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COMMUNITY CLINIC VOICE NEWS DIGEST FOR AUGUST, 2009:

** CCV COMMUNITY
** CALIFORNIA'S SAFETY NET
** CHRONIC CARE
** FUNDING & AWARDS
** HEALTH POLICY & TRENDS
** HEALTH REFORM
** IT & HEALTH CARE
** LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
** OBESITY
** QUALITY
** RULES, REGS, REPORTING
** SCHOOLS & HEALTH
** WORKFORCE
** UPCOMING EVENTS

** CCV COMMUNITY:

VOICE REDESIGN PROJECT: WHAT'S NEW - We are updating the design of the Voice and adding new functionality to respond to improvements requested by our members. Starting later this fall, the site will have a cleaner, more attractive look and some exciting new social networking features. We are also reorganizing to make it easier for you to find the information and resources you need.
http://communityclinicvoice.org/webx?14@@.eeb540d

** CALIFORNIA'S SAFETY NET:

AN OVERVIEW OF RECENT CUTS TO CALIFORNIA'S SAFETY NET - An August, 2009 chartbook from California Budget Project reviews recent funding cuts and policy changes that affect safety-net programs for low-income and vulnerable Californians, including Healthy Families, Community Clinics Programs, Medi-Cal and more. The impact of most of these funding cuts and policy changes is already being felt across California and will be difficult to reverse quickly, writes CBP.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb540c

WHAT WILL POST-BUDGET HEALTH CARE LOOK LIKE IN CALIFORNIA? - The legality of some cutbacks -- those made by Schwarzenegger using the governor's line-item veto authority -- is being challenged in court. But those cuts represent a relatively small portion of the overall reductions about to take place in health and human services programs throughout the state. California State Rural Health Association Executive Director Desirée Rose sees the safety net fraying, especially in rural areas. Carmela Castellano-Garcia, President and CEO, California Primary Care Association, says health care is set back decades by the cuts.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5339

CALIFORNIA HEALTH CUTS MEAN LOSS OF FEDERAL FUNDS - In the latest budget, California's Health and Human Services funding was cut by almost $4 billion, all told. If losses in federal matching funds are considered, the overall financial impact could be twice that. For instance, the state's $178 million funding cut to Healthy Families could result in the state losing an additional $372 million, bringing the total Healthy Families reduction to about $550 million. The federal government pays about $2 for each dollar the state contributes to Healthy Families.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5187

BUDGET CUTS THREATEN CLINICS - A handful of community health clinics around California may shut their doors this month in the wake of the state’s latest budget cuts, according to a recent report from Capital Public Radio. Last month they lost Medi-Cal for patients’ dental care because California cut the benefit. And Governor Schwarzenegger has eliminated state community clinic grants. Potter Valley Community Health Center was forced to close in August.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5143

COALITION OF CLINICS TO SUE GOVERNOR ON BUDGET CUTS - A coalition of low-income individuals, healthcare clinics, and disability support centers announced they are suing Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to restore millions of dollars he slashed in line item vetoes that reduce state funding to sick and disabled individuals and women and children mistreated by domestic violence. Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg also this month announced plans to file a lawsuit charging the governor abused his executive powers when he cut an additional $489 million from a budget revision package last month.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb521f<

APPEAL PLANNED IN MEDI-CAL OPTIONAL BENEFITS LAWSUIT - On August 19 in San Francisco, federal district court judge Phyllis Hamilton turned down a motion in a lawsuit filed by the Medicaid Defense Fund on behalf of persons receiving Medi-Cal services, for a preliminary injunction that would have immediately stopped the elimination and reinstated the nine Medi-Cal optional benefits for adults. The Medicaid Defense Fund said it will immediately appeal the judge’s ruling to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, CPCA reports.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb4ee1

EFFORT TO KEEP KIDS ENROLLED IN HEALTHY FAMILIES - The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a measure to prevent more than 500,000 children from losing coverage under Healthy Families and the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board on August 27 decided to delay plans to disenroll children from the program for another month.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5532

