January 18, 2008

More Florida Partners Sought to Enhance Health Care Access and Reduce Tobacco Consumption

 

The Healthy Florida Alliance - a partnership of organizations dedicated to improving the well being of Floridians and enhancing health care access by reducing tobacco consumption - is proud to welcome three exceptional new partner organizations- Florida Consumer Action Network (FCAN), the National Council of Jewish Women- Florida, and the Florida Health Care Association.  The Alliance's growing numbers continue to send the message that the time is ripe for passing the $1 per pack increase in the tobacco tax to fund expansion of health care access for all Floridians.  You can help fortify our efforts by either recruiting new partners or advising us of potential new members at lindav@floridachain.org or 850/294-2285 (by Linda Vaughn, Florida CHAIN)

L-R:  1) Community members at "Florida Is Our Home" press conference; 2) “We live here, too” poster opposing Amendment One; 3) Paul Duncan, Medicaid Reform evaluator from UF, presents at Medicaid Forum at United Way of Miami

Letter from the Executive Director

Dear Valued Subscribers:

 

I’m writing to inform you of an important change that will be taking place at Florida CHAIN. After reflecting on my personal goals, I will be leaving my position as Florida CHAIN’s Executive Director in the near future. I find this difficult to report because I’m extremely proud of our organization’s development; Florida CHAIN has proven itself a leader in protecting and increasing access to health care for Florida’s children and adults. As such, we are steadily and actively growing the numbers of stakeholders ready to work together for future coverage expansions.  

 

I am confident that our organization’s development will correlate with continued improvements in our health care system, and that our Executive Director search now underway will result in skilled, enthusiastic leadership for Florida CHAIN’s future. If you or someone you know would like more information about the search, including the job description, click here.    

 

Lisa Margulis 

Voters to Weigh in on Amendment One -
With Much at Stake for Health Care

In a few short weeks, on January 29th, Florida voters will go to the polls not only to cast ballots for the presidential primary elections, but to weigh in on an issue of even longer-lasting impact, namely Amendment One. A diverse coalition, including Florida TaxWatch, has come together to fight the initiative. (by Greg Mellowe, Florida CHAIN)  Read more

State-Sponsored Drug Discount Card Breaks New (But Limited) Ground

Prior to the end of the year, Governor Crist announced the launch of an initiative aimed at lowering the cost of prescription drugs for almost 4 million Floridians who are uninsured or are struggling with the gap in their Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. The Florida Discount Drug Card is neither insurance coverage nor state-subsidized drug assistance in the direct sense. How much it saves for how many will become clear over time. But it is not an answer to the twin crises of unaffordable drug costs and the uninsured.  (by Greg Mellowe, Florida CHAIN)  Read more

Child Advocates Decry State’s New Plan for Managing Therapy Services

Therapists and child advocates pleaded with legislators last Thursday to stop a controversial program that would require therapy services for thousands of Medicaid-eligible children to be managed by an outside company. Attendees at the Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee told members that cost reductions associated with the implementation of the State’s new Prepaid Therapies Program would lead to service cuts to children. (by Greg Mellowe, Florida CHAIN)  Read more

New State Initiative Targets Black Infant Health

Eight Florida communities kicked off the state's new Black Infant Health Practice Initiative with a two-day workshop in Tallahassee. Passed by the Florida Legislature in 2007 and signed into law by the Governor, the initiative is designed to address racial disparities in infant mortality. They will work together over the next six months to identify common social, economic, cultural, safety and health factors that are linked with poor birth outcomes among African-Americans, in the Black Infant Health Project. (by Carol Brady, Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition)  Read more 

Florida KidCare Turns Corner:  Healthy Kids Enrollment at Highest Level Since 2005

Enrollment in KidCare, Florida’s children’s health insurance program, increased by almost 17,000 children (1.2%) percent between October and November of last year. That’s the largest month-to-month increase in the number of children covered through the program in almost 4 years. A combination of factors are credited with prompting the upswing in Healthy Kids enrollment, particularly expanded outreach efforts and the streamlining of parts of the application and eligibility determination process. The Legislature also reversed course by re-instituting funding for KidCare outreach activities. (by Greg Mellowe, Florida CHAIN)  Read more

Election Year Opportunities for Mental Health

Presidential primaries have begun and already we see continuity of the trend of close elections. This confirms that those who believe in improving health care, especially mental illness and substance abuse treatment, have great opportunity to influence policies. We know that mental illness and substance abuse affect at least 20% of the population - a significant voting block if it’s organized.  We just need to get out the vote for candidates of any party or independent that best support our issues. (by Richard B. Wagner, MHA Gr.Tampa Bay and Chair of the MHA Florida Public Policy Council; and Scott F. Barnett, MHA Gr. Tampa Bay)  Read more

Early Medicaid Reform Study Findings: Interesting Prologue to a Much Longer Story

In December 2005, the University of Florida entered into contract with AHCA to provide a comprehensive, independent evaluation of the Medicaid Reform Pilot Program, critical feedback using rigorous academic standards. The first results were presented last week, and an official initial report is expected to be relased at the end of January. Reform's reporting lag and the tendency by anxious observers to “grab and run” may reduce its utility as a public policy evaluation tool. Worst of all, the real findings may arrive only after Medicaid Reform's future  is sealed. (by Greg Mellowe, Florida CHAIN)  Read more

Get Ready for Cover the Uninsured Week 2008: April 27-May 3

Forty-seven million Americans, including more than 9 million children, are living without health care coverage. It's time to start planning for the sixth annual Cover the Uninsured Week and help get America covered. There are many ways for you and your community to get involved. Planning materials area available to get started. Promotional materials will be available soon. (by Cover The Uninsured.org, a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation) Read more at their site.

CONSUMER ALERT: Have you taken Protonix®?

Protonix® is a prescription drug used to treat gastric reflux and heartburn. If you took or paid for Protonix® anytime April 19, 2006 and now, you may be eligible to join an important class action lawsuit. (alert is issued by Prescription Access Litigation) Read more

"Florida Is Our Home" Unites Groups to Fight Amendment 1

On Tuesday, January 8th, four press conferences around the state - in Miami, Tallahassee, Orlando, and Tampa- were coordinated by "Florida Is Our Home", a broad based coalition of Floridians dedicated to informing all Florida residents about the potentially devastating impacts of Amendment One. Over 30 individuals showed up at the Miami Firefighters Local 587 Union Hall to show solidarity as they explained the harmful implications that Amendment One would have on their community. (by Lisa Margulis, Florida CHAIN) Read more

Health Navigator Helps Consumer Access Medicaid

After experiencing blurred vision, Susan, a 48-year-old single mother suffering from diabetes and hypertension, went to a local family health center for medical assistance.  She was diagnosed with Proliferatic Diabetic Retinopathy and was scheduled to have surgery the following week. After her physician realized that her insurance would not cover the surgery, he refused to proceed with the operation until the full amount was paid. Fortunately, Susan's Health Navigator assisted her in accessing the care she needed. (by Meg Buckley Savane, Human Services Coalition) Read more

CHAIN Reaction is a bi-weekly publication of Florida CHAIN (Community Health Action Information Network), a statewide consumer advocacy organization that works toward access to quality health care, empowering people to actively shape their world by participating in civic life and caring for each other’s well being. 

Florida CHAIN: 2812 N. 34th Avenue, Hollywood, FL 33021 info@floridachain.org     www.floridachain.org

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Voters to Weigh in on Amendment One -With Much at Stake for Health Care

In a few short weeks, on January 29th, Florida voters will go to the polls not only to cast ballots for the presidential primary elections, but to weigh in on an issue of even longer-lasting impact, namely Amendment One. The initiative would change the system for calculating property taxes found in the Florida Constitution.

Over the past year, the Governor and Legislature have struggled to find a workable proposal to present to voters. Amendment One is not as sweeping as it might have been, but is still projected to reduce property tax revenues -called “ad valorem”- by $1.4 billion in 2008-09 and by more than $9 billion over five years.

 

A diverse coalition comprised of social service advocates (including Florida CHAIN), retirees, community organizations and groups representing teachers, firefighters, etc. also formed to provide information on the unintended consequences of Amendment One (www.floridaisourhome.org).

 

Even Florida TaxWatch, perhaps the State’s most prominent fiscal watchdog, which often takes the side of the business community, opposes Amendment One noting, for example, that "the plan gives relief to those who need it the least, while giving the most to those who have seen their taxes rise the most."

 

Amendment One does have its supporters, although the endorsements listed on their website (www.yeson1florida.com) include primarily business interests.

 

The four primary components of Amendment One are:

 

1) an increase in the current homestead exemption from $25,000 to $50,000 (although the ~40% of all property taxes collected by school districts are excluded from this additional exemption);

 

2) "portability" (i.e., can be transferred from one home to another) of the cap placed on annual increases in property tax assessments imposed by the previously adopted "Save Our Homes" amendment;

 

3) a new cap on the annual increase in property taxes on other residential properties to 10% per year; and

 

4) a tangible personal property tax exemption that benefits primarily businesses. For the official ballot summary and full language of the proposed amendment, please visit: http://election.dos.state.fl.us/initiatives/

 

In terms of benefits, the average savings per homeowner has been estimated at about $240 per year. Low-income homeowners will save considerably less on their property tax bills. Furthermore, renters, which include the majority of low-income Floridians, would derive minimal or no benefit from Amendment One.

 

But there are also costs. Local governments and others providing public services have expressed concern about the impact the reduced revenue will have on meeting essential needs in an ever-growing state. In particular, although likely not foremost on most Floridians’ minds, the health care safety net and the Floridians who rely on it would stand to absorb a significant portion of the impact of Amendment One.

 

First, as reported by the Tampa Tribune, the State’s Low Income Pool (LIP), which subsidizes the care provided by safety net hospitals to uninsured/underinsured Floridians, is already projected to face a shortfall of $98 million in contributions from local governments and special taxing districts. The importance of local government contributions to the LIP is heightened by the fact that those funds draw down an even greater amount of federal Medicaid funds.

 

But even as LIP’s deficit is increasing, Amendment One would reduce its key funding source by about 9% statewide. In addition, hospitals funded directly through taxing districts as well as initiatives such as the surtax for indigent health care in place in some counties would also take direct hits. Despite the strain, hospitals will not deny anyone emergency care; however, their ability to provide non-emergency charitable care may be jeopardized.

 

Last year, the Legislature used one-time State funds to fill a similar gap in LIP funding. But finding such funds will prove much more difficult over the next few years. The State’s own bleak revenue picture will compound the impact of any reduction in property tax revenues locally. Last week, for the third time since the fall, State economists have adjusted their revenue projections downward (now by a total of more than $3 billion for this fiscal year and next). Legislative leaders have already warned that health care services are among the likely targets for deep cuts at the State level, and of course this also is prior to Amendment One.

 

There may be a second level of impacts to health care. The Florida Association of Counties (FAC), which in opposing Amendment One, notes that counties have been required to shoulder an increasing share of the burden in providing traditionally State-funded services as tax cuts have taken effect over the past decade. The largest of such “unfunded mandates” include annual payments from county governments of $213 million for Medicaid and $277 million for county health departments.

 

At the same time, FAC estimates that counties will need to cut budgets by $706 million (6.1%) if Amendment One passes. Again, if the State is unable to absorb these costs, as will likely be the case, counties will be forced to make cuts to other critical services such as fire departments, sheriffs’ departments, public transit and parks programs (or increase fees). The pressure on counties regarding their health care expenditures, both mandated and discretionary, will intensify.  The intensity will be more pronounced in large “donor” counties, which often use ad valorem to fund services for residents of other counties.

 

Sources: Tampa Tribune, Florida Association of Counties, Florida League of Cities, SEIU, Florida is Our Home, Yes On 1 Florida, Agency for Health Care Administration

 

(Submitted by Greg Mellowe, Florida CHAIN)

State-Sponsored Drug Discount Card Breaks New (But Limited) Ground

 

Prior to the end of the year, Governor Charlie Crist announced the launching of an initiative aimed at lowering the cost of prescription drugs for almost 4 million Floridians who are uninsured or are struggling with the gap in their Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. The program, called the Florida Discount Drug Card, is neither insurance coverage nor State-subsidized drug assistance in the direct sense.

 

The arrangement is State-negotiated and State-sanctioned, however, and so there is a financial incentive for the company supplying the medications to participating pharmacies. Envision Rx will receive a $1.50 fee for each prescription filled under the program. The company is able to offer deep discounts because the giant supplier purchases from drug companies in such large amounts.

 

According to the State, consumers can generally expect to receive a discount between 5 and 42 percent, depending on the drug, from the retail price at any of the more than 3,000 pharmacies throughout Florida, which include the major pharmacy chains in the State.

 

Two general groups of people qualify for the card:

  • Persons age 60+ who either: a) have no prescription drug coverage at all, or b) have drug coverage through Part D of Medicare, but fall into the drug coverage gap.*
  • Persons under age 60 who have no drug coverage, don’t qualify for Medicaid, and have a family income of less than 300 percent of the federal poverty level.**

The official website for the card: (http://www.floridadiscountdrugcard.com) includes a list of the medications that will be discounted as well as a directory of participating pharmacies. The website also contains a simple application form. Consumers may also call 1-866-341-8894 (TTY 1-866-763-9630) or e-mail flddcp@envisionrx.com for further assistance. There is a one-time activation fee of $1.50 to be paid by each cardholder.

 

On one hand, the card will certainly be of benefit to some lower income Floridians. Congress has refused to allow negotiation with drug companies for lower Medicare drug prices at the federal level. So by entering into this agreement with Envision, the State of Florida is assisting Medicare recipients in a way that the Medicare program itself currently cannot. And beyond the benefit to seniors, most uninsured low-income people, so often left out of the equation entirely, are eligible as well. The plan is also more beneficial than other discount cards because it includes so many brand names drugs.

 

On the other hand, the card is no panacea. The card is obviously not insurance coverage and cannot be considered remotely to be a substitute for coverage. More importantly, the card might not save a consumer the most money, though the website claims that “cardholders will always pay the lower of the price listed on [this] website or the usual retail price at the pharmacy.”

 

Yet cardholders paying out-of-pocket for multiple prescriptions may still save more on their total drug costs by shopping around.  A comparison conducted by the St. Petersburg Times found that not only did similar plans in Ohio and Oregon generally offer deeper discounts, but also that prices offered by retailer Costco routinely beat those available under the card.***

 

Finally, there may be other resources available to provide medications at lower or no cost, including extra help for low-income seniors through Medicare, eligibility for Medicaid, prescription assistance through pharmaceutical companies (for example, see www.rxassist.com), and low-cost pharmacies operated by safety net providers such as community health centers.

 

The new Florida Drug Discount Card is a tool that will help make some prescriptions more affordable for some Floridians. How much it saves for how many will become clear over time. But it is not an answer to the twin crises of unaffordable drug costs and the uninsured. 

     

NOTES:

*  The gap (or “doughnut hole”) in Medicare Part D coverage begins once a senior has spent a total of $750 in Part D deductible and copayments. Medicare kicks in again once the consumer has spent $3,600 out of pocket. The gap therefore applies to the $2,850 in between. There is no gap for consumers with incomes below 150% of the federal poverty level.

 

** 300% of the current poverty level is $61,596 for a family of four, and $41,076 for a couple.

 

*** Drug prices might have been lower if the agreement with the State had been awarded through a competitive bidding process. The person responsible for brokering the deal with Envision on behalf of the State told the St. Petersburg that no other companies expressed interest.

 

(Submitted by Greg Mellowe, Florida CHAIN)

 

  
 

Child Advocates Decry State’s New Plan for Managing Therapy Services

Therapists and child advocates pleaded with legislators last Thursday to stop a controversial program that would require therapy services for thousands of Medicaid-eligible children to be managed by an outside company. Attendees at the Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee told members that cost reductions associated with the implementation of the State’s new Prepaid Therapies Program would lead to service cuts to children.

 

But an AHCA official explained that the agency is bound by a 2003 state law to move forward with the program, which would go into effect later this year. Medicaid Services Bureau Director Beth Kidder said the agency has already selected two companies that will manage therapies for children.

 

Sen. Nan Rich (D-Weston) said her office has been flooded with calls and letters from therapists, physicians and others who are concerned that children will be inappropriately denied services they need. She said AHCA has not been able to provide any answers about what will happen to those children.

 

But Sen. Durell Peaden (R-Crestview), who sponsored the 2003 legislation and chairs the Senate committee, defended the program and its potential to protect the State from fraud.

