|
FLORIDA
Medicaid Reform Updates
Enrollment
Enhanced Benefits
Medicaid Dental Pilot
Florida Uninsured Rate High
Tobacco Prevention Amendment
NATIONAL
Medicare Part D Glitches Persist
Broward & Duval Medicaid Reform Enrollment Moving Forward
Enrollment in the state’s newest Medicaid reform health care plans in Broward and Duval counties is taking place at a fast rate, according to the latest figures from the Agency for Health Care Administration.
Of the first 16,200 people contacted by AHCA about the required health plan enrollment, about 7,900 signed up for benefits beginning Sept. 1. Another 10,000 or so people have since enrolled -- and more will continune to enroll -- for benefits beginning Oct. 1.
AHCA plans to continue its enrollment process over the next six months, and a second wave of Medicaid-eligible individuals should be receiving enrollment information in the mail soon. They will have 30 days to select a plan.
State officials are focusing their efforts on those individuals in the MediPass program, which is being eliminated under Medicaid reform.
Medicaid Reform Enhanced Benefits Underway
The state Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) is putting the finishing touches on the Enhanced Benefits program for new enrollees in the state’s Medicaid reform health care plans. New enrollees should soon receive information via mail about their Enhanced Benefits Account, in which they can accumulate up to $125 for keeping certain dental and medical appointments.
A complete list of benefits eligible for credit can be found by on AHCA’s website by clicking here. Enhanced benefits include dental exams, colorectal screenings and weight loss programs. In addition, a list of AHCA-approved items that Medicaid consumers can “purchase” through their accounts is also on the website. The list of 17 items includes toothpaste, cough medicine, vitamins and saline solution.
For now, these spending accounts are available only to those consumers in Broward and Duval counties who have enrolled in a new health care plan under the state’s new Medicaid Reform Program.
Even though the effective date of the Enhanced Benefits Program was September 1, 2006, there are many details that AHCA must work out before consumers can begin tapping into their accounts on November 1st.
For example, the agency has not yet determined how to handle grievances, nor has it set up a toll-free number for consumers or pharmacists to call for more information. Agency officials said Tuesday that those plans are being discussed.
The Agency is drafting brochures for consumers and instructions for pharmacists. Additional information is expected to become available to pharmacists later this week on the agency’s Medicaid reform website.
AHCA Renews Miami-Dade Medicaid Children's Dental Program Despite Two Studies' Serious Concerns
Florida CHAIN recently sent out an alert asking organizations and advocates to contact legislators and other policymakers about a Medicaid dental health program that is supposed to serve some 200,000 children in Miami-Dade County.
Two separate studies – one commissioned by the state, the other conducted by Columbia University – show no cost savings, while the number of children served dropped dramatically.
The state Agency for Health Care Administration, however, has decided to move forward with this program for another two years, despite serious concerns from a number of dentists, consumers and other advocates. Florida CHAIN had advocated for a limited six-month renewal.
Sen. Nan Rich (D-Weston) is among the legislators continuing to ask questions about this program.
We appreciate the letter that Christa Calamas, secretary of Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration, sent in response to the correspondence generated by our alert. Click here to read the secretary’s letter.
After analyzing this response from Secretary Calamas, Florida CHAIN raises these points for consideration:
-
The University of Florida study said that there may be under-reporting but that this has not been quantified or proven.
-
If dentists are not accurately reporting, it could indicate that fraud is even more rampant. Under this program, dentists are paid $4.28 per child per month, regardless of whether services are provided to children.
-
The mention of 77 percent of the children not receiving care does not include the fact that even fewer are receiving care now under the new program.
-
There is no study that shows the satisfaction rates of dentists or their patients before this program took place. It might have decreased.
Florida CHAIN is in the process of developing advocacy steps to see that appropriate steps are taken to complete analysis of this dental program, and that steps are taken to ensure that Miami-Dade children who are Medicaid beneficiaries receive the dental care they need and deserve. Look for further information and alerts in the near future.
Florida's Uninsured Rate Ranked 3rd in Nation
A new census report shows that children and adults who live in Florida are more likely to be without health insurance than residents of other states. The study by the U.S. Census Bureau notes that while the number of insured Americans increased, so did the number of uninsured individuals.
Texas led the nation with the highest rate of uninsured (24.6 percent), followed by New Mexico (21.1 percent) and Florida (19.6 percent).
The news was equally disappointing when it came to health insurance coverage for children. Of the nation's nearly 74 million children, about 8.3 million, or 11.2 percent, lacked coverage in 2005. Children living in poverty were twice as likely to be uninsured, according to the report. Over 500,000 Florida children are uninsured.
Enrollment limits or freezes lasting six months or longer took effect in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Montana, North Carolina and Utah, according to the Washington Post. Texas, with the highest rate of uninsured children, began requiring families to re-enroll their children every six months rather than yearly.
Florida, which limited enrollment to its KidCare insurance program to twice a year, has since reinstated year-round enrollment.
Proposed Florida Amendment Would Fund Tobacco Education and Prevention
Floridians for Youth Tobacco Education has proposed a constitutional amendment that will require the Legislature to fund a statewide tobacco education and prevention program. Annual funding would come from tobacco settlement money and would target youth and other at-risk Floridians.
