MPCA October Newsletter is out now!

MPCA’s October Newsletter is out now! We have a slew of MPCA Updates including MCHN’s new Credentialing Service, plans for National Apprenticeship Week 2024 and congratulations for 8 of our member health centers that received funding for behavioral health expansion. We highlight learning and survey opportunities and upcoming events. Finally, we provide info on our Endorsed Business Partner, CAREMINDr and shine our Sponsor Spotlight on Aledade.

Read the full Newsletter here.

Sign up for the Newsletter here.

MPCA Partners with OnBoard to Make Member Board Meetings Streamlined and Secure

OnBoard is a HIPAA, and HRSA, compliant board portal, that streamlines governance with a secure board portal featuring a user-friendly design, intuitive meeting creation tools, and real-time collaboration. Whether you’re on the front line saving lives, in a lab making breakthroughs, or managing boardroom operations, OnBoard streamlines your governance responsibilities to drive real lasting value.

To learn more reach out to Rob Lingelbaugh at [email protected] or 317-759-9610.

MPCA Partners with Bio-MED Regulated Waste Solutions to Offer Discounted Waste Management Services to Members

Bio-MED Regulated Waste Solutions is proud to partner with the Michigan Primary Care Association in supporting the health and safety of communities across the state.

With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Bio-MED offers comprehensive and compliant waste management services tailored to the unique needs of healthcare providers. From regulated medical waste disposal to secure document shredding and pharmaceutical waste management, Bio-MED ensures that all waste is handled with the utmost care, protecting both public health and the environment. Their commitment to sustainability and customer service makes us a trusted partner for primary care facilities dedicated to delivering high-quality healthcare in Michigan.

Below is an overview of their services, feel free to contact them by phone at 800-736-2466 or email at [email protected] don’t forget to mention you are with the Michigan Primary Care Association.

  • Medical Waste
  • Sharps Waste
  • Chemotherapy Waste
  • Pharmaceutical Waste
  • Hazardous Waste
  • Compliance Training
  • Document Shredding

Learn more here: https://www.getbiomed.com/mpca/

Michigan, invest in dental therapy programs to diversify oral-health workforce

Dana Obey, recipient of the MPCA Dental Therapist Scholarship and Dental Therapy student at Skagit Valley College in Washington, penned a thoughtful op-ed for Bridge Michigan. She highlights the dental care shortage in Michigan, the success of dental therapy programs in Native American tribes and illustrates the need for a more robust and diverse dental therapy workforce in Michigan.

Read the full article here.

Major Win for Michigan Health Centers: State Budget Includes Significant Medicaid Reimbursement Improvement

MPCA is thrilled to announce that early this morning the legislature passed a state budget that includes the most robust appropriation for improvements in Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Medicaid reimbursement since Michigan’s FQHC Prospective Payment System (PPS) was enacted over 20 years ago.

Health Centers are set to see an increase in Medicaid reimbursement of $40 million in FY 2024-25.  The $40 million appropriation is unprecedented in Michigan health center reimbursement history and is one of the largest new, ongoing provider investments in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services budget.

Many health center staff, board members, patients, and other supporters engaged in persistent work to affect this funding increase, and they were successful in partnering with legislators to prioritize the care health centers provide across the state and ensure an understanding of the financial challenges health centers are facing, which if unaddressed would have led to significant negative consequences for patients.

“This is a huge step forward for Michigan Health Centers, and meaningful progress toward addressing challenges with underfunded Medicaid reimbursement rates health centers have been experiencing for years,” said Phillip Bergquist, CEO of the Michigan Primary Care Association. “Countless numbers of individuals contributed to this effort, whether they told the story of health centers and the people they serve with legislators in Lansing or sent an email from their community about the importance of access to care at a health center. This is truly a collective win, and we share in celebrating it with all of our members, patients, and supporters.”

For more on the state budget, access a summary of major budget investments from Governor Gretchen Whitmer or summaries from the legislature’s fiscal agencies.

Recipient of the MPCA Dental Therapy Scholarship, Dana Obey, shares her story with the Michigan Health Council

Recipient of the MPCA Dental Therapy Scholarship, Dana Obey, shares her journey, from her start as a dental assistant to now studying to become a dental therapist and her goals for the future. She highlights the importance of dental therapists and how she plans to address historical trauma around dental care in tribal communities.