 

Critics also argued that the system is unfairly restrictive in that only those children enrolled in MediPass, Children’s Medical Services and other fee-for-service programs would be subject to cuts in service. As it is, children are limited to three hours of therapy per week. Sen. Burt Saunders (R-Naples), one of three Republicans on the Senate committee, said he was unaware that these limits were already in place and questioned the need for the Prepaid Therapies Program.

 

The Prepaid Therapies Program would not apply to thousands of children who get their therapies at school, in a hospital, at long-term care facility or an outpatient center. In fact, Medicaid places no restrictions on the amount of therapies that children can get in an outpatient facility. Sen.  Saunders questioned why Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care (PPEC) centers were not on this list of exempted facilities.

 

In order to stop the program in its tracks, legislators would need to write a new law that eliminates the program from statutes. “There is a strong sentiment here,’’ Rich said. “We need to revisit the statute.’’

 

Sen. Frederica Wilson (D-Miami) said she fears that if therapists are not allowed to enroll in the provider networks, it will interrupt the care children get. Kidder of AHCA said that while the company officials are willing to enroll all therapists who currently treat Medicaid patients, the agency could not force them to do so.

 

Policymakers, providers and families of medically complex children should especially be concerned by what the agency considers a healthy pool of providers.

 

The agency’s 2006 Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) states that the providers must maintain a “sufficient number?mix, and geographic distribution” of therapists in their network. The therapists are to be “distributed for availability to recipients within 30 minutes typical travel time for all enrolled recipients in an urban geographic area and 60 minutes for those in rural geographic areas.’’

 

Critics say it is unreasonable to expect parents to hold a job while making two-hour round trips to get their children to a therapy appointment. Some children need several different types of therapy throughout the week. 

 

It is even unclear how many children will have to enroll in the program. The AHCA ITN states that 700,000 children get Medicaid-subsidized therapies each year. But Kidder’s presentation before the Senate committee noted the Prepaid Therapies Program would involve only 40,000 children.

 

Here’s how the program will work, according to the AHCA presentation to the Senate committee:

  • AHCA will pay both vendors a predetermined or “capitated” amount of money for each child they enroll. The amount will be 20 percent less than it is now.
  • Care Access will enroll children who live in the northern half of the state; Companion Life will enroll children in the southern half.
  • The vendors will each pay subcontractors (American Therapy Associates and Therapy Review Systems) to manage therapies.
  • The vendors/subcontractors will enroll therapists in their networks and pay them for therapy services they provide to children. 
  • Therapists will submit documentation showing the type and amount of therapy each child needs; the vendors will make a determination and give (or deny) prior authorization.
  • After services are rendered, therapists will submit a reimbursement claim to the vendors for payment.

Whether advocates’ pleas will have any meaningful impact on the rollout of the program is yet to be seen.

 

(Submitted by Greg Mellowe, Florida CHAIN)

New State Initiative Targets Black Infant Health

 

Eight Florida communities kicked off the state's new Black Infant Health Practice Initiative with a two-day workshop in Tallahassee. Passed by the Florida Legislature in 2007 and signed into law by the Governor, the initiative is designed to address racial disparities in infant mortality.

 

Community teams from six urban (Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Orange, Hillsborough and Duval) and two rural counties (Gadsden and Putnam) will work together over the next six months to identify common social, economic, cultural, safety and health factors that are linked with poor birth outcomes among African-Americans.

 

Areas included in the initiative had the greatest Black-White gap in outcomes among counties. The teams will also develop interventions as well as state and local policy recommendations. Team members include local experts and community residents. The initiative is funded with $1 million in non-recurring state funds.

 

The Black Infant Health project will also focus on ways to effectively gauge the community in understanding and developing solutions to address disparities.

 

Local and federal Healthy Start Coalitions are leading implementation efforts in the participating areas. The University of South Florida and Florida A & M University are providing technical assistance to the communities.

 

(Submitted by Carol Brady, Executive Director,

Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition)

Florida KidCare Turns Corner:  Healthy Kids Enrollment at Highest Level Since 2005

Participation in the Healthy Kids* component of KidCare is at its highest level since March 2005, when enrollment was leveling off after a 2004 “free fall” due to belt-tightening by the Legislature in 2004. The Legislature ended open enrollment and significantly increased documentation requirements for applicants, forcing thousands of children forced off the rolls. Participation plummeted from a peak of 315,000 in April 2004 to a low of 187,000 in February 2006. Year-round enrollment was already re-instituted and the stringent requirements were relaxed by the beginning of 2005, but the continuity of the program was already irreversibly disrupted.

"People think KidCare is like the Lotto. They think it is still closed," organizer Claudia Ramos told the South Florida Sun Sentinel in June 2006. Enrollment was very slow to rebound as a result of the confusion and skepticism.

But rebounding is underway to some extent now. Based on current trends, many prospective new Healthy Kids enrollees would likely have been denied coverage this spring, had the Legislature not funded 36,000 additional KidCare slots to accommodate growth last fall. The increase was the lone bright spot in last fall’s budget-cutting Special Session. The 2007 Legislature had initially appropriated funding sufficient to provide coverage for an average of 220,000 children through Healthy Kids, and with enrollment rising to 214,000 in December, the program would be rapidly approaching capacity.

A combination of factors are credited with prompting the upswing in Healthy Kids enrollment, particularly expanded outreach efforts and the streamlining of parts of the application and eligibility determination process. The Legislature also reversed course by re-instituting funding for KidCare outreach activities.

The Florida Covering Kids and Families initiative based at the University of South Florida in particular embarked upon an “integrated, statewide outreach campaign” which incorporated efforts such as news conferences, enrollment fairs and partnerships with businesses such as the Albertson’s, Walgreens and Sweetbay grocery chains, which have displayed or distributed KidCare information in their stores.

Administrative simplification has also been helpful, although some of the most helpful improvements would require changes in State law, as groups the Florida Child Health Care Coalition have consistently advocated. Some of the simpler changes include extending payment deadlines and improving communication between the various state agencies which oversee some aspect of KidCare administration.

On a separate but related note, total KidCare enrollment will likely increase in the months ahead simply as a result of the economic downturn. Enrollment in the Medicaid component of KidCare in particular can be expected to rise as children lose coverage as a parent is faced with unemployment or financial hardship. Prior to this, during several consecutive years of strong economic growth, enrollment in Medicaid had steadily decreased. In fact, the number of Medicaid-enrolled children bottomed out as recently as October, and so an upswing seems inevitable.

An estimated 500,000 Florida children are uninsured but KidCare-eligible. Assuring coverage for children who lack it due to resource limitations is Florida’s second challenge. Florida’s first challenge is overcoming barriers to full utilization of the resources already earmarked to provide coverage and helping decision-makers see the need that remains. This not only requires education at the state level, but at the federal level as well. The President has already vetoed legislation passed by a strong bipartisan majority in Congress that would have reauthorized and expanded states’ children’s health programs (such as KidCare) to cover millions more otherwise uninsured children.

* NOTE: Healthy Kids is the component of the KidCare Program providing coverage to children ages 5-19 whose families are low-income, but not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid. Healthy Kids resembles private insurance in many ways, including the fact that families must pay (limited) monthly premiums in order to maintain coverage.

Sources:  KidCare Coordinating Council, Healthy Kids Corporation, Agency for Health Care Administration, Florida Covering Kids and Families, Legislative Office of Economic and Demographic Research, Florida Child Health Care Council, Florida Today, South Florida Sun Sentinel

 (Submitted by Greg Mellowe, Florida CHAIN)

  
 

 

Election Year Opportunities for Mental Health

 

Presidential primaries have begun and already we see continuity of the trend of close elections; at least in the difference of actual votes if not in percentage results.  This confirms that those who believe in improving health care; especially mental illness and substance abuse treatment, have great opportunity to influence policies.  In behavioral health matters, we know that mental illness and substance abuse affects at least 20% of the population.  That is a significant voting block if it’s organized.  We just need to get out the vote for candidates of any party or independent that best support our issues.

 

Our voting strength is not only selfish.  In Florida, our legislators must know about the opportunity presented by funding implementation of the recent Supreme Court Report on Mental Health Transformation.  Not only are victims of the conditions and their families benefited, but the state stands to save millions of dollars of avoidable costs in forensic services. 

 

Additionally, Florida can join the 46 other states that provide parity for mental health and substance abuse conditions in insurance coverage.  The result is savings in health costs by catching conditions and providing interventions early.  Our business community will directly benefit the most from less absenteeism and more productivity worth far more than the tiny increase in premium.

 

We must show our interest, and voting strength, in the coming election.  Candidate forums should see mental health advocates wearing suitable campaign buttons and other things that show our support for mental health.  Mental Health America has set up a site for items of this type.  Their purchase also helps support our efforts.   Go to http://www.cafepress.com/mhagreatertampa for campaign buttons, yard signs, T-Shirts and kid’s clothes to wear at rallies, Behavioral Health Day in Tallahassee the first week of February and other events.

 

The Tampa Bay Regional Mental Health Brainstorming Council II is meeting on February 2, 2008 in Tampa to educate and support funding the Community Reinvestment Act and the Supreme Court Report on Transforming Florida’s Mental Health System.  February 5 begins Behavioral Health Day in Tallahassee to promote all our issues.  Throughout the year there will be candidate forums for the Presidential Elections, congressional seats, state legislative seats and others. 

 

We will announce Voter Registration Drives for the Region at the February 2, 2008 Brainstorming Council II event.  Value Options has donated $500.00 as an award to the organization that brings the most registered voters.  Other awards are in planning for organizations that register the most new voters before the November elections. 

 

NAMI and Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health have continuing voter registration efforts as well.  Our goal is to have all advocacy, family, education and support organizations registering voters in mental health clinics, homes and other residential facilities, and during all meetings, conferences and other events where supporters of mental health gather.

 

There is no question the opportunity is there to influence policy.  We only need to stand up and take leadership for the state in realizing its potential.

 

(Submitted by Richard B. Wagner, MSWN, MURP, President,Mental Health America of Greater Tampa Bay, Inc.

and Chair of the MHA Florida Public Policy Council; and

Scott F. Barnett, J.D., LL.M., Executive Director, Mental Health America of Greater Tampa Bay, Inc.)

 

  

 

Early Medicaid Reform Study Findings: Interesting Prologue to a Much Longer Story

 

In December 2005, the University of Florida (UF) entered into a contract with the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to provide a comprehensive, independent evaluation of the Medicaid Reform Pilot Program.  More specifically, over the course of five years, UF research faculty in the Department of Health Service Research, Management and Policy Institute will assess the extent to which Medicaid Reform achieves the goals established by the Legislature and meets the requirements of Florida’s approved waiver of federal Medicaid regulations.

The overall evaluation will consist of specific components including: 1) organizational analysis of the key agents in Reform (AHCA, health plans, etc.); 2) analysis of the quality of care, health outcomes and patient satisfaction under Reform; and 3) fiscal analysis of Reform.

Last week, the UF Medicaid Reform Evaluation (MRE) team presented its first wave of findings at a Miami forum. An official initial report is expected to be relased at the end of January. Both observers of Reform (proponents and critics alike) have struggled with the slow pace at which findings can be made available. The lag is a function of both limitations on data availability within AHCA and the protocols to which UF is bound as academic researchers. As a result, the scope of the MRE’s report to date is limited, and the most useful findings will only emerge as the five years wear on. And although the Legislature in theory should await the results of the evaluation in order to assess Reform’s performance and decide its future, its fate will likely have been long decided by that time.

The MRE will be a critical tool for understanding the impact of Reform, however, and the first installment of findings included both expected and new information. Overall, UF’s assessment of Reform to date in many ways corroborates the findings of earlier evaluations such as the AHCA Inspector General’s report. In particular, the researchers concluded that: 1) it is too soon to tell whether and how Medicaid Reform is working in terms of the big picture questions of access, costs and outcomes, and 2) there are no simple answers to complex problems already present in Medicaid managed care.

Furthermore, throughout their analyses and interviews, the evaluators also identified four overarching themes: 1) Reform implementation went well (relative to the magnitude of the task and the number of consumers enrolled), 2) some new programs work well or show the potential to work well, 3) results are “mixed” for other aspects of Reform, and 4) Medicaid managed care itself is the challenging backdrop for Reform.

An in depth review of the findings is not possible in this article, especially since UF has not as of its yet formally released all of its findings. A link to reports when released as well as important aspects of the detailed evaluation will be the subject of future CHAIN Reaction articles.

A few important results presented last week warrant specific mention, however. For one, UF quickly and consistently acknowledged that available data is so limited that any discussion of cost savings at this stage is meaningless. It is not yet possible to discern the source or cause of any reduction in expenses by health plans. 

Nevertheless, UF presented a series of charts comparing Medicaid expenditures prior to Reform with the first 4 months of Reform (July – October 2006). According to the report, among Reform participants for whom the comparison was relevant, Medicaid expenses decreased by an average of $8 per month from $238 to $230 under Reform. Stripped of the fine print, that result could be misinterpreted by readers as a message that Reform is already producing legitimate savings while providing the same access to and quality of services.

In fact, speculating about the early data in ways that UF can’t, the distribution of cost savings among the various groups of Reform participants suggests the possibility that cost savings may not have been accomplished through increased market efficiencies. This seems especially likely during the extremely confusing rollout period for Reform. 

The study group for which the least savings were achieved were families with children in Duval County ($9 per month), while the bulk of total savings came from consumers with disabilities (SSI recipients) in Broward County ($136 per month).  These distinctions are fully consistent with observations that the complexity and confusion in Broward (with 14 health plans at the time) was greater than in Duval (with 5 plans), and that consumers with severe mental illnesses or complex medical conditions (i.e., the SSI group) experienced even more significant barriers to access than the families. 

If Pandora’s box is to be opened now, those concerned about its contents must consider the likelihood that there is more evidence to suggest that early cost savings resulted from harmful reductions in access rather than from increased efficiency. That conclusion is supported further by another MRE finding that plans did not alter their schedule of benefits very significantly during the early going of Reform.

One other important note based on early reactions pertains to the reporting of “baseline survey” levels of consumer satisfaction.  Although UF’s report is clear, a statistic that is likely to be taken out of context is the finding that 80% of respondents rated their level of satisfaction with their Medicaid health plan as an 8, 9 or 10 - on a scale of 0 (lowest) to 10 (highest). In short, although these results are being reported now, the results are from the PRE-REFORM survey to which satisfaction with Reform will be compared at a later date.

In conclusion, the Medicaid Reform Evaluation conducted by UF will provide critical feedback on Reform using rigorous academic standards. The reporting lag and the tendency by anxious observers to “grab and run” may reduce its utility as a public policy evaluation tool, however. Worst of all, the real findings of the study may arrive only after the future of Medicaid Reform is sealed. 

(Submitted by Greg Mellowe, Florida CHAIN)

 

 

CONSUMER ALERT

Have you taken Protonix®?

 

Protonix® is a prescription drug

used to treat gastric reflux and heartburn.

 

A national class action lawsuit claims that the companies that make and market Protonix® lied to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to get a patent on the drug and brought frivolous lawsuits against generic drug manufacturers to prevent less expensive generic versions of Protonix® from being sold.  As a result of this fraud, consumers and health plans paid more for Protonix® than they would have paid if generic versions were available.

 

If you took or paid for Protonix® anytime April 19, 2006 and now, you may be eligible to join this important lawsuit.  To find out if you qualify, call 617-275-2931 or toll-free 866-208-9800 ext. 2931.

 

 This alert is issued by Prescription Access Litigation, www.prescriptionaccess.org

  

"Florida Is Our Home" Unites Groups to Fight Amendment One

On Tuesday, January 8th, four press conferences around the state - in Miami, Tallahassee, Orlando, and Tampa - were coordinated by "Florida Is Our Home," a broad based coalition of Floridians dedicated to informing all Florida residents about the potentially devastating impacts of Amendment One.
 
Their newly developed website- www.floridaisourhome.org has answers to frequently asked questions, newspaper clippings, and ballot language.

Over 30 individuals showed up at the Miami Firefighters Local 587 Union Hall to show solidarity as they explained the harmful implications that Amendment One would have on their community. Community members and representatives from AFL-CIO, SEIU (Services Employees International Union), Florida ACORN, and Human Services Coalition explained in front of camera crews how the success of public programs like fire and police services, libraries and parks, after school programs, and health care are contingent on the very dollars that would be cut in Amendment One. 

Abigail Vladik of Human Services Coalition explained that “voters are being given a false choice between bad and worse.” 

