|
SCHIP
June 4, 2007
SCHIP Funding Resolution Heads to Pres. Bush
The 2008 federal budget resolution heading to President Bush is expected to include an additional $50 billion over five years for an expansion of SCHIP, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.
This is good news for Florida, which relies on federal SCHIP funding as the financial backbone for its KidCare health insurance program. SCHIP provides funding for state to cover children whose parents make too much money to qualify for traditional Medicaid coverage.
The final budget resolution does not include a provision sought by the U.S. Senate that would fund SCHIP expansion through an increase in the federal tobacco tax. The Senate resolution called for raising the federal tobacco tax by 61 cents per pack to raise $35 billion for an expansion of SCHIP. The provision did not survive during talks with House budget negotiators, according to CongressDaily.
Despite the funding made available in the federal budget, the SCHIP program must be re-authorized by Congress before its expiration on Sept. 31.
In addition to children’s organizations, the insurance and pharmaceutical industries are lobbying for its continuation.
“U.S. health insurers have made extending the program a top legislative priority,” according to an insurance trade newsletter National Underwriter.
PhRMA, the pharmaceutical lobbying organization, announced May 21 a new national television and print advertising campaign that “emphasizes the critical role SCHIP has played to improve the health and lives of millions of children across the nation,’’ according to its website.
The Florida Legislature passed a resolution supporting the reauthorization of SCHIP. Watch for states including Florida to battle for their share of SCHIP funding during the coming months.
(submitted by Alisa Snow, Florida CHAIN)
June 4, 2007
TAKE ACTION NOW!
Call Senators Martinez and Nelson to support Children’s Health and SCHIP TODAY
Toll Free: 1-800/828-0498
The Senate Finance Committee will gather soon to determine the fate of health care for millions of kids in this country, including the content of the SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program) bill that will go to the Senate floor later this summer.
Our Senators need to hear from as many of their constituents as possible. Every Senator has a voice in the process. Please call our Senators starting June 4 and tell them the importance of SCHIP for America's kids and the need to fully fund it!
What should you say?
- Support $50 billion in NEW money for SCHIP (pronounced ESS-CHIP) as promised in the budget.
-
SCHIP must ensure that all eligible kids get the health care they deserve and don't fall through the cracks into the ranks of the uninsured.
-
EVERY child in America deserves health care!
-
Thank you for supporting full funding of SCHIP for America's kids.
Background
Earlier this year, thanks to the hard work of millions of activists around the country, the House and Senate budgeted $50 billion NEW dollars for children's health. Now we have to make sure Congress follows through on their promise. More than 9 million children in America are uninsured and can't get access to the regular checkups and care every child needs. The SCHIP bill before Congress can change that and make a world of difference for millions of kids!
(Thanks to Families USA for this alert)
FLORIDA BUDGET
June 4, 2007
How Health Care Fared in the New Florida Budget
Health and human services make up nearly one-third of Florida’s new $71.5 billion budget signed by Gov. Charlie Crist. The budget that takes effect July 1 contains a mixed bag:
-
Florida Senior Centers - $9.1 million is appropriated to construct, repair and maintain Florida’s senior centers to offer critical health, social, nutritional, educational and recreational programs and services.
The initial budget approved by the Legislature earlier this month came to $71.9 million and did not include some of the governor’s recommendations. Crist had proposed $35 million to stockpile antiviral drugs for a potential flu pandemic, but the Legislature did not fund his request.
In signing the 2007-2008 budget, Gov. Crist vetoed $459 million worth of projects, many of them health care-related. Most were local projects such as Success by Six in North Florida and additional beds for a mental health crises center in Southwest Florida.
Most important, Gov. Crist axed $5 million worth of rate increases for health maintenance organizations that enroll Medicaid beneficiaries.
For additional information, go to http://www.floridahealthnews.org/index.cfm/go/public.view/item/4/
(Submitted by Alisa Snow, Florida CHAIN)
MENTAL HEALTH
|
June 4, 2007
Governor Uses Veto to Protect Medicaid Mental Health Services
TAKE ACTION! CALL OR EMAIL GOV. CRIST
Phone: 850-488-2272 Email: Charlie.Crist@myflorida.com
Thank him for vetoing the elimination of the 80/20 cap, and for not allowing deceptive legislative processes to victimize our most vulnerable Floridians.
In an unexpected move last Thursday evening, May 24, 2007, Governor Charlie Crist vetoed the elimination of the 80/20 cap previously imposed to limit what HMO’s could charge for Medicaid mental health services. Mental health advocates around Florida were both surprised and grateful.
Not one HMO had lived up to its obligation to spend the full 80% on services and every HMO had been required to rebate funds to the state. One HMO returned $5.3 million in a negotiated settlement. Yet in the final hours of the 2007 Legislative Session, language was added to the budget bill which eliminated the cap, leaving the HMO’s free to independently determine a reasonable rate of profit and overhead. The member who added the language to eliminate the cap was never identified and apparently unwilling to admit to it.
Gov. Crist’s letter stated that these provisions were “not discussed in an open forum but were instead added to the bill at the last minute without a proper public hearing. Our representative democracy demands that legislation which impacts the lives of Florida’s most vulnerable citizens be debated in a deliberate and transparent forum.” He further said, “In addition, this bill requires less accountability in the way some providers spend money. Current law requires behavioral health service providers to spend at least 80% of the Medicaid payments on patient care instead of administrative overhead. If these providers fail to meet this requirement, the state may demand a refund. Under these provisions, the state has collected millions each year in refunds when providers have spent their money on expenses other than patient care."
Thanks to all of you who responded to our request to call the Governor and Leadership to protest the elimination of the cap. It seemed impossible to turn this around, but your voices were heard.
Thanks to Gov. Crist for listening and for standing tall - for those who receive Medicaid funded mental health services and for the integrity of the Medicaid program in Florida. After bitter years of budget cuts, reduced services, and blatant disregard, mental health advocates and consumers finally have something to celebrate. A bad bill enacted through flagrant disregard for honest and democratic process has been vetoed by a Governor who cited all the right reasons, including an appreciation for the vulnerability of those who would be most impacted.
In addition, in a clear message that Managed Care companies should not be overly rewarded for services they are yet to prove they can provide effectively, the Governor stood firm and vetoed rate increases to HMO's above and beyond the ones already legislated.
That is how government is supposed to work, but too often has not in recent years. Maybe the sun is again shining in Florida after all?
(Kathleen C. Hale, South Florida Mental Health Association)
TOBACCO TAX
June 4, 2007
Where there is smoke. . . .
Soon legislators will reconvene in a special session called by the Governor to address the issue of property taxes. We live in a society that relishes immediate gratification, so the idea of not paying something “now” is appealing, even as we are not sure how services we rely on will be affected later. Lower taxes are a generally popular proposition.
Florida CHAIN, as part of the Alliance for a Healthy Florida, intends to buck the trend as we proudly announce a campaign to increase a tax: the tobacco tax.
Florida’s current cigarette excise tax is 34 cents per pack, ranking it the 43rd state (45th including District of Columbia and Puerto Rico) in 2004. The state has not touched the tobacco tax since 1990. Increasing Florida’s cigarette excise tax would generate additional revenue for critically needed programs, such as Medicaid, KidCare and the Medically Needy program. And it would address an issue critical to any discussion about increased health care access for low-income individuals and families: it would help raise the reimbursement rate of physicians who take Medicaid patients, a rate currently so low that many doctors are simply dropping out of the program.
If the Florida legislature increased the cigarette tax by just $1.00 per pack, it would generate an estimated $847 million in new revenue the first year. Additionally, it would provide significant health care savings by reducing the incidence of tobacco disease.
For over a generation, the word “tax” has been equated to something so bad as to be unmentionable, as in “the T word”. We think the Tobacco Tax initiative we propose is a good thing.
In the next few days, Florida CHAIN will distribute a petition requesting support for this initiative. Please sign it and be part of the solution for increased health care access. In the meantime, please visit http://www.allianceforahealthyflorida.org to learn more about the Alliance for a Healthy Florida and link to www.floridachain.org to review our policy brief on raising the Tobacco tax in Florida.
(submitted by Andrew Leone, Florida CHAIN)
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
June 4, 2007
Survey: Enhancing Services for People With Disabilities
The Center for Independent Living of South Florida, Center for Independent Living of Broward, and Florida CHAIN are collecting information to explore the possibility of creating a collaborative fund that nonprofits could pull from that would enable them to better meet the needs of those with disabilities.
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), nonprofits are required to provide services that are accessible for people with disabilities. Often times, federal funding depends upon identification of services provided, and failure to identify persons with disabilities may result in the appearance that no demands or provisions are being made.
Click here to take this 5 minute survey.
FEATURED PARTNER
June 4, 2007
Call for Children’s Health Coverage Honors Florida Mothers in Broward
Increase in SCHIP Funding Would Provide Coverage to Thousands of Florida’s Children eligible for KidCare
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz joined health care workers, families and advocates to celebrate Mother’s Day at the Broward Health and Family Center by supporting increased funding of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which could provide health care coverage to millions of uninsured children through KidCare.
Wasserman Schultz said, "Yesterday, our nation celebrated Mother's Day and I can't think of a better way to honor moms than to ensure that our children have access to the health care coverage they deserve. When our kids fall down and get hurt, we as moms promise to ‘make it all better.’ By reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program, the 110th Congress has the opportunity to help moms keep that promise."
SCHIP offers affordable health coverage for near-poor and moderate income families who don’t qualify for Medicaid but can’t afford private insurance.
Congress has included $50 billion in new SCHIP funding in both Senate and House budget resolutions. This now needs to pass in the final budget.
“Children need primary care. They need to be seen early and to be cured before their problems fester and become critical. When this is true, they are among the healthiest sectors of our population and one of the least expensive,” said Guillermo "Billy" Valdes, a Jackson Memorial Hospital Nurse from SEIU Local 1991.
If the final budget includes the full funding for SCHIP, it will mean $2.54 billion in new funding for children’s health care here in Florida .
For more information, please visit www.putfamiliesfirst.org.
(Submitted by Lisa Tilson, Service Employees International Union)
REAL STORY
REAL STORIES FROM FLORIDA HEALTH CARE CONSUMERS
June 4, 2007
Consumer Finds “Phantom” Dental Care among Services Provided by Medicaid Reform
Chuck Haire of Ft. Lauderdale was among the first to receive a Medicaid Reform enrollment packet in July 2006. After reviewing the plans and benefits chart with a trusted advisor and consulting with choice counselors, he selected an HMO that offered, as added benefit, dental care beyond the emergency and denture services that all plans are required to offer under Reform. He was particularly interested in this benefit because he suffers from serious visuomotor (motor skills involving vision, such as eye-hand coordination) deficit that has impacted appropriate dental care.
As part of the Medicaid Reform waiver, the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) has touted the ability of beneficiaries to receive additional services not covered by traditional Medicaid, thus allowing managed care plans to market services that go beyond a mandated threshold. The plan Mr. Haire selected was Staywell, one of 15 HMO’s and Provider Service Networks (PSN’s) operating in Broward under Reform.
Mr. Haire’s experience, however, renders apparent the difference between what is listed on the plan comparison charts and the reality faced by some Medicaid consumers. Mr. Gary Van Den Heuvel, Haire’s official personal representative, in a letter shared with CHAIN Reaction among others, states that the Staywell plan is “carefully crafted to look good on paper but is designed for minimum payout. For example, they advertise crowns being covered, but the only crown is porcelain fused to base metal, which reputable dentists in the field will not use because they do not hold in place well and many patients have allergic reactions to them; also many of the plan's covered codes are usually billed by specialists and only general practitioners are covered by the dental plan.”
The picture is further complicated by the fact that HMO’s typically subcontract dental care to other managed care plans, in this case Atlantic Dental, Inc. (ADI). ADI was recently in the news as the dental managed care organization contracted by AHCA to deliver dental services to Medicaid children in Miami Dade County. In a study conducted by the Miami-based Collins Center for Public Policy, and reported on by the Miami Herald, ADI’s performance in delivery of care was not encouraging, “Incomplete state reports indicate Atlantic Dental dentists did 8,026 ? checkups during the fourth quarter of 2004. Assuming equal treatment for the other quarters in a year, that would total about 32,000 exams annually -- less than a third of the 100,226 checkups conducted in the last year of the old fee-for service program.”
According to Van Den Heuvel, “In our experience with the Staywell/ADI plan, 34% of the dentists on the ADI Network Provider List have dropped out of participating. Besides being non-current, the list is inappropriate to the dental plan and contained at least one fraudulent practice. It is impossible to find an out-of-network dentist who will even negotiate with ADI.”
Unfortunately for Haire, the dentist listed with ADI and covered under Staywell that he was directed to was Dr. Arthur T. Bruggisser, DDS, who, according to Van Den Heuvel’s later research (confirmed on the Florida Dept. of Health website), was convicted of Medicaid fraud in 2002 and is permanently banned from ever participating in Medicare, Medicaid and other state programs.
Dr. Bruggisser extracted 12 of Haire’s teeth and then "disappeared." Van Den Heuvel knows his claims were submitted, and one was paid by ADI, under the name of his colleague, Dr. Pierre M. Smith, who would not continue services to Haire as he is not a Medicaid authorized provider.
In attempting to solve the issue on behalf of his appointee, Van Den Heuvel discovered that reaching the appropriate person at the plan was not an easy matter. After two weeks of trying to speak with someone, “all transfers eventually led to one person at WellCare (the umbrella company that owns Staywell), who could never be reached and never returned a call. No one would answer a basic consumer question: how might we successfully find a network dentist who bills according to the dental plan's covered procedure codes?”
