** COMMUNITY CLINIC VOICE NEWS
** CLINICAL CARE
** DISPARITIES, MULTICULTURAL CARE
** FACILITY DESIGN
** FUNDING & AWARDS
** HEALTH POLICY & TRENDS
** HEALTH REFORM
** IT & HEALTH CARE
** LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
** MEDI-CAL & CHIP
** OBESITY PREVENT
** RURAL HEALTH
** WORKFORCE
** UPCOMING EVENTS
** COMMUNITY CLINIC VOICE NEWS:
YOU'RE INVITED: VOICE MEMBERS MEETING, DEC 2 IN OAKLAND - Register now! - This is a once-a-year opportunity to meet with your fellow Voice members in person. We'll take a guided tour of the newly redesigned Voice site and look forward to hearing your ideas on how to make best use of the site's new social networking capabilities. There is no charge to attend, travel reimbursement available.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5387?14!popup=1&nosubs=1
** CLINICAL CARE:
SELF-MANAGEMENT SUPPORT TRAINING MATERIALS, TOOLKITS - Leaders in self-management support have created materials that explain self-management concepts, techniques and tools.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx?14@@.eeb57ef
HRSA HEALTH IT FOR CHILDREN TOOLBOX - The toolbox a compilation of HIT information targeted at children’s health care needs. Resources in the toolbox range from pediatric electronic medical records to enrollment in children’s health insurance coverage. It is designed for policy makers, providers, insurers, teachers, families and other caregivers.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5d92
SPECIALTY CARE EVALUATION MEASURES WEBINARS: Sept-Oct 2009 - The KP & CHCF Specialty Care Initiative has posted the T.A. webinar agenda and related materials.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb58bb/
**DISPARITIES, MULTICULTURAL HEALTH CARE:
STUDY: WHAT IS THE COST OF NOT ADDRESSING RACIAL HEALTH DISPARITIES? - Racial health disparities cost the United States $229 billion between 2003 and 2006 - money that could help cover an overhaul of the nation's health care system, according to a new report by Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland researchers.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb598d
BREAKING THE LANGUAGE BARRIERS IN HEALTH CARE - For someone with limited English, using typed medication directions instead of hand written directions can make a huge difference in understanding medical instructions, according to a new UC Berkeley. Approximately 6 to 7 million Californians (20%) have limited English proficiency.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5986
TALKING WITH PATIENTS: HOW HOSPITALS USE BILINGUAL CLINICIANS AND STAFF TO CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH LANGUAGE NEEDS - A report from George Washington University describes practices across the country including hospitals in California.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb56fc
MULTICULTURAL HEALTH CARE: A QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE FROM NCQA-The National Committee for Quality Assurance this month launched a Web site designed to help community health centers, health agencies, hospitals and others develop programs aimed at improving disparities in health care.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5cae
HEALTH COVERAGE IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR: THE NEW CENSUS NUMBERS - People of color made up 35% of the U.S. population but 54% of the uninsured. As in years past, every racial and ethnic group had uninsured rates that were higher than the rate for non-Hispanic whites and higher than the national average, reports Families USA.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5d67
CENTRAL VALLEY SHAMAN PROGRAM RECOGNIZE ROLE OF TRADITIONAL HMONG HEALERS -Mercy Medical Center in Merced was among the nation's first to formally recognize the cultural role of traditional healers. Its novel training program to introduce shamans to the principles of Western medicine is being adopted by dozens of medical institutions and clinics across the country that serve immigrant, refugee and ethnic-minority populations.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5b98
MINORITY HEALTH POLICY FELLOWSHIP AT HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH - Designed to prepare minority physician, for leadership roles in formulating and implementing public health policy and practice on a national, state, or community level. January 4, 2010 is the deadline for applications.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5bcO
NEW UC MIGRATION AND HEALTH RESEARCH CENTER - The new center will focus on research to improve the health conditions of migrating people in California and around the world.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5adb
** FACILITY DESIGN:
CLINIC DESIGN - TRANSFORMING PRIMARY CARE ENVIRONMENTS: New Site Helps Safety-Net Clinics Build More Efficient Facilities - A partnership of The Center for Health Design and the California HealthCare Foundation, a new Web site is now in place to help safety-net clinics learn about the latest in building design.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5b67