(Submitted by Lisa Margulis, Florida CHAIN)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top photo: Community members at press conference to oppose Amendment One  

Bottom photo: “We live here, too” poster opposing Amendment One

REAL STORIES FROM FLORIDA HEALTH CARE CONSUMERS

  

Health Navigator Helps Consumer Access Medicaid

After experiencing blurry vision, Susan, a 48 year old single mother suffering from diabetes and hypertension went to a local family health center for medical assistance. She was diagnosed with Proliferatic Diabetic Retinopathy and was scheduled to have surgery the following week.

After her physician realized that her insurance would not cover the surgery, he refused to proceed with the operation until the full amount was paid. Fortunately, Susan had a Health Navigator whose primary mission includes reducing barriers to care, providing linkages to community resources, and promoting patient self-management. 

 

Susan lives on a meager monthly income of only $500 earned by running a seamstress business from her home. With a 16 year-old son and $450 rent, Susan struggles to make ends meet.

 

Susan’s Health Navigator pled with the doctor’s billing department to accept partial payment for the much needed surgery but they refused to provide her with care until the full amount was paid.  Her Navigator then assisted Susan with completing and submitting an application for Medicaid. Susan was approved last month.

 

As a direct result of the advocacy, intervention and understanding on the part of the Health Navigator, Susan’s health care costs are now covered under Medicaid. Without this help, Susan might have not undergone medically necessary surgery, her health would have declined and the ultimate cost of her care would have increased.

 

(Submitted by Meg Buckley Savane, Human Services Coalition)

Florida CHAIN Seeks Stories

 

Florida CHAIN welcomes contributions from health care consumers who are interested in sharing their experiences with readers of CHAIN Reaction. If you have a story to share, please contact Linda Vaughn at 850/294-2285or lindav@floridachain.org

January 18, 2008

State Events & Notices
     North Florida
     Central Florida
     East Central Florida
     West Central Florida
     Southwest Florida
     Southeast Florida
     Florida Audio & Web Events 
     Statewide Notices
National Events & Notices
     Conferences & Events 
     Audio & Web Events 
     National Notices
     Campaigns & Initiatives

STATE EVENTS & NOTICES

 

NORTH FLORIDA  

 

13th Annual Children's Week (2008)

March 29-April 6  Tallahassee

In addition, local events and activities will take place throughout the state Feb-April. Contact jason@childrensweek.org

 
Notices
 

CENTRAL FLORIDA

 

Florida Children and Youth Cabinet Meeting

Jan 22  10:00 am–4:00 pm

UCF FAIRWINDS Alumni Center, 4000 Central Florida Blvd, Bldg 126, Orlando

Coincides with the Governor’s Summit on Education, Workforce & Economic Development (Jan 23-25) If you would like to speak, get a form from: jennifer.stan@eog.myflorida.com  

Florida Senior Care Outreach
Jan 22  1:00 - 3:00 pm EST   Eastmonte Civic Ctr, 830 Magnolia Dr, Altamonte Springs
Section 409.912(5), Florida Statutes, provides authorization for the Agency for Health Care Administration, in partnership with the Department of Elder Affairs, to implement an integrated, fixed-payment delivery program (Florida Senior Care) for Medicaid beneficiaries who are 60 years of age and older and persons 21 and older who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Florida Senior Care shall be implemented initially on a pilot basis in Brevard, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties and Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. Enrollment in Florida Senior Care is voluntary. The primary purpose of this public meeting is to educate Medicaid service providers about Florida Senior Care. An overview of the program will be provided, as well as an opportunity for public comment. Any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 7 days before. Request for such assistance or a copy of the agenda may be obtained by contacting 850-922-5188 or mendieg@ahca.myflorida.com. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).

EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA

WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA 

Mental Health BRAINSTORMING COUNCIL II

Feb 2   9:00 am  St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 5225 N Himes Ave, Tampa

The Tampa Bay Region Mental Health Brainstorming Council calls a meeting for Brainstorming Council II.  This informal coalition of mental health and substance abuse organizations in Greater Tampa Bay meets periodically to consider matters of common interest that benefit all in the mental health and substance abuse community. Brainstorming Council II is devoted to education about and support of the recent Florida Supreme Court Report on Transforming our Mental Health System to provide more effective interventions at great financial savings to the Florida public. Area organizations are invited to bring as many registered voters as possible. Contact: execdirector@mhagreatertampabay.org 

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
  
SOUTHEAST FLORIDA

  

Events

 

Florida Children and Youth Cabinet Meeting

Feb 15  10:00 am–4:00 pm  Miramar City Hall, 2300 Civic Center Place

If you would like to speak, get a form from: jennifer.stan@eog.myflorida.com  

 

Sister to Sister WOMAN’S HEART DAY HEALTH FAIR

Feb 15  8:30 am–2:00 pm Hilton Hotel, downtown Miami

This FREE event features screenings and counseling on heart disease and educational programs. It is an interactive and educational event focusing on cardiac wellness and prevention for adult women (18+).  Free comprehensive heart screenings and counseling will be offered to all who attend, along with health seminars in English, Spanish and Creole, fitness and cooking demonstrations, raffles and giveaways. Contact 786-877-5506 or 305-577-6048 ext. 3.

 

Southeast Florida Cancer Control Collaborative Meeting

Feb 21   9:30 am-2:00 pm  Broward County Health Dept, 780 SW 24th St, Ft Lauderdale

An agenda, RSVP request and directions will be sent in a few weeks. If you have any items for the agenda, or are interested in doing a Partner Showcase Presentation, please reply before Jan 23 to DParker@MED.MIAMI.EDU

 

National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality (NICHQ) Annual Forum for Improving Children's Health Care 

March 19-21   Miami

This event is for people committed to eliminating the gap between what is and what can be in health care for all children.  The Forum will feature breakout sessions and in-depth workshops, in four tracks, focused on NICHQ's Improvement Agenda: Assessing, Preventing and Treating Childhood Obesity; Providing Seamless, Evidence-based, Family-Centered Care for Children with Chronic Conditions; Purging Harm from Children’s Health Care; Profound Knowledge: Methods and Tools for Improvement and Innovation. Improvement processes/programs in all of these areas should address disparities and include parents/families.

 

Day of relaxation and resource gathering for cancer caregivers (family & friends)

April 5  10:00 am-2:00 pm Jungle Island, Miami

Featuring: resource tables, humor for healing presentation, nutrition workshops, Reiki presentation & demo, Yoga or Tai-Chi or chair massage (working on this) child-life specialists, AND post-event admission to the park.  Contact: GBrown@aptiumoncology.com and  amparo@twcmiami.org  

 

 

Notices

 

Smoking Cessation Focus Groups in Miami-Dade Seek Paid Participants

A University of Miami researcher is recruiting African American, Hispanic, and White women ages 18-45 and currently cigarette smokers to be part of a focus group toward developing more effective smoking cessation interventions among women. As the researcher is interested in how women's relationships with men affect their efforts to stop smoking, participants must be in a relationship with a husband or boyfriend. Women will receive $25 at the end of the one-hour focus group. The group will be scheduled in Miami-Dade at the convenience of participants. Call 305-243-1120.

FLORIDA AUDIO CONFERENCES AND WEBCAST

STATEWIDE NOTICES  

Survivors Teaching Students: Saving Women’s Lives (STS) Program(SM)

The Florida Department of Health Comprehensive Cancer Control (CCC) Program is pleased to announce its one-year funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to implement the Survivors Teaching Students: Saving Women’s Lives (STS) ProgramSM.  The STS Program brings ovarian cancer survivors into medical and nursing classrooms to share with students their stories and key information about ovarian cancer. It gives a face and a voice to the hardships of ovarian cancer, while it helps students understand the signs, symptoms, and risk factors to detect the disease in its early stages. Please also share any connections with medical schools and graduate nursing programs at FSU, Florida A&M, USF, U of Tampa, U of Miami, FIU, Barry U, FAU, and UNF. Please also refer survivors to train and present in these communities; they will receive $20 reimbursement for their travel costs. Contact mary_shafer@doh.state.fl.us or (850) 245-4444 extension *3854. 

 

Children's Week wants to partner with you! 

This year, Children's Week partners are collaborating and taking the lead in organizing local advocacy events in each of Florida's 67 counties during February, March and April designed to promote the health, safety, and well-being of children and families in Florida. Thanks to successful partnerships with Comcast, Nemours, Publix Super Markets Charities, Florida Department of Health’s Step Up, Florida! program, Prevent Child Abuse Florida’s Winds of Change Campaign, the Association of Early Learning Coalitions, over 70 other leading non-profit and corporate organizations, and hundreds of local organizations statewide – Children’s Week will host tons of events and activities throughout the state this year. If you would like to help coordinate an event or activity in your area, or are already coordinating a Children's Week event, write jason@childrensweek.org

NATIONAL EVENTS & NOTICES

 

CONFERENCES AND EVENTS 

 

Becoming the Healthiest Nation in a Healthier World

Proposal Submission deadline: Jan 22

Conference: Sept 9-12   Sacramento, CA

This annual National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) conference will be the year's largest gathering of state and local public health officials in the United States, jointly sponsored with Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO).

     

Health Action 2008 
Jan 24-26   Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, Washington DC

Families USA’s Health Action 2008 kicks off a year in which health care will be at the center of the national conversation. Learn and share strategies with other advocates around the country and to recharge for the year ahead.

 

Sixth National Conference on Quality Health Care for Culturally Diverse Populations

Submission deadline:  Jan 31

Sept 21-24   Minneapolis

Held biennially since 1998, this is one of the most respected and well supported events on cultural competence and health disparities reduction in the United States. It is co-produced by Drexel University School of Public Health's Center for Health Equality, Resources for Cross Cultural Health Care, and the USDHHS Office of Minority Health Care. This year's theme is "Partnerships for the Future: Supporting Practitioners and Advancing the Field through Innovation, Policy and Research."

 

National Academy of Social Insurance: Getting to Universal Health Insurance Coverage
Jan 31–Feb 1  Washington, DC

NASI’s 20th annual policy conference will focus on achieving affordable health coverage for all Americans. Taking place in the midst of the early Presidential primaries, the conference will bring together the major participants in the health coverage debate to frame the problem, compare specific policy proposals, and identify ways of overcoming the obstacles to reform. 

AcademyHealth's National Health Policy Conference
Feb 4–5    Washington, DC

Each year at the policy conference, leading experts from the Administration, Congress, Academia, and the health industry come together to share their insight into the key health care issues confronting policymakers and provide a health policy scan of the year ahead. Participants at the policy conference include health policy professionals, health services and policy researchers, as well as representatives from major purchasers, managed care organizations, providers and the pharmaceutical industry.

 

Race and Class Inequalities in Health

Abstract Submission deadline:  Feb 1  

Conference: June 24-27   Hyatt Regency Chicago

Society for Epidemiologic Research annual meeting

 

ACHI’s 2008 Spring Training for Health Champions

Conference Dates: March 5-7, 2008  Atlanta

Topic Tracks: Minimizing Chronic Disease: Strategies for Social Determinants; Maximizing Coverage: Proven Programs and Innovative Proposals; Harnessing Data: Health Assessments to Health Outcomes; Delivering Community Benefit: Management Tools and Community Strategies (co-sponsored by Catholic Health Association and VHA, Inc.); Breaking Silos: Public Health and Health System Partnerships

 

Interrogating Diversity: Representation, Power, and Social Justice

Conference: March 21-22  American University, Washington, DC

The Second Annual International Multidisciplinary Conference "Interrogating Diversity" has the theme Representation, Power, and Social Justice. The conference will provide presenters the opportunity to present their research in a forum with an active and engaging audience devoted to discussion. Scholars from all fields of study are welcome to engage in fruitful, analytical discussion. This year's themes examine four areas of concern, including Inequalities in Health and Healing.

 

Active Living Research Conference Seeks Abstracts

April 9-12 Washington DC

The theme of this year's conference is "Connecting Active Living Research to Policy Solutions." Abstracts on all topics related to active living policies and environments are welcome. In addition to policy-relevant research, Active Living Research welcomes abstracts about children and adolescents at greatest risk for obesity—African-American, Latino, Native American, Asian-American and Pacific Islander children and adolescents living in low-income communities.


National Hispanic Medical Association 12th Annual Conference
April 17-20   Washington, DC
Policy, research, medical and clinical presentations focused on improving the health of Hispanics. Conference Goals are to: provide clinical updates on diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDs, obesity, cardiovascular disease, asthma, Alzheimer’s disease, and renal disease; increase awareness about cultural competence, literacy, language services and medical care delivery to Hispanics; increase knowledge about Federal and State health policies that impact Hispanics; develop skills for health professionals in academic medicine, research, private sector and government; and make recommendations targeted at Hispanics for the national health policy agenda in the U.S. Expected: 100 Exhibitors; 200 Hispanic Medical Students; 700 Physicians; 140 Speakers/panelist/keynote speakers.

 

What's the Use of Race?
April 25-26

Center for the Study of Diversity in Science, Technology, and Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 

 

Promote optimum health for Black women - physically, mentally and spiritually

June 19-21  Washington, DC

The Black Women's Health Imperative’s 25th anniversary event to celebrate 25 years of creating a lasting legacy of health and wellness for Black women. Topics include: Self-Help SisterCircle;, Program Tracks on Obesity, HIV and Mental Health; Walking for Wellness; Health Screenings and Physical Fitness Activities; Entertainment and family activities. Online registration begins January 7.

 

AUDIO AND WEB EVENTS    

Cyber Seminar: Leading the Way? Maine's Experience in Expanding Coverage
Feb 1  12:30-2:00 pm EST
Cosponsored by The Commonwealth Fund's State Innovations program and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Changes in Health Care Financing and Organization (HCFO) and State Coverage Initiatives (SCI) programs, will examine Maine's progress. Registration is $40 per Internet connection; groups are encouraged to participate via one connection.

 

Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick? 

Hosted by the Black Women’s Agenda, the workshop featured a panel discussion of this soon-to-be-released PBS documentary produced by California Newsreel. View the entire panel discussion online.

 

Partnerships to Achieve Health Equity 

This Society for Public Health Education summit featured a series of plenary sessions dealing with the elimination of racial and ethnic health disparities by focusing on health behavior dissemination, research, and implementation. Videos and transcripts available online.

