MPCA News Feed

Detroit Coalition Receives HHS Funding to Develop Health Information Technology Infrastructure to Combat Diabetes

MPCA — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 04:00:00 GMT

The Southeastern Michigan Health Association (SEMHA was chosen this weekto receive funding under the U.S. Department of Health and HumanServices' (HHS) new Beacon Community Cooperative Agreement Program.

TheBeacon Community Program was established through funding by theAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment Act to accelerate the development of anationwide health information technology (HIT) infrastructure. Selected communities use funding to identify the most prevalent healthissues affecting local residents, and then use HIT tools to link healthproviders and other community resources in new and innovative ways, andto share best practices and lessons learned with other communities whowant to implement similar strategies.

SEMHA will receive $16.2million over three years from HHS through the Program. SEMHA and itspartners in the greater Detroit area will use HIT tools and strategiesto improve diabetes care in Detroit by facilitating the sharing ofmedical information among health systems, physicians, Community HealthCenters, health insurers, and laboratories.

Diabetes is thesixth leading cause of death in Michigan, and plays a role in 23 percentof all hospital admissions in metropolitan Detroit.

The grantto SEMHA is one of 17 similar grants made to organizations incommunities across the country this year to further develop electronicmedical record and health information exchange.

Michigan Primary Care Association is among the 50-plus collaborating organizations and associations involved in this project.

For more information about the Beacon Community Cooperative Agreement Program, go to http://Healthit.hhs.gov/Programs/Beacon. For more information about the Southeastern Michigan Health Association, visit www.semha.org.

Michigan Primary Care Association Back-to-School Campaign Targets Uninsured Kids

MPCA — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 04:00:00 GMT

As the school year begins, the Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) is launching a Back-to-School Campaign across the State of Michigan to encourage parents with uninsured children to put enrolling them in low-cost or free health insurance coverage at the top of their back-to-school checklist.

"Kids who have health care coverage are better prepared to learn in school," said Janet Olszewski, Director of the Michigan Department of Community Health. "That's why enrolling uninsured children in low-cost or free health insurance should be a top priority for parents as they prepare to send their kids back to school. The coverage offered through Michigan's HealthyKids and MIChild programs means health security for kids, peace of mind for parents, and better performance in our classrooms."

There are 172,000 uninsured children in Michigan and most of them, 88% in fact, are already eligible for an existing low-cost or free health care coverage program. Many families assume their children are not eligible for coverage because they believe they earn too much money, but a Michigan family of four can earn up to $44,000 a year or more and still qualify!

MPCA and its partner in this campaign, the Michigan Cover the Uninsured Network, began stepping up their efforts to increase the number of children enrolled in HealthyKids and MIChild on August 16th through a statewide kick-off webinar and the release of many free materials for outreach in schools. MPCA will continue focusing on school children through the month of October.

These efforts are part of MPCA's two-year initiative to enroll children in health coverage through the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services and the annual Back-to-School Campaign, a nationwide campaign of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Children enrolled in HealthyKids and MIChild receive regular check‐ups, dental care, immunizations, prescription drugs, lab and x-ray tests, hospital care, and much more. The HealthyKids program is free to children who qualify and MIChild is only $10 each month per family.

To find out if your family is eligible for low-cost or free health care coverage dial 2-1-1 or visit our website, www.mpca.net/enroll.html, to locate the Community Outreach Specialist in your part of the state. It takes less than 30 minutes to find out if your family is eligible and to apply, and an MPCA Outreach Specialist would be happy to help you complete an application in person or over-the-phone.

Availability of FY 2011 Health Center New Access Point Grants Announced

MPCA — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 04:00:00 GMT

As Health Centers across the country are celebrating National Health Center Week 2010, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced the availability of up to $250 million in grants for New Access Points to support more than 350 new Health Center service delivery sites in fiscal year 2011. The funds, made available by the Affordable Care Act, will be awarded by the Health and Resources Services Administration (HRSA).

A New Access Point is a new full-time service delivery site for the provision of comprehensive primary and preventive health care services that will improve the health status and decrease health disparities of the medically underserved and vulnerable populations to be served. New Access Points will address the unique and significant barriers to affordable and accessible primary health care services for the specific population and/or community targeted by the application.

