State & National News

Michigan Primary Care Association Communication Director honored with national advocacy award

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.

Members of Michigan Congressional Delegation Honored with National Health Care Awards

At the National Association of Community Health Centers' (NACHC) Policy & Issues Forum held March 23-28 in Washington, DC, Michigan's U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin, and Congressmen John Conyers, John Dingell, Vernon Ehlers, Dale Kildee, Gary Peters, Mike Rogers, Mark Schauer, Bart Stupak, and Fred Upton were recognized for their strong support of Health Centers in Michigan and across the country.

Senator Stabenow was named a Distinguished Community Health Champion for her leadership on behalf of those who rely on America's Health Centers for their health care. She has worked tirelessly as a member of the Senate Finance Committee throughout health reform to ensure that low-income communities are guaranteed access to primary care and a Health Center home.

Congressman Dingell was named a Distinguished Community Health Defender for his long-time commitment to Community Health Center initiatives. He understands that Health Centers provide a network of quality, affordable, primary and preventive health care for this state's and this nation's most vulnerable residents. His actions affirm that he is committed to preserving, strengthening, and expanding the Health Center program, which will save money and lead to a healthier nation.

ARRA and Health Centers: One Year Later

Community Health Centers provide quality health care to 20 million people.

MPCA, Michigan Health Centers Help Get Health Insurance for Children

Community Health Centers Mark Progress At One-Year Stimulus Anniversary

People and communities are healthier thanks to the investment in America's Community Health Centers from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), also known as the "economic stimulus."

The law, enacted one year ago this week, provided funds that helped Health Centers expand care to the growing numbers of unemployed and uninsured people who were quickly filling up their waiting rooms. To increase capacity and serve more people, many Health Centers were able to keep or recruit new staff, such as nurses, doctors and dentists, and renovate or even build new facilities.

"The economic stimulus investment has made a substantial difference at Michigan Community Health Centers and in communities across the state," said Kim Sibilsky, Executive Director, Michigan Primary Care Association. "Michigan Health Centers have been able to reach more patients who need care, but the numbers alone don't tell the whole success story. Health Centers are seeing families who are struggling because of the recession. Many of them had health insurance before and now don't. The stimulus has made it possible for Health Centers in our state to reach out to these new patients and show them the comprehensive, quality, accessible, affordable care provided at Community Health Centers can meet all of their health care needs under one roof so they can stay healthy during this challenging time."

MPCA Joins in Celebrating One-Year Anniversary of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act

Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) joins the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA).

Under this historic legislation MPCA received $915,079 in grant funding to launch a community-based initiative to enroll children in two health insurance programs recently expanded through CHIPRA. Both HealthyKids and MIChild offer families comprehensive health coverage including regular check?ups, dental care, immunizations and prescription drugs.

"Over 140,000 Michigan children lack health insurance coverage because their parents have lost their jobs, employer-sponsored coverage has been eliminated, or it simply costs too much," said Phillip Bergquist, CHIPRA Program Manager. "An overwhelming number of families think they can't get health insurance coverage because they make too much money when, in reality, the majority of children covered by MIChild, the state's Children's Health Insurance Program, come from working families."

To help identify eligible children and get them enrolled, MPCA, working through the Community HealthCorps program, is bringing enrollment specialists to Community Health Centers, schools, migrant camps, churches, homeless shelters, and other community organizations from Marquette to Detroit to get children covered.

"We want to impact the lives of 12,000 children in the next two years, and ultimately reduce the number of uninsured children in our state to zero," said Bergquist.

Since CHIPRA was signed into law one year ago, 2.6 million more children have been served by Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program at some point during the past 12 months. Nearly five million children, however, are still eligible for Medicaid or CHIP but not enrolled.

To read more about the one-year anniversary as highlighted in "The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act One Year Later: Connecting Kids to Coverage" released this week by HHS, click here.

MPCA Honors Sen. Cherry, Rep. McDowell as Champions for the Medically Underserved

At its Legislative Forum held February 2, 2010, Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) presented Senator Deborah Cherry (D-District 26) and Representative Gary McDowell (D-District 107) with the Champion for the Medically Underserved Award.

