MPCA Preparing to Launch Children’s Health Insurance Enrollment Initiative

by:  Phillip J. Bergquist, CHIPRA Program Manager, MPCA

There are many reasons 150,965 of Michigan’s children don’t have health insurance coverage – parents have lost their jobs, employer-sponsored coverage has been eliminated or it simply costs too much.

Yet thousands of families are eligible for low-cost or free health insurance for their children and haven’t taken advantage of the opportunity.

An overwhelming group of these eligible families think they can’t get health insurance coverage because they make too much money.

Wrong! The majority of children covered by MIChild, Michigan’s Childrens Health Insurance Program, come from working families. In fact, a family of four making up to $41,000.00 a year may be eligible.

Misconceptions like this one and other barriers are keeping Michigan families and children from taking advantage of the health insurance coverage they need … that’s where we come in.

MPCA is preparing to launch a bold, grassroots initiative in communities across the State of Michigan to find these eligible children and get them enrolled! Working through the Community HealthCorps program MPCA will bring Enrollment Specialists to community centers, schools, migrant camps, churches, homeless shelters and Community Health Centers from Marquette to Detroit to work with local organizations and get children covered.

We want to impact the lives of 12,000 children in the next two years and hope this movement spreads beyond our program to bring the number of uninsured children in Michigan to O.

We, of course, can’t do it alone…

are you interested in getting involved?

From hosting an Enrollment Specialist in your Health Center to linking MPCA to a community or group that needs assistance there are many ways you can help.

Contact Us today if you would like to be a part of this exciting opportunity.

Today Marks World AIDS Day

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) announced today, World AIDS Day, that for the fourth consecutive year Michigan is experiencing significant increases in HIV among teenagers. This is a trend that is occurring nationally as well.

The rate of new diagnoses among 13-19 year olds in Michigan more than doubled between 2003 and 2007. Of the 13 to 19 year olds diagnosed with HIV/AIDS between 2003 and 2007, 85% were and almost 62% were African American males having sex with males. African Americans make up 14% of Michigan’s population, but accounted for 60% of all cases of HIV/AIDS diagnosed in 2007 with a rate more than 10 times higher than that among whites.

This data highlights the importance of prevention efforts through health education/risk reduction, early diagnosis, and proper treatment for those found to be infected.

Several Michigan Community Health Centers—such as Detroit Community Health Connection in Metropolitan Detroit, St. Mary’s Health Care Community Health Centers in Grand Rapids, Covenant Community Care in Detroit, and Health Delivery, Inc. in Saginaw—receive Ryan White CARE Action Title III Early Intervention Services program funding to provide a comprehensive continuum of outpatient HIV primary care services. These services include HIV screening, counseling, and testing; medical evaluation and clinical care; other primary care services; and referrals to other health services.

Click here for a list of World AIDS Day events and activities taking place across Michigan. For more information on HIV/AIDS in Michigan, visit the Michigan Department of Community Health web site at http://www.michigan.gov/hivstd.

Michigan Community Health Center Executive Director Honored for Leadership

Source:  Peter Phelps, Senior Manager, Marketing Services, Battle Creek Health System

AJ Jones, ND, president & CEO of the Family Health Center of Battle Creek (FHC), received the 2009 Dale G. Griffin Healthcare Leadership Award. This accolade, which recognizes exemplary contributions that improve the quality and accessibility of health care in greater Battle Creek, is presented annually by Battle Creek Health System.

“AJ has long been an advocate for those who thought they had no voice in personal health care,” says Denise Brooks-Williams, president and CEO of Battle Creek Health System. “He is a champion and believer that all people should have access to quality health care, with respect for their personal dignity, without regard of income level or ethnic background. He leads a dynamic organization that does some amazing things for those in need. He is a most worthy winner of this prestigious award.”

Speaking about Dr. Jones, Dr. John JH Schwarz, former U.S. representative, state senator, mayor of Battle Creek, member of the BCHS medical staff, and past winner of the Griffin Award says, “We are indeed fortunate to have AJ Jones helping others as he does. He is someone who has contributed so very much to the health and wellbeing of the residents in our community.”