NOTICES

 

CAMPAIGNS & INITIATIVES

 

Get Ready for Cover the Uninsured Week 2008

April 27-May 3

Forty-seven million Americans, including more than 9 million children, are living without health care coverage. It's time to start planning for the sixth annual Cover the Uninsured Week and help get America covered. There are many ways for you and your community to get involved in Cover the Uninsured Week 2008: Host an enrollment event at a hospital, community center or school; Organize a health coverage forum with community, business and faith leaders; Plan a seminar for small business owners; Distribute information about available low-cost and free health coverage programs to uninsured individuals and families; Planning materials are available to help you get started

 

2008

 

January

                                                                     
National Birth Defects Prevention Month
March of Dimes
askus@marchofdimes.com
www.marchofdimes.com  

National Glaucoma Awareness Month
Prevent Blindness America
info@preventblindness.org
www.preventblindness.org                                  

February

                                                                     
AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month
Prevent Blindness America
info@preventblindness.org
www.preventblindness.org  

American Heart Month
American Heart Association
inquires@heart.org
www.americanheart.org  

National Children’s Dental Health Month
American Dental Association
publicinfo@ada.org
www.ada.org/goto/ncdhm                                   


National Wise Health Consumer Month
American Institute for Preventive Medicine
dhirsch@healthylife.com
www.healthylife.com  

                                                                     
Give Kids A Smile Day- Feb 1
American Dental Association
gkas@ada.org
www.ada.org/prof/events/featured/gkas               

                                                                     
National Wear Red Day 2008- Feb 3
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Health Information Center
nhlbiinfo@nhlbi.nih.gov
www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/hearttruth                     

 

March


National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation
jasmine@preventcancer.org
www.preventcancer.org/colorectal                       


National Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month
Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
annette@msfocus.org
www.msfocus.org                                              


National Nutrition Month®
American Dietetic Association
nnm@eatright.org
www.eatright.org  

                                                                     
Save Your Vision Month
American Optometric Association
jmmahoney@aoa.org
www.aoa.org                                                    

                                                                     
National Patient Safety Awareness Week – March 2-8
National Patient Safety Foundation
info@npsf.org
www.npsf.org         

                                                       
Brain Awareness Week– March 10-16
Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives
bawinfo@dana.org
www.dana.org/brainweek                                    

                                                                     
American Diabetes Alert Day – March 25
American Diabetes Association
askada@diabetes.org
www.diabetes.org/communityprograms-and-localevents/americandiabetesalert.jsp  

                                

April

                                                                     
Cancer Control Month
American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org                                               

                                                                     
National Autism Awareness Month
Autism Society of America
mcolston@autism-society.org
www.autism-society.org  

                                           
National Public Health Week – April 7-13
American Public Health Association
Kaitlin.Sheedy@apha.org
www.nphw.org  

                                                                     
National Infant Immunization Week – April 19-26
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
cdcinfo@cdc.gov
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niiw/default.htm


2008 March for Babies – April 26-27
March of Dimes
marchforbabies@marchofdimes.com
www.marchforbabies.org  

 

May


American Stroke Month
American Heart Association
inquires@heart.org
www.americanheart.org 

                                                                     
Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
info@aafa.org
www.aafa.org                                                   

                                                                     
Healthy Vision Month
National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health
www.healthyvision2010.nei.nih.gov

                                                                     
Hepatitis Awareness Month
Hepatitis Foundation International
hfi@comcast.net
www.hepfi.org  


Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month
American Academy of Dermatology
mediarelations@aad.org
www.aad.org  

Mental Health Month
Mental Health America
infoctr@mentalhealthamerica.net
www.mentalhealthamerica.net                             

                                                                     
National High Blood Pressure Education Month
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Health Information Center
nhlbiinfo@nhlbi.nih.gov
hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/nhbpep_kit/                               
www.ctf.org  

         
National Women's Health Week - May 11-17
Office on Women's Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
www.womenshealth.gov/whw                              

National Women's Check-up Day – May 12
Office on Women's Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
www.womenshealth.gov

June

 

National Headache Awareness Week – June 1-7
National Headache Foundation
info@headaches.org
www.headaches.org  

 

National Men's Health Week - June 9-15
Men’s Health Network
info@menshealthweek.org
www.menshealthweek.org   

         

July

                                  
UV Safety Month
American Academy of Ophtalmology
eyemd@aao.org
www.aao.org/eyemd  

                                   

August


Children's Eye Health and Safety Month
Prevent Blindness America
info@preventblindness.org
www.preventblindness.org  

National Immunization Awareness Month
Centers for Disease Control
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niam/default.htm

 

September


Healthy Aging® Month
Educational Television Network, Inc.
info@healthyaging.net
www.healthyaging.net/agingevents.htm  

 

National Cholesterol Education Month
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Health Information Center
nhlbiinfo@nhlbi.nih.gov
hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/cholmonth                                 


National Pediculosis Prevention Month/ Head Lice Prevention Month
National Pediculosis Association, Inc.
npa@headlice.org
www.headlice.org  

                                                                     
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
nocc@ovarian.org
www.ovarian.org                                               


Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
National Prostate Cancer Coalition
info@fightprostatecancer.org
www.fightprostatecancer.org  

               
National Suicide Prevention Week – September 7-13
American Association of Suicidology
info@suicidology.org
www.suicidology.org                                          


October


"Talk About Prescriptions" Month
National Council on Patient Information and Education
4915 Saint Elmo Avenue, Suite 505
Bethesda, MD 20814-6082
(301) 656-8565
(301) 656-4464 Fax
ncpie@ncpie.info
www.talkaboutrx.org  


Healthy Lung Month
American Lung Association
info@lungusa.org
www.lungusa.org  

 

Let's Talk Month
Advocates for Youth
tom@advocatesforyouth.org
www.advocatesforyouth.org        


National Dental Hygiene Month
American Dental Hygienists' Association
media@adha.net
www.adha.org                                                  

 

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Domestic Violence Awareness Project
National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
ck@pcadv.org
dvam.vawnet.org                                              

       
National Mammography Day – October 17

American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org                                               


National Health Education Week – October 20 - 24
National Center for Health Education
ray@nche.org
www.nche.org

 

November

                      
American Diabetes Month
American Diabetes Association
askada@diabetes.org
www.diabetes.org  

                                 
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
Lung Cancer Alliance
info@lungcanceralliance.org
www.lungcanceralliance.org  

 

National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month
Alzheimer's Association
info@alz.org
www.alz.org  

 

National Hospice Palliative Care Month
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
jradulovic@nhpco.org
www.nhpco.org       

 

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
information@pancan.org
www.pancan.org   

 

Great American Smokeout – November 20
American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org             

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Awareness Week – Nov 25-Dec 1
International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
iffgd@iffgd.org
www.aboutgerd.org  

              

December            


World AIDS Day – December 1
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
unaids@unaids.org
www.unaids.org/en/default.asp 

January 18, 2008

New listings, in order of submission deadlines

 

American Academy of Pediatrics CATCH Implementation Funds

Deadline: Jan 31

Community Access to Child Health Implementation Funds program supports pediatricians in the initial and/or pilot stage of developing and implementing a community-based child health initiative. The program is designed to help increase children's access to a medical home or specific health services not otherwise available. An AAP member pediatrician must lead the project and be significantly involved in proposal development and project activities. Priority to projects serving communities with the greatest demonstrated needs and disparities. Strong collaborative community partnerships and future sustainability encouraged. Grants of up to $12,000 each. This year’s call includes a new opportunity for pediatricians to work on reducing secondhand smoke exposure for children and youth.

 

State Quality Improvement Institute

Conference call: Jan 22  2:00 -3:00 pm EST

Deadline: Feb 15
Commonwealth Fund and AcademyHealth announce the launch of the Quality Institute, which will help eight selected states improve the quality of their health care systems, beginning in June 2008 with an intensive kick-off meeting and training. Applications must be submitted by the Governor’s Office or its designee.For additional information, contact Hilary.Kennedy@AcademyHealth.org.

Continuing listings, in order of submission deadlines 

   

Innovating Worthy Projects Foundation
Requests are accepted from Jan 1 through Aug 31
The Innovating Worthy Projects Foundation provides support to nonprofit organizations throughout the United States that are dedicated to providing direct care or services for children with special needs, acute illnesses, or chronic disabilities. Preference is given to small organizations that might not otherwise be helped. Grants support new ideas and approaches to providing services as well as equipment purchases.

 

Advancing technology to improve healthcare sevices: Verizon Foundation

Applications accepted: Jan 1 through Nov 30
The mission of the Verizon Foundation is to improve education, literacy, family safety, and healthcare by addressing Verizon's commitment to deliver technology that touches life. The Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that benefit communities in the locations the company serves within the United States. One of the Foundation’s priority categories is Education and Literacy, with emphasis on innovative, technology-based approaches to literacy and K-12 education. In addition, through the Safety and Health category, the Foundation supports initiatives that contribute to the safety and well-being of families, with emphasis on domestic violence prevention and technology for healthcare and healthcare accessibility. 

  

The Humana Foundation
Proposals accepted: Nov 1-June 15

The Humana Foundation supports nonprofit organizations in communities where the company has facilities in states including Florida. The Foundation is committed to serving the needs of children, families, and seniors in their quest to build healthier lives and communities. Special consideration is given to proposals that focus on the following areas: health and fitness efforts that lead to better lifestyles; literacy activities that lead to improved health experiences; and the development of technology, tools, and resources that lead to healthy communities. 

   

Seva Foundation: Native American Grants Program
Next deadline: Jan 25

The Seva Foundation serves people around the world who are struggling for health, cultural survival, and sustainable communities. Seva's Native American Grants Program provides support to Native American-led organizations working to devise solutions to the challenges that face their communities, with emphasis on spiritual and cultural renewal, health and wellness, protecting Mother Earth, economic development, education, and indigenous youth. Grants are provided to nonprofit organizations, Indigenous Nations, and public agencies that provide programs in urban and rural Indian communities throughout the United States.

  

Vision Health: Developing an Integrative Approach for Promotion and Protection

Application deadline: Feb 11

The purpose of the program is to fund research that will develop an effective comprehensive public health approach to address eye health promotion and vision loss prevention.

 

Community-Campus Partnerships for Health (CCPH) Annual Award
Nominations deadline: Feb 12
The CCPH Annual Award recognizes exemplary partnerships between communities and higher educational institutions that build on each other's strengths to improve higher education, civic engagement, and the overall health of communities.

 

U.S Conference of Mayors HIV/AIDS Prevention Grants for High Risk Women of Color

Deadline: Feb 25

Provides support for the implementation of HIV/AIDS prevention programs for high-risk women of color. Award Amount: $70,000/6 grants. Eligibility: Health Departments, CBOs, Indian tribes. Contact:  Ms. Lillie Brown, 202-293-7330, lbrown@usmayors org 

 

Allegany Community Outreach Grants
Deadline:  March 1
ACOR is a grant program of Allegany Franciscan Ministries, Inc.  It provides short-term support to local community projects. The grant award range is $1,000-$5,000; limited numbers of grants. Priority to organizations for projects that strive to: improve the health, wellness and quality of life through a holistic approach to education or direct service; bring about systemic change and promote self-sufficiency; benefit a disenfranchised segment of society; Sponsoring organization strives to incorporate the viewpoint and participation of individuals who are direct recipients of its services (e.g. service recipients are represented on the governing board).

 

Tobacco Policy Change: A Collaborative for Healthier Communities and States

Application deadline for implementation grants: March 14

Tobacco Policy Change: A Collaborative for Healthier Communities and States, a national initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, provides resources for local, regional, and state-based organizations and tribal groups to advocate for effective policies that decrease tobacco use and exposure. This initiative is issuing a special solicitation that will build on previous success in attracting new partners whose constituencies are most directly affected by tobacco use and exposure. Grantees are expected to apply their advocacy skills and experience to advance tobacco and other public health policies in their communities. Organizations from Florida are able to apply.

 

Research on Social Work Practice and Concepts in Health (R03)

Closing date for applications: May 7, 2009, Multiple deadlines

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) issued by the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research solicits Small Research Grant (R03) applications from organizations/institutions that propose to develop empirical research on social work practice, concepts, and theory as these relate to the NIH public health goal of improving health outcomes for persons with medical and behavioral disorders and conditions.

 

Planning Grant for Oral Health Promotion across the Life Span (R21)
Closing date for applications: May 7, 2010, Multiple deadlines
This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is intended to encourage and support meritorious oral health promotion research directed at improving oral health and preventing diseases and/or their sequelae across the lifespan.

 

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Deadlines: June 15

AFSP will now accept and review applications for all categories of one- or two-year research grants and fellowships two times a year. The grant amounts for Standard Research Grants are now: max. $60,000 to $75,000; Young Investigator Grants max. $70,000 to $85,000); Pilot Grants max. $20,000 to $30,000). Distinguished Investigator Grants and Postdoctoral Research Fellowships remain at $100,000.  AFSP research grants support studies that aim to increase understanding of the causes of suicide and factors related to suicide risk, or to test treatments and other interventions designed to prevent suicide. Investigators from all academic disciplines are eligible to apply, and both basic science and applied research projects will be considered.

 

Tobacco Prevention and Control
The National Association of County and City Health Officials is working to identify public health-related funding resources. October 2007’s guide features foundations that have listed Tobacco as a focus area. Click above to be directed to Florida's page. 

Structural Interventions, Alcohol Use, and Risk of HIV/AIDS (R21)
Multiple deadlines
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) issued by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health, solicits Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21) applications from institutions/ organizations that propose to investigate the effectiveness of structural interventions that reduce the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission by changing the environment of alcohol use.

Johnson Foundation: Wingspread Conferences
Letters of inquiry accepted at any time.
The mission of the Johnson Foundation is to cultivate ideas that sustain community – people living in harmony with one another and their environment. The Foundation pursues this mission through Wingspread Conferences, small meetings of thoughtful inquiry convened in an atmosphere of candor and purpose. The Foundation co-sponsors conferences with nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, or government agencies that work in the following areas: education, media, family, democracy and community, and sustainable development and the environment. The conferences are held at Wingspread, the Foundation's headquarters and educational conference center located near Racine, WI.

Fulbright Scholar Award

Multiple deadlines
Applications continue to be accepted for some Fulbright Scholar awards for lecturing, research or combined lecturing/research awards in public health during the 2008-2009 academic year.  Faculty and professionals in public health may apply for awards specifically in their field, as well as one of the many "All Discipline" awards open to any field. 

 

Medical Care Enhancement Funded by United Health Foundation
The purpose of the United Health Foundation is to improve health outcomes for all Americans. Through the Foundation's responsive grantmaking, support is provided to nonprofit organizations that serve people and communities in the United States. The Foundation’s priorities include enhancing the quality of health and medical care services by providing reliable, scientifically-based information to support decisions made by health professionals, communities, and individuals. An additional priority is to expand access to medical care and health-related services for individuals and families who live in challenging circumstances. Letters of inquiry are accepted throughout the year.
   
United Healthcare Children's Foundation Helps Underinsured Children
The Foundation offers support for children nationwide with assistance grants for medical services not fully covered by health insurance. Parents and caretakers can apply for up to $5,000.00 for health care services that will help improve their children's health and quality of life.  Eligible children must be 16 or younger. Families must meet economic guidelines, live in the U.S. and be covered by a commercial health insurance plan.  Examples of the types of medical services covered by include speech therapy; physical therapy and psychotherapy; medical equipment such as wheelchairs, braces, hearing aids and eye-glasses, and orthodontic and dental treatments. The Foundation has helped more than 375 families and provided nearly $1 million in financial assistance    
 

Donors Forum of South Florida on-line database
The new online searchable Donors Forum of South Florida database has up-to-date information about funders in South Florida. This resource— which is also available in hard copy — presents continuously updated information about the giving interests and procedures of funders with a track record of investing in the South Florida area and working collaboratively with others. To order, email leot@donorsforumsf.org or call 305/371-7944. 

 

Directory Of Health Policy Fellowships

This Kaiser directory contains new listings for undergraduates, graduate students and professionals searching for summer, school-year, or post-doctoral positions.

January 18, 2008

Florida CHAIN Website Resources

Organizations and Services

     Florida

     Children's Health

     Medicare

     Prescription Medications

     Health Disparities

     Other

Manuals, Guides and Toolkits

     Children's Health

     Medicaid

     Medicare

     Uninsured

     Health Disparities

     Other

Technology and Audio Visual Materials

     Audioconferences and Webcasts

     Media Programming

     Web Sites, Web Features

          Florida

          Children's Health

          Medicaid

          Medicare

          Health Disparities

          Other

     Videos and Films

Periodicals and Books

Reports and Studies

     New Listings

        New Listings: Medicaid

        New Listings: Children's Health

        New Listings: Medicare

        New Listings: Federal Budget

        New: Health Insurance, Health Care Costs

        New: Health Disparities

        New: Other Health Issues

     Florida Reports

     Children's Health

     Medicaid

     Medicare

     Federal Budget/Health Care

     Health Insurance, Health Care Costs

     Health Disparities

     Other Health Issues

 

FLORIDA CHAIN WEBSITE RESOURCE UPDATE

 

ORGANIZATIONS AND SERVICES

 

Newly posted resources are at the top of each Topics List.

 

Florida

 

Southeast Florida Cancer Control Collaborative (SFCCC) 

SFCCC works to reduce the cancer burden and cancer disparities in Southeast Florida, including Broward, Indian River, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties. The SFCCC includes representatives from more than 60 public and private organizations, agencies and health care providers, as well as cancer survivor and advocacy groups. SFCCC aims to increase awareness about cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment among populations at high risk. The Collaborative meets quarterly at various locations in the region.

 

Children's Health

 

IPUT, Informed Parents United Together: Advocating for Universal Education and More!

This nonprofit agency works at an individual local network level to educate parents
and increase their advocacy for Inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in General Education environments. Check out the IEP Tool Box. 

 

Medicare

 

Medicare Rights Center (MRC) has an Rx Hotline for Nonprofit Professionals as one component of its comprehensive independent source of health care information and assistance for older adults and people with disabilities. It helps with understanding or explaining the Medicare prescription drug benefit to clients. Call RxHelp, a national hotline dedicated for nonprofit professionals serving the Medicare population, operated from 10 am to 6 pm EDT. Dial 877/RXHELP-0 (877/794-3570).Other services include: a telephone hotline; a database of case advice; education and training; public policy work; electronic newsletters; and communications with local and national media outlets. To help you understand your Medicare health plan choices, the Medicare Rights Center offers Medicare Interactive (MI), a web-based Medicare counseling tool.

