Archive 031209

March 12, 2009
	Is Stimulus Funding Enough to Protect Medicaid? Florida is slated to receive $4.3 billion in additional federal Medicaid funds between now and December 2010, thanks to passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. However, even this apparently does not assure that the health care safety net will be spared from further budget-cutting. (Greg Mellowe, Florida CHAIN) Read more Medicaid-Related Bills Filed in 2009 Florida Legislature The 2009 regular session of the Florida Legislature is underway with no shortage of Medicaid-related questions and proposals under consideration. Most notable among the open questions are what the Legislature will do with the increased Medicaid funding Florida should receive through the federal stimulus legislation, and perhaps whether they'll even accept the funding. (Greg Mellowe, Florida CHAIN) Read more New Florida Coalition for Open Access Aims to Ensure Proper Medication for Medicaid Beneficiaries A Florida Coalition for Open Access has been formed and its Steering Committee is proposing legislation in the Florida session. The broad-based Coalition works for Medicaid beneficiaries to get the medications they need as prescribed by their doctors, saving money in overall costs of care. (Scott Barnett, Mental Health America of Greater Tampa Bay) Read more

	As Bone (Mis)heals, Hunt for Specialist Mired in Medipass Morass On Wednesday, February 18, 2009, my son, who has Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Brittle Bone disease was climbing on a table and heard a snap. He instantly knew something was wrong because he was in severe pain. Thus began weeks of searching and calling just to get an appointment with a specialist who would perform the surgery necessary for the broken bone. (Daisy) Read more

	Lost Your Job Since September 2008? Here’s Some Good News! Help may be available to pay for your COBRA coverage AND you may have a second chance if you didn’t take it the first time. COBRA is a federal law that may give you the right to stay in the health coverage you had at your old job. If eligible, you should receive a notice from either your old employer or your health plan. You have 60 days after notice to sign up. (Greg Mellowe, Florida CHAIN) Read more

	TAKE ACTION: Florida KidCare Program a Priority for 2009 Legislative Session Florida KidCare's complex administrative structure and policy changes, have made it extremely difficult for families to enroll children or maintain coverage. Bills to fix this have been proposed. Tell legislators to create a simplified, efficient and cost effective KidCare to maximize federal dollars and increase coverage for low income uninsured children. (Linda Merrell, Florida Children’s Health Care Coalition) Read more and TAKE ACTION AHCA Drops Prepaid Therapies Program for Children with Medicaid AHCA will not proceed with a Prepaid Therapies Program that was designed to "manage" therapy services for children enrolled in Medicaid. It would have required any Medicaid-eligible child in a Medicaid HMO to enroll in a special health plan to get therapies. (Alisa Snow, Alliance for Pediatric Therapies) Read more

	Rep. Adkins Convenes Community Health Conversation toward Improving Health Care in NE Florida On February 25, residents participated in a Community Health Conversation with Rep. Janet Adkins (R-12) of Nassau County. The forum, hosted by Health Planning Council of NE Florida, enabled state agencies, providers, consumers and advocates to discuss many of Florida's challenges in providing health care for its residents. (Leah Cook, Florida CHAIN) Read more

	Organizations TAKE ACTION: Sign On to Call For Fair, Comprehensive Tax Reform It is expected that the next legislative revenue estimating conference will predict an additional shortfall of at least 2 billion dollars. The Finance and Tax Committees are reviewing exemptions and subsidies but to date are protecting exemptions. (Karen Woodall, Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy) Read more and sign a letter calling for fair and comprehensive tax reform.

	President Obama’s Health Reform Efforts President Obama’s 2010 proposed budget sets aside $634 billion for a “reserve fund” to provide a “significant down payment” in the effort to “put the nation on the path to health insurance coverage for all Americans.” On March 5, about 140 health care policy leaders and legislators attended a summit to frame and launch the health care reform debate. Although there was no “breakthrough,” participants from both sides of the aisle expressed optimism that the effort would succeed. (Greg Mellowe, Florida CHAIN) Read more Organizations TAKE ACTION: Sign on to Support and Build on President Obama’s Budget Priorities President Obama has set forth a groundbreaking budget that makes critical investments and lays a foundation for growth that benefits us all. The campaign to Renew and Rebuild America Now invites grassroots, local, regional and national groups to endorse a statement in support of the President's budget priorities. (Coalition on Human Needs) Read more and sign your organization on

	Florida Partners in Crisis Advocates for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Funds in Session; and Welcomes New Executive Director Maintaining current funding for behavioral health and substance abuse services is a top 2009 Florida session priority for Florida Partners in Crisis. This statewide advocacy organization that seeks to improve access to treatment services for people with mental illnesses and drug abuse disorders has also just welcomed Gail Cordial as its new Executive Director. (Leah Cook, Florida CHAIN) Read more

	Resources for Florida Health Care Advocates Visit our newly streamlined Advocacy Resources page for up to the minute tools and information, and an archive of Florida materials. Support Florida CHAIN Florida CHAIN is a non-profit organization supported by foundations, corporations and individual donations. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of our CHAIN Reaction e-newsletter or value our work and would like to make a donation, please click here or call Laura Goodhue at 561-691-4062 for more information.



	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: 3167-B Gardens East Drive, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 info@floridachain.org www.floridachain.org

Is Stimulus Funding Enough to Protect Medicaid?

Florida is slated to receive $4.3 billion in additional federal Medicaid funding between now and December 2010, thanks to the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (i.e., the federal stimulus legislation). However, even this apparently does not assure that the health care safety net will be spared from further budget-cutting.

Much of the federal funding boost would be used to replace State funding, freeing up the State money for non-health-related purposes. At the same time, most of three previous rounds of Medicaid cuts would remain in place, and more cuts might be on the way.

It’s true that strings attached to accepting the extra money would mean that the Medicaid-funded Medically Needy and MEDS-AD Waiver programs couldn’t end June 30 after all. However, Florida would still be able to cut services for those who are eligible.

Governor Crist has been a strong advocate for using the stimulus funding. In fact, his 2009-10 budget recommendations rely heavily on it as a basis for avoiding further painful cuts (although also for avoiding fixes to Florida’s broken revenue structure). His proposal calls for using $2.0 billion in extra Medicaid funding throughout the budget, including $1.7 billion in the Medicaid program itself. This would not only allow for preservation of current programs and services (including recession-driven increases in the Medicaid rolls), but also for increased Medicaid payments to HMOs, specialists, dentists and health departments.

What the Legislature will do is an entirely different question, however. Some House leaders raised red flags about even taking the stimulus money at all, balking at the commitment to spend a few hundred million dollars in order to draw down a few billion. In fact, at last report, the State had not yet drawn down more than $800 million in extra Medicaid available now (for 2008-09), because legislative leaders had not agreed to take it.

Others bemoaned the fact that, despite the fact that no Medicaid expansion of any kind is under consideration, the State would somehow dig itself into a hole it couldn’t climb out of. Rep. Paige Kreegel (R-Punta Gorda) equated the extra Medicaid funding with a “Mercedes” for which the feds had “made a few down payments”, according to the St. Pete Times.

If such sentiments prevail this Session (given the $5 billion dollar deficit we face for next year without the stimulus), look for the wheels to come off of the rickety subcompact we’re actually driving.

Greg Mellowe, Florida CHAIN

Medicaid-Related Bills Filed in 2009 Florida Legislature

The 2009 regular session of the Florida Legislature is underway with no shortage of Medicaid-related questions and proposals under consideration. Most notable among the open questions are what the Legislature will do with the increased Medicaid funding Florida should receive through the federal stimulus legislation, and perhaps whether they'll even accept the funding.

The answers to those questions will determine the answers to other questions, such as whether the Medically Needy and MEDS-AD Waiver programs will be spared, or whether yet another round of cuts to critical services will be proposed.

Then there is the question of the fate of the ailing Medicaid Reform experiment. The Governor's budget recommendations do not call for either the increased funding or staffing necessary for Reform expansion. In addition, in the legislative committees where Reform has been discussed so far, it has not been well-received. However, for historical perspective, the effort to expand Reform in the 2008 Session was buried in a bill that makes budget-related Medicaid changes that did not surface until later in the Session.

On the other hand, a number of bills aiming to fix problems in Medicaid have been filed, including:

SB 2464, filed by Sen. Eleanor Sobel (D-Hallandale Beach) would repeal the Pilot entirely, removing all references to it from State law and eliminating the authority for the federal Medicaid waiver that authorized it. Closely related is HB 1393, sponsored by Rep. Elaine Schwartz (D-Hollywood), which does not seem to eliminate the federal waiver entirely, but does remove most everything that defines the Reform Pilot. How the transition out of Reform would proceed is not made clear in either bill.

HB 1261 and SB 2690, offered by Rep. Janet Adkins (R-Fernadina Beach) and Sen. Carey Baker (R-Eustis), respectively, would make significant changes to the Reform Pilot, in particular authorizing amendments to the federal Medicaid waiver and establishing a broad-based workgroup to review and recommend changes. Among other things, the bill also aims to eliminate the choice counseling, opt-out (to employer-sponsored insurance) and enhanced benefits components of Reform.

SB 2422, filed by Sen. Ronda Storms (R-Brandon) and its companion, HB 1529, by Rep. Carols Lopez-Cantera (R-Miami) would make changes to Medicaid overall that would better serve and protect consumers with severe mental illnesses. These include changing the way HMOs are paid, paying higher rates to plans with enrollees with more health needs.

SB 1448 by Sen. Evelyn Lynn (R-Ormond Beach), along with HB 839 by Rep. Mary Brandenburg (D-West Palm Beach), would address some longstanding problems in Medicaid managed care. This includes requiring plans to continue to provide services deemed necessary by a consumer's previous plan or provider while a request to continue those services ("prior authorization") is being processed.

Greg Mellowe, Florida CHAIN

New Florida Coalition for Open Access Aims to Ensure Proper Medication for Medicaid Beneficiaries

A Florida Coalition for Open Access has been formed and its Steering Committee is making legislative proposals in the Florida Legislative session.

Scott F. Barnett, Executive Director of Mental Health America of Greater Tampa Bay and the coalition's coordinator said, "Our purpose is to make sure Medicaid beneficiaries get the medications they need that are prescribed by their doctors. Proper therapies will save the most money in the overall costs of care."

The legislative proposals call for assuring that the "consumer" member of the AHCA Pharmaceuticals and Therapeutics' Committee is a Medicaid beneficiary. Also, severe and persistent mental illness will be "good cause" to change plans. Another item would require entities contracting with AHCA to provide services to give a minimum 30 day notice of changes in its drug formulary. The last proposal would require providers to prepare reports about members who were required to change medications because of changes in a plan's preferred drug list or formulary.

Barnett continued, "The current economic climate puts pressure on AHCA to save money which is understandable. However, efforts to cut costs for medications for Medicaid beneficiaries are self defeating. Studies show these cuts more often create higher expenses in other parts of the system such as more emergency room visits and hospitalizations."

The members of the Steering Committee of the Florida Coalition for Open access include the Mental Health America Public Policy Council of Florida, NAMI Florida, the Florida Council for Community Mental Health, the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association, Florida CHAIN, Florida Partners in Crisis, the Florida Peer Netword, and the Florida Substance Abuse and Mental Health Corporation.

"We presented a 'White Paper' to the members of the AHCA Pharmaceuticals and Therapeutics Committee offering insights to saving money on medications available to Medicaid beneficiaries," Barnett said. "We want to work with the committee to find truly effective ways to save money by making sure patients get the drugs they need and avoid more expensive acute care incidents."

Barnett added, "If any individual or organization wants to become involved in our efforts, please contact me at execdirector@mhagreatertampabay.org. This will be a broad based coalition."