** FUNDING & AWARDS:
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
2010 JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION LEADERSHIP AWARDS: ADVANCING SOLUTIONS FOR CALIFORNIA’S FUTURE - Award recipients receive $125,000 for their work to benefit the people of California and additional resources for their efforts to share promising approaches to critical state issues with policymakers and practitioners. Nominations are due by October 13; awards will be announced in April 2010.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5d65
ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR PARTNERS INVESTING IN NURSING'S FUTURE - This collaborative initiative addresses nursing issues at the community level through funding partnerships with local and regional foundations. Brief Proposals are due October 29.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5dd66
PATIENT-CENTERED MEDICAL HOME TRANSFORMATION - AHRQ has announced $3.2 million in grant funding to "organizations that propose systematic studies of on-going, successful efforts to transform the delivery of primary care in the U.S." Applications open on October 18; Letters of Intent due October 30, Applications due November 18, 2009.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5a76
STRENGTHENING WOMEN AND FAMILIES AFFECTED By HIV/AIDS - This third grant round from the National AIDS Fund and Johnson & Johnson will award six to eight grants to community-based organizations to create or adapt evidence-based HIV/AIDS prevention interventions that reduce the spread of HIV among at-risk women and girls. Applications due November 2.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5988
NIH GRANT: BUILDING COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR HEALTH RESEARCH - This Recovery Act program will facilitate partnerships between academic health centers and community-based organizations for health science research. The application deadline is Nov 12. Lynn Miner of Miner and Associates provides an outline of this RFA.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5d04
KRESGE FOUNDATION OPENS SAFETY-NET ENHANCEMENT INITIATIVE- Designed to reduce disparities and improve the health outcomes of low-income children and adults by enhancing collaboration among the agencies and institutions providing health and social supports in their communities, this is a four-year initiative consists of a program planning and design phase and a demonstration phase. Applications for the nine-month program planning and design phase are due November 16. Seven to 10 of the planning grant recipients will then be competitively selected to receive a second grant of up to $750,000 each for a three-year period.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb503e
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
HHS COMMUNITIES PUTTING PREVENTION TO WORK INITIATIVE - $650 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be used to increase physical activity, improve nutrition, decrease obesity, and decrease smoking in U.S. communities.
Application deadline for community projects is Dec. 1.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5a7f
FAMILY PACT WAIVER EXTENDED TO DEC 31, 2009 - The California Family Health Council will be openly bidding the Title X funds in California for 2011 grant cycle. All public, nonprofit Family PACT providers are eligible to submit proposals. Applications due in June of 2010.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb18c2
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
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
For more current grant & RFPs, see:
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/Financial/Current%20Grants%20%26%20RFPs/
RECOVERY ACT GRANTS: HEALTH CENTERS QUARTERLY REPORTING MANUAL UPDATED 9/22/09 - Health centers receiving funding under ARRA are required to submit quarterly reports on programmatic progress on these grants. HRSA has updated the second edition of the HCQR Reporting Manual, which replaces the earlier edition issued June 30, 2009.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5bbb
** HEALTH POLICY & TRENDS:
SOARING USE OF FQHCs - Federally funded health centers are on track to handle more than 20 million patients this year, up by more than two million from last year and twice the figure of a decade ago, according to figures from the National Association of Community Health Centers. Researchers at George Washington University estimate that additional funding for CHCs in a House bill would save the health-care system $212 billion to $251 billion over the next decade, in part by reducing the number of visits to hospitals and more highly paid private doctors.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5d6a
