MPCA |
Tue, 24 Jan 2012
The 2011 Kids Count in Michigan Data Book released today shows that growing poverty in Michigan threatens the health of children across our state. One symptom of poverty is difficulty accessing healthcare.
"Low-income families often delay or don't seek healthcare for their children due to lack of health insurance, inability to pay for services, and transportation, language, and cultural barriers. Fortunately there is a resource in communities across the state that overcomes these barriers. That resource is called a Community Health Center," said Kim Sibilsky, Executive Director, Michigan Primary Care Association.
A Community Health Center, also known as a Federally Qualified Health Center, is a local, non-profit, community-owned provider of quality primary and preventive healthcare. There are over 190 Community Health Center sites in urban and rural Michigan communities, and their doors are open to everyone regardless of insurance status or socioeconomic indicators. Today 92.2 percent of Michigan Health Center patients are low-income and 69 percent have family income levels at or below poverty. Of the nearly 600,000 Michigan residents who rely on a Community Health Center as their healthcare home and family physician, over one-third (nearly 205,000) are children.
MPCA |
Tue, 17 Jan 2012
Health Center advocates are encouraged to attend two upcoming events focused on advocating for Community Health Centers.
The first is Michigan Primary Care Association's 2012 Legislative Forum to be held February 28, 2012, in Lansing, Michigan. This is an opportunity for you to meet one-on-one with your state legislators to discuss how YOUR Health Center is benefiting the communities and constituents they represent. You will also have the opportunity to network with your peers from across the state, and to learn about the current political climate in Lansing and its implications for the state's Health Centers in 2012. Click here for the agenda and registration information. Please note the registration deadline is February 6.
The second event, the National Association of Community Health Centers' 2012 Policy & Issues Forum to be held March 21-25, 2012, is an opportunity for Health Center advocates from across the country to gather in Washington, DC. This year's event comes at a time of monumental change in public health policy. Community Health Centers are engaged in an effort to double their patient numbers and expand reach to all corners of America as envisioned under the Affordable Care Act. Yet, budgetary struggles at state and national levels, and an uncertain political climate, pose considerable challenges to the Health Center effort to strengthen and expand the primary care infrastructure in the U.S. Attend the NACHC 2012 Policy & Issues Forum to meet with your Members of Congress on Capitol Hill, and to learn about the latest breaking developments on key state and federal policies that impact Health Centers. Click here
Maintaining existing Health Center services/operations and expanding access to care is an ever-present challenge due to the political climate at both the state and federal level. Therefore, it is critical that every Health Center advocate take every opportunity to stay up-to-date on issues impacting Health Centers and to give their Health Center a voice. Attending the MPCA 2012 Legislative Forum and the NACHC 2012 Policy & Issues Forum are two such opportunities. We hope to see you at both of them!
MPCA |
Thu, 12 Jan 2012
Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) is once again co-sponsoring the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan's Innovations in Health Care Award along with the Michigan Association of Health Plans, Michigan Health & Hospital Association, Michigan Osteopathic Association, and Michigan State Medical Society. This is an opportunity for your organization to highlight excellent practice before a meaningful group dedicated to quality healthcare.
Awards are presented to innovative programs across the state in the areas of diabetes, cardiovascular disease (includes physical activity and nutrition), and kidney disease (includes dialysis and transplantation programs). Programs stimulating change, awareness, or improving quality of care are encouraged to apply, including applicants from the healthcare sector, community at large, educational systems, and health plans.
The deadline for applying is April 2, 2012, and awards will presented at the Lansing Champion of Hope Tribute Dinner in Lansing, Michigan, on May 1, 2012.
Click here for more information and to access the application.
MPCA |
Thu, 12 Jan 2012
Affordable coverage and ease of access to care have parents in Michigan seeking Healthy Kids and MIChild health insurance, Michigan's free and low-cost insurance programs for their children and teens.