A Michigan native, Dr. Jones holds a Doctorate of Nursing and Master’s of Science in Nursing degrees from the Rush University College of Nursing in Chicago, Illinois, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the Michigan State College of Nursing. His professional experiences include public and private health care administration as well as direct patient care. He was an assistant clinical nurse manager in Kalamazoo before coming to Battle Creek in 1987 when he began work at Visiting Nurse Services. He served as a case manager and consultant in Grand Rapids from 1990-1992, before returning to Battle Creek as director of operations at the Family Health Center. Soon thereafter, he was named FHC president and CEO, a position he has held since 1992.

Dr. Jones has worked with community leaders to address serious challenges facing Battle Creek due to a critical shortage of obstetrical and gynecological physicians. He achieved approval by Bureau of Primary Health Care/Health Resource and Service Administration to add OB/GYN services to the center’s scope of service delivery. He has spearheaded two major drives to expand the current Battle Creek facility by more than 30,000 square feet to accommodate the new OB/GYN services, the center’s physical capacity for pediatrics and family practice exam rooms, and increase the dental area from 10 to 20 exam rooms and chairs. Under his leadership, FHC is in the process of converting from paper files to electronic health records.

The Griffin Award is named in honor of longtime community leader and volunteer Dale G. Griffin who died following a battle with cancer in 2001.

Past winners of the award include Chris Christ (2001); Charles Seifert, MD (2002); John JH Schwarz, MD (2003); Jack Mawdsley, EdD (2004); Joseph M. Stewart (2005); Rick Tsoumas (2006); John Girardot, M.D. (2007); and Barbara L. Comai and William B. Comai, MD (2008).

Battle Creek Health System, sponsored by two parent organizations—Trinity Health (the fourth largest Catholic health system in the U.S. with 21 hospitals, 9 nursing homes, 19 senior house facilities, 8 home health care agencies, and 4 hospices in Michigan alone) and BCHS Community Partners, is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Battle Creek Health System, a member of the Mercy Cancer Network, is a recipient of the 2008 HealthGrades Orthopaedic Surgery Excellence Award(tm) and 2009 Five Star rated for joint replacement surgery and total knee replacement. HealthGrades is a leading health care information company that provides objective ‘report card’ ratings nationwide. BCHS provides excellent health care for the community and promotes wellness for the whole person with access and compassion for all. For the latest medical information, visit the BCHS web site at www.bchealth.com or call the BCHS Marketing Department at (269) 966-8132.

In response to the announcement, Michigan Primary Care Association’s executive director, Kim Sibilsky, said, “AJ Jones is a true leader in primary care services to the underserved, an innovator, and an advocate extraordinaire. We applaud Battle Creek Health System for recognizing one of Michigan’s best.”

State Representative, Gubernatorial Candidate Calls for Restructuring Michigan’s Outdated Tax System to Increase Revenue

For quite some time, a coalition of organizations including the Michigan Primary Care Association have been advocating for the dire need to restructure the state’s tax system to generate more revenue. Lack of revenue has caused severe cuts to the state’s health and human services, putting residents’ health and quality of life at risk.  This week, State Representative and gubernatorial candidate Alma Wheeler Smith (D-Salem Township) unveiled a $6.5 billion tax reform proposal that would bring fiscal relief to the state.

Smith’s proposal includes a sales tax on services and enacting a graduated income tax. This revenue would enable the state to reinstate funding for key areas cut in the current state budget, including Medicaid, revenue sharing, and K-12 education. It would also eliminate various business tax credits and exemptions to the tune of $3 billion, put forth an initiative before voters on the November ballot to enact a graduated income tax, and extend the sales and use tax to services and lower it from 6% to 5.5%.

Just two weeks ago, the Pew Center on the States released a report showing that Michigan’s current tax code exempts some of the most prosperous segments of the economy and few services are subject to sales taxes. Click here to read a commentary on the report titled “Loss of Jobs, Outdated Tax Structure Make Michigan Among Poorest States” by MPCA’s Director of State Policy.

