Category: MPCA News

LANSING–The MPCA offers up this monthly tip for a simple but effective consideration for emergency preparedness, taken from official government sources, to help put you in a preparedness mindset. This month’s tip is about Back to School Safety.

Get a copy of your child’s school or child care center emergency plan. These explain their evacuation plans and how the facility would contact you during an emergency. They also usually explain how you will be reunited with your child during or after an emergency. In a real emergency, the school’s phone lines are going to be overloaded with calls from concerned parents. Getting familiar with the facility’s emergency plan will help you know what to expect if an emergency does happen.

Preparing for an emergency can be stressful for families, but having an emergency plan can provide peace of mind. Talking with your child’s teacher or caregiver about your plan, explaining the school’s emergency plan to your child, and making a simple backpack card can help keep your child safe and healthy if an emergency happens.

Getting your children and teens ready to go back to school is the perfect time to make sure they are up-to-date with their immunizations. Vaccination protects students from diseases and keeps them healthy. The recommended immunizations for children birth through 6 years old can be found here, and the recommended immunizations for preteens and teens 7-18 years old can be found here. If you don’t have health insurance, or if it does not cover vaccines, the Vaccines for Children program may be able to help.

Learn more information here.

LANSING–Here’s the latest news on workforce updates, including a funding opportunity for the Health Center Careers Training Program, release of the Michigan Healthcare Workforce Index and more:

Health Center Careers Training Program Funding Available

MPCA’s Health Center Careers Training Program (HCCTP) has trained over 100 medical assistants, dental assistants, community health workers, doulas, pharmacy technicians, medical billers/coders, medical records specialists and medical administrative assistants. Funding is available to cover wages, tuition, and supplies. Contact Rachel Ruddock to learn more.​

MPCA Health Center Workforce Summit​ Registration Open

Please register for the 2023 MPCA Workforce Summit taking place on Aug. 17 at the Crowne Plaza in Lansing. Join us for an engaging day of learning and networking with fellow health center HR and Workforce leaders. The agenda can be found here. Contact Kelly Feenstra for more information.

Bridge Michigan Highlights the Health Center Careers Training Program

Students participating in the Health Center Careers Training Program (HCCTP) from Western Wayne Family Health Centers, Hackley Community Care, and Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi were highlighted in a recent Bridge Michigan article. The full article can be found here.

Michigan Healthcare Workforce Index Released

The Michigan Health Council has released an inaugural MI Healthcare Workforce Index that assesses the “health” of 36 healthcare occupations in the state based on four inputs (wages, growth, shortages, turnover). A wide variety of occupations employed by health centers are included. Please find the full report here.

LANSING–Here’s the latest news on dental leadership meetings, dental therapy, oral health events, oral health value-based care:

Oral Health Events

Please register to join us at the 2nd Annual Oral Health Workforce Summit on Wednesday, August 16, at the Crowne Plaza in Lansing! This event, brought to you by MPCA and the Delta Dental Foundation, is a multi-stakeholder collaborative discussion open to all who are interested in strengthening the oral health safety net and improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in the oral health workforce.

Following the Oral Health Workforce Summit on the next day (Aug. 17) and in the same location, will be the MPCA Health Center Workforce Summit: Preparing for the Workforce of Tomorrow! Sessions include MI Employment Law updates, Onboarding Employees at Health Centers, 2023 Compensation and Benefit Survey results, Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion within the Workforce, and Registered Apprenticeship programs. Health center folks are encouraged to attend both events!