Scott Barnett, Mental Health America of Greater Tampa Bay

REAL STORIES FROM FLORIDA HEALTH CARE CONSUMERS

As Bone (Mis)heals, Hunt for Specialist Mired in Medipass Morass

On Wednesday, February 18, 2009, my son was climbing on a table and heard a snap. He instantly knew something was wrong. He called me at work to tell me that he thought he broke a bone somewhere on his upper leg area. He was in pain.

Nicholas has Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Brittle Bone disease. I told him I would go home and pick him up and take him to the emergency room. We’ve been living in Florida only 4 years, but this was not his first visit to the emergency room. The x-rays ordered were not enough to inform the doctors what was wrong so they ordered a CAT scan. After spending 7 hours in the ER, the doctor said that Nicholas had broken his hip, and the only way to repair it was with surgery.

Nicholas has had over 500 breaks over his 20-year life span so far. We thought he had broken every bone in his body already, some more than twice. But we realized, he never did break a hipbone. The doctor said this was a traumatic break. He had to be admitted for surgery.

Nicholas was not comfortable with this decision. Who was going to operate? What were they going to do? How were they going to do it? Do they have any experience with brittle bones? Nicholas declined the admission. He was told he needs to go see a specialist.

So began the hunt for an orthopedist with knowledge of Brittle bones. Nicholas was referred to a cancer center in Tampa in the hopes that a specialist might help him and was given an appointment for two weeks later. Anyone who has had a fracture probably has heard that the healing process begins about 3 days after the break.

Nicholas had been a patient at the Shriners Clinic for 4 years. I called them to see if they could see him. Because Nicholas is 20 years old they said they can no longer see him. “Well, what happens to children that turn into adults, where do you send them?” I asked. The operator said they usually refer them to the Florida Orthopedic Institute or USF Orthopedics in Tampa and she gave me the numbers. I called and they certainly were knowledgeable but they did not accept Medipass.

I began an online search. Orlando Regional Medical Center, orthopedic specialist?for pediatrics. Nemours Hospital, orthopedic specialist?. for pediatrics. I then decided to try another route: Medipass. I contacted the insurance company and asked them to find me a doctor.

I called the Agency for Health Care Administration to get some help. The phone line was virtually impossible to navigate. Finally, after trying endlessly, a representative finally came on the line. I told her I needed to find a Medipass doctor.

She said I would have to contact my local Medicaid office (which I had already done) and she gave me the same toll free that I had just called to reach her. I explained that I did call that number and I have been pushing buttons based on my need and she was the one of the options. She said she was sorry but all they did was give referral numbers. I told her "Do you understand that the number you are giving me is going to lead me right back to you?" She said she would let her supervisor know.

Following her instructions, I called the number again, skipped the options and went straight to the operator. She must not have understood what I needed because she put me through to the same 800 number, only this time it was in Spanish.

I decided to try the AHCA website but it referred me back to the 1-800 number. In desperation, I decided to send an email instead but got directed back to where I started. After going around in circles several more times, I was finally able to find someone to intervene and solve my problem.

She actually found me a doctor in the area and set the appointment for my son for the next day.

So now 14 days later, my son finally has an appointment with a specialist. . However, this is only on the condition that I get a referral from a primary physician, who refuses to give it unless my son actually goes into the office. With his broken hip. In pain. That’s the only way he’ll give it.

I think someone took notice of the Medicaid phone line problem because today, when I called that 800 number again, I was finally able to speak to a representative.

Daisy

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 lisam@floridachain.org

Lost Your Job Since September 2008? Here’s Some Good News!

Help may be available to pay for your COBRA coverage AND you may have a second chance at COBRA if you didn’t take it the first time

What is COBRA?

“COBRA” is a federal law that may give you the right to stay in the health coverage you had at your old job. If you’re eligible for COBRA, you should receive a notice of your COBRA rights from either your old employer or your health plan, usually within 45 days of losing your job. You have 60 days after you get the notice to sign up.

So what’s changed?

The federal stimulus package passed by Congress in February included two big (but temporary) changes to the way COBRA works: 1) it makes financial help available to pay for COBRA coverage; and 2) it gives some people a second chance to sign up for COBRA.

COBRA coverage is expensive. How much financial help is available?

If you’re eligible, the federal government will pay 65% of your monthly premiums. So you would only need to pay 35%. For example, if your total monthly COBRA premium is $400, you only need to pay $140. The government will reimburse the health plan or employer for the rest. This financial assistance can help with any COBRA payments due after February 2009.

Who qualifies for the financial help?

Anyone who loses a job between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009 who is eligible for COBRA qualifies, unless eligible to be covered under another group health plan or Medicare. You can get this help for up to 9 months. Information about this will be included in a notice you should get from your employer or health plan about your COBRA rights.

What do you mean by a “second chance” to sign up for COBRA?

If you lost your job since September 2008, but you either didn’t sign up for COBRA or you signed up but then dropped out because COBRA cost too much, you should get a second chance to sign up.

When will I get this second chance to sign up?

You should get a notice from your old health plan or employer about this by May 1, 2009 at the latest. Check the notice that you receive about your COBRA rights carefully to see the deadline for signing up, where to send your payments, and whether or not you will receive monthly bills. If you do not follow the instructions or pay on time, you could lose your COBRA rights.

Will I owe a lot of money because I didn’t sign up for COBRA the first time around?

You will NOT have to pay what you owe going back to the date your employer stopped paying for your coverage. The notice you get will tell you exactly how much you will need to pay. As more information becomes available, it will be posted at www.dol.gov/ebsa/cobra.html.

I lost my job after September, but I never even got a first chance to sign up for COBRA. Why not?

Not everyone who loses their job has a right to sign up for COBRA. Examples could include people who worked for a company with less than 20 employees, a church or for a company that went completely out of business.

I still will pay a lot of money to get COBRA, even with the extra help. What are my other options?

If you do not sign up for COBRA and instead look for another health plan, it might not cover your pre-existing health conditions. Plus, your other options may be very limited: few adults ages 21-64 qualify for Medicaid, and the new Cover Florida plans may be too bare-bones. Your kids may be eligible for KidCare, however – visit www.floridakidcare.org.

Where can I get more information?

Your old employer (the human resources or personnel department) must tell you about your COBRA rights. To learn more about your rights to continue coverage, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s COBRA web page at www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm. You can also call USDOL toll-free at 1-866-444-3272.

This flyer was produced by Florida CHAIN (www.floridachain.org) with appreciation to Families USA for providing much of its content (www.familiesusa.org).

Greg Mellowe, Florida CHAIN

Last revised 3/10/09

TAKE ACTION: Florida KidCare Program a Priority for 2009 Legislative Session

Florida’s state child health insurance program, KidCare, has successfully provided health care coverage for millions of uninsured children in Florida over the last ten years. Yet the programs complex administrative structure, and a series of policy changes, made it extremely difficult for families to enroll children or maintain their child’s health care coverage.

Fortunately, this year the proposed KidCare bills, SB 918 by Senator Nan Rich, and HB 1329 by Representative Jimmy Patronis address the administrative changes necessary to increase enrollment and improve the state’s poor retention rates. The proposed bills also place Florida in a better position to take advantage of the opportunities offered under the Congressional State Child Health Insurance Reauthorization Act.

Key administrative changes:

Reduce the wait period for late premium payments from 60 days to 30 days to improve retention.
Provide for electronic verification of income when possible.
Reduces the wait period for children with other insurance from 6 months to 2 months.
Provides good cause exceptions to the wait period.
Provides for continuous eligibility in Medicaid as it is in other KidCare programs to help children maintain health care coverage.
Creates a seamless transition – continuity of coverage- from Medicaid to Healthy Kids, MediKids, or KidCare plus (Children’s Medical Services Network, CMS) without interrupting coverage by providing presumptive eligibility and up to 60 days for families to adjust to making premium payment.

SB 918 includes all of the administrative changes. However, HB 1329 does not include the very important seamless continuity of coverage between Medicaid and Title XXI programs due to the fiscal impact.

Although the projected costs for transition from Medicaid was high in the past, recent analysis indicate that the transfer of children currently enrolled in Medicaid with income verification is markedly lower than past estimates, a little less than 3,000.

Child health care advocates should be encouraged this year:

Legislative leadership and the Governor have stated their commitment and support for the KidCare program this session.
The Governor’s budget provides an additional $52 million in funding for an additional 46,000 eligible uninsured children this year.
The federal allotment for Florida’s KidCare is generous and ample.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 allows Florida to take advantage of the Federal Medical Assistance Percentages -FMAP- increases.

Tell your Legislators:

(Click here to find your Florida Senator)

(Click here to find your Florida Rep)

Florida can and should pass the good bills that create a simplified, efficient and cost effective KidCare Program to maximize federal dollars and increase coverage for low income uninsured children.

Click to email a special thank you to: Representative Bill Galvano, Rules Chairman, who has made KidCare a priority this year, Senator Nan Rich and Representative Jimmy Patronis for sponsoring the bills, and to Governor Charlie Crist for his continued commitment.

Linda Merrell, Florida Children’s Health Care Coalition

AHCA Drops Prepaid Therapies Program for Children with Medicaid

The Agency for Health Care Administration will not proceed with a Prepaid Therapies Program that was designed to "manage" therapy services for children enrolled in Medicaid.

More than two years ago, the agency announced its decision to give contracts to two sets of vendors, Companion Care/TRS and Care Access/ATA, to carry out the Prepaid Therapies Program. It would have required any Medicaid-eligible child who was not enrolled in a Medicaid HMO to enroll in a special health plan to get speech, physical, occupational and respiratory therapies. The selected vendors would run the health plans and review therapy orders for medical necessity.

AHCA officials, however, never signed off on the contracts with the vendors selected in 2006. In fact, the agency posted its decision last week to reject all bids. One of the vendors has since filed a protest with the agency.

It appears that AHCA Secretary Holly Benson and her staff took into consideration a number of concerns -- brought forward by the Alliance of Pediatric Therapies and other groups -- regarding the program and the vendors' ability to carry it out. The biggest fear was that children would no longer receive therapies, due to decisions of vendors who had a financial incentive to cut services.

Another factor is that many Medicaid HMOs have opened and enrolled children. As a result, there are far fewer children eligible for the program today than there were six years ago, when one of the vendors got a state law passed forcing AHCA to manage Medicaid therapies.

It is very likely that the vendors and their lobbyists will put political pressure on the agency to reverse its decision.

There is still a law that requires AHCA to put in place a "utilization management program" for Medicaid therapies. The agency, however, will be working towards another type of program. It's not clear how this program will take shape, but it will not be structured as the current Prepaid Therapies Program.

Alisa Snow, Alliance for Pediatric Therapies

Representative Adkins Convenes a Community Health Conversation toward Improving Health Care in Northeast Florida

On February 25^th residents participated in a Community Health Conversation with Representative Janet Adkins (R-12) of Nassau County. The forum, hosted by Health Planning Council of North East Florida, provided an important opportunity for state agencies, providers, consumers and advocates to come together and discuss many of the challenges Florida faces providing access to health care for its residents.

The conversation also offered an opportunity to discuss what we might be able to expect from federal health reform being proposed in Washington. In addition, Representative Adkins announced her plan to improve the Medicaid Reform pilot program now being implemented in Nassau, Duval, Baker, Clay and Broward Counties.

The Forum was convened in response to the overwhelming outcry from providers, advocates and consumers who have called for changes to the Medicaid Reform pilot. Panelists included representatives from the local county health departments, the Agency for Health Care Administration, the Office of Program Policy and Government Accountability (OPPAGA), Florida CHAIN, safety net hospitals, and a mental health provider.

The participants discussed how the pilot has affected each of their organizations. Many mentioned their concerns about access to specialists, the need for more preventative care, the loss of one of the large HMO’s in their region, and the inability for consumers to access care due to bureaucratic barriers, and decreases in their health care choices.