RISING HEALTH PRESSURES IN AN ECONOMIC RECESSION: 360 DEGREE LOOK AT SONOMA - This month, the Kaiser Family Foundation issued several new reports and a video that shed light on the rising toll on American families and the public programs that many depend on to fill the gap during times of crisis. One report focuses on the experiences of families, employers, safety-net providers and community organizations in four U.S. communities hard hit by the recession, including Sonoma, CA.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb4e78

NO-COST CLINIC IN L.A. DRAWS OVERWHELMING RESPONSE - In August, the Remote Area Medical Foundation began an eight-day clinic in Inglewood's Forum arena, where dozens of volunteer physicians, dentists, nurses and other providers offered no-cost medical services to about 1,500 people; but the clinic was unable to provide services to hundreds more. It was the first foray into a major urban setting for RAMF, a trailer-equipped service based in Knoxville TN that works mostly in rural areas of the U.S., Mexico and South America.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb51f1

** CHRONIC CARE: GAPS IN THE SYSTEM: LATINOS, YOUNG ADULTS, AND LOW-INCOME CALIFORNIANS STRUGGLE WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS - California HealthCare Foundation, in conjunction with the nonprofit National Council on Aging, commissioned a survey of adults with at least one chronic illness. The survey revealed barriers to self-care and identified tools that patients need to better manage their health.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb54c5

SHARING THE CARE: THE ROLE OF FAMILY IN CHRONIC ILLNESS - Recognizing the positive effects of family involvement in patient care, clinicians, researchers, and health systems are beginning to develop family-centered programs to support better self-care. An August, 2009 report from the California Healthcare Foundation offers resources for providers and caregivers interested in adopting this new strategy.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb521e

AHRQ NEW SPANISH-LANGUAGE CONSUMER GUIDES ON HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, OSTEOPOROSIS & MORE - Six new Spanish-language guides join three previously published Spanish-language guides on oral medications for type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis and acid reflux disease. The new Spanish-language consumer guides are produced by AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program, the leading federal effort to conduct comparative effectiveness research.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb4fa1

FREE ONLINE CUSTOMIZABLE FAMILY HEALTH HISTORY TOOL - Designed for organizations, but useful for individuals and families, the "Does It Run In the Family?" tool explains why family health history is important, how to talk about it, and outlines health conditions that run in families. It is a complement to other tools - such as the U.S. Surgeon General's "My Family Health Portrait" - that collect health information.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb54ff

** FUNDING & AWARDS: HITECH PRIORITY GRANTS PROGRAM ROLLOUT - The Health Information Technology Extension Program will fund dozens of Health Information Technology Regional Extension Centers across the country to support clinicians in meaningful use of certified EHR systems. A second program will help States and Qualified State Designated Entities (SDEs) to develop or align the necessary policies, procedures and network systems to assist electronic information exchange within and across states, and ultimately throughout the health care system.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb53da

STIMULUS FUNDS INCENTIVES FOR ORAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO ADOPT EHRs - As with medical practices, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provides financial incentives for oral health care providers who adopt a certified electronic health record. The application period began June 5, 2009, and ends September 30, 2010, or when all funds have been expended.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5502

KRESGE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES HEALTH CLINIC OPPORTUNITY FUND, SAFETY-NET ENHANCEMENT INITIATIVE - National program will make grants from $75,000 to $150,000 per year to build the operational capacity of free clinics, public health clinics, and federally qualified health center "look-alikes." Round 1 applications are due September 4, 2009; Round 2 applications due March 1, 2010. The Safety-Net Enhancement Initiative launches September 1 to reduce health disparities within vulnerable communities. These two new initiatives join Kresge's an existing Safety-Net Facility Improvement initiative and Relief Loan Fund for Human Service Agencies Impacted by Economic Crisis.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb503e

ACTION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: EQUITY THROUGH QUALITY IMPROVEMENT -The UCSF Center for the Health Professions ACTION program is accepting applications for technical assistance and seed funding from organizations looking to address equity of care using quality improvement approaches. Seed funding is available to catalyze organizations' ability to initiate change. Proposals will be accepted through the end of 2010. The San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium is among ACTION's first round of grantees; they are undertaking a project title: Using Quality Improvement for Validating Race and Ethnicity Data and Improving Care in Community Health Centers.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb3c02