MPCA Sponsors Back-to-School Enrollment Campaign

MPCA — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 04:00:00 GMT

More than 9 million children are living without health insurance in the U.S., 172,000 in Michigan alone, and the Back-to-School season is the most Back to School important time of year for helping uninsured children enroll in low-cost and free health insurance programs.

Report Shows Community Health Centers Are Leading the Primary Care Revolution

MPCA — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 04:00:00 GMT

While Community Health Centers across the country are being recognized and celebrated during National Health Center Week as quality, accessible, affordable, and comprehensive health care homes for millions of U.S. residents, the National Association of Community Health Centers has released a new report showing Health Centers are also leading the primary care revolution.

The primary care revolution, fueled by the recently enacted Affordable Care Act, is refocusing this nation's health care delivery system on prevention and primary care. Community Health Centers are already the largest network of safety net primary care services in the U.S., and with the new funding provided under health reform, they are continuing to expand. By 2015, Health Centers are expected to double their current capacity, reaching 40 million patients; save $122 billion in total health care costs; generate $54 billion in total economic activity; and create 284,000 new full-time equivalent jobs in their local communities.

In 2009, Michigan Community Health Centers served as health care homes for nearly 600,000 patients at over 160 delivery sites, having a total economic impact of $566,912,895 on the state and creating 5,220 jobs in Health Centers and their communities.

To read "Community Health Centers Lead the Primary Care Revolution" in its entirety, click here. To learn more about Michigan Community Health Centers, visit www.mpca.net.

New MPCA Video Launched for National Health Center Week Explains What a Health Center Is

MPCA — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 04:00:00 GMT

President Obama, Governor Granholm Proclaim National Health Week 2010

MPCA — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:30:00 GMT

"America's Community Health Centers are a vital component of our health care system, providing underserved communities access to coordinated primary and preventive care. During National Health Center Week, we recognize the important work of Community Health Centers for their role in providing quality, accessible, and affordable patient care as we strive to build a health care system equipped for the 21st century," reads the presidential proclamation.

National Health Center Week kicks off on Sunday, August 8 with hundreds of celebratory events scheduled during the weeklong campaign aimed at raising awareness of the comprehensive health care that the nationwide network of Health Centers provide regardless of patients' income or insurance status. Click here to find an event near you.

Earlier this month Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm issued a statewide proclamation, highlighting the role of Michigan Community Health Centers' 160 delivery sites in serving as health care homes for nearly 600,000 of the state's residents.

Click here to read the presidential proclamation in its entirely, and click here to read Governor Granholm's proclamation.

Top Administration Health Officials, Michigan Health Center CEO to Participate in Tele-Town Hall Meeting Today to Kick Off National Health Center Week

MPCA — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 04:00:00 GMT

To kick off National Health Center Week 2010 (August 8-14),the National Association of Community Health Centers(NACHC) is hosting a Tele-Town Hall meeting this Friday, August 6 at 3 pm ET.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and HRSA Administrator Dr. Mary Wakefield will be the featured guests, discussing the latest news related to Community Health Centers and the impact of the landmark Affordable Care Act. InterCare Community Health Network's CEO Velma Hendershott (Bangor, MI) has also been chosen to participate in the call as a guest speaker, and will highlight how Michigan Community Health Centers are expanding to provide access to quality health care for more and more Michigan residents. Today, Michigan Health Centers are health care homes for nearly 600,000 residents regardless of income or insurance benefits.

The call is free but everyone who wants to participate must have an up-to-date advocate profile on file with NACHC, including a direct phone number where you can be called on Friday. Click here to register as an advocate or to update your advocate profile.

Michigan Health Centers Prepare to Celebrate National Health Center Week

MPCA — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Michigan Community Health Centers are marking National Health Center Week 2010 (NHCW) with a variety of celebrations as part of a weeklong campaign that kicks off on Sunday, August 8 to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America's Health Centers. Events will take place at Health Centers across the state next week, from health fairs, to open houses, to visits by Members of Congress and state officials. This is the first celebration of NHCW since the enactment of the landmark health reform law, which provides a direct investment to strengthen primary care through the expansion of Community Health Centers.