The representative said she hopes her plan will eliminate elements of the reform plan that are not working and will challenge us to improve what is. Several recommendations were laid out for her to take back to Tallahassee. Among the top recommendations were limiting barriers for pregnant women and children in CHIP, drawing down the federal stimulus dollars to ensure continuation of important Medicaid programs and various othernext steps.

“Medicaid Reform is an important state initiative to transform how we provide health care. As with all pilot projects and experiments, it is important that we learn from our successes and our failures.” said Adkins. In response to the growing concerns about the Reform pilot, she has filed legislation, House Bill 1261 which will allow the Agency for Health Care Administration to make changes to the program with new and innovative approaches.

Florida CHAIN is following the legislation and will report on the status in future updates.

Leah Cook, Florida CHAIN

Photo caption: L-R: Lisa Broward (AHCA), Rep. Janet Adkins, Jim Mayo (Baptist Nassau), and Glenn Kollen (First Coast Advantage)

Organizations TAKE ACTION: Sign On to Call For Fair, Comprehensive Tax Reform

Below is a sign on letter calling for fair and comprehensive tax reform with specific recommendations. We hope that your organization will join a broad base of folks by signing the letter.

Our plan is to release the letter at a press conference on March 17th (tentative). It is expected that the next revenue estimating conference will predict an additional shortfall of at least 2 billion dollars. The Finance and Tax Committees are reviewing exemptions and subsidies but to date they have been stacked with lobbyists protecting the exemptions.

Even if you don't embrace every suggestion included in the letter we hope you can join in the broad call for comprehensive and fair tax reform which can only be accomplished through modernizing our tax structure.

If your organization can join us on the letter, please send your organization's name and the contact person (for our own pruposes) to fcfep@yahoo.com by Friday, March 13th.

The letter and the press conference will be done under the auspices of the Coalition for Fair and Comprehensive Tax Reform (an informal coalition).

Contact Karen Woodall at fcfep@yahoo.com if you have any questions and please feel free to pass this document on to others.

Thanks for your assistance and support.

Karen Woodall, Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy

March 17, 2009

Dear Legislators:

These are difficult times and Florida, like the rest of the nation, is in a fiscal crisis. You, like Florida’s families and businesses are faced with difficult decisions related to providing a balanced budget that both meets the needs of Floridians who are struggling and infuses resources that will stimulate the economy and put the state on the road to recovery.

Florida's budget has been spiraling downward for the past three years. We've already "tightened our belts." In real dollars per capita, budget cuts during this time have amounted to a 15.2% reduction. Criminal Justice and Corrections is the only area of the budget that has received an increase in appropriations over the past three years. While the fiscal investment in prisons has gone up, funding for students in K-12 has dropped by $445 per student since September of 2007.

Dollars provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will provide a critical, short-term safety net that can prevent additional cuts to much needed services while also helping to stimulate the economy. General revenue will be freed up in some instances and we urge you to use those dollars in the areas for which they are intended.

You have an opportunity to use the federal stimulus package as a safety net so that you can modernize Florida's tax structure by making it fairer and broader, allowing businesses in Florida to operate on a level playing field.

Currently many Florida- based businesses are at a competitive disadvantage because of internet sales that are not taxed, multi-state corporations that do not pay corporate taxes on profits made in Florida and exemptions granted to certain businesses. The sales tax, which is the state’s primary source of revenue, loses more than $12.3 billion from 246 exemptions and subsidies and $20.9 billion from the exclusion of 121 services.

We believe it is time for a thoughtful and comprehensive review of all exemptions, exclusions and subsidies to both the sales and use tax and the corporate income tax. If everyone pays their fair share perhaps the rate can be reduced across the board and the state can still raise the revenue that is needed to provide the quality of life that all individuals and businesses residing in our state deserve.

To this end, we urge you to consider and adopt the following proposals:

Review and remove sales tax exemptions, exclusions and subsidies that are unfair and provide no overall benefit to Florida;
Eliminate loopholes and exemptions in the corporate income tax that place Florida based businesses at a competitive disadvantage;
Collect taxes on sales of goods over the Internet;
Increase the cigarette tax by one dollar per pack;
Increase the non-cigarette tobacco products tax to 100% of the wholesale price;
Temporarily increase the current sales tax by up to one cent and reduce it when additional revenues are raised from broadening the base and removing unfair loopholes;
Close the loophole on Documentary Stamps;
Increase the charge on designated trust funds for general government services by 20%;
Reinstitute the intangibles annual tax with a personal exemption set at $250,000 and $500,000 per couple;
Consider progressive taxes that benefit the environment like taxing plastic bags used in grocery stores and reinstituting a bottle bill;
Consider the Seminole Gaming Compact

(For more detail on proposals see The Prescription)

We are compelled to join together to urge you to consider these suggestions and we stand ready to assist you in that effort in any way that we can.

Sincerely,

President Obama’s Health Reform Efforts

President’s Budget

President Obama’s 2010 proposed budget sets aside $634 billion for a “reserve fund” to provide a “significant down payment” in the effort to “put the nation on the path to health insurance coverage for all Americans.”

The funding wasn’t earmarked for any specific purpose, which the President believes will help bring Congress to the table to develop solutions. (His approach marks a sharp contrast to then-President Clinton’s strategy of drafting a complete and detailed proposal behind closed doors.)

About half of the funds needed for the reserve would come from tax increases on the wealthiest Americans, which the President describes as “our shared responsibility”. A significant portion of the balance would come from reducing overpayments to HMOs that operate the so-called “Medicare Advantage” plans, a longtime target of advocates.

President’s Appointments

On March 3^rd, President Obama moved on from the failed effort to appoint former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), nominating Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius to fill that role instead. Splitting off the responsibility for pushing his health reform agenda, the President also named Nancy Ann DeParle as director of the White House Office for Health Reform.

If confirmed by the Senate, Governor Sebelius will run the massive federal agency, which contains the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services for one. Ms. DeParle, who does not need Senate confirmation, will serve as the President’s chief lobbyist and negotiator on reform issues on Capitol Hill.

President’s Summit

On March 5^th, about 140 health care policy leaders and legislators (and even a few “regular citizens”) attended a summit convened by President Obama in an effort to frame and launch the health care reform debate. The President and other leaders were determined to avoid the problems that plagued the last serious reform effort under President Clinton.

The summit did not steer away from asking the pivotal questions, however, such as whether coverage should be mandated and the extent to which a public coverage option to supplement or compete with private plans was needed. Although there was no “breakthrough” moment, participants from both sides of the aisle expressed optimism that the effort would succeed.

Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation, The Health Care Blog, Washington Post, Office of Management & Budget

Greg Mellowe, Florida CHAIN

Organizations TAKE ACTION:
Help Renew and Rebuild America Now -
Sign on to Support and Build on President Obama’s Budget Priorities

Please sign on your organization by Monday, March 16. President Obama has set forth a groundbreaking budget that makes critical investments and lays a foundation for growth that benefits us all.

His budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2009 would invest in health care, renewable energy, education, and more. The budget makes an important down payment on renewing opportunities for Americans to join the middle class and be protected from poverty. The campaign to Renew and Rebuild America Now invites grassroots, local, regional and national groups that believe this is the right direction for our country to endorse a statement in support of the President's responsible budget priorities. Click here to read the statement.

We encourage everyone who is authorized to sign on behalf of their organization, congregation, and/or association to do so today. Groups can sign on to the statement online here:

Why sign? We will distribute the statement with the endorsing organizations listed to Congressional offices, to the Administration and to the public. Those who oppose reducing the tax breaks available to the highest income households or who want to keep contracts for military spending will be tireless in their opposition. Those who support this very important shift in priorities need to be heard even more loudly. The statement is one of the ways to show the breadth of support for investments in health care and other vital services that will contribute to renewing and rebuilding America.

Over fifty national organizations have already endorsed the statement. But that's just the beginning! Click here to see the growing list of signers.

For an outline of important provisions in the President's budget, take a look at the slides from the recent webinar, President Obama's Budget: The Path to Rebuild and Renew America Now. If you missed the webinar and want to hear and view the 1-hour presentation, click here.

Please forward this e-mail widely!

Coalition on Human Needs

Florida Partners in Crisis Advocates for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Funds in Session; and Welcomes New Executive Director

Maintaining current funding for behavioral health and substance abuse services is a top 2009 Florida session priority for Florida Partners in Crisis. This statewide advocacy organization that seeks to improve access to treatment services for people with mental illnesses and drug abuse disorders has also just welcomed Gail Cordial as its new Executive Director.

Florida Partners in Crisis is a statewide organization dedicated to educating the public and the state’s policy makers about the service needs of people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders. Its primary focus is those individuals being served by Florida’s publicly-funded mental health and substance abuse service system, as well as those who are involved in the juvenile and adult criminal justice systems.

The group advocates for improved funding that will assure access to prompt diagnosis and treatment services in all Florida communities. Partners also promotes cross-system collaboration among the mental health, substance abuse and criminal justice systems to develop community-based programs to reduce the large number of people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders who come in contact with the justice system.

Partners in Crisis began as a local coalition of advocates in Orange County in 1998, and became a statewide education and advocacy organization in 1999. The group has roughly 300 members statewide.

Much of the organization’s success stems from its diversity. From its inception, Partners has represented a broad range of members, drawing its leadership from the judicial system, law enforcement, and the provider community as well as from traditional advocacy groups. People with mental illnesses and substance use disorders and their families also play a key role in charting the organization’s direction.

“I am so excited to be working with all of the great people at Partners,” said Cordial. “Partners has many successes to its credit, thanks to its unique makeup of judges, law enforcement and corrections officials, state agencies, providers, advocates and consumers. I see a great future for us as the go-to organization for information and support on criminal justice, mental health and substance abuse issues.”

Cordial said maintaining current funding for behavioral health and substance abuse services was one of Partners’ top priorities for the 2009 Session. In keeping with that goal, she said the organization supports adoption of additional revenue sources to maintain the mental health and substance abuse services critical to the health and safety of Florida communities.

Leah Cook, Florida CHAIN

State Events
North Florida

Central Florida

East Central Florida

     West Central Florida
     Southwest Florida
     Southeast Florida
     Florida Audio and Web Events
     Statewide Notices

National Events
Conferences
National Audio and Web Events

National Notices

National Campaigns

STATE EVENTS & NOTICES

NORTH FLORIDA

Children’s Week

Mar 29-31 Tallahassee

Join strengthening Florida’s families by sharing a commitment to improve our communities through events and outreach efforts aimed at promoting the health, safety and well-being of our children. Children’s Week is supported by over 80 different non-profit, corporate, philanthropic, faith based, state agencies and organizations. Children’s Week develops and implements over 200 community events and activities statewide, bringing thousands of parents, children, policy makers, professionals, community leaders and concerned citizens together to share valuable knowledge and information about children's issues in each community across the state and at the State Capitol. On Tuesday, March 31, more than 2,000 children’s advocates are planning to attend the Children’s Capitol for a Day. Please register your event by jan 5, wherever it is being held, and Children’s Week will promote it Two toolkits are available. Next Statewide Conference Call: Dec 16 at 3:00 pm. Contact 850-251-7274 or jz@childrensweek.org

Notices

CENTRAL FLORIDA

Feria para La Mujer Latina y Su Familia/ Health Fair for Women and Their Families

March 14 8:00 am – 3:00 pm Dover Shores Community Center, 1400 Gaston Foster Rd., Orlando

Presented by Hispanic Health Initiatives and Commissioner Tony Ortiz. Free of charge: Diabetes, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, HIV\AIDS, BMI, Kidney, Pap-Smears, Pregnancy Tests, Glucose, Spinal Exam, Marrow Testing & Other Exams. Pre-registration required for kidney screening. For more information: 407-339-2001 or 1-866-377-2583.