FUNDING TO ENSURE CALIFORNIANS ARE COUNTED IN 2010 CENSUS - The California Endowment announced that it will make $4 million in grants towards a statewide campaign that will promote the importance of participating in the Census, particularly in ten "hard to count" communities throughout the state. The California Community Foundation announced it will offer grants to nonprofit organizations to promote Census participation in Los Angeles County's hard-to-count communities.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5599

CHANGEMAKERS: RETHINKING MENTAL HEALTH, IMPROVING COMMUNITY WELLBEING COMPETITION - Online open-source competition is designed to help address the social stigmas that surround serious mental illnesses and prevent access to care. The deadline is October 14.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5035

ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH LEADERS PROGRAM- Awards of $125,000 will be given to ten outstanding and otherwise unrecognized individuals. Deadline for brief nominations is October 15.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5536

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SOLUTIONS AWARDS PROGRAM - The program provides cash awards of $10,000 each in recognition of existing programs and/or innovations. Applications due November 17. http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb513e

RGK FOUNDATION GRANTS IN MEDICINE & HEALTH - The Foundation's interests within Health/Medicine are programs that promote the health and well-being of children and families, programs that promote access to health services, and, on a more limited basis, medical research programs. The focus within Community includes a broad range of human services, community improvement, abuse prevention, and youth development/educational enrichment programs. Open deadline.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eea8baa

RECOVERY ACT FUNDS TO EXPAND HEALTH PROFESSIONS TRAINING - HHS announced the availability of $200 million to support grants, loans, loan repayment, and scholarships to expand the training of health care professionals. The funds are part of the $500 million allotted to HRSA to address workforce shortages under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb4e62

For more current grant & RFPs, see:
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/Financial/Current%20Grants%20%26%20RFPs

$25.7 MILLION TO EXPAND, IMPROVE HEALTH CENTER SERVICES - Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius this month announced grants for expanded behavioral health, enabling services, and oral health, as well as comprehensive pharmacy services and health center planning grants. California awards are listed at:
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb53ba

GRANTS.GOV OFFERS NEW INFORMATION,WEBINARS ON APPLYING FOR ALL ARRA FEDERAL GRANTs -. A new box on the home page of the federal government's Grants.gov Web site gives one-click access to all current grant opportunities under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act from all 26 federal grant-making agencies, as well as recorded webinars for grant applicants.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5005

SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND FAQs - The Corporation for National and Community Service has recently published answers to frequently asked questions about the forthcoming Social Innovation Fund. Authorized by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, the fund will award grants in the range of $1 to $10 million to existing grantmaking institutions to provide subgrants to nonprofit community organizations to expand or replicate proven initiatives or to develop new initiatives for underserved populations. It is anticipated that a Notice of Funding Opportunity will be posted in Fall 2009 for funding to be awarded in Spring 2010.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb48a3

COMMUNITY HEALTH FUNDING GUIDE - National Association of County and City Health Officials provides a yearly Funding Guide by State; each month features a different community health topic such as Access to Care, Adolescent Health, Chronic Disease, etc.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb52f9

** HEALTH POLICY & TRENDS: STUDY: HEALTH CENTERS YIELD EXTRAORDINARY SAVINGS - The U.S. healthcare system would save $212 billion in the ten years from 2010 to 2019 if Community Health Centers are expanded to serve 20 million more patients, according to new research being released this week by George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. Medicaid savings alone would total $59 billion.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb55c9

HEALTHCARE @ MOMENTUM 2009 CONFERENCE, SEPT 7-9 IN SAN FRANCISCO - Momentum's Healthcare Briefing will feature Crystal Hayling from Blue Shield Foundation, Roger Hickey of Campaign for America’s Future, and Anthony Wright of Health Access; moderated by Tom David of the Community Clinics Initiative. Healthcare is just one of the salient issues at Momentum, which also include Capital, Carbon, Work, Rights, Conflict, Connections, and more.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5220