Known as “Amendment 4,” this change to the Florida Constitution will be up for a vote on the November ballot. If your organization is interested in supporting this measure, you can click here to complete and submit an endorsement.
Medicare Part D Glitches Persist
Don't look for sweeping changes to the federal government's Medicare Part D prescription program in the final weeks of the 109th session, according to some political analysts.
“Despite the political hullabaloo surrounding the Medicare drug benefit this year, calls from Democrats and some vulnerable Republicans that changes be made to the program are likely to remain unheeded,’’ states The Hill.
The issue is a political hot potato that many members of Congress would prefer to avoid in the weeks leading up to the election. Just last week, the federal government erroneously sent Medicaid premium refunds to some 230,000 beneficiaries. The cost of the mistake: $50 million. Beneficiaries who paid an average of $215 must pay back the federal government.
But Wednesday’s resignation of Medicare’s chief Mark McClellan is creating new opportunities for some in Congress to call for needed changes, specifically the so-called “doughnut hole.” It is a gap in prescription coverage that forces some Medicare consumers to pick up the tab.
"I hope his departure doesn't cause delays in getting Part D snags fixed for beneficiaries, and that he'll correct all known problems before he leaves," said Senate Finance Committee Chair Chuck Grassley, (R-Iowa) as reported in the Baltimore Sun.
Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.), said McClellan was "smart to step down before at least seven million Medicare beneficiaries hit the prescription drug program's 'doughnut hole'" according to Congressional Quarterly’s Healthbeat.
Here in Florida, Congressional candidate Ron Klein is making Medicare Part D a platform issue.
"The doughnut hole is a problem and it's going to continue to develop as a problem," says Klein, who is running against incumbent GOP Rep. E. Clay Shaw, according to the Associated Press.
According to the article, “if the coverage gap becomes an issue anywhere, it should be the race between Mr. Shaw and Mr. Klein that figures to be one of the most competitive in the country.”
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
REAL STORIES
September 6, 2006
Nayda Cuevas a 47-year-old resident of Deltona, in Volusia County, is living with Multiple Sclerosis.
Nayda has an infectious smile and unusual energy. In 2002, shortly after her two daughters graduated high school, she discovered she had Multiple Sclerosis. Faced with the life changing diagnosis, she didn’t allow the disease to change her. Rather, she refocused some of her energies previously devoted toward raising two talented girls, to meeting the new challenge head-on.
“I believe God has a mission and reason for everything that happens to us,” she says. “Now I understand why He put me on a path that included Bible classes: to strengthen my faith and hope. He also put good friends along my way, friends who have MS and who were friends many years before I knew I had MS. He was giving me a “hint”, preparing me for what lay ahead. Thanks to my friends and what I was able to learn about MS, I was better able to grasp my situation and receive the comfort and support I needed to go on,” she says.
This is not to say that Nayda did not face the struggles, anger and depression typical of this kind of discovery. Or that her tightly knit family did not experience the same reactions families experience upon finding out that a loved one is saddled with an incurable, life-threatening disease. But being the self-described “hyper” and optimistic individual that she is, her attitude was, “I wasn’t going to let MS take control of my life, rather, I declared war against it.”
First, upon accepting her condition, she looked at the bright side of it. “I can’t even imagine what life would have been like having MS 5-10 years ago. Then, I had to run after my daughters when they were in middle and high school involved in all kinds of art events, youth groups and 4-5 sports, and my husband and I were very much involved in everything they did. Imagine how exhausting it would have been had I had my MS in progress back then,” she muses.
Then she set upon helping herself and others afflicted with MS educate themselves and others about the disease. “In September 2002 I was diagnosed, and in December I was already participating in my first support group meeting. I went to every conference and program I could find to learn about MS. I believe very much in KNOWLEDGE IS POWER and that knowledge is the best weapon we have against this illness and any other disease in life.”
Frustrated that she could find no support group closer than 45 minutes drive from home, in 2004, with the support of her Church, Nayda created the MS-Keteers. This group's name reflects the fighting spirit of its members.
Her work for the group is done with the full support of her family. “My daughters and husband are my helpers. The oldest, Nayda, a talented professional artist, does the face painting at some of our events and has offered 20% donations from sales of paintings or art work referred by The MS-Keteers. The younger, Yandi, more hyperactive than me, helps with the set-ups, cleaning and helping the MSers. My husband is the cook and heavy-stuff lifter (boxes of books and material we take to meetings and fairs). Part of the process of dealing with MS is to try to involve the family and educate them. This takes time and is not easy, but it can be done. Once in a while they go to conferences with me, which helps them understand a little more about my condition.”
The MS-Keteers has grown to more than 20 active group members with 120 on the mailing list. Nayda edits its newsletter.
But she was not content with the establishment of this group. As a Puerto Rican realizing that the Hispanic community has limited resources in Spanish to deal with diseases such as MS, she began approaching the local Spanish media. One report generated another and, before she knew it she was on Spanish radio talking about MS and reaching out to other similar organizations to share resources and opportunities for outreach and education, as well as advocacy to policy makers.