Smith currently serves on the House Appropriations Committee and was on the Senate Appropriations Committee for eight years. She is one of three Democrats and six Republicans who have announced their candidacy for governor in 2010 so far.

She is drafting legislation for her proposal and hopes to introduce it in January.

MPCA Clinical Consultant Recognized for Outstanding Achievement in Immunizing Michigan Residents

Carolee Besteman (left), Clinical Consultant at Michigan Primary Care Association, with Laurie Woods from Allegan County Health Department

Dedication, passion, attention to detail – those are the words that describe Carolee Besteman’s unending support of Community Health Center immunization programs.

As Michigan Primary Care Association’s Clinical Consultant, Carolee serves as a resource for Community Health Centers on everything immunization. She educates immunization coordinators and nurses practicing in Michigan Community Health Centers via on-site visits and online tools, and she assesses each Health Center’s immunization programs and then tailors technical assistance to help them continually improve. Since the world of immunizations and recommendations surrounding them is constantly changing, her guidance is invaluable.

“There is something new every day when working with immunizations and special populations. It’s such a great team to work with — staff from the Health Centers, Local Health Departments, the Divison of Immunizations at the Michigan Department of Community Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” said Carolee.

In addition to all that she does on a daily basis, Carolee has been a special advocate for the migrant farmworker community by addressing, not only in Michigan but on a national level, the needs of this special and very mobile population. She believes so strongly in providing protection against preventable diseases that she even dedicated a summer to administering polio vaccine to local residents of small villages in Bangladesh.

“Carolee has dedicated herself to the process of disease prevention by not only providing immunizations but almost more importantly for making sure that others are very well versed in this process as well,” said Ann Avery, MSN, CPNP, FNP-BC, Medical Services Director of Northwest Michigan Health Services, Inc., a Migrant Health Center in northwest Michigan. “She keeps us all aware of new vaccines, what to do during shortages, what vaccine preparations are available in other countries, and how to make the Michigan Care Improvement Registry work for us as well. Without her ongoing expertise and willingness to assist, I know my organization would not be as successful as we are in ensuring that our clients are protected against preventable diseases.”

For her outstanding achievement in immunizing Michigan residents, Carolee is being honored by the Alliance for Immunization in Michigan (AIM). AIM is a coalition of organizations that focuses on improving all facets of immunization services in Michigan. Founded in 1994 in response to Michigan’s immunization rates being lowest in the nation, AIM’s mission is to promote immunizations across the lifespan through a coalition of health care professionals and agencies. Tops on its list is raising the age appropriate immunization levels of all Michigan children to at least 90%; raising awareness among health care providers and the public of the importance of immunization across the lifespan; promoting participation in the Michigan Care Improvement Registry by all health care providers; and expanding AIM coalition education and development.

“Michigan Primary Care Association applauds AIM for recognizing Carolee’s outstanding achievement in immunizing Michigan residents.  We are thankful for Carolee’s dedication to improving the health of individuals and communities as a valued member of the MPCA team, assisting all of Michigan’s Community Health Centers in providing quality, comprehensive primary and preventive health care.” said Rebecca Cienki, MPH, MPCA’s Director of Policy and Planning.

Detroit Health Center Opens in New Location to Serve More People

As more and more people lose their jobs and subsequently their health insurance in today’s poor economic climate that has hit Michigan especially hard, finding quality health care can be challenging, if not daunting. In an effort to ensure more uninsured, underinsured, and homeless people in the Metro Detroit area have access to the comprehensive health care they need, Advantage Health Centers in partnership with The Cathedral Church of St. Paul opened Waller Health Center at a new site on Warren Avenue in Detroit yesterday.

Advantage Health Centers has been serving Metro Detroit residents since 1986, when it opened its doors as Detroit Health Care for Homeless to improve the health status of the most vulnerable and underserved population in the community.  Today it is one of 1,200 Community Health Centers located across the country that provide quality, comprehensive primary and preventive health care at a price that patients can afford because fees are based on income and not contingent on insurance status.

