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FLORIDA
Medicaid Reform
Managed Care Ombudsman Volunteers Needed
Florida Trails in Children's Health Insurance
NATIONAL
Citizen's Health Care Working Group
Medicaid Reform's New “Enhanced Benefits” Bring Surprises & Questions
Medicaid recipients in Broward and Duval counties should receive information in the mail soon about their “Enhanced Benefits” account, a feature provided as part of the state’s new Medicaid reform plan.
Beneficiaries who enroll in new Medicaid managed care plans can accumulate up to $125 annually in a special spending account by engaging in healthy activities, such as getting a mammogram, joining a weight loss program or getting an annual dental exam. The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) is compiling the list of activities for which beneficiaries can receive credit.
Beneficiaries will not receive cash; instead, they will use their Medicaid Gold cards at participating locations to purchase toothpaste, vitamins and other over-the-counter items not covered by their health plans.
The spending accounts go into effect Nov. 1, and Medicaid consumers should receive a letter in late September explaining how they work, AHCA officials said in a meeting Tuesday of the Medicaid Reform Enhanced Benefits Panel.
But there are several questions about Enhanced Benefits and how consumers can learn more about them.
AHCA’s new policy decision
In its plan to control rising Medicaid costs, Governor Bush's administration came up with a reform plan that ended traditional payments to doctors, hospitals and others for directly providing care to consumers. Instead, consumers would be required to enroll in managed health care plans, and the state would pay their premiums.
Enrollment is underway in two pilot counties, Broward and Duval.
As an added feature of Medicaid reform, the state would create Enhanced Benefits accounts to encourage consumers to take steps to stay healthy, and in turn, reducing their health care costs.
When AHCA submitted its Medicaid reform proposal to the federal government, page twenty-nine of the document showed in great detail how a central administrator would run the Enhanced Benefits accounts.
In a surprise announcement last week, Medicaid Deputy Secretary Tom Arnold said AHCA had decided to put the health plans in charge of this activity instead. When stunned plan administrators asked about initial plans to hire an outside administrator, Mr. Arnold said the agency never had plans to do so.
Under the new policy decision, the health plans would give AHCA the paperwork needed to credit Enhanced Benefits accounts. AHCA will oversee the accounts, monitor spending and send monthly statements to consumers, according to agency officials.
Mr. Arnold pointed out that since the health plans manage health care services, they would have the records needed to give individuals credit for healthy behavior. Mr. Arnold dismissed concerns raised by plans as out of proportion.
Health plans angered at change
But health care plan administrators fumed at the notion that AHCA is shifting additional responsibility and liability to them just two weeks before the first wave of Medicaid enrollees join their managed care plans.
One health care plan representative who asked to remain anonymous said the agency was “setting up them up for failure.”
Processing the Enhanced Benefits paperwork will amount to additional customer service staff, maintenance of records and paperwork processing – adding about $1 million to their cost, according to one health plan representative.
According to Mr. Arnold, the health plans will be compensated for the additional work: of the money the agency will pay health plans to enroll Medicaid consumers, AHCA will withhold 2 percent for its administrative costs, not 3 percent as originally planned.
More confusion for beneficiaries
The state has established a toll-free number and hired a bank of choice counselors to provide consumer information about health plans.
However, callers will be referred to yet another number to learn details about Enhanced Benefits accounts, AHCA officials said Tuesday.
Medicaid consumers will be responsible for submitting paperwork to their health plans to obtain an account credit if they join a gym, enter smoking cessation program or participate in similar activities.
The catch is that the activity must be sanctioned by AHCA.
Advocates for disabled individuals are calling for a list of activities for which these beneficiaries could receive credit.
Additionally, advocates including Florida CHAIN maintain that a grievance process must be put in place for consumers who dispute a credit or debit to the Enhanced Benefits account.
Florida CHAIN further avows the importance of Medicaid consumers having a voice in the state’s reform plan, including the use of Enhanced Benefits accounts. Yet in this example, neither the consumer nor the health plans had a say in AHCA’s decision.
Managed Care Ombudsman Committee Revitalization in Broward County- Volunteers Needed
The Managed Care Ombudsman Committee (MCOC) is a group of volunteers that assists consumers in understanding their rights and responsibilities when they have a complaint against their health care plan.
Currently there is only one committee operating statewide, in the Miami-Dade/Monroe area. The MCOC program is looking for new members and is particularly interested in anyone who would be interested in helping to revitalize the committee in Broward County, one of the pilot sites for the state’s Medicaid reform program.
Nurses, physicians, social workers, attorneys, students and consumers all serve on the MCOC, which was authorized by the Florida Legislature a decade ago. No special expertise is required, and training is provided.
If you are interested in serving on the committee or finding out more information, contact Chair: Charles B. Radlauer, M.D., J.D. 305/937-4602 CBRMD@aol.com
Children's Health Insurance: Florida Trails in the South
A new study shows that of Southern states, Florida has made the least improvement in its effort to insure children for health care.
The rate of uninsured children in Florida improved only slightly from 17.5 percent to 15 percent from 1997-2004, the period covered in the study. Meanwhile, South Carolina and Alabama saw their rates of uninsured children nearly cut in half, from 15 percent to 8 percent. Arkansas made the most dramatic improvement – its rate of uninsured children dropped by about two-thirds, from 22 percent to about 9 percent, researchers found. Tennessee showed virtually no improvement from 10.3 percent to 10.4 percent.
The study was conducted by the University of Minnesota State Health Data Assistance Center using census data and federal health statistics. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded the research.
The foundation credited the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), launched in 1997, which provides health coverage through state and federal funding.
"Medicaid and SCHIP have been successful in providing a safety net for kids," said Lynn Blewett, director of the Minnesota research center said, according to the Associated Press.
Even so, Florida now has the highest proportion of uninsured children in the South.
Florida’s KidCare insurance program for children birth to 18 has an enrollment of 197,000 children as of July, according to figures from its governing body, the KidCare Coordinating Council. The good news about the July figure is that it includes 3,000 more enrollees over the previous month -- but it’s far less than the target enrollment of 228,159.
Participation in KidCare program is recovering slowly from enrollment restrictions placed by lawmakers during a budget crunch two years ago. The Legislature has failed to fully restore outreach and marketing dollars for the entire program.
More than 8 million U.S. children are still without health insurance, compared to 10 million who lacked coverage in the late 1990s, according to the study.
 Express Your Final Opinions Online
The nationwide Citizens Health Care Working Group was established by Congress. The group is charged with soliciting comments from Americans on health care services, financing and other issues before making final recommendations to the President and Congress.
Six interim recommendations were developed through ideas shared by over 25,000 people from around the country. The group’s deadline for final citizen input is Aug. 31.
For more information on the initiative or to review the interim recommendations, click here. Click here to view a 1-minute video about the interim recommendations.
Florida CHAIN thanks the many advocates who have taken the time to respond to our recent Get Active alerts. Your messages do make difference. Look for increased reporting on state legislation and weekly calls to action during the Florida session.
FLORIDA CHAIN, MIAMI GROUPS HOST FORUM ON HEALTH CARE RECOMMENDATIONS
August 23, 2006
“My husband died of a massive heart attack six weeks ago,” said America Lopez. “Had there been a health care system available to him, he might still be alive today.” Ms. Lopez, of the Union of the Uninsured, was speaking to nearly 100 participants gathered at the Miami Public Library to review and provide feedback to a series of interim recommendations formulated by the Citizens’ Health Care Working Group.
Sponsored by The Alliance for Human Services, The Human Services Coalition, Florida CHAIN, Miami-Dade County Health Department, and Health Foundation of South Florida, the forum was a follow-up to dozens of meetings sponsored nationwide by CHCWG, and thousands of online surveys submitted, that gave opportunites for citizens to “tell policy makers in Washington what you like and don’t like about our nations’ health care system, and what tough choices our country should make to turn it into one that works for all Americans.”
The project recognizes that the cost of health care is growing exponentially while fewer and fewer Americans have adequate and affordable health insurance.
 Mark Buchbinder, Executive Director of Alliance for Human Services, opened the proceedings by introducing Montye Conlan, the Florida representative on the CHCWG Commission. A consumer herself, diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis seven years ago, Ms. Conlan outlined the work of the Commission to date, including gathering responses from over 30,000 participants to the forums and summarizing their opinions into 6 interim recommendations. The public at large is currently reviewing these recommendations in order to provide Congress and the President with final recommendations by the end of September.
The Miami participants also reviewed the interim recommendations and gave their input to what works and doesn’t work in the current health care system.
In the case of Ms. Lopez, a consumer who has taken up advocacy on behalf of the uninsured, what doesn’t work is the high cost of health insurance that precluded her family from having it, thus preventing her husband from appropriate care for his failing heart. “Work together to see how we can find a solution for affordable health care,” she pleaded.
Express Your Final Opinions Online
The nationwide Citizens Health Care Working Group was established by Congress. The group is charged with soliciting comments from Americans on health care services, financing and other issues before making final recommendations to the President and Congress.
Six interim recommendations were developed through ideas shared by over 25,000 people from around the country. The group’s deadline for final citizen input is Aug. 31.
For more information on the initiative or to review the interim recommendations, click here. Click here to view a 1-minute video about the interim recommendations.
Photo captions:
top: America Lopez of the Union of the Uninsured
center: Montye Conlan, member of the Citizens' Health Care Working Group Commission
bottom: Forum participants review the 6 Interim recommendations
August 23, 2006
Colleen Bennett: A Self-Employed Consumer from Pasco County Struggles To Stay Afloat
Some times all it takes is a slip and a fall to come face to face with the abysmal state of the health care system for those whose income is not quite low enough for Medicaid but nowhere near at a level to handle health care's high costs. For Colleen Bennett, a self employed resident of Pasco County, the slip and fall happened in August of 2005.
“When I fell and broke my wrist last year, I went to the emergency room at Spring Hill Regional. I had no private insurance, because I don’t have steady income and it is too expensive for me to self-insure,” she says. At the hospital she asked to be treated as indigent because of her limited income, but they refused. At no time was she informed of the criteria Spring Hill Regional uses to determine charity care. Her Emergency Room bill came to about $1,000.00.
At the hospital, they put on a temporary cast and referred her to the Center for Bone and Joint for surgery. “I asked them how much they thought the treatment would cost, and they said about $10,000. The actual bill was $22,444.05,” she told us.
After the procedure, the Center required her to follow up almost daily for 3 weeks at a cost of $100 per visit. After pleading with them, Colleen was able to reduce that to $50 per visit, but was forced to stop treatment and forego therapy because her sister, with whom she shares her home, suffered an accident and was unable to work for some time.
“I went to the Medicaid office with my arm in a sling, trying to see if they had some way to at least give me temporary help, and they asked me to leave,” she says.
Being on limited income and having to support herself and her sister, it wasn’t long before Colleen found herself unable to make payments on the $22,444.05 bill. Shortly after that, the Center began calling to collect. Meanwhile, the Emergency Room bill, of which she had been able to pay about $600 before stopping, was turned over to a collection agency. Last July, the Center threatened her to put a lien on her home.
At her wits end, saddled with hospital and specialist bills she cannot pay, and threatened with loss of her home, Colleen tries to do her best to stay afloat. She has contacted the Five Counties Legal Aid office to see about possible legal protection for her home. She is trying to work out a feasible repayment plan, but given her income and the amount she owes, it is unlikely she will ever see the end of the tunnel unless her debt is reduced substantially.
How many, like Colleen, find themselves in situations where they are forced to choose between basic expenses and paying off exorbitant medical debt? If you or someone you know is in a similar predicament and you want to share your story, contact Andrew Leone at andrewl@floridachain.org or call 954-684-9895.
Florida CHAIN Seeks Stories
Florida CHAIN continually seeks stories of Floridians' experiences with access to health care. These include experiences with Medicaid reform, Medicare Part D, and the impact of the new Medicaid citizenship documentation requirement.
Florida CHAIN is also collaborating in a study by the Access Project that seeks to address the problem of under-insurance and inadequate insurance coverage. We are looking for individuals who have incurred medical or dental debt even though they have private insurance. Having to resort to credit card use, retirement funds, or home equity to take care of medical costs qualifies for our purposes. The goal of this study is to challenge policy approaches that shift even more costs to consumers.The study will also try to identify policies and approaches that can help alleviate the problem of medical debt among people with insurance.If you or someone you know has such experience to share, contact Andrew Leone at andrewl@floridachain.org or 954/684-9895.