NACCHO Annual Conference 2009
July 29-31 Orlando
The theme of the conference is, “The New Public Health - Working Across Sectors to Leverage Investment in Communities.” Conference tracks include Quality Improvement & Performance Standards; Successful Multisector Investments in the Community’s Health; The Value of Public Health Interventions; and the Power of Public Health. MAPP users are encouraged to submit abstracts that showcase how their process has helped them work across sectors to leverage investments.

EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA

WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA

Events

2009 Florida Conference on Aging

Aug 24-26 St. Pete Beach, TradeWinds Island Resort.

For more information: 850-222-8877 or www.fcoa.org. For reservations, call 800-808-9833.

Notices

Pinellas residents can get free discount drug cards, which may not be used in conjunction with any health insurance plan, including Medicare and Medicaid, but will help those seeking discounts on drugs.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA

Events

Health Communications and Reducing Cancer Disparities
March 13 10:00–11:00 am Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Matthew Kreuter, PhD, MPH, Professor of Social Work and Medicine, and Director of the Health Communication Research Laboratory, Washington University in St. Louis, Brown School of Social Work. Dr. Kreuter is an expert in health information and health disparities. One of his current projects is Building Evidence-based Action into Community Outreach Networks (BEACON) which involves building partnerships with cancer programs and communities. BEACON involves St. Louis University's Prevention Research Center, NCI's Cancer Information Service (CIS), and the NCI-designated Center for Cultural Cancer Communication at St. Louis University. They work with community partners to build capacity to support and participate in cancer prevention

Liberty City Health Fair

March 21 10:00 am -3:00 pm Jessie Trice Center for Community Health, 5361 NW 22^nd Ave, Miami

The Jessie Trice Community Health Center, in partnership with Sylvester Cancer Center, the Miami Workers Center, and the Department of Community Service (DOCS) at the University Of Miami Miller School Of Medicine is excited to offer free health services to the Liberty City Community and surrounding areas. Close to 100 physicians, medical students, and educational volunteers will provide services including screenings for the community’s most prevalent diseases: hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, vision loss, obesity, depression, osteoporosis, as well as prostate, colon, breast, cervical and head and neck cancer. 1:1 consults available on these as well as smoking cessation. This first annual health fair is part of a community initiative including eight health fairs and two weekly clinics organized by medical students to support the DOCS mission of providing quality healthcare to the underserved populations in South Florida. Do not eat for 8 hours prior if you wish to receive glucose or cholesterol testing. Visit www.JTCHC.org for on-line pre-registration and additional information. For questions visit www.UMDOCs.org or call 305-243-4898.

“Celebrating Healthy Living” Health Fair

March 21 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Bunche Park, 15727 NW 22^nd Ave, Miami Gardens

The Opa-Locka/North Dade Front Porch Council along with its community partners are sponsoring a community-wide health fair to promote healthy living and increase health awareness through education and prevention. Basic health screenings, blood pressure and glucose checks, HIV testing, as well as a variety of informational booths designed to help the community become aware of the many programs, services and providers located in our surrounding community. Free to public; no charge for nonprofits to set up (8:30 am), $35 vendor fee. Contact 305-769-6369 or opalockandadefrontporch@mail.com.

2009 Paths of Public Health Awards
Awards Luncheon at FIU: April 3
This award was established by the Robert Stempel School of Public Health at Florida International University to recognize individuals and organizations in public health for their contributions and commitment to promoting and protecting the health of South Florida. The awards also serve to raise the community’s awareness and understanding of the contributions made by public health professionals. This a great opportunity to nominate a hard-working colleague or group for their outstanding work and contributions to public health.

Sacred Heart Outreach 5^th Annual Health Fair

April 18 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 pm Sacred Heart Outreach Center, 20 SE 2^nd Road

Health Education and Screenings for migrant farm workers. English, Spanish, Creole spoken. Breakfast, hot dogs and soda. Vendors welcome. Co-sponsored by Barry University Division of Nursing. If you have any questions, please contact Adrianne Watson at 305-321-0993 or adrianne.watson@mymail.barry.edu

Social Medicine Advocacy, Research and Training (SMART) Forum

April 24 1:00 – 5:00 pm Univ. of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Lois Pope Life Center

Registration is open for the Inaugural Social Medicine Advocacy, Research and Training (SMART) Forum, hosted by the Jay Weiss Center for Social Medicine and Health Equity. The aim of the forum is to encourage inter-disciplinary and community-based approaches for addressing health disparities. All University faculty, staff, and graduate students as well as community members are urged to attend. The SMART forum will address topics in social medicine and health equity including public health; social epidemiology; community-based, participatory research; qualitative research with underserved populations; evaluation of University-community partnerships to impact community or individual health outcomes; health behaviors and lifestyles; health communications / education; health services / economics; health-care ethics; population health / genomics. Register for free online at www.jayweisscenter.org, or at the door. For more information: khoughton@med.miami.edu or 305-243-8893.

2^nd Annual Back to School Community Health Fair

Aug 8 10:00 am -2:00 pm Volunteer Park, 12050 W Sunrise Blvd, Plantation

FREE Health Screenings and Education presented by Woman2Woman Breast Cancer Foundation and Florida Medical Center. Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar, Cholesterol Testing, Body Mass Index, Posture Evaluation and Screening, and Wellness Information and Health Education/Counseling on Diabetes, Hypertension, Heart Disease, Asthma, Sickle Cell Disease, Colorectal Cancer, Women’s Health Issues, Osteoporosis, Prostate Cancer, Breast Cancer, and other forms of cancers, Support Groups/Programs, Nutrition, Exercise, Information on Medicaid benefits, Family Counseling Services, Education, Prevention, Care/ Treatment. In addition, there will be a Children’s Corner to educate children on hand washing, hygiene, safety, and nutrition as well. The focus of the health fair will be on health promotion, prevention, and wellness for the community. June 5 cutoff to sign as a vendor. For more information: 954-703-1529 or Keandra.gray@w2wbcf.org. Appt needed for Bone Density Test; call 1-866-442-2362

Notices

“The Earlier, the Better” Breast Cancer Detection Program Seeks Haitian Women

The Haitian American Association Against Cancer (HAAAC) and the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center are asking for your help in finding women for one of their projects, “The Earlier, the Better.” The project’s goal is to improve early detection of breast cancer among Haitian women in South Florida. They are interested in learning about Haitian American women’s experiences with breast cancer and in hearing their opinions about how to educate Haitian women about the disease. Women will receive a gift certificate for their participation. For more information including flyers in English or Haitian Creole, please contact Pascale Auguste from HAAAC at 305-572-1825, padenize@aol.com, or Jenny Blanco from Sylvester at 305-243-1360, jblanco3@med.miami.edu.

Donors Forum of South Florida Annual IMPACT Awards
Deadline: March 27
Awards: April 29
This program honors funders for grants/initiatives that have had a positive impact on the community. In addition to receiving self-nominations or nominations of colleagues by funders, nonprofits may also nominate funders. Over the past few years, this has been an important way that we have learned what funding has been most helpful from the nonprofit perspective. Donors Forum will announce this year’s award recipients and celebrate the impact funders are making during our annual South Florida “Making Connections” Conference on April 29. Call (305) 371-7944 for an application.

Community Foundation Developing Palm Beach County's Digital Public Square

Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties is forging unique partnerships among non-profit and community organizations as the charity prepares to launch Palm Beach County's first-ever "digital public square.” From video footage of community events and an interactive historical timeline of Palm Beach County's history, to nonprofit news and comprehensive databases of community information, the Foundation's content partners are creating a wide array of resources and online training tools for the innovative project. Funds from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation are being used to develop the project and ensure its long-term sustainability. This includes training for content partners, the provision of grants to area non-profits, public outreach, development of development of grassroots civic journalism among community organizations and citizens, recruiting content contributions from across the region and staff support and technical training. For more information please visit www.yourcommunityfoundation.org or call 561-659-6800.

FLORIDA AUDIO CONFERENCES AND WEBCAST

STATEWIDE NOTICES

Join Florida Breast Cancer Coalition Research Foundation at the Annual NBCC Washington Lobby Day

May 2-5 Washington, DC

NBCC advocates from nearly every state and the District of Columbia prepare to become advocates in training, briefings, and state delegation meetings, and spend an entire day on Capitol Hill conducting and participating in more than 400 meetings with members of Congress and congressional staff. Scholarships for FBCCRF members are available to attend.To download the scholarship application please visit www.stopbreastcancer.org or call 1-866-640-0969.

Health Information Security and Privacy Toolkit for Physicians to Encourage Health Information Exchange
Florida is one of 8 pilot states for this initiative launched January 2009, called the Health Information Security and Privacy Toolkit that will provide physicians with the information they need to participate in electronic health information exchange. The Web-based toolkit focuses on safe, private and secure health information exchange for providers. It offers tools and resources to help physicians get connected electronically. Physicians can also earn continuing medical education credits while learning more about electronic health information exchange and electronic health record systems.

Recruiting Ovarian Cancer Survivors
The Comprehensive Cancer Control Program is recruiting ovarian cancer survivors in the Gainesville, Jacksonville and Miami/Ft Lauderdale areas for its Survivors Teaching Students: Saving Women’s Lives Program. For more information, please contact 850- 245-4444 extension 3854.

Call to Action from Sister Study
This study is a national effort to find the environmental and generic causes of breast cancer by recruiting 50,000 women who have never had breast cancer but have a sister who has had the disease. There is still a great need for: Caucasian women with a high school degree or less, Caucasian women 65-74 years old, African Americans, Latinas, Asians and Native Americans 35-74 years old of all educational level. Please forward this message to women who may be eligible to join the Sister Study (www.sisterstudy.org or 1-877-474-7837).

NATIONAL EVENTS & NOTICES

CONFERENCES AND EVENTS

The Fifth Annual Mobile Health Clinics Forum
April 26-28 Las Vegas
Mobile Healthcare professionals share their insights and invaluable expertise on a broad range of topics. Whether you currently operate a mobile health clinic or are launching a new mobile outreach program, the Forum curriculum will enhance your skills and expand your knowledge-base. Sessions address such topics as: budget development, business plans, funding options and grant writing, universal benchmarks, ROI and outcomes assessment, electronic medical records, telehealth/telemedicine, emergency response, political advocacy and more.

Creating the Future We Want to Be: Transformation Through Partnerships

Community-Campus Partnerships for Health's 11th Conference

April 29 - May 2 Milwaukee

National Breast Cancer Coalition 2009 Annual Advocacy Training Conference

May 2-5 Washington, DC

Each year, hundreds of breast cancer advocates come together to network with one another, hone their advocacy skills and hear the latest news in breast cancer science, research and policy. The four-day conference includes thought-provoking plenary sessions, delivered by well-known researchers, scientists, advocates and policy makers. Workshops offer scientific information and practical skills for advocates, and we set aside time to have some fun.

Race and Class Inequalities in Health
Conference: June 23-26 Anaheim, CA

Conceptual and data-based papers are invited for presentation at the annual Society for Epidemiologic Research meeting. There will be a contributed paper session on Race and Class Inequalities in Health. Accepted abstracts will be distributed at the June meeting and will also be published in a Supplement issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology. Submit online For inquiries about this specific session on Race and Class Inequalities in Health, contact Irene Yen: irene.yen@ucsf.edu or Pat O'Campo: pat.ocampo@utoronto.ca

Presentation Opportunities for Child Health Services Researchers

Conference: June 27 Chicago

Proposals for research panels and posters are being accepted for the 2009 Child Health Services Research Meeting to be held on June 27 in Chicago. This meeting, now in its 11th year, features the latest in child health services research and policy.

AUDIO AND WEB EVENTS

Community Health Status Indicators: Employing a New Tool for Assessments and Planning
April 16 2:00-3:00 (ET)
This ACHI webinar will showcase and provide a tour of the newly released Community Health Status Indicators (CHSI) containing individualized reports for more than 3,000 counties in the United States. The CHSI online tool provides local and state public health agencies, hospitals, community health centers, community organizations, policymakers, and researchers with unprecedented access to comprehensive and nationally comparable health data.