NEWLY UNINSURED UP 50% AT CA COMMUNITY CLINICS: THE WORST YET TO COME - California's 800 community clinics and health centers have reported on average a 50% increase in newly uninsured patients this year, according to CPCA. Despite some federal stimulus funding, the increased patient load is straining the already struggling safety net. Four clinics statewide have closed due to the budget cuts. The full impact of the worst of the recession still to come, warns the Economic Policy Institute.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb57ee
THE SAFETY NET AND THE TRANSITION TO COVERAGE FOR CALIFORNIA’S UNINSURED - Federal health reform most likely will exclude undocumented workers, which account for somewhat less than 20% of California’s uninsured. A report from Insure the Uninsured Project examines the methods in which Californians will become insured and the challenges that will still remain.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5d91
MORE CALIFORNIANS LIVING IN POVERTY, LOSING JOB-BASED HEALTH COVERAGE - HHS Secretary Sebelius released a state-by-state analysis of this month’s sobering U.S. Census numbers. More than 5.3 million Californians had incomes below the federal poverty line in 2008, a substantial increase from the previous year. The state's 2008 poverty rate was 1.4 percentage points higher than the national rate, a reversal from 2006. The share of Californians under the age of 65 with job-based health coverage slipped to 56.2 percent, continuing a multiyear downward trend. California Budget Project reviews the newly released Census data documenting rising poverty, declining health coverage for Californians.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5a01
CENSUS DATA FIND WIDE GAPS IN CALIFORNIA INSURANCE COVERAGE: RATES AMONG HIGHEST AND LOWEST IN NATION - One in 10 people lack health insurance in more affluent areas such as Santa Clara County. In contrast, up to one-quarter of the population lacks health insurance coverage in parts of the Central Valley and Southern California regions, which have some of the highest uninsured rates in the nation. Overall, about 17.8% of California residents lack insurance coverage, compared with a national average of 15%. The report found that East Los Angeles, Santa Ana and South Gate rank among the 13 U.S. cities with the highest rates of uninsured residents.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5aee
HEALTH COVERAGE INFORMATION FOR UNEMPLOYED - The California HealthCare Foundation recently joined forces with California First Lady Maria Shriver's WE Connect campaign to help provide consumer information on health coverage for recently displaced workers.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb585d
MEDICARE TO FUND STATE 'MEDICAL HOME' PROJECTS- Pilot projects will provide physicians with financial incentives to coordinate patient care with specialists in an effort to avoid more costly hospital visits.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5a40
ONLINE PRESENTATION DESIGNED TO EDUCATE MEDICAL STUDENTS ABOUT THE PATIENT-CENTERED MEDICAL HOME - The American Academy of Family Physicians and partners have designed two new online resources that explain the patient-centered medical home, and its importance to family physicians.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb568b
INNOVATION AND IMPROVEMENT BEHIND THE SCENES - Leaders at health care innovation organizations nationwide were interviewed to learn more about how the centers operate, the objectives they are pursuing, and some of the challenges they face. The issue brief from CHCF and a video presentation on the Garfield Health Care Innovation Center at Kaiser is available at:
http://www.chcf.org/topics/hospitals/index.cfm?itemID=134067
HIV SCREENING TESTS PROPOSED TO BE ADDED TO MEDICARE’S LIST OF COVERED PREVENTIVE SERVICES; COMMENT BY OCT 9 - HHS announced a new proposal that would cover HIV infection screening for Medicare beneficiaries who are at increased risk.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb585e
HRSA REORGANIZATION OF OFFICE OF PERFORMANCE REVIEW - The OPR, with Regan Crump as Acting Associate Administrator, will now be called the Office of Regional Operations (ORO), reflecting changes in responsibilities that are designed to renew, reinvigorate and re-establish HRSA’s presence in the regions beyond performance reviews.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5d9d
WESTERN CLINICIANS NETWORK ANNOUNCES CLINICAL EXCELLENCE AWARD- Mike Witte, MD, Medical Director of Coastal Health Alliance in West Marin County was presented with the award during the WCN annual meeting this month.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb585f
** HEALTH REFORM:
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE REJECTS PUBLIC HEALTHCARE OPTION - Supporters of a new role for government will try again for a public option when the full Senate votes. Prospects for a public healthcare option are high, writes CSRHA.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5d7e
VICTORY FOR HEALTH CENTERS IN THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE: MATCH ACT ADOPTED - On October 1, the Senate Finance Committee unanimously adopted amendment F9. Among several other provisions, this amendment contained the Medicare Access to Community Health Centers (MATCH) Act, which would remove the cap on Health Center Medicare reimbursement, and provide for appropriate and predictable Medicare payment to FQHCs in the future.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5d9f
