang of Six plan proposes to cut the deficit by $3.7 trillion over 10
years and includes changes to Medicare and Medicaid by overhauling the
Medicare physician payment formula, eliminating the long-term care
insurance program known as the CLASS Act, cutting Medicare and Medicaid
spending, and enacting medical malpractice reform. The House bill would cut
mandatory and discretionary spending by $6 trillion over 10 years and raise
the government's current borrowing cap. Please continue to talk with your
Members Congress about Health Centers' track record of success in, and
unique relationship with Medicaid and the cost-effectiveness of our model.
Health Centers serve 14% of all Medicaid patients but with only 1% of the
Medicaid dollars. Click here for a poster that you can hang in your
Health Center to educate patients about Medicaid. Click here for resources provided by NACHC that explain
the unique and successful relationship between Health Centers and Medicaid.
U.S. House Action on
FY 2012 Appropriations Expected Next Week
The House Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee is scheduled to mark up its FY
2012 appropriations bill next Tuesday, July 26 with full committee consideration
scheduled for August 2. This will be the first phase of determinations
relative to Health Center funding in FY 2012. If you have a Representative
who sits on the House Appropriations Committee please respond to the action
alert you received from NACHC and contact your Representative to ask
him/her to support maintaining existing Health Center operations and
improved access to primary care by funding Health Centers at the highest
level of funding possible in FY 2012. Read more
NHSC Accepting
Applications from Qualifying Sites
This week the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) began accepting
applications from sites interested in becoming NHSC approved through an
online application process at NHSC.hrsa.gov/communities.
IOM Recommends Coverage for
Contraception
The Institute of Michigan (IOM) released a report this week which includes
a recommendation that all insurers be required to cover FDA-approved
contraceptives for women free of charge as a preventive service under the
new health care law. It also recommends that domestic violence screening
and counseling services, HPV testing, counseling for sexually transmitted
infections, screening for gestational diabetes, and lactation equipment
also be covered without copayments. Read more
NACHC Receives IBM
Grant to Strengthen America's Health Centers
NACHC was awarded a $75,000 IBM Centennial Grant this week, which will be
used to help consolidate all of the resources, toolkits, and educational
offerings for Health Centers into one centralized location. Read more
NATIONAL HEALTH
CENTER WEEK
Two Weeks and
Counting
National Health Center Week kicks off August 7, and
details about more events being planned by Michigan Health Centers are
unfolding.
- Alcona Health Center will hold its fifth consecutive Project Connect on
August 9 to connect Alcona County residents in need with a variety of
products, services, and information.
- Detroit Community Health Connection is holding its annual health fair at East
Riverside Health Center on August 10 to provide Detroit residents with
health screenings.
- Family Health Center, Inc. is celebrating its $10 million federally-funded
expansion and groundbreaking on August 12 by inviting elected
officials, the community, and media outlets.
- Baldwin Family Health Care's Baldwin site is supporting Baldwin Community
School's second annual clothing swap by collecting new or gently used
clothes.
- Muskegon Family Care is hosting an event for youth and families focused
on active living, healthy food choices, and safety. Included will be a
car seat safety check, food crafts, jump rope and hula hoop contests,
face painting, fun snacks and giveaways, patient education, and blood
pressure checks.
- Hackley Community Care Center will be hosting an event at its Teen Health Center
every morning of National Health Center Week. Each day, 50 children
will maneuver through an obstacle course aimed at building teamwork
and communication.
2011 Video Contest Deadline July 29
The deadline for submitting a video for the second annual 2011 Video
Contest being held in conjunction with National Health Center Week is July
29. Click here for more information and to learn about the
prizes that will be awarded to the Health Centers who create the winning
videos.
HEALTH CENTERS IN THE
NEWS
Senator Stabenow
Congratulates Michigan School-Based Health Centers on Awards
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow congratulated 12 School-based Health Centers
across Michigan for winning awards for their health services to children.