One such opportunity came in April 2006, when Nayda joined Florida CHAIN's CHAIN Days in Tallahassee. There she had the opportunity to discuss health care related issues with legislators and other activists and to better understand the importance of taking advantage of access to policy makers.
Through it all, Nayda’s greatest achievement has been that she never stops leading a productive, interesting life. Her advise to others? “Early treatment, exercise, taking good care of ourselves and more important, a positive attitude can help us live that life. Don’t give up, keep learning and fighting. Don’t let this “inconvenience” take over your life. Remember, I HAVE MS but MS DOESN’T HAVE ME. Keep busy, BODY and MIND. I’m not saying it’s easy but attitude makes all the difference. Getting on a self pity trip will not accomplish a thing.”
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 HEALTH ARTICLES
September 6, 2006
Florida News & Opinions
Medicare and Medicaid
Medicare Drug Coverage, Drug Costs
Other Medicare, Medicaid
Health Insurance and Costs
Other Health Issues
National News & Opinions
Medicare and Medicaid
Medicare Drug Coverage, Drug Costs
Other Medicare, Medicaid
Health Insurance and Costs
Other National Health Issues
Medicare and Medicaid
Medicare Drug Coverage, Drug Cost
Medicare troubles persist for some
Local couple still fighting the system Josephine Guin has been fighting the federal government's new Medicare Part D prescription-drug plan since it began Jan. 1. Now Guin is also fighting for her life. Her congestive heart failure has worsened, and her doctor told her she may have as little as six months to live. Though she is weaker, she has vowed to continue fighting the new prescription-drug plan. ''It wouldn't do us any good, but I hope it helps somebody else,'' said Guin, 76. Indications are that the process is improving in Florida, but it's not yet perfect. Guin and her husband, Bobby, were transferred to the federal government's new Medicare Part D prescription program, but their names were lost in the system and their prescriptions denied. Bobby Guin, 71, has diabetes. (9/4/06, Tallahassee Democrat)
New drug plan fades as political issue
Most seniors seem satisfied with the new Medicare drug plan, foiling Democrats' hopes of using it as a campaign issue -- except possibly in Florida's Shaw-Klein race. Fretful and 87, Anne Syrop says that so far, the new Medicare prescription drug program has made her dozen daily medications more affordable. ''But what's going to come up, I don't know,'' she added anxiously. Like an estimated three million seniors or more, Syrop faces a coverage gap -- a doughnut hole in Washington-speak -- that represents a personal financial strain as well as a political issue of uncertain impact. (8/29/06, Miami Herald)
Other Medicare, Medicaid
Schering-Plough to pay $435M settlement
Florida's Medicaid program will receive $10.4 million as part of $435 million that Schering-Plough is paying government groups to resolve accusations that it inflated its ''best prices,'' causing state Medicaid programs to pay more than they should for the company's drugs. Among the drugs was Claritin, a popular allergy remedy. The investigation also revealed Schering-Plough engaged in improper marketing of a drug intended to treat brain tumors, according to the Florida Attorney General's office.
(8/30/06, Miami Herald)
Funding gap leaves thousands of severely disabled residents on waiting list
Thousands of severely disabled people are not getting the care they need because a state in-home assistance program that could help them maintain their independence hasn't been adequately funded. More than 3,100 people have been on a waiting list since 2004, a figure that outraged some legislators who say they were never told about the list and didn't know the program was in trouble. The Disabled Adult Medicaid Waiver provides a nurse or aide to directly help Floridians between ages 19 and 59 living on their own and struggling with debilitating illnesses ranging from stroke to multiple sclerosis. Disability advocates alerted legislators last spring, who then infused the system with enough money to take 500 people off the list. Just seven new clients have received money so far -- the only clients added to the program since February 2004. (8/27/06, South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
Muriel Sherman goes to war
At 81, she wasn't in great shape for a battle. Her right arm was in a cast. Her left elbow was in a brace. Still, when Medicare paid yet another round of fraudulent claims billed in her name, Muriel Sherman of Tamarac decided she had to fight back. (8/27/06, Miami Herald)
Health Insurance and Costs
Hospital, insurer at odds: United Healthcare has been giving incorrect information to some of its customers
The muddy situation for some of United Healthcare's insurance customers got muddier, as the company incorrectly told them Sarasota Memorial Hospital accepted their Medicare insurance plans. (9/2/06, Sarasota Herald-Tribune)
Hospital dispute limits options for care
Because of a massive national battle between two titans of the healthcare industry, UnitedHealthcare's 688,000 members in South Florida will now find it far more costly to use HCA's seven hospitals in Broward and Miami-Dade. Contracts between the insurance giant and America's largest for-profit hospital chain expired at midnight Tuesday. UnitedHealthcare said the South Florida hospitals instantly became ''out-of-network,'' meaning United members using them for nonemergency care might not be reimbursed or could face hundreds of dollars in extra co-payments. Both sides said they are continuing discussions. (8/31/06, Miami Herald)