POST KATRINA: THE DEADLY CHOICES AT MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER - When the floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina marooned Memorial in Uptown New Orleans, a well-regarded doctor was charged with hastening the deaths of some patients by injecting them with lethal doses of drugs. After a grand jury declined to indict physician Anna Pou, she helped write and pass three laws in Louisiana that offer immunity to health care professionals from most civil lawsuits, though not in cases of willful misconduct, for their work in disasters. The argument Pau makes, that medical workers should be virtually immune from prosecution for good-faith work during devastating events and that lifesaving interventions, including evacuation, shouldn’t necessarily go to the sickest first, deserves close attention now, as health officials are weighing, with little public discussion and insufficient scientific evidence, protocols for making these kinds of agonizing decisions.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5538

THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT'S BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES LAUNCHES CALCONNECT SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE - As part of its new, 10-year strategic direction of Building Healthy Communities: California Living 2.0, The California Endowment has launched CalConnect, a social networking site to share experiences and information with the 14 communities selected for this initiative, policymakers and health experts throughout the state. The Endowment this month announced the appointment of Anthony B. Iton, M.D., J.D., MPH, as Senior Vice President of Healthy Communities for the foundation’s 10-year effort to create communities where children are healthy, safe and ready to learn. http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5538

ONLINE NETWORK FOR PRIMARY CARE TRANSFORMATION TO MEDICAL HOME - The American Academy of Family Physicians, this month announced the launch of Delta-Exchange, a first-of-its-kind collaborative networking site dedicated to helping primary care practices implement the patient-centered medical home model of care.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5376

HEALTH CARE PROVISIONS IN FEDERAL STIMULUS- Six months after the signing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the federal government continues to make progress on several health care provisions included in the federal stimulus package. An update from California Healthline summarizes significant recent developments in Health IT, Medicaid/FMAP, Work Force Training and Development, Broadband, Community Health Centers, Rural Health, Prevention and Wellness, and Comparative Effectiveness Research.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb54f8

NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVE TO STOP THE SPREAD OF TEEN DATING VIOLENCE- A study by the Violence Prevention Project reveals that half of all sixth graders say they are dating and 42% of these children report being victims of physical dating violence. Start Strong: Building Healthy Teen Relationships is the largest initiative ever funded to target 11- to 14-year-olds to promote healthy relationships. Strong Start sites in California are Family Violence Law Center. Oakland and Peace Over Violence, Los Angeles.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5501

THE TRANSPORTATION PRESCRIPTION: BOLD NEW IDEAS FOR HEALTHY, EQUITABLE TRANSPORTATION REFORM IN AMERICA - The upcoming federal transportation bill authorization - an over $500 billion investment that will set transportation policy and funding in the U.S. for the next six years – presents an enormous opportunity to improve health and promote equity through our transportation system. This report by PolicyLink and the Prevention Institute, is a guide to how healthy, equitable transportation policies can improve the quality of life for everyone, and in particular for vulnerable communities.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5147

HEALTH CARE FOR CALIFORNIA FARMWORKERS: A CONSENSUS REPORT - A healthy and stable workforce is essential to California’s $39 billion agricultural industry. However, health care for California’s agricultural employees has historically been limited: employer-based health coverage is an exception, rather than the rule, and few are eligible for public programs. Many farmworkers simply do not get any health care at all, according to a study from The California Endowment.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb4f1b

OPPORTUNITY IN ACTION: MAPPING FOR HEALTH ADVOCATES - The Opportunity Agenda, in collaboration with the Health Policy Institute at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, has released a body of research that explores best practices for integrating maps into health advocacy. Using Maps to Promote Health Equity provides research and case studies, while presenting key strategies for effective use and overcoming technical hurdles.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb50a0

CENSUS RELEASES NEW COUNTY DATA: 20% OF LOW-INCOME CALIFORNIANS UNINSURED - About one in five California residents whose incomes are at or below 200% of the federal poverty level had no health coverage in 2006, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The data also showed that there are 218 U.S. counties with more than 250,000 residents in which at least 50% of low-income residents were uninsured.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb503f