As a Member of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Stabenow authored the
language that created this competitive award initiative that encourages
schools to improve their Health Centers. Read more
Federal Grant to Pay
for New School-Based Health Center
With a new federal grant worth more than $300,000, MidMichigan Health
Services will soon be able to expand its service at two School-based Health
Centers. Read more
Family Health Center
of Battle Creek Celebrates 25th Anniversary
On Thursday, July 14, Family Health Center of Battle Creek celebrated 25
years of providing quality health care that is accessible, comprehensive,
and available to residents of Calhoun County. Throughout its history, this
Michigan Community Health Center has earned a reputation for providing 100%
access with 0% disparities in health care delivered. The Center is a
trusted source of care for patients, a valued partner in the community, and
a catalyst of positive change. Read more
Freeland Flight
Surgeon on Final Shuttle Trip
Dr. Gregory Pinnell, a physician at Health Delivery Inc., is also a U.S.
Air Force Reserve flight surgeon who worked on 24 shuttle missions, both on
launch and landings. He stood ready to respond to an astronaut's medical
emergency or a catastrophic situation. Read 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.
Introduction to the
Patient-Centered Medical Home
Check out this video produced by TransforMED and the Patient-Centered
Primary Care Collaborative that explains, in clear terms, what a
Patient-Centered Medical Home is. Play video
Medical Home Health
Care Model, Focusing on Prevention, Show Results and Cuts Costs
This Washington Post
article explains how the PCMH is "a budding model for primary care
that encourages the family doctor to act as a health coach who focuses as
much on preventing illness as on treating it has shown promising results
and saved insurers millions of dollars." Read more
The Patient-Centered
Medical Home: Strategies to Put Patients at the Center of Primary Care
This AHRQ brief highlights opportunities to improve patient engagement in
primary care and focuses on involvement at three levels: the engagement of
patients and families in their own care, in quality improvement activities
in the primary care practice, and in the development implementation of
policy and research related to PCMH. Read more
New NACHC Outreach
and Enrollment Webpage
NACHC has launched a new page on its website devoted to resources, funding
opportunities, and best practices for states around outreach and
enrollment: www.nachc.com/outreachandenrollment.cfm. MPCA's
outreach and enrollment initiative is highlighted on the webpage: Not the Usual Suspects: Outreach
and Enrollment Best Practices for Children's Health Insurance Programs.
NACHC also just published a best practice report that features interviews
with MPCA as well as PCAs in Massachusetts and Missouri to highlight their
aggressive statewide outreach programs. Read more
Clinical Recruitment
and Retention Toolkit
NACHC has made available a toolkit aimed at assisting CHCs to support the existing
clinical workforce and attain, grow, and retain compassionate healers who
provide excellent clinical care and feel professionally at home in a CHC.
CHC Leadership
Development Institutes
Leadership Development Institutes are recruiting students for their next
cycle. These programs are designed to train future Health Center leaders to
manage, operate, and lead Health Center organizations, and for mid-level
managers to further their career in and knowledge of CHCs. For more
information, please contact Joe Gallegos, SVP for Western Operations at
505.855.6964 or jgallegos@nachc.com.
Click here for an informational brochure
Workflow Assessment
for Health IT
This new AHRQ-funded toolkit can assist small and medium-sized
practices in workforce analysis and redesign before, during, and after HIT
implementation.
CHCs' EHR Data May
Be More Concise Than Medicaid Claims Data
Research published in the July edition of Annals of Family Medicine shows that
networked EHRs provide new opportunities for obtaining more comprehensive
data on health services received, especially among populations that are not
continuously insured. Read more
Click here
for a list of funding opportunities posted on the MPCA web site.
Click here
for career opportunities in Michigan Community Health Centers. Or,
subscribe to the MPCA career opportunities RSS feed - click here.
UPCOMING MPCA EVENTS
Crystal Mountain Resort &
Spa, Thompsonville, MI
August 7, 2011, 4:45-6 pm
Crystal Mountain Resort
& Spa, Thompsonville, MI
(This meeting is being
held in conjunction with the MPCA Annual Conference)
UPCOMING STATE &
NATIONAL EVENTS
The
Value of Utilizing Psychologists in Health Centers: A Grantee Enrichment TA
Conference Call
July 25, 2011, 2:30-3:30 pm ET
This call hosted by HRSA, BPHC will cover BPHC's overall approach to
Quality Improvement; current statistics on psychologists working in Health
Centers and how their integrated service increases both financial outcomes
and quality of care; clinical staff recruitment, retention, and incentive
for Health Centers; and resources available to assist and support grantees
on Primary and Behavioral Health integration.
Click here for
a list of upcoming events to be held by other organizations in Michigan and
across the country.
Michigan Primary Care
Association
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