MPCA Launches 2010 Legislative Priorities Aimed at Protecting the Health of the State's Medically Underserved Residents

Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA), the voice for Community Health Centers across the state, held its annual Legislative Forum on February 2, 2010, to educate state legislators about the comprehensive primary and preventive care they provide to nearly 600,000 state residents.

"For over 30 years, Michigan Community Health Centers have been delivering comprehensive primary care to the medically underserved communities of our state," said Kim Sibilsky, Executive Director, MPCA. "These organizations are on the front lines of health care serving the most vulnerable populations in rural and inner city communities. Nearly 33% of Health Center patients are uninsured; 70% have family incomes at or below poverty level; and nearly 45% receive public insurance benefits."

In order to continue the mission of promoting, supporting, and developing comprehensive, accessible, and affordable community-based health care services for everyone in Michigan, Michigan Primary Care Association has outlined five legislative priorities it would like to partner with the State of Michigan in achieving during 2010:

Health Centers Stand Ready to Care for Millions More Under Reformed Health Care System

With the number of uninsured residents in Michigan and across the country continuing to rise, and as more and more people have difficulty accessing quality health care they can afford, NOW is the time for Congress to reform the American health care system. And NOW is the time for U.S. lawmakers to recognize that Community Health Centers stand ready to serve as the health care home for 60 million Americans in the years ahead.

Please contact your Members of Congress TODAY using the NACHC Advocacy hotline at 1.866.456.3949 and let them know that you want them to continue on the path toward health care reform that includes a renewed commitment to strengthening and expanding the Health Center program. Today, Community Health Centers provide comprehensive primary and preventive health care for 20 million Americans, including nearly 600,000 Michigan residents.

Or, you can send an e-mail to your Members - click the Read More button below to log into the NACHC online advocacy center and send your message.

Registration for 2010 MPCA Legislative Forum Now Open

Registration for Michigan Primary Care Association's 2010 Legislative Forum is now open. This year is sure to be an action-packed, life-changing legislative year, with the majority of State Senate seats and the governorship up for election, the continuation of Michigan's economic crisis, and landmark efforts to reform the U.S. health care system forging ahead.Educating our elected officials is critical to ensure that Community Health Centers and the issues that most affect them, their patients, and their communities remain top-of-mind, namely developing Michigan's health care workforce; providing health coverage for all of the state's low-income residents; modernizing Michigan's outdated revenue structure; maintaining the integrity of Medicaid; and reinstating the Medicaid adult dental benefit.So please join us in Lansing on February 2 for the annual Legislative Forum to learn how together we can impact the future and to nurture relationships with your state legislators through one-on-one visits - they need to hear from you! Click the Read More button below to access the registration packet, which includes the agenda and registration forms.

Senate Health Reform Bill Clears Another Hurdle

In today's early hours, the U.S. Senate approved a procedural motion by a vote of 60-40 setting the stage for passage of its health care bill later this week. Please contact your U.S. Senator today to ask him/her to vote yes on the Senate health reform bill - click the Read More button below for contact information. Included in this version of the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act is a $10 billion investment in Community Health Centers, thanks to Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT). In a statement posted on his web site, Sen. Sanders said the additional resources "will help bring about a revolution in primary health care in America and create new or expanded Health Centers in an additional 10,000 communities." It will also provide loan repayments and scholarships through the National Health Service Corps to create an additional 20,000 primary care doctors, dentists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and mental health professionals.

MPCA Executive Director Recognized for Work Towards Eliminating Health Disparities

The Michigan Minority Health Coalition - a statewide consortium dedicated to developing strategies, creating partnerships, and influencing public policy initiatives that will improve the health status of Michigan's ethnic and racial minority populations - honored Michigan Primary Care Association Executive Director Kim Sibilsky with the Anna McKeever Hilliard Visionary Award at its Patient Advocacy Leadership Summit in East Lansing, Michigan, on December 10.

State Legislature Passes Statewide Smoking Ban

After years of debate, legislation banning smoking in indoor workplaces including bars and restaurants - but exempting the gaming floors of Detroit's three casinos, cigar bars, and tobacco specialty stores - is headed to Governor Granholm for her signature. On Thursday, December 10, the Michigan Senate voted 24-13 in favor of HB 4377 and the House quickly concurred with a vote of 75-30. The ban would take effect May 1. Businesses not in compliance with the ban would be subject to a fine.