THE STATE OF HIV PREVENTION ACROSS THE U.S.; CALIFORNIA SLASHES PREVENTION FUNDS- The overall level of spending for HIV prevention in the U.S. has been essentially flat since F) 2004, and the absolute amount of money we spend on HIV prevention is quite small nationally and on a state-by-state basis, according to a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation and the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors. California this month cut its HIV prevention spending drastically - by more than 80% in state funds, bringing total HIV prevention spending in California from about $50 million to $18 million.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5036

** HEALTH REFORM: LEADING HEALTH FOUNDATIONS SAY PREVENTION IS VITAL TO HEALTH SYSTEMS REFORM - A letter released by the heads of The California Endowment, The Kresge Foundation, Nemours, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, says that prevention measures like early health screenings and improved access to healthy food and exercise will save both lives and money.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5338

HHS STATE-BY-STATE REPORTS ON HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM BENEFITS - Secretary Sebelius this month released a series of new state-by-state reports outlining how health insurance reform will improve health care compared with the status quo.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb50e0

HEALTHY San Francisco Seen as Model for National Health Reform - The city’s plan that offers health care for uninsured residents demonstrates one approach to providing health care for those without insurance, according to a report from New America Media. Early assessments show that it is cost-effective and may reduce hospital visits.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb529c

HEALTHY SAN FRANCISCO RECEIVES HIGH MARKS FOR PARTICIPANT SATISFACTION - About 94% of Healthy San Francisco participants are at least somewhat satisfied with the program, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation report. Healthy San Francisco now covers about 75% of the city's 60,000 uninsured residents.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb54b5

** IT & HEALTH CARE: PREPARING TO IMPLEMENT HITECH: A STATE GUIDE FOR ELECTRONIC HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE - The State Alliance for e-Health, an initiative of the National Governors Association, has published interim guidelines for states as they begin to implement provisions of the HITECH Act. The guidelines detail eight specific actions states should be taking now.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb52a1

OPEN LETTER TO DAVID BLUMENTHAL ON HITECH FROM COMMUNITY HEALTH FUNDERS - The Community Clinics Initiative and colleagues at Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit and The Kresge Foundation encourage including non-profit community and free clinics in HITECH opportunities, emphasizing that safety net providers practice medicine in a broad array of settings and organizational structures,. Anyone who wants to “sign on” may write to Dr. Blumenthal, David.Blumenthal@hhs.gov, indicating their support.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5248

COMMENT ON HIE GOVERNANCE ENTITY REQUIREMENTS - The California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS) this month issued a draft Request for Information that will determine whether one or more organizations might qualify to be the State’s Health Information Exchange (HIE) Governance Entity. The purpose of the draft was to obtain comments on the requirements for the governance entity. Based on the input received, CHHS may revise the RFI. A final RFI will be released for comment during September.
http://www.chhs.ca.gov/initiatives/HealthInfoEx/Pages/DRAFTRFI.aspx

CA ORGANIZING FOR STATEWIDE HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE - The California Regional Health Information Organization (CalRHIO) and the California e-Health Collaborative (CAeHC) are both hoping to play a lead role in administering federal stimulus funds for health information technology projects in the state. CAeHC's proposal to the state calls for a public-private partnership with collaboration from industry, providers and consumers to oversee health information exchange. Molly Coye of CalRHIO said one of the state's first priorities should be to help areas without information exchange capabilities.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx?14@@.eeb501f

CPCA WHITE PAPER: WHAT COMMUNITY CLINICS AND HEALTH CENTERS NEED FOR SUCCESSFUL HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE IN CALIFORNIA - From the CPCA HIE workgroup, a volunteer workgroup forming as a response to the Federal Stimulus activity and comprised of clinic CEOs, CIOs, policy staff, and many others. This White Paper will serve to inform the larger statewide conversations about an HIE infrastructure and who is chosen as the state-designated entity for the federal stimulus HIE funds.
http://communityclinicvoice.org/webx?50@@.eeb501c!login=true

HIMSS ON ECONOMIC STIMULUS FOR HEALTHCARE IT - The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes billions in provisions for healthcare information technology. HIMSS has updated its analysis of ARRA, Medicare Incentive payments and more:
http://himss.org/EconomicStimulus