One of the bright spots in America's health care system, Community Health Centers are the health care home to over 20 million people at 8,000 sites nationwide, including nearly 600,000 Michigan residents at over 160 delivery sites in the state. Their critical role in providing quality, affordable, comprehensive primary care has been widely praised by bipartisan Congressional leaders and the last two Presidential Administrations.

Senate Committee Passes Appropriations for FY 2011 Health Center Funding

MPCA — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 04:00:00 GMT

On July 29, the full U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations took up the Senate Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee on Appropriations annual spending bill mark up, approving discretionary funding for the Health Centers program at last year's comparable level of $2.19 billion.

Two weeks ago, the House Committee on Appropriations marked up its spending bill, approving discretionary funding at this same level. It is likely that a final appropriations bill will be ready either late this fall or early winter. Should this funding be maintained throughout the appropriations process, the Health Centers program would receive a total of $3.185 billion in FY 2011 (it is already slated to receive $1 billion in dedicated funding from the Health Center Fund under the health reform law).

Coupled with the $11 billion allocated to the program under the Affordable Care Act, the nationwide network of Health Centers are on track to serve 40 million patients within the next five years - that's double the number of patients they serve today - making them the health care home for millions of newly insured Americans.

Today, 31 Michigan Community Health Center organizations provide quality, comprehensive primary care to nearly 600,000 residents across the state at over 160 delivery sites. Their doors are open to everyone in the community, regardless of income or whether they carry an insurance card.

Four Michigan Community Health Centers Among Top Health Care Providers Honored by Health Plan of Michigan

MPCA — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Four Michigan Community Health Centers- Downriver Community Services, Family Health Center of Battle Creek, Hackley Community Care Center, and InterCare Community Health Network- have been named among the state's top health care providers by Health Plan of Michigan. The Detroit-based Medicaid HMO identified 19 top primary care offices based on their excellence in quality and service.

Downriver Community Services provides comprehensive primary and preventive health care services to the uninsured and medically underserved in Michigan's St. Clair and Macomb Counties. It also operates a Health Care for the Homeless program, providing clinical services and case management to various shelters, soup kitchens, and homeless settings through the two Counties.

Family Health Center of Battle Creek's two sites in Battle Creek and Albion are designated by the federal government as Community Health Centers and Health Care for the Homeless Centers. They provide a wide array of health care services to patients of all ages, from newborn to seniors.

Located in Muskegon Heights, Hackley Community Care Center serves residents of Muskegon County along the shores of Lake Michigan. They provide a complete spectrum of health care services to increase access to care for area residents that promote and support their total health.

InterCare Community Health Network operates six Community/Migrant Health Centers in Allegan, Berrien, Kent, Ottawa, and VanBuren Counties. It served over 46,000 patients in 2008, 81% of whom were below poverty level and 49% who were uninsured.

Downriver Community Services, Family Health Center of Battle Creek, Hackley Community Care Center, and InterCare Community Health Network are four of Michigan's 31 Community Health Center organizations which serve nearly 600,000 Michigan residents and operate 160 sites across the state. For 45 years, Community Health Centers have been providing quality, comprehensive, accessible health care to individuals and families regardless of income or insurance status.

More Patients Gain Access to Health Care at Health Centers Thanks to Stimulus Funding

MPCA — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT

As Community Health Centers across the country prepare to celebrate National Health Center Week, which kicks off on August 8, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) has released a report showing that more patients have gained access to health care through Health Centers thanks to stimulus funding.

America's Health Centers, including those in Michigan, have put funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to good use, rapidly expanding access to care and generating economic benefits for low-income communities.

Health Centers committed to reaching nearly 2.9 million new patients during ARRA's two-year funding window. The NACHC report shows that just one year later, Health Centers have nearly met that goal, already reaching 2.1 million patients, including over 1 million uninsured patients.

The stimulus funding has supported the care of 67,467 patients in Michigan Health Centers alone, including over 28,000 uninsured residents. What's more, the $46 million in ARRA funding invested in Michigan Health Centers has generated a total economic impact on the state's communities in excess of $81 million.

Click here to access the NACHC report. Click here to learn more about National Health Center Week.