Dental Therapy

• Aspiring Michigan Dental Therapists
  • MPCA’s Dental Therapy Scholarship now supports two students, both attending Skagit Valley College’s dental therapy program in Washington
  • Two additional Michigan students have been accepted into spring cohorts at dental therapy programs in Minnesota
  • Two licensed dental therapists from other states have begun the process of applying for Michigan licensure
  • If you are aware of dental staff interested in pursuing a career in dental therapy, we can help! Contact Misty Davis at [email protected] for assistance
• Dental Therapy in Health Centers
  • Recruitment efforts are ramping up, and multi-state outreach will include a link for dental therapists to check MPCA’s Career Center for health centers interested in hiring dental therapists.
  • The Delta Dental Foundation has committed a $5,000 Workforce Development Bonus for any dental therapist who accepts a position at an MPCA member health center. Post your position now to be included in this recruitment campaign!
  • MPCA is working to build a Dental Therapy Operational Readiness Program for Michigan Health Centers. This will include a companion guide to use alongside the DT Employment Manual for Michigan Health Centers to tailor dental therapy positions to the needs of their care teams and communities.
  • We encourage all health center staff to complete a series of helpful, self-paced modules, Optimize Care Teams with Dental Therapists, which provide a foundational understanding of dental therapists and the benefits they bring to care teams.
  • Visit Michigan Dental Access for more dental therapy information, news, resources, and to sign up for the monthly Michigan Dental Therapy Newsletter.

Oral Health Value-Based Care

MPCA remains committed to advancing value-based care in the oral health space. Three health centers are currently engaged in the Community Oral Health Transformation (COrHT) initiative, supported by the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health and MPCA. This initiative focuses on multiple elements of VBC, including operational efficiency, minimally invasive care, financial sustainability, quality, population health, and health equity.

The recent Medicaid Adult Dental Redesign and federal push toward value-based payment have served as leverage points to advance this work, and we will continue advocating for health centers in this arena.

Dental Leadership Meetings

MPCA Dental Leadership Meetings will now be held on the fourth Tuesday of every month from 4-5:00 p.m. We welcome team members involved in dental leadership, operations, billing, clinical, and other areas to come together, share and learn with their peers. Please contact Lindsay Sailor for the meeting invitation.

 

LANSING–The MPCA’s monthly newsletter for July has been distributed to subscribers’ inboxes.

This month’s edition includes MI-LAPS accepting health center participants program; ​NACHC National Health Center Week and funding information; Medicaid Health Outreach Partners survey request; video message from MPCA diamond sponsor Quest Diagnostics; program application opportunities; updates on policy/government affairs, workforce, emergency preparedness, Medicaid redetermination; and much more.

See the latest version of the newsletter here. You can also view past newsletters here.

You can sign up for our newsletter as well as other types of communications tailored to your interest here.

 

The Michigan Primary Care Association’s HCCTP initiative was recently featured in a Michigan Health Watch story written by Robin Erb on the Bridge Michigan website.

Read the full story–Michigan health centers need medical staff. How one program is helping.

(Bridge photo by Chris duMond)

LANSING–The MPCA and Michigan Community Health Network (MCHN) are once again pleased to announce a funding opportunity for health centers to support their activities during National Health Center Week 2023. We are offering up to $1,000 per health center to cover direct expenses related to NHCW activities. Last year was a great success. We are excited to support your celebratory activities that showcase the great work you do during these challenging times.

The application and criteria process is simple:

1. Enter the basic information for your event at the NACHC website for National Health Center Week tracking https://healthcenterweek.org/submit-your-event/
2. Invite at least one legislator to visit your Health Center during National Health Center Week.
3. Send an e-mail to Amy Reyes indicating you have posted your event and the details for legislator visits that have been accepted. Include a brief narrative sharing the total amount requested and what the funds will be used for.
4. If you have something planned that does not fit the event tracking format of the NACHC website, please just submit the other information to Amy via e-mail.
5. You will receive a response from Amy confirming the funding or asking follow up questions within 48 hours.
6. Deadline for submission of requests is Friday, July 28.
7. Payment processing will begin on Wednesday, August 2, and should arrive the following week.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out directly to Amy Reyes or Russ Kolski.

NHCW ’23, with this summer’s theme of The Roadmap to a Stronger America, will take place August 6-12 and will include a focus day throughout the week.

Each day of NHCW 2023 is dedicated to a particular focus area:

• Sunday, 8/6: Public Health in Housing Day 
• Monday, 8/7: Healthcare for the Homeless Day
• Tuesday, 8/8: Agricultural Worker Health Day
• Wednesday, 8/9: Patient Appreciation Day
• Thursday, 8/10: Stakeholder Appreciation Day
• Friday, 8/11: Health Center Staff Appreciation Day
• Saturday, 8/12: Children’s Health Day

LANSING–The MPCA’s monthly newsletter for May has been distributed to subscriber inboxes.