 

Access to Benefits Coalition

The nonprofit ABC is dedicated to ensuring that Medicare beneficiaries with limited incomes know about and make the best use of all available resources for accessing prescription drugs and reducing their costs. ABC is working through local community coalitions to inform beneficiaries and their families, as well as the professionals who serve them, about Medicare Part-D. Extra Help is provided online or in person; find out if you or someone qualifies by going to BenefitsCheckUpRx?. Publications include: Applying for the Low-Income Subsidy: A Tool Kit for Advocates; and Pathways to Success: Meeting the Challenge of Enrolling Medicare Beneficiaries with Limited Incomes

 

A Healthier US Starts Here: CMS Prevention and Wellness Initiative

This spring and summer, as part of the "A Healthier US Starts Here" initiative the US Department of Health and Human Services and CMS will join with local officials and partners, to raise awareness of the importance of preventing chronic disease and illness, promote Medicare preventive benefits and provide information about how beneficiaries can take action to maintain and improve their health.

 

Prescription Medications

 

The AZ&Me? Prescription Savings

This new AstraZeneca program provides medicines free of charge to community free clinics, community health centers and hospitals that serve the uninsured.  AstraZeneca plans to provide medicines to hundreds of thousands of patients at approximately 150 facilities by the end of 2008.  The new program builds on current AstraZeneca patient assistance programs by extending prescription drug assistance directly to the sites where uninsured patients interact with healthcare providers, supporting patients at one central place where they can get the medicine and care they need. In light of the updates to their patient assistance programs in the last year, AstraZeneca has decided to no longer participate in the Together Rx Access program after January 31, 2008.  They offer AstraZeneca programs that provide medicines free of charge to those making up to $30,000 for an individual, or $60,000 for a family of four. More info: 1-866-325-8198

 

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance
is a service sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry that offers a single point of access to more than 475 patient prescription assistance programs, including more than 180 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. Through referrals by organizations, more than 260,000 people in Florida have received assistance with their prescriptions medicines. They have launched a national campaign to raise awareness about the importance of SCHIP and its reauthorization, including a website and TV and print ads. They also have updated their FAQs and Fact Sheet to include SCHIP.

 

The Prescription Project

This project is led by Community Catalyst in partnership with the Institute on Medicine as a Profession.  Funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Project seeks to eliminate conflicts of interest created by industry marketing by promoting policy change among academic medical centers, professional medical societies and public and private payers. In addition the Project will advance state and national level policy solutions. The Project will sponsor a wide range of activities to achieve its goals, including research and policy analysis; national and community-based forums; outreach to the media; and meetings with key decision-makers, including deans of medical schools, health care administrators, business leaders, policy makers and consumers. These include the Prescription Project Weekly Reader, a readable, relevant way to keep members and friends of the Project informed about what is happening at the intersection of medical conflict-of-interest issues and prescription drugs.

 

Together Rx Access

is a prescription savings program sponsored by 10 pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer.  It provides savings on a wide range of prescription products at the pharmacy counter to eligible patients without prescription coverage.  For more information, call 1-800-444-4106

 

Health Disparities

 

National Health Law Program (NHeLP) Resources

Language access continues to be a significant barrier to health care for individuals with limited English proficiency. Over 23 million individuals—almost 9 percent of the population—speak English less than “very well” and likely need assistance communicating in the health care arena. In an attempt to provide tools for health care providers and others, NHeLP has released a series of reports outlining promising practices for providing language services in health care settings. In mid-April, the National Health Law Program and the American College of Physicians released Language Services for Patients with Limited English Proficiency: Results of a National Survey of Internal Medicine Physicians. Other resources include Providing Language Services in State and Local Health-Related Benefits Offices: Examples from the Field, which outlines how state and local benefit offices can provide language services and Language Services Resource Guide for Healthcare Providers which offers information on how to provide language services including translator agencies, training programs, and health care symbols. 

 

Refugee Health Information Network 

RHIN is a national collaborative partnership, managed by refugee health professionals, whose objective is to provide quality multilingual, health information resources for those providing care to resettled refugees and asylees. RHIN places its greatest emphasis on identifying, collecting, and making quality available materials that have been produced in refugee languages. Sources of these materials include federal, state and local public health agencies; national organizations; health care agencies; community-based organizations; academic institutions and international organizations. RHIN also strives to identify news and events, as well as other information resources useful to health providers serving refugees.

 

Training Alliance for Communities of Color
This website is from National Health Policy Training Alliance for Communities of Color, a partnership between Families USA, the Joint Center Health Policy Institute (HPI), the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund, and the National Medical Association (NMA). Their mission is to empower community leaders, elected officials, and journalists from communities of color with pertinent information about health policy developments in order to: expand their capacity to address and catalyze action on crucial health and health care issues; bolster the skills of leaders from communities of color to play a more influential role in shaping and creating health policies that are of relevance to their respective communities; and engage diverse leaders in national health policy development. 

The National Hispanic Resource Help-Line 1/800-473-3003 provides support for Latinos throughout the nation who need information about educational, health and human service providers. To become part of their database, click here.

 

Other

 

Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD)

Any serious policy proposal that aims to improve health care in America and control rising health care expenditures must address chronic disease.  That’s why a broad group of patients, providers, community organizations, business and labor groups, and health policy experts has joined together to form the  – a national, bi-partisan coalition committed to raising awareness of the policies and practices that save lives and reduce health costs through more effective prevention and management of chronic disease.

MANUALS, GUIDES, TOOLKITS

 

Newly posted resources are at the top of each Topics List.

 

Children's Health

 

Alliance for Health Reform has developed an online toolkit on child health coverage. The toolkit provides links to resources that will improve the user’s understanding of how children get coverage in the U.S. and the importance of public programs and employer-sponsored health insurance to children.

 

Cover the Uninsured Storybook - The Success of SCHIP: How the State Children's Health Insurance Program Helps America's Working Families

This is a 15-page, downloadable booklet that shares the touching stories of 23 families that have benefited from coverage provided through SCHIP. Download it today to share with opinion leaders in your community. Order Free Materials: FREE English and Spanish promotional materials featuring the 1(877) KIDS-NOW hotline, which parents can call to find out if their uninsured kids are eligible for SCHIP or Medicaid, are available to augment your outreach efforts. Order fans, bookmarks, posters and more to distribute in your community while supplies last.

 

Helping Pediatric Practices Implement Parental Depression Screening
A new online manual helps pediatric clinicians successfully screen parents for depression, discuss with them the impact depression can have on their children, and refer parents for counseling. Rates of major depression peak during women's childbearing years. Research has shown that maternal and paternal depression can affect parenting behaviors and, ultimately, harm children's health and development. Because pediatricians have frequent contact with parents, they have opportunities to screen for depression and intervene when necessary. Accumulating data about the adverse effect of parental depression on child health, development, and behavior have provided an impetus among pediatric practices for changing clinical care.

 

Medicaid

 

The Basics of Medicare and Medicaid
The primers help explain Medicaid and Medicare, including an overview, how they work, who they serve and how they are funded. The Medicare primer is new, and the Medicaid primer has been updated with the most current information (Kaiser Family Foundation, "The Basics of Medicare and Medicaid," (3/19/07, Kaiser Family Foundation)

 

The Medicaid Matters web site is a resource for people working across the country to protect Medicaid, the health insurance that 50 million rely on. It stores a ready-to-use toolkit of messages, materials and dissemination ideas. Users are able to download, at no cost, tested messages emphasizing the importance of Medicaid and the threat now facing the program. Messages are enhanced by high quality, full color photography. One set of materials is designed to be ready to print. Once downloaded, they can be forwarded to any print house or copy shop without any further formatting. The second set of materials is designed so that components of the product can be adapted to suit the needs of that organization or constituency that wishes to use them.

 

Medicare

 

Toolkit: Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans

The toolkit contains links to resources on general information about Medicare private fee-for-service plans, advantages and incentives of using the plans and the difficulties that beneficiaries have faced with the plans, including enrollment fraud. The toolkit also includes a list of experts and Web sites for further information on the plans. (7/12/07, Alliance for Health Reform)

 

Medicare Advantage Tutorial on the basics of Medicare Advantage and types of MA plans, as well as trends in MA enrollment, characteristics of beneficiaries and the impact of MA plans on traditional Medicare. And an updated  Medicare Health and Prescription Drug Plan Tracker with MA plan enrollment data for June, containing local, regional and national data on MA plans and stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans. (7/17/07, Kaiser Family Foundation)

 

The Basics of Medicare and Medicaid
The primers help explain Medicaid and Medicare, including an overview, how they work, who they serve and how they are funded. The Medicare primer is new, and the Medicaid primer has been updated with the most current information (Kaiser Family Foundation, "The Basics of Medicare and Medicaid," (3/19/07, Kaiser Family Foundation)

 

Medicare Rights Center Part D appeals manual
This free, comprehensive, easy-to-understand guide is for advocates who help people with Medicare get the drugs they need.This 25-page manual offers a complete overview of the entire appeals process, real-life case examples from MRC's Client Services department, a glossary of important Part D appeals terms, a sample appeals protocol for advocates, and links to important resources and documents. All in consumer-friendly language

 

New/Updated Resources Medicare Drug Plan Resources
In advance of the 2007 Medicare drug plans open enrollment period beginning Nov. 15, Kaiser Family Foundation has issued a series of new and updated resources based on ongoing research including consumer surveys:

Updated fact sheet providing state-specific data about Medicare drug plan options for 2007, including stand-alone drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans, and information on premiums, gap coverage, and availability to beneficiaries who qualify for full low-income assistance.

Updated Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit fact sheet, with a revised estimate that 4 million people will be affected by the coverage gap in 2006, as well as current enrollment and low-income subsidy participation and updated Medicare per capita drug spending.

Updated Talking About Medicare online consumer guide, reflecting 2007 benefit changes, to help people with Medicare and their families understand options and make decisions based on their personal situations; includes information about financial assistance for those with limited incomes, supplemental insurance options, and Medicare Advantage.

 

Uninsured

 

Fact Sheets and Primer on the Uninsured
The Kaiser Family Foundation has collected links to some resources on the topics of health coverage and the nation’s uninsured population to assist you in your work related to these issues:

The Uninsured and Their Access to Care

Covering the Uninsured: Growing Need, Strained Resources

Massachusetts’ New Law to Cover the Uninsured

Women's Health Insurance Coverage

The Uninsured: A Primer

 

Health Disparities

 

HRET Disparities Toolkit
The updated HRET Disparities Toolkit gives hospitals, health systems, clinics, and health plans the information and resources needed for collecting race, ethnicity, and primary language data from patients. In order to make this invaluable Toolkit more accessible to all health care providers, the Toolkit is now available free of charge.

 

Race Matters 

This toolkit was created to help advocates and leaders address race and power structures within their work to help create equitable opportunities for all.  (Voices for America's Children and The Annie E. Casey Foundation)

 

A Patient-Centered Guide to Implementing Language Access Services in Healthcare Organizations

The guide was created to assist health care organizations in better serving their clients with limited English proficiency and decrease disparities in access to health care. (DHHS Ofc. of Minority Health)

 

Amigos en Salud Online Disparities Toolkit
Pfizer has created a free toolkit to help community health centers reduce racial health disparities. The program, called Amigos en Salud/Friends in Health, involves training community health workers to be a bridge between minority communities and the healthcare system. 

 

Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities: A Quality Improvement Initiative in Medicaid Managed Care ToolkitCenter for Health Care Strategies
The toolkit examines the experiences of a workgroup - comprising 10 Medicaid health plans and a state primary care case management association - that adopted strategies to identify and address racial and ethnic health disparities in birth outcomes and immunizations, asthma care and diabetes care. (January 2007)

 

Families USA is offering Making Public Programs Work for Communities of Color: An Action Kit for Community Leaders, from its Minority Health Initiatives Department. The kit provides community leaders with information, tools, and resources to engage in health advocacy and improve the health and well being of their communities. Emphasizing the importance of public programs in reducing racial and ethnic health disparities, the kit contains: a summary and statistics of racial and ethnic health disparities and the role public programs can play in reducing them; an overview of Medicaid (and SCHIP) and Medicare, including their relationships to communities of color; fact sheets on improving health coverage for racial and ethnic minority groups; state and local case studies on health advocacy; advocacy tools including a powerpoint presentation, and lists of organizations and publications. Contact: 202/628-3030 or rpanares@familiesusa.org.

 

Other

 

GoingSmokeFree.org: A Toolkit for Implementing Smoke-Free Laws
The site is a clearinghouse for activities, events, and tools states and communities need to plan, implement and support new or expanded smoke-free laws. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, in partnership with the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids and Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights, has created this free online resource to help states and communities implement smoke-free laws.

 

New Web Tool Provides Samples of Report Cards on Health Care Quality

With rising interest in information about the quality of care delivered by health care providers, HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has developed a new Web tool demonstrating a variety of approaches for health quality report cards. The new Health Care Report Card Compendium is a searchable directory of over 200 samples of report cards produced by a variety of organizations. The samples show formats and approaches for providing comparative information on the quality of health plans, hospitals, medical groups, individual physicians, nursing homes, and other providers of care.

 

ACHI's Community Health Assessment Toolkit

Built with funding from the American Hospital Association and expert guidance from a 35-member ACHI working group, this will be online in November 2007.  The Toolkit, a member service of the Association for Community Health Improvement, available to members of the American Hospital Association and the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development, is a hands-on guide for both novice and experienced practitioners seeking to design, conduct and use assessments to improve the health of their communities.

 

Five Guidelines for Developing Customer-Friendly Websites
This new Covering Kids & Families publication is intended to help state agencies and other organizations do a

better job of helping people find information on the Web about Medicaid, SCHIP and other government services by producing a customer-friendly sites

TECHNOLOGY AND AUDIO/VIDEO RESOURCES

 

Audio Conferences and Webcasts

 

Dated events listed chronologically; standing webcasts listed last 

  

Cyber Seminar: Leading the Way? Maine's Experience in Expanding Coverage
Feb 1  12:30-2:00 pm EST
Cosponsored by The Commonwealth Fund's State Innovations program and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Changes in Health Care Financing and Organization (HCFO) and State Coverage Initiatives (SCI) programs, will examine Maine's progress. Registration is $40 per Internet connection; groups are encouraged to participate via one connection.

 

Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick? 

Hosted by the Black Women’s Agenda, the workshop featured a panel discussion of this soon-to-be-released PBS documentary produced by California Newsreel. View the entire panel discussion online.

 

Partnerships to Achieve Health Equity 

This Society for Public Health Education summit featured a series of plenary sessions dealing with the elimination of racial and ethnic health disparities by focusing on health behavior dissemination, research, and implementation. Videos and transcripts available online.

Salud Para Todos: Expanding Access to Health Care

This a webcast of a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute sponsored panel discussion on Oct 2, 2007, that examined the impact of health care expansion efforts on Latino populations.

 

Health and Civil Rights Symposium: Strategies for Solutions

This is a webcast of a National Center for Health Behavioral Change sponsored at Morgan State University in Baltimore on Oct 5, 2007. The forum brought together leaders from the NAACP, health coalitions, health policy organizations, and the civil rights field to discuss the intersection between health and civil rights.

 

Universal Health Care Coverage in the United States

Robin Cook (moderator), Best-selling author, physician, and Member of the Wilson Center's Board of Trustees; James Morone, Professor of Political Science and Urban Studies, Brown University; Michael Cannon, Director of Health Policy Studies, Cato Institute, and Paul Seltman, Counsel, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP discuss the basic principles of the single payer, free market, and employer mandated approaches to expanding health coverage, respectively.  Archived October 3 webcast.

 

Media Programming

 

Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?

This seven-part series for PBS broadcast and DVD release will, for the first time on television, sound the alarm about our glaring socio-economic and racial disparities in health--and seek out root causes. While we pour more and more money into drugs, dietary supplements and new medical technologies, it turns out there is much more to our health than bad habits, health care or unlucky genes. The social conditions in which we are born, live and work profoundly affect our well-being and longevity. The series is part of an ambitious Public Impact Campaign conducted in partnership with leading public health, policy, and community-based organizations, pointing out that investing in our schools, improving housing, integrating neighborhoods, better jobs and wages, and giving people more control over their work, are as much health strategies as smoking diet and exercise.

  

Web Sites, Web Features & Databases

 

Newly posted resources are at the top of each Topics List.

 

Florida

 

Florida's Community and Migrant Health Centers Brochure UPDATED 9/07

A low literacy brochure describing services offered at Florida's CHCs with a map of all CHC locations and phone numbers. English Brochure  Spanish Brochure  Haitian Creole Brochure

 

Annie E. Casey Foundation: 18th KIDS COUNT Data Book

This is the recently released new edition of this national and state-by-state effort to track the status of children in the United States. By providing policymakers and citizens with benchmarks of child well-being, the Foundation seeks to enrich local, state, and national discussions concerning ways to secure better futures for all children. Information is also available in an online database that enables users to generate custom graphs, maps, ranked lists, and state-by-state profiles. Both the book and the online database can be accessed on the website listed above.