The answer may be reflected in the trend uncovered by a study conducted by the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute indicating that specialists are dropping out of Medicaid Reform plans at a rate higher than the (already high) one in traditional Medicaid prior to Reform. This may include dental care providers.
Van Den Heuvel has been pursuing a resolution through the grievance process (he filed twice) and through assistance by Florida Legal Services. His persistence is aided by the fact that he, unlike many others who may be in similar circumstances, has thoroughly documented the entire process resulting in Haire’s lack of care–which now is reflected by him being half toothless. “In April, I received a call from an attorney WellCare retained as outside counsel,” says Van Den Heuvel. “The attorney is now attempting to settle this out of court.” The odyssey that began in November may be coming to an end: as of May 21st, it appears WellCare will now authorize out of network services to remedy this situation.
What does this say about the additional services and providers Medicaid Reform is supposed to deliver? Not everyone affected will be able to count on the thorough and persistent efforts of a personal advocate. It is essential that, prior to any expansion of Reform beyond the pilot counties, AHCA and the legislature fully and impartially evaluate how consumers are being affected and whether the promises of managed care centered Medicaid Reform are being delivered in reality, not just on paper.
(submitted by Andrew Leone, Florida CHAIN)
Florida CHAIN Seeks Stories
Florida CHAIN welcomes contributions from health care consumers who are interested in sharing their experiences with readers of CHAIN Reaction. If you have a story to share, please contact Andrew Leone at 954/684-9895 or andrewl@floridachain.org
EVENTS AND NOTICES
June 4, 2007
State Events & Notices
North Florida
Central Florida
East Central Florida
West Central Florida
Southwest Florida
Southeast Florida
Florida Audio & Web Events
Statewide Notices
National Events & Notices
Conferences & Events
Audio & Web Events
National Notices
Campaigns & Initiatives
STATE EVENTS & NOTICES
NORTH FLORIDA
Mapping Florida Communities Workshop: Intro to GIS and Community Analysis
June 21-22 8:30 am-4:30 pm Jacksonville, New Horizons Computer Center 7020 A.C. Skinner Pkwy STE 180
June 28-29 8:30 am-4:30 pm Tallahassee Community College 444 Appleyard Drive, EWD Bldg #38, LAB No. 219
For all beginners interested in mapping their community; Excel skills required. Participants will learn to use ArcGIS 9.2 to: create thematic maps of their own data, and display spatial trends in information; map addresses of their clients, their projects or incidents; extract and map current Census data such as poverty, race, language, population, transportation, education and workforce characteristics; Conduct spatial queries; Download free shapefiles; Create well designed maps. Includes workbook, 60 day software trial, 30 day access to geography and demographic files.
6th Annual Medicaid Research and Policy Conference: State Health Care Innovation: Cost, Quality, and Access
June 28-29 Residence Inn, 600 West Gaines St, Tallahassee
Confirmed Speakers: Andrew Agwunobi, AHCA Secretary; Ana Viamonte Ros, Surgeon General and Secretary FL Dept of Health; other state officials and experts; and Melinda Abrams, Commonwealth Fund. Breakout sessions: Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities; Public Health and Prevention for Vulnerable Populations; Exploring Local Health Care Reforms in Florida; Quality of Care for Vulnerable Populations. Click here for the call for posters. Hosted by Florida Center for Medicaid and the Uninsured with support from AHCA. Free registration online at www.fmu.phhp.ufl.edu
13th Annual Children's Week (2008)
March 29-April 6
In addition, local events and activities will take place throughout the state Feb-April. Contact jason@childrensweek.org
Notices
Baker County SHINE volunteers wanted
SHINE volunteers provide individual counseling and assistance to elders and their caregivers about Medicare, Medicaid, Medicare plan choices, long-term care and other health insurance issues. Volunteers also make educational presentations to community groups and participate in local health fairs, senior fairs and outreach events. For more information, please call the Elder Helpline at 1-888-242-4464 or 904-391-6699.
CENTRAL FLORIDA
AcademyHealth's Annual Research Meeting (ARM) brings together health services researchers, providers, and key decision makers to address the critical challenges confronting the nation's health care delivery system. There are also pre-meeting conferences. Presentation of cutting-edge health services research is the cornerstone of this meeting, offering opportunities for researchers to share important findings with policymakers and providers who can move the research into action. This year's ARM is organized around 21 themes, including Gender & Health.
Supported Employment and Benefits Management Training
June 14-15 Gainesville (Registration Deadline – June 12)
for Individuals with Disabilities, their Family Members and Support Coordinators. For information, contact 850/386-2022 or diamondw@wilres.com.
Mapping Florida Communities Workshop: Intro to GIS and Community Analysis
June 28-29 8:30 am-4:30 pm Orlando MicroTek, 5950 Hazeltine Natil Dr, Citadel Int'l III, Suite 410
For all beginners interested in mapping their community; Excel skills required. Participants will learn to use ArcGIS 9.2 to: create thematic maps of their own data, and display spatial trends in information; map addresses of their clients, their projects or incidents; extract and map current Census data such as poverty, race, language, population, transportation, education and workforce characteristics; Conduct spatial queries; Download free shapefiles; Create well designed maps. Includes workbook, 60 day software trial, 30 day access to geography and demographic files.
MEETING OF THE MINDS: Strategic Initiatives for Implementation
August 6-8 Orlando
Florida Center for Universal Research’s Second Annual Summit.
Supported Employment and Benefits Management Training
Oct 18-19 Gainesville (Registration Deadline – October 16)
for Individuals with Disabilities, their Family Members and Support Coordinators. For information, contact 850/386-2022 or diamondw@wilres.com.
EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA
WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA
2007 Summer Conference on Florida's Young Children
July 18-20 Tampa
The One Goal: Building the Future Together "Putting Families and Children First" Conference brings together early education and care providers and leaders from around the state. It is designed to share innovative programs, practices and techniques for improving services and outcomes for all Florida’s children.” The previous conference “Providing Childcare For Children With Disabilities And Special Health Care Needs” coordinated by the Florida Inclusion Advisory Council is now fully integrated with this event. Registration fee $45, waived for primary presenter. Cosponsors include health organizations. 850/893-6270, frankieallen_2000@yahoo.com.
Supported Employment and Benefits Management Training
July 26-27 Fort Myers (Registration Deadline– July 24)
for Individuals with Disabilities, their Family Members and Support Coordinators. For information, contact 850/386-2022 or diamondw@wilres.com.
Supported Employment and Benefits Management Training
Dec 6-7 Fort Myers (Registration Deadline – Dec 4)
for Individuals with Disabilities, their Family Members and Support Coordinators. For information, contact 850/386-2022 or diamondw@wilres.com.
Events
HSC First Friday Lunch: panel review of the 2007 legislative session and a look ahead at the special session
June 8 Noon–1:30 pm Peace Education Foundation, 1900 Biscayne Blvd. 2nd fl, Miami
Panelists: Rep. Rene Garcia, Rep. Dan Gelber, Diana Ragbeer, Director of Public Policy and Communications, The Children’s Trust. Moderator: Beth Reinhard, Miami Herald political reporter. Lunch will be $5 for members and $8 for non-members. Please RSVP to 305/ 576-5001, ext. 42
Community Health Fair
June 9 9:00 am-2:00 pm Bethel Evangelical Baptist Church, 17601 NW 2nd Ave, Miami
Haitian American Nurses Association of Florida, Inc. (HANA) will host a major health fair, and is looking for partners/sponsors, vendors, community-based organizations or health care providers to provide health care services for the community. 300-500 attendees are anticipated. To participate/collaborate/sponsor this event, indicate the amount of tables and chairs you will need for your set-up or any other special accommodations you may need via e-mail: info@hana84.org, or fax 305/652-0228. For more info, contact 305/609-7498.
The First Five Years: The Importance of Early Childhood Development
June 15 Radisson Hotel, downtown Miami
MiamiCAN will host a free symposium for the child welfare community on the importance of the first five years of life-healthy childhood development, affects of early trauma and effective interventions. Lunch and parking provided. RSVP to events.fr@fostercarereview.org or 305/573-6665 ext. 230.
“U R KNOT ALONE” 1st Annual Cookout and Health Fair
June 16 10 am–2:00 pm No. Dade Health Ctr, 16555 NW 25th Ave
RSVP to ashal@hscdade.org or 305/576-5001*42, or 786.277-5774
U R KNOT ALONE is a participant of the Access Through Action Project of the Human Services Coalition.
Supported Employment and Benefits Management Training
June 20-21 Miami (Registration Deadline – June 18)
for Individuals with Disabilities, their Family Members and Support Coordinators. For information, contact 850/386-2022 or diamondw@wilres.com.
Mapping Florida Communities Workshop: Intro to GIS and Community Analysis
June 22 8:30 am-4:30 pm FIU, Kovens Conf Ctr, 3000 NE 151st St, Miami
For all beginners interested in mapping their community; Excel skills required. Participants will learn to use ArcGIS 9.2 to: create thematic maps of their own data, and display spatial trends in information; map addresses of their clients, their projects or incidents; extract and map current Census data such as poverty, race, language, population, transportation, education and workforce characteristics; Conduct spatial queries; Download free shapefiles; Create well designed maps. Includes workbook, 60 day software trial, 30 day access to geography and demographic files.
2007 National Conference on Latinos and AIDS
July 30-31 Miami
The goal is to update the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of health-care providers who care for patients with HIV/AIDS. Also designed for healthcare media, federal and state legislators, AIDS service organization officers, social workers, peer counselors, church leadership and corrections health-care personnel. The objectives are to familiarize participants with the epidemiology of HIV in the United States, current guidelines and cutting edge clinical modalities for the management of HIV, current research encompassing drug abuse and its connection to the HIV epidemic, social and psychiatric concerns of the HIV-infected patient, policy initiatives, trends, and political issues that impact all HIV-infected patients. Registration: $90 nurses, social workers, and other non-prescribing health professionals; $110 physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners; $135 all attendees after July 15. Continuing education credits are available. For more info, contact MHCC@npedu.com or 866/901-6267
Health care rally
August 13 South Palm Beach County
A very large rally is being planned. More information will be forthcoming. Call for details: 561/792-8799.
2007 Florida Conference on Aging
Aug 13-16 Miami InterContinental Hotel
Outstanding Keynote Speakers, Leadership Academy, Pre-Conference Intensives, Over 50 Workshop Sessions, CEUs for many professions, Registration includes many meals, Single day/full conference registration available
Supported Employment and Benefits Management Training
Sept 27-28 Miami (Registration Deadline – Sept 25)
for Individuals with Disabilities, their Family Members and Support Coordinators. For information, contact 850/386-2022 or diamondw@wilres.com.
Breast and Ovarian Cancer: Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment
October 12 9:30 am-4:00 pm Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Diagnostic Treatment Ctr
The Cancer Committee of the Jackson Health System and the Univ of Miami Sylvester Cancer Center is hosting this full day educational Town Hall Meeting on focusing on risk factors, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, survival and new discoveries. Presenters will include Surgeons from the Division of Gynecology Surgery, a Radiation Oncologist, a Geneticist, and other health care professionals. Breakfast and lunch will be served. Reservations can be made by contacting APazos@um-jmh.org or DEvans@um-jmh.org, or by phone at 305/585-6038 (ext. 2). This meeting is free and open to the general public and all medical staff.
REMOVING THE BARRIERS: Training for Trainers to remove health care barriers for women who partner with women
Oct 19 9 am–1pm SunServe, 1480 SW 9th Ave, Ft. Lauderdale
This training is designed to educate and bring awareness to health care providers about the health care needs of women who partner with women, to improve practitioners’ skills and create systemic change to allow women who partner with women to truly feel comfortable in a health care setting. The training gives tools to dismantle the barriers within practices and/or institutions. RTB certified trainers help providers work to increase their comfort level discussing and develop a common language around sexuality, and create an environment where all their patients, regardless of sexual orientation or behavior, feel comfortable and safe to share information. The training can also be done through a free home study course. For $15, the Oct 19 on site training will provide 4 contact hours for physicians, nurses, social workers as well as psychologists, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists. RTB provides 2 contact hours for physicians, nurses, social workers and other medical professionals taking home study. Contact RTBtraining@aol.com
Supported Employment and Benefits Management Training
Nov 15-16 Miami (Registration Deadline – Nov 13)
for Individuals with Disabilities, their Family Members and Support Coordinators. For information, contact 850/386-2022 or diamondw@wilres.com.
Notices
Broward County Launches Prescription Drug Discount Card Program
Broward County has launched a program to help consumers cope with the high price of prescription drugs. The County is making free prescription drug discount cards available under a program sponsored by the National Association of Counties (NACo). The cards may be used by all County residents, regardless of age, income, or existing health coverage, and at any participating retail pharmacy. A national network of more than 57,000 participating retail pharmacies also will honor the NACo prescription discount card, including most chain pharmacies and many independents. Cards can be picked up free of charge at many Broward County government facilities, including parks, libraries, transit facilities, the downtown Governmental Center and the County's four Family Success Centers. For more information, residents can call toll free 1-877/321-2652, or visit NACo's site at https://naco.advancerx.com or visit www.broward.org/humanservices and click on "NACo Rx Program". Unlike many other card programs, there is no enrollment cost or membership fee. The average discount is 20 percent. Cardholders are eligible for higher discounts on a three-month supply of some medications through mail service. Cardholders also can save on pet prescriptions at participating retail pharmacies. The NACo discount card program dovetails with Medicare Part D.