WHITE HOUSE REPORT ON COST BENEFIT OF HEALTH REFORM IN CALIFORNIA - A recent White House report finds that health care reform would save the state more than the $2.14 billion. Expanding Medi-Cal to cover an additional 1.7 million state residents would cost $1.95 billion annually. Current proposals call for the federal government to cover the entire cost of the expansion initially and then 90% of the cost down the road, leaving California to pay $195 million annually.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5b9a
WHAT HEALTH REFORM MEANS FOR HEALTH CENTERS AND THEIR PATIENTS - National Association of Community Health Centers provides resources to help CHCs both understand what is happening in Washington and to help you be an effective advocate as the process moves forward. A recording of NACHC's first Tele-Town Hall on health reform is available.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5a7d
BENDING THE CURVE: POLICY EXPERTS ON STEPS FOR CONTAINING COSTS AND IMPROVING VALUE IN HEALTH CARE - To slow spending growth, health reform must include a comprehensive strategy to increase accountability and support for lowering costs while improving quality, according to a group convened by the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform at Brookings, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5674
MAYO EXPERTS: HEALTHCARE REFORM SHOULD FOCUS ON VALUE - The Rochester, Minnesota-based network of clinics is being held up by President Obama and health policy experts as a potential model for healthcare reform, in part because it offers good care at a fair price. Commentary in the New England Journal of Medicine argues for using currently available measurements to devise a "value score" that takes into account patient satisfaction, safety, cost and outcomes -- i.e. did the patient get better?
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5bc1
** INFLUENZA:
NACHC OFFERS HELP WITH FLU SEASON INVENTORIES - National Association of Community Health Centers is working with the Value in Purchasing Program and its partners to identify key items needed for responding to an influx of sick patients and help ensure CHCs the supplies and materials you need for this upcoming flu season.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5bba
STATE TO DISTRIBUTE H1N1 VACCINE NEXT WEEK- The federal government will send California 350,000 doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine in the first round of shipments of the vaccine. Health care providers will begin receiving doses from the state the week of Oct. 5.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5d9e
** IT & HEALTHCARE:
HHS RELEASES RECOVERY ACT HIT FUNDS FOR SAFETY-NET - California recipients of EHR Implementation Initiative Grants are Clinica Sierra Vista and Family Health Centers of San Diego. Alta Med Health Services of L.A. was awarded an HIT Innovation Initiative Grant.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5d74
WILL THE STIMULUS PACKAGE HELP SAFETY-NET CLINICS ADOPT HEALTH IT? AND WHAT ABOUT INCENTIVES FOR DENTISTS? - Kathy Lim Ko and Jane Stafford of the Community Clinics Initiative, Michael Lardiere of the National Association of Community Health Centers and Winston Wong of Kaiser Permanente discuss concerns of whether community clinics and other safety-net facilities will be able to take advantage of the health IT funds in the federal economic stimulus package. Advocates say the government should develop strategies to help community clinics adopt and implement health IT systems. The HITECH Act includes dentists among the "eligible professionals" in line for federal stimulus money. But while efforts are underway to help medical care providers earn incentives if they adopt and make "meaningful use" of certified EHRs, similar efforts on behalf of dentists are less organized.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5d01
HIT COULD REDUCE DISPARITIES IN CARE - Telemedicine and other health IT tools could help reduce health care disparities among low-income and minority populations, said Garth Graham, HHS deputy assistant secretary of minority health, during a keynote speech marking National Health IT Week, Sept 21-25.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5bb2
TELEMEDICINE PILOT TO BOOST DENTAL CARE FOR UNDERSERVED FOSTER CHILDREN- The project aims to facilitate remote consultations to improve children's access to dental care at 15 community locations throughout California.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5b65