First Steps: A Guide for Parents of Young Children with Developmental Disabilities

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council’s most popular publication ever has been revised and updated with critical info for any parent or family member of a young child with a developmental disability. The publication is a reliable source of info for parents at the beginning of a new journey. They will learn a new vocabulary, discover advocacy skills they never knew they had, and meet new people who will become important in their life as friends, teachers, doctors, therapists and caregivers. This is a valuable tool to help guide parents in the initial steps of their journey as well as a resource they can visit again and again as they, their child and their families grow through the coming years together. The publication is available in both English and Spanish, as well as in a full color version and a black and white version – both are in Acrobat Reader format (PDF) and available in two sections – Chapters 1 to 5 and Chapters 6 to 10 – for your convenience downloading the publications.

 

Summary of health-related bills passed by the 2007 Florida Legislature

 

Florida Health News, free online non-profit news service
The Florida Health Policy Center has announced the launch of an independent, free, non-profit news service:  Florida Health News Inc. FHN will post health-related stories reported around the state, highlight the Florida impact of national stories, and track state health legislation.  The news service also will feature original coverage of major health policy developments and a free Monday-through-Friday news service.  You can visit the site and subscribe to the e-mail news service by clicking on the link: www.FloridaHealthNews.org. To send your comments, story tips and news of conferences and other events, or get more information, contact pat.curtis@floridahealthnews.org or 850/556-1668.

 

Florida Health Insurance Coverage of Children 0-18 (2004-2005)
Kaiser Family Foundation has released information about this on-line resource.

 

Statehealthfacts.org Updates Data on Medicaid & SCHIP Coverage for Children
Statehealthfacts.org has updated information on eligibility levels for children in Medicaid and SCHIP and parents and pregnant women in Medicaid using survey data from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured (KCMU). The latest information on Medicaid and SCHIP enrollment practices for pregnant women and children and renewal practices is also now available. Overall SCHIP spending for FY 2006 and Federal SCHIP spending data from FY 1998 through FY 2006 are also now available. Recent additions to the site include new information on children's demographics and health insurance status from analysis of the Census Bureau's March 2005 and 2006 Current Population Surveys. These additions include the distribution of children by race/ethnicity, the distribution of children by citizenship status, and health insurance coverage among low-income children living near poverty.

 

Florida Association of Community Health Centers (FACHC)

The following resources have recently been added to the FACHC web site:

Short Assessment of Health Literacy for Spanish-speaking Adults (SAHLSA-50) A new health literacy test than can be used to screen for low health literacy among Spanish speakers. 

Health Coverage and Access to Care for Hispanics in "New Growth Communities" and "Major Hispanic Centers" A 2006 Report from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured 

Spanish Language Mental Health Manual for Health Promoters Developed by the California- Mexico Bi-National Health Initiative. 

 

Florida Health Care Website for Consumers
A new Web site for Florida health-care consumers officially launches today, courtesy of the Florida Hospital Association. The site offers links to information on doctors, hospitals and health-care plans as well as checklists to help consumers ask the right questions. It is intended largely as a portal to other, established sites. There are links to sites for Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, among others.

  

State of Florida Health Care Consumer Websites
The recently expanded FloridaCompareCare.gov aims to improve care and reduce costs by giving citizens the tools to compare outcomes and prices between health care providers and medical services.  Through this website one can see data on certain conditions and procedures related to quality of care, pricing and performance at the state’s hospitals and ambulatory (outpatient) surgery centers. In 2005, Florida became the first state to publicly report infection and mortality rates in each hospital.  In July 2006, Florida became the first state to publicly report separate pediatric quality of care data. In addition, adult data can now be broken out specific to ages 65 and over. Additional new breakdowns include types of facilities.
FloridaHealthStat.com provides health care information to assist consumers, health care professionals, and researchers in making well-informed health care decisions and in researching the status of health care in Florida. MyFloridaRx.com provides consumers with the retail prices of the most commonly used prescribed drugs by pharmacy across Florida. For questions or comments regarding any of Florida’s consumer websites, contact 850/922-7036.

 

Medicaid Applications Online 24/7 and in Neighborhoods
Local partners can direct families to their area sites or online to apply for Medicaid and other benefits. The Web Application is generally preferable as the data makes it into the Florida system more quickly and there is a reduced chance of data entry errors.

 

Florida KidCare Applications can be completed online

 

Website Offers Free 24 Hour Health Information to Floridians to address concerns and inquiries 

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) Secretary encourages health care consumers to visit www.FLHealthSource.com whenever they need information about a licensed health care professional. DOH’s Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) maintains FLHealthSource.com. The site provides health care consumers with a host of information, including license status, office address, and disciplinary information for all health care professionals licensed in Florida. The site also provides additional information for the five profiled professions –medical doctors, osteopathic physicians, chiropractic physicians, podiatric physicians and advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs).

 

Statehealthfacts.org provides free, up-to-date, and easy-to-use health data on all 50 states, covering more than 500 health topics. 

 

Florida Progressive Information Network (FLPIN)

offers a nonpartisan communication system designed to link progressive organizers with progressive activists.  Individuals may sign up free of charge to receive alerts on a variety of progressive issues from other organizations participating in the Network. In order to make FLPIN work, it must be used on a regular basis. The more information put in, the more valuable it is as a tool. Link FLPIN to organization websites. A training manual is at www.flpin.net/alert.pdf.  For more information or assistance, contact jen@floridahumanist.org

 

Children's Health
 

Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health
The Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative (CAHMI) presents the Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health. This resource is a no-cost, easy-to-use website that puts national, state, and regional survey findings right at your fingertips. You'll find: interactive data search tools; personalized technical help by email or telephone and information and examples to help you use data more effectively.

 

Online Parent SCHIP Information
To assist in the growing problem of America's uninsured children, medical insurance hub HealthInsuranceFinders has added information to assist parents in finding and understanding all of their health insurance options: a State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) section with an overview of State Children Health Insurance Programs for each state.


State By State National Survey of Children’s Health Data Resource Center Dataset
The DRC Child Health Indicators version of the 2003 NSCH Dataset is now available. Added to the data sets are the 65 Child Health Indicators for the DRC online data query and the National Chartbook. Also included are Healthy People 2010 relevant indicators and key socio-demographic variables.

 

Medicaid

 

Fact Sheets on Medicare, Long-Term Care Spending; Medicaid; Long-Term Spending Data
Fact sheets, Georgetown University Long-Term Care Financing Project: The Georgetown University Long-Term Care Financing Project has released two new fact sheets on Medicare and long-term care and Medicaid policy that aims to protect the incomes and resources of spouses of nursing home residents who are trying to enroll in Medicaid. The project also has updated its 2005 national long-term care spending estimates.  (February 2007, Georgetown University Long-Term Care Financing Project)

 

Medicaid Fact Sheets Tool

Compare your state's Medicaid program and the population it serves to other states and the nation by visiting Kaiser's new interactive online State Medicaid Fact Sheets tool.

 

Interactive Tools on Medicaid

The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured presents the State Medicaid Fact Sheets and the Medicaid Benefits Online Database, two interactive tools featuring the latest key data, information and services provided for each state’s Medicaid program. Both tools allow for easy access to the data which can then be printed, saved and emailed.

 

Medicare

 

CMS Updates Web Site to Help Medicare Beneficiaries Better Compare Drug Plans Price, Coverage, Quality

CMS has launched a revised version of the Medicare Drug Plan Finder Web site that allows beneficiaries to sort plans offered in their communities by annual costs based on prescriptions, monthly premiums, coverage levels in the so-called "doughnut hole" and other factors and view the information in one chart. (October 2007, CMS)

 

Online Interactive Medicare Advantage Comparison Tools
Before making the switch to Medicare Advantage, beneficiaries can compare plans to determine their needs. Then they can review each plan using the “Guidelines for Considering Medicare Advantage”  from the Center for Medicare Advocacy. More information about Medicare Advantage managed care plans is online at Medicare.gov. More recent FAQs on private fee-for-service plans is available through CMS.

 

Fact Sheets on Medicare, Long-Term Care Spending; Medicaid; Long-Term Spending Data
Fact sheets, Georgetown University Long-Term Care Financing Project: The Georgetown University Long-Term Care Financing Project has released two new fact sheets on Medicare and long-term care and Medicaid policy that aims to protect the incomes and resources of spouses of nursing home residents who are trying to enroll in Medicaid. The project also has updated its 2005 national long-term care spending estimates.  (February 2007, Georgetown University Long-Term Care Financing Project)

 

Uninsured

 

Interactive Online Side-by-Side Comparisons of Presidential Candidate Health Care Proposals
The online tool allows users to customize side-by-side comparisons by selecting as many as four candidates for comparison that can then be formatted into a printer-friendly format. [Kaiser Family Foundation]  

 

Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured Updates Medicaid Benefits: Online Database with 2006 Data

Using this tool, Medicaid benefits can be compared across the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the US Territories or by specific service. The online tool contains Medicaid benefits survey data from 2003, 2004 and 2006 with information about benefits covered, limits, co-payments and reimbursement. It includes an interactive map, an expandable list of benefits, and the ability to compare data across the three survey periods.

 

Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured Updates Medicaid Benefits: Online Database with 2006 Data

Using this tool, Medicaid benefits can be compared across the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the US Territories or by specific service. The online tool contains Medicaid benefits survey data from 2003, 2004 and 2006 with information about benefits covered, limits, co-payments and reimbursement. It includes an interactive map, an expandable list of benefits, and the ability to compare data across the three survey periods.

 

Families USA’s State Coverage Expansions Resource Center

Many states are taking steps — expanding public programs, launching new state programs, and reforming private insurance — to make it possible for more people to get coverage. This new Resource Center will help you find out what the states are doing. Click here. The State Coverage Expansions map guides you to information on key state expansions, with fact sheets, links to legislation, and links to state advocacy groups. Comparing State Expansions is a series of tables that show you the key elements of these new proposals/laws state-by-state. How are states financing their expansions? Who is covered? What benefits do they get? Will small businesses be helped? All this and more is covered in the tables. If your state is doing similar efforts that are not yet on our map, click here to call or send Families USA an e-mail.

 

Health08.Org, A Hub for Information about Health Care and The Presidential Campaign 

With health care emerging as one of the hot topics in the 2008 presidential election, this new ad-free Kaiser Family Foundation Web site will provide analysis of health policy issues, the results of regular public opinion surveys, and news and video coverage from the campaign trail. It will feature original content produced by Kaiser as well as health-related resources from various campaigns, other organizations, and news outlets. The site will offer summaries of candidates' health reform proposals, basic facts and information about the health system, the results of Kaiser tracking surveys examining the public's views on health issues and their perceptions of the candidates' views on health care, syntheses of health news coverage, podcasts and video from the campaign trail, and interviews with candidates and other key players in the health reform debate.

 

Uninsured Tutorial, Module, and Reference Library

This KaiserEDU.org page contains comprehensive resources including links to key research, policy analysis, and the latest data and statistics on the uninsured. 

  

Health Care Coverage in America: Understanding the Issues and Proposed Solutions includes a corresponding PowerPoint presentation.  (Cover the Uninsured)

 

Healthcare Coverage Options Database: Assistance for Obtaining Health Coverage

This Web site provides information on health insurance options for low-income U.S. residents. The site includes comprehensive information on large-scale programs like Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and the federal Health Care Tax Credit Program, as well as hundreds of smaller state, federal, and private programs.

 

Health Disparities

 

Unified Health Communication 101: Addressing Health Literacy, Cultural Competency, and Limited English Proficiency

is a free online learning experience designed to help health professionals improve their patient-communication skills, increase their awareness and knowledge of factors that affect their communication with patients, and implement patient-centered communication practices. The course, developed by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), comprises five modules and is estimated to take a total of 5 hours to complete. The course may be completed at the user's own pace and may be taken for credit (CEU/CE, CHES, CME, and CNE) or not for credit.

 

Guide to Health Programs (Guia de Programas de Salud)

This easy-to-use bilingual guide in Spanish and English is available for free to anyone looking for basic information on health insurance, nutrition, and other public programs. (California HealthCare Foundation, October 2007)

 

“Race, Ethnicity and Health Care” tutorial

Online from Kaiser Family Foundation.

 

Systematic Review of Current Disparities Research Interventions Identifies Successful Strategies for Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care

Complete body of reviewed research available through new interactive tool. (10/11/07, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)

The Context of Health: What Are We Really Doing To Change It?
Healthy People 2010 recognizes that communities, States, and national organizations will need to take a multidisciplinary approach to achieving health equity—an approach that involves improving health, education, housing, labor, justice, transportation, agriculture, and the environment. [95-slide ppt]

Think Cultural Health is a new web page that provides a wealth of resources and information on the issues of cultural competence in health care and health care disparities. (DHHS Office of Minority Health)

 

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's new disparities Web page includes publications and information listed according to racial/ ethnic group, as well as by topic area.

 

National Cancer Institute Spanish Web Site

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has launched a new Web site, cancer.gov en español tailored to the needs of the U.S. Hispanic/Latino community. The Web site is completely in Spanish and is one of the latest tools developed by the NCI in its efforts to address cancer health disparities. It is intended to meet the needs of Hispanic/Latino cancer patients, their families and health care providers, who are either Hispanic/Latino or serve such patients.

 

Facing Race 2007

The Applied Research Center (ARC) and COLORLINES Magazine have made various resources from their conference available on the ARC Web site, the ARC blog, and on the Facing Race wiki

US Racial Disparities Update

Kaiser Family Foundation issued a new data update that shows the percentage of whites, African Americans, and Hispanics in all 50 states and the District of Columbia that are uninsured, enrolled in Medicaid, and living in poverty. The data also provide a quick glance at disparities in rates of infant mortality, diabetes-related mortality, and AIDS cases between these racial and ethnic groups.

 

Faith Based Efforts and Resources 

Families USA has posted a new page on the Minority Health Initiatives section of the Web

site with links to various to encourage faith leaders to become involved in health care advocacy.

 

Factline: Tracking Health in Underserved Communities
This website is sponsored by the National Library of Medicine and Meharry Medical College that highlights health disparities in underserved communities. Factline presents information about health disparities faced by women, members of minority groups, the elderly and others.  The focus of the website is two-fold: presenting significant findings from scholarly research in public health on the subject of health disparities and providing bibliographic references to the literature in which these findings are established.  The framework for the research is Healthy People 2010.

 

New Database for Medical Language Access
The Medical Leadership Council on Cultural Proficiency has unveiled a first-of-its-kind database designed to assist physicians and others in providing improved language access and culturally competent health care. With more than 350 initial entries, the searchable, internet-based, free-to-the-public database includes contact information for interpreters, nonprofit organizations, hospitals, public health departments and others that provide health information and services in languages other than English. Users, including physicians, nurses, social service workers, patients and the general public, can search for listings by county, by language, or by type of service.

 

2007 Federal Poverty Guidelines Now Available
The Southern Institute on Children and Families has made available the 2007 Federal Poverty Guidelines. Compiled from the 2007 HHS Poverty Guidelines, these guidelines provide income levels for families at 50%, 100%, 125%, 133%, 150%, 185% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Information is provided for the continental United States and separately for Alaska and Hawaii.

 

Women's Health Insurance Coverage Fact Sheet
As the cost of health insurance continues to rise, women in particular may face difficult challenges affording coverage because they are disproportionately low-income and can have poorer access to employer-based insurance. This fact sheet describes the major sources of health insurance coverage for women ages 18-64, including employer-sponsored insurance and Medicaid. It provides information on the more than 17 million women who are uninsured and summarizes the major policy challenges facing women in the health insurance sector. (Feb 2007, Kaiser Family Foundation)

 

Comprehensive source of Hispanic data
Recent release from the Census Bureau with data and linkage to sources covering many areas. 

Rural Communities Statistics and Information
The Rural Assistance Center has added to its Web site a new resource providing continuously updated demographics and statistics, documents and resources and contacts for all 50 states. RAC said the federally funded "State Resources" addition is designed to help health care providers and human services representatives in rural communities with activities such as locating and competing for funding opportunities and networking.

 

Immigrant Health Policy Reference Library
This new compendium summarizes data and research on immigrants’ health coverage and access to care. The library also includes a list of organizations that conduct analysis on the impact of major health policies on immigrants and presents research on specific populations, including Latino, African and Asian immigrants.