Miami-Dade Summer Jobs for Youth
The Summer Jobs program in Miami-Dade has been approved, funded, bid and has 5 contractors that will be administering the program. Please submit your request/application for students. The program pays the student. There are 950 slots this year in Miami-Dade. Don't miss out on this opportunity to shape the future. The primary recruitment for eligible youth will end on June 23, 2007. Providers are prepared to receive calls and inquiries. Please feel free to contact these agencies on your own or refer them to your clients or customers. North county: Adults Mankind Organization-305/445-8655; Community Coalition-305/887-4140; Private Industry Council-305/512-9012. South county: Richmond Perrine Optimist Club-305/233-9325; We Care of South Dade-305/247-9693.
FLORIDA AUDIO CONFERENCES AND WEBCASTS
STATEWIDE NOTICES
2007 Dwight Allison Fellows Awards Call for Nominations in Palm Beach and Martin Counties
The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties will honor five individuals with Dwight Allison Awards of $5,000. One award will be given to individuals for their work in each of five categories including Health Care. Each fellow will be honored at a luncheon at the Community Foundation on October 25, 2007. Recipients will be selfless individuals involved in community service, who go above and beyond the norm to make Palm Beach and Martin counties better places to live. Contact Rozanne Sonneborn, Program Officer, at 561/659-6800 or rsonneborn@cfpbmc.org with questions.
First Steps: A Guide for Parents of Young Children with Developmental Disabilities
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council’s most popular publication ever has been revised and updated with critical info for any parent or family member of a young child with a developmental disability. The publication is a reliable source of info for parents at the beginning of a new journey. They will learn a new vocabulary, discover advocacy skills they never knew they had, and meet new people who will become important in their life as friends, teachers, doctors, therapists and caregivers. This is a valuable tool to help guide parents in the initial steps of their journey as well as a resource they can visit again and again as they, their child and their families grow through the coming years together. The publication is available in both English and Spanish, as well as in a full color version and a black and white version – both are in Acrobat Reader format (PDF) and available in two sections – Chapters 1 to 5 and Chapters 6 to 10 – for your convenience downloading the publications. For printed or bound copies, call 800-580-7801, or 850-488-4180.
To download First Steps: A Guide for Parents of Young Children with Developmental Disabilities, click here.
Waving Cautionary Flags: Florida’s Experience with Medicaid Reform: Reactions from Doctors and Patients
The latest briefing paper on Florida's Medicaid reform programs shows one out of four physicians are declining to participate and those who remain are seeing fewer patients. View the briefing paper Or view a presentation of the research. (May 2007, Georgetown University Health Policy Institute, released by the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, The Community Foundation in Jacksonville and United Way of Northeast Florida)
Florida Health News, free online non-profit news service
The Florida Health Policy Center has announced the launch of an independent, free, non-profit news service: Florida Health News Inc. FHN will post health-related stories reported around the state, highlight the Florida impact of national stories, and track state health legislation. The news service also will feature original coverage of major health policy developments and a free Monday-through-Friday news service. You can visit the site and subscribe to the e-mail news service by clicking on the link: www.FloridaHealthNews.org. To send your comments, story tips and news of conferences and other events, or get more information, contact pat.curtis@floridahealthnews.org or 850/556-1668.
NATIONAL EVENTS & NOTICES
CONFERENCES AND EVENTS
ACHI’s 2008 Spring Training for Health Champions
Call for Session Proposals: June 5
Session Proposals Due: Aug 3
Conference Dates: March 5-7, 2008 Atlanta
Topic Tracks: Minimizing Chronic Disease: Strategies for Social Determinants; Maximizing Coverage: Proven Programs and Innovative Proposals; Harnessing Data: Health Assessments to Health Outcomes; Delivering Community Benefit: Management Tools and Community Strategies (co-sponsored by Catholic Health Association and VHA, Inc.); Breaking Silos: Public Health and Health System Partnerships
The Changing Face of Health Education and Health Promotion
June 7-9 Seattle
This national health education and health promotion conference is cosponsored by the Directors of Health Promotion and Education, the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Proposals are encouraged for concurrent sessions, pre or post-conference workshops, or poster presentations at the 2007 National Health Education Conference & SOPHE's 2007 Midyear Scientific Conference.
Crossroads II: Community-Based Collaborative Research for Social Justice
June 7-9 Hartford, CT
The Institute for Community Research (ICR) is convening its 2nd international conference on community-based collaborative research (CBCR), focusing on the promise, pitfalls, and "best practices" of CBCR to address disparities and inequities in the arenas of health, education, artistic and cultural representation, development, and the environment.
Creating a Culture of Wellness
Abstract Submission deadline: June 11
Nov 27-29 Washington, DC
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will host this 2007 National Prevention and Health Promotion Summit. This groundbreaking event will unite health professionals, business entrepreneurs, and government leaders at all levels who are dedicated to health promotion, chronic disease prevention, health preparedness, birth defects, disabilities, genomics, and wellness.
Big Vision for The Big Sky: Keys To Transformation For Improved Patient Care: Action Learning Lab
Registration deadline: June 15
June 28-29 Billings MT
Healthcare today must learn how to rapidly transform care delivery by adopting new technology and innovative ideas into daily practices with a focus on improved quality, safety, patient outcomes, and reduced cost. Billings Clinic, a unique Integrated Medical Foundation Model located in a community setting, is emerging as a national leader known for transforming multiple parts of its organization to provide better care. Billings is also known for utilizing information technology and innovative clinical effectiveness strategies to build a regional network that serves both urban and rural needs in four states.
Race and Class Inequalities in Health
June 19-22 Boston
Conceptual and data-based papers are requested for presentation at the annual Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER) meeting in 2007. There will be a contributed paper session on Race and Class Inequalities in Health and those working in this area are encouraged to submit abstracts of their work. Accepted abstracts will be distributed at the June meeting and will also be published in a Supplement issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.
2007 CSTE Annual Conference: Eliminating Health Disparities: Data to Action
June 24-28 Atlantic City, NJ
Abstract proposals are being sought by the Program Planning Committee for the 2007 Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists Annual Conference.
IPHU/PHM Short Course: Promoting Health for All
June 27-30 Atlanta
A short course for people interested in health and equality presented by the International People's Health University together with the People's Health Movement The International People's Health University (IPHU) presents four days of learning and discussion at the first-ever US Social Forum. Each day of the IPHU includes two hours of presentations by faculty followed by two hours of discussion and activities. Afternoons and evenings are free for exploring the hundreds of workshops and presentations at the US Social Forum and networking with other leaders and activists.
Health Equity and Environmental Public Health - From Local to Global
July 11-13 Columbus, OH
The NACCHO Annual 2007 Conference will be the year's largest gathering of local public health officials in the United States. This conference will provide a vital and central venue for local health officials and their public health partners to examine strategies, share ideas, and plan actions designed to address issues of health inequity and environmental public health from local to global perspectives.
Global Primary Health Care Strategies
July 21 - Aug 11
The Dept of Health Policy and Management of the Univ. of South Florida College of Public Health, with Jamaican Southern Regional Health Authority offers this graduate field course in Treasure Beach Jamaica. The course will cover strategies for providing access to health care services for disadvantaged rural populations as a part of its focus. The 3 credit course will be coupled with an hour of field practicum credit for a total of 4 semester hours of credit. Mornings will be spent in the field in the Black River Health District on projects that will feed into afternoon class sessions. The 4 credit program, including tuition, lodging, field travel, course materials, pickup and return to Montego Bay airport and 12 dinners will cost $3500 for both Florida and out of state participants. Airfare is extra.
Women of Color: Addressing Disparities, Affirming Resilience, and Developing Strategies for Success - Minority Women's Health Summit
August 23-26 Washington DC
7th Annual Diversity Challenge at Boston College: Race and Culture Intersections in Scientific Research and Mental Health Service Delivery for Children, Adolescents, and Families
October 2007
Presentations should focus on developments in research, professional practice, education or social justice initiatives as they pertain to promoting the mental health and redressing the mental health disparities for racial and ethnic minority children, adolescents, and families. Researchers, practitioners, educators, medical service providers, employee assistance personnel, government agencies, spiritual healers, and providers of community services are encouraged to submit proposals.
SOPHE 58th Annual Meeting - Partnerships to Achieve Health Equity
Oct 31–Nov 3 Alexandria, VA
Abstracts are now being accepted online for workshops, symposia, oral presentations, and posters for Society for Public Health Education's 58th Annual Meeting. SOPHE is pleased to be partnering with CDC's Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program and Eta Sigma Gamma for its 40th Annual Meeting. Sub-themes include health systems change; social determinants of health and transdisciplinary approaches to health education; health communications, health literacy and technology; cultural competence in bridging differences, and; evaluation and dissemination of evidence-based approaches. For more information, contact lvillejo@mdanderson.org
AUDIO AND WEB EVENTS
Elements of State Health Reform: Prevention and Wellness as Covered Benefits
June 7 12:30 pm ET
During this live, interactive webcast, a panel of health policy experts will explore state initiatives to incorporate prevention and wellness benefits into coverage programs, aiming to lower costs and promote healthier living with such strategies as wellness benefit packages and rewards for healthy
Big Vision to Practical Action: Community Engagement and Data Tools for Health Improvement Campaigns (ACHI)
June 21
Greg Vigdor, President of the Washington Health Foundation, will share how they created the largest civic engagement project for health in the history of Washington State. Also, view a demonstration of custom web tools that engage individuals in learning about and tracking their own personal weight, nutrition, water intake, sleep and miles logged. See how WHF's web tools educate and provide a personal space for people to record, better understand and change their health habits. And learn how your community can gain access at no charge to these tools for your own health improvement campaign. This session is enhanced with a live web interface for the demonstration. The discounted member registration is $50; non-member registration is $100.
Does Racism Make Us Sick?
June 25 2:00-4:00pm EDT
This 13th Annual Summer Public Health Research Videoconference on Minority Health will be broadcast with a live audience from the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History at UNC Chapel Hill and can also be viewed via the Internet (webcast).
Ascension Health’s 5 Steps to 100% Access Audio-conference
June 26 12:00 noon ET
The 5 Steps to 100% Access © model is a strategy for local areas to achieve 100 percent access to healthcare for a community's uninsured. The model is experienced-based, with an impressive record of results.
Community Benefit as a Business Strategy - co-sponsored by VHA (ACHI)
July 19 (1:00 pm CT, 2:00 pm ET)
Evaluating the Impact of Community-based Programs to Build Support (ACHI)
Aug 16 1:00 pm CT, 2:00 pm ET
2007 Innovation in Prevention Awards
Nomination deadline: June 29
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is now accepting nominations for the Awards, which seek to identify and celebrate organizations that have implemented innovative and creative chronic disease prevention and health promotion programs.
Rx CONSUMERS!
You may be eligible to get a payment from one of three prescription drug class action settlements.
Claims Deadlines are approaching fast!
Three nationwide class action lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies recently settled. Consumers & third party payors (insurance companies, union health & welfare funds) that paid for part or all of the cost of these drugs may be eligible to get payments from these settlements. For information on specific drugs, and a flyer to distribute, visit www.floridachain.org/class action.htm.
CAMPAIGNS & INITIATIVES
New Coalition, Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, Launched
Any serious policy proposal that aims to improve health care in America and control rising health care expenditures must address chronic disease. That’s why a broad group of patients, providers, community organizations, business and labor groups, and health policy experts has joined together to form the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) – a national, bi-partisan coalition committed to raising awareness of the policies and practices that save lives and reduce health costs through more effective prevention and management of chronic disease.
Health Care for America
The Economic Policy Institute has released a progressive Health Care for America plan, a proposal for guaranteed, affordable health care for all Americans building on Medicare and employment-based insurance. Institute for America has announced a nationwide effort to discuss and debate how to get good health care coverage for all Americans while controlling spiraling health care costs. The Institute is collaborating with the Medicare Rights Center and a network of citizen action groups to foster public forums and internet discussion groups designed to create a groundswell of public support for action on health care for all. Many of these groups were active in the successful grassroots movement to stop President Bush’s plan to privatize Social Others are working to pass innovative state health care coverage plans.
AARP Divided We Fall Campaign
AARP has launched a new campaign that seeks to focus the 2008 presidential election on health care and financial security issues.
The Medicare Private Health Plan Monitoring Project
Medicare Rights Center has launched this to capture the experiences of people who have signed up for a Medicare HMO, PPO, PFFS plan or any of the other types of Medicare Advantage plans. Are you getting the medical care you need? Has your doctor or hospital dropped out of your plan’s network? Is it costing you more than you expected? Were you misled into joining a plan? Are you locked-in to a plan that no longer meets your needs? Please tell your private health plan story so they can bring your story to Capitol Hill.
June
National Headache Awareness Week: June 3-9
National Headache Foundation
(888) NHF-5552
info@headaches.org www.headaches.org
Sun Safety Week: June 3-9
Sun Safety Alliance
(703) 837-4202 pschneider@sunsafetyalliance.org
www.sunsafetyalliance.org
National Cancer Survivors Day: June 3
National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation
(615) 794-3006 info@ncsdf.org www.ncsdf.org
National Men's Health Week: June 11-17
Men’s Health Network
(888) MEN-2-MEN (636-2636) Men's Healthline
info@menshealthweek.org www.menshealthweek.org
August
Cataract Awareness Month: August
American Academy of Ophthalmology
(415) 447-0213
eyemd@aao.org www.aao.org/eyemd
National Immunization Awareness Month: August
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(800) 232-2522
npiinfo@hmhb.gov www.cdc.gov/nip/
September
National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month: September
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(800) 729-6686
info@samhsa.gov www.recoverymonth.gov
National Cholesterol Education Month: September
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Health Information Center
(301) 592-8573
nhlbiinfo@nhlbi.nih.gov hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/cholmonth
National Sickle Cell Month: September
Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc.