Named in honor of the late Dr. John B. Waller, who in 1986 founded Detroit Health Care for the Homeless to improve the health status of his fellow community members, the Waller Health Center continues to offer a wide array of services that its patients might otherwise not have access to, including family medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, family planning, behavioral health care, substance abuse treatment, HIV/AIDS screening, health screening and education, pharmacy and prescription assistance, oral health referrals, and more.

“Advantage Health Centers is committed to providing quality health care with dignity to help individuals better sustain themselves and their families,” said Joe Ferguson, Executive Director, Advantage Health Centers. “The entire community benefits when their residents are healthy and able to work, learn, and live productive lives.”

Last year the center served 3,400 homeless individuals at more than 9,200 health care appointments. Unfortunately many more had to be turned away because the 5,000 square foot facility at 2395 West Grand Boulevard couldn’t accommodate them. With the move to the new, larger facility next to The Cathedral Church of St. Paul, more staff will be able to see more patients at more appointments. In fact, it is estimated that the Health Center will have the capacity to reach approximately 6,000 homeless persons each year, almost doubling the current number receiving care.

Funding for a portion of the new site’s renovation and equipment came from a grant that Advantage Health Centers received from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Advantage Health Centers also received tremendous support from the City of Detroit and the Michigan Department of Community Health, as well donors and partners.

Today is the Great American Smokeout

Today the American Cancer Society marks the 34th Great American Smokeout by encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. By doing so, smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life—one that can lead to reducing cancer risk and creating more birthdays.

Researchers say that quitting smoking can increase life expectancy—smokers who quit at age 35 gain an average of eight years of life expectancy; those who quit at age 55 gain about five years; and even long-term smokers who quit at 65 gain three years.

Smokers who want to quit can call the American Cancer Society Quit For Life® Program operated and managed by Free & Clear® at 1-800-227-2345 for tobacco cessation and coaching services that can help increase their chances of quitting for good. The Michigan Department of Community Health also offers free or low-cost help for smoking cessation medication. The Michigan Tobacco Quitline offers free telephone coaching to help quit smoking, and callers without insurance may qualify for free nicotine patches. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669).

Research shows that people who stop smoking before age 50 can cut their risk of dying in the next 15 years in half compared with those who continue to smoke. Smokers who quit also reduce their risk of lung cancer—10 years after quitting, the lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker’s. Some of the health effects of quitting are almost instant, too—heart rate and blood pressure drop 20 minutes after quitting.

Important facts about tobacco use:

• Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the U.S.
• Cigarette smoking accounts for about 443,000 premature deaths – including 49,400 in nonsmokers
• Thirty percent of cancer deaths, including 87% of lung cancer deaths, can be attributed to tobacco
• Smoking also accounts for $193 billion in health care expenditures and productivity losses

Michigan Primary Care Association is in the final stage of a HRSA grant supporting the integration of tobacco treatment into Michigan Community Health Centers. Outstanding trainers guided by a steering committee developed a curriculum designed specifically for Community Health Centers following the high standards set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Click here to access the free web-based training opportunities for health care professionals.

New Study Estimates Nearly Half of Americans Could be Obese by 2018

America’s Health Rankings 2009—the longest running annual assessment of the nation’s health on a state-by-state basis sponsored by the United Health Foundation, Partnership for Prevention, and American Public Health Association—shows that 43% of Americans will be obese by 2018 if something isn’t done now. This would cost the health care system $344 billion annually.

Michigan ranks 30^th in the rankings for overall health, and has had a 109% increase in obesity from 14.1% in 1990 to 29.5% in 2009. Researchers estimate that the direct health care cost of obesity for the state is over $3 million; however, if current obesity levels are maintained, in 10 years Michigan could save $6.8 million off a projected $57.968 million health care bill.

On a positive note, in the past five years, the prevalence of smoking decreased from 26.1% to 20.4% of the state’s population, and in the past 10 years, immunization coverage has increased from 46.7% to 76.8% of children between the ages of 19 and 35 months receiving complete immunizations. 