Leon County Democrats vote to support sales tax
The Leon County Democratic Executive Committee unanimously endorsed a half-percent increase in the sales tax Monday night to finance health care for the uninsured. The resolution said the increase would cost the average resident $57 a year. Although the increase would give Leon County the highest sales tax in the state, the resolution noted that the county's per-capita tax burden - property and sales taxes combined - is the fifth-lowest in Florida. The resolution said there are about 23,000 people in Leon County without health insurance. Deputy county administrator Vincent Long said up to 9,000 of them would be served by the proposed health-care plan financed by the sales tax. The sales-tax referendum will be on the Nov. 7 county ballot. (8/29/06, Tallahassee Democrat)
Nonprofit treats childrens' mental health illnesses
Meridith Wulffen counts her lucky stars today. At 26, her life is back on track with a debt of gratitude to the J. Timothy Hogan Foundation in Collier County, a grass-roots organization founded in 2000 by one motivated individual and $500. The foundation's mission is to help Collier County children with mental health illnesses get the treatment they need, and prevent suicide, when their families lack the resources or insurance. Gov. Jeb Bush recently lauded the foundation, one of six nonprofit groups recognized around the state, for its accomplishments in addressing treatment needs of local residents. (8/28/06, Naples Daily News)
Insurer unveils advance peek at doctors' bills
Ever wonder how much your insurer pays your doctor for the services you receive? If your insurer is Aetna Inc., now you can find out. South Florida is one of a dozen markets in the United States where Aetna began this week allowing members to have access to pricing information before they go to a doctor's office. Previously, they learned what the insurer paid only when they received an explanation of benefits report weeks after treatment. Doctors get paid differently because they negotiate with insurers separately. Aetna expects the pricing information to be most useful to the small but growing number of customers who have health savings accounts tied to a high-deductible insurance plan that require consumers to pay for most of their routine care out-of-pocket. (8/23/06, Palm Beach Post)
Other Health Issues
Health risks among South Florida residents on rise
In a wide-ranging report card on health, a survey has found that growing numbers of South Floridians are overweight and have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, inactive lifestyles and no health insurance. All those factors put people at greater risk for an array of illnesses including heart disease, stroke and organ failure, and the rising incidence in the local population worries health leaders. The survey of 1,000 adults was conducted earlier this year in Broward County, but officials said state and county health data show that the trends are almost identical in Palm Beach County and much of South Florida. (9/4/06, South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
New Web site offers health information
A new Web site for Florida health-care consumers officially launches today, courtesy of the Florida Hospital Association. The site offers links to information on doctors, hospitals and health-care plans as well as checklists to help consumers ask the right questions. It's intended largely as a portal to other, established sites. There are links to sites for Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, among others. (8/31/06, Orlando Sentinel)
Trustee searches for best use of hospital
A new trustee for the bankrupt South Beach Community Hospital said Wednesday he plans to either find a company that will revive the 40-year-old facility or sell the license to someone who has no intention of using it. (8/31/06, Miami Herald)
NATIONAL NEWS & OPINIONS
Medicare and Medicaid
Medicare Drug Coverage, Drug Costs
F.D.A. Approves Broader Access to Next-Day Pill
The F.D.A. has approved over-the-counter sales of the morning-after contraceptive pill to women 18 and older, resolving one of the most contentious issues in the agency’s 100-year history. Nationwide over-the-counter sales of the drug, Plan B, are expected to start by the end of the year. It will be sold in pharmacies and health clinics only, and buyers must show proof of age. Anyone under age 18 will still need a prescription. Men may also buy Plan B for a partner. (8/25/06, New York Times)
Drug ads sell a problem, not a solution
In one sense, the ads have been successful. The Kaiser Family Foundation found that every dollar drug companies spend on ads brings more than four dollars in additional sales. But for most others, the result has been soaring medical insurance costs, toxic side effects, and new tensions between doctors and patients, who increasingly badger doctors for the drugs they've seen on TV. One study found that 30 percent of Americans have made these demands. But perhaps the worst part is that prescription drug ads have immersed us all in a pervasive drug culture that seems to have no boundaries. (08/21/2006, Christian Science Monitor)
Other Medicare, Medicaid News
Medicare Chief to Leave AgencyDr. Mark B. McClellan, administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is set to resign. Dr. McClellan is expected to accept an appointment at the American Enterprise Institute, a research organization with Republican ties. He states he is "immensely proud" to have provided prescription drug coverage to older Americans.