(800) 421-8453
scdaa@sicklecelldisease.org www.sicklecelldisease.org
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: September
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
(888) OVARIAN (682-7426)
nocc@ovarian.org www.ovarian.org
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month: September
National Prostate Cancer Coalition
(888) 245-9455
info@fightprostatecancer.org www.fightprostatecancer.org
National Suicide Prevention Week: September
American Association of Suicidology
(202) 237-2280
info@suicidology.org www.suicidology.org
STOP A Suicide Today Day: September 10
Screening for Mental Health, Inc.
(781) 239-0071
AKeliher@MentalHealthScreening.org www.stopasuicide.org
National Farm Safety & Health Week: September 16-22
National Education Center for Agricultural Safety
(888) 844-6322
halversc@nicc.edu www.nsc.org/necas
Reye's Syndrome Awareness Week: September 16-22
National Reye's Syndrome Foundation
(800) 233-7393
nrsf@reyessyndrome.org www.reyessyndrome.org
Take a Loved One for a Check-up Day: September 18
Office of Minority Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(800) 444-6472
info@omhrc.gov www.healthgap.omhrc.gov
Hearing Aid Awareness Week: September 30 - October 6
International Hearing Society
(734) 522-7200
acmarkey@ihsinfo.org www.ihsinfo.org
October
"Talk About Prescriptions" Month: October
National Council on Patient Information and Education
(301) 656-8565
ncpie@ncpie.info www.talkaboutrx.org
Healthy Lung Month: October
American Lung Association
(800) LUNG-USA (586-4872)
info@lungusa.org www.lungusa.org
Let's Talk Month: October
Advocates for Youth
(202) 419-3420
tom@advocatesforyouth.org www.advocatesforyouth.org
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month: October
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Board of Sponsors
nbcamquestions@yahoo.com www.nbcam.org
National Family Sexuality Education Month/Let's Talk: October
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
(212) 541-7800
education@ppfa.org www.plannedparenthood.org
National Child Health Day: October
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Maternal and Child Health Bureau
(301) 443-2170
www.mchb.hrsa.gov
NDSD Mental Health Screening TM: October 11
Screening for Mental Health, Inc.
(781) 239-0071
ndsd@mentalhealthscreening.org www.mentalhealthscreening.org
National Mammography Day: October 19
American Cancer Society
(800) ACS-2345 www.cancer.org
Respiratory Care Week: October 11
American Association for Respiratory Care
(972) 243-2272
marketing@aarc.org www.aarc.org/resources/rc_week/
November
American Diabetes Month: November
American Diabetes Association
(800) DIABETES (342-2383)
askada@diabetes.org www.diabetes.org
Diabetic Eye Disease Month: November
Prevent Blindness America
(800) 331-2020
info@preventblindness.org www.preventblindness.org
Lung Cancer Awareness Month: November
Lung Cancer Alliance
(800) 298-2436
info@lungcanceralliance.org www.lungcanceralliance.org
National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month: November
Alzheimer's Association
(800) 272-3900
info@alz.org www.alz.org
National Family Caregivers Month: November
National Family Caregivers Association
(800) 896-3650
info@thefamilycaregiver.org www.thefamilycaregiver.org
National Healthy Skin Month: November
American Academy of Dermatology
(888) 462-DERM (3376)
mediarealtions@aad.org www.aad.org
National Hospice Palliative Care Month: November
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
(703) 837-1500
jradulovic@nhpco.org www.nhpco.org
Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month: November
(877) 272-6226
information@pancan.org www.pancan.org
Prematurity Awareness Month: November
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
(888) MODIMES (663-4637)
askus@marchofdimes.com www.marchofdimes.com
Prematurity Awareness Day: November 13
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
(888) MODIMES (663-4637)
askus@marchofdimes.com www.marchofdimes.com
Great American Smokeout: November 15
American Cancer Society
(800) ACS-2345
www.cancer.org
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Awareness Week: November 18-24
(888) 964-2001
iffgd@iffgd.org www.aboutgerd.org
December
World AIDS Day: December 1
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
unaids@unaids.org www.unaids.org/en/default.asp
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
June 4, 2007
New listings, in order of submission deadlines
2007 Dwight Allison Fellows Awards Call for Nominations in Palm Beach and Martin Counties
The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties will honor five individuals with Dwight Allison Awards of $5,000. One award will be given to individuals for their work in each of five categories including Health Care. Each fellow will be honored at a luncheon at the Community Foundation on October 25, 2007. Recipients will be selfless individuals involved in community service, who go above and beyond the norm to make Palm Beach and Martin counties better places to live. Contact Rozanne Sonneborn, Program Officer, at 561/659-6800 or rsonneborn@cfpbmc.org with questions.
The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties General Grantmaking
Deadline: June 15
The overriding goal of the General Grantmaking Program is to develop a shared vision of building a sense of community. The General Grantmaking Program provides support for projects that address diverse needs in six major areas, including health and human services. Requests that progress through the entire process are expected to be acted on by the Foundation's Board in Oct 2007. Grant support can be requested for up to $27,500 (up to $25,000 for the proposed project and up to an additional $2,500 for administrative costs). The Foundation generally considers providing grant support for a specific project for up to three years for all of the above programs; however, an organization must reapply for a second- and third-year grant. Visit the website for a more detailed description of these grant programs and for the forms needed to initiate the proposal submission process.
The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties Hans and Mary Stratmann Fund Intergenerational Grant Program
Deadline: June 15
The Hans and Mary Stratmann Fund Intergenerational Grant concentrates on projects that bring together youth and older adults in activities that are mutually beneficial. This grant program seeks to promote an age-integrated society in which children and older adults are considered essential and important. Requests that progress through the entire process are expected to be acted on by the Foundation's Board in Oct 2007. Grant support can be requested for up to $27,500 (up to $25,000 for the proposed project and up to an additional $2,500 for administrative costs). The Foundation generally considers providing grant support for a specific project for up to three years for all of the above programs; however, an organization must reapply for a second- and third-year grant. Visit the website for a more detailed description of these grant programs and for the forms needed to initiate the proposal submission process.
Medicaid Transformation Grants to States for the Adoption of Innovative Methods to Improve the Effectiveness and Efficiency in Providing Medical Assistance under Medicaid
Application deadline: June 15
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will make grants available from the appropriations authorized under section 6081 of the DRA for the costs of the creation and initial operation of technological innovations that are more aligned with today's Medicaid population and the health care environment.
Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility
Application deadline: June 22
The Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (MRHFP, referred to as the Flex Program) is an ideal mechanism for improving and sustaining access to appropriate healthcare services of high quality in rural America, supporting conversion of small rural hospitals to critical access status, helping develop rural health care networks, and strengthening and integrating rural Emergency Medical Services (EMS). It will facilitate the development of model community-based rural collaborative systems of care in all grantee states.
Aging and Disability Resource Center Initiative: Integrating Access to Long-Term Care
Application deadline: June 29
In FY 2003, the Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) formed a historic partnership to launch the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) demonstration grant initiative. AoA and CMS share a vision to have Resource Centers in every community serving as highly visible and trusted places where people of all ages can turn for information on the full range of long-term support options and a single point of entry to public long-term support programs and benefits.
Improve the Physical, Mental, Emotional & Spiritual Welfare of Children
Deadline: July 15
American Legion Child Welfare Foundation Grants to Help Children fund proposals that aim to contribute to the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual welfare of children through innovative organizations and/or their programs designed to benefit youth. Maximum Award: $70,000. Eligibility: 501(c)3 organizations.
Disruptive Innovations in Health and Health Care
Application deadline: July 18
A competition has been launched to find disruptive innovations that could dramatically reshape the health and health care marketplace. The online competition, "Disruptive Innovations in Health and Health Care-Solutions People Want," is sponsored by the Pioneer Portfolio of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and uses a unique open source competition model developed by Changemakers, an initiative of Ashoka that promotes enterprising solutions to social problems. The Competition expects to attract entrepreneurs from within and outside of the health care field whose ideas might lead to new services, tools and choices that consumers want-but are currently out of reach because of cost, complexity, or because the right idea hasn't surfaced.
NCMHD Community-Based Participatory Research Initiative in Reducing and Eliminating Health Disparities: Intervention Research Phase; RFA-MD-07-003
Letter of Intent deadline: July 31 (not required)
Application deadline: Aug 31
The goal of this NIH funding is to support disease intervention research in reducing and eliminating health disparities using community-based participatory research that is jointly conducted by health disparity communities and researchers.
Health & Society Scholars
Deadline: Oct 12
This Robert Wood Johnson Foundation program is designed to build the nation's capacity for research, leadership, and policy change to address the broad range of factors that affect health. Its goalis to improve health by training scholars to rigorously investigate the connections among genetic, behavioral, environmental, economic, and social determinants of health; and to develop, evaluate, and disseminate knowledge and interventions based on integration of these determinants. Scholars must have completed their doctoral training by the time of entry into the program and be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its territories. Up to 18 scholars will be selected for two-years with annual stipends of $83,000 in year one and $86,000 in year two.
Changes in Health Care Financing and Organization
Deadline: Rolling
Changes in Health Care Financing and Organization, a program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, supports policy analysis, research, evaluation, and demonstration projects that provide policy leaders timely information on health care policy and financing issues. The current Call for Proposals is intended to support projects that examine significant issues and interventions related to health care financing and organization and their effects on health care costs, quality, and access. An additional emphasis is on projects that explore or test major new ways to finance and organize health care that have the potential to improve access to more affordable and higher quality health services.
Continuing listings, in order of submission deadlines
Advancing Public Health Practice and Policy Solutions
Brief proposal deadline: June 6
One of the priorities of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is to improve public health in the US. This grant program provides support for projects that will discover, implement, evaluate, or disseminate practical and replicable solutions related to public health. Proposals will be accepted from state and local health departments, universities, boards of health, federally-recognized tribes, community-based organizations, and other nonprofit organizations. Applicants must address one of the following topics: public health laws, regulations or policies; public health advocacy or communications; or engaging hard-to-reach and/or high-risk populations. Ten to fifteen grants of up to $200,000 and five to ten grants of between $200,000 and $400,000 will be awarded.
Supporting Innovation in Health and Health Care
Deadline: July 10
The Local Initiative Funding Partners Program (LIFP) is a partnership program between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and local grant-makers to fund promising, original projects to significantly improve the health of vulnerable people in their communities.
Improving the Health of Immigrant and Refugee Communities
Deadline: July 13
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Vulnerable Populations Portfolio is accepting grant proposals for new community-based approaches to health and healthcare problems faced by immigrants and refugees in the US. The program seeks projects that address how health and social systems can accommodate the unique needs of different and changing immigrant and refugee populations; how communities can engage in helping immigrants and refugees maintain and improve their health; and what strategies can overcome barriers that immigrants and refugees face when trying to access health and social services. To be considered, proposals must address ways for improving the health of new residents by linking social factors – language skills, significant cultural differences, education, and poverty -- to health outcomes. The foundation is interested in projects that focus on helping new populations integrate into their communities, and is especially interested in providing support to organizations outside the formal network of healthcare providers such as grassroots organizations, faith-based organizations, and advocacy organizations. Applicants may be either public entities or nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations. Grants of up to $300,000 (maximum grant award) for up to three years will be available. The program will fund eight to ten projects for 2007.
CVS Health and Education Programs for Children with Disabilities
Deadline: June 15
CVS Caremark Charitable Trust was established with the goal of positively impacting the culturally diverse populations in communities where CVS stores are located. Among its funding priorities are health programs for children under 18 with disabilities, and that address awareness, accessibility, early intervention, and health and rehabilitative services.
Improve Children's Dental Health
Deadline: July 17
The American Dental Association Foundation has issued a Request for Proposals to help improve children's oral health. Established by the ADA Foundation to prevent childhood tooth decay, the Harris Fund annually provides grants of up to $5,000 to educational and preventative programs designed to improve children's dental health. In 2007, the program will award up to $300,000 in grants. Community-based not-for-profit organizations in the US or its territories are eligible to apply. Examples of qualified oral health promotions include dental health education conducted at schools, health fairs, and social agencies via mobile dental clinics or outreach programs; dental health education programs in conjunction with preventive programs such as fluoride and dental sealant application programs; oral health and nutrition education materials designed for parents and/or dental professionals; instruction in the proper use of oral-care products; and development of public-service announcements (PSAs) to increase awareness of and appreciation for proper childhood oral care.
WHO Foundation: Women Helping Others
Deadline: second Tues of Sept
The WHO Foundation: Women Helping Others supports grassroots nonprofit organizations in the United States and Puerto Rico serving the overlooked needs of women and children. Specific projects and programs addressing health, education, and social service needs are the Foundation's priority. To qualify for funding a nonprofit organization must have been incorporated for a minimum of three years prior to application. Preference is given to organizations with an operating budget of $3 million or less. Visit the website listed above for more information.