President Obama Announces Funding to Support Construction, Renovation of Community Health Centers Nationwide

On December 9, President Obama announced nearly $600 million in Facility Investment Program awards funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to support major construction and renovation projects at 85 Community Health Centers nationwide. Among the grant recipients are two Michigan Community Health Centers - InterCare Community Health Network and Baldwin Family Health Care. The goal of the two-year Facility Investment Program funding is to address the pressing needs of Health Center facilities by enabling the construction of new facilities and modernization of current sites, and creating employment opportunities in underserved communities. As a result, Health Centers across the country will be able to serve an additional 500,000 patients, and new construction and health care jobs will be created."The Facility Investment Program funding is a real boost to Health Centers, which haven't received U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration funding for major capital projects since 1996. We know there are many more Health Centers with major capital needs, but this is a great down payment," said Kim Sibilsky, Executive Director, Michigan Primary Care Association. This is the fourth set of Health Center awards to be funded through ARRA appropriations. Community Health Centers were among the first recipients of ARRA funding released earlier this year. In March, President Obama announced grants to establish 126 new Health Center sites, with Western Wayne Family Health Centers and Ingham County Community Health Centers receiving a total of $2.6 million to provide care for an additional 13,890 patients and protect 105 jobs in Michigan.

CMS Updates Medicare Payment Cap for FQHCs for 2010

The new rates will be $125.72 for urban centers, up from $119.29 in 2009, and $108.81 for rural centers, up from $102.58 in 2009. Health centers currently serve more than one million Medicare beneficiaries nationwide; recipients represent the fastest growing population at health centers.

MDCH Expands H1N1 Vaccine to all Residents

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) in partnership with the 45 local health departments is entering the next phase of its distribution strategy and will expand H1N1 influenza vaccine to all Michigan residents by Monday, December 14. Some local health departments began Demember 8. Residents are advised to call their local health department to determine vaccine availability. While all residents will be eligible for vaccine, health officials continue to strongly encourage the previous target group including pregnant women, people who live with or care for children less than 6 months of age, all people 6 months to 24 years, and people 25 to 64 years with chronic medical conditions to get vaccinated. Beginning the week of December 14, these individuals will continue to be eligible for vaccination, along with other Michigan residents who are not in the risk groups.

Ensuring All Children Benefit From Health Care Reform

Health care reform has been at the forefront of the national debate, and the public reaction to pendingreform legislation has intensified. It is critical to the future of Michigan and the country that all childrenare covered; have access to high-quality, affordable health care; and, those benefits are protected and strengthened as part of Health Care reform.

Detroit Wayne County Health Authority to Coordinate Care for Uninsured in Detroit

The Detroit Wayne County Health Authority approved this week a 2010 work plan to address the rising numbers of unemployed and uninsured people who are flooding emergency departments, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and physician offices.

Medicare Expands List of Covered Preventive Services to Include HIV Screening Tests

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced its final decision to cover Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection screening for Medicare beneficiaries who are at increased risk for the infection, including women who are pregnant and Medicare beneficiaries of any age who voluntarily request the service. The decision is effective immediately.Under the recently passed Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA), CMS now has the flexibility of adding to Medicare's list of covered preventive services, if certain requirements are met. Prior to this law, Medicare could only cover additional preventive screening tests when Congress authorized it to do so.

Detroit Free Press Reports "Smoking Debate Rises from Ashes"

It could be light up or lights out for a statewide smoking ban this week in the Legislature.Senate Republicans will take another stab at prohibiting smoking in all workplaces, including restaurants and bars. But whether to exempt Detroit's casinos remains a key question."It's time to get it moving," said Sen. Ron Jelinek, R-Three Oaks, who is prodding fellow Senate Republicans with a compromise.That plan would ban smoking in all public places, but possibly allow it to some extent at the Detroit casino on gaming floors, as well as in cigar bars. Smoking would be banned at the Detroit casino restaurants and hotels, possibly answering concerns of bar owners about giving a competitive advantage to the casinos.Jelinek and others said with only a couple of weeks before a long holiday break, the Legislature is under pressure to act on an issue that's been in stalemate for more than a decade."It's an emotional, important issue. They want it done," said Rep. Bert Johnson, D-Highland Park, who wants Detroit's casinos exempt from any smoking ban.