Governor Granholm Visits Construction Site of New Benton Harbor Health Center

MPCA — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT

While in Benton Harbor on July 20, Governor Granholm visited the construction site of InterCare Community Health Network's new Benton Harbor Health Center that is scheduled to open in 2011. The new 40,0000 square foot state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly Health Center will replace two existing sites in Benton Harbor to improve patient flow, increase efficiency, and meet demand for services that is projected to increase 35 percent in the next few years.

An official groundbreaking celebration will take place during National Health Center Week, held the second week of August each year to raise awareness of the mission and accomplishments of America's Health Centers.

Construction of the new Benton Harbor site is being funded by stimulus dollars that InterCare Community Health Network, a Bangor-based Community Health Center, received under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's Facility Investment Program.

"To receive these funds and be able to serve this community in a new facility is the realization of a long-held dream," said Velma Hendershott, InterCare Community Health Network's Chief Executive Officer.

Up to 45 full-time construction jobs will be created by the project. In addition to existing staff, the new facility will house three new medical providers, at least two new dental providers, and more mental health professionals. Additional patient support jobs will also be created.

InterCare Community Health Network is one of Michigan's 31 Community Health Center organizations that provide quality, comprehensive, accessible primary and preventive health care to nearly 600,000 Michigan residents at over 160 sites across the state, regardless of income or insurance status.

To learn more about InterCare Community Health Network, go to www.intercare.org/. For more information about Michigan Community Health Centers, visit www.mpca.net.

Meaningful Use Final Rule Released: Key to Electronic Health Record Incentive Dollars and Health Care Transformation

M-CEITA — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT

After months of anticipation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released the Meaningful Use Final Rule. Meaningful Use rules establish criteria for using electronic health records that Michigan health care providers will have to meet to claim up to $63,750 in federal stimulus dollars. More importantly, Meaningful Use provides clarity regarding how health information technology should be used to improve health care quality, increase efficiency of the care delivery system, reduce health disparities, and further engage patients and their families in health care.

MPCA Community HealthCorps Receives AmeriCorps Funding for Coming Year

MPCA — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT

The Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) Community HealthCorps program is among 25 organizations in Michigan to receive AmeriCorps funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service for fiscal year 2011. It will receive $233,992 to place 18 members at Community Health Centers across the state in the coming year, as it moves in a new direction by providing support for Patient and Community Navigation.

Governor Granholm Proclaims August 8-14 National Health Center Week in Michigan

MPCA — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT

On behalf of the residents of Michigan, Governor Jennifer Granholm has proclaimed the week of August 8, 2010, as Health Center Week in Michigan.

Whereas, Community Health Centers are nonprofit, community-owned and operated health care providers serving uninsured and medically underserved people in the state of Michigan; and,

Whereas, Expanding access to quality care, Health Centers contain costs by fostering prevention and integrating the delivery of primary care with aggressive outreach, patient education, translation and other enabling services; and,

Whereas, Community Health Centers are staffed by doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other health care professionals who have chosen to serve in communities in need, helping to expand the reach of primary care and preventive health services; and,

Whereas, Michigan's Community Health Centers have made great strides in the health care system by maintaining high standards of accountability, demonstrating cost effectiveness and efficiency, and empowering communities to address unmet health care needs in order to reduce health disparities, preventable deaths, costly disabilities, and communicable diseases;

"I encourage the residents of this state to recognize the important contributions of Community Health Centers in safeguarding health and improving the quality of life for all," said Governor Granholm.

Mark Your Calendar for National Health Center Week, August 8-14

MPCA — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Each year, the second week in August is a time to recognize the highly-effective and efficient Health Center model of care. Health Centers are community-owned and operated providers of comprehensive, quality primary and preventive care that is open to all regardless of income or insurance status.

This year's theme of "Celebrating America's Health Centers: Turning Vision into Reality" will be the focus of National Health Center Week events held nationwide the week of August 8-14, 2010. This year's celebration is extra special because 2010 marks the 45th anniversary of the creation of the Health Centers program. Today, Community Health Centers are the health care home for over 20 million people across the country, including nearly 600,000 Michigan residents.