Watch the video below:

Interested in becoming a dental therapist? Learn more about our scholarship program here: https://www.mpca.net/about/dental-therapy-scholarship/

MPCA Takes First Step in Collaborative EHR Project – Opportunity to Join Steering Committee

As part of MPCA’s strategic plan, member organizations came together to support the exploration of a collaboratively selected and supported electronic health record (EHR) and revenue cycle technology ecosystem. The goal of the exploration is to identify a strategic EHR partner to negotiate more sustainable product pricing and position for stronger vendor support, increase available EHR resources and in-state assistance, and improve EHR-related sharing between health centers.

MPCA has developed an exploratory process that will first identify member priorities for the collaborative EHR, second leverage an early request for information to define possible EHR partners, and third utilize a formal request for proposal to narrow those possible partners to a final selection. We’re aiming to conclude the exploration and selection phase by January 2025 and subsequently move into the implementation phase. Throughout the process, there will be four formal opportunities for all members to participate in the exploratory and selection efforts including as part of the final selection (in addition to a variety of less formal updates and discussions along the way).

Today, we’re opening an opportunity to serve on the steering committee for the exploration and selection phase of the project. We’re hoping to recruit a group of representatives from MPCA member organizations to guide this work as it moves forward!

Those interested in joining the steering committee will be asked to commit to the following:

  • Join an initial steering committee meeting on Thursday, May 23, 2024 from 10:00 – 11:30 AM
  • Participate in monthly committee meetings on the 2nd Thursday of each month from 10:00 –  11:30 AM from June to December 2024
  • Participate in 4 full membership engagement sessions designed to keep all members apprised of the apprised of the status of the exploratory and selection phase and offer opportunities for all members to weigh in (May, July, September, November)
  • Conduct detailed review and comment on the following key documents that will be used in the pursuit of this procurement:
    • Health Center Environmental Scan / Priority Identification Survey (Late May, Early June)
    • Request for Information (Late June)
    • Priority Matrix for Scoring / Selection (Mid to Late July)
    • Request for Proposal (Early August)
  • Review vendor responses to the RFI (August) and RFP (October) and provide feedback according to committee-established scoring and selection tools
  • Attend and participate in face-to-face meetings with final selected vendors and validation of scoring to identify proposed vendors (2 days in October or November)

MPCA is looking to incorporate many perspectives in the steering committee, from organizational leaders to staff from a variety of backgrounds who are daily users of EHR and revenue cycle technologies. The committee will include 15 people who are broadly representative of all members in terms of organization size, geography, current technologies used, and more. (Committee participation will be limited to one representative from each member organization to ensure as many organizations as possible can serve.)

If you are interested in serving on the Steering Committee (or know someone who would make a good addition to the committee), please submit an application by COB on May 3, 2024. 

Toney: Create more educational opportunities for dental therapists

Jamie Toney, a recipient of the MPCA Dental Therapy Scholarship, pens a thoughtful op-ed for Detroit News. She shares her own story, how she had to leave Michigan to study Dental Therapy at Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, Washington and how she hopes this changes for future dental therapists.

Read the full article here: https://www.mpca.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Toney_-Create-more-educational-opportunities-for-dental-therapists.pdf

If you’re interested in pursuing a dental therapy career, the MPCA Dental Therapy Scholarship is accepting applications until April 19, 2024. Apply now: https://www.mpca.net/about/dental-therapy-scholarship/

Photo source: American Dental Association

Support for this work was made possible by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

March is Kidney Month for Kidney Disease Awareness

March is Kidney Month, and the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan (NKFM) is on a mission to raise awareness about kidney disease and the risks associated with it. Did you know that over a million Michigan adults have chronic kidney disease, and most don’t know it?

The “Are You The 33%?” campaign aims to shed light on the fact that 33% of adults in the United States are at risk for kidney disease – that’s 1 in every 3 people. Early detection is crucial.

Here are some ways to act now:
1. Visit NKFM’s Kidney Disease page to learn more about the risks and facts.
2. Take the Kidney Risk quiz to find out if you are in the 33%.
3. Share your quiz results with your doctor and ask about getting tested with a simple urine and blood test.
4. Spread the word to family and friends.

Together, we can make a difference! Knowledge is power, and early detection can save lives.
Check out updated resources and learn more about how you can contribute to this important cause at nkfm.org/areyouthe33.

Thank you for joining us in the fight against kidney disease!