United Healthcare Children's Foundation Helps Underinsured Children
The Foundation offers support for children nationwide with assistance grants for medical services not fully covered by health insurance. Parents and caretakers can apply for up to $5,000.00 for health care services that will help improve their children's health and quality of life. Eligible children must be 16 or younger. Families must meet economic guidelines, live in the U.S. and be covered by a commercial health insurance plan. Examples of the types of medical services covered by include speech therapy; physical therapy and psychotherapy; medical equipment such as wheelchairs, braces, hearing aids and eye-glasses, and orthodontic and dental treatments. The Foundation has helped more than 375 families and provided nearly $1 million in financial assistance
Donors Forum of South Florida on-line database
The new online searchable Donors Forum of South Florida database has up-to-date information about funders in South Florida. This resource— which is also available in hard copy — presents continuously updated information about the giving interests and procedures of funders with a track record of investing in the South Florida area and working collaboratively with others. To order, email leot@donorsforumsf.org or call 305/371-7944.
Directory Of Health Policy Fellowships
This Kaiser directory contains new listings for undergraduates, graduate students and professionals searching for summer, school-year, or post-doctoral positions.
HEALTH CARE ADVOCACY RESOURCES
June 4, 2007
Florida CHAIN Website Resources
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 Listings: Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP
New Listings: Federal Budget
New: Health Insurance, Health Care Costs
New: Health Equity Issues
New: Other Health Issues
Florida Reports
Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP
Federal Budget/Health Care
Health Insurance, Health Costs, Health Care Reform
Health Equity Issues
Other Health Issues
FLORIDA CHAIN WEB SITE RESOURCE UPDATE
Florida CHAIN has advocacy tools available online.
Florida Medicaid Reform PowerPoint Presentation
Educate your colleagues and/or employees on Florida Medicaid Reform basics. with Florida CHAIN's 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.
ORGANZATIONS AND SERVICES
Newly posted resources are at the top of the list.
New Coalition, Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, Launched
Any serious policy proposal that aims to improve health care in America and control rising health care expenditures must address chronic disease. That’s why a broad group of patients, providers, community organizations, business and labor groups, and health policy experts has joined together to form the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) – a national, bi-partisan coalition committed to raising awareness of the policies and practices that save lives and reduce health costs through more effective prevention and management of chronic disease.
IPUT, Informed Parents United Together: Advocating for Universal Education and More!
This nonprofit agency works at an individual local network level to educate parents
and increase their advocacy for Inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in General Education environments. Check out the IEP Tool Box.
Together Rx Access
is a prescription savings program sponsored by 10 pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer. It provides savings on a wide range of prescription products at the pharmacy counter to eligible patients without prescription coverage. For more information, call 1-800-444-4106
The Partnership for Prescription Assistance
is a service sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry that offers a single point of access to more than 475 patient prescription assistance programs, including more than 180 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. For more information, call 1-888-4PPA-NOW
Medicare Rights Center (MRC) has an Rx Hotline for Nonprofit Professionals as one component of its comprehensive independent source of health care information and assistance for older adults and people with disabilities. It helps with understanding or explaining the Medicare prescription drug benefit to clients. Call RxHelp, a national hotline dedicated for nonprofit professionals serving the Medicare population, operated from 10 am to 6 pm EDT. Dial 877/RXHELP-0 (877/794-3570).Other services include: a telephone hotline; a database of case advice; education and training; public policy work; electronic newsletters; and communications with local and national media outlets. To help you understand your Medicare health plan choices, the Medicare Rights Center offers Medicare Interactive (MI), a web-based Medicare counseling tool.
Training Alliance for Communities of Color
This website is from National Health Policy Training Alliance for Communities of Color, a partnership between Families USA, the Joint Center Health Policy Institute (HPI), the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund, and the National Medical Association (NMA). Their mission is to empower community leaders, elected officials, and journalists from communities of color with pertinent information about health policy developments in order to: expand their capacity to address and catalyze action on crucial health and health care issues; bolster the skills of leaders from communities of color to play a more influential role in shaping and creating health policies that are of relevance to their respective communities; and engage diverse leaders in national health policy development.
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.
Southeast Florida Cancer Control Collaborative (SFCCC)
SFCCC works to reduce the cancer burden and cancer disparities in Southeast Florida, including Broward, Indian River, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties. The SFCCC includes representatives from more than 60 public and private organizations, agencies and health care providers, as well as cancer survivor and advocacy groups. SFCCC aims to increase awareness about cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment among populations at high risk. The Collaborative meets quarterly at various locations in the region.
MANUALS, GUIDES, TOOLKITS
Newly posted resources are at the top of the list.
Helping Pediatric Practices Implement Parental Depression Screening
A new online manual helps pediatric clinicians successfully screen parents for depression, discuss with them the impact depression can have on their children, and refer parents for counseling. Rates of major depression peak during women's childbearing years. Research has shown that maternal and paternal depression can affect parenting behaviors and, ultimately, harm children's health and development. Because pediatricians have frequent contact with parents, they have opportunities to screen for depression and intervene when necessary. Accumulating data about the adverse effect of parental depression on child health, development, and behavior have provided an impetus among pediatric practices for changing clinical care.
The Basics of Medicare and Medicaid
The primers help explain Medicaid and Medicare, including an overview, how they work, who they serve and how they are funded. The Medicare primer is new, and the Medicaid primer has been updated with the most current information (Kaiser Family Foundation, "The Basics of Medicare and Medicaid," (3/19/07, Kaiser Family Foundation)
Medicare Rights Center Part D appeals manual
This free, comprehensive, easy-to-understand guide is for advocates who help people with Medicare get the drugs they need.This 25-page manual offers a complete overview of the entire appeals process, real-life case examples from MRC's Client Services department, a glossary of important Part D appeals terms, a sample appeals protocol for advocates, and links to important resources and documents. All in consumer-friendly language
Five Guidelines for Developing Customer-Friendly Websites
This new Covering Kids & Families publication is intended to help state agencies and other organizations do a
better job of helping people find information on the Web about Medicaid, SCHIP and other government services by producing a customer-friendly site.
Amigos en Salud Online Disparities Toolkit
Pfizer has created a free toolkit to help community health centers reduce racial health disparities. The program, called Amigos en Salud/Friends in Health, involves training community health workers to be a bridge between minority communities and the healthcare system.
Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities: A Quality Improvement Initiative in Medicaid Managed Care ToolkitCenter for Health Care Strategies
The toolkit examines the experiences of a workgroup - comprising 10 Medicaid health plans and a state primary care case management association - that adopted strategies to identify and address racial and ethnic health disparities in birth outcomes and immunizations, asthma care and diabetes care. (January 2007)
New/Updated Resources Medicare Drug Plan Resources
In advance of the 2007 Medicare drug plans open enrollment period beginning Nov. 15, Kaiser Family Foundation has issued a series of new and updated resources based on ongoing research including consumer surveys:
Updated fact sheet providing state-specific data about Medicare drug plan options for 2007, including stand-alone drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans, and information on premiums, gap coverage, and availability to beneficiaries who qualify for full low-income assistance.
Updated Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit fact sheet, with a revised estimate that 4 million people will be affected by the coverage gap in 2006, as well as current enrollment and low-income subsidy participation and updated Medicare per capita drug spending.
Updated Talking About Medicare online consumer guide, reflecting 2007 benefit changes, to help people with Medicare and their families understand options and make decisions based on their personal situations; includes information about financial assistance for those with limited incomes, supplemental insurance options, and Medicare Advantage.
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
Families USA is offering Making Public Programs Work for Communities of Color: An Action Kit for Community Leaders, from its Minority Health Initiatives Department. The kit provides community leaders with information, tools, and resources to engage in health advocacy and improve the health and well being of their communities. Emphasizing the importance of public programs in reducing racial and ethnic health disparities, the kit contains: a summary and statistics of racial and ethnic health disparities and the role public programs can play in reducing them; an overview of Medicaid (and SCHIP) and Medicare, including their relationships to communities of color; fact sheets on improving health coverage for racial and ethnic minority groups; state and local case studies on health advocacy; advocacy tools including a powerpoint presentation, and lists of organizations and publications. Contact: 202/628-3030 or rpanares@familiesusa.org.
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
Elements of State Health Reform: Prevention and Wellness as Covered Benefits
June 7 12:30 pm ET
During this live, interactive webcast, a panel of health policy experts will explore state initiatives to incorporate prevention and wellness benefits into coverage programs, aiming to lower costs and promote healthier living with such strategies as wellness benefit packages and rewards for healthy
Big Vision to Practical Action: Community Engagement and Data Tools for Health Improvement Campaigns (ACHI)
June 21
Greg Vigdor, President of the Washington Health Foundation, will share how they created the largest civic engagement project for health in the history of Washington State. Also, view a demonstration of custom web tools that engage individuals in learning about and tracking their own personal weight, nutrition, water intake, sleep and miles logged. See how WHF's web tools educate and provide a personal space for people to record, better understand and change their health habits. And learn how your community can gain access at no charge to these tools for your own health improvement campaign. This session is enhanced with a live web interface for the demonstration. The discounted member registration is $50; non-member registration is $100.
Does Racism Make Us Sick?
June 25 2:00-4:00pm EDT
This 13th Annual Summer Public Health Research Videoconference on Minority Health will be broadcast with a live audience from the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History at UNC Chapel Hill and can also be viewed via the Internet (webcast).
Ascension Health’s 5 Steps to 100% Access Audio-conference
June 26 12:00 noon ET
The 5 Steps to 100% Access © model is a strategy for local areas to achieve 100 percent access to healthcare for a community's uninsured. The model is experienced-based, with an impressive record of results.
Community Benefit as a Business Strategy -co-sponsored by VHA (ACHI)
July 19 (1:00 pm CT, 2:00 pm ET)
Evaluating the Impact of Community-based Programs to Build Support (ACHI)
Aug 16 1:00 pm CT, 2:00 pm ET
A Future Vision for Well-Child Care: Re-thinking the "Who, What, and Where' of Preventive and Developmental Services
This is a new Commonwealth Fund E-Forum E-Forum offering synched slides and audio from a presentation by David A. Berman, M.D., of Stanford University. In the talk, identifying important new trends in well-child care, such as advanced access to care, and describing how pediatricians might redesign their office systems to better address preventive care needs. (5/10/07, Commonwealth Fund)
Health Status Disparities in the United States
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars’ Global Health Initiative has posted a webcast of their event held on April 4.
Learn how to get Durable Medical Equipment (DME) at home
Check out MRC’s latest educational web seminar, online now, for your convenience. Learn about when Medicare covers medical equipment to help you at home, and the best way to get it. Register online to view this audio-visual presentation.
Today's Topics In Health Disparities - Is the U.S. Making Progress in Reducing Disparities in Health Care Access and Quality?
This discussion provides an overview of key findings in the 2006 National Healthcare Disparities Report. Panelists focus on evidence showing the areas in which racial and ethnic disparities in health care have narrowed and discuss interventions that may explain some of the gains achieved. In Video Podcast Transcript (3/2/2007, Kaiser Family Foundation Broadcast Studio)
Media Programming
Web Sites, Web Features & Databases
Newest postings are listed at the top of State and National Web Resources sections below
State Web Resources
First Steps: A Guide for Parents of Young Children with Developmental Disabilities
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council’s most popular publication ever has been revised and updated with critical info for any parent or family member of a young child with a developmental disability. The publication is a reliable source of info for parents at the beginning of a new journey. They will learn a new vocabulary, discover advocacy skills they never knew they had, and meet new people who will become important in their life as friends, teachers, doctors, therapists and caregivers. This is a valuable tool to help guide parents in the initial steps of their journey as well as a resource they can visit again and again as they, their child and their families grow through the coming years together. The publication is available in both English and Spanish, as well as in a full color version and a black and white version – both are in Acrobat Reader format (PDF) and available in two sections – Chapters 1 to 5 and Chapters 6 to 10 – for your convenience downloading the publications.
Summary of health-related bills passed by the 2007 Florida Legislature
Florida Health News, free online non-profit news service
The Florida Health Policy Center has announced the launch of an independent, free, non-profit news service: Florida Health News Inc. FHN will post health-related stories reported around the state, highlight the Florida impact of national stories, and track state health legislation. The news service also will feature original coverage of major health policy developments and a free Monday-through-Friday news service. You can visit the site and subscribe to the e-mail news service by clicking on the link: www.FloridaHealthNews.org. To send your comments, story tips and news of conferences and other events, or get more information, contact pat.curtis@floridahealthnews.org or 850/556-1668.
Florida Health Insurance Coverage of Children 0-18 (2004-2005)
Kaiser Family Foundation has released information about this on-line resource.
Statehealthfacts.org Updates Data on Medicaid & SCHIP Coverage for Children
Statehealthfacts.org has updated information on eligibility levels for children in Medicaid and SCHIP and parents and pregnant women in Medicaid using survey data from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured (KCMU). The latest information on Medicaid and SCHIP enrollment practices for pregnant women and children and renewal practices is also now available. Overall SCHIP spending for FY 2006 and Federal SCHIP spending data from FY 1998 through FY 2006 are also now available. Recent additions to the site include new information on children's demographics and health insurance status from analysis of the Census Bureau's March 2005 and 2006 Current Population Surveys. These additions include the distribution of children by race/ethnicity, the distribution of children by citizenship status, and health insurance coverage among low-income children living near poverty.
Florida Association of Community Health Centers (FACHC)
The following resources have recently been added to the FACHC web site:
Short Assessment of Health Literacy for Spanish-speaking Adults (SAHLSA-50) A new health literacy test than can be used to screen for low health literacy among Spanish speakers.