This month’s edition includes MPCA members contributing to a case study; the latest information on the Public Health Emergency ending on May 11; Upstream USA offering health centers free trainings; updates on workforce, oral health and emergency preparedness, Medicaid redetermination; and much more.

See the latest version of the newsletter here. You can also view past newsletters here.

You can sign up for our newsletter as well as other types of communications tailored to your interest here.

 

LANSING–The MPCA’s monthly newsletter for April has been released.

This month’s edition includes the latest information on the Public Health Emergency ending on May 11, updates on workforce, oral health and emergency preparedness, Medicaid redetermination, Quest Diagnostics health center survey, and much, much more.

See the latest version of the newsletter here. You can also view past newsletters here.

You can sign up for our newsletter as well as other types of communications tailored to your interest here.

 

 

DT Scholarship Webpage

LANSING, Mich.— Qualified candidates interested in pursuing education in dental therapy can now apply for a unique scholarship opportunity thanks to the Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA), the Delta Dental Foundation (DDF) and the Michigan Health Endowment Fund (Health Fund).

Dental therapy is a long-awaited oral health profession recently added to Michigan’s oral health workforce to improve access to care within dentist shortage areas. Dental therapists are licensed providers that work under the remote supervision of a dentist to provide services such oral health assessments, cleanings, basic restorations and some extractions.

MPCA chief executive officer Phillip Bergquist said: “Dental therapists will improve health centers’ ability to carry out their missions to improve access to care for Michigan’s most vulnerable populations.

“The MPCA Dental Therapy Scholarship program will support a new oral health career option for individuals who are driven to serve communities in dental health professional shortage areas,” he stated. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to support aspiring Michigan dental therapists through the scholarship program.”

“No Michigan college or university has an accredited dental therapy program yet,” added Holli Seabury, EdD, executive director of the DDF. “Until that happens, if we want dental therapy to succeed in Michigan, it’s on us to make it happen.”

The MPCA Dental Therapy Scholarship program will support the educational journeys of dental therapy students who plan to practice in Michigan upon graduation. These students will be recognized as trailblazers for Michigan’s dental therapy profession, and they will usher in a new model of accessible, high-quality care for systemically disadvantaged communities.

“Good oral health starts at home, and for the Health Fund that means strengthening the workforce in our own backyard,” says Laurie Solotorow, director of Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyles, at the Health Fund. “We’re proud to partner with the Delta Dental Foundation and MPCA to invest in dental therapists who want to serve their own communities and provide access to oral healthcare in underserved areas of the state.”

Qualified candidates may apply for up to $15,000 for each semester they are enrolled in a U.S. dental therapy program and must practice in Michigan for up to 36 months upon graduation. Scholarship applications will open on April 17 and close on May 12, 2023.

For complete eligibility requirements and scholarship application, please visit the MPCA Dental Therapy Scholarship program webpage for more information.

MPCA advocates to influence and advance health policy in Lansing and Washington, D.C., foster collaboration among our 44 health centers and with external partners, and support health centers in the continuous pursuit of high-quality, patient-centered services. As a fierce voice for members, our vision is equitable and just healthcare for all. Visit us online for more information.

The Michigan Health Endowment Fund’s mission is to improve the health of Michigan residents, with special emphasis on the health and wellness of children and seniors, while reducing the cost of health care. Please visit the Health Fund website for more information.

The Delta Dental Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization established in 1980, which serves as the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and North Carolina. DDF is dedicated to developing and enhancing partnerships and programs to improve oral and overall health and health equity. For more information, visit www.deltadental.foundation.

LANSING–The MPCA’s monthly newsletter for March has been released.

This month’s edition includes updated information on the Public Health Emergency, National Kidney Month with the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, Workforce update, emergency preparedness tip (floods) of the month, and much, much more.

See the latest version of the newsletter here. You can also view past newsletters here.

You can sign up for our newsletter as well as other types of communications tailored to your interest here.