ACHI Webinar - Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to Advance Community and Public Health
May 21 2:00 – 3:00 pm (ET)
This presentation will demonstrate the uses and value of GIS with visual demonstrations using sample health data. It will also share information on how HIPAA compliance can be maintained when working with sensitive patient data in the GIS environment. GIS is advanced technology that is growing every day in its application to community and public health. This session will equip participants with up-to-date knowledge and greater clarity on the ways GIS can strengthen their initiatives.

ACHI Webinar - Priority Setting for Community Benefit: A Primer on Matching Community Need and Organizational Effort
June 18 2:00 (ET)
This session will establish the community needs assessment as the starting point linking the community benefit plan and program priorities. Biel will discuss the importance of adopting a formal priority setting process, and share techniques and tools for making it happen. This will include discussion of explicit priority setting criteria, tools and discussion questions to help guide the process, and real case examples from a variety of hospitals. Register for the session online.

NOTICES

Share What Works: NACCHO’s Model Practice Program
Deadline: March 13
NACCHO is soliciting entries for its 7th Annual Model Practice Awards to help local health departments "share what works.” All local health departments and NACCHO affiliate members are encouraged to submit examples of practices, programs, and/or policies.

CAMPAIGNS & INITIATIVES

Families USA Letter to the Editor Tool
Fixing the economy means fixing health care - and Families USA invites you to help get this message out to as many people as possible. They’ve launched a campaign to help spread the word, with a simple tool to help you send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper about the urgent need for health care reform. Stand up for health care.

Cover the Uninsured Week will be held March 22-28, 2009
For the past six years, this week has highlighted the need for our nation's leaders to make reforming our health care system a top priority in order to provide a solution for all Americans, especially the 46 million - including 9 million children - living without health insurance. As a new Congress and administration take office in January, it is important that they put reforming our nation's health care system at the top of their agenda. Now is the time for you and your community to get involved in Cover the Uninsured Week 2009! Host an enrollment event, organize a health coverage forum, and more. Many resources available.

Visit the National Health Information Center for a complete list of the 2009 National Health Observances and contact information for resources

New listings, in order of submission deadlines

Frueauff Foundation
Deadline: March 15, Dec 15
The Frueauff Foundation supports mental health services, organizations serving at-risk youth and other community programs. Since its founding, hospitals and health agencies have been recipients of Foundation awards. Equipment, outreach programs, staff positions, screening and education materials are just a few examples of grants given. Health education programs for at-risk children and their parents, support for the critically ill, AIDS/HIV education programs, and nursing scholarships have all received awards in the past decade. Specific institutions and specific programs, rather than national organizations, are usually given.

RWJF Investigator Awards
Letter of Intent Deadline: March 25
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Investigator Awards in Health Policy Research funds highly-qualified individuals to undertake broad studies of the most challenging health policy issues facing America. RWJF will award approximately 10 grants of up to $335,000 each to investigators from a variety of disciplines to support projects that combine creative and conceptual thinking with innovative, policy-relevant approaches. The RWJF welcomes applications from investigators in the health, social, and behavioral sciences, as well as other fields. They seek a diverse group of applicants, including minorities, early-career investigators, and individuals who work in nonacademic settings such as research firms and policy organizations.

Ashoka Foundation: Designing for Better Health Competition
Deadline: April 1
The Ashoka Foundation "Designing for Better Health" collaborative competition aims to find innovative solutions and catalyze a community of change-makers around "nudges" -- innovative little pushes -- that help people make better decisions regarding their own health and the health of others. Maximum award: $5,000. Eligibility: charitable organizations, private companies, or public entities from all countries

Color the Future of Medicine Fellowship
Deadline: April 1
Color the Future of Medicine Fellowship is a newly created program to assist prospective medical and dental students with the financial expense associated with applying to medical and dental school. Research shows that one of the leading factors preventing minorities from applying to medical and dental professional programs is the costs associated with the preparation. CMF's intent is to help alleviate some of the expense for prospective students through leveraging its partnerships with universities, companies, and other related organizations.

Health Disparities Research on Minority and Underserved Populations
Deadline: April 17
The overall objective is to support all investigators whose current research focuses on disease/conditions that disproportionately affect ethnic racial minorities, underserved populations, and rural and low-income populations. The research may include, but is not limited to, chronic diseases such as: cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, infant mortality, asthma, obesity and kidney disease. Specific targeted areas of research also may include studies that influence health disparities such as biological (e.g., genetics, cellular, organ systems) lifestyle factors, environmental (physical and family) social (peer influences), economic, institutional and cultural and family influences.

Translational Research for the Prevention and Control of Diabetes and Obesity
Deadline: May 7
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the National Institute of Nursing Research and the Office of Behavior and Social Sciences Research seek to develop cost effective and sustainable interventions that can be adopted in real world settings, for the prevention and control of diabetes and obesity.

RWJF: Local Health Collaboration Partnerships
Brief Proposal Deadline: July 7
Local Funding Partnerships a collaborative program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and local grantmakers, supports innovative, community-based projects throughout the United States. Through LFP, a local grantmaker proposes a funding partnership with RWJF to provide seed money for a new project that addresses the health or health care problems of people who are not reached by traditional health and social services or for whom existing services are insufficient. Projects are expected to create meaningful change by addressing health in the context of complex social factors that impede good health for society's most vulnerable people. Programs that address access to medical care – such as the start-up of community health centers, mobile vans, dental services, or school-based health centers – also are not likely to be competitive. LFP provides grants of $200,000 to $500,000 per project, which must be matched dollar for dollar by local grantmakers such as community foundations, family foundations, corporate funders, etc.

Active Living Research and Healthy Eating Research
Letters of Intent Deadline: July 17
The Active Living Research and Healthy Eating Research joint call for proposals for 2009 Rapid-Response Round 2 Grants. This CFP supports time-sensitive, opportunistic studies to evaluate changes in policies or environments with the potential to reach children who are at highest risk for obesity, including African-American, Latino, Native American, Asian American, and Pacific Islander children (ages 3 to 18) who live in low-income communities or communities with limited access to affordable healthy foods and/or safe opportunities for physical activity. Research studies may focus on one or both sides of the energy balance equation - on physical activity (including sedentary behavior), healthy eating, or both.

Childhood Obesity Prevention and Treatment Research Consortium
Deadline: Oct 6
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development solicit cooperative agreement grant applications from institutions to conduct randomized controlled trials to test innovative interventions that address issues immediately germane to the childhood obesity epidemic and runs parallel with a separate Funding Opportunity Announcement.

NIOSH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings
Deadline: May 8, 2011
The purpose of the program is to support high quality conferences/scientific meetings that are relevant to its scientific mission and to the public health.

Continuing listings, in order of submission deadlines

Dade Community Foundation Community AIDS grants
Deadline: March 20

Community AIDS Partnership grants will support HIV prevention and education programs in Miami-Dade that focus on high-risk populations and high-need communities and address emerging needs to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS in Greater Miami.

Public Welfare Foundation
Letters of inquiry due: 6-8 weeks before deadlines

Deadlines: Mar 23, July 27

The Public Welfare Foundation supports efforts to ensure fundamental rights and opportunities for people in need. The Foundation looks for carefully defined points where funds can make a difference in bringing about systemic changes that can improve the lives of countless people. 2009 funding priorities include a Health Reform program that fosters the development of strong systems of advocacy with expertise in health policy, organizing community and interfaith groups, and building coalitions

Children’s Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Centers
Deadline: April 30
The Children’s Environmental Health Centers have been examining the interaction between environmental exposures and child health outcomes. Combining research and outreach, these Centers form a national network to address a range of health outcomes that may result from environmental exposures, including impairments in overall growth and development, nervous system development and respiratory dysfunction. The Centers work with communities, health care providers, researchers and government officials to conduct research with the goal to prevent and reduce childhood diseases in these areas.

Office Depot

Deadine: April 30
Office Depot helps a large number of local nonprofit organizations every year. The nonprofit organization must be aligned with Office Depot's mission to directly impact the health, education and welfare of children, and Funds must directly assist children. Recipients must have an established track record of community advocacy.

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.

Department of Health and Human Services Understanding and Promoting Health Literacy (R21)
Letters of Intent Receipt Date(s): April 24, 2009; December 24, 2009
Application Submission/Receipt Date(s): Sept 24, 2008; May 25, 2009; Jan 25, 2010

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.

Chronic Illness Self-Management in Children and Adolescents
Multiple Closing Dates, Jan 10, 2010
The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement is to solicit research to improve self-management and quality of life in children and adolescents with chronic illnesses. Biobehavioral studies of children in the context of family and family-community dynamics are encouraged. Children diagnosed with a chronic illness and their families have a long-term responsibility for self-management. The child with the chronic illness will have a life-long responsibility to maintain and promote health and prevent complications. Research related to biological/ technological factors, as well as, sociocultural, environmental, and behavioral mechanisms that contribute to successful and ongoing self-management of chronic illnesses in children is also encouraged.

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.

Community Participation Research Targeting the Medically Underserved (R01)
Expiration Date: May 15, 2010
The ultimate goal of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) with a special review issued by the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR), National Institutes of Health (NIH) is to solicit Research Project Grant (R01) applications that propose research on health promotion, disease prevention, and health disparities that is jointly conducted by communities and researchers and targets medically underserved areas (MUAs) and medically underserved populations (MUPs) as defined by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Community Participation Research Targeting the Medically Underserved (R21)
Expiration Date: May 15, 2010
The ultimate goal of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) issued by the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR), National Institutes of Health (NIH) is to solicit Exploratory/Developmental (R21) grant applications that propose research on health promotion, disease prevention, and health disparities that is jointly conducted by communities and researchers and targets medically underserved areas (MUAs) and medically underserved populations (MUPs) as defined by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Community Participation in Research (R01)
Expiration Date: May 8, 2011
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) issued by the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR), National Institutes of Health (NIH) solicits R01 grant applications that propose intervention research on health promotion, disease prevention, and health disparities that communities and researchers jointly conduct.

The Effect of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination/Bias on Health Care Delivery (R01)

The Effect of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination/Bias on Health Care Delivery (R21)

The Effect of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination/Bias on Health Care Delivery (R03)

Expiration Date: May 8, 2011

Grant applications are encouraged from institutions/ organizations that propose to: (1) improve the measurement of racial /ethnic discrimination in health care delivery systems through improved instrumentation, data collection, and statistical/analytical techniques; (2) to enhance understanding of the influence of racial/ethnic discrimination in health care delivery and its association with disparities in disease incidence, treatment, and outcomes among disadvantaged racial/ethnic minority groups; and (3) to reduce the prevalence of racial/ethnic health disparities through the development of interventions to reduce the influence of racial/ethnic discrimination on health care delivery systems in the United States.

Ben & Jerry’s Foundation
Ongoing deadline for Letters of Interest
The Ben & Jerry's Foundation offers competitive grants to not-for-profit, grassroots organizations throughout the United States which facilitate progressive social change by addressing the underlying conditions of societal and environmental problems. Grant applicants need to demonstrate that their projects will lead to societal, institutional and/or environmental change; address the root causes of social or environmental problems; and lead to new ways of thinking and acting. Awards are granted ranging from $1,001 - $15,000.

Nathan Cummings Foundation
Letters of inquiry may be submitted at any time

The Nathan Cummings Foundation is rooted in the Jewish tradition and committed to democratic values and social justice, including fairness, diversity, and community. The Foundation seeks to build a socially and economically just society that values nature and protects the ecological balance for future generations, promotes humane health care, and fosters arts and culture that enrich communities. An additional goal is to strengthen the capacity of the Jewish community to work for social and economic justice, both in the United States and Israel. Funding priority is given to projects that have an impact at the state, multi-state, or national level.