RECENT ARTICLES
August 23, 2006
Florida News & Opinions
KidCare
Medicare and Medicaid
Medicare Drug Coverage, Drug Costs
Other Medicare, Medicaid
Health Insurance and Costs
Other National Health Issues
National News & Opinions
Medicare and Medicaid
Medicare Drug Coverage, Drug Costs
Other Medicare, Medicaid
Health Insurance and Costs
Other National Health Issues
KidCare
School Nurses Returning to Miami-Dade
The Children's Trust, Miami-Dade Public Schools and Miami-Dade County Health Department last week launched the HealthConnect program, providing 29 public schools in Miami-Dade County a health team of a nurse, a health aide and a social worker to treat and diagnose students for physical and mental health issues. According to the Miami Herald, in recent years, school nurse offices have been cut from many budgets. The goal is to expand the program to all county schools within five years. Nurses will be able to focus on preventive medicine, while social workers determine eligibility for Medicaid or Florida KidCare benefits. For some students --particularly undocumented immigrants -- the HealthConnect program will be their first and only form of health care, the Herald reports. The program will cost taxpayers about $40 million annually, through sponsoring entities. In addition, community health providers will match the contributions and other funding will be sought. (8/20/06, Miami Herald)
OPINION: It's called neglect: State KidCare limits contribute to growing numbers of uninsured children
Recent headlines tout the news more children in Florida have health insurance. But hold your applause until you read the fine print. Here's what's actually happening. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has released a study saying the percentage of kids without health insurance has dropped 20.5 percent nationally and 13.3 percent in Florida since 1997. Because of Florida's growing population, however, more actual children -- as opposed to the percentage variety -- now lack health insurance, some 600,000, according to the report. (8/14/06, Florida Today)
Smoother KidCare Aims For Rebound
KidCare, the state's subsidized health insurance program for children, is making a comeback after years of confusing policy shifts left hundreds of thousands without medical coverage. There is no longer a waiting list, which, two years ago topped 70,000 children. Enrollment is open year-round, instead of a 30-day period as in the past. Applications, of only two pages, are among the simplest in the nation and can be completed online. KidCare includes Healthy Kids, MediKids and Children's Medical Services and insures children ages 1 to 18. At its high point in April 2004, there were 336,689 children enrolled in KidCare. As of Aug. 1, there were 224,717 children enrolled, including 11,610 in Hillsborough County, 7,120 in Pinellas County; 5,148 in Pasco County and 5,669 in Polk County."It's the single most powerful program that can help us fulfill the enormous potential of our children," said U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, who attended a news conference Thursday with other advocates at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa. (8/11/06, Tampa Tribune)
374,000 children in Florida qualify for health programs
In Florida today, more than 500,000 children have no health insurance. Yet most of them - about 374,000 - qualify for state health programs such as Medicaid, health officials said Thursday at a news conference to urge parents to sign up their children. Part of the problem is that many parents believe that they can't enroll their children, advocates said. Enrollment levels in Healthy Kids and similar programs have plummeted since three years ago, when the state froze enrollment in the program during a budget crunch. In spring 2004, more than 336,000 kids were enrolled. That number now stands at around 197,000. Another 1.2-million children are in Medicaid. (8/11/06, St. Petersburg Times)
In Florida, more kids' health is insured
In many cases the rise can be attributed to the surge of public policies, which soared 42%. Health insurance, or the lack of it, may be a huge and growing problem across Florida and the U.S., but the news is not all bad: Since 1997, the percentage of children lacking health insurance has dropped, according to a study released Wednesday by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "Usually when we do these reports, there's an increase in the uninsured. It's fun to do one where there's a decrease, especially since it's dealing with kids," said Lynn Blewett, director of the State Health Access Data Assistance Center in Minneapolis, which conducted the foundation's study. During the same period in which Florida children covered by private insurance plans dropped 9 percent, the percentage of the state's children covered by public insurance increased 42 percent. (8/10/06, Orlando Sentinel)
Study: Fla. Had More Than 613,000 Uninsured Children In 2004
A new study finds Florida has the fifth highest percentage of uninsured children in the nation. Florida had more than 613,000 uninsured children in 2004, according to the study by the University of Minnesota's State Health Data Assistance Center. Researchers tracked health coverage for children between 1998 and 2004 and found Florida's uninsured rate actually declined from 17.5 percent to 15 percent. But that was still among the highest in the country. Texas, Oklahoma, Nevada and Montana had higher rates of uninsured kids than Florida. Children's advocate Karen Woodall says Florida's percentage of uninsured kids has actually been growing since 2004. (8/9/06, AP)
Medicare and Medicaid
Medicare Drug Coverage, Drug Cost
Nelson questions seizures of prescription drugs from Canada
Sen. Bill Nelson urged senior citizens to demand a congressional investigation into seizures of prescription drugs from Canada. Speaking with residents of Century Village in suburban West Palm Beach and at a candidates forum sponsored by the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans west of Delray Beach, Nelson said the timing of the seizures was "very interesting" --November 17 — two days after the enrollment period for the Medicare prescription drug law began. The Bush administration has denied there was any connection between the Medicare law and the enhanced enforcement policy. Nelson urged residents to sign letters to Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins, asking her to accelerate the investigation, and to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, calling for action on a bill that would allow the Medicare program to negotiate with drug manufacturers to obtain bulk pricing for prescriptions drugs. (8/22/06, Palm Beach Post)
Nelson steps up drug-policy protest
Americans should be allowed to order prescription drugs from Canada, at least until the new Medicare drug program is fixed to bring prices down for consumers, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson said Monday. Since Nov. 15, more than 37,000 prescription-drug shipments have been seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Nelson told a group of senior citizens. While he doesn't know how many of those shipments were bound from Canada, Nelson said constituents are complaining that they are not receiving their Canadian drugs. "I've had people from all over Florida calling, begging, crying," Nelson said. (8/22/06, Orlando Sentinel)
Medicare Part D: Seniors plot how they'll save on medications
Ward Shaw intends to switch Medicare Part D drug plans for his wife so she won’t end up in a coverage lapse again next year. Until then, the retired Naples couple will go the discount route for her medications once she reaches the so-called “doughnut hole,” where her drug coverage disappears for a time until she reaches a catastrophic level of need. “We’re working toward it,” Shaw, 88, said. “We’ll buy what we need for 60 days to take us until the first of the year.” Marion Porteus, of Orlando, will buy her medications from Canada or turn to her adult children for help. “Fortunately for me, I have five good kids,” the 83-year-old said, adding that she is angry about what the federal government is doing to seniors with Medicare Part D. (8/20/06, Naples News)
LEON COUNTY: Help with Medicare is still available
More than 1,500 people in Leon County are eligible for help with paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage but haven't signed up for the program, according to estimates by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Gwen Cooper, partner of the Medicare Rx Access Network of Florida, said people eligible for the program can be hard to reach. She encouraged them to sign up. (8/17/06, Tallahassee Democrat)
Pinellas residents may be eligible for prescription drug coverage
Some 9,904 people in Pinellas County could be eligible for help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage but have yet to apply for the program that provides it. The Low-Income Subsidy, worth an average of $3,700 a year for participants pays for all or part of the monthly premiums and annual deductibles, fills in the coverage gap and lowers the prescription co-payments. People who qualify can join a Medicare drug plan immediately and pay very little out of pocket for their medications. These Pinellas County residents are part of an estimated 177,486 Medicare beneficiaries in Florida (and 3.3 million beneficiaries nationwide) who also potentially qualify for the subsidy but have yet to apply, according to rough estimates by the Department of Health and Human Services. (8/17/06, Tampa Bay Newspapers)
PCMA: Florida Consumers, Employers Projected to Save $6.7 Billion on Prescription Drug Costs through Mail-Service Pharmacies
Mail-service pharmacies are projected to save Florida consumers and employers $6.7 billion on prescription drug costs by 2015, according to a new analysis released today by the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA). The analysis also finds that overall increased use of prescription drugs over the next decade will cause the level of drug expenditures flowing through Florida retail pharmacies to more than double in this period and reach $23.4 billion by 2015. PCMA is the national association representing America's pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which administer prescription drug benefits for more than 200 million Americans with health coverage provided through Fortune 500 employers, health insurers, labor unions, and Medicare. These private and public purchasers rely upon mail-order pharmacies to provide consumers with increased savings and expanded pharmacy choices. (8/17/06, US NewsWire)
Many seniors devise strategies to avoid costly gap in Medicare drug coverage
Seven months after the Medicare prescription drug program began, tens of thousands of South Florida recipients have fallen or soon will fall into the "doughnut hole" -- a nickname for the program's big gap in coverage when recipients pay for all their medicine. "You have to outfox these guys," said Lois Veit, 65, a Boynton Beach retiree, who calculated she would hit the gap and asked her pharmacist for advice. Veit learned she could buy certain drugs in cash for less than she would pay by ordering them through her drug plan. She also may buy an expensive osteoporosis drug from Israel, which would cost less than under her plan. She expects to save hundreds this year and will avoid the gap. (8/15/06, South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
Seniors fall into 'doughnut hole': Many will pay 100 percent of drug costs between Medicare limits
At some point this year, Carole Farrington will go from paying a $28 copayment for her most expensive prescription drug to paying its full price — $211 for a month's supply. She'll pay 100 percent of the rest of her drug costs, too, an additional $115 to $140 a month. Farrington isn't sure how she'll manage. "You do what you have to do, I suppose," said Farrington, 69, a south Fort Myers resident. "It's going to be expensive no matter what I do. There are some medications I can't get over the counter. . . ." Farrington, the south Fort Myers resident, said she wishes the government plan hadn't been linked to private corporations. We all feel so helpless," Farrington said. "Big corporations, big government rolls right over us." Farrington is one of a projected 7 million Americans expected to stumble into Medicare's "doughnut hole" by year's end. Researchers predict the majority of those expected to hit it will do so by next month. (8/14/06, Fort Myers News-Press)
Other Medicare, Medicaid
Dental HMO flawed, study finds
Columbia University reports a Medicaid pilot project is not justifying its budget, while the dental providers complain that the fee level is low. While Atlantic Dental insists it's doing a good job providing care to poor kids in Miami-Dade County, a study just released by Columbia University concludes the Medicaid pilot project has cost taxpayers ``the same amount for less care and less quality.'' Meanwhile, one of the largest providers of dental services under the program, the Community Health of South Dade Inc., known as CHI, said it planned to drop out of the program and no longer serve the dental needs of 6,000 Medicaid kids because the plan pays only $4.25 per child per month. (8/22/06, Miami Herald)
Surgeon wanted -- a plea for help
The ad ran in the Sunday classifieds, a square inch of type under one "looking for soccer players." Among people selling puppies, looking for roommates and offering Asian massage, Michael Flynn of Mount Dora had a most unusual request, in the abbreviated style of ads sold by the line: “Surgeon Wanted," it read in bold across the top. "A plea for help! White male, age 59, 5'8", 95 lbs w/renal failure. Seeks immed attn of a compassionate, competent surgeon to provide a simple procedure to restore function to my only and partially functioning kidney. I have related medical issues, but much hope and faith. This is a time-critical request. God bless you . . . Michael Flynn." (8/19/06, Orlando Sentinel)
Surgeons answer ill man's plea
A Lake County man's "plea for help" in a classified ad has paid off, with four surgeons stepping forward to offer their services. During the weekend, Michael Flynn was poked with needles and lectured about smoking, but at least the Medicaid-dependent Mount Dora man was in a hospital bed.
Flynn, 59, had struggled to find a surgeon who would take his government insurance and address the host of medical problems that make him a risky patient. He has renal artery stenosis, a narrowing of the artery bringing blood to his right kidney. Looking for someone to perform a procedure to improve blood flow to the kidney, he ran an ad in the Orlando Sentinel last week: "SURGEON WANTED -- A PLEA FOR HELP!" (8/22/06, Orlando Sentinel)
Breast work after cancer hits hurdles: A woman's trouble lining up reconstructive surgery reflects insurance gaps
Helen Stevenson is partly covered by Medicaid insurance for the poor, and most doctors won't take the state-run program because it pays them much less than other plans. Advocates say Stevenson's case illustrates a long-standing -- and growing -- problem for Medicaid patients in Florida. For example, figures by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons show that the federal Medicare program pays doctors in Florida about $1,056 for a common breast-reconstruction procedure. The patient would be expected to pay the surgeon an additional $264 for a total payment of $1,320. In contrast, Medicaid would pay only about $733 for the same procedure, according to the state Agency for Health Care Administration. "It's another example of where Medicaid recipients have coverage on paper but no ability to access those services in the community," said Anne Swerlick, deputy director of Florida Legal Services in Tallahassee. (8/12/06, Orlando Sentinel)
Steering folks toward help getting some health care
Her Belle Glade office is a tiny converted storage closet just off the emergency room waiting area at Glades General Hospital. But Valerie Morris still plays a central role in making sure local residents in this health care-challenged region can access services. Morris is one of five health care "navigators" the Health Care District of Palm Beach County hired last year to increase the number of residents participating in government assistance programs. Using specially designed software and her own knowledge of the area, Morris uses her space at Glades General to make a big impact. On daily basis, she helps a dozen people learn about and sign up for low-income government health insurance programs such as Medicaid and the district's own Coordinated Care. Studies show that people with health coverage are significantly more likely to get health care when they need it. In the Glades, nearly one in three residents doesn't have health insurance, compared with about one in five countywide. (7/23/06, Palm Beach Post)
Health Insurance and Costs
Miami-Dade Young adults ranked as least insured
When it comes to getting health insurance, young adults are left out compared with other age groups. In Miami-Dade County, almost half of all people ages 19 to 24 reported having no health insurance, according to the most recent Florida Health Insurance Study. They are too old to be covered by Mom and Dad, Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program. And those who are employed often end up in service jobs, where health insurance either isn't offered or is too expensive. With few options, they end up creating the largest uninsured age group in the county, the state and much of the nation. In Florida the percentage of uninsured young adults rose by almost one=third in the last five years, according to the Florida Health Insurance Study. For a young adult just starting out this can mean crippling medical debts that take their entire careers to pay. (8/13/06, Miami Herald)
Giving 'til it hurts: Hospitals must provide care, but firms' financial health at risk
It is shaping up to be a bad year for Brevard County's six acute-care hospitals, which have written off $71.9 million during the first nine months of fiscal 2006 to provide medical care for people like Bentley who are having difficulty paying all or most of their hospital bills. That's nearly $8 million a month, up from about $6.8 million a month in the previous fiscal year. For insured patients, that can mean higher premiums to absorb at least some of the loss. And, ultimately, that can affect hospitals' overall economic health. Data from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration show that Florida hospitals absorbed almost $2 billion in costs associated with such care in fiscal year 2004 -- up 13.7 percent from 2003 and a 67 percent increase from 1998. And, in terms of patient volume, the agency said, Florida hospitals experienced a 20 percent increase in the number of hospital admissions for charity care, while the overall growth in hospital admissions was less than 2 percent. (8/13/06, Florida Today)
OP ED: Quality health care is about collaboration
By Cyneetha Strong, a family physician in Tallahassee
Consumer-driven health care” is a new phrase that has recently entered the health-care arena, where patients negotiate for medical care much as they settle on the price of a used car. The need for sound medical treatment and the battle to afford it affects many people in our area, not to mention the economic distress caused by increases in insurance costs. Last year, a 13.5-percent increase in health insurance alone left an estimated 2,452 Leon County residents unable to afford their health insurance. Today, true quality care involves a collaboration of doctor and patient, working together to find the optimal balance of the best treatment at a reasonable cost. Patients should not have to bargain shop for their health - negotiating everything from complex procedures that require hospitalization to the cost of their prescription medicines. (8/9/06, Tallahassee Democrat)
OPINION: Leadership vital to cover Americans without insurance
By Jim Nathan, president and chief executive officer of the Lee Memorial Health System.