Increased Popularity of Medicare Advantage PlansThe Wall Street Journal examined how hundreds of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries have begun to enroll in Medicare Advantage plans, which offer "traditional benefits without the usual restrictions on access to doctors and hospitals" and some additional benefits. Under Medicare Advantage plans, the federal government, rather than pay claims directly, pays health insurers to manage care for Medicare beneficiaries in an effort to reduce program costs. According to David Lewis, acting director of the Medicare Advantage Group at CMS, enrollment in such plans increased to 802,068 on Aug. 1 from 20,000 in 2003. The "freedom of choice" in Medicare Advantage plans makes them popular among beneficiaries, the Journal reports. In addition, Medicare Advantage plans on average cost beneficiaries less than traditional Medicare, according to the Journal. As a result of the increased popularity, some large health insurers "are launching more of such plans and marketing them in more areas," the Journal reports. (8/29/06, Wall Street Journal)
Bush Orders Federal Agencies to Share, Publicize Health Care DataAn information-sharing initiative is designed to help consumers choose the best healthcare options, President Bush said. President Bush has signed an executive order requiring four federal agencies to compile and share quality and cost information on the health care services they pay for and to make that information public. The order applies to the Department of Health and Human Services, Defense Department, Veterans Affairs Department and Federal Employees Health Benefit Program. It directs the agencies to use when possible interoperable computer systems to share patient medical information; to develop with the private sector and other government agencies measures to gauge the quality of care and to enact them; to make available to beneficiaries the prices the agencies spend on common procedures; and to identify practices that promote high-quality health care. The agencies must comply by Jan. 1. (8/23/06, Miami Herald)
Democrats Urge CMS to Amend Medicaid Citizenship RequirementsForty-nine House Democrats recently said that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' new proof of citizenship requirements to qualify for Medicaid will have a "devastating impact" on the "health coverage of millions of Medicaid beneficiaries and applicants." In an effort led by Rep. Hilda Solis, D-CA, the letter urges Administrator Mark McClellan to permit states to begin providing coverage to eligible citizens based on their sworn declaration of citizenship and to permit them a "reasonable opportunity" to provide the necessary documentation and to exempt foster children from the regulations. (8/16/06, AHA News Now)
Health Insurance and Costs
Increase in Uninsured Kids for the First Time Since 1998 May Prompt Debate over SCHIP Renewal
Recently released census figures on the uninsured focused on the "discouraging development" that the number of uninsured children has increased for the first time since 1998, shortly after the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was launched. (9/05/06, Washington Post)
Study Finds Medical Spending Is Generally Worth the Cost
Most Americans have gotten sizable life-extending bang for their medical bucks over recent decades, according to a study of health care value. (8/31/06, New York Times)
Number of Uninsured Reaches a Record High, According to Annual Census Report
In a widely reported story, the U.S. Census Bureau announced what the Los Angeles Times called a "widening erosion of health insurance coverage," with 46.6 million now uninsured. (8/30/06, Boston Globe)
OPINION: Dear Abby Endorses Kids Coverage Reminder from RWJF President
In a widely published letter to "Dear Abby," Robert Wood Johnson Foundation president and CEO Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., notes that most of the millions of uninsured children in the United States are eligible for low-cost or free coverage through Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program. (8/28/06)
High Costs Prompt Workers to Opt Out of Large Employers' Health Plans
A survey by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that employees at the nation's largest companies are forgoing coverage due to rising premiums, deductibles and copayments. (8/25/06, Wall Street Journal)
Prospects: Making Health Care the Engine That Drives the Economy
The U.S. already spends nearly 16 percent of its gross domestic product on health care and it is almost impossible to know where all that money goes. (8/22/06, New York Times)
The Secret's Out
For consumers trying to budget their medical costs, one obstacle has been the extreme difficulty of getting advance price information for even the most routine procedures. Now, one major insurer is changing that by offering its members access to what they will pay -- before they enter a doctor's office. (8/21/06, Washington Post)
OPINION: Tie Insurance Coverage to the Person, Not the Job
Robert E. Moffit, director of the Center for Health Policy Studies at the Heritage Foundation, writes in an op-ed that linking coverage to the individual rather than the job can solve the problem of the uninsured. (8/20/06, Press-Enterprise)
Charitable Obligations Hospital Lawsuit
Both sides declare victory in uninsured billing settlements. Will more systems settle rather than fight it out in court? The seemingly intractable legal dispute between not-for-profit hospitals and plaintiffs' attorneys over the billing of the uninsured budged in recent weeks with a spate of settlements at West Coast health systems, but the vitriol has not subsided. While the plaintiffs claimed a decisive victory in their efforts to moderate the allegedly inflated pricing of hospital bills for the uninsured, the hospitals insisted they emerged from the legal quagmire with their pride fully intact and their existing charity-care policies fundamentally unchanged. (8/14/06, Modern Healthcare)
Other Health Issues
Hypertension's race factor
Researchers say racism may contribute to elevated rates of high blood pressure in some black women
Racism may contribute to some black women's developing hypertension at a higher rate than others, according to a national study looking at black women's health over an extended period of time. Nearly 43,000 women tracked over a four-year period reported experiencing racism, according to the study. But researchers found that foreign-born black women were more than twice as likely to experience racism compared with others they tracked using a questionnaire. Among that group, the researchers found 2,316 new hypertension cases. "Black women who were born outside of the United States, as well as black women who grew up in predominantly white neighborhoods, experienced positive associations between racism and hypertension," said lead author Dr. Yvette Cozier. Previous studies have documented that black women have a much higher incidence of hypertension, also called high blood pressure, than white women. (8/29/06, South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
Center for Hispanic Medical Students Loses All Its U.S. Aid
The Hispanic Center of Excellence at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, which has helped provide academic opportunities for students of various backgrounds, has taken a big financial hit. (8/25/06, New York Times)
Smart Care Via a Mouse, but What Will It Cost?