MPCA |
Tue, 20 Dec 2011
Hopefully you all received the tremendous news from the National Association of Community Health Centers that Congress has passed the Fiscal Year 2012 Omnibus Appropriations Act that funds the Health Centers Program at a total programmatic level of $2.78 billion. This funding will not only maintain current federal grant support for ALL existing Health Centers, but also will provide enough additional funding to EXTEND ACCESS to care to nearly 1.5 additional people in need of care. In the simplest of terms, the Health Centers Program will receive a nearly $200 million increase to grow and expand care to those most in need. To read the full statement from NACHC President and CEO, Tom Van Coverden, click here.
MPCA |
Thu, 01 Dec 2011
America's Health Centers are making an impact in the war against HIV/AIDS by providing underserved populations with access to early HIV screening. According to UNAIDS, a joint United Nations program that aims to address the spread of the disease worldwide, in 2010 there were an estimated 34 million people living with AIDS around the globe, resulting in 1.8 million AIDS-related deaths.
World AIDS Day, recognized December 1, was established in 1988 to raise awareness of AIDS and focus attention on the global epidemic.
More than 1.1 million people are living with HIV in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately one in five people are not aware they are infected, and an estimated 56,300 Americans are infected with HIV each year.
Michigan Community Health Centers are instrumental in the fight against the disease and provide HIV testing and counseling to medically underserved and low-income populations. In 2010, over 1,100 HIV patients received their care at a Michigan Community Health Center. These community-based healthcare providers conducted over 12,500 HIV tests. Nationally, over 90 percent of Community Health Centers provide onsite HIV testing and counseling, and 781,750 patients were tested for HIV in 2010.
"Community Health Centers are continuing to play a central role in the prevention and diagnosis of HIV and AIDS in the most affected populations in the United States," said Lynda Meade, MPCA Project Manager. "This designated day highlights AIDS prevention and diagnosis, and demonstrates our commitment to work with patients and communities to eradicate this disease."
Efforts are underway in Michigan to increase HIV testing and access to care for HIV patients. For more information about Michigan Primary Care Association efforts, contact Lynda Meade at 517.827.0470 or lmeade@mpca.net.
MPCA |
Tue, 22 Nov 2011
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently recognized Phillip Bergquist, Manager of Health Center Operations and CHIPRA Project Director for the Michigan Primary Care Association, along with nine other organizations and individuals, for outstanding efforts to identify and enroll eligible children in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
"The efforts of Phillip Bergquist and the other honorees have helped eligible children get the high quality coverage and care that Medicaid and CHIP provide," said CMS Administrator, Donald Berwick, M.D. "These honorees have not only helped to improve participation in health coverage, but also have enriched our understanding of the best ways to help consumers obtain and keep health coverage."
Bergquist's wide-ranging efforts have helped to directly enroll over 1,650 children in Medicaid and CHIP (MIChild) throughout Michigan and spread awareness of these invaluable coverage programs to thousands more. Most recently, his collaborative leadership in the Enroll Michigan campaign, a partnership between MPCA, the Michigan Health and Hospital Association and the Middle Cities Education Association, resulted in a 21% increase in the number of applications for children's health coverage during the 2011 back-to-school season. Bergquist's continuing creative use of technology and online tools, dedication to high quality enrollment assistance and drive to make the process easy and informative for families with uninsured kids is taking outreach activities to a new level.
Read more
MPCA |
Tue, 15 Nov 2011
The Department of Health and Human Services announced on November 14 the Health Care Innovation Challenge from the CMS Innovation Center, a new initiative designed to test creative ways to deliver high quality medical care and reduce costs across the country. The Challenge will award up to $1 billion in total grants to applicants who will implement the most compelling new ideas to deliver better health, improved care and lower costs to people enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP, particularly those with the highest health care needs. Click here to learn more.
To give interested potential applicants the opportunity to hear more about the funding opportunity, the CMS Innovation Center is hosting a webinar on Thursday, November 17 at 2-3:30 pm ET. Click here to learn more.
MPCA |
Tue, 15 Nov 2011
With the Super Committee's deadline of passing a deficit reduction proposal on November 23 getting ever closer, Michigan Community Health Centers stepped up their grassroots advocacy efforts last week. Advocates called and messaged Congressmen Dave Camp (R-MI) and Fred Upton (R-MI) - two members of the Super Committee - on November 10 to tell them to protect Health Center funding and preserve Medicaid, the program most vital to Health Centers' viability and to many patients.