Without truly reforming the financing and delivery of our nation's health system, it will implode, with devastating and destabilizing economic consequences.
Most Americans have some form of health insurance through Medicare, Medicaid or their employer. So why should you be concerned that 46 million Americans are without health insurance? Principal financing of the American health care system for the past half century has been based on employer-sponsored health insurance.However, during the 1990s economic boom, private sector (nongovernmental) employer-sponsored health insurance declined by 2.3 percent per year. Since 2001, the decline has accelerated to 4.5 percent annually. At this rate, less than one third of U.S. businesses will be providing health insurance for their employees by 2010. Today's uninsured in southwest Florida are principally hardworking individuals under the age of 65 who have jobs in construction, tourism, agriculture and small service businesses. Lee County's unemployment rate recently hit a record low 2.1 percent while its uninsured rate is a record high 25 percent. Florida ranks 46th of 50 states in health insurance coverage. (8/8/06, Ft. Myers News-Press)
Other Health Issues
OPINION: Gender Equity: An agenda of one's own
Column by Stephen Goldstein
Florida women are low man on the totem pole. Women are 51.4 percent of the state population, about 54 percent of registered -- and actual -- voters. But women either don't know they've got "the power" or don't know how to use it. In its "Status of Women in Florida, 2004," the Institute for Women's Policy Research graded the health and well-being of women in the state a dismal D+. Here's a smattering of (Florida) gender-engendered discrimination: Only 30 percent of the women who need contraceptive services and supplies through publicly funded clinics receive them. Florida does not require insurance plans to cover FDA-approved contraceptive drugs and devices. Florida pharmacists can legally stand between a woman and her doctor by refusing to fill prescriptions for "the morning-after pill." Most Florida hospitals and sexual assault treatment centers do not routinely offer sexual assault victims "the morning-after pill" on site, which could prevent pregnancy. (8/16/06, South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
Ethnic diets and diabetes: Hispanics run a greater risk, but many are improving their odds by making more healthful food choices
About 20.8 million Americans have diabetes, which was the sixth leading cause of death in 2002, according to the American Diabetes Association. Mirroring a national trend, about 7.4 percent of Orange County residents have the disease.Diabetes disproportionately affects Hispanics and blacks. Mexican-Americans, for example, are 1.7 times more likely to get diabetes than non-Hispanic whites, according to the diabetes association. Some researchers attribute the disparity in these minority groups to genetics, along with lack of exercise, obesity and poor diet. (8/15/06, Orlando Sentinel)
In Florida, a statewide network seeds community health care innovation and integration
Dr. Lisa Stephens, a pediatrician and medical school professor at the University of South Florida Health, and her colleagues had been collaborating with local health care providers and businesses in Tampa on the development of a personal health record for pediatric patients when they reached a new conclusion. In addition to improving children’s health care, a platform made to embed child health care information could benefit the entire community. The Palm Beach County, Fla., Community Health Alliance is completing an important first step to link to the statewide Florida Health Information Network while helping curb the rising cost of care for the county’s uninsured residents. The grant-funded regional health information organization, which has 37 members, is going live with a centralized database for the health records of patients who lack health insurance. (8/14/06, GovHealthIT.com)
The LANGUAGE RX: Health care for many immigrants would be lost in translation if not for the emerging presence of medical interpreters
47 million people in the United States speak a language other than English. In Broward County, it's 28.8 percent of residents. In Palm Beach County it's 21.7 percent. In Miami-Dade County, the number jumps to 67.9 percent. And experts say those numbers will continue to grow. Language barriers contribute to fear and distrust of health-care professionals by non-English-speaking patients, experts say. As a result, many hesitate to seek care until it becomes an emergency, adding to the overcrowding of emergency departments. Language barriers make it difficult for patients to communicate with doctors and nurses, and may be hurdles to insurance or government assistance programs. (8/13/06, South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
Nursing home disputes national 'avoid' rating
An administrator at John Knox Village Medical Center in Orange City said she will ask for Consumer Reports to re-evaluate a rating that puts the nursing home on the national magazine's "avoid" list in a report released this week. The author of the report and director of the Center for Consumer Health Choice, said her organization's methodology for determining the extremes of good and bad nursing homes was based on the same all-inclusive, unbiased approach that Consumer Reports is famous for.The state's Nursing Home Guide shows John Knox with five-star ratings in every category. Overall, among the state's 689 nursing homes, the state rates John Knox sixth based on their last three inspections. (8/12/06, Daytona News-Journal)
NATIONAL NEWS & OPINIONS
Medicare and Medicaid
Medicare Drug Coverage, Drug Costs
Medicare erroneously pays drug plan beneficiaries $50M
Don't cash that check. The federal government has erroneously reimbursed about 230,000 Medicare recipients for monthly premiums they paid this year for prescription drug coverage. For many, the checks — totaling nearly $50 million — have already arrived. The refund will undoubtedly cause confusion, particularly because it comes with a letter that mistakenly instructs seniors that their monthly premiums will no longer be deducted from their Social Security check. Mark McClellan, who oversees the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said people who get the check need to know two things. One, the money has to be returned. Two, their prescription drug coverage will continue. (8/23/06, AP)
Medicare Sees No Rise in Premium for Drugs
Federal officials announced Tuesday that the average premium for Medicare prescription drug coverage next year would be about $24 a month, which is the same as this year and 40 percent less than first estimated for 2007. Beneficiaries showed a strong preference for low-cost plans this year. Premiums are not the only measure of cost. Drug plans also charge co-payments, and different plans cover different drugs. So a beneficiary who takes nine drugs might find that a plan with a premium of $55 a month costs less over all than one with a $12 premium.Many insurers set premiums low this year in the hope that they could entice beneficiaries to sign up, so the companies would win large shares of the potentially huge, lucrative market for Medicare drug coverage. Vicki Gottlich, a lawyer at the Center for Medicare Advocacy, a nonprofit group that counsels beneficiaries, said: “We do not know enough to determine whether the low premiums in 2007 are good for beneficiaries. Plans may be keeping costs low by unduly restricting access to the drugs they cover.” (8/16/06, New York Times)
Drug-company promotions under fire from consumer groups
This article examines the debate over the use of coupons, rebates and similar promotions for brand-name prescription drugs. According to pharmaceutical companies, such promotions can reduce costs for patients and allow them to take new medications. Consumer groups maintain that such promotions can attract patients to risky and unnecessary medications without a reduction in their long-term costs. More than 20 consumer groups have partnered to seek an FDA ban on such promotions. Earlier this year, FDA said in a notice, "Prescription drugs promoted with coupons or free trials may be seen as more widely indicated, more appropriate and/or less risky than they really are." However, FDA spokesperson Julie Zawisza said that the agency later withdrew the notice and has begun to "identify the important issues or questions to be considered and to determine the appropriate role of the FDA." Susan Sherry, deputy director of Massachusetts-based Community Catalyst, said that such promotions "can increase the patient's desire to take a drug that may or may not be the most suitable drug." (8/14/06, Reuters)
Other Medicare, Medicaid News
Planned Medicaid Cuts Cause Rift With States
The White House is clashing with governors of both parties over a plan to cut Medicaid payments to hospitals and nursing homes that care for millions of low-income people. The White House says the changes are needed to ensure the “fiscal integrity” of Medicaid and to curb “excessive payments” to health care providers. But the plan faces growing opposition. The National Governors Association said it “would impose a huge financial burden on states,” already struggling with explosive growth in health costs. More than 330 members of Congress, including 103 Republicans, have objected to the plan. A letter signed by 82 House Republicans says it “would seriously disrupt financing of Medicaid programs around the country.” A bipartisan group of 50 senators recently urged President Bush to scrap the proposed rules, which were set forth in his 2007 budget and could be issued before the end of this year. (8/12/06, New York Times)
In the Face of Rising Health Costs, Governors Experiment with Reforms
Feeling "less hopeless" about how to cope with increasing health costs and limited Medicaid budgets than two years ago, governors are trying "unprecedented experiments to revamp" health care. (8/6/06, AP)
Fiscal experts question cost effectiveness of Medicare plans
Enrollment in a type of Medicare alternative has jumped 265% in seven months, pleasing insurers, who say the plans provide more choice to members. But fiscal watchdogs say the plans provide little benefit to taxpayers. The rapidly growing type of plan, called private, fee-for-service Medicare, allows access to almost any doctor or hospital and appeals to seniors wary of joining a more restrictive managed care plan, such as an HMO. The growth follows a big push by some insurers to expand into as many states as possible with the new plans, part of an effort to gain access to all corners of the 43 million-member Medicare market. "The industry has figured out there is this enormous pot of gold out there," says Robert Laszewski, a former insurance executive who is now president of Health Policy and Strategy Associates, a consulting firm in Washington, D.C. "But how does the taxpayer and the effort to control costs in Medicare get anything out of this?" Congress expected Medicare Advantage plans to use the cost-control methods of managed care to save money. But Medicare Advantage plans cost the government an average of 11% more than traditional Medicare, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission said in a recent report. The industry's lobbying group disputes that percentage, saying the increased payment is likely lower. In addition, insurers say that, starting this year, they must return to the government 25% of the additional amount they are paid. (8/8/2006, USA Today)
Health Insurance and Costs
OPINION: Inject Competition into Health Care
Devon M. Herrick, a senior fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis, urges health care advocates to consider a "third option" to employer-based coverage and universal health coverage: a competitive insurance market. (8/17/06, Baltimore Sun)
OPINION: "We Get a Whole Lot Less for Our Money" When It Comes to Health Care
Journalist George Lesser compares nationalized health care in France to the U.S. health insurance system, determining that "we pay 43 percent more for health care than the French do, and we get a whole lot less." (8/16/06, Washington Times)
Union of Government Workers Seeks to Build Political Muscle
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees announced plans yesterday to spend $60 million more a year to campaign for universal health coverage, to unionize 70,000 workers annually and to register 280,000 union members to vote.The union, the largest of the 53 unions in the A.F.L.-C.I.O., announced what it called a 21st Century Initiative, pledging to become one of the most aggressive unions in organizing and in politics. (8/11/06, New York Times)
OPINION: Government-Subsidized Pool Could Reduce Private Insurance Premiums
New York Daily News columnist Errol Louis writes that a government-funded pool that subsidizes health care for the most expensive patients would substantially reduce private health insurance premiums, allowing more citizens to buy into private coverage programs. (8/8/06, New York Daily News)
Other Health Issues
New Limits Set Over Marketing for Cigarettes
A federal judge found that cigarette makers deserved to be punished for deceiving the public about tobacco’s danger. (8/18/06, New York Times)
Parking-Lot Dentistry Is Finding Its Niche
In the parking lots of 11 casinos in Las Vegas, mobile dental offices combine technology and the American penchant for saving time. (8/17/06, New York Times)
OP ED: Pharmaceutical fakery is health care terrorism
By Peter J. Pitts, director of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest and a former associate commissioner at the FDA, where he served on the Counterfeit Drug Task Force
Counterfeit drug trafficking is "health care terrorism" that allows practitioners to "profi[t] immensely from selling fake medicines" around the world, Peter Pitts, director of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest and former associate commissioner of FDA. CMPI estimates that counterfeit drug commerce will increase 13% per year through 2010, at which time revenues are projected to reach $75 billion -- a 92% increase from 2005, Pitts writes. "FDA requires distributors to keep detailed records of the sources of the medications they dispense," Pitts says, but this is "a futile undertaking" because "drug counterfeiters have become so sophisticated, they can produce drugs and packaging that cannot be differentiated from the real thing without complex chemical analysis." According to Pitts, "FDA must work with the World Health Organization, Interpol and other international public health and law enforcement organizations." (8/15/06, Baltimore Sun)
HEALTH ADVOCACY RESOURCES
August 23, 2006
Florida CHAIN Website Resources
Grants and Fellowships
Organizations and Services
Manuals, Guides and Toolkits
Technology and Audio Visual Materials
Audioconferences and Webcasts
Media Programming
Web Sites, Web Features
Videos
Periodicals and Books
Reports and Studies
New Listings
New: Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIPS
New: Health Insurance, Health Costs, Health Care Reform
New: Health Equity Issues
New: Other Health Issues
Florida Reports
Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIPS
Federal Budget/Health Care
Health Insurance, Health Costs, Health Care Reform
Health Equity Issues
Other Health Issues
FLORIDA CHAIN WEB SITE RESOURCE UPDATE
The Florida CHAIN web site now includes resource information in Spanish. To access, click here.
GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS
New grant listings
Changes in Health Care Financing and Organization
Application Deadline: Open
This Robert Wood Johnson Foundation program supports policy analysis, research, evaluation and demonstration projects that provide policy leaders timely information on health care policy and financing issues. This Call for Proposals is intended to support projects that: 1) examine significant issues and interventions related to health care financing and organization and their effects on health care costs, quality and access; and 2) explore or test major new ways to finance and organize health care that have the potential to improve access to more affordable and higher quality health services.
Continuing grant listings, in order of submission deadlines
American Psychiatric Foundation Offers Grants for Mental Illness Public Education and Outreach
Deadline: September 1
The American Psychiatric Foundation, a charitable and educational subsidiary of the American Psychiatric Association, is making up to $750,000 in total grant funds available over the course of three years (2005-07) to fund public education, information, and outreach initiatives that promote the early recognition and treatment of mental illness. The foundation seeks to fund new and innovative ideas and programs that promote public awareness of mental illness, the effectiveness of treatment, and the importance of early intervention.
NIH Behavioral and Social Research on Disasters and Health
Opening Date: Sept. 5
The purpose of this announcement is to stimulate research in the behavioral and social sciences on the consequences of natural and man-made disasters on the health of children, the elderly and vulnerable groups, with an ultimate goal of preventing or mitigating harmful consequences.
Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida Winter 2006 Grant Cycle
Deadline: September 15
The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida supports philanthropic, community-based solutions that address many different health care challenges facing Florida both today and in the future. Grants will be awarded to improve program capacity and reduce barriers to access, with a particular focus on the uninsured and underserved. The Foundation will focus a significant portion of its resources to maximize impact in the area of community-based health clinics and outreach services. The Foundation awards up to $1 million annually. Grants range in size from $10,000 to $100,000. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with 501 (c)(3) status and located in Florida.
Nominations Invited for RWJ Community Health Leadership Awards
Letters of Intent Deadline: Sept. 22
The Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leadership Program annually honors with $120,000 each, ten outstanding individuals who overcome daunting odds to expand access to health care and social services to underserved and isolated populations in communities across the United States. The program's goal is to elevate the work of its leaders through financial support, opportunities for growth and networking, and assistance raising awareness of their contributions. Candidates should be working at the grassroots level, have received no significant national recognition, and be in "mid-career," with no less than five and no more than fifteen years of community health experience. CHLP welcomes nominations from consumers, community leaders, health professionals, government officials, and others who have been personally inspired by people providing essential community health services. Nominations from development and public relations departments or professional grant writers cannot be accepted.
RWJF Health and Society Scholars Program Call for Applications
Deadline: October 13
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJ) issued a call for applications for the RWJ Health and Society Scholars Program, a two-year fellowship designed to build the nation's capacity for research, leadership and action to address the broad range of factors affecting health.
Rural Health Outreach Grant Program
Deadline: Oct. 18
The application package for Rural Health Outreach Grants is now available. The program is designed to encourage the development of new and innovative health care delivery systems in rural communities that lack essential health care services. The emphasis is on service delivery through creative strategies requiring the grantee to form a network with at least two additional partners. Programs have varied greatly, and have brought care that would not otherwise have been available to at least 2 million rural citizens across the country. Through consortia of schools, churches, emergency medical service providers, local universities, private practitioners and the like, rural communities have managed to create hospice care, bring health check-ups to children and provide prenatal care to women in remote areas. To be eligible the grant recipient's headquarters must be public or nonprofit private entity and be located in a designated rural county, or exclusively provide services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers in rural areas, or be a Native American Tribal or quasi-tribal entity. See Geographic Eligibility for Rural Health Grant Programs. Estimated average size of award is $150,000.
CVS/pharmacy Accepting Applications for Community Grants Program
Deadline: Oct. 31
CVS/pharmacy supports the communities it serves by offering nonprofit organizations the CVS/pharmacy Community Grant. The Community Grants program is currently accepting proposals for the following: 1) Programs targeting children under the age of 18 with disabilities that address any of the following: health and rehabilitation services; public schools promoting a greater level of inclusion in student activities and extracurricular programs; and creating opportunities or facilities that give greater access to physical movement and play. 2) Healthcare services for uninsured people. All CVS/pharmacy Community Grant applications must be submitted online between January and October of each calendar year.
Applied Epidemiology Fellowship at CDC for Medical Students
Deadline: Dec. 4
Funded by Pfizer Inc. and administered by the CDC Foundation, this fellowship provides medical students with applied hands-on training experience in epidemiology and public health. Up to ten 3rd-4th year medical students from around the US will spend up to a year at the CDC, carrying out epidemiologic analyses in areas such as birth defects, injury, chronic disease, infectious disease, environmental health, reproductive health, and minority health. The program provides a stipend for living expenses.
Funding for Community-Based Approaches to Improve Care for Vulnerable Populations
Deadline: Rolling
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is accepting applications for its Fresh Ideas: Community-Based Approaches to Improve Care for Vulnerable Populations grant program. The purpose of this program is to promote community-based approaches to health and health care problems that interact with social problems. Examples include inadequate housing, poor education and poverty. Priority is given to projects that focus on hard-to-reach populations such as new immigrants and refugees and at-risk adolescents.
Research Proposals on Disparities Issues
Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation seeks to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in the care of patients with cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus type 2 and/or depression. To that end, RWJF invites research proposals that offer solutions towards reducing health care disparities. RWJF encourages researchers to include data and analyses in their proposals to help us better understand these disparities related to: sub-ethnic and other marginalized groups (e.g., Mexican, Puerto Rican, Vietnamese and American Indian); and acculturation factors (e.g., generation, years in US, age of migration and language proficiency). RWJF will consider projects of up to $75,000 with a one-year time frame.
State Coverage Initiatives
Through funding from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, State Coverage Initiatives offers both policy planning and demonstration grants. SCI grants are designed to support states in the early stages of planning coverage expansions and those states that have decided on a new coverage expansion mechanism and seek assistance designing and implementing the program. Specific new grant opportunities are announced on the Web site and through the e-newsletter, St@teside; however, states may submit project ideas at any time. For specific info, contact isabel.friedenzohn@academyhealth.org or 202/292-6726
Allegany Franciscan Ministries Capacity Building Scholarship
Allegany Franciscan Ministries will award, in Miami-Dade, Tampa Bay, and Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie areas, Capacity Building Scholarships throughout 2006 as long as funds are available. Scholarships of up to $300 may be requested to pay registration fees for conferences, seminars and other training opportunities for the staff and volunteers of nonprofit organizations in order to increase their capacity to deliver efficient and effective services to those in need. Organizations may submit scholarship applications at any time, preferably at least six weeks prior to the registration deadline of the conference or training program.
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.
ORGANZATIONS AND SERVICES
Newly posted resources are at the top of the list.
Southeast Florida Cancer Control Collaborative (SFCCC)
SFCCC is a group of individuals and organizations working together to reduce the cancer burden and to reduce 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.
Medicare Rights Center (MRC) is a comprehensive independent source of health care information and assistance for older adults and people with disabilities. Multiple services include: a telephone hotline; a database of case advice; education and training; public policy work; electronic newsletters; and communications with local and national media outlets. Publications include:
Questions to Ask when Considering a Medicare Health Plan; What do I need to know about the new drug benefit if I am in a Medicare HMO or other private health plan?; Medicare: A National Treasure for 40 Years.
Access to Benefits Coalition
The nonprofit ABC is dedicated to ensuring that Medicare beneficiaries with limited incomes know about and make the best use of all available resources for accessing prescription drugs and reducing their costs. ABC is working through local community coalitions to inform beneficiaries and their families, as well as the professionals who serve them, about Medicare Part-D. Extra Help is provided online or in person; find out if you or someone qualifies by going to BenefitsCheckUpRx?. Publications include: Applying for the Low-Income Subsidy: A Tool Kit for Advocates; and Pathways to Success: Meeting the Challenge of Enrolling Medicare Beneficiaries with Limited Incomes
The National Hispanic Resource Help-Line 1/800-473-3003 provides support for Latinos throughout the nation who need information about educational, health and human service providers. To become part of their database, click here.
MANUALS, GUIDES, TOOLKITS
Newly posted resources are at the top of the list.
Medicare Part D Extra Help/Low Income Outreach Toolkit
CMS now offers an Extra Help/Low Income Outreach Toolkit. The outreach and education initiatives outlined in this plan are designed to identify all remaining likely Low Income eligible beneficiaries; ensure that they complete applications; and encourage them to actively choose their Medicare drug plans. Estimates show approximately 3 million Medicare beneficiaries remain who are likely to qualify for Extra Help but have not yet applied for it or enrolled in a Medicare drug plan. There is a May 16 - Nov. 15, 2006 Special Enrollment Period so those eligible for Extra Help can join a Medicare drug plan immediately without paying a penalty.
Navigating the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage Program: A Guide for People With Disabilities, Benefits Counselors, Disability Organizations and Others on Ensuring Adequate and Appropriate Access to Prescription DrugsWritten by a senior research scholar at Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute, and a disability policy consultant, this guide provides information for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries about how to best use the Medicare drug benefit. The guide offers an overview of the drug plan in a question-and-answer format, as well as a discussion about possible denials of coverage, exceptions, grievances and appeals. (6/6/06, United Cerebral Palsy)
Consumer-Directed Health Care Resources
KaiserEDU.org recently posted new resources on consumer-directed health care, including a narrated slide tutorial, an issue module and a public poll analysis. The slide tutorial discusses the principles and models of CDHC, including health savings accounts. He also discusses CDHC financing, CDHC's impact on health care spending and related policy issues. The companion issue module summarizes the latest research and policy analysis on CDHC and covers CDHC's impact in the marketplace and on low-income populations, health insurance coverage, risk selection, and consumers' access to health information. The Public Opinions on HSAs examines how many Americans have heard of and understand what health savings accounts are (6/5/06, Kaiser Family Foundation)
Fact Sheets and Primer on the Uninsured
The Kaiser Family Foundation has collected links to some resources on the topics of health coverage and the nation’s uninsured population to assist you in your work related to these issues:
The Uninsured and Their Access to Care
Covering the Uninsured: Growing Need, Strained Resources
Massachusetts’ New Law to Cover the Uninsured
Women's Health Insurance Coverage
The Uninsured: A Primer
Medicare Part D Consumer Fact Sheet on Getting Drugs After the Transition Period
Provided by US Dept. of Health and Human Services.
Medicare Rights Center Resources to Fix Part-D
MRC promotes fixing Part-D by making it available under Original Medicare and negotiating drug prices. Here are four resources to help educate others:
Presentation (Powerpoint) on Why We Need a Drug Benefit Under Original Medicare
"Part D - No Guarantee" Confusion Chart Flier
Why is the Privatized Part D Drug Benefit a Disaster?
The New Part D Prescription Drug Program: A Gamble for All Americans
Applying for the Part D Low-Income Subsidy: A Tool Kit for Advocates
Access to Benefits Coalition provides these Tools You Can Use to help people apply for the extra help available through the new Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage.
Families USA is offering a new resource, Making Public Programs Work for Communities of Color: An Action Kit for Community Leaders, from its Minority Health Initiatives Department. The kit provides community leaders with information, tools, and resources to engage in health advocacy and improve the health and well being of their communities. Emphasizing the importance of public programs in reducing racial and ethnic health disparities, the kit contains: a summary and statistics of racial and ethnic health disparities and the role public programs can play in reducing them; an overview of Medicaid (and SCHIP) and Medicare, including their relationships to communities of color; fact sheets on improving health coverage for racial and ethnic minority groups; state and local case studies on health advocacy; advocacy tools including a powerpoint presentation, and lists of organizations and publications. Contact: 202/628-3030 or rpanares@familiesusa.org.
Healthy Kids Marketing and Public Relations Tool Kit
Healthy Kids asks users to please forward updates on items used, including how they were used, numbers distributed and feedback on effectiveness. Call center staff need to be aware of any efforts so they know which items are out in each community and are prepared to address questions. To make changes or additions to any design or use the trademarked logos or phone numbers, prior approval is required to ensure that accurate information is distributed. Send requests to floyda@healthykids.org or fax to 850/224-0615.
The Medicaid Matters web site is a resource for people working across the country to protect Medicaid, the health insurance that 50 million rely on. It stores a ready-to-use toolkit of messages, materials and dissemination ideas. Users are able to download, at no cost, tested messages emphasizing the importance of Medicaid and the threat now facing the program. Messages are enhanced by high quality, full color photography. One set of materials is designed to be ready to print. Once downloaded, they can be forwarded to any print house or copy shop without any further formatting. The second set of materials is designed so that components of the product can be adapted to suit the needs of that organization or constituency that wishes to use them.