 

Other

 

Tracking the Presidential Candidates on Health Care
The Kaiser Family Foundation's health08.org website offers resources for following health care developments during campaign season. The website serves as a hub of information about health and the election, including original content produced by Kaiser and easy access to health-related resources from the campaigns, other organizations and news outlets.

 

Consumer Health Information for You and Your Family
Keeping up with the latest consumer health information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just got easier. FDA has a new Web page to provides comprehensive and timely consumer information. A free monthly e-newsletter, FDA Consumer Health Information  will alert consumers to content contained on the page.

 

Metropolitan Quality of Life Data
Diversitydata.org allows visitors to explore how metropolitan areas throughout the U.S. perform on a diverse range of social measures via a dataset of socioeconomic indicators in the form of tables, thematic maps, and customizable reports. The data cover various racial/ethnic, income and nativity groups. Multiple data sources have been used to show data for numerous domains such as housing opportunities, economic opportunities, residential integration, and health.

 

New Online Medical Dictionary Reference Tool

MediLexicon International Limited, corporate owners of Medical News Today, was pleased to announce on Nov. 11 the launch of a new medical dictionary tool. This dictionary search is a joint collaboration between MediLexicon and Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, who have provided the data.

American Community Census Data Online
The new poverty, income, and health insurance data from the U.S. Census Bureau released on August 29, 2006 is available online. This year, it has more state and local data than in previous annual surveys.

     

State Level Data on Health Coverage & the Uninsured

Kaiser Family Foundation's interactive web tool includes the health insurance status of the state’s population (those with various types of health coverage or who are uninsured), and demographic information (such as income, race/ethnicity, age, gender) for those who are uninsured, have employer-based insurance, or Medicaid. Information about Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries can be found in those respective categories. Find data from other categories on the website that relate to Health Coverage & Uninsured.

 

The Johns Hopkins INFO Project's OneSource Database

This provides one-stop access to over 360,000 resources and six separate databases with a single mouse click or search term. OneSource users can quickly search for reports, articles, documents, posters and pamphlets, photos, web sites, Q&As and news articles through a single interface. An enhanced search and browse capability makes finding global family planning, reproductive health and population information faster and more simple than ever.  Enter your terms in the search box. Select the resource type you want to look for, or search all six databases at once, and click Search.

 

Videos and Films

 

Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?

This seven-part series for PBS broadcast and DVD release will, for the first time on television, sound the alarm about our glaring socio-economic and racial disparities in health--and seek out root causes. While we pour more and more money into drugs, dietary supplements and new medical technologies, it turns out there is much more to our health than bad habits, health care or unlucky genes. The social conditions in which we are born, live and work profoundly affect our well-being and longevity. The series is part of an ambitious Public Impact Campaign conducted in partnership with leading public health, policy, and community-based organizations, pointing out that investing in our schools, improving housing, integrating neighborhoods, better jobs and wages, and giving people more control over their work, are as much health strategies as smoking diet and exercise.

 

PERIODICALS AND BOOKS

 

Hablamos Juntos

Special supplement to the November issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine (JGIM) examines consequences of language barriers such as poor quality of care and patient safety issues experienced by limited-English or non-English speaking patients. (November 2007)

 

REPORTS AND STUDIES

New Listings

New Listings: Medicaid

New Listings: Children's Health

New Listings: Medicare

 

First Rigorous Analysis Defines Impact Of Medicare Part D

The most thorough study to date of the impact of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D) found that this benefit led to a 13.1 percent decrease in out-of-pocket expenses for patients and a 5.9 percent increase in prescription use. (2/5/08, released early online, Annals of Internal Medicine)

 

Health of Previously Uninsured Adults After Acquiring Medicare Coverage

According to a recent study, uninsured adults experience dramatic health improvements after enrolling in Medicare at age 65. By age 70, the disparity in health status between those with insurance prior to Medicare and previously uninsured adults declines by 50 percent among individuals suffering from chronic illness. (11/26/07, Journal of the American Medical Association)

 

CMS Regulation Would Eliminate Premiums For Some Low-Income Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Beneficiaries 

CMS has announced a proposed regulation that would allow Medicare drug benefit plans to offer reduced premiums to some beneficiaries who qualify for the program's low-income subsidy. The eligible plans would be located in regions where there are fewer than five "zero-premium" plans available. The regulation would allow eligible low-income beneficiaries in those areas to stay on their current drug plan without having to pay a premium and would ensure that there are enough plans offered for subsidy-eligible beneficiaries. (1/8/08, CQ HealthBeat)

 

National Health Spending In 2006: A Year Of Change For Prescription Drugs

Medicare spending rose faster in 2006 than it had done during the previous 25 years, due mainly to prescription drug benefit for disabled people and the elderly. Prescription drug spending growth accelerated in 2006 to 8.5 percent, partly as a result of Medicare Part D’s impact. In 2006, health care spending represented 16% of the American economy, a rise of 6.7% to $2.1 trillion. Healthcare spending continues to outpace economic growth. (Health Affairs, 27, no. 1 2008)

New Listings: Federal Budget

14 States (including Florida) Fact Total Budget Shortfall of at Least $29 Billion in 2009; Twelve Others Expect Budget Problems

At least twenty-one states, including several of the nation’s largest, face budget shortfalls.  In the 14 of the 21 states that have already made specific estimates, the deficits are expected to total at least $29 billion for fiscal 2009 — which begins July 2008 in most states.  Another 5 states expect budget problems in fiscal year 2010, although some of those gaps may occur earlier than expected.  Many of the other states have not yet released information about their fiscal status. (1/15/08, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities)

New Listings: Health Insurance, Health Care Costs

Florida Funding For Safety-Net Hospitals Could Be Affected By Proposed Property Tax Cuts 

Proposed cuts to Florida property taxes could reduce funding for safety-net hospitals in fiscal year 2009. The "low-income pool" of local and state tax dollars, which receives federal matching funds to reimburse hospitals that provide care to low-income and uninsured residents not covered by Medicaid, is mostly funded by ad valorem property tax revenue. Gov. Charlie Crist (R) and state lawmakers have proposed cutting those taxes this year. (1/3/08, Tampa Tribune) 

 

Medicaid Managed Care and the Distribution of Societal Costs for Persons With Severe Mental Illness

Managed care health plans for Medicaid patients with schizophrenia and other severe mental illnesses may result in lower costs to the Medicaid system, but lead to greater personal expenditures and higher caregiver burden for patients and their families, new research indicates. This cost pattern was revealed in an analysis of total societal costs for 628 patients in the Tampa Bay area. (1/15/08, The American Journal of Psychiatry)

 

OPINION: Studies Show Being Uninsured Adversely Affects Health

The case for providing health coverage for all Americans got even more compelling in the past week when two new studies presented the most comprehensive evidence yet that the lack of health insurance is seriously harmful to a patient's health. (1/3/08, New York Times Editorial)

 

Uninsured and Dying Because of It: Updating the Institute of Medicine Analysis on the Impact of Uninsurance on Mortality

In 2002, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) estimated that 18,000 Americans died in 2000 because they were uninsured. Since then, the number of uninsured has grown. Based on the IOM’s methodology and subsequent Census Bureau estimates of insurance coverage, 137,000 people died from 2000 through 2006 because they lacked health insurance, including 22,000 people in 2006” (Jan 2008, Urban Institute)

 

Financial Burden of Health Care, 2001-2004

Analysis of data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) shows that rising out-of-pocket expenses and stagnant incomes increased health spending's financial burden for families in 2001-2004, especially for the privately insured. (January/February 2008, Health Affairs)

 

Barriers to Health Care Access for Low-Income Families

Public health insurance programs have expanded coverage for the poor, and family physicians provide essential services to these vulnerable populations. Despite these efforts, many Americans do not have access to basic medical care. (12/21/08, Medscape Today)

 

Guaranteeing Access to Coverage for All Americans

Under the three-part plan, states would establish Guarantee Access Plans to provide coverage to the uninsured with the highest expected medical costs. Individuals who do not qualify under these plans would be able to get coverage on a guarantee issue basis with premiums capped at 1.5 times the standard rate. (12/20/07, AHA NewsNow)

 

More Than 17 Million Americans Continuously Uninsured

More than 17 million Americans under age 65 -- almost a third of whom are middle income -- could be considered continuously uninsured. This means that they have not had health insurance to help cover their medical bills for at least 4 years, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (1/3/08, Medscape Today)

   

Women's Health Insurance Coverage Fact Sheet

This fact sheet provides new state-by-state statistics on health coverage and describes the major sources of health insurance for non-elderly adult women ages 18-64. It also summarizes the major policy challenges facing women in obtaining health coverage, and provides data on the more than 17 million women who are uninsured. (Dec 2007, Kaiser Family Fdn)

 

Healthcare Costs Topped $2 Trillion in 2006
The nation's healthcare bill climbed above $2 trillion in 2006, averaging a record $7,026 per person, according to a government report released today. The report is likely to intensify the presidential campaign debate over curbing costs and covering the nation's 47 million uninsured. Costs increased 6.7%, the report by Medicare's actuaries said -- only slightly more than the 6.5% rate in 2005. But it was still well above the overall rate of inflation. (1/8/08, LA Times)

 

Community Health Centers Feeling Pinch of Serving a Growing Uninsured Population

Despite record-setting federal funding for community health centers--which provide care largely for underserved people--the nation's 1,100 centers are feeling the strain of providing quality care for the growing uninsured patient population.  (1/3/08, Commonwealth Fund)

  

Privatized Health Care Won’t Deliver
Markets are the most efficient mechanism to provide most goods and services. But markets aren’t the best way to distribute everything. (Oct 2007, Wellesley Institute Commissioned Policy Research)

New Listings: Health Disparities 

 

Waits To See an Emergency Department Physician: U.S. Trends And Predictors, 1997-2004
Increases in wait times of 4.1 percent per year occurred for all patients but were especially pronounced for patients with AMI[ acute myocardial infarction], for whom waits increased 11.2 percent per year. Blacks, Hispanics, women, and patients seen in urban EDs waited longer than other patients did. (1/15/08, Health Affairs)

 

Geneticizing Disease: Implications for Racial Health Disparities
The "geneticizing" of disease is used most appropriately in those instances where we know that genes or gene variants alone can cause disease...Yet that is a real stretch in other instances when genes are linked to health conditions that become labeled as race specific, since this has the potential to distort the discussion on racial health disparities. (1/15/08, Center for American Progress)

   

Social Disparities in the Burden of Occupational Exposures
1282 workers (72%) completed the survey: 36% women, 23% Latino, 39% black, 24% white, and 48% born outside the U.S. The prevalence of high exposures ranged from 21% (chemicals) to 39% (neck strain). 46% reported 3 or more high exposures. Exposure reporting varied among sociodemographic groups. Some of the disparities were explained by the jobs held by different groups, but after statistically controlling for job, many disparities remained. (Dec 2007, American Journal of Industrial Medicine)

 

Health Literacy Practices in Primary Care Settings: Examples from the Field

Low health literacy is pervasive in the United States, particularly among older adults and people with limited education or English proficiency. Patients with low health literacy are at greater risk of misunderstanding treatment recommendations, taking prescription medications improperly, and experiencing lower health status and poorer health outcomes. But according to a new C report, there are a number of practical steps that health care providers can take to combat the problem. By joining forces with their patients, providers can overcome health literacy barriers and help ensure the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care. (1/11/08, Commonwealth Fund)

 

Whites More Likely To Get ER Narcotics

Emergency room doctors are prescribing strong narcotics more often to patients who complain of pain, but minorities are less likely to get them than whites, a new study finds. Even for the severe pain of kidney stones, minorities were prescribed narcotics such as oxycodone and morphine less frequently than whites. (1/2/08, AP)

 

Racial Disparities Persist in U.S. Cancer Treatment

U.S. blacks continue to get inferior cancer treatment compared to whites, researchers said on Monday in a study showing that disparities first documented in the early 1990s persist despite efforts to erase them...Black patients were consistently less likely than whites to receive the recommended types of treatment, the study found, and the problem was just as bad in 2002 as in 1992. (1/7/08, Reuters)

 

Measuring the Health of Nations: Updating an Earlier Analysis

This update compares international rates of ‘amenable mortality’—that is, deaths from certain causes before age 75 that are potentially preventable with timely and effective health care. In addition to the U.S., the study included 14 Western European countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. According to the authors, if the U.S. had been able reduce amenable mortality to the average rate achieved by the three top-performing countries, there would have been 101,000 fewer deaths annually by the end of the study period” (1/8/08, Commonwealth Fund)

 

Shaping Public Policy and Population Health in the United States: Why Is the Public Health Community Missing in Action?

Renewed international interest in the structural determinants of health manifests itself in a focus on the social determinants of health and the public policy antecedents that shape their quality. This increased international interest in public policy in support of the structural determinants of health has had little traction in the United States. This should be surprising since the United States presents one of the worst population health profiles and public policy environments in support of health among wealthy developed nations. (International Journal of Health Services, Vol 38, No 1, 2008)

New Listings: Other Health Issues  


Economic Issues, Such As Health Care Costs, Top Concerns For Democratic, Republican Voters

Exit polls from New Hampshire indicate that economic issues have "overtaken all other issues as the top concern" in the presidential election for both Democratic and Republican voters. According to the Post, voters "have different anxieties about the economy." Some voters have concerns about jobs or housing, and health care and energy costs "trouble large swaths of the population." (1/10/08, Washington Post)

 

The Public's Views on Health Care Reform in the 2008 Presidential Election
Four-fifths of Americans agree that to achieve universal health insurance coverage, employers should either provide health benefits to their workers or contribute to the cost of their coverage, according to new survey data. As reported in nearly 88 percent of Democrats, 73 percent of Republicans, and 79 percent of Independents would support an employer "play or pay" requirement. A wide majority of Democratic, Republican, and Independent voters believe that health insurance costs should be shared by individuals, employers, and the government. Moreover, a majority of the public is strongly or somewhat in favor of requiring individuals to have health insurance--with government help provided to those unable to afford it. (1/15/08, Commonwealth Fund)

Envisioning the Future: The 2008 Presidential Candidates' Health Reform Proposals

While there are big differences between the plans put forth by Republican and Democratic candidates, the plans offered by candidates within the same party are relatively similar. Leading candidates of both parties seek to expand health coverage through the private insurance market. But Democrats would require employers to continue participating in the health insurance system, either by providing coverage directly or contributing to the cost of employees' coverage. Republicans support changes in the tax code that could significantly reduce employers' historically prominent role. (1/15/08, Commonwealth Fund)

Florida Reports

 

Too Great a Burden: Florida Families at Risk A Report on the Impact of Healthcare Costs on Florida Families

Over the past eight years, relentless growth in health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs has made spending on health care an increasing burden. For many Floridians, this means that health care is consuming an ever-growing share of their budgets, forcing them to make difficult sacrifices in other areas so they can make ends meet. And for many hard-working families, the burden of these health care costs has become too great to bear. (Dec 2007, Families USA)

 

Miami-Dade Health Profiles 2007

The Health Council of South Florida released the South Miami-Dade 2007 Health Profile in fall 2007. The South-Miami Dade Health Profile is the second in a series of area Health Profiles prepared for Miami-Dade County's Office of Countywide Healthcare Planning as part of the Building Better Communities General Obligations Bond Program which seeks to improve access to primary care throughout Miami-Dade County. A Health Profile of the Miami Beach Service Area was released in July, and one focusing on the North Miami-Dade Service Area will be released in December. Comparative data is included for Miami-Dade as a whole. The profiles provide a general overview of the population, health needs and resources available in the Service Areas.

 

(Florida) AHCA's Annual Report on Medicaid Reform

(delivered 10/1/07)

 

Annie E. Casey Foundation: 18th KIDS COUNT Data Book

This is the recently released new edition of this national and state-by-state effort to track the status of children in the United States. By providing policymakers and citizens with benchmarks of child well-being, the Foundation seeks to enrich local, state, and national discussions concerning ways to secure better futures for all children. Information is also available in an online database that enables users to generate custom graphs, maps, ranked lists, and state-by-state profiles. Both the book and the online database can be accessed on the website listed above.

 

2007 Miami-Dade County Community Health Report Card: Health improvement through benchmarking, priority setting and leadership engagement

Intended as a “call to action” for area health care advocates and policy makers, the report assesses how well systems and institutions are meeting residents’ needs. It analyzes and synthesizes 93 health indicators, examines pervasive continuing racial and ethnic disparities, and sets targets for ten priority need areas including access to health care and coverage.  