To amplify that message, Michigan Health Centers collected over 5,500 signatures and personal letters (and still counting) from patients, staff, board members, and community residents.
To further broadcast the message, Michigan Health Centers submitted press releases, op-eds, and letters to the editor of media outlets across the state.
Yes, it was a very busy grassroots advocacy week for Michigan Health Centers. Michigan Primary Care Association thanks everyone who made calls, encouraged others to make calls, tweeted and posted messages on Facebook, collected and delivered petition signatures and letters of support, and reached out to the media. It is amazing to watch so many voices come together to send one loud, clear, message on behalf of America's Health Centers that serve 20 million people across the country, keep patients healthy, save the health care system $24 billion every year, and create thousands of jobs from coast to coast. We can make a difference, and we will continue to fight for our Health Centers.
Click "Read More" below to learn details about Michigan's advocacy efforts.
MPCA |
Fri, 04 Nov 2011
U.S. Representatives Dave Camp (R-MI) and Fred Upton (R-MI) are members of the Congressional Super Committee, which is charged with identifying $1.2 trillion to $1.5 trillion in federal deficit reductions. The Super Committee is making decisions RIGHT NOW on proposals to achieve this goal, some of which could literally zero out funding for the Health Centers program or drastically cut critically important programs like Medicaid. Medicaid is essential to the viability of Health Centers and is the most important source of health insurance coverage for more than 60 million low-income, disabled, and elderly Americans.
On October 13 the National Association of Community Health Centers held a National Mobilization Call-In Day during which advocates across the country called their Members of Congress to help protect Health Centers and the critically important Medicaid program. Unfortunately members of the Super Committee, including Reps. Camp and Upton, received very few phone calls on that day.
To ensure Reps. Camp and Upton understand the critical importance of Medicaid to Health Centers and protect them from funding cuts, Michigan Primary Care Association is urging ALL Michigan Health Center advocates to call Reps. Camp and Upton today, November 10 and tell them: I am asking that as a member of the Super Committee, the Congressman not undermine the successful Health Centers program as he negotiates Medicaid changes and cuts to the federal budget. Health Centers are critical to the health of our community, and I've witnessed firsthand that they are working. I am counting on the Congressman to support my Community Health Center and oppose any changes that would undermine it.
Click "Read More" below for more information.
MPCA |
Fri, 04 Nov 2011
Thank you to all of the advocates who called their state Senator thisweek to ask for timely passage of SB 693, legislation introduced bySenator Jim Marleau that creates a health insuranceexchange in Michigan called the "MiHealth Marketplace". SB 693 must beadopted by Thanksgiving to ensure Michigan has enough time tosuccessfully design an exchange that meets our state's needs. IfMichigan's doesn't establish its own exchange, the federal governmentwill step in. Click here to read about the impact of our call-in day and to learn where things currently stand.
MPCA |
Mon, 31 Oct 2011
Senator Jim Marleau has introduced Senate Bill 693 in the state Senate that will create Michigan's health insurance exchange called the "MiHealth Marketplace". As mandated by the Affordable Care Act, all states are required to establish consumer-oriented health insurance marketplaces-or exchanges-through which individuals and small businesses can purchase health insurance coverage starting in January 2014. In states that don't establish their own exchanges, the federal government will do it for them and the states will lose control and influence over the policy and processes in this important new insurance market.
It is estimated that between 517,000 and 730,000 people will gain coverage through Michigan's health insurance exchange. This newly covered population is an important area of growth for Community Health Centers. In addition, health plans in the exchange will be required to work with safety-net providers (including Health Centers), and Health Centers will receive fair payment for services provided to patients enrolled in exchange health plans.
SB 693 needs to be adopted by Thanksgiving to ensure Michigan has enough time to successfully design an exchange that meets our state's needs. Delaying the legislation could result in Michigan losing millions of dollars in federal grant funding and the time necessary to properly design the MiHealth Marketplace and integrate the technologies necessary to make the exchange run properly. Plus, the jobs that would be created in Michigan to operate an exchange would likely be created elsewhere. Michigan's health insurance exchange is one of the most important pieces of healthcare reform; it will expand access to care in your community for thousands of friends, colleagues, and neighbors.