Health Coverage and Access to Care for Hispanics in "New Growth Communities" and "Major Hispanic Centers" A 2006 Report from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured
Spanish Language Mental Health Manual for Health Promoters Developed by the California- Mexico Bi-National Health Initiative.
Florida Health Care Website for Consumers
A new Web site for Florida health-care consumers officially launches today, courtesy of the Florida Hospital Association. The site offers links to information on doctors, hospitals and health-care plans as well as checklists to help consumers ask the right questions. It is intended largely as a portal to other, established sites. There are links to sites for Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, among others.
"2006 Kids Count” Report
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)
State of Florida Health Care Consumer Websites
The recently expanded FloridaCompareCare.gov aims to improve care and reduce costs by giving citizens the tools to compare outcomes and prices between health care providers and medical services. Through this website one can see data on certain conditions and procedures related to quality of care, pricing and performance at the state’s hospitals and ambulatory (outpatient) surgery centers. In 2005, Florida became the first state to publicly report infection and mortality rates in each hospital. In July 2006, Florida became the first state to publicly report separate pediatric quality of care data. In addition, adult data can now be broken out specific to ages 65 and over. Additional new breakdowns include types of facilities.
FloridaHealthStat.com provides health care information to assist consumers, health care professionals, and researchers in making well-informed health care decisions and in researching the status of health care in Florida. MyFloridaRx.com provides consumers with the retail prices of the most commonly used prescribed drugs by pharmacy across Florida. For questions or comments regarding any of Florida’s consumer websites, contact 850/922-7036.
Medicaid Applications Online 24/7 and in Neighborhoods
Local partners can direct families to their area sites or online to apply for Medicaid and other benefits. The Web Application is generally preferable as the data makes it into the Florida system more quickly and there is a reduced chance of data entry errors.
Florida KidCare Applications can be completed online
Website Offers Free 24 Hour Health Information to Floridians to address concerns and inquiries
The Florida Department of Health (DOH) Secretary encourages health care consumers to visit www.FLHealthSource.com whenever they need information about a licensed health care professional. DOH’s Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) maintains FLHealthSource.com. The site provides health care consumers with a host of information, including license status, office address, and disciplinary information for all health care professionals licensed in Florida. The site also provides additional information for the five profiled professions –medical doctors, osteopathic physicians, chiropractic physicians, podiatric physicians and advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs).
Statehealthfacts.org provides free, up-to-date, and easy-to-use health data on all 50 states, covering more than 500 health topics.
Florida Progressive Information Network (FLPIN)
offers a nonpartisan communication system designed to link progressive organizers with progressive activists. Individuals may sign up free of charge to receive alerts on a variety of progressive issues from other organizations participating in the Network. In order to make FLPIN work, it must be used on a regular basis. The more information put in, the more valuable it is as a tool. Link FLPIN to organization websites. A training manual is at www.flpin.net/alert.pdf. For more information or assistance, contact jen@floridahumanist.org
National Web Resources
National Cancer Institute Spanish Web Site
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has launched a new Web site, cancer.gov en español tailored to the needs of the U.S. Hispanic/Latino community. The Web site is completely in Spanish and is one of the latest tools developed by the NCI in its efforts to address cancer health disparities. It is intended to meet the needs of Hispanic/Latino cancer patients, their families and health care providers, who are either Hispanic/Latino or serve such patients.
Consumer Health Information for You and Your Family
Keeping up with the latest consumer health information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just got easier. FDA has a new Web page to provides comprehensive and timely consumer information. A free monthly e-newsletter, FDA Consumer Health Information will alert consumers to content contained on the page.
Facing Race 2007
The Applied Research Center (ARC) and COLORLINES Magazine have made various resources from their conference available on the ARC Web site, the ARC blog, and on the Facing Race wiki
US Racial Disparities Update
Kaiser Family Foundation issued a new data update that shows the percentage of whites, African Americans, and Hispanics in all 50 states and the District of Columbia that are uninsured, enrolled in Medicaid, and living in poverty. The data also provide a quick glance at disparities in rates of infant mortality, diabetes-related mortality, and AIDS cases between these racial and ethnic groups.
Faith Based Efforts and Resources
Families USA has posted a new page on the Minority Health Initiatives section of the Web
site with links to various to encourage faith leaders to become involved in health care advocacy.
Factline: Tracking Health in Underserved Communities
This website is sponsored by the National Library of Medicine and Meharry Medical College that highlights health disparities in underserved communities. Factline presents information about health disparities faced by women, members of minority groups, the elderly and others. The focus of the website is two-fold: presenting significant findings from scholarly research in public health on the subject of health disparities and providing bibliographic references to the literature in which these findings are established. The framework for the research is Healthy People 2010.
New Database for Medical Language Access
The Medical Leadership Council on Cultural Proficiency has unveiled a first-of-its-kind database designed to assist physicians and others in providing improved language access and culturally competent health care. With more than 350 initial entries, the searchable, internet-based, free-to-the-public database includes contact information for interpreters, nonprofit organizations, hospitals, public health departments and others that provide health information and services in languages other than English. Users, including physicians, nurses, social service workers, patients and the general public, can search for listings by county, by language, or by type of service.
Fact Sheets on Medicare, Long-Term Care Spending; Medicaid; Long-Term Spending Data
Fact sheets, Georgetown University Long-Term Care Financing Project: The Georgetown University Long-Term Care Financing Project has released two new fact sheets on Medicare and long-term care and Medicaid policy that aims to protect the incomes and resources of spouses of nursing home residents who are trying to enroll in Medicaid. The project also has updated its 2005 national long-term care spending estimates. (February 2007, Georgetown University Long-Term Care Financing Project)
2007 Federal Poverty Guidelines Now Available
The Southern Institute on Children and Families has made available the 2007 Federal Poverty Guidelines. Compiled from the 2007 HHS Poverty Guidelines, these guidelines provide income levels for families at 50%, 100%, 125%, 133%, 150%, 185% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Information is provided for the continental United States and separately for Alaska and Hawaii.
Women's Health Insurance Coverage Fact Sheet
As the cost of health insurance continues to rise, women in particular may face difficult challenges affording coverage because they are disproportionately low-income and can have poorer access to employer-based insurance. This fact sheet describes the major sources of health insurance coverage for women ages 18-64, including employer-sponsored insurance and Medicaid. It provides information on the more than 17 million women who are uninsured and summarizes the major policy challenges facing women in the health insurance sector. (Feb 2007, Kaiser Family Foundation)
Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health
The Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative (CAHMI) presents the Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health. This resource is a no-cost, easy-to-use website that puts national, state, and regional survey findings right at your fingertips. You'll find: interactive data search tools; personalized technical help by email or telephone and information and examples to help you use data more effectively.
Metropolitan Quality of Life Data
Diversitydata.org allows visitors to explore how metropolitan areas throughout the U.S. perform on a diverse range of social measures via a dataset of socioeconomic indicators in the form of tables, thematic maps, and customizable reports. The data cover various racial/ethnic, income and nativity groups. Multiple data sources have been used to show data for numerous domains such as housing opportunities, economic opportunities, residential integration, and health.
New Online Medical Dictionary Reference Tool
MediLexicon International Limited, corporate owners of Medical News Today, was pleased to announce on Nov. 11 the launch of a new medical dictionary tool. This dictionary search is a joint collaboration between MediLexicon and Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, who have provided the data.
Online Interactive Medicare Advantage Comparison Tools
Before making the switch to Medicare Advantage, beneficiaries can compare plans to determine their needs. Then they can review each plan using the “Guidelines for Considering Medicare Advantage” from the Center for Medicare Advocacy. More information about Medicare Advantage managed care plans is online at Medicare.gov. More recent FAQs on private fee-for-service plans is available through CMS.
Online Parent SCHIP Information
To assist in the growing problem of America's uninsured children, medical insurance hub HealthInsuranceFinders has added information to assist parents in finding and understanding all of their health insurance options: a State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) section with an overview of State Children Health Insurance Programs for each state.
State By State National Survey of Children’s Health Data Resource Center Dataset
The DRC Child Health Indicators version of the 2003 NSCH Dataset is now available. Added to the data sets are the 65 Child Health Indicators for the DRC online data query and the National Chartbook. Also included are Healthy People 2010 relevant indicators and key socio-demographic variables.
Comprehensive source of Hispanic data
Recent release from the Census Bureau with data and linkage to sources covering many areas.
Rural Communities Statistics and Information
The Rural Assistance Center has added to its Web site a new resource providing continuously updated demographics and statistics, documents and resources and contacts for all 50 states. RAC said the federally funded "State Resources" addition is designed to help health care providers and human services representatives in rural communities with activities such as locating and competing for funding opportunities and networking.
American Community Census Data Online
The new poverty, income, and health insurance data from the U.S. Census Bureau released on August 29, 2006 is available online. This year, it has more state and local data than in previous annual surveys.
State Level Data on Health Coverage & the Uninsured
Kaiser Family Foundation's interactive web tool includes the health insurance status of the state’s population (those with various types of health coverage or who are uninsured), and demographic information (such as income, race/ethnicity, age, gender) for those who are uninsured, have employer-based insurance, or Medicaid. Information about Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries can be found in those respective categories. Find data from other categories on the website that relate to Health Coverage & Uninsured.
The Johns Hopkins INFO Project's OneSource Database
This provides one-stop access to over 360,000 resources and six separate databases with a single mouse click or search term. OneSource users can quickly search for reports, articles, documents, posters and pamphlets, photos, web sites, Q&As and news articles through a single interface. An enhanced search and browse capability makes finding global family planning, reproductive health and population information faster and more simple than ever. Enter your terms in the search box. Select the resource type you want to look for, or search all six databases at once, and click Search.
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.
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
Collateral Damage: Bad Medicine in Tennessee
In 2005, when Governor Phil Bredesen of Tennessee announced he would reform his state’s Medicaid program,
people took him at his word. Little did they know that Bredesen’s idea of reform meant cutting 190,000 people off the program almost overnight. The size and speed of the cuts were unprecedented; the suffering they caused was immeasurable. The sickest, neediest people were denied medical care while the nation sat by and watched, and the Governor boasted to other heads of states about his success reigning in the rising cost of health care. This intense, moving film exposes the injustice that occurred in Tennessee and its implications for Medicaid cuts nationwide. In the richest nation in the world, where people die every day because they lack access to health care, the disparities revealed in this film are chilling.
Covering Kids & Families Video
Parents' Action for Children, a 2006 national supporter, has created a flash animation video in partnership with Covering Kids & Families that promotes the availability of low-cost and free health care coverage for eligible families. Parents’ Action for Children plans to promote the video to their membership of more than 35,000 parents across the country who are working to improve the lives of children and families in their communities. View the video today! For more information, contact 202/338-7227 or coveringkidsandfamilies@gmmb.com
PERIODICALS AND BOOKS
The Healthy Heart Handbook for Women '07 - 20th Anniversary Edition
This 122-page, full-color edition of the Healthy Heart Handbook for Women provides the most recent information on women's heart disease and practical suggestions for reducing risk. (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Preterm Birth: Causes, Consequences, and Prevention
The increasing prevalence of preterm birth in the United States is a complex public health problem that requires multifaceted solutions. Preterm birth is a cluster of problems with a set of overlapping factors of influence...Many of these factors co-occur, particularly in those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged or who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups. (online)
Wellness Program Management Yearbook, Third Edition
The key ingredients for successful programs, comparative statistics, best practices in workplace wellness programs, how you can motivate your employees, "real-world" management methods, new and emerging trends in health promotion and disease prevention and what other companies are doing.
Primer to Action: Social Determinants of Health
This is a resource for health professionals, lay workers, volunteers and activists to explore how the social determinants impact chronic disease. It is intended to help you navigate through barriers in your organization or group and offer concrete 'primers' to get you going with action to increase access to the social determinants for yourself, your family, and those with whom you work. It focuses on six key determinants of health: income, education, employment, housing, food and inclusion. (Ontario Prevention Clearinghouse, March 2007, 36-pg pdf)
Managed Medicare and Medicaid Factbook: 2007
The all-new, completely updated Factbook features expanded coverage of the overhauled Medicare program, including new payment rates for MA plans and information on implementation of new programs, including comprehensive information on Medicare Part D, with a listing of PDPs and comparison of their benefit structures. This edition also includes updated information on the plans, enrollment data, information on new special needs plans and demonstration projects, and updated payment and capitation rates.
FDA Consumer Health Information
Keeping up with the latest consumer health information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just got easier. FDA has a new free monthly e-newsletter to alert consumers to content contained on its new Web page Consumer Health Information for You and Your Family
Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
Special issue: The Public Health Implications of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma (Volume 18, Number 2, May 2007)
Sick: The Untold Story of America's Health Care Crisis--and the People Who Pay the Price
Cohn, a senior editor at The New Republic, researched and wrote the book as part of his 2002 Kaiser Media Fellowship. The book weaves a series of originally reported narrative stories with a history of health insurance and a close-up look at the business of medicine in America. It ends by examining proposals for reform and comparing America’s health care system to some systems abroad. Susan Dentzer, senior health correspondent at the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, will moderate a discussion of the issues raised in the book with Cohn, and Michael Cannon, director of Health Policy Studies at the Cato Institute.