Kresge Foundation Grantmaking Programs in Health and Environment

Deadline: Open

Both the Health and Environment Programs address health and environment-related social issues, particularly those affecting minority, low-income, and other underserved communities.

United Health Foundation - Health Services Programs Supported Nationwide
Deadline: Open

United Health Foundation works to improve health outcomes for all Americans. Support is provided to nonprofit organizations that serve the health needs of people and communities throughout the US. The Foundation's priorities are: to enhance the quality of health and medical care services by providing reliable, scientifically-based information to support decisions made by health professionals, communities, and individuals; and to expand access to medical care and health-related services for individuals and families who live in challenging circumstances. Grants generally range from $1,000 to $50,000.

Educational Foundation of America

Rolling Acceptance
The mission of the Educational Foundation of America is to improve individual lives and surroundings through education and awareness, in hopes of bettering humanity and the world we inhabit. The Foundation provides grants to progressive nonprofit organizations throughout the United States that offer specific programs with broad impact. The Foundation’s areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the environment, reproductive freedom, theatre, education, medicine, drug policy reform, democracy, peace and national security issues, and human services. Online letters of inquiry are accepted at any time through the website listed above.

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.

Ladder to Leadership: Developing the Next Generation of Community Health Leaders
Application deadline: Varies
Ladder to Leadership: Developing the Next Generation of Community Health Leaders is a collaborative initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Center for Creative Leadership. The initiative aims to enhance the leadership capacity of community-based nonprofit health organizations serving vulnerable populations. It will develop critical leadership competencies for 270 early- to mid-career professionals through an innovative, sixteen-month leadership development curriculum

Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation Community Improvement Programs
Applications accepted throughout the year.

Provides support to nonprofit organizations that improve communities and positively impact lives. The grantmaking emphasis is on programs that help children and families, animals, or the environment. Average grant $2,500.

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.

Florida CHAIN Website Resources

Organizations and Services

New: Florida

New: National

Continued Listings: Florida

Manuals, Guides and Toolkits

New: Florida

New: National

Continued Listings: Florida

Technology and Audio Visual Materials

Media Programming

Web Sites, Web Features

New: Florida

New: National

Continued Listings: Florida

Audio, Videos and Films: Web, Rent/Purchase. Theater

Periodicals and Books

Reports and Studies

New: Florida Reports

New: National

Continued Listings: Florida Reports

FLORIDA CHAIN WEBSITE RESOURCE UPDATE

Florida CHAIN Website Updated

www.floridachain.org continues to be updated with current resources. Find comprehensive information about Medicaid Reform including background information, evaluations, media coverage, consumer experiences, correspondence with AHCA, and more. Apply for Florida KidCare, access the KidCare renewal flyer, or view the KidCare Coordinating Council’s annual report. Discover resources for people who are uninsured. Find the contact information of Florida’s health committee members. Use our town hall meeting template to create your own town hall. Access health care resources in Spanish. Learn more about Florida CHAIN’s activities, board of directors, and partners. View Florida CHAIN’s publications. Just visit www.floridachain.org and mark it as one of your favorites. For feedback or suggestions, contact Lisa Margulis at lisam@floridachain.org or 954-986-6535.

ORGANIZATIONS AND SERVICES

New: Florida Organizations and Services

Medicare Access Network of Florida

Do you know of any Medicare Part D beneficiaries who have questions about their plan? If so, feel free to direct them to one of the SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) free counseling sites for help that are located throughout Broward and Miami-Dade. To make an appointment, or for questions, call the Elder Helpline at1-800-96-ELDER (1- 800-963-5337).

South Florida Smoking Cessation Programs

South Florida Cancer Control Collaborative has also started a list of smoking cessation links. Click here to view the list.

New: National

Initiative Takes Aim at Obesity in Children
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation is a partnership between the American Heart Association, the William J. Clinton Foundation, and RWJF. It has come together to create a new generation of healthy Americans by addressing one of the nation’s leading public health threats – childhood obesity. The Alliance focuses on preventing childhood obesity and creating healthier lifestyles for all children and targets several areas to spark change and reduce the increasing rates of childhood obesity in the U.S. The Alliance includes programs for Healthy Schools, Industry, Kids Movement, and Healthcare Providers.

Association for Community Health Improvement Community Benefit Bulletin, Community Benefit Programs Affinity Group
ACHI is gearing up for a new year of community benefit activities and welcome your participation.

Continued Listings: Florida

(Florida) Hispanic Health Initiatives
In Florida, almost half of the 3 million uninsured adults are Hispanic. Central Florida has continued to see the rates of the uninsured increase and the availability of culturally competent services decrease. One agency, Hispanic Health Initiatives, Inc (HHI), is the only health services facility in Central Florida created to specifically address the needs of the Hispanic community. Since its inception in June of 2000, this volunteer-driven, community-based organization has worked to connect medically underserved families with free or low-cost health care services. Read more.

The Florida Discount Drug Card
is designed to lower the cost of prescriptions for Florida residents who are 60 and older and without prescription drug coverage or who fall into the Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage gap; OR under age 60, without prescription drug coverage, and with an annual family income of less than 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. Qualifying incomes include those below: $30,636 (individual); $41,076 (family of two); $61,956 (family of four). It can give eligible participants a discount on virtually all drugs and be used at all participating pharmacies.

Florida Relay Service 711

The Florida Relay Service is the communications link for people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf/Blind, or Speech Impaired. Through the Florida Relay Service, people who use specialized telephone equipment can communicate with people who use standard telephone equipment. To call Florida Relay, dial 7-1-1, or use the appropriate toll free numbers: 800-955-8771 (TTY); 800-955-8770 (Voice); 800-955-1339 (ASCII); 877-955-8260 (VCO-Direct); 877-955-5334 (STS); 877-955-8773 (Spanish); 877-955-8707 (French Creole) In emergencies, Relay users should call 9-1-1 directly or the emergency services center in their community. Note: 711 can't be accessed from many buildings with a switchboard system because the PBX system won't recognize it, and consumers need to dial 1-800-955-8771 from them. Florida Relay customer service is available 24 hours a day 365 days a year: 1-800-676-3777 (English); 1-800-676-4290 (Spanish)

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.

MANUALS, GUIDES, TOOLKITS

New: Florida

New: National

Transportation & Health 101 Toolkit
The Healthy Eating Active Living Convergence Partnership has released a new toolkit demonstrating the connection between effective transportation planning and policy and their impact on the health and well-being of individuals and communities. This informative toolkit presents policy opportunities to create healthy transportation options, mainly on a federal level. The toolkit also aims to help health advocates understand the link between transportation issues and health, and inform transportation advocates of the potential health implications of their work.

Anchor Institutions Toolkit Released
The Netter Center for Community Partnership's at the University of Pennsylvania has just released the Anchor Institutions Toolkit, A guide for neighborhood revitalization. The toolkit's goal is to help other anchor institutions understand the steps that were taken by Penn, the challenges the institution faced and the results. The initiatives embody the tools utilized by Penn to effect significant major transformation and revitalization in West Philadelphia

More Than Words

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Hablamos Juntos released a new online toolkit, More Than Words, which is designed to assist individuals and organizations in initiating translations of health care text of all types, whether they work with translators or through translation vendors. It also helps organizations evaluate the quality of translations, which requires trained raters.

Continued Listings: Florida

TECHNOLOGY AND AUDIO/VIDEO RESOURCES

Media Programming

Web Sites, Web Features & Databases

New: Florida Listings

New: National

Game: So You Think You Know Minority Health?

This is a new interactive game from Families USA's Minority Health Initiative. Based on the classic Jeopardy game, it is designed to test your knowledge of the health disparities facing people of color in America today.

Kids Count

The Annie E. Casey Foundation hosts this online database called, which contains state- and city-level data for over 100 measures of child well-being. This database can generate custom reports for specific geographic areas and compare them based on a topic (e.g., poverty, education, and health/health insurance).

Health Insurance and Access to Health Care: The Evidence
is a narrated slide tutorial that reviews the body of evidence on the health consequences of being uninsured. The presenter discusses the impact of health insurance on the use of and access to health care services, such as primary and preventative care, as well as the treatment for and survival rates of cancer patients and those who have experienced a heart attack. (February 2009, KFF)

Continued Listings: Florida

SHADAC Launches Redesigned State Health Access Assistance Web Site
The new RWJF Web site gives users easy access to research and resources related to issues of health insurance coverage, data collection methods and state health policy.

Florida Medicaid Reform Evaluation Project

The website provides information on the evaluation and access to key publications, talks, and presentations produced by the MRE team. The University of Florida (is conducting a five-year evaluation of the state’s Medicaid Reform Demonstration Project under a contract with AHCA, Florida’s state agency for health policy and planning. The evaluation will be conducted over the period of Florida’s Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waiver (July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2010), as approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services by the Department of Health Services Research, Management and Policy at UF. The overall objective is to assess whether Florida's Medicaid Reform accomplishes its stated objectives of delivering quality healthcare services while achieving better health outcomes and enrollee satisfaction at a more predictable lower cost. For further information, contact (352) 273-6073 or mre@phhp.ufl.edu

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.

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

Audio, Videos and Films: Web, Rent/Purchase, Theater

Families USA Annual Conference Health Action 2009

View conference highlights, including webcasts and presentations.

Podcast: Examining President Obama’s Budget Proposal

Listen to Center for Budget and Policy Priorities executive director, Robert Greenstein, and other analysts discuss priorities in the budget, as well as specific initiatives in major areas such as health care, taxes, and climate change. They also examine the budget’s implications for the federal deficit and debt and fiscal responsibility, and evaluate whether the budget’s numbers are honest or rely on gimmicks.

PERIODICALS AND BOOKS

Florida Dept of Health Women’s Health Newsletter

The FL Dept of Health website has a Women’s Health page with a new quarterly Women’s Health Newsletter. The April-June 2008 will be online.

REPORTS AND STUDIES

New Listings

New: Florida Reports

A Closer Look at Tobacco Taxes: “Florida’s Fiscal Crisis: The Prescription”
This report recommends: Raise the cigarette tax by $1.00 per pack and increase the tax on "other tobacco products" to 100% of the wholesale price. It is estimated that this change in tax rate will add an additional $1,000.8 million to the state's recurring general revenues. (March 2009, Florida Center for Fiscal & Economic Reform)

New Listings: Medicaid

Improving Medicaid as Part of Building on the Current System to Achieve Universal Coverage

As the source of comprehensive, affordable coverage for more than 50 million low-income Americans, Medicaid can be a building block of a health care reform initiative that achieves universal coverage by strengthening both the private and public health insurance systems and better coordinating them." (2/24/09, CBPP)

Lack Of Circumcision Coverage In U.S. Medicaid Programs Could Increase HIV Transmission Risk

Utah's Medicaid program does not cover routine circumcisions for infant boys, which could put men in the state at a higher risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, according to a recent study. The policy also could widen health disparities along socioeconomic lines, the researchers said. Utah officials in 2003 cut circumcision funding from the state's Medicaid program "because of the elective, non-therapeutic nature of the procedure rather than medical necessity," according to a Medicaid Information Bulletin published that year. (January 2009, American Journal of Public Health)

New Listings: Children's Health Care

Preventive Medicaid Coverage For Women Could Reduce Low-Weight Births, Lower Costs, Report Says
A not-for-profit advocacy group plans to urge Maryland lawmakers to create policies aimed at preventing low-weight births through better preventive care for women covered under Medicaid. The report said that infants who are born below normal birthweight -- less than 5.5 pounds -- account for more than 50% of state expenditures on all births. Each year, about 7,000 Maryland infants, or 9% of all births, are below the normal birthweight. About 40% of Maryland births are covered by Medicaid each year, including many low birth weight infants, according to ACY. The average hospital costs for low birth weight infants is $84,000, compared with $2,300 for normal weight infants, the report said. Low birthweight infants frequently require longer hospital stays with more need for intensive care. The average hospital stay is 40 days for the lowest birthweight infants -- those under 3.3 pounds -- compared with just under three days for infants delivered at normal weight, according to the report. Low birthweight infants also have increased risks for lifelong physical and mental disabilities that can incur further cost in the long run. (February 2009, Advocates for Youth)