TECHNOLOGY AND AUDIO/VIDEO RESOURCES
Audio Conferences and Webcasts
Dated events listed chronologically; standing webcasts listed last
On the Road from Research to Practice: Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Webinar
Part II: Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities: Practice Implications for a Health Education Research Agenda
Aug. 29 2:00–3:00 pm (ET)
This Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) Webinar series will explore the role of health education research and practice in addressing the complex factors associated with racial and ethnic health disparities. Experts as well as lessons from the latest Health Promotion Practice supplement on CDC’s Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) 2010 program will be featured. Health educators can earn up to 2 Category Continuing Education Contact Hours by participating in both events. Click here to enroll for the webinar. Click here for more detailed information about the series.
Florida Statewide Infant, Maternal, and Reproductive Health Audioconference
Aug. 30 3:00-4:00 pm (ET)
The Infant, Maternal, and Reproductive Health Unit of Florida Department of Health will hold this fourth statewide audio conference in the series on best practices in women's health services. Guest presenters from the private sector will describe their women’s health wellness programs from perspectives of a small business and a large organization. For registration and more information, contact Cheryl_Robbins@doh.state.fl.us or call 850/245-4444, ext. 2980.
Policies and Procedures to Strengthen Community Benefit Accountability
Sept. 21 ACHI audio conference
Medicaid eligibility citizenship and identity verification
A recording of the Covering Kids & Families Deficit Reduction Act Technical Assistance Conference Call held Friday, July 28, 2006, is now available in streaming audio using RealPlayer. It featured a panel of experts from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and representatives from the New York State Department of Health, a state which has experience requiring proof of citizenship for Medicaid eligibility and the Iowa Department of Human Services, a state which is in the process of developing a process for implementing the citizenship and identity requirements. If you experience difficulty accessing the streaming audio, email bshine@thesoutherninstitute.org.
Video/Forum to Assess Medicare Drug Benefit Implementation for Low-Income and Dual Eligible Beneficiaries
Explores key challenges in reaching low-income people on Medicare and reviews potential strategies for improving participation in the low-income subsidy program. Panelists discuss the early experiences of these beneficiaries and consider how to address ongoing challenges. A new video, produced by the Kaiser Family Foundation, Transitions 2006, which explores some of the issues and challenges experienced by dual eligibles, is also presented. (5/18/06, Kaiser Network)
The State of Latinos and HIV/AIDS in the United States
This Bienestar and AIDS Institute briefing allows members of Congress to learn more about the issues related to HIV/AIDS in the Latino community. Web page includes several power point presentations. (5/3/06, Kaiser Network)
Families USA Conference Call Audio Playbacks
Throughout 2006, Families USA is holding a series of conference calls on a range of health care topics for state and local advocates. Interested, but can't make it? Don't worry. You can catch up on what you missed by listening to the audio playback. To listen to these conference calls, you will need RealPlayer or Windows Media Player. Click here for listening instructions.
Media Programming
Remaking American Medicine?...Health Care for the 21st Century
Crosskeys Media® and Devillier Communications, Inc. announce a four-part series to be broadcast on PBS nationally every Thursday at 10 p.m. in October. Line-up and date for each show:
Silent Killer - October 5
Every year at least 98,000 Americans die - and countless more are injured - as a result of medical errors. This program begins by profiling the efforts of Sorrel King, whose 18-month-old daughter Josie was killed at one of the most respected hospitals in the world, Johns Hopkins.
First Do No Harm - October 12
This program focuses on the impact of medical errors in two hospitals and follows the efforts of physicians who are challenging their colleagues to live up to their oath to First Do No Harm. Confronts one epidemic of hospital-acquired infections that are shattering the lives of their victims.
The Stealth Epidemic - October 19
Chronic diseases like diabetes and congestive heart failure affect nearly 100 million Americans, and treatment of these illnesses consumes nearly 70 percent of all health care resources. Yet doctors are often unable to prevent needless suffering or even death, and these failures are threatening the viability of our entire health care system.
Hand in Hand - October 26
As medicine continues to become more and more technologically sophisticated and the systems that deliver medical care become more complex, the relationship between providers, patients and families is more important than ever.
"60 Minutes" Targets Hospitals' Billing of the Uninsured
"60 Minutes" segment transcript
"60 Minutes" responses to segment transcript
Web Sites, Web Features & Databases
Newest postings are listed at the top of State and National Web Resources sections below
State Web Resources
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.
South Florida Cancer Data
South Florida Cancer Control Collaborative has published online updated cancer data for the Southeast Florida region. The tables are on the main SFCCC web page in PDF format. The updated tables are based on data from the 5-year period, 2000-2004. They include cancer incidence, mortality and percent late stage diagnosis for selected cancer sites by gender and race/ethnicity by county, and also include Florida rates. Data were extracted from the "gold standard" Florida Cancer Data System.
Florida Voter Registration Application Online
To apply to register to vote, fill in the PDF application online and print it out, or print the application and write in the information. Please use a black ballpoint pen. THE FLORIDA VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION REQUIRES AN ORIGINAL SIGNATURE. If the PDF application is filled in online, it must be printed out and signed prior to mailing.
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 Kids insurance application can be completed online
Families wanting to apply for the state's health insurance program for children can now apply online. Florida Healthy Kids has redesigned its Web site at www.healthykids.org to allow people to apply electronically for the KidCare programs, which include Healthy Kids, Children's Medical Services and MediKids. (2/16/06, Daytona News-Journal) More
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
National Web Resources
American Community Census Data Online
The new poverty, income, and health insurance data from the U.S. Census Bureau released on August 29, 2006 is available online. This year, it has more state and local data than in previous annual surveys.
Covering Kids & Families Web Site
New layout includes Back to School Campaign resources; Communications Action Center, a one-stop outreach resource; new Covering Kids & Families Policy Center; new promising strategies section; resources for families looking for information about low-cost and free health care coverage; streamlined free materials ordering section; new PSA featuring Bernie Mac; royalty-free photos; resources for event planners. For more information, call 202/338-7227 or email coveringkidsandfamilies@gmmb.com.
New Community Health Action Web Site
This website is intended to give leaders at community-based organizations, easy and ready access to important information on healthcare issues. The site also features a free quarterly newsletter called Community Health Advocacy News & Views with resources and information.
State Level Data on Health Coverage & the Uninsured
Kaiser Family Foundation's interactive web tool includes the health insurance status of the state’s population (those with various types of health coverage or who are uninsured), and demographic information (such as income, race/ethnicity, age, gender) for those who are uninsured, have employer-based insurance, or Medicaid. Information about Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries can be found in those respective categories. Find data from other categories on the website that relate to Health Coverage & Uninsured.
The Johns Hopkins INFO Project's New OneSource Database
This provides one-stop access to over 360,000 resources and six separate databases with a single mouse click or search term. OneSource users can quickly search for reports, articles, documents, posters and pamphlets, photos, web sites, Q&As and news articles through a single interface. An enhanced search and browse capability makes finding global family planning, reproductive health and population information faster and more simple than ever. Enter your terms in the search box. Select the resource type you want to look for, or search all six databases at once, and click Search.
Uninsured Tutorial, Module, and Reference Library
This KaiserEDU.org page contains comprehensive resources including links to key research, policy analysis, and the latest data and statistics on the uninsured.
Health Care Coverage in America: Understanding the Issues and Proposed Solutions includes a corresponding PowerPoint presentation. (Cover the Uninsured)
Immigrant Health Policy Reference Library
This new compendium summarizes data and research on immigrants’ health coverage and access to care. The library also includes a list of organizations that conduct analysis on the impact of major health policies on immigrants and presents research on specific populations, including Latino, African and Asian immigrants.
Updated Fact Sheet on Medicaid's Role for Dual Eligibles
Kaiser Family Foundation's Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured has updated a fact sheet on Medicaid's role in providing care to dual eligibles, low-income Medicare beneficiaries, and the transitioning of their prescription drug coverage from Medicaid to the new Medicare drug benefit.
Medicaid Fact Sheets Tool
Compare your state's Medicaid program and the population it serves to other states and the nation by visiting Kaiser's new interactive online State Medicaid Fact Sheets tool.
Interactive Tools on Medicaid
The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured presents the State Medicaid Fact Sheets and the Medicaid Benefits Online Database, two interactive tools featuring the latest key data, information and services provided for each state’s Medicaid program. Both tools allow for easy access to the data which can then be printed, saved and emailed.
2006 Federal Poverty Guidelines
The Southern Institute on Children and Families, National Program Office for Covering Kids & Families has made available the 2006 Federal Poverty Guidelines. Compiled from the 2006 HHS Poverty Guidelines, these guidelines provide income levels for families at 50%, 100%, 125%, 133%, 150%, 185% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Healthcare Coverage Options Database: Assistance for Obtaining Health Coverage
This Web site provides information on health insurance options for low-income U.S. residents. The site includes comprehensive information on large-scale programs like Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and the federal Health Care Tax Credit Program, as well as hundreds of smaller state, federal, and private programs.
Videos
"Food Desert" Report/Video Now Available
The report, Examining the Impact of Food Deserts on Public Health in Chicago, examines the relationship between food access and community health. You can also watch a short video that highlights a presentation of the research findings and the response from a diverse, expert panel at a recent forum held at the Chicago Palmer House Hilton. The report is receiving national attention from policy makers and health officials around the country as well as media venues such as CNN and National Public Radio.
Problems with the Medicare Drug Program and How to Fix Them: Video
This new 14-minute video produced by Families USA features trusted newsman Walter Cronkite discussing the problems within the new Medicare prescription drug benefit and offering solutions for the Part D program. The video offers an authoritative look at Medicare’s prescription coverage. First-hand experiences come from retirees from across the country, who offer an up-close look at the troubles the new drug benefit has generated, from the headaches of sorting through dozens of plans to the financial tolls the program will take on so-called beneficiaries. A dedicated community pharmacist shares his insights on the roll-out of Part D and knowledgeable consumer advocates analyze the politics at the core of the creation of the Medicare drug program. Watch the Video Online or Request a Copy
PERIODICALS AND BOOKS
New Journal, Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action
The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health will publish the inaugural issue this fall of its new journal, Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action (PCHP). Published by The Johns Hopkins University Press, with a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, PCHP will address topics in the growing field of community-based participatory research.
Special Journal Issues Examine Approaches To Eliminating Racial And Ethnic Health Disparities
Recently published special editions of the journals Health Promotion Practice and Health Education & Behavior, which are published by the Society for Public Health Education, both focus on approaches to reducing racial and ethnic health disparities. The journals The August 2006 issue of HEB includes several articles encouraging a multi-disciplined approach to addressing the cultural, economic, political and social context of factors that contribute to racial and ethnic health disparities. The July 2006 issue of Health Promotion Practice examines how approaches to funding, politics and policy can impact health disparities (August 2006, Health Education & Behavior and July 2006, Health Promotion Practice).
Health Disparities: A Selected Bibliography
From the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Road Map for Addressing Public Health's Critical Needs
A special issue of the journal "Health Affairs" focusing on public health outlines a road map for addressing the field's critical needs. (7/13/06, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)
Health Benefits Newsletter
Titles include: Variety of Strategies Needed to Curb Health Costs; Lower Medical Bills Through Health Coaching; Unveiling the True Cost of Health Care - For a Price; Obesity and Diabetes Rates Soar Among Hispanics, and Employers More Aware of Behavioral Risks.
Kaiser Family Foundation offers a weekly Medicare Q&A column that is being distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune News. The column answers questions from readers related to the new Medicare drug benefit.