HEALTH IT EFFORTS PRIMARILY AIM TO BOOST CARE QUALITY; PRIVACY & SECURITY RECOMMENDATIONS ENDORSED - At the National HIPAA Summit this month, National Coordinator for Health IT David Blumenthal said the federal economic stimulus package's health IT provisions primarily aim to improve the quality of health care; he also stressed that health IT privacy and security will be critical to improving health care quality. The Health IT Standards Committee endorsed work group recommendations on how electronic health records should ensure the privacy and security of health information. The panel outlined specific guidelines for EHRs to meet by 2011 and 2013.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5a75
CMS ISSUES EHR MEDICAID INCENTIVE GUIDANCE - Initial guidance was sent this month to state Medicaid directors on upcoming Medicaid EHR incentive payments. CMS plans to publish proposed regulations to address the steps outlined in this letter by the end of the year.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb56c6
HEALTH IT VENDORS OFFER 'MEANINGFUL USE' COMPLIANCE GUARANTEES - Athenahealth, GE Healthcare and NextGen Healthcare Information Systems have offered guarantees that their products will meet the "meaningful use" requirements of the federal economic stimulus package, although federal officials have yet to issue final rules.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5d76
COMPUTER SKILLS SELF ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR PROVIDERS - Dr. Robert Moore has provided a self assessment tool for determining computer skills of providers prior to EMR implementation.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx?14@@.eeb5aea
THE RESILIENT ORGANIZATION: DISASTER PLANNING AND RECOVERY TOOLKIT - Tech Soup's holistic guide to disaster planning and recovery is intended both for organizations seeking to be better prepared for an emergency and for organizations striving to rebuild and maintain operations after a disaster.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5675
TWO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS HONORED WITH 2009 HIMSS DAVIES AWARD OF EXCELLENCE - The awards, issued by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, recognize excellence through the use of health care information technology, specifically EHRs. In the category of Community Health, Urban Health Plan in Bronx, NY, and Heart of Texas in Waco, Texas won top honors.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5bb9
** LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT:
CLINIC LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS - A signature project of Blue Shield of California Foundation to build the next generation of safety net leaders. Apply by October 31.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb53b9
** MEDI-CAL, CHIP:
RISING HEALTH CARE COSTS AND DECLINE IN STATE REVENUE THREATEN MEDI-CAL'S FUTURE - In just two years, Medi-Cal's share of the state's General Fund spending increased from 17% to 19%, according to an updated report from the California HealthCare Foundation, Medi-Cal Facts and Figures 2009. If not for provisions in the federal stimulus bill state lawmakers likely would have made much deeper cuts to Medi-Cal.
California currently spends 25% less per Medicaid beneficiary than the national average. The number of people on Medicaid and state spending on the program are climbing sharply as a result of the recession, straining state budgets and pressuring officials to curb costs despite increased financial help from the federal government, according to a 50-state survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5d8d
DHCS RELEASES FQHC BULLETINS ON ELIMINATION OF OPTIONAL BENEFITS IN MEDI-CAL; PRESERVATION OF ADHC- The Department of Health Care Services on 9/17/09 released the FQHC-specific Provider Bulletin on the Elimination of Optional Benefits in Medi-Cal to assist in implementing the optional benefit elimination. A U.S. district judge ordered the state to halt cuts to adult day health care services scheduled to take effect last week, saying service reductions could cause "irreparable and imminent" harm to program participants. Advocates hope the successful challenge to these cuts bodes well for other challenges to California's recent budget cuts.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5a43
CALIFORNIA'S HEALTH CARE COVERAGE INITIATIVE: TEN COUNTIES ENHANCE INDIGENT CARE - innovations are supported by the Health Care Coverage Initiative (CI) component of California's Medicaid hospital financing waiver.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb56c5
COURT MAINTAINS BLOCK OF STATE EFFORTS TO CUT MEDI-CAL RATES - A federal appeals court said it will not reconsider a previous injunction blocking state cuts to Medi-Cal reimbursements. The previous ruling concluded that the state did not sufficiently study how the rate reductions would affect beneficiaries' access to care.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5cff
HEALTHY FAMILIES PROGRAM SAVED - Gov. Schwarzenegger signed bipartisan legislation defining a public-private partnership to rescue California's Children's Health Insurance Program, writes Dr. Robert Ross of The California Endowment. As a result more than 670,000 children will be able to maintain access to badly needed health care.