Please call your state Senator TODAY and ask him/her to vote yes on SB 693, and tell him/her we can't afford to wait, we need to pass legislation now to begin the critical process of building the MiHealth Marketplace as soon as possible. Click here for the phone number of your state Senator and sample talking points.
MPCA |
Mon, 24 Oct 2011
Eighteen Michigan Health Center sites are among 500 Community Health Centers across the country selected to participate in the Federally Qualified Health Center Advanced Primary Care Practice Demonstration project. This demonstration project, operated by the CMS Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation and HRSA, will show how the patient-centered medical home model can coordinate and improve quality of care, promote better health, and lower costs of care.
These Health Centers will receive funding over three years to improve the coordination and quality of care they deliver to people with Medicare and other patients. In addition, Health Centers will use the funding to expand their hours, make same-day appointments, and accommodate patients with urgent care needs.The Health Centers are also expected to achieve Level 3 patient-centered medical home recognition.
Click here for more information about the Advanced Primary Care Practice demonstration project and a complete list of participating health centers.
MPCA |
Fri, 14 Oct 2011
The high cost of employee health insurance is giving many Michigan Health Centers cause for the blues. Can anything be done to stop the double digit increase in premiums every year? Yes, absolutely it can!
A new insurance program - the Michigan Community Health Centers Employee Benefit Program, Inc. (MCHCEBP) - is in place, and it is exclusively for the benefit of Michigan Health Centers. MCHCEBP has just been moved to the launch pad. Excitement is building as the program is set to take off. Preliminary tests on 2012 rates show incredible savings.
MCHCEBP is ready to provide quotes for your 2012 health insurance coverage. January 1, 2012, is fast approaching, and there is need to act quickly. Operations for MCHCEBP are being handled by MPCA Insurance Consultant, Tom Najar, AAI, CIC, LIC, and Pat Burke, MPCA Director of Finance & Operations. Both are eager to assist Health Centers to get quotes quickly. Click here for two documents that will guide the process.
Don't be left behind. Get on board as MCHCEBP takes off. No admission is required - sit back
and enjoy the savings!
MPCA |
Wed, 12 Oct 2011
Thank you to everyone who called their Members of Congress and the White House on October 13 to protect the Health Centers Program. Check out pictures posted on the Campaign for America's Health Centers' website of people making calls...some of those folks are from Michigan! A total of 9,455 calls were made through NACHC's advocacy hotline, with 185 of those calls coming from Michigan. Advocates in several other states made calls totaling in the thousands. NACHC will release more information next week.
Meanwhile, please join the Campaign at www.saveourchcs.org, if you haven't done so already, and learn how you and your Health Center can participate by passing a board resolution supporting the Campaign, providing petitions that patients can sign, writing a letter to Congress in support of your Health Center, sharing personal stories that bring to life the vital importance of Health Centers, and engaging the media by writing letters to the editor or opinion-editorials.
MPCA |
Fri, 16 Sep 2011
Governor Snyder's special message on health and wellness delivered September 14 highlighted the mission of Community Health Centers - ensuring everyone in every community has access to affordable, quality, community-based health care.
Community Health Centers have been providing comprehensive primary and preventive care for over 40 years. Their doors are open to everyone in the community, regardless of insurance status or income level, and their services include medical care, dental care, behavioral health care and pharmacy services, as well as enabling services that overcome barriers to accessing health care. Today, Michigan's CHCs care for over 600,000 residents at approximately 170 sites across the state.
"On behalf of Michigan's Community Health Centers, MPCA was honored that Governor Snyder chose to deliver his special message on health and wellness from the new, innovative Heart of the City Health Center in Grand Rapids," said Kim Sibilsky, Executive Director, MPCA. "Heart of the City is a community-owned health center that puts into practice the principles that align with the Governor's vision for health and wellness, including person-centered care and access to the support people need to reach real quality of life. The members of MPCA are eager to collaborate with his administration on making this vision a reality."
MPCA |
Thu, 15 Sep 2011
Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) is pleased to announce that Mazhar Shaik, MD, MBA has joined its staff as Chief Clinical Officer.