TEQI eLIBRARY - Technology Enabled Quality Improvement (TEQI) staff share information on their use of advanced disease management systems. You will find materials used in training and implementation by clinics or consortia that are implementing the i2iTracks disease management system, such as job descriptions of TEQI specialists; descriptions of workflows used by clinics; organizational structures created to implement i2iTracks; lessons learned, and more.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/Information%20Technology/TEQI%20eLibrary

HEALTH IT HELPS BOOST CLINICAL QUALITY IN CALIFORNIA - Although clinical performance varies across California, health IT adoption is associated with higher levels of clinical quality statewide, according to the Integrated Healthcare Association's August, 2009 report on its pay-for-performance program. . Regardless of location, physician groups that implemented health IT systems received higher clinical quality scores than those that did not.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5503

AHRQ TO AWARD $48M IN GRANTS TO DEVELOP PATIENT REGISTRIES - Details will be released this fall on grants for developing national patient registries that can be used in comparative effectiveness research. In total, AHRQ will award $300 million for comparative effectiveness projects funded by the federal economic stimulus package.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5243

TECHNOLOGY-ENABLED INNOVATIONS FOR IMPROVING CHILDREN'S HEALTH - Health IT could help improve children's health, but children's unique needs are not being taken into account as technology advances, according to a study released this month by the Health Technology Center and The Children's Partnership. According to the study, information and communication technology developed primarily for adult populations lacks the functionality to support pediatric care, and underserved children who could gain the most from these tools are the least likely to reap their benefits.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb540e

UC SCHOOLS TO RECEIVE $200M FOR TELEMEDICINE, OTHER BUILDING PROJECTS - State officials have finalized a $199.9 million bond deal with the University of California system to expand telemedicine services and finance building projects at eight campuses, primarily for telehealth projects that allow UC medical experts to provide virtual consultations. http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5033

CCHIT TO DEBUT NEW "MEANINGFUL USE" CERTIFICATION PROGRAM - Although National Coordinator for Health IT David Blumenthal said this month that the final definition for "meaningful use" of electronic health records will not be ready until mid- or late spring 2010, the Certification Commission for Health IT will debut a new certification program in October based on preliminary recommendations from health IT advisory committees. Earlier this month, the Health IT Policy Committee adopted recommendations calling for multiple entities to certify EHR systems, saying it envisions 10 to 12 EHR certification groups, in addition to CCHIT.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb54c6

REGIONAL IMMUNIZATION REGISTRY SET TO LINK UP WITH STATEWIDE NETWORK - Riverside and San Bernardino county public health officials are working to connect a Web-based regional immunization registry to a statewide network.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb538a

** LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS: CLINIC LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE - CLI, a project of Blue Shield of California Foundation, prepares emerging leaders of California's community clinics and health centers to be effective and passionate agents of change in today's rapidly evolving health care environment. Apply by Oct 31.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb53b9

** OBESITY: NATIONAL POLL ON CHILDREN'S HEALTH FINDS OBESITY REMAINS NO. 1 PROBLEM FOR KIDS IN 2009 - Public concern about childhood obesity is on the rise and it continues to outrank all other health problems as the No. 1 concern for children in the U.S., according to a poll released this month. Drug Abuse, Smoking and Bullying followed as the other top concerns. Stress was new to the list in 2009, and was especially of concern for children in lower-income communities.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5346

MOST INFLUENTIAL CHILDHOOD OBESITY RESEARCH: POLL SHOWS ENVIRONMENT, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY MATTER - The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation asked readers for their take on the most influential childhood obesity research for the past year. The results are in, and the five articles receiving the most votes demonstrate high awareness of the importance of environment, addressing issues like the proximity of fast-food restaurants to schools.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb47b5

** QUALITY: HEALTH CARE QUALITY IN CALIFORNIA: FACTS & FIGURES - The California HealthCare Foundation's Health Care Almanac shows that California's results are mixed in comparison to national averages, suggesting room for improvement in a number of key areas. California performs better than the national average on a number of maternal and child health measures, including on birth-related traumas, but trails in the care of older populations. The state's performance on prevention measures also varies, with good showings on preventing hospitalization for conditions that can be treated in an ambulatory setting, but poor performance on vaccinations for elderly patients.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb53d2