REPORTS AND STUDIES
New Listings
New Listings: Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIPS
Fewer Physicians Accepting Medicaid Beneficiaries As New Patients
Despite increases in Medicaid payment rates and enrollment, the proportion of U.S. physicians accepting Medicaid patients has decreased slightly over the past decade, according to a national study by the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC). In 2004-05, 14.6 percent of physicians reported that they received no revenue from Medicaid, an increase from 12.9 percent in 1996-97. There were also small increases in the percentage of physicians who were not accepting new Medicaid patients. A more striking trend is that care of Medicaid patients is becoming increasingly concentrated among a smaller proportion of physicians who tend to practice in large groups, hospitals, academic medical centers and community health centers. Relatively low payment rates and high administrative costs are likely contributing to decreased involvement with Medicaid among physicians in solo and small group practices. (August 2006, Center for Studying Health System Change)
The State of Kids’ Coverage
The percentage of children without health insurance decreased by more than 20% from 1997 to 2004.For the study, researchers combined survey results from 1997 to 1998 and 2003 to 2004 and then compared them. The data come from census figures. According to the researchers, the decline in rates of uninsured children is attributable to SCHIP, which has been available in every state since 1997. The program covers those children whose parents have annual incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid but too low to afford private insurance. Researchers found that the percentage of children with private health insurance declined in nearly every state, but the percentage with SCHIP coverage or Medicaid increased in all but four states. Researchers found that eight million children still go without any health insurance, and about 70% of those children are eligible for coverage. The study finds that one in four children without health insurance receives no medical care each year, compared with one in eight children with health insurance. (8/9/06, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)
Closing the Gaps in Child Health Coverage
Every year, millions of children temporarily lose their health coverage under public insurance programs, only to be reenrolled later in the same program or a different one. According to two different Fund-supported reports, coverage gaps are often a byproduct of the cumbersome coverage renewal processes families must periodically undergo, or of unnecessarily complicated transitions from one program to another. (August 2006, Commonwealth Fund)
Private Plans Not a Good Deal for All Seniors
The Medicare Advantage program is intended to increase the role of private health plans in Medicare. The program's creators envisioned that seniors would opt out of fee-for-service Medicare to take advantage of the lower premiums, lower cost-sharing, and additional benefits available in private plans. But a new Fund study shows that private plans may not always be a good deal for sicker beneficiaries who use more health services. (August 2006, Commonwealth Fund)
NGA Report Spotlights State Medicaid Initiatives
A new issue brief from the NGA Center for Best Practices examines wellness and payment incentives states are implementing to improve health and reduce program costs in Medicaid. "States can and have expanded coverage to include wellness and preventive services, and used strategies - such as pay for performance, disease management, and incentives programs - to improve health outcomes," the report says. "States can apply these strategies under current authorities or by seeking waivers from federal rules." (8/7/06, AHA News Now)
The Role of Part D for People With HIV/AIDS: Coverage and Cost of Antiretrovirals Under Medicare Drug Plans
This report examines the implications of the private, stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans for HIV-positive people. Medicare covers about 19% of HIV-positive people in the U.S. who are receiving HIV/AIDS treatment and accounts for the second-largest share of federal spending on HIV/AIDS, according to the report. The report finds that all Part D drug plans cover approved antiretroviral drugs but that they do not necessarily cover all formulations of each antiretroviral. In addition, the report looks at how beneficiaries' costs for antiretrovirals vary across plans and examines the implications of the "doughnut hole" -- the gap in coverage during which beneficiaries are responsible for 100% of total prescription drug costs between $2,250 and $5,100 -- for HIV-positive people. (8/3/06, Kaiser Family Foundation)
New Listings: Health Insurance, Health Costs, Health Care Reform
Middle-Class Families Attest to "Serious" Problems Paying for Medical Expenses
This study found that nearly half of adults in families earning between $35,000 and $49,000 a year reported a "somewhat serious or very serious" problem paying their medical bills, and one-third of families earning between $50,000 and $75,000 a year reported similar problems. (8/17/06, Commonwealth Fund)
U.S. Public Sees Need for Major Health Care Reform
Most U.S. adults think the nation's health system is in need of an overhaul, according to a new survey from The Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System. Forty-two percent of respondents reported experiencing poorly coordinated, inefficient, or unsafe care. (8/17/06, Commonwealth Fund)
Less Cost-Sharing Means More Value
The first-ever state-by-state estimate of health insurance premiums adjusted for the quality of coverage finds that the smallest firms--those with fewer than 10 workers--pay an average of 18 percent more in health insurance premiums than those in large firms with a thousand or more employees. The Fund-supported researchers found that type of health plan--HMO, PPO, or indemnity plan--is the greatest single predictor of value for money spent on employer-based insurance. (August 2006, Commonwealth Fund)
Perils of Youth: Losing Parents' Coverage
For three years now, Commonwealth Fund researchers have been tracking a disturbing trend: young adults, ages 19 to 29, are one of the largest and fastest-growing segments of the U.S. population without health insurance. In 2004, 13.7 million lacked coverage, an increase of 2.5 million since 2000. (August 2006, Commonwealth Fund)
One Million More Women in Need of Publicly Funded Contraceptive Services Since 2000
Of the 66.3 million U.S. women of reproductive age, 34.4 million were in need of contraceptive services and supplies in 2004, because they were sexually active and able to become pregnant, but did not wish to become pregnant. In turn, about half of these women–17.4 million–were in need of publicly funded contraceptive services and supplies, an increase of one million women since 2000, according to new Guttmacher Institute data analyzed with support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Nationwide, the number of women in need of publicly funded contraceptive services–those who are in need of contraceptive services and supplies and either have incomes below 250% of the federal poverty level or are younger than 20–increased by 6%. Meanwhile, the number of women of reproductive age and the total number of women in need of contraceptive services each rose by only 1%, indicating that the broader economic trends of the period, rather than population growth, drove the change. Poor and minority women were disproportionately affected by this change. (2006, Guttmacher Institute)
New Listings: Health Equity Issues
Self-reported Health, Perceived Racial Discrimination, and Skin Color in African Americans in the CARDIA Study
This study investigates the association between self-reported physical and mental health and both perceived racial discrimination and skin color in African American men and women... Discrimination was statistically significantly associated with worse physical and mental health in both men and women, before and after adjustment for age, education, income, and skin color. (Sept. 2006, Social Science and Medicine)
Improving Communication with Vulnerable Patients
This report identifies "promising practices" that address language barriers and low health literacy to help hospitals and providers better communicate with their vulnerable patients. (8/22/06, Commonwealth Fund)
Rate Of Disabilities Higher Among U.S. Residents With Lower Incomes
U.S. residents 55 and older with annual incomes less than the federal poverty level are more likely to have disabilities that limit routine physical activities than those with higher incomes, according to a study that examined Census 2000 Supplemental Survey data from 333,675 respondents ages 55 and older. Respondents 55 to 64 with annual incomes less than the federal poverty level -- at the time, $8,259 for an individual -- were six times more likely to have disabilities that limited activities such as walking, climbing stairs and lifting objects than those in the same age group with incomes of $60,000 or more. The study also finds that the rate of disabilities continued to decrease among respondents ages 55 to 64 as annual incomes increased higher than $60,000. Study authors said the disparity did not result only because of more limited access to health care among respondents with lower annual incomes, "Social class is a tremendously important risk factor for disability. . . . If policy makers are concerned about improving health status, they need to focus not only on medical coverage, which only accounts for 10% to 15% of health status, they need to look at how to improve social class." (8/17/0/6, New England Journal of Medicine)
Comparing Health and Health Care Use in Canada and the United States
Results from the Joint Canada/United States Survey of Health (2002–2003) reveal that health status is relatively similar in the two countries, but income-related health disparities exist. Americans in the poorest income quintile are more likely to have poor health than their Canadian counterparts; there were no differences between the rich. In general, Canadians were more like insured Americans regarding access to services, and Canadians experienced fewer unmet needs overall. Despite higher U.S. levels of spending on health care, residents in the two countries have similar health status and access to care, although there are higher levels of inequality in the United States. (Health Affairs, Iss. 25, No. 4)
New Listings: Other Health Issues
Florida Reports
New Survey Finds Financial Consequences Of Depression Are Seventy-Five Percent Higher Among Floridians Than The National Average
The financial consequences of depression are 75 percent higher for Floridians than the national average. Specifically, self-reported credit card debt and negative social consequences attributable to depression contributed more than $19,400 in out-of-pocket costs for Floridians -- approximately $8,300 more than other Americans living with depression. (7/14/06, National Alliance on Mental Illness)
New 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.
Grading State Systems for Adults with Serious Mental Illness
A National Alliance on Mental Illness report grades each state's public mental health system for adults with serious mental illness, and assigns the nation an overall grade of D. The report grades states on 39 criteria in the areas of infrastructure, information access, services and recovery.
Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIPS
Part D plan-level enrollment data
CMS has posted Part D plan-level enrollment data for Medicare Advantage (MA), Cost, PACE, Demo, and Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) to the its website. This data reflects enrollment counts that were paid for the month of July 2006. Plan-level data will be posted once a year during the month following the conclusion of the MA open enrollment season. Barring any legislative changes, interested parties can expect the next plan-level enrollment data in June 2007, following the end of MA enrollment season on April 30. All other months of the year, CMS will post MA and Part D enrollment data at the contract level. Additionally, CMS will post a summary of enrollment by organization type in the "downloads" section. (7/28/06, CMS)
Community Mental Health System Reports $304 Million In Uncompensated Costs On Medicare Drug Benefit
Community mental health agencies across the country have spent an estimated $304 million of their operating funds to help persons with mental illnesses access the Medicare prescription drug benefit, according to a survey conducted by the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare. The survey report, The Hidden Costs of Implementing the Medicare Part D Program, reveals that community mental health agencies spent $304 million, between July 2005 and June 2006, on buying medications, funding co-pays for low-income patients, and paying for staff time to help beneficiaries navigate the Medicare prescription drug benefit. (July 2006, National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare)
Medicare Part D Progress Report
The Center for Medicare Advocacy is releasing a progress report with policy solutions to improve the Medicare prescription drug benefit According to the report, "The design of Part D promotes enormous variation in the type of plans offered, enrollment experiences, covered drugs, what counts toward the Donut Hole coverage gap, plan costs, and appeals. Many people remain confused and frustrated by Part D's complexity and limitations." The report calls for a complete redesign of the prescription drug program that is standardized, available throughout the country, and administered through the traditional Medicare program. The report’s recommendations are: 1) A unified CMS formulary; 2) Elimination of the “Donut Hole” gap; 3) Replacement of the restriction on Medicare negotiating with drug companies with a requirement to negotiate prices on behalf of all 43 million beneficiaries; 4) Sufficient funding to correct systems problems; 5) Open enrollment at least in plans until these issues are resolved, and prohibition on plans changing formularies or raising costs for “locked in” beneficiaries; 6) Medicaid coverage with no copayments for dual eligibles; 7) Dual eligible system to resolve issues at the pharmacy counter; 8) Standard, simplified appeals process requirement for all plans; 9) CMS monitoring and sanctioning plans that do not comply with mandated coverage rules and appeals processes, in place of “guidance that "recommends" or "suggests." (7/22/06. Center for Medicare Advocacy)
Health Care Opinion Leaders Survey Evaluates Medicare Part D
Despite the widespread criticism and controversy surrounding Part D, a majority of the health care leaders surveyed express positive views of the program, with two of three leaders agreeing that enacting Medicare Part D was, on balance, good for beneficiaries. Still, it is notable that there is considerable skepticism about key aspects of the program in its current format, with leaders being critical of the availability of coverage exclusively through private plans and the gap in coverage (the doughnut hole), which leaves beneficiaries responsible for all of their covered costs. The sectors are reasonably consistent in their views about Medicare Part D, except for the business/insurance/other health care industry sector, which is overwhelmingly supportive of the benefit as is. (7/14/06, Commonwealth Fund)
Big Dollars, Little Sense: Rising Medicare Prescription Drug Prices
1) Virtually all of the Part D plans raised their prices for the majority of the top 20 drugs in this study. 2) For all of the top 20 drugs prescribed to seniors, VA prices in April were lower than the lowest prices charged by Part D plans. (June 2006)
Opening Doorways to Health Care for Children
This national Children's Partnership report outlines a 10-step plan to enroll "eligible but uninsured" children into Medicaid and SCHIP. The plan focuses on using common doorways, like schools, along with technology and common sense reforms to make enrollment and renewal routine and timely. By putting this plan into action, up to 95% of America's children could receive health coverage. (May 2006, Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured)
Federal Budget/Health Care
Senate Committee’s Inadequate Labor-HHS-Education Spending
The $142.8 billion recommended for Labor-HHS-Ed FY 2007 spending in annually appropriated programs was 5 billion more than the President’s request, and about $900 million higher than the figure the House appropriations Committee approved. (7/25/06, Coalition for Human Needs)
Proposed Federal Budget Discretionary Caps Would Hit States Hard
The Senate Budget Committee on June 20 approved legislation that would make a number of far-reaching changes in the federal budget process. Included in the legislation are provisions that would establish statutory caps that would lead to substantial cuts in a range of domestic discretionary programs that would have far-reaching effects in every state. Includes state-by-state analysis. (7/5/06, CBPP)
Administration’s Fiscal Year 2007 Budget is Likely still to Leave SCHIP Coverage for Low-Income Children in Jeopardy finds that the Administration’s budget proposal will fall short of fully funding states’ needs for SCHIP funding in 2007 — and could lead more than 200,000 children to go without SCHIP coverage next year.
Analysis of Medicaid Provisions in the Bush Administration 2007 Budget explains how most of the provisions in the budget, which include both legislative proposals and regulatory changes that the Administration is planning to make without legislative action, will shift Medicaid costs to the state. These funding cuts are on top of the significant federal Medicaid cuts enacted as part of the budget reconciliation bill signed into law.