The electronic medical record seems an example of pure progress, a technology that yields only winners. So it has been cast as a geeky hero in health care policy circles... Electronic patient records woven into a national digital network will help identify cost-saving opportunities, they say, but when combined with the emerging field of genomics, the records will also open the door to personalized medicine, new treatments — and, ultimately, more care. While that is by no means a bad thing, it is also not the hoped-for fix for the nation's rising health care bill. (8/20/06, New York Times)
HEALTH ADVOCACY RESOURCES
September 6, 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: Census Data Analysis
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
Florida Medicaid Reform PowerPoint Presentation
Educate your colleagues and/or employees on Florida Medicaid Reform basics. with Florida CHAIN's just completed PowerPoint presentation for public use. Feel free to call Florida CHAIN for more information about Medicaid reform or about the PowerPoint: 954-791-7314.
The Florida CHAIN web site now includes resource information in Spanish. To access, click here.
GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS
New grant listings
Community Foundation of Broward HIV Prevention RFP
Deadline: Sept. 29 at 5:00 pm
Approximately $210,000 will be awarded for HIV Prevention Programs in Broward County.
Community Foundation of Broward Vasquez Family Foundation Fund
Letter of Intent Deadline: Oct. 6 at 5:00 pm
Interest areas include: new and innovative programs that address elderly issues, such as housing, adult day care, culturally sensitive educational resources, training development for elderly care workers, student education in geriatrics, improved social services, support programs for families who experience end of life care for an elderly loved one, medical care, and disaster assistance, to name a few.
Fellowship in Minority Health Policy (2007-8)
Application deadline: Jan. 2
Supported by The Commonwealth Fund, administered by the Minority Faculty Development Program at Harvard Medical School, this innovative fellowship is designed to prepare physicians, particularly minority physicians, for leadership roles in formulating and implementing public health policy and practice on a national, state, or community level. Five one-year, degree-granting fellowships will be awarded per year. Fellows will complete academic work leading to a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree at the Harvard School of Public Health, and gain experience in and understanding of major health issues facing minority, disadvantaged, and underserved populations. CFHUF also offers a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree at John F. Kennedy School of Government to physicians possessing an MPH. It is expected that CFHUF will support the development of a cadre of leaders in minority health, well-trained academically and professionally in public health, health policy, health management, and clinical medicine, as well as actively committed to careers in public service.
Medicare Seeks Proposals for Senior Risk Reduction Demonstration
As part of its efforts to increase prevention on the part of Medicare beneficiaries, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today that it has issued a solicitation to implement a health promotion and disease prevention program through the Medicare Senior Risk Reduction Demonstration. The demonstration will determine whether health risk reduction programs that have been developed, tested, and shown to be effective in the private sector can be tailored to the Medicare program to help beneficiaries improve their health and thus reduce the need for health care services.
Continuing grant listings, in order of submission deadlines
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.
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.
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 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
Planning and Coordinating Care for People with Alzheimer’s Disease
Sept. 7, 14, 21, 28 1–2:30 pm EST
These are free educational web seminars presented by the Medicare Rights Center. Register online.
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
Florida Health Care Website for Consumers
A new Web site for Florida health-care consumers officially launches today, courtesy of the Florida Hospital Association. The site offers links to information on doctors, hospitals and health-care plans as well as checklists to help consumers ask the right questions. It is intended largely as a portal to other, established sites. There are links to sites for Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, among others.
State of Florida Health Care Consumer Websites
The recently expanded FloridaCompareCare.gov aims to improve care and reduce costs by giving citizens the tools to compare outcomes and prices between health care providers and medical services. Through this website one can see data on certain conditions and procedures related to quality of care, pricing and performance at the state’s hospitals and ambulatory (outpatient) surgery centers. In 2005, Florida became the first state to publicly report infection and mortality rates in each hospital. In July 2006, Florida became the first state to publicly report separate pediatric quality of care data. In addition, adult data can now be broken out specific to ages 65 and over. Additional new breakdowns include types of facilities.
FloridaHealthStat.com provides health care information to assist consumers, health care professionals, and researchers in making well-informed health care decisions and in researching the status of health care in Florida.
MyFloridaRx.com provides consumers with the retail prices of the most commonly used prescribed drugs by pharmacy across Florida.
For questions or comments regarding any of Florida’s consumer websites, contact 850/922-7036.
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
Private Health Insurance 101 Tutorial
This new Kaiser Family Foundation narrated slide tutorial provides an overview of the private health insurance system, discussing basic concepts that are important in understanding private health insurance and how it works, such as risk spreading/risk selection, pluralism, costs, coverage, and regulation. Tutorial slides can be downloaded.
Updated Medicare 101 Tutorial
The newly expanded Kaiser Family Foundation tutorial gives an overview of Medicare, describes how it works and explores the program's challenges. The tutorial has been updated to include the latest information on Medicare spending, the prescription drug benefit and future challenges.
Rural Communities Statistics and Information
The Rural Assistance Center has added to its Web site a new resource providing continuously updated demographics and statistics, documents and resources and contacts for all 50 states. RAC said the federally funded "State Resources" addition is designed to help health care providers and human services representatives in rural communities with activities such as locating and competing for funding opportunities and networking.
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.