** RULES, REGS & REPORTING: HRSA ISSUES DRAFT PIN ON HEALTH CENTER GOVERNANCE; COMMENTS DUE OCT 26- The purpose of the draft PIN is to convey and clarify HRSA’s policy regarding Health Center Program statutory and regulatory governance requirements for all Health Center Program grantees; provide clarification regarding board requirements for public centers under co-applicant arrangements; and outline eligibility and qualifying expectations for HRSA approval of a governance waiver for the fifty-one percent consumer/patient majority governance requirement for eligible Section 330 grantees and FQHC Look-alikes.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb540b

HHS FINALIZES RULE ON PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF PATIENT DATA BREACHES - HHS Office for Civil Rights issued a final rule requiring health care providers to promptly alert patients of health record security breaches. The rule takes effect 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register on 8/19/09. The agency also opened a 60-day public comment period on the rule.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb557a

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE MATERIALS, WEBINARS ON ARRA REPORTING - As a condition of receiving funds provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), recipients must follow very specific reporting requirements. The federal government has posted new technical assistance materials to aid grantees in submitting their ARRA government-wide reports. Recipients of ARRA funds can now register at http://www.federalreporting.gov as the first step in the reporting process mandated by ARRA.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb4fa2

CHANGES IN UNIFORM DATA SYSTEM (UDS) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS- HRSA in July 2009 issued Program Assistance Letter (PAL) 2009-10 to describe changes related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and other UDS reporting requirements for Calendar Year 2009.
http://bphc.hrsa.gov/policy/pal0910/pal0910.htm

ESTABLISHING AND COLLECTING FEES FOR HEALTH CENTER SERVICES - NACHC has published a detailed analysis on the setting of an appropriate schedule of fees and a corresponding schedule of discounts off fees that are required to be made available to eligible patients.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb50d2

CMS FACT SHEET ON ICD-10 - This explanation of structural differences between between the existing ICD-9 code sets and ICD-10, which must be implemented by Oct. 1, 2013, lists a dozen recommendations for implementation planning, confirms continued use of CPT codes for ambulatory and outpatient Medicare fee-for-service claims, and gives several examples of the vastly expanded ICD-10 code sets.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb212c2

** SCHOOLS & HEALTH: ALLIANCE FOR A HEALTHIER GENERATION HONORS HEALTHY SCHOOLS - Cesár Chavez Middle School in Lynwood, CA was honored for transforming the food offerings in the school. The Alliance's Healthy Schools Program helps schools develop and implement policies and practices to promote healthy eating and increase physical activity.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5500

UPDATED GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOLS FOR FLU SEASON AND INFLUENZA IMMUNIZATION TOOLKIT - Updated federal guidelines offer state and local public health and school officials a range of options for responding to 2009 H1N1 influenza in schools, depending on how severe the flu may be in their communities. The guidance and associated toolkit are available at:
http://www.flu.gov/plan/school/index.html

SCHOOL-LOCATED INFLUENZA IMMUNIZATION TOOLKIT - The National Association of County and City Health Officials school influenza immunization toolkit is a comprehensive collection of information, best practices, and lessons learned from health departments working with schools to conduct school-located influenza immunization clinics.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb52f9

** WORKFORCE: UNDERSTANDING AND PREVENTING HIGH TURNOVER RATES OF NEW NURSES - More than one-quarter of all new nurse graduates leave their first job out of school within two years, according to a new study funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that finds job pressures may be causing the rapid turnover. A related study, “Wisdom at Work: Retaining Experienced Nurses,” finds that a number of health care organizations lowered turnover rates among experienced nurses by making a concerted effort to improve nurse morale and productivity. The Institute of Medicine and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's new "The Future of Nursing" Initiative seeks to identify solutions of nursing care that will not only address many of the issues facing the profession but also transform the way Americans receive health care.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5020

HHS ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT NURSES - HHS this month released$13.4 million for loan repayments to nurses who agree to practice in facilities with critical shortages and for schools of nursing to provide loans to students who will become nurse faculty. The funds were made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb51f0