Pocket Guide on Cultural Competence
The Intercultural Cancer Council recently unveiled the latest 121-page edition of the “Pocket Guide,” Cultural Competence in Cancer Care: A Health Care Professional’s Passport, giving health care professionals a systematic approach for interacting with multicultural and economically disadvantaged cancer patients and their families. It highlights the influences of culture, geography, socioeconomic status and geography on the health behaviors of the rural poor and the five largest racial/ethnic groups in the U.S.: African Americans, Latinos/Hispanics, American Indians and Alaskan Natives, Asians and Asian Americans, and Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Island Populations. To improve the cultural competency of physicians and other health professionals, the guide provides a primer on the culturally appropriate behaviors and attitudes toward cancer prevention and control that differ by multicultural and socio-economic status of patients. This includes common verbal and nonverbal communications, such as shaking hands, looking the patient in the eye, how far to sit or stand from the patient and the use of touch. The guide can be purchased for $6.00 per copy plus shipping charges by contacting 1.877.243.6642 or downloading the order form.
REPORTS AND STUDIES
New Listings
New Listings: Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP
New Resources on Children and Family Health Coverage
The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) reauthorization debate is focusing on the role of Medicaid and SCHIP in covering uninsured children, while a renewed interest by states in expanding coverage to the rest of their uninsured residents is fueling even broader discussion. To focus on these key health policy issues, the Kaiser Family Foundation's Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured (KCMU) has released several new resources. The new materials include: State Coverage Initiatives for Children (Map and State by State Descriptions); Enrolling Children in Medicaid and SCHIP: Insights From Focus Groups With Low-Income Parents; E-Health Snapshot: Harnessing Technology To Improve Medicaid and SCHIP Enrollment and Rentention Practices; SCHIP Turns 10: An Update on Enrollment and the Outlook on Reauthorization From the Program's Directors; Impacts of Medicaid and SCHIP on Low-Income Children's Health; Family Coverage Under SCHIP Waivers; Health Insurance Coverage and Access to Care for Low-Income Non-Citizen Children; Insurance Coverage of Children by Race/Ethnicity and Poverty Level, 2005: National and State Level Estimates; Webcast of Event (5/16/06, KFF)
Rural Children Increasingly Rely on Medicaid and State Child Health Insurance Programs for Medical Care
Despite a recent flurry of reports on health insurance coverage for children, virtually none of them has examined the unique situation of rural families where one-fifth of all of our nation’s poor children live...Enrollment in SCHIP and Medicaid is 6 percentage points higher for rural children than for urban children. Given the deteriorating job situation in many parts of rural America, the availability of public-sector health insurance for the families of low-income workers is even more important in rural areas[.] (Spring 2007, Carsey Institute)
Covering Kids & Families: Promising practices from the nation’s single largest effort to insure eligible children and adults through public health coverage.
The Covering Kids & Families (CKF) National Program Office at the Southern Institute on Children and Families is pleased to release a report featuring CKF statewide and local coalition promising practices related to the CKF strategies of outreach, simplification and coordination, and includes process improvement examples from CKF project participation in the Southern Institute’s Eligibility Process Improvement Collaboratives. (April 2007, CKF)
Improving the Medicare Part D Program for the Most Vulnerable Beneficiaries
Prescription drug coverage became available under Medicare for the first time in 2006 under Medicare Part D—the most significant change in government health care programs in 40 years. While it offers the potential for improved access to needed medications for millions of Americans, Part D has had both successes and challenges. With the program now in its second year, researchers have the opportunity to learn from experiences and strengthen the program, particularly as it affects the frailest, sickest, and most vulnerable beneficiaries. Although 13.2 million beneficiaries are eligible for a low-income subsidy to help pay for premiums and medication copayments, 3.3 million of this group are not enrolled in Part D and not receiving the subsidy. This report discusses some of the challenges vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries face in using Part D and makes specific recommendations, like using simpler, more standard procedures and ensuring that needed counseling support is provided. (5/24/07, Commonwealth Fund)
Chartbook of Medicare Part D Usage
The Medicare Part D drug benefit transition process has been hindered by a lack of information on how Medicare beneficiaries use drugs and what constitutes effective and efficient utilization. This chartbook was prepared, using from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, to fill this information gap and establish a baseline comparison. It examines patterns of prescription drug utilization among Medicare beneficiaries for beneficiaries with a selected set of conditions, including hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, and depression, prior to Part D. (5/9/07, University of Maryland)
Medicare Advantage In 2006-2007: What Congress Intended?
As congressional scrutiny of Medicare private fee-for-service plans increases, a new study suggests the plans are not worth the additional costs to beneficiaries and the Medicare program. (5/15/07, Commonwealth Fund)
New Listings: Federal Budget
New Listings: Health Insurance, Health Costs
Health Insurance Status
Statehealthfacts.org has updated more than 50 health coverage topics to reflect a recent correction made by the U.S. Census Bureau to the March 2005 and 2006 Current Population Surveys. Health coverage data for key populations - the nonelderly, adults, children, and people living in poverty – have all been updated.(Kaiser Family Foundation)
New Resources on Children and Family Health Coverage
The State Children’s Health Insurance Program reauthorization debate is focusing on the role of Medicaid and SCHIP in covering uninsured children, while a renewed interest by states in expanding coverage to the rest of their uninsured residents is fueling even broader discussion. Several new resources were released in conjunction with the Kaiser Family Foundation's Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured briefing on state coverage trends and initiatives. (May 2007, Kaiser Family Foundation)
A Perfect Opportunity for Health Reform
A confluence of forces provides an almost perfect opportunity for health reform this year. Not the perfect reform, perhaps, but one that would significantly improve a sadly flagging system. The only obstacle—a big one—is politics. (5/24/07, Urban Institute)
Employees Worried Over Health Care Costs
Troubled by escalating health care costs, more Americans are making the link between good heath and lower medical bills, according to a new survey from HR consulting firm Watson Wyatt. For instance, 61% of workers realized that staying healthy could reduce their deductibles and co-payments, and about 60% took steps to improve their health. (5/29/07, Benefit News)
How Employers Can Help Create a High Performance Health System
As the largest collective purchasers of health insurance, employers can and should drive the fundamental health system reform our country needs—and that Americans want. And the good news is that employers want to play this role. In launching the Coalition to Advance Health Care Reform a few weeks ago, the Safeway CEO Steve Burd said, "As major employers, we are engaging in one of the most crucial domestic policy debates of our time—fixing our nation's health care crisis, reducing out of control costs and ensuring every American has affordable health care." (5/21/07, Commonwealth Fund)
Leading by Example: Leading Practices for Employee Health Management
This publication details successful approaches by CEOs of 18 companies—from giants like Caterpillar and Intel Corporation, to firms like Buffalo Supply, a medical equipment supplier in Colorado with fewer than two dozen employees—on programs and measures to improve employee health and productivity. “These companies demonstrate a primary shift in focus from the cost of health care to the total value of health,” said Partnership for Prevention President John M. Clymer, who acknowledged the support of U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue and Gerald L. Shaheen, Group President at Caterpillar Inc. and Chairman of the Board of Directors at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. (U.S. Chamber of Commerce)
U.S. Adults Would Support a Measure for Employers to Insure all Employees
Half of all U.S. adults with health insurance coverage worry that their expenses will be so high that they won’t be able to afford it. Just as many worry that their coverage will be drastically reduced or eliminated because of costs; one in five adults worries a great deal about these issues. Three in four U.S. adults support a variety of initiatives to expand insurance coverage. (5/8/07, Wall Street Journal/Harris Interactive Health-Care Poll)
From ‘Soak the Rich’ to ‘Soak the Poor’: Recent Trends in Hospital Pricing
The gaps between rates charged to self-pay patients and those charged to other payers are much wider than they were in the mid-1980s, and they make it increasingly more difficult for some patients, especially the uninsured, to pay their hospital bills. (May 2007, Health Affairs)
Ethicist: Health Care System is 'a Mess'
The U.S. health care system is "a dysfunctional mess" and politicians who insist otherwise look ignorant, according to a medical journal essay by a prominent ethicist at the National Institutes of Health. "If a politician declares that the United States has the best health care system in the world today, he or she looks clueless rather than patriotic or authoritative," Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel wrote in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association. (May 2007, JAMA)
Milliman Medical Index
The Milliman Medical Index 2007 (MMI) measures average medical spending for a typical U.S. family of four covered by an employer-sponsored health insurance program...According to the MMI, average total medical spending for our typical family of four increased by 8.4% from 2006 to 2007. The total 2007 medical cost for a typical American family of four is $14,500. As medical costs have increased, employees have paid a correspondingly higher amount through out-of-pocket cost sharing. [20pg pdf] (May 2007)
New Listings: Health Equity Issues
From Awareness to Action: Stakeholders’ Strategies to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Disparities
presents the results of a multi-year study. It describes steps taken by national and community stakeholders, as reported in individual consultations, to act on awareness of the existence of health gaps between minorities and the total population. Stakeholders have taken action to address racial/ethnic health disparities in a variety of ways, including use of institutional leverage; policy advocacy; research and programs; partnership/coalition-building; information dissemination; and community engagement and empowerment. SHIRE also examined external and internal factors that contributed to organizational decisions and assessed the value of frequent workshops and conferences focused on health disparities. Recommendations include the need to make the “business case” for eliminating health disparities; to continue and accelerate efforts to collect racial, ethnic, and primary language data by both public and private entities; and to consider new strategies to bring about universal health care as a prerequisite for the attainment of health parity and equity. (March 22, 2007, SHIRE, funded by Commonwealth Fund)
Issue Brief: Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities
Efforts to reduce the disturbing levels of racial and ethnic disparities in health and health care in the United States will continue to fall short unless the complex interplay of social, physical, and organizational influences is better understood and addressed through collaborative, interdisciplinary actions. Complex factors operating at the levels of individuals, interpersonal networks, organizations, communities, and society influence disparities in health and health care. Both race and socioeconomic status play important roles. Action in four major arenas is likely to have the most impact: 1) Individual socioeconomic circumstances; 2) Physical and cultural community environment; 3) Personal management of health; 4) Health care financing and delivery. The four arenas for policy action are a useful starting point, but disparities will not be eliminated by addressing these arenas one at a time. Instead, solutions will require multidisciplinary actors and cross-sector collaboration. (Kaiser Permanente Institute for Health Policy)
Resident Physicians' Preparedness to Provide Cross-Cultural Care: Implications for Clinical Care and Medical Education Policy
In a national study of resident physicians in their final year of training, few residents reported feeling unprepared in a general sense to care for patients from racial and ethnic minorities and from diverse cultures. Yet far more felt unprepared to care for patients with specific cultural characteristics, including those who mistrust the U.S. health care system or who have health beliefs or practices at odds with western medicine. This gap in perceived levels of preparedness indicates shortcomings in graduate medical education that need to be addressed. Recommended reforms include integration of cross-cultural training into curricula (both during and after medical school) in accordance with standard principles, the appropriate training of faculty (to ensure useful instruction, as well as mentors and role models), and the mandatory and formal evaluation of residents' cross-cultural communication skills. (May 2007, Commonwealth Fund)
Bad Health Care, Deficient Welfare Keep Americans Short
For decades, it has been clear that average European heights have been increasing while those on the other side of the Atlantic have not. But why? A new study says it might have to do with health care and the social net. (5/22/07, Des Spiegel)
News Stories on Health Care Disparities Often Put Burden on Patient
Newspapers are increasing their coverage of racial differences in health care, but the bottom line on who bears the responsibility for health disparities varies widely from story to story, according to a recent study. Mixed messages and an emphasis on patients' roles rather than health care system shortcomings could affect public support of federal health care programs, the authors suggest. (5/20/07, Medical News Today)
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: An International Update on the Comparative Performance of American Health Care
Despite having the most costly health system in the world, the United States consistently underperforms on most dimensions of performance, relative to other countries. This report—an update to two earlier editions—includes data from surveys of patients, as well as information from primary care physicians about their medical practices and views of their countries' health systems. The U.S. health care system ranks last or next-to-last when compared with five other nations surveyed. (5/15/07, Commonwealth Fund)
National Health Law Program (NHeLP) Resources
Language access continues to be a significant barrier to health care for individuals with limited English proficiency. Over 23 million individuals—almost 9 percent of the population—speak English less than “very well” and likely need assistance communicating in the health care arena. In an attempt to provide tools for health care providers and others, NHeLP has released a series of reports outlining promising practices for providing language services in health care settings. In mid-April, the National Health Law Program and the American College of Physicians released Language Services for Patients with Limited English Proficiency: Results of a National Survey of Internal Medicine Physicians. Other resources include Providing Language Services in State and Local Health-Related Benefits Offices: Examples from the Field, which outlines how state and local benefit offices can provide language services and Language Services Resource Guide for Healthcare Providers which offers information on how to provide language services including translator agencies, training programs, and health care symbols.
New Listings: Other Health Issues
Childbirth-Related Hospitalizations among Adolescent Girls, 2004
Although the birth rate among adolescent girls has been steadily declining over the last decade, the United States continues to have the highest teen pregnancy and birth rates in the industrialized world. In 2004, childbearing among adolescent girls in the US cost taxpayers an estimated $9.1 billion. (May 2007, AHRQ Statistical Brief)
Florida Reports
Waving Cautionary Flags: Florida’s Experience with Medicaid Reform: Reactions from Doctors and Patients
The latest briefing paper on Florida's Medicaid reform programs shows one out of four physicians are declining to participate and those who remain are seeing fewer patients. View the briefing paper Or view a presentation of the research. (May 2007, Georgetown University Health Policy Institute, released by the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, The Community Foundation in Jacksonville and United Way of Northeast Florida)
Florida Children’s Action Agenda 2007/2008 Available Online
Florida state Senators Nan Rich and Durell Peaden and Representatives Loranne Ausley and J.C. Planas have released the final recommendations of the 2006 Florida Children’s Summit. The Summit participants learned a lot, and the next Summit in Fall 2008 will reflect that. In 2008 they will spend substantially more time in workshops hashing out recommendations and will secure experienced workshop facilitators who are knowledgeable about the topics they are facilitating. Also, they will institute a process to ensure that when leaving the 2008 Summit - or very shortly thereafter - all will know the Summit recommendations.