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
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
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: Census Data, Economic Analysis
No Progress in Reducing Poverty, While Incomes Stagnate for Most Americans
The Census Bureau's 2005 Income, Poverty and Health Insurance data indicate that, despite an economic recovery that has been increasing wealth for the richest Americans for the past four years, poverty remained stubbornly persistent for 37 million, and earnings for men and women working full-time fell again. Coalition on Human Needs analyses show: (8/29/06, Coalition on Human Needs)
State of Working Florida 2006
Research Insitute on Social and Economic Policy (RISEP)'s annual Labor Day report reviews economic data to provide a comprehensive picture of workers and their families. Data on wages, employment, industries, and benefits show how workers are faring in Florida 's economy. Key 2006 findings include: almost 20% of Florida’s residents had no healthcare coverage in 2002-2005, worse than all but two of the nation’s states; median wage well below national norms; drop in family incomes; positive outcomes from new state minimum wage law.
New Listings: Health Insurance, Health Costs, Health Care Reform
OPINION: Single-Payer Health Care Is Way to Go
[R]eal science - reviewed by scientists and published in academic journals - does exist. Its conclusion is clear: Even though they spend far less, countries with public health systems provide better quality health care, offer vastly better access, and ration care less than the United States. (9/4/06, Rocky Mountain News)
Medical Spending Linked To Life Expectancy Gains
A new study looks at medical spending and increased life expectancy between 1960 and 2000 and determines that medical expenses provide reasonable value. Between 1960 and 2000, life expectancy increased by seven years. In the past 20 years, costs for each year of life gained have increased markedly, particularly in older age groups.(8/31/06, New England Journal of Medicine)
Is Health Insurance Affordable for the Uninsured?
The study examines the meaning of health care "affordability." The authors examine the relationship between the cost of coverage and the number of uninsured, finding that health insurance was affordable to about one-quarter to three-quarters of uninsured U.S. residents. The authors conclude that subsidized insurance will not necessarily decrease the number of uninsured if those who can afford to purchase insurance choose not to and that individual mandates to purchase insurance might be the most appropriate way for policymakers to ensure a decrease in uninsured rates. (July 2006, Journal of Health Economics)
New Listings: Health Equity Issues
Florida Dept of Health HIV/AIDS Report on Racial Disparities
Florida Department of Health today has released a report entitled, "Silence is Death: The Crisis of HIV/AIDS in Florida's Black Communities." The report focuses on white, black and Hispanic persons living with HIV/AIDS (reported cases). The report quantifies racial/ethnic disparities and ranks the top 20 counties in the state accordingly. A set of recommendations to combat HIV/AIDS is a key part of the report. "It is unacceptable that for 15 years in a row, HIV/AIDS has been the leading cause of death among black Floridians aged 25-44 years," said DOH Secretary M. Rony François, M.D., M.S.P.H., Ph.D. "It is time for us to mobilize communities and all those who have a stake in the epidemic to find innovative ways to reduce the associated morbidity and mortality."
Number of Uninsured Americans at All-time High
Data released by the Census Bureau show that the number of uninsured Americans stood at a record 46.6 million in 2005, with 15.9 percent of Americans lacking health coverage. "The number of uninsured Americans reached an all-time high in 2005," said Robert Greenstein, executive director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. "It is sobering that 5.4 million more people lacked health insurance in 2005 than in the recession year of 2001, primarily because of the erosion of employer-based insurance." (8/29/06, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities)
The Rising Prevalence of Severe Poverty in America: A Growing Threat to Public Health
Since 2000, Americans have been getting poorer, and national rates of severe poverty have climbed sharply, according to a study published in the October issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The researchers reported that the growth in the poverty rate is due largely to a rise in severe poverty and that "moderate" poverty has grown little. The study found that children under age 5 are twice as likely to be living in severe poverty as the rest of the population. "In 2004, one of three Americans with incomes less than 50% of the poverty threshold--5.6 million people--was a child." Severe poverty is also dramatically worse among African Americans and Hispanics, and minority children therefore face the greatest risk. The researchers reported that children account for 45% of Hispanic and African Americans living in severe poverty. Likely health consequences include a higher prevalence of chronic illnesses, more frequent and severe disease complications, and increased demands and costs for healthcare services. Adverse effects on children carry long-term implications. The researchers describe a "sinkhole effect," in which "families and
individuals in the middle and upper classes appear to be migrating to lower income tiers that bring them closer to the poverty threshold." (October 2006, American Journal of Preventive Medicine)
Preventive Care for Children in the United States: Quality and Barriers
The importance of childhood preventive care has long been emphasized at the federal level, through such programs as the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant, Medicaid's Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment Program, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Still, less than half of all children and adolescents in the United States receive the preventive care recommended by professional guidelines. In this study, the researchers focused on 58 large observational studies and interventions that addressed child care on four counts: frequency of visits, developmental and psychosocial surveillance, screening for diseases, and anticipatory guidance. (April 2006, Annual Review of Public Health)
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
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)
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)
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)
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)
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.