Dr. Shaik directs MPCA's clinical affairs department, which includes clinical quality, clinical workforce, and clinical information technology supporting Meaningful Use, Patient-Centered Medical Home, Pay for Performance, and quality-related research activities. He works with Community Health Centers and their clinical leadership to foster clinical quality capacity-building, coordination, and alignment efforts.
"Dr. Shaik will play a critical role in helping MPCA fulfill its mission of promoting, supporting, and developing comprehensive, accessible, and affordable community-based health care services to everyone in Michigan. He will also contribute to the overall plans to implement health reform strategies within the safety net system in Michigan," said Kim Sibilsky, Executive Director, MPCA.
Michigan Primary Care Association has been the voice for Community Health Centers and other community-based providers in Michigan since 1980. It is a leader in building a healthy society in which all residents have convenient and affordable access to quality health care. For more information, please visit www.mpca.net or call 517.381.8000.
MPCA |
Fri, 09 Sep 2011
On September 9 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the availability of approximately $700 million to help build, expand, and improve Community Health Centers across the country to provide needed care to low-income Americans. Click here to read the HHS press release.
This announcement includes two funding opportunities for Community Health Centers:
- Building Capacity Grant Program (HRSA-12-115): Provide approximately $600 million to existing Health Centers for longer-term projects that support major alterations/renovations, facility expansions, or construction of new facilities to improve the capacity of existing Health Center program grantees to provide primary and preventive health services to medically underserved populations.
- Immediate Facility Improvements Program (HRSA 12-116): Provide approximately $100 million to existing Health Centers for shorter-term projects that address immediate facility needs within existing Health Center facilities.
Applicants may apply for both funding opportunities; however, the same Health Center program site cannot be proposed for each application. The application deadline for each of these funding opportunities is October 12, 2011. Application guidances detailing the eligibility requirements, review criteria, and awarding factors can be found at
www.grants.gov.
MPCA |
Fri, 19 Aug 2011
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced $40 million in grants yesterdayfor efforts to identify and enroll children eligible for Medicaid andthe Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The Michigan PrimaryCare Association (MPCA) is among 39 organizationsincluding state agencies, Community Health Centers, school-basedorganizations and non-profit groups in 23 states to receive two-yearfunding authorized under the Children's Health Insurance ProgramReauthorization Act (CHIPRA) of 2009.
"Today's grants will helpus identify and enroll children in Medicaid and the Children's HealthInsurance Program, ensuring that more children have the health care theyneed," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "Keeping Americans healthyfrom a young age is the right thing to do, and it saves money byavoiding preventable diseases and conditions as they get older. Theactivities we are funding will help eligible children get covered, stayhealthy and prepare them to succeed in school."
Using the $814,801 it was awarded, MPCA will, over the next two years, use a technology-driven model to deliver renewal assistanceto families with children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP who are servedthrough nine Community Health Centers in eight Michigan cities.
MPCA |
Fri, 19 Aug 2011
During the August 2011 board meeting of the Michigan Primary CareAssociation (MPCA), the board of directors appointed Anthony V. King,FACHE, MHSA as President; Joseph Ferguson, MHA, FACHE asPresident-elect; and Donald A. Simila, MSW, FACHE as Treasurer.
King,chief executive officer of The Wellness Plan Medical Centers,previously served a 2-year term as President-elect. He succeeds ChrisShea who served 2-year terms as Board President and President-elect. TheWellness Plan Medical Centers, one of Michigan's 32 Community HealthCenter organizations, provides primary and preventive care to residentsof Metropolitan Detroit.
Ferguson is executive director ofAdvantage Health Centers, a Community/Health Care for the HomelessCenter that serves as the medical home for over 25,000 homeless andmedically underserved individuals in Detroit.
Simila is chiefexecutive officer and chief financial officer at Upper Great LakesFamily Health Center, one of Michigan's newest Community Health Centers.Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center provides comprehensive care toresidents of Marquette and Houghton Counties. Simila succeeds MichelleStyma who, as executive director of Thunder Bay Community HealthService, served as Treasurer of the MPCA Board for two 2-year terms.