Health Insurance, Health Costs, Health Care Reform, Budget
Framework for a High Performance Health System for the United States
Despite spending the most on health care, the United States lags behind other industrialized nations on many dimensions of health system performance. Formed in July 2005, the Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System seeks to chart a course for a US health care system that provides significantly expanded access, higher quality, and greater efficiency for all Americans, especially those who are most vulnerable. (August 2006, Commonwealth Fund)
Report Identifies Top Reasons Uninsured Are Hospitalized
Childbirth was the top reason for hospitalizations among the uninsured in 2003, accounting for one in every five hospital stays by uninsured patients. There were 1.7 million uninsured hospitalizations in U.S. community hospitals in 2003 at a national cost of $29 billion, the agency said. Other leading reasons for the hospitalizations included circulatory system disorders (14.4%), injuries (11.3%) and mental health and substance abuse disorders (10.8%). Hospitalizations for diabetes and asthma, chronic conditions that can be controlled with access to good primary care, also were common. (7/20/06, Agency for Healthcare Research Quality)
High-Deductible Health Plans with Health Savings Accounts: Emerging Evidence and Outstanding Issues
Expanding Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) is a central objective of President George H. W. Bush's proposed health policy reforms. HSAs, used in conjunction with high-deductible health plans (HDHPs), are part of a grouping of health insurance products commonly referred to as "consumer-driven health plans" (CDHPs)... HDHPs tend to have significantly lower premiums than more comprehensive insurance plans. These lower premiums derive from two cost-saving techniques. First, they cover fewer of the medical dollars spent, since individuals must pay a larger amount of their medical needs before the actual insurance protection begins. Second, high deductible plans tend to attract and, therefore, cover less costly healthy individuals. (7/5/06, Urban Institute)
National Survey Finds Depression Costs Nearly Tripled For Individuals With Limited Access To Care
Individuals with depression and limited access to treatment incurred an average of nearly three times the annual out-of-pocket costs for medication, psychotherapy and other treatment costs than individuals with less restricted access ($4,312 versus $1,496), according to results of a new survey. Credit card debt and other negative social consequences attributable to depression further contributed more than $13,500 in out-of-pocket costs. However, results reveal that the costs of depression are not just financial, but social, given that as few as one-third of those with limited access to treatment reported being satisfied in either their job or relationship with a spouse or partner. (7/14/06, National Alliance on Mental llness)
51.3 Million Uninsured for Part of 2005
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 51.3 million Americans (17.6% of the population) were uninsured for at least part of 2005. This number is slightly down from 51.6 million estimated in 2004. 41.2 million were uninsured at the time of the interview in 2005. (6/22/06, AHA NewsNow)
Instability of Public Health Insurance Coverage for Children and Their Families: Causes, Consequences, and Remedies
This report examines the extent, causes, and consequences of instability in public coverage programs for children and families. It focuses particularly on the phenomenon of "churning," which occurs when individuals lose and regain coverage in a short period of time, suggesting that the loss of coverage is not due to eligibility factors. It also looks at strategies that can make public program coverage more stable for children and families. (June 2006, Commonwealth Fund)
The Coverage Gap: A State-by-State Report on Access to Care
Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2004 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) – a national survey of preventive and health risk behaviors – the researchers analyzed health disparities between insured and uninsured adults. Using data from the US Census Bureau Current Population Survey from 1994, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2004 and 2005, they also looked at the number of Americans age 50-64 that are without health care coverage.
Health Equity Issues
Health Care Disconnect: Gaps in Coverage and Care for Minority Adults
Analysis of the Commonwealth Fund Biennial Health Insurance Survey (2005) finds that uninsured rates for Hispanic and African American adults are one-and-a-half to three times greater than the rate for white adults. Nearly two-thirds (62%) of working-age Hispanics and one-third (33%) of African Americans were uninsured at some point during 2005, compared with 20 percent of working-age whites. (August 2006, Commonwealth Fund)
Low Literacy Increases Risk Of Death And Misunderstanding Of Medical Consent Forms
Literacy at less than a ninth-grade level almost doubles five-year risk of mortality among elderly people, regardless of education, socioeconomic status, or health, according to a study. (August 2006, Journal of General Internal Medicine)
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Potentially Preventable Hospitalizations, 2003
African Americans and Hispanics are hospitalized more often than non-Hispanic whites for diabetes and other chronic conditions that good primary care can help prevent and control, according to a new report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. African Americans were five times more likely to be hospitalized for uncontrolled diabetes or high blood pressure than non-Hispanic whites in 2003, while Hispanics were 3.6 times more likely to be hospitalized for diabetes and 2.4 times more likely to be hospitalized for high blood pressure. African Americans had the highest hospitalization rates for adult and pediatric asthma, perforated appendix, dehydration and low birth weight. (July 2006. AHRQ Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project)
Health Care of 50 Million Americans Who Do Not Speak English Compromised by Language Barriers
Many U.S. residents who do not speak English do not receive translator services at hospitals, a situation that places them at risk for medical errors or inadequate care. Under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, refusal or delay of medical care because of language barriers is considered discrimination. In addition, health care facilities that receive Medicare or Medicaid reimbursements must provide translator services to patients who have limited proficiency in English. Only 23% of teaching hospitals train physicians to work with translators. "Lack of interpreters translates into impaired health status, lower likelihood of being given a follow-up appointment, greater risk of hospital admissions and more drug complications." (7/20/06, New England Journal of Medicine)
Bias's Toll on Health
African Americans who experience racial discrimination have poorer physical and mental health than others, finds a study out of Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. Health problems -- including depression, emotional troubles and physical conditions that limit daily activity -- were greater even when researchers corrected for socioeconomic factors such as education and income. Three-quarters of the study's subjects reported facing at least some racial discrimination. Findings appeared in Social Science & Medicine. (7/11/06, Washington Post)
Examining the Health Disparities Research Plan of the National Institutes of Health: Unfinished Business
This final report of an Institute of Medicine committee charged with assessing the NIH Strategic Plan to Reduce and Ultimately Eliminate Health Disparities is now available. The report recommends ways to improve oversight and coordination of the Strategic Plan and to assure that needed research on health disparities is being carried out as effectively and expeditiously as possible. The recommendations are intended to help NIH achieve its minority health and health disparity Strategic Plan objectives. (Institute of Medicine)
Younger Adult Patients Less Trusting Of Physicians
As consumers, younger generations expect higher quality service than Baby Boomers, who in turn have greater expectations than their own parents. The health care industry is no longer immune from consumerism-the younger you are, the less likely you are to be satisfied with and have confidence in your doctor. That's what more than 1.1 million patients reported in 2005 when surveyed. "Among the most consistent drivers of patient satisfaction in a doctor's office setting-across all age groups-are how much time physicians spend with their patients and how friendly and courteous they are." (7/18/06, Medical News Today)
Using Data on Race and Ethnicity To Improve Health Care Quality for Medicaid Beneficiaries
The issue brief, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Commonwealth Fund, examines how states can use race and ethnicity data to improve the quality of care for Medicaid beneficiaries. According to the brief, there are several measures that state Medicaid programs could take to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health care -- including improving state data-collection processes; collaborating with health plans to make improved health plan data collection a priority; providing data on race and ethnicity to health plans; and offering technical, administrative and financial incentives to health plans to address disparities.
(6/30/06, Center for Health Care Strategies )
The 2005 National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR) and 2005 National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR) are now available on AHRQ's Web Site. The 2005 NHQR is a comprehensive national overview of quality of health care in the United States. The 2005 NHDR tracks disparities in both quality of and access to health care in the United States for both the general population and for congressionally designated priority populations.
Other Health Issues
The Disappearing Hospital Emergency Department
Many of the nation's leading newspapers have featured alarming reports about severe overcrowding in hospital emergency departments. A number of factors have contributed to the growth in ED overcrowding, such as stricter enforcement of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), shortages of nurses and other ED personnel, and the boarding of patients in the ED while they wait to be admitted to the hospital. As general hospitals close, the number of Emergency Depts. also drops. Another important factor is a decline in the number of EDs during a time when the demand for emergency medical care is growing rapidly. (7/9/06, H&HN)
"2006 Kids Count” Report Released
The annual report measures each state in terms of 10 statistics, including infant mortality, teen birth rate and infants born with low birthweights. The report finds no change in U.S. infant mortality since 2000, less than a percentage point increase to 7.9% in 2003 in the percentage of infants born weighing less than 5.5 pounds and a decrease in the teen birth rate from 48 births per 1,000 girls in 2000 to 42 births per 1,000 in 2003. (6/27/06, Annie E. Casey Foundation)
The Oral Health of Children A Portrait of States and the Nation 2005
The Health Resources and Services Administration presents this chartbook highlighting the major findings of the National Survey of Children's Health on children's oral health. This survey, the first of its kind, presents national- and State-level information on the health and well-being of children and their use of health services, including oral health and dental care. The survey includes many positive findings about children's oral health.
STATE HEALTH EVENTS AND NOTICES
August 23, 2006
NORTH FLORIDA
Social Justice Regional Gathering
Sept. 9 North Florida Gathering
Social justice activist groups, organizations and individuals are gathering to expand and connect the social justice network across the state. The goal is to pool collective resources to create a cohesive progressive movement in Florida that will be heard. For more information, click here or call 305/598-1404
Zero Exposure Project: Pregnancy, Alcohol & Substances: Strategies for Prevention
August 31 9:00 am-1:00 pm Shands Jacksonville Hospital Health Science Bldg., 655 W. 8th St.
The Zero Exposure Project is based on the vision that every child in a community is born substance-free and lives in a family that promotes healthy growth and development. The Zero Exposure Project and the March of Dimes are sponsoring this complimentary workshop and luncheon to teach how to: 1) Raise awareness of the consequences of alcohol and substance abuse before and during pregnancy; 2) Increase health education and referral services available to pregnant women; 3) Develop a community education campaign addressing substance abuse and pregnancy. Click here for the workshop brochure including registration form, or call 866/217-0020 ext. 129
CENTRAL FLORIDA
Zero Exposure Project: Pregnancy, Alcohol & Substances: Strategies for Prevention
Sept. 28 9:00 am-1:00 pm Marks Street Senior Recreation Complex, 99 E. Marks St., Orlando
The Zero Exposure Project is based on the vision that every child in a community is born substance-free and lives in a family that promotes healthy growth and development. The Zero Exposure Project and the March of Dimes are sponsoring this complimentary workshop and luncheon to teach how to: 1) Raise awareness of the consequences of alcohol and substance abuse before and during pregnancy; 2) Increase health education and referral services available to pregnant women; 3) Develop a community education campaign addressing substance abuse and pregnancy. Click here for the workshop brochure including registration form, or call 866/217-0020 ext. 129
WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA
Passing the Torch from Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month to Breast Cancer Awareness Month®
Sept. 30 5:00–8:30 pm Tampa, Cotanchobee Park, 601 St. Pete Times Forum Dr. Passing of the Torch highlights the hereditary link between breast and ovarian cancer, honors cancer survivors and those at high risk, remembers those whose lives have been lost to cancer, and recognizes families that have been affected by cancer. Local experts and survivors will speak about hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Entertainment will be provided by noted jazz-singer Belinda Womack and the popular all-physician band, Doc Rock. The event is free of charge. Valet parking available for $8 at Marriott Waterside. For more information or to volunteer, click here or contact Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered at info@facingourrisk.org
Zero Exposure Project: Pregnancy, Alcohol & Substances: Strategies for Prevention
Oct. 27 9:00 am-1:00 pm Twin Lakes Pk., Green Bldg. Conf. Rm., 6700 Clark Rd., Sarasota
The Zero Exposure Project is based on the vision that every child in a community is born substance-free and lives in a family that promotes healthy growth and development. The Zero Exposure Project and the March of Dimes are sponsoring this complimentary workshop and luncheon to teach how to: 1) Raise awareness of the consequences of alcohol and substance abuse before and during pregnancy; 2) Increase health education and referral services available to pregnant women; 3) Develop a community education campaign addressing substance abuse and pregnancy. Click here for the workshop brochure including registration form, or call 866/217-0020 ext. 129
SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
Events
Conference on Intervention
October 2-4 The Breakers Palm Beach Hotel
Click here for more information on this and four other events scheduled for 2006.
Social Justice Regional Gathering
October 7 South Florida Gathering
Social justice activist groups, organizations and individuals are gathering to expand and connect the social justice network across the state. The goal is to pool collective resources to create a cohesive progressive movement in Florida that will be heard.
For more information, click here or call 305/598-1404
Passing the Torch from Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month to Breast Cancer Awareness Month®
Oct. 7 6:00–9:00 pm Ft. Lauderdale, Las Olas Riverfront Mall Gazebo
Passing of the Torch highlights the hereditary link between breast and ovarian cancer, honors cancer survivors and those at high risk, remembers those whose lives have been lost to cancer, and recognizes families that have been affected by cancer. Local experts and survivors will speak about hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. The event is free of charge. Valet parking available for $8 at Marriott Waterside. For more information, click here.
Zero Exposure Project: Pregnancy, Alcohol & Substances: Strategies for Prevention
Oct.19 or Oct. 20 9:30 am-1:30 pm Healthy Start Coalition of Miami-Dade, 701 SW 27th Ave., Miami
The Healthy Start Coalition of Miami-Dade (HSCMD) and the Zero Exposure Project, an initiative of the Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County are collaborating on the vision of the Zero Exposure Project: that every child in a community is born substance-free and lives in a family that promotes healthy growth and development.The Zero Exposure Project is based on the vision that every child in a community is born substance-free and lives in a family that promotes healthy growth and development. The Zero Exposure Project and the March of Dimes are sponsoring this complimentary workshop and luncheon to teach how to: 1) Raise awareness of the consequences of alcohol and substance abuse before and during pregnancy; 2) Increase health education and referral services available to pregnant women; 3) Develop a community education campaign addressing substance abuse and pregnancy. Click here for the workshop brochure including registration form, or call 866/217-0020 ext. 129
The Alliance for Human Services 4th Annual Institute hosts its 4th Annual Institute
October 27 Miami Beach Convention Center
Over 400 individuals (business leaders, social service providers, not-for-profit agencies, faith-based organizations, human service consumers) will gather to discuss and receive valuable information and innovative solutions on social service issues. The Alliance is dedicated to improving quality of life for Miami-Dade County residents through partnerships, coordination of resources, and community involvement. For more information, call 305/646-7274 or write ggrey@alliance4hs.org.