Diabetes on the Rise in Every Racial and Ethnic Group Studied
New findings from the nation's largest study of diabetes in youth paint an alarming picture of disease on the rise among every racial and ethnic group studied. Five articles provide a comprehensive picture of diabetes in children and adolescents from five ethnic and racial groups in the United States, including non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics, blacks, Asian/Pacific Islanders and American Indians/Navajo Nation. The incidence rate of type 1 diabetes among U.S. non-Hispanic white youth is today one of the highest in the world: one in about 4,200 youth develops type 1 diabetes annually. Type 2 diabetes is relatively rare in non-Hispanic white youth, but incidence rates are still several-fold higher than those reported by European countries. Over a third of the youth in this oldest age group with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes had poor glycemic control. The articles describe important aspects of the epidemiologic, metabolic, behavioral and quality of care issues in youth with diabetes. (March 2009, Diabetes Care)

SCHIP Children: How Long Do They Stay and Where Do They Go?
Findings from a seven-state study examining retention of children in SCHIP and enrollees’ coverage after they leave the program. Once enrollees leave SCHIP, they are far more likely to become uninsured and remain uninsured for some time than they are to obtain private coverage. The findings suggest that the extent to which SCHIP has substituted for private insurance is well below the rates estimated in other studies. (January 2009, Mathematica)

States Selected to Participate in $15 Million Initiative to Increase Coverage for Uninsured Children
According to the most recent government data, more than 9 million of the nation's children are uninsured, and more than 7 million are eligible for either Medicaid or CHIP, but not enrolled. In an effort to significantly increase the number of enrolled children with health coverage, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) announced a $15 million, four-year initiative to increase enrollment and retention of eligible children in public health insurance programs like Medicaid and the states' Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). (2/17/09, RWJF)

Trends in Child Health 1997-2006: Assessing Black-White Disparities
To provide fuller detail on disparities in child health, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies undertook an examination of how child health indicators vary by sociodemographic characteristics. Comparisons are made for the following health indicators: low birthweight, health status (excellent, very good, good, fair, poor or unknown), unmet dental care needs, ADHD/ADD diagnosis, lifetime asthma diagnosis, learning disability diagnosis, and activity limitation. The findings for black children and white children are provided in this brief. (February 2009, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies)

New Listings: Medicare

Demonstration Projects Of Coordinated Care Programs For Medicare Beneficiaries With Chronic Illnesses Find That Most Do Not Show Benefit
Only 2 of 15 Medicare programs designed to improve care and costs for patients with chronic illnesses resulted in reduced hospital admissions, and none of the programs generated net savings, according to a study. (2/11/09, JAMA)

The Effect Of Medicare Part D Coverage On Drug Use And Cost Sharing Among Seniors Without Prior Drug Benefits
Study investigators found that although the implementation of the Medicare Part D benefit was associated with a sizable initial reduction in out-of-pocket drug spending and a meaningful increase in the use of selected essential medications, the benefit was not evenly distributed throughout the year. Many patients reached the coverage gap (or "doughnut hole") before the year's end, resulting in significantly reduced pharmacy dispensing of previously used essential medications. (2/3/09, Health Affairs)

Curbing Medicare Advantage Overpayments Could Benefit Millions of Low-Income and Minority Americans

One way to help finance universal health coverage would be to eliminate the large overpayments to the private insurers that serve some Medicare beneficiaries through the Medicare Advantage program. Private insurers argue the overpayments should be preserved using the claim that curbing these overpayments would harm low-income and minority Medicare beneficiaries. A better way to help low-income and minority Americans would be to curb the overpayments and reinvest the savings to help finance a system of universal coverage and to strengthen two programs that help low-income and minority Medicare beneficiaries with their out-of-pocket health care costs. (2/19/09, CBPP)

Health Care on a Budget: An Analysis of Spending by Medicare Households
reports that in 2006, out-of-pocket healthcare spending accounted for 14.1 percent of all expenditures for Medicare households and that one in four households devoted more than one-quarter of total household expenditures to health care. This group includes a disproportionate share of Medicare households that are low- and middle-income, that have older members, and that live in rural areas. (2/4/09, KFF)

The Effect of Medicare Part D Coverage on Drug Use and Cost Sharing among Seniors without Prior Drug Benefits
finds that seniors participating in the Part D program cut back on their medications by an average of 14 percent once they hit the “doughnut hole” coverage gap. Those who reached the coverage gap were typically people with chronic conditions who filled an average of five prescriptions per month. (2/3/09, Health Affairs)

Dual Eligibles: Medicaid Enrollment and Spending for Medicare Beneficiaries in 2005
provides the latest data on the total Medicaid enrollment and spending attributable to dual eligibles, with state-level estimates available in interactive tables and maps. The brief finds that dual eligibles comprise 18 percent of the Medicaid population but account for 46 percent of Medicaid spending. (2/13/09, KFF)

Rethinking Medicaid’s Financing Role for Medicare Enrollees
examines coverage of the nearly 9 million dual eligibles, the low-income elderly, and people with disabilities who are enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid. The brief explores the national and state impacts of shifting the financing of selected services for dual eligibles from Medicaid to Medicare, including having the federal government pick up the full cost of Medicare premiums, cost-sharing, gaps in Medicare-covered services, and long-term care services. (2/13/09, KFF)

1 In 3 Medicare Part D Enrollees Select Medicare Advantage Drug Plans For 2009
More than nine million people, or 34 percent of all Medicare Part D enrollees, currently receive their prescription drug benefit through Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage (MA-PD plans). (2/25/09, Avalere Health in Health Affairs)

Medicare Spending Continues To Vary Widely By Region
Medicare spending varies dramatically by region because individual physicians increase costs based on the quantity of medical services they provide in the area, according to an analysis. (2/26/09, NEJM in NYT)

New Listings: Federal/State Budgets

Funding for States in Economic Recovery Package Will Close Less than Half of State Deficits

The final economic recovery bill provides to states approximately $135 billion to $140 billion — or about 40 percent of projected state deficits — to reduce the depth of state budget cuts and moderate state tax and fee increases, which hurt the economy.

Changes to Stimulus Package Leave Millions Without Health Care Help
The $787 billion economic stimulus bill signed by President Barack Obama last week will help many recently unemployed workers access health care coverage, "but in the scramble to pass a bill, lawmakers made changes that left out millions of middle-class Americans who have lost their jobs." (2/17/09, Los Angeles Times)

New Listings: Health Insurance, Health Care Costs

America’s Uninsured Crisis: Consequences for Health and Health Care
The evidence shows more clearly than ever that having health insurance is essential for people's health and well-being, and safety-net services are not enough to prevent avoidable illness, worse health outcomes, and premature death, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. Moreover, new research suggests that when local rates of uninsurance are relatively high, even people with insurance are more likely to have difficulty obtaining needed care and to be less satisfied with the care they receive. The number of people who have health insurance continues to drop, and employment-based coverage -- the principal source of insurance for the majority of Americans -- is eroding, a situation that is getting worse with the current economic crisis. (2/24/09, Institute of Medicine National Academies Press)

Americans at Risk: One in Three Uninsured
shows that a staggering 86.7 million Americans – one out of three people under 65 -- were uninsured at some point during 2007- 2008. This is a national epidemic with serious health consequences. As the report states, uninsured people go without screenings and preventive care, delay or forgo needed care, and tend to be sicker and die earlier than their insured friends and neighbors. On top of that, uninsured families risk bankruptcy from skyrocketing medical costs and piling medical debt. (March 2009, Families USA)

More Than Half of Americans Say Family Skimped on Medical Care Because of Cost in Past Year

Fifty-three percent of Americans say their household cut back on health care in the past year due to cost concerns, according to a new Kaiser Health Tracking Poll. Respondents report relying on home remedies and over-the-counter drugs rather than visiting a doctor (35%), skipping dental care (34%), putting off health care (27%), not filling a prescription (21%), or cutting or skipping doses to make their prescription last longer (15%). Nearly half of Americans (45%) report they are “very” worried about having to pay more for their health care or health insurance, the highest proportion measured by the poll since late 2006. One-third of those with health coverage are worried they will lose it. (2/25/09, KFF)

The Path to a High Performance U.S. Health System: A 2020 Vision and the Policies to Pave the Way
This report from the Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System offers recommendations for a comprehensive set of insurance, payment, and system reforms that could guarantee affordable coverage for all by 2012, improve health outcomes, and slow health spending growth by $3 trillion by 2020—if enacted now to start in 2010. Central to the Commission’s strategy is establishing a national insurance exchange that offers a choice of private plans and a new public plan, with reforms to make coverage affordable, ensure access, and lower administrative costs. Building on this foundation, the report recommends policies to change the way the nation pays for care, invest in information systems to improve quality and safety, and promote health. By stimulating competition and delivery system changes aimed at providing more effective and efficient care, the policies could yield higher value and substantial savings for families, businesses, and the public sector. (2/19/09, Commonwealth Fund)

Slowing the Growth of Health Care Costs — Lessons from Regional Variation

The regional variation in Medicare costs continues to grow as high-spending areas see sharper rates of spending increases. For example, between 1992 and 2006, spending grew at an annual rate of 5.0% in Miami, as compared with 2.3% inSalem, Oregon, and 2.4% in San Francisco. Medicare spent about $16,000 per beneficiary in Miami in 2006, compared with about $6,000 in Salem and $8,000 per beneficiary in San Francisco. (February 2009, New England Journal of Medicine)

Costs Soar as More People Buy Individual Insurance Policies
The rise in unemployment has forced more Americans to look for health care coverage in the individual insurance market, where they often experience "sticker shock" at the high cost of policies. (2/20/09, USA Today)

Stakeholders Begin to Reach Consensus on Health Insurance Mandate
Leading figures in the nation's long-running health care debate, including representatives for insurers, drugmakers, doctors, hospitals and consumers, are beginning to coalesce around the idea that comprehensive health care legislation should include a requirement that every American carry insurance. (2/20/09, NYT)

Report: Areas With High Rates of Uninsurance Have 'Spillover Effect' on Insured Communities
Living in a community with high rates of uninsured individuals could be detrimental to the financial and physical well-being of even those with health insurance, according to a new Institute of Medicine report issued. (3/2/09, Commonwealth Fund)

Employers Look for Ways to Deal With Steady Rise in Health Care Costs
"While employers expect the rise in health care costs to remain steady at 6 percent--which is twice the rate of inflation--many are looking for ways to cut back on costs due to the deteriorating economy." (2/19/09, Fox, Reuters)

Young Uninsured Struggle to Find Health Care Outside the System
Many of the 13.2 million young adults without health insurance "borrow leftover prescription drugs from friends, attempt to self-diagnose ailments online, stretch their diabetes and asthma medicines for as long as possible and set their own broken bones." (2/18/09, NYT)

Ranks of Uninsured Could Grow to 54 Million by 2019
According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the number of uninsured Americans will grow from 45 million today to 54 million by 2019 if no changes in federal health care policy are instituted. (2/11/09, AP)

Growth In National Health Expenditures Expected To Slow By 2009 As A Result Of Recession
Growth in national health expenditures (NHE) in the United States is expected to significantly outpace economic growth in 2008 and 2009 due to the recession. (February 2009, CMS, in Health Affairs)

Health Care Spending Will Account For One-Fifth Of GDP In 2018; Federal Government Will Pay More Than 50% Of Those Costs