  

Florida Children’s Action Agenda 2007/2008 Available Online
Florida state Senators Nan Rich and Durell Peaden and Representatives Loranne Ausley and J.C. Planas have released the final recommendations of the 2006 Florida Children’s Summit.  The Summit participants learned a lot, and the next Summit in Fall 2008 will reflect that.  In 2008 they will spend substantially more time in workshops hashing out recommendations and will secure experienced workshop facilitators who are knowledgeable about the topics they are facilitating.  Also, they will institute a process to ensure that when leaving the 2008 Summit - or very shortly thereafter - all will know the Summit recommendations. 

 

Report looks at uninsured in Florida
This report from the Research Institute on Social and Economic Policy at FIU documents and breaks down Florida's uninsured figures, finding 18.5% of the total Florida population uninsured. The report looks at employment and industry data related to lack of coverage, and proposes a partial solution.

 

Medicaid
 

State of Breast Cancer Report Names Florida as One of the "Most Restrictive" for State Assisted Breast Cancer Treatment
Florida is part of a minority of states that still determines a woman ineligible for Medicaid-funded treatment unless she was screened through the state program, restricting access to care for those diagnosed elsewhere. The Florida Suncoast Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is on a mission to lobby the state legislature to change laws affecting women seeking Medicaid-funded treatment for breast cancer. The affiliate also encourages survivors, their families and the Tampa Bay community to contact their local and state representatives, urging them to revisit the laws governing breast cancer treatment. The Report provides information on advancements in diagnosis, treatment and research that have made breast cancer a survivable disease for more than 2 million people in the United States. The report also explores cultural, social, educational and financial barriers – or disparities – that prevent many people from getting screening and receiving life-saving breast cancer care. (11/26/07, Susan Komen Fdn)

Saving Lives, Saving Money II: Tobacco-free States Spend Less on Medicaid
This study presents estimates of the reduction in state Medicaid expenditures that would result from reducing or eradicating smoking through effective cessation and prevention programs. (Nov 2007, American Legacy Policy Report)

Children's Health
 

SCHIP: Program Structure, Enrollment and Expenditure Experiences, and Outreach Approaches for States That Cover Adults

States that cover adults under SCHIP are more likely to experience funding shortfalls than those that do not, according to a report. GAO examined 10 of the 14 states that cover adults under SCHIP. According to the report, adults accounted for 54% of combined SCHIP expenditures in the nine states for which GAO had fiscal year 2006 data. Individually, adults accounted for 1% of SCHIP expenditures in one state, 32% to 42% in three states and more than 50% in five states, the report found. The report also found that six of the 10 states had SCHIP funding shortfalls at some point during the 2005-2007 period, compared to 10 of the 41 states that did not cover adults under SCHIP. Jocelyn Guyer, deputy executive director of the Center for Women and Families at Georgetown University, said states expanded coverage to adults under SCHIP because "they were encouraged to by both the Clinton and Bush administrations," and the states that did so were in some cases those "that had already expanded coverage for children to modest-income families" (Nov 2007, GAO)

  

Children without Health Insurance Lose Out on Learning at School

While Congress and President Bush squabble over health insurance for low-income children, school officials nationwide are scrambling each day to find affordable medical care so that sick and needy students can continue to learn. Growing numbers of uninsured children have made it harder for educators to focus on classroom achievement without first addressing the medical needs of their students who lack health insurance or dental coverage. (11/1/8/07, McClatchy Newspapers)

Medicare 

How Much ‘Skin in the Game’ Do Medicare Beneficiaries Have? The Increasing Financial Burden of Health Care Spending, 1997–2003
The financial burden of health care spending in 2003 was greater for beneficiaries with low incomes than for those at higher income levels. That year, the median beneficiary with income below 200 percent of poverty ($17,960 single and $24,240 couple) spent about 22 percent of income on health care, while those at 400 percent of poverty or more spent less than 8 percent of their income on health care. (Nov/Dec 2007, Health Affairs) 

Health of Previously Uninsured Adults After Acquiring Medicare Coverage
This study finds dramatic improvement in health trends when previously uninsured older individuals--particularly those with cardiovascular disease or diabetes--gain health care coverage through Medicare, presenting the strongest evidence to date that health improves significantly when people gain health insurance. While individuals who had continuous health insurance coverage did not report a significant change in their health trends as they transitioned to Medicare, those who had no or little coverage reported substantial improvements, with uninsured individuals who had heart disease or diabetes reporting the most dramatic improvements. (12/26/07, Commonwealth Fund, JAMA)

Curbing Medicare Advantage Overpayments Would Strengthen Medicare

“The overpayments will total $54 billion over the next five years and $149 billion over ten years, according to CBO. That puts an added strain on Medicare, moving up by two years (from 2021 to 2019) the date when its trust fund will become insolvent, according to the chief actuary at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). It also means restoring solvency will require much larger benefit cuts and/or tax increases than would otherwise be needed; as MedPAC chairman Glenn Hackbarth warned Congress, ‘Medicare faces a very clear and imminent risk from this overpayment that will put this country in an untenable position.’ Similarly, CBO director Peter Orszag has testified that if current trends in Medicare Advantage continue, ‘the result would be a fundamental change in the nature of the Medicare system that may then be hard to reverse.’” (12/5/07, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities)

  

Medicare Part D 2008 Data Spotlight: The Coverage Gap

examines the effect of the doughnut hole in Medicare stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs) and Medicare Advantage prescription drug (MA-PD) plans today, and it attempts to forecast what it could mean for beneficiaries in the future. (11/6/07, Georgetown University, NORC and the Kaiser Family Foundation)

 

CMS: Internal Control Deficiencies Resulted in Millions of Dollars of Questionable Contract Payments

CMS might have made almost $90 million in questionable payments to contractors hired to help launch the Medicare prescription drug benefit, according to a report released recently. According to the report, CMS paid about $735.4 million to more than 250 contractors, but 16 contractors received most of the payments. The report found that some of the payments did not comply with terms of the contracts. In some cases, payments exceeded caps included in the contracts, and in other cases, CMS did not obtain adequate documentation to confirm costs billed, the report found. CMS spokesperson Jeff Nelligan said that the agency disagrees with the conclusions of the report and that the launch of the Medicare drug benefit required some contract decisions outside of standard policy. (Nov 2007, GAO)
Federal Budget/Health Care
 
President’s Misleading Attack on Congress’s Appropriations Plan: Charge of $205 Billion Spending Increase Is a Distortion
In vetoing the appropriations bill funding the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, the President charged that Congress plans an irresponsible increase of $205 billion over the next five years in domestic discretionary spending (spending on domestic programs funded through the appropriations process) over the levels he proposed.  This claim of a $205 billions increase is misleading in a number of respects. The only large increases in appropriated programs under Congress’s budget are in defense and international programs, not domestic programs, and reflect the President’s own funding requests. (11/14/07, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities) 

Health Insurance, Health Care Costs

 

Double-Digit Health Care Costs
Costs for the most popular health care plans in the United States are expected to increase by double digits for the rest of 2007 and continue into 2008. (12/4/07, Employee Benefit News)  

 

Employers Say They Would Consider Dropping Health Care Coverage
"If one larger employer actually did drop its health benefits, others might follow for competitive reasons," according to a report, which also found that the cost of providing health insurance to employees doubled between 2000 and 2007. (12/6/07, Employee Benefit Research Institute)

 

The Impact of Unauthorized Immigrants on the Budgets of State and Local Governments U.S.
According to available estimates, there are about 12 million unauthorized immigrants in the United States. Federal, state, and local governments spend public funds that benefit those immigrants, and those immigrants pay individual income, sales, and property taxes. Most available studies conclude that the unauthorized population pays less in state and local taxes than it costs state and local governments to provide services to that population. However, those estimates have significant limitations; they are not a suitable basis for developing an aggregate national effect across all states. (Dec 2007, Congressional Budget Office)

 

Bending the Curve: Options for Achieving Savings and Improving Value in U.S. Health Spending

Guaranteed health insurance for all combined with several federal policy options to achieve healthcare system savings could result in $1.5 trillion in reduced spending over ten years, a new report finds. Spending on health care in the United States is predicted to increase from $2 trillion to more than $4 trillion over the next ten years and consume one out of every five dollars of national income. The report argues, however, that it is possible to curb spending on health care while enhancing the overall performance of the healthcare system, and the sooner policy changes are enacted, the greater the cumulative savings for families, businesses, and public health insurance programs. In order to see real savings and higher value, however, policy reforms must address overall system costs rather than shift costs from one part of the system to another. (12/18/07, Commonwealth Fund)

 

Poll: Health Care the Top Issue for GOP and Democratic Voters

A new poll by the American Hospital Association revealed that in the four major primary state battlegrounds, both Republican and Democratic primary voters believe their parties' presidential candidate should focus on health care costs and coverage over issues such the Iraq War, illegal immigration, and the economy. (11/9/07, Commonwealth Fund)


Poll Shows High Support for Government Role in Health Insurance

By a nearly two-to-one ratio, American voters believe that the federal government should provide health insurance for those who cannot afford it, according to a recent Quinnipiac University national poll. (11/9/07, Commonwealth Fund)

 

Overburdened and Overwhelmed: The Struggles of Communities with High Medical Cost Burdens

The number of people with potentially high medical cost burdens varies widely across the nation, reflecting differences in the number of people who lack health insurance coverage and people who have coverage but nevertheless have high costs relative to their income. To address this problem, many states are undertaking expansions of insurance coverage, but federal support will be critical, particularly in states with large numbers of low-income residents. (11/28/07, Commonwealth Fund)

 

The Long-Term Outlook for Health Care Spending

This CBO report projects that medical coverage for a growing aged population will account for only 25 percent of Medicare spending growth through 2030, while the rapid growth of health care spending, rooted in the rising cost of medical technology and increased use of services, will account for 75 percent of Medicare spending increases through 2030, and 90 percent through 2082. The CBO predicts that by 2082 spending on Medicare and Medicaid alone could account for one-fifth of the nation's gross domestic product. The projections, which were 50 percent higher than those released by the Medicare trustees, left federal regulations unchanged to demonstrate the long-term fiscal effects of current Medicare and Medicaid policy, which the report describes as “unsustainable.” (November 2007, Congressional Budget Office)

 

Why Health Insurance Is Important

Uninsured people receive less medical care and less timely care, they have worse health outcomes, and their lack of insurance is a burden for their families. The benefits of expanding coverage outweigh the costs for added services. Safety-net care from hospitals and clinics improves access to care but does not fully substitute for health insurance. (11/9/07, Urban Institute)

   

Employer-Provided Insurance Continues To Decline

The percentage of people with health insurance through their employers - traditionally the way most people get coverage - is continuing to shrink, raising anxiety among workers and invigorating a debate about whether insurance should be tied to jobs. (11/15/07, USA Today)

 

2007 Health Confidence Survey: Rising Health Care Costs Are Changing the Ways Americans Use the Health Care System

Most Americans getting hit with higher health costs: More than 6 in 10 Americans with health insurance coverage (63 percent) report they experienced an increase in the costs they are responsible for paying under their plan in the past year. Of these respondents, higher costs have caused them to increasingly: Try to take better care of themselves; Talk to the doctor more carefully about treatment options and costs;  Go to the doctor only for more serious conditions or symptoms; Delay going to the doctor; Not fill or skip doses of their prescribed medications (28 percent in 2007; 21 percent in 2005).  (Nov 2007, Employee Benefit Research Institute)

 

Toward Higher-Performance Health Systems: Adults’ Health Care Experiences in Seven Countries

At a time when the U.S. spends more than double what other countries spend for medical care -- $6,697 per capita in 2005 -- a new Commonwealth Fund seven-nation survey finds that U.S. patients are more likely to report experiencing medical errors, to go without care because of costs, and to say that the health care system needs to be rebuilt completely. (Nov/Dec 2007, Health Affairs)

 

Health Disparities

     

Health, United States, 2007

is a compilation of more than 150 health tables. Nearly one in five U.S. adults - more than 40 million people - report they do not have adequate access to the health care they need, according to the annual report on the nation's health released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report also contains a special section focusing on access to care, which shows that nearly 20 percent of adults reported that they needed and did not receive one or more of these services in the past year - medical care, prescription medicines, mental health care, dental care, or eyeglasses - because they could not afford them. (Dec 2007, NHCS, CDC)

 

Scientists Will Update NCI Breast Cancer Risk Calculator To Better Reflect Black Women's Risk
The formula used for the National Cancer Institute's Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool, commonly known as the Gail model, often underestimates the risk of cancer in older black women, according to research. The original formula was based on data from about 240,000 white women. (11/28/07, Journal of the National Cancer Institute)

 

Almost Half Of U.S. Residents Support Providing Emergency Care For Immigrants, Poll Finds
Significantly more people are in favor of providing emergency medical treatment and public schooling to undocumented and documented immigrants than offering them access to other services and benefits, according to a poll. The poll also found that 46% of respondents believe immigrants, whether undocumented or documented, should be able to receive treatment in EDs, while one-third support denying social services, including access to EDs and public schooling, to undocumented immigrants.  (Dec 2007, Los Angeles Times/ Bloomberg) 

Neediest Kids Live in Rich States

Low-income children who fare the worst in health care, education and family structure live in some of the nation's wealthiest states, including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware, a study to be released next week reveals. (11/23/07, USA TODAY)     

Why Do Hispanics Have So Little Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance?

This paper investigates low rates of employer health insurance coverage among Hispanics... Findings indicate that English-speaking Hispanics are more similar to whites in their labor market experiences and coverage than they are to Spanish-speaking Hispanics. (Inquiry, Vol. 44, Fall 2007)

 

America's Health Rankings: A Call to Action for People and Their Communities

This report ranked states' overall health based on 20 well-being factors, including poverty levels for children, violent crime, obesity, and racial and ethnic health disparities. The report indicated that health disparities remain between minorities and whites. In addition, the report shows that Hispanics have the lowest percentage of access to routine dental care and colon cancer screenings. (November, 2007, United Health Fdn., American Public Health Assn., Partnership for Prevention)

 

Language Barriers in Health Care 

For the millions of Americans whose native tongue isn't English, language remains a critical road block to quality healthcare. This study found that language barriers were associated with less health education, poorer doctor-patient interactions and lower patient satisfaction. Having an interpreter did not serve as a substitute for shared language. (November 2007, Journal of General Internal Medicine)

 

The recently published a series of reports on the prevalence of infant mortality among blacks. These three reports, Race, Stress, and Social Support: Addressing the Crisis in Black Infant Mortality, Maternal Nutrition and Infant Mortality in the Context of Relationality, and Inequality Matters: Infant Mortality in the Global Village form a recently published series of reports on the prevalence of infant mortality among blacks. The reports offer background statistics and analysis of the racial disparities associated with the high infant mortality rate in black women. The reports also offer recommendations for changes in public policy that can have positive effects. (Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies)

     

Limited English Proficiency Key Barrier to Accessing Primary Care for U.S. Hispanics

Two studies show a growing discrepancy in mental health services delivered to the Latino community. About 40 percent of a survey study’s subjects described their English as "poor or fair." Latinos in this group scored lower on three of four health care quality measures. Compared to those whose English was "good to excellent," the LEP subjects were twice as likely to have no regular source of health care or to lack continuity of care. Latinos with LEP also had more problems with long waits in the waiting room and with getting medical information or advice by telephone. (Nov 2007, Medical Care)

Other Health Issues 

 

 Ranking America's Mental Health: An Analysis of Depression across the States
Mental Health America found statistically significant associations between the following factors and better depression status and lower suicide rates: mental health resources; barriers to treatment; mental health treatment utilization, and socioeconomic characteristics.  (12/14/07, Mental Health America)

 

Income Inequality Hits Record Levels
Real after-tax incomes jumped by an average of nearly $180,000 for the top 1 percent of households in 2005, while rising just $400 for middle-income households and $200 for lower-income households according to new data. Taken together with prior research, the new data indicate that income is now more concentrated at the top than at any time since 1929. The share of the nation’s total after-tax income going to the top 1 percent of households more than doubled and hit the highest level on record (with data back to 1979). The share of national after-tax income going to the middle fifth of households (the middle 20 percent) was the smallest on record. Similarly, the share of national after-income tax going to households in the bottom fifth was the smallest on record. The $180,000 average income gain for these households in 2005 is more than three times the average middle-income household’s total income. (12/14/07, Congressional Budget Office)

 

America's Health Rankings: A Call to Action for People and their Communities

The nation's overall health declined 0.3% last year, according to the latest annual report on 20 health indicators by the United Health Foundation, American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention. The nation's overall health improved 18.4% through the 1990s before stalling due to rising obesity, uninsurance and other factors, the report says. (11/7/07, AHA News Now)

 
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