http://www.calendow.org/Article.aspx?id=2416
TWO CA GROUPS WIN HHS GRANTS TO FIND, ENROLL CHILDREN IN CHIP AND MEDICAID - Grantees in California are Providence Little Company of Mary Foundation and Yolo County Children’s Alliance. The awards require that recipients be able to show actual increases in enrollment and retention of children already in the programs.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5d8e
KEY ISSUES IN MEDICAID HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES AND SUPPORT - Two new briefs from the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured examine current issues in providing more people who need long-term care services and supports access to these Medicaid services in home and community-based settings rather than in institutional ones.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5a41
MAKING THE MOST OF THE NEW CHIP - In a new Commonwealth Fund report, child health care experts offer recommendations for improving CHIP outreach and enrollment as well as the quality of care enrollees receive. Among them are: giving funding priority to states that will adopt or maintain key enrollment simplifications, ensuring that quality measures focus on children's priority health care needs, and building quality measurement and improvement capabilities into electronic health information systems.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5a0f
WHAT'S NEXT FOR CHIP-FUNDED ADULT COVERAGE- The latest in a series on implementation of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 from Families USA examines changes in coverage for parents and for adults without dependent children.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb57b9
** OBESITY PREVENTION:
HEALTHY COMMUNITIES ACTION STRATEGIES TOOLKIT - The Leadership for Healthy Communities collects current best approaches in providing for more physical activity, improving school food options, supporting local food networks, and other ways communities and schools can change to help reduce rising rates of childhood obesity and related health risks.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5bb3
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTIONS TO PREVENT CHILDHOOD OBESITY - The Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Childhood Obesity Prevention Actions for Local Governments reccommends action steps for local government officials to consider in their efforts to prevent childhood obesity in their community. The Time for Lunch campaign argues that underfunded school lunch programs push schools to fast food and junk food that endangers children's health. A free booklet, Mapping School Food: a Policy Guide, offers ideas and resources for changing school policies.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5694
UCLA RESEARCH SHOWS DIRECT LINK BETWEEN SODA AND OBESITY - While the link between obesity and soda consumption has been long suspected, research released this month provides the first scientific evidence of the potent role sugar-sweetened beverages play in Californians' expanding girth.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5ae3
STUDY: PRIMARY CARE POLICIES FOR CHILDHOOD OBESITY NEED TO BE IMPROVED - According to a study in the British Medical Journal, brief, physician-led primary care intervention produced no long-term improvement in children's BMI, physical activity or nutrition. The authors say resources may be better divided between primary prevention at the community and population levels, and enhancement of clinical treatment options for children with established obesity.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb57ae
**RURAL HEALTH:
PHYSICIAN PAYMENT AMENDMENT TO REDUCE DISPARITIES IN RURAL AREAS - The Senate Finance Committee passed Senator Grassley’s Geographic Practice Cost Indices (GPCI) amendment to reduce disparities in physician payments in rural areas. This is a huge step to help ensure rural America’s access to health care providers, writes California State Rural Health Association.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5d93
IMPROVING MEDICARE RATES FOR RURAL PROVIDERS - To protect the rural health care safety net, Congress must not its cede authority over Medicare adjustments to a commission that may fail o recognize the unique needs of rural health care delivery, writes CSHRA.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5d02
SUCCESS STORY REPORT: HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STRENGTHENS CARE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES - In response to the growing prevalence of diabetes in rural communities, Columbia Basin Health Association used their EHR system to better track 1,302 diabetic patients.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5d9c