Overall U.S. health care spending will reach $2.5 trillion in 2009, a 5.5% increase from 2008, when health care spending increased by 6.1%. Total health care spending will account for 17.6% of the gross domestic product in 2009, a full percentage point higher than 2008, marking the largest one-year increase since CMS began tracking health care spending in 1960 The rate of health care spending growth is expected to decline over the next five years in part because people will lose their jobs and health coverage as the recession continues, and they will forgo medical treatment; however, the economy will be shrinking and growing at a slower rate, which will increase health care spending's share of GDP. (2/24/09, CMS in The Hill)

Health Insurers, Poised for Round Two
Almost every business in the country is feeling buffeted by the recession. But for health insurance companies, the bleak economy is only part of the problem: the changing of the guard in Washington is an equal if not more dangerous threat. Together, these forces could deal a body blow to a business model that was already teetering. (3/1/09, NYT)

Study Indicates Mental Disorders, Heart Conditions Are Most Expensive Medical Conditions In The US
National Health Spending by Medical Condition, 1996-2005, first-of-its-kind study indicates that mental disorders and heart conditions are the two most expensive medical conditions in the United States in terms of personal health spending. (2/24/09, Altarum Institute)

Health Care Costs Consume an Even Larger Portion of the U.S. Economy
U.S. health care spending will increase to $2.5 trillion this year, or 17.6 percent of the economy, a full percentage point jump from 2008 and "the biggest one-year increase recorded since the government began tracking the data in 1960."
(2/24/09, The Boston Globe)

Insurers Increasingly Offering Health Promotion Services
A new report from the National Business Coalition on Health suggests that health insurance plans are increasingly offering health promotion services, particularly those that pertain to improved diabetes management. (2/20/09, Modern Healthcare)

Integrated Set of Policies Could Insure Everyone, Improve Health, and Slow Spending Growth
A comprehensive set of insurance, payment, and system reforms could guarantee affordable health insurance coverage, improve health outcomes, and slow the growth of health spending by $3 trillion by the end of the next decade, according to a new report released today by The Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System. (2/19/09, Commonwealth Fund)

Uninsured Hospital Stays Climb 34% Over Decade
The number of uninsured hospital stays increased 34% between 1997 and 2006 to more than 2.2 million per year, according to a new report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The change in uninsured hospitalizations varied by region, from a 39.3% increase in the South to a nearly 20% decrease in the Midwest. Uninsured stays were more likely than other stays to originate in the emergency department. The most common reason for admission remained childbirth, while stays for skin infections rose 167% over the period to 74,500 per year. The data are from the agency’s 2006 Nationwide Inpatient Sample. (2/19/09, AHA News Now)

CBO: Uninsured Could Grow to 54 Million by 2019
Without changes in policy, the number of uninsured Americans under age 65 could reach 54 million by 2019, Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf told the Senate Budget Committee at a hearing on budget options for health reform. (2/11/09, AHA News Now)

Some Low-Cost Health Care Programs Fail to Get Uninsured Enrolled
Throughout the nation, various public programs offering low-cost health care coverage are finding it difficult to get people who are uninsured to enroll, usually because they do not believe they need health insurance, they are not aware the programs exist or they think they cannot afford to sign up. (2/24/09, The Washington Post)

Spending to Survive: Cancer Patients Confront Holes in the Health Insurance System
highlights the challenges that cancer patients may face in paying for life-saving care even when they have private health insurance. High cost-sharing, caps on benefits, and lifetime maximums contribute to high out-of-pocket costs, while waiting periods and restrictions on eligibility for public programs can leave patients who are too ill to work without an affordable insurance option. (2/5/09, KFF)

Expanding Coverage for Dependents
finds that young adults are one of the fastest-growing groups without health insurance. The report proposes changing state laws to allow young people to remain on their parents’ health insurance plans beyond age 18. However, most states continue to place restrictions on which dependents are eligible for coverage by limiting it to those who are students, who live with their parents, or who do not have access to other forms of insurance. (February 2009, Community Catalyst)

Health Savings Accounts and High-Deductible Health Insurance Plans: Implications for Those with High Medical Costs, Low Incomes, and the Uninsured
examines the potential for HSAs and HDHPs to reduce health care spending and decrease the number of uninsured. The study finds that the tax structure and incentives built into HSAs make them most attractive to high-income and healthy people who are already advantaged by the current system and that they tend to shift more of the health financing burden onto those needing significant amounts of care. As such, it is not clear that cost containment or reductions in the uninsured will follow. (2/2/09, Urban Institute)

Consumer-Driven Health Care: Promise and Performance
analyzes the evolution of consumer-driven health care in terms of its original vision, subsequent implementation, and the transformations it has gone through as it moves into its second decade. Growth of high-deductible health plans and individually purchased insurance has been slower than anticipated. (1/27/09, Health Affairs)

New Listings: Health Disparities

Study: Segregation May Contribute to Racial Disparities in Care
African-American heart attack patients who live in highly segregated areas are more likely than whites to be admitted to hospitals with lower survival rates, according to a study published by Health Affairs. The study, which examined Medicare admissions for heart attack in 118 health care markets between 2000 and 2005, suggests that eliminating health care disparities will likely require addressing the social factors that lead to segregation. For example, African Americans are more likely than whites to be treated by African-American physicians, who are more likely to practice in hospitals with a tradition of caring for African Americans. These hospitals may serve a higher proportion of uninsured patients and face financial pressures that can compromise quality, the study notes. (3/3/09, AHA News Now)

Measuring Trends in Recent Racial/Ethnic Disparities

This recent report used data from the 1996-2005 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) to compare trends in racial/ethnic disparities, and to assess the influence of changes in socioeconomic status among racial/ethnic minorities on disparity trends. (2/1/09, AHRQ)

Neighborhood Environments: Disparities in Access to Healthy Foods in the U.S.

The published, which finds that residents of low-income, minority, and rural neighborhoods are most often affected by limited access to supermarkets and healthy food. In fact, the availability of fast-food restaurants and high-calorie foods has been found to be greater in lower-income and minority neighborhoods. (January 2009, American Journal of Preventive Medicine)

Reducing Inequities in Health and Safety through Prevention

This memo emphasizes the need for a national commitment to eliminating health inequities and provides concrete strategies for achieving equitable health outcomes for all. (1/23/09, Prevention Institute and the Health Policy Institute at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies)

Colorectal cancer screening gaps persist
While colorectal cancer screenings have increased among all Medicare beneficiaries, white beneficiaries receive the screening more than others, according to a new study. (2/20/09, UPI)

Study Shows Patients Unable To Read Or Understand Their Rights
Patients hoping to find out about their rights are unlikely to get the information they need from hospital documents designed precisely for that purpose. In reality, patients are presented with information written in legal jargon that the majority of them can neither read nor understand. Some forty years ago, notions of informed consent and autonomy were first officially endorsed and the concept of patients' rights emerged. In 1990, a condition of hospital accreditation was to inform every patient about their rights. Then in 2001, the US House of Representatives and US Senate passed bills to create a Federal Patients' Bill of Rights (PBOR). Many states now have Patients' Bill of Rights laws in place. Ironically, these efforts to progress patients' rights are being held back by the use of overly complex language which far exceeds patients' average reading capacity, which is at the 8th grade level. (March 2009, Journal of General Internal Medicine)

Government’s New Online Cancer Risk Tool Omits Minorities
A new interactive online tool can help older Americans assess their risk for developing colon cancer. The catch is that it only works for whites. (2/12/09, New York Times)

New Listings: Other Health Issues

Report: 1 in 10 Adults Experience Serious Mental Distress
An estimated 24.3 million U.S. adults experienced serious psychological distress in 2007, and only 45% of them received mental health services, according to a new report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Serious psychological distress is an overall indicator of recent mental health problems such as anxiety or mood disorders. The rate of such distress was highest among adults 18-25, who were less likely than their older counterparts to receive mental health services. African Americans and Hispanics also were less likely to receive mental health services than whites. The findings are based on the agency’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health. (2/13/09, AHA News Now)

Americans Support Obama’s Health Care Plans
According to a new Harris Interactive/HealthDay poll, “a broad swath of Americans support President Barack Obama's anticipated overhaul of the U.S. health care system.” (2/12/09 U.S. News & World Report)

Cracks Begin to Form in Coalition Devoted to Health Care Change
Members of Divided We Fail, a "strange-bedfellows" alliance of labor unions and business groups working together to achieve major health care reform, "are indeed divided over key elements of how to fix healthcare," reports the Associated Press. (2/17/09, AP)

Monetary Rewards for Smoking Cessation Proves Successful
A study in the suggests that employer-based smoking cessation programs that provide financial incentives are most effective at persuading workers to quit smoking. (February 2009, NEJM)

CDC Report Finds Tobacco Advertising Influences Teen Cigarette Preference
A report found that tobacco advertising continues to effectively encourage youth to start smoking, with most teens demonstrating a preference for brands that are heavily advertised. (February 2009, CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

Report Warns Big Tobacco Has Stepped Up Targeting of Women and Girls
A new report issued today by a coalition of public health organizations, including RWJF finds that the tobacco industry has unleashed its most aggressive marketing campaigns aimed at women and girls in over a decade. Warning that these new marketing campaigns are putting the health of women and girls at risk, the report urges Congress to regulate tobacco marketing by passing legislation granting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority over tobacco products. (2/19/09, RWJF)

Continued Listings: Florida Reports

ASTHO 2008 Florida Snapshot: Activities to Promote Health Equity
The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) has published online snapshots highlighting state activities that promote health equity. Nearly every state is represented. This online tool features an overview of each state’s health priorities, a flowchart outlining the organization and infrastructure of state departments of health, each state’s activities and/or organizations that address the social determinants of health.

Florida among 10 worst states for adult diabetes
In just one decade, Florida has gone from having one of lowest rates of adult diabetes in the country to cracking the top 10 worst, federal health officials reported Thursday. Diabetes more than tripled in Florida in the past decade while it was doubling at the national level, according to CDC. (10/31/08, South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

Florida CHAIN Issue Brief: Health Plans' Persistently Consumer-Unfriendly and Divergent "Preferred Drug List" Posting Practices Exemplify Unresolved Challenges in Medicaid Reform

As with other benefits made available under the Medicaid Reform Pilot Program, the prescription drugs covered by health plans (called Preferred Drug Lists, or PDLs) are permitted to deviate significantly from standard Medicaid. Although this flexibility has been touted as increasing consumer choice, meaningfully informed choice is still not possible given the lack of simple and direct access to usable information about those options. In particular, longstanding problems in Reform with respect to accessing plans' PDLs on-line have still not been resolved. These problems may stem from AHCA's reluctance to impose requirements ensuring clarity, accessibility and uniformity of consumer information, as well as from its apparent unwillingness to enforce even the weak requirements it has already imposed.

Dying for Coverage in Florida

More than six people die each day in Florida because they do not have health insurance. A new Families USA report is the first-ever state-specific report of its type, based on a ground-breaking national study by the Institute of Medicine, which in 2002 forged the direct link between a lack of health coverage and deaths from health-related causes. The report also finds that:Between 2000 and 2006, the estimated number of adults between the ages of 25 and 64 in Florida who died because they did not have health insurance was more than 13,600. Across the United States, in 2006, twice as many people in that same age category died from a lack of health insurance as died from homicide. (March 2008, Families USA)

HHS Failed To Show Budget Neutrality Before Approving Florida, Vermont Medicaid Waivers
HHS did not ensure that two Medicaid pilot projects in Florida and Vermont would be budget neutral before approving them. Under federal law, states can obtain a federal waiver for pilot programs to test new ways of delivering care under Medicaid if they can show that spending would not rise faster than it normally would. However, in approving the Florida and Vermont programs, "HHS approved spending limits that were higher than the limits that would have been granted if HHS had held the states to limits based on benchmark growth rates," the report found. In addition, "HHS' basis for approving the higher spending limits was not fully supported by documentation," according to GAO. (March 2008, GAO)

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)

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)

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

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.