We invite you to attend a National Health Center Week event in your community. There are 31 Health Centers in Michigan, which operate over 160 delivery sites. To find a Health Center near you, go to www.mpca.net and use the Health Center locater and type in your zip code. For a list of National Health Center Week events, go to www.healthcenterweek.org - events are continually being added.

Michigan Health Centers Applaud Passage of Historic Health Reform Legislation

MPCA — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT

During the late hours of Sunday, March 21, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Senate's historic health care bill, "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act," by a vote of 219-212, as well as amendments to that bill made by House members and President Obama by a vote of 220-211.

During the vote, Michigan's Rep. John Dingell (D-Dearborn) was given a standing ovation by his colleagues in recognition of his 55-year fight for health care for all.

Michigan's House members voted along party lines, with all Democrats (Conyers, Dingell, Kildee, Kilpatrick, Levin, Peters, Schauer, and Stupak) voting yes. All Republicans in Michigan's delegation voted no (Camp, Ehlers, Hoekstra, McCotter, Miller, Rogers, and Upton).

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which will provide health care coverage to 32 million Americans, contains many provisions for expanding Health Centers and strengthening their ability to provide care to more people in medically underserved communities and shortage areas. It invests $11 billion in new funding to grow the Health Centers program over the next five years to provide care to 20-25 million more individuals.

MPCA Hosting Children's Health Enrollment Events During Cover the Uninsured Week

MPCA — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT

This week, March 14-20, marks Cover the Uninsured Week 2010. Each year the number of uninsured increases across the country and in Michigan, making efforts to provide health care coverage to all a more pressing need.

Today, 46 million Americans are uninsured, including over 1 million Michigan residents. More than 9 million children living in the United States lack health insurance, as do over 150,000 Michigan children. The percentage of uninsured children in our state rose from 4.7% to 6.2% from 2006 to 2007, and among the youngest children age 0 to 5 years, the rated jumped from 4.6% to 7.8%.

To combat this growing trend, Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) in partnership with the Michigan Association of United Ways has launched a 2-year grassroots initiative to reach out to and enroll children across the state of Michigan in two free and low-cost health insurance programs, HealthyKids and MIChild.

During Cover the Uninsured Week next week and beyond, MPCA in partnership with Community Health Centers and other community organizations is hosting outreach enrollment events in communities across the state. Go to www.mpca.net/enrollmentevents.html for a complete list of the events.

Cover the Uninsured, a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is a nationwide effort to raise awareness that too many Americans are living without health insurance, and to demand solutions. To learn more, go to www.covertheuninsured.org.

To learn more about the MPCA Children's Health Insurance Enrollment Initiative, or to contact a MPCA Community Outreach Specialist, go to www.mpca.net/enroll.html.

Michigan Primary Care Association Communication Director honored with national advocacy award

NACHC — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:00:00 GMT

Dana Hughes, Communications Director at the Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA), was awarded the Elizabeth K. Cooke Grassroots Advocacy Award at the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) Policy & Issues Forum held last week in Washington, DC.
Hughes was among 15 recipients honored for legislative and grassroots advocacy work supporting Community Health Centers.

As Communications Director at MPCA, Hughes works closely with Michigan Health Centers helping them spread the word about community involvement and their commitment to excellence in heath care. She is also heavily involved with NACHC and works tirelessly to educate the public about the need for and benefit of Community Health Centers as well as fostering relationships with legislators and key policy makers on a state and national level.
Hughes said the award is validation of her mission and passion to educate and advance awareness of Community Health Centers.

"Receiving this award is such an honor," she said. "Spreading the word that Community Health Centers are THE model for ensuring those most in need have access to quality health care is something I feel very passionate about, and helping people connect with their legislators to voice their opinions and see that they can actually make a difference is so rewarding."

Hughes began her work at MPCA in July 2003 and in that time has developed a wealth of resources Health Centers can utilize to promote their mission. She facilitates regular discussions on marketing and effective communications and is a leader in shaping a united and consistent communication strategy for both MPCA and Michigan's Community Health Centers.
MPCA Executive Director Kim Sibilsky said that Hughes' commitment to Health Center Advocacy is apparent in everything she does.

"It was a real thrill to see Dana receive this well deserved award," Sibilsky said. "Not only is she creative and hard working, she is a critical driver of change and innovation in communications in Michigan and the nation.