Notices
New Healthy Start Coalition Of Miami-Dade Website LAUNCHED! The website at www.hscmd.org will increase community awareness about the Healthy Start Coalition’s activities and accomplishments, and serve the women, infants and families of Miami-Dade County.
STATEWIDE
Events
Recent Policy Changes in Medicaid and SCHIP Coverage for Children: What Works and What Doesn't
Sept. 14-15 Hilton Univ. of Florida Conf. Ctr., Gainesville
These presentations and lively discussions to explore recent policy changes to two public health insurance programs that greatly affect Florida's low-income children and families -- Medicaid and SCHIP. Registration fee of $100 includes dinner, breakfast, lunch, refreshments, and materials. Click here for program details and registration form or email snyder@aa.ufl.edu. Click here to register online.
2006 United States Conference on AIDS
Sept. 21-25 Hollywood Westin Diplomat
National Minority AIDS Council presents the largest AIDS-related gathering in the US, for over 4,000 case managers, physicians, public health workers and advocates to build national support networks, exchange the latest information and learn cutting-edge tools to address the challenges of HIV/AIDS. Click here for registration and more information including scholarships access.
All Women's Health: A Florida Partnership for Change Meeting
Sept. 28 Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center (Tampa)
This Florida women’s health coalition has a draft mission statement to strive to eliminate health disparities and improve the holistic health and wellness of women in Florida through advocacy, education, and policy development. The coalition serves as a forum to share resources, collaborate with public and private organizations, and support women’s health issues across the state. Write floridawomenshealth@yahoo.com for additional information.
10th Annual Joint Cancer Conference of the Florida Universities
Sept. 28-Oct. 1 The Breakers Hotel, Palm Beach
Click here for details.
Florida Children's Summit
Oct. 6 8:00 am-5:00 pm Orlando/Orange County Convention Center
The goal of the inaugural Florida Children's Summit, organized in conjunction with the Florida Legislature,is to bring advocates, professionals, community leaders and elected officials together to create and agree on the State of Florida's commitment to our children and families, and to develop long range strategies for the 2007 Legislative Session and beyond. Children's Week Partners and other non-profit organizations are strongly encouraged to sign up as partners (in-kind) and invite their networks of advocates to attend the Summit. Registration will be limited to 1,500. Click here for more information or call 305/864-5822.
12th Annual Children's Week
March 25-April 1, 2007 Tallahassee
Click here for details.
Notices
Florida Cancer Clinical Trials Cooperative, Inc. (FCCTC) is a public resource that provides information about cancer clinical trials to Florida residents. They have a web-based and a phone-based Clinical Trial Matching Service that provides users with an opportunity to search for cancer clinical trials for which they might be eligible. The program allows people to print (or be mailed) information about potential trials to discuss with their physicians. The Florida Dialogue on Cancer established the FCCTC in 2004 and received a federal grant to create a clinical trials information system in Florida. Their data base includes current information about clinical trials at hospitals and research facilities throughout the state, including pediatric cancer trials. Information is available in English and Spanish. Go to http://www.floridacancertrials.com or call 1/800-584-9976
NATIONAL EVENTS AND NOTICES
August 23, 2006
CONFERENCES AND EVENTS
Spring Training for Health Champions
Proposal submission deadline: Sept. 1
The Association for Community Health Improvement is now accepting breakout session proposals for its March 7-9, 2007 conference. Topic tracks include: access to care; chronic disease prevention and management; community benefit excellence; and community health assessments.
Champions of Change: A National Symposium on Improving Health Care
Sept. 27 Washington, DC
This Symposium at the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation will serve as the culmination of a national awareness campaign being conducted in support of the four-part television series, Remaking American Medicine?...Health Care for the 21st Century, premiering on PBS in October. It will feature several national leaders in the quality movement, and public officials including Dr. Mark McClellan, administrator of CMS.
NIH Conference on Understanding and Reducing Disparities in Health: Behavioral and Social Science - Research Contributions
Oct. 23-24 Bethesda, MD
The National Institutes of Health conference focuses on three broad areas of action influencing health disparities: policy, prevention, and healthcare. It emphasize both basic research on the behavioral, social, and biomedical pathways giving rise to disparities in health and applied research on the development, testing, and delivery of interventions to reduce disparities in these three action areas.
2006 ESRI Health GIS Conference
Oct. 23–26 Denver
This conference will offer a forum for Health professionals to share information on geographic information system (GIS) technology as a framework for managing and sharing geospatial data and methods for community health programs, health care delivery, hospitals, epidemiology, disease surveillance, health research, and more.
National Prevention Summit: Prevention, Preparedness, and Promotion
October 26-27 Washington, DC
The 2006 National Prevention Summit will focus on disease prevention, health preparedness, and health promotion and will feature innovative programs that are making a difference in communities across the country to build a HealthierUS. These programs are focused on healthy lifestyle choices. One special emphasis this year will be the prevention of childhood overweight and obesity. Another emphasis will be on preparing for public health emergencies, such as avian influenza.
Health as a Human Right: Health Education, Equality and Social Justice for All
November 2-4 Boston
Society for Public Health Education’s 57th Annual Meeting will examine the impact of reciprocal influences of health and human rights, including the impact public health programs and policies have on human rights and health disparities, the consequences human rights violations have on health, the importance of health in realizing human rights, and the ways in which health educators can ensure that human rights are integrated into public health strategies to eliminate disparities.
Making Methods and Practice Matter for Women, Children and Families
December 6–8 Atlanta
Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology (MCH EPI) conference organizers invite you to join MCH professionals in sharing experiences, enhancing knowledge, and generating new ideas for improved MCH data use and informed policymaking.
Association for Community Health Improvement's Spring Training for Health Champions
March 7-9, 2007 New Orleans
Click here for ACHI's conference timeline.
AUDIO AND WEB EVENTS
On the Road from Research to Practice: Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Webinar
Part II: Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities: Practice Implications for a Health Education Research Agenda
Aug. 29 2:00–3:00 pm (ET)
This Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) Webinar series will explore the role of health education research and practice in addressing the complex factors associated with racial and ethnic health disparities. This two-part series will showcase the release of SOPHE’s complementary journals on this topic, Health Education & Behavior and Health Promotion Practice, based on SOPHE’s meeting “Health Disparities and Social Inequities: Framing a Transdisciplinary Research Agenda in Health Education.” Hear presentations and commentary by contributing authors. Lessons from the latest Health Promotion Practice supplement on CDC’s Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) 2010 program will also be featured. Health educators can earn up to 2 Category Continuing Education Contact Hours by participating in both events. Click here to enroll for the webinar. Click here for more detailed information about the series.
Policies and Procedures to Strengthen Community Benefit Accountability
Sept. 21
ACHI Audio Conference. Click here for details and to register.
NOTICES
JAMA Theme Issue on Access to Health Care
Call for Papers: Oct. 1
The number of individuals in the United States who are unable to access medical care because they are underinsured or lack any insurance at all continues to increase. An estimated 61 million persons aged 19 to 64 years were uninsured or underinsured in 2003.1 The peculiar US system of basing insurance on employment is collapsing in the face of businesses that are no longer making this same commitment to their employees. To focus attention on and reinvigorate much-needed interest in this pressing topic, JAMA will publish a theme issue devoted to access to health care, and some of the Archives Journals will publish theme issues or devote pages to publishing articles on this topic, all in March 2007.
Help Eligible, Uninsured Children Get Enrolled!: Annual Covering Kids & Families Back-to-School Campaign National Kick Off August 9
Most of the nearly 8.3 million uninsured children in the United States, most of whom are eligible for low-cost or free health care coverage. The Back-to-School Campaign is designed to urge parents to call toll-free 1(877) KIDS-NOW to find out if their uninsured children are eligible. Plan a community activity or participate in an event. Visit www.coveringkidsandfamilies.org to register for Covering Kids & Families e-mail updates and to find out what you can do to help inform these parents. Browse the Covering Kids & Families toolkits in the Communications Action Center for ideas. Contact the Covering Kids & Families Communications Team at coveringkidsandfamilies@gmmb.com or 202/338-7227 with any questions about the Back-to-School Campaign, or for assistance with planning.
Nominations Sought for Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leadership Award
Letter of Intent Deadline: Sept. 22
The Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leadership Program (CHLP) honors 10 outstanding individuals each year for their work in creating or enhancing health care programs serving communities whose needs have been ignored and unmet. Each leader receives $120,000 to be used for personal and program enhancement over a period of up to three years. CHLP seeks individuals who have the leadership skills to overcome complex obstacles and find creative ways to bring health care services to their communities. Candidates should be working at the grassroots level, have received no significant national recognition and be in "mid-career," with no less than five and no more than fifteen years of community health experience. Nominations can be made by consumers, community leaders, health professionals and government officials who have been personally inspired by the nominee. Interested nominators need to complete a Letter of Intent (LOI) form. Completed nominations will be due in November.
Cover the Uninsured Week
April 23-29, 2007
Mark your calendars and visit www.CoverTheUninsured.org where information will be posted as plans for 2007 develop. Sign up for the Cover the Uninsured Week Weekly News Digest for the latest news and updates on the issue of the uninsured.
CAMPAIGNS AND INITIATIVES
Campaign for Children’s Health Care
Launched on July 11
The Campaign for Children's Health Care is a nationwide public education campaign designed to raise awareness about the 9 million children who do not have health insurance and the millions more who are underinsured. The campaign is dedicated to making high-quality, comprehensive, affordable health insurance coverage for all of America’s children a top national priority.
AUGUST
Children's Eye Health and Safety Month: August
For materials: 800/331-2020 info@preventblindness.org www.preventblindness.org
Cataract Awareness Month: August
For materials: 415/447-0213 eyemd@aao.org www.aao.org
National Immunization Awareness Month: August
For materials: 703/836-6110 npi@hmhb.org www.partnersforimmunization.org
SEPTEMBER
World Suicide Prevention Day: September 10
For materials: 781/239-0071 info@mentalhealthscreening.org www.stopasuicide.org
Take A Loved One for a Check-up Day: September 19
U.S. Office of Minority Health
For materials: (800) 444-6472 info@omhrc.gov www.healthgap.omhrc.gov
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month: September
For materials: 888/245-9455 info@pcacoalition.org www.pcacoalition.org
National Sickle Cell Month: September
For materials: 800/421-8453 scdaa@sicklecelldisease.org www.SickleCellDisease.org
National Cholesterol Education Month: September
For materials:301/592-8573 nhlbiinfo@nhlbi.nih.gov hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/cholmonth
Healthy Aging Month: September
Educational Television Network, Inc.
For materials: 610/793-0979 info@healthyaging.net www.healthyaging.net
Leukemia & Lymphoma Awareness Month: September
For materials: 800/955-4572 infocenter@leukemia-lymphoma.org www.lls.org
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: September
For materials: 888/OVARIAN nocc@ovarian.org www.ovarian.org
Head Lice Prevention Month: September
For materials: 781/449-6487 npa@headlice.org www.headlice.org
National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month: September
For materials: 800/729-6686 info@samhsa.gov www.recoverymonth.gov
Reye's Syndrome Awareness Month: September
For materials: 800/233-7393 nrsf@reyessyndrome.org www.reyessyndrome.org
OCTOBER
National Child Health Day: October 2
For materials: 301/443-2170 www.mchb.hrsa.gov
National Depression Screening Day: October 5
For materials: 781/239-0071 info@mentalhealthscreening.org www.mentalhealthscreening.org
National Health Education Week: October 16-20
For materials: 212/463-4053 ray@nche.org www.nche.org
National Mammography Day: October 20
For materials: 800/ACS-2345 www.cancer.org
Healthy Lung Month: October
For materials: 800/LUNG-USA (586-4872) info@lungusa.org www.lungusa.org
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month: October
For materials: 312/596-3400 nbcaminfo@yahoo.com www.nbcam.org/about_nbcam.cfm
National Family Sexuality Education Month: October
For materials: 212/541-7800 education@ppfa.org www.plannedparenthood.org
SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) Awareness Month: October
For materials: 800/221-7437 info@firstcandle.org www.firstcandle.org
Children's Health Month: October
For materials: 202/564-2188 www.childrenshealth.gov
National Hospice Month: November
For materials: 703/837-1500 nhpcoinfo@nhpco.org www.nhpco.org
Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month: November
For materials: 877/272-6226 information@pancan.org www.pancan.org
Lung Cancer Awareness Month: November
For materials: 800/298-2436 info@lungcanceralliance.org www.lungcanceralliance.org
National Family Caregivers Month: November
For materials: 800/896-3650 info@thefamilycaregiver.org www.thefamilycaregiver.org
American Diabetes Month: November
For materials: 800/DIABETES askada@diabetes.org www.diabetes.org
National Epilepsy Awareness Month: November
For materials: 800/332-1000 postmaster@efa.org www.epilepsyfoundation.org
Prematurity Awareness Month: November
Prematurity Awareness Day: Nov. 21
For materials: 888/MODIMES askus@marchofdimes.com www.marchofdimes.com
Great American Smokeout: Nov. 16
For materials: 800/ACS-2345 www.cancer.org
World AIDS Day: Dec. 1
For materials: unaids@unaids.org www.unaids.org/en/default.asp
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