Health Insurance, Health Costs, Health Care Reform, Budget
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)
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)
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
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." (8/17/06, New England Journal of Medicine)
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)
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)
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
"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
September 6, 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
CENTRAL FLORIDA
Public Meeting on Medicaid Reform
Sept. 20 1:00-3:00 pm Marks Street Senior Recreation Complex, 99 E. Marks St., Orlando
The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), in conjunction with Dept. of Elder Affairs, announces the following public meeting to which all interested persons are invited. The primary purpose of this meeting is to provide outreach and education to Medicaid beneficiaries about the two proposed “integrated, fixed-payment delivery system for Medicaid recipients who are 60 years of age or older" pilots mandated by state law. AHCA submitted waiver applications to obtain Federal approval for implementation of managed, integrated long term care in the Panhandle Pilot Area- Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton Counties; and the Central Florida Pilot Area- Seminole, Orange, Brevard and Osceola Counties. An overview of the program will be provided as well as an opportunity for public comment on a first come - first serve basis. Persons with disabilities may obtain help with access by calling 850/487-2618 or writing hermess@ahca.myflorida.com up to 72 hours before the meeting.
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
Black/African American men prostate cancer screening
Sept. 9 No. Miami Surgical Center, No. Miami Beach
Aventura Hospital and Medical Center has partnered with The 100 Black Men of South Florida, Inc. to encourage Black/African American men to get screened early for prostate cancer. The screening is free to all men. Refreshments served. By appt. only; call 1-888/256-7692.
A Community Dialogue: Our Healthcare Future
Sept. 28 8:30 am-4:00 pm Peace Education Foundation, 1900 Biscayne Blvd, Miami
There are many steps to make the changes we need in our health care systemss. An important one is bringing people from different backgrounds and experiences together to look at how health care works today and at some possible ways to make it better in the future. 30 to 40 people from the community will gather to sort out our priorities for health care. The day is put together in a way that invites you to share your thinking and to listen to the ideas of others. RSVP to 305/576- 5001 ext 42 or ashal@hscdade.org.
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
Building a Livable Community for All: Creating Connections, Strengthening Skills and Implementing Best Practices: Alliance for Human Services 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.
36th Annual National Black Child Development Institute
Oct. 22-24 Hyatt Regency Miami
Every year thousands of educators and professionals in early care and education; elementary and secondary education and administration; child welfare and youth development; research; and local, state, and federal policy convene to gain knowledge and acquire the skills needed to ensure a quality future (including health) for all children and youth. Advance fee offer ends Sept. 25. Read more or register online.
Quality Summit: Improving Health Care for Racially and Ethnically Diverse Populations
Dec. 13-14 Miami Beach, Florida
The Quality Summit, Improving Health Care for Racially and Ethnically Diverse Populations, is for Medicaid and commercial health plans, state Medicaid agencies, providers, and other organizations committed to reducing health care disparities and improving care for racially and ethnically diverse populations. The Quality Summit will offer a national showcase of best practices in reducing disparities and improving health care quality for all. The Quality Summit is made possible with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The
Commonwealth Fund.
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
September 6, 2006
CONFERENCES AND EVENTS
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.
Health Disparities and Cardiometabolic Disease: Addressing the Epidemic
Oct. 19-21 Atlanta
This Morehouse School of Medicine symposium is designed to stimulate and promote discussion about scientific research on prevention, evaluation, and management of patients at high risk of developing cardio-metabolic diseases and its risk factors. The symposium is multifaceted and includes poster presentations, community education, health screening activities and a Friday dinner presentation on local communities' strategies to address obesity.
Mobilizing Partnerships for Social Change
Call for Proposals deadline: Oct. 6
April 11-14 Toronto
Community-Campus Partnerships for Health is convening its 10th annual conference to nurture a growing network of community-campus partnerships that are striving to achieve the systems and policy changes needed to address the root causes of health, social and economic inequalities. The conference seeks to build knowledge, skills and actions for achieving healthy and just societies.
NIH Conference on Understanding and Reducing Disparities in Health: Behavioral and Social Science - Research Contributions
Poster Session Deadline: Sept. 8
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.
Advancing Science-Based Prevention: Creating Real World Solutions
Presentation Application Deadline: Oct.16
May 30 - June 1 Washington, D.C.
All participants are encouraged to submit abstracts for individual paper and poster presentations, organized paper symposium, poster forums, roundtable discussions/scientific dialogues and technology demonstrations for the Society for Prevention Research 15th Annual Meeting.
36th Annual National Black Child Development Institute
Oct. 22-24 Hyatt Regency Miami
Every year thousands of educators and professionals in early care and education; elementary and secondary education and administration; child welfare and youth development; research; and local, state, and federal policy convene to gain knowledge and acquire the skills needed to ensure a quality future (including health) for all children and youth. Advance fee offer ends Sept. 25. Read more or register online.
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.
Spring Training for Health Champions
March 7-9 New Orleans
The Association for Community Health Improvement is now accepting breakout session proposals for its 2007 conference. Topic tracks include: access to care; chronic disease prevention and management; community benefit excellence; and community health assessments.
AUDIO AND WEB EVENTS
Planning and Coordinating Care for People with Alzheimer’s Disease
Sept. 7, 14, 21, 28 1–2:30 pm EST
These are free educational web seminars presented by the Medicare Rights Center. Register online.
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.
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
|