Health professionals at Community Health Centers are on the ground every day helping individuals and families lead healthier lifestyles. In addition to providing comprehensive, quality primary and preventive health care, they also provide health education, weight loss programs, nutrition counseling, smoking cessation programs, and diabetes education and management.

Dan Bradley, a patient at Family Health Center (FHC) of Battle Creek, celebrated his improved health and 150 pound weight loss without surgery or use of medications at the Health Center’s first Wellness Celebration. When he started his lifestyle makeover, Dan was able to walk only very short distances, was taking several medications, and was unable to work. He met with an FHC Express Nurse on a regular basis and with an FHC Holistic Health Educator to learn about good nutrition and exercise.

Dan’s exercise was quite limited in the beginning, and he was only able to walk two or three minutes at a time. With hard work and persistence, Dan eventually was able to increase the amount of time and frequency he exercised. With his new-found knowledge, his high level of self-determination, and strong support from his family, Dan was able to eliminate all medications and go back to work.

Trudy Gauthier, Health Educator at Alcona Health Centers in Oscoda and Lincoln, Michigan, sees first-hand the impact that positive lifestyle changes can make on a person’s overall health. She counsels patients individually about the role of nutrition in maintaining health and preventing and managing chronic diseases, leads group exercise classes, and operates a family weight loss program at Alcona Health Centers’ Teen Health Center.

Click here to learn more about America’s Health Rankings 2009. To learn more about Michigan Community Health Centers, go to www.mpca.net.

People Are Suffering Without Necessary Dental Care

On behalf of concerned Michigan residents and 38 organizations including Michigan Primary Care Association, the Michigan League for Human Services sent the Michigan Legislature a plea this week to restore optional Medicaid benefits. Below is the text of the plea that was sent.

Elimination of Medicaid adult dental services, as well as the other federally defined “optional” services, is causing suffering and threatening the lives of the most vulnerable people in Michigan. Lower-cost prevention care is being sacrificed for questionable short-term savings. Restoring these services could help keep Medicaid adult recipients healthy and save money in the long run.

The July 1 elimination of dental benefits has already had severe consequences. Officials with a dental clinic treating an elderly developmentally disabled woman in Northern Michigan said her condition was complicated by a severe dental infection that they were not able to effectively treat because of the cancellation of dental benefits. She died October 7 in an Alpena hospital.

The family of another disabled Michigan man says he developed a serious oral infection. His teeth were so bad that they posed a risk of choking so they were pulled. Now the man has no ability to get dentures because of the lack of dental benefits. His food intake is limited without teeth and is threatening his health.

In addition, the State of Michigan must defend a lawsuit filed on behalf of 400,000 Medicaid beneficiaries for the cancellation of dental benefits. The lawsuit contends that thousands of Michigan residents with marginal resources will be more vulnerable to debilitating and potentially life-threatening illnesses.

Lower-cost dental services, as well as vision, chiropractic, and podiatric care are necessary to avoid complications that are expensive to treat in Michigan’s emergency rooms or intensive care units.

In addition, for the savings of $5 million state dollars, Michigan will lose $16 million in federal dollars to pay dental providers to provide services in the appropriate setting.

How many deaths or hours of suffering will it take to restore these services to provide lower cost care to protect our most vulnerable citizens from painful, avoidable conditions?

These are just a couple of examples of the impact of these harsh budget cuts. Policymakers must understand that budgets are not just numbers to be balanced on paper, they are about real peoples’ lives and deaths.

See the Detroit News coverage

New Sid the Science Kid Flu Vaccination Special Episode Available for Free Download

A special episode of PBS Kids’ TV show, “Sid the Science Kid,” where Sid explores the science behind flu vaccinations is now available for free download on flu.gov. Click here to download the full episode, in which Sid explains how vaccines work and shows children what they can do to prevent the spread of the flu. This special episode which premiered on PBS on october 26 is the result of a partnership between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research, and the Henson Company and partners.