AAFP SEES BIG SHORTAGE IN PRIMARY CARE - The number of U.S. medical school students choosing primary care as their specialty has declined by 51.8% since 1997, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. The group says they expect a shortage of 40,000 family physicians by 2020. The drying up of the pipeline is a big concern, as the current environment is attracting only half the number needed of primary care physicians to meet the demand.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5375

IOM REPORTS ON FUTURE OF ORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE - The current oral health workforce fails to meet the needs of many segments of the U.S. population, according to a newly released report by the Institute of Medicine. Variability in access to oral health services is often related to geography, insurance status, sociodemographic characteristics, and income levels. Challenges include a lack of coordination and integration among the oral health, public health, and medical health care systems; misaligned payment and education systems that focus on the treatment of disease rather than prevention; the lack of a robust evidence base for many dental procedures and workforce models; and regulatory barriers that prevent the exploration of alternative models of care.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb50bc

** UPCOMING EVENTS: For more information on all events, or to post your own announcements, please see the Voice calendar:
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx?dispcal@@.eea464e!m=09&y=2009

SEPTEMBER is National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month

September 1, 8 & 15 - CPCA Introduction to Coding Online Series

September 3 - First California Diabetes Summit, Sacramento

September 7-9 - Tides Momentum Leadership Conference, San Francisco

September 8 - eHI Webinar: Developing a National Framework for HIT Technical Assistance

September 9 - ARRA Health Center Quarterly Report Online Q&A

September 10 - Statewide Health Information Technology and Exchange Stakeholder Call

September 10-11 - Northwest Medical Informatics Symposium, Spokane, WA

September 11 - NACHC's First Health Center Tele-Town Hall: Health Reform & CHCs (new date)

September 11 - La Maestra's Annual Golf Tournament, San Diego

September 15-19 - HIPAA Summit & Internet Event, Washington, D.C. & online

September 17 - Welcome to the Community Clinic Voice: Free Guided Tour Webinar

September 17 - How To Advocate for Better Health Care in Your Community, San Mateo

September 23-27 - American Telemedicine Association Meeting, Palm Springs

September 24-25 - HRSA EHR Regional Training, Santa Rosa

September 24-25 - Using QI to Implement an EHR, Sacramento

September 24 - A Cost Saving Alternative to Unemployment Taxes - Free Webinar (also offered Sept 30 and Oct 13 & 15)

September 28-29- IMPACT Training: Depression Treatment, Seattle, WA

September 28- 30 - Western Clinicians Network CMO / CDO Leadership "Boot Camp," Oakland

September 30 - Quality Improvement - Mastermind Train the Trainer, SFO Burlingame

September 30 - Techniques to Engage Clinicians in Improving Care, SFO Burlingame

September 30- October 1 - Telemedicine Course, UC Davis

October 1-2 - CPCA Annual Conference, SFO Burlingame

October 6-7 - School Wellness Conference, Anaheim

October 6-7 - Health 2.0 Conference, San Francisco

October 8-10 - National Conference on Health and Domestic Violence, New Orleans

October 13 & 15 - Results Accountability Workshops with Mark Friedman, Sacramento

October 22-24 - Collaborative Family Healthcare Assoc Conference, San Diego

October 25- 27 - National Association of Free Clinics Annual Summit, San Diego

October 29 - Center for Community Health Downtown Los Angeles Grand Opening

October 29-30 - IHI's Triple Aim: Optimizing Health Care Resources for the Good of a Population, Boston, MA

November 4-5 - HRSA Telehealth Regional Training, Arcata

November 9-11 - Certified Professional in Electronic Health Records and Health Information Exchange Training, UCLA

November 13 - Diabetes Overview Training, Oakland

November 14 - World Diabetes Day, Walk with Awareness in Petaluma

November 14-18 - AMIA Annual Symposium, San Francisco

November 17-20 - California State Rural Health Conference, Sacramento

December 2 - SAVE THE DATE! Community Clinic Voice Members Meeting, Oakland (Registration opens later this month)

For more information on all events, or to post your own announcements, please see the Voice calendar:
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx?dispcal@@.eea464e!m=09&y=2009