** WORKFORCE:
A SNAPSHOT OF U.S. PHYSICIANS: KEY FINDINGS FROM THE 2008 HEALTH TRACKING PHYSICIAN SURVEY - The Center for Studying Health System Change reports on physician demographic information, practice organization statistics, assessments of career satisfaction, insurance acceptance, compensation arrangements, and charity care provided. Almost 75% of physicians were accepting all or most new Medicare patients, the vast majority of physicians contracted with managed care plans, and slightly fewer than six in 10 physicians provided charity care in 2008, according to the findings.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5d69
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS WORKING TO ADDRESS RN SHORTAGE - The National Association of Community Health Centers and Western Governors University will partner to provide clinical training opportunities as part of WGU’s new competency-based bachelor’s degree program leading to initial RN licensure. The program, which began in California last July, combines WGU’s online, competency-based academic approach with intensive clinical simulations and clinical practice supervised by onsite clinical coaches serving as WGU adjunct faculty.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5add
HELP WANTED: CALIFORNIA FACES MAJOR SHORTAGE OF ALLIED HEALTH WORKERS - CA will need to train nearly one million more allied health professionals by 2030 in order to meet projected demand, according to a new report funded by the California Wellness Foundation. Allied health workers include up to 50 job classifications and make up about 60% of the health care work force.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5b9d
CALIFORNIA AWARDS $2.7M TO FAMILY PRACTICE TRAINING PROGRAMS - OSHPD has awarded more than $2.7 million to 27 family practice residency training programs through its Song-Brown program, which help train family practice physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and RNs statewide. More than half of those professionals practice in under-served communities after they complete their residencies.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb57b0
HHS RELEASES $33 MILLION IN ARRA FUNDS TO TRAIN HEALTH PROFESSIONALS - California received a total of $3,606,457.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5987
RECOVERY ACT FUNDS TO SUPPORT HEALTH PROFESSIONALS SERVING IN HIGH NEED AREAS -The State of California received $2 million for the Loan Repayment Program and $104,775 to the State Primary Care Office.
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx/.eeb5d9b
** UPCOMING EVENTS:
For details on all events, or to post your own announcements, please see the Voice Calendar:
http://www.communityclinicvoice.org/webx?dispcal@@.eea464e!m=10&y=2009
October 1-2 - CPCA Annual Conference, SFO Burlingame
October 1 - Gear Up For Giving: Free Social Media Tutorials for Nonprofits
October 2 - PBS Series: Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making us Sick? Fridays in October
October 6-7 - School Wellness Conference, Anaheim
October 6-7 - Health 2.0 Conference, San Francisco
October 7 - YouTube for Nonprofits, Free Webinar
October 8 - Statewide Health IT & Exchange Monthly Stakeholder Conf. Call
October 8-10 - National Conference on Health and Domestic Violence, New Orleans
October 13 & 15 - Results Accountability Workshops with Mark Friedman, Sacramento
October 14-15 - Healthcare Finance Virtual Conference
October 15 - Welcome to the Community Clinic Voice: Free Guided Tour online
October 22 - CPCA Clinic Emergency Preparedness Task Force Meeting, Sacramento
October 22-23 - OSHPD Free 17th Annual Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) and Medically Underserved Area/Population Designation Training, Newport Beach
October 22-24 - Collaborative Family Healthcare Assoc Conference, San Diego
October 25- 27 - National Association of Free Clinics Annual Summit, San Diego
October 26 - Round Table Forum on Fuller Scope of Practice, Sacramento & Nov 2 in Burbank
October 29 - CPCA's New Billing Staff Workgroup, First Quarterly Call
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 3-4 - HIMSS Virtual Conference & Expo
November 4-5 - HRSA Telehealth Regional Training, Arcata
November 9-11, NACHC Financial Operations Mgmt/Info Technology Conf, Las Vegas
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 16 - Free Training: Collecting Race, Ethnicity, and Primary Language Data: Why? & Tips For Getting Started, Oakland
November 17-20 - California State Rural Health Conference, Sacramento
November 18 - Rural e-Health Summit: Are You Ready for Meaningful Use?
December 2 - Community Clinic Voice Members Meeting, Oakland: Registration Now Open!
January 28-30 - Health Action 2010, Washington, DC
January 29 - Annual Health Care Symposium, Huntington Beach
March 1-2 - National Medical Home Summit Online
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