Miami-Dade and Monroe County 2006 Health Profiles
Health Council of South Florida has released downloadable Health Profiles that provide answers to 10 commonly asked questions about county demographics, health needs, and resources.
Florida Health Insurance Coverage of Children 0-18 (2004-2005)
Kaiser Family Foundation has released information about this on-line resource.
Medicaid Changes: What will they mean for Broward and Duval counties, and beyond?
This document is Briefing #1 by researchers at Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute engaged in a two-year evaluation of the Medicaid reform pilot counties for both Florida counties. The evaluation is assessing how these changes affect Medicaid beneficiaries’ ability to access needed care as well as the impact on community health providers.(September 2006, Georgetown University Health Policy Institute)
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.
Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP
Children’s Health Coverage: States Moving Forward
This new report confirms that state governments are taking strong steps to strengthen and expand children’s health coverage, but quick supportive action by Congress is critical to the success of these efforts. It highlights actions in 29 states and the District of Columbia. (May 2007, Georgetown Center for Children and Families, with Pico Network)
Curbing Medicare Overpayments To Private Insurers Could Benefit Minorities And Help Expand Children's Health Coverage
The budget resolutions approved by both the House and the Senate include up to $50 billion for expanded Medicaid and SCHIP coverage for millions of uninsured low-income children, provided these costs are offset. A proposal under consideration in Congress would help finance this expansion of children’s coverage by reducing the substantial overpayments to private health insurance companies that participate in Medicare. To defend these overpayments, private insurers claim that low-income and minority beneficiaries rely disproportionately on them for supplemental coverage. In fact, such beneficiaries are far more likely to get supplemental coverage through Medicaid. Moreover, at least half of the overpayments go to industry profits and expenses, not benefits. The overpayments also harm the 35 million people in regular Medicare by raising their premiums and weakening the program’s long-term finances. Reducing the overpayments and reinvesting the savings in better health care for low- and moderate-income seniors, people with disabilities, and children would produce a significant gain in health coverage for minorities as well as low-income Americans. (5/10/07, Center for Budget and Policy Priorities)
CBO Report Says SCHIP Moved Children from Private to Government Insurance
Enacted as title XXI of the Social Security Act in 1997, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) provides health insurance coverage for uninsured children living in families with income that is modest but too high for them to be eligible for Medicaid. This Congressional Budget Office (CBO) paper—prepared at the request of the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee—summarizes the key features of SCHIP, provides information on historical trends in enrollment and federal spending, summarizes the evidence on the effects of the program on children’s insurance coverage, and discusses key issues that are likely to arise as the Congress considers reauthorization of the program this year. In keeping with CBO’s mandate to provide objective, impartial analysis, this paper makes no recommendations. The government's creation of a health insurance program for children in 1997 has caused them to leave—or lose—private insurance, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reported. But the reasons for the phenomenon are unclear. It is unavoidable if Congress hopes to reduce the nation's rate of uninsured children. (5/10/07, CQ HealthBeat Article) (May 2007, Congressional Budget Office)
Implications of Part D for Mentally Ill Dual Eligibles: A Challenge for Medicare
A new analysis has identified specific barriers faced by patients with psychiatric disorders who tried to fill prescriptions during the first four months of the new Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit program. The study also quantified serious adverse events that resulted and states that significant access problems continue. The new analysis, "Medication Access and Continuity: The Experiences of Dual-Eligible Psychiatric Patients during the First Four Months of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit," is based upon the first systematic, nationally representative survey of "dual-eligible" patients - those who were eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. (May 2007, American Journal of Psychiatry (AJP), the official journal of the American Psychiatric Association)
Medicare Advantage Plans Don't Deliver
As the debate heats up over chopping Medicare payments to managed care plans, critics of those plans are charging that they don't deliver what they promise and so shouldn't be paid more than providers in traditional Medicare. (5/11/07, CQ HealthBeat)
Health Care Opinion Leaders' Views on Priorities for the State Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization
The 10th Commonwealth Fund Health Care Opinion Leaders Survey highlighted the perspectives of a diverse group of experts on issues related to reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in 2007. Although enactment of the program a decade ago was controversial, the survey found widespread support for the program today. Respondents feel that the program has been successful in meeting its goal of improving health insurance coverage for low-income children and ensuring access to care. Further, a strong majority of health care leaders would institute measures to improve enrollment, ensure
In preparation for the SCHIP policy debates during reauthorization, FamiliesUSA has published a series of briefs outlining the major issues.
SCHIP 101: What Is the State Children's Health Insurance Program, and How Does It Work? explains the basics about SCHIP, including who qualifies for SCHIP, how SCHIP is financed, and whether eligible children are getting enrolled.
SCHIP and Children's Health Coverage: Fitting the Pieces Together examines where children, including low-income children, get their health coverage, as well as how SCHIP and Medicaid have reduced the number of uninsured children.
SCHIP and Children's Health Coverage: Leveling the Playing Field for Minority Children the important role that SCHIP plays in reducing disparities in access to care, as well as how the SCHIP reauthorization process can be used to further this effort.
When One Size Doesn't Fit All: The Importance of State Flexibility in SCHIP Eligibility explains why the flexibility to provide health coverage to children in families with incomes above 200 percent of the federal poverty level was built into the SCHIP program—and why it makes sense to keep it.
The Great Divide: When Kids Get Sick, Insurance Matters, for ground-breaking data that show that children without health insurance receive less and inferior care, and, for those uninsured children with severe illnesses or injuries, this can lead to most severe and tragic consequences.
Health Opportunity Accounts: What Are They, and Why Should State Advocates Care? discusses the HOA provisions contained in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) and why you should be concerned if you see HOAs proposed in your state.
IMPROVING CHILDREN'S HEALTH: A Chartbook about the Roles of Medicaid and SCHIP
This publication provides 30 graphs summarizing current information about health insurance coverage and the health needs of low-income children, as well as the effects of Medicaid and SCHIP coverage on children's health. (2007 Edition, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities)
The State Children's Health Insurance Program: Past, Present, and Future
At the end of the 2007 fiscal year, congressional authorization for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is set to expire. For SCHIP, the reauthorization process--historically a chance to review, refine, and revamp programs--will take place at a time when the uninsured rate for children is once again on the rise. This new report examines the array of policy options that Congress is likely to consider for SCHIP, a program widely hailed for assisting children whose families have too much income to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford private insurance. In addition to reviewing the program's history, goals, and performance, it describes how eligibility, benefits, and financing might be modified during reauthorization; it also discusses the policy and political implications of change.
Federal Budget/Health Care
Health Insurance, Health Costs
Eighty-Five Percent Of Americans Say Taking Care Of Mental Health Is As Important As Physical Health
Today, more than ever, Americans are confronted with challenges to their mental and physical wellbeing -- whether resulting from a national or personal tragedy or a genetic cause -- and more people are concerned with safeguarding their mental health. Yet, a survey released today by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) finds that while 85 percent of Americans strongly agree that taking care of their mental health is as important as taking care of their physical health, only 24 percent say they know a great deal about treatments that exist for mental illnesses. The survey also finds that the majority of Americans, including 78 percent of adults with children in the home, say they play a major role in caring for their family's mental health. But, only 37 percent say they understand the causes of mental illnesses "very well." (May 2007, American Psychiatric Assn)
A Public Health Challenge
A new report provides recommendations, immediate actions and resources for designing a cohesive system to attend to the public’s health. (5/1/07, HH&N)
Women and Health Coverage: The Affordability Gap. finds that women are at a disadvantage because they have greater health care needs and lower incomes than men. "Women are more likely than men to go without needed health care services because of costs, yet they still have higher out-of-pocket expenses." The study finds that the high cost of health care services and premiums is forcing many women, even those with health insurance, to go without needed care. In fact, 33 percent of insured women and 68 percent of uninsured women don't get the health care they need because they can't afford it. Moreover, a higher proportion of women than men struggle to pay medical bills. (April 2007, Commonwealth Fund)
The Illusion of Coverage: How Health Insurance Fails People When They Get Sick
This report tells the personal, emotional, and physical hardships of the millions of hard-working, insured Americans who are struggling with medical debt.With stories of dozens of insured individuals and families from seven states, the report demonstrates how private insurance companies fail to protect health consumers from substantial financial losses. Some of key findings: Shifting more costs of care onto patients -- through high deductibles, co-insurance, and less comprehensive coverage -- has significant consequences for both health and financial well-being; Insurance company policies and procedures leave patients confused, in debt, reluctant to seek health care, and vulnerable to predatory scam products; When it comes to health insurance, you can’t measure "affordability" by looking only at premiums: You also have to consider the costs that people will face when they get sick. As this report shows, more and more insured people face staggering out-of-pocket medical bills that leave them asking whether it was worth having insurance at all. (Mar. 2007, The Access Project)
Access Denied: A Look at America's Medically Disenfranchised
This study examines access to basic health care among U.S. residents of all races and ethnicities, income levels and insurance statuses. According to the study, 56 million residents, or nearly one in five, do not have a medical home," and a shortage of local primary care physicians is one reason people lack access to basic medical care (March 2007, National Association of Community Health Centers)
Whose Kids Are Covered? A State-by-State Look at Uninsured Children
New research data shows lower-income families are often doubly squeezed: They are less likely to be offered health coverage by their employers, and less able to afford it on their own. View the entire report or the press release. (March 2007, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)
Health Equity Issues
Innovations in Building Consumer Demand for Tobacco Cessation Products and Services
Increasing demand for evidence-based cessation products and services—particularly in underserved low-income and racial/ethnic minority populations where tobacco use is highest and treatment use is lowest—is a challenge that will require bold thinking, innovation, changes in practices and new approaches that start with the consumer perspective. This report summarizes six core strategies to build demand for proven tobacco cessation products and services. (May 2007, National Tobacco Cessation Collaborative)
Health Care Experiences and Health Status of African-American Veterans
African-American veterans of the armed forces often struggle to get the health care they need. 78% of the respondents recalled having an experience of discrimination where they received health care services. Although on average, study participants were moderately satisfied with their health care, they indicated lack of confidence in the diagnosis given to them by their doctors. They also expressed dissatisfaction with access to medical specialists; the time their doctors spent with them; and getting medical care in a timely manner. The study uncovered significant relationships between perceived discrimination from health care providers and the satisfaction with care in general. It also found that there is a strong connection between perceived discrimination and the level of physical functioning of our respondents, which may be due to a delay in getting the services they need. (May 2007, Northeastern University's Institute on Urban Health Research)
Key Facts: Race, Ethnicity and Medical Care, 2007 Update
This updated quick reference source on health disparities presents the best available data and analysis, ncluding data on the uninsured and access to care by race/ethnicity as well as information about the isproportionate effect that specific conditions such as diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and asthma have on racial and thnic minority populations in the U.S. New in the 2007 Key Facts are demographic data on the racial/ethnic minority population in each state and the U.S. territories. This edition of Key Facts also includes data from the National Healthcare Disparities Report, examining changes in health care disparities over time. (Jan 2007,
Kaiser Family Foundation)
America's Health Rankings: A Call to Action for People and their Communities
The United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention?, have released this 2006 edition, to stimulate public conversation concerning health in our states, as well as provide information to facilitate citizen participation. Participation in all elements is encouraged: personal behaviors, community environment, clinical care and public and health policies. Florida's rank among states went from 40 in 2005 to 41 in 2006.
Other Health Issues
Among the findings: Ninety-four percent of doctors report some type of relationship with the pharmaceutical industry, primarily in the form of accepting free meals or drug samples. More than one-third (35%) were reimbursed for costs associated with professional meetings or continuing medical education. (April 26, 2007, New England Journal of Medicine)
Health, United States, 2006
This 30th report on the health status of the nation is submitted by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to the President and Congress of the United States in compliance with Section 308 of the Public Health Service Act. The 559-page report was compiled by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics served in a review capacity. The Health, United States series presents national trends in health statistics. Each report includes an executive summary, highlights, a chartbook, trend tables, extensive appendixes, and an index. Contents include: Fertility, Natality, Life Expectancy and Mortality; Health Behaviors, Status, Risk Factors, Determinants and Measures; Health Care Access, Utilization, System Influences, Expenditures, Resources and Personnel; Health Insurance Coverage and Payors; Uninsured Population; Age, Race and Ethnicity and Poverty; Alcohol and Drug Use; Physical Activity and Limitations; Dental Care and Access; and a Special Section on Pain. (November 2006, HHS, CDC, NHCS)
|
CHAIN Reaction is a bi-weekly publication of Florida CHAIN (Community Health Action Information Network), a statewide consumer advocacy organization that works toward access to quality health care, empowering people to actively shape their world by participating in civic life and caring for each other’s well being.
Florida CHAIN: 954/791-7314
6600 Cypress Road #508, Plantation, FL 33317
info@floridachain.org www.floridachain.org
CLICK HERE to tell your friends about this.
If you received this message from a friend, you can SIGN UP for CHAIN Reaction.
This message was sent to . Visit your subscription management page to modify your email communication preferences or update your personal profile. To stop ALL email from Florida CHAIN, click to remove yourself from our lists (or reply via email with "remove or unsubscribe" in the subject line). |
