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Health Authority/MPCA leaders meet with federal officials
Chris Allen, Health Authority CEO, Kim Sibilsky, president of the Michigan Primary Care Association, and Dick Bohrer, co-chair of the Primary Care Network Council and consultant to the Health Authority, traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with representatives from the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the Division of Health Center Management (DHCM) on May 18and 19 . In addition to presenting a progress report on activity in Detroit and Wayne County, the Michigan-based groups made four requests: (1). That BPHC use the Health Authority and MPCA as resources in their decision making; (2). that some preference be given to Planning Grant recipients during the New Access Point (NAP) funding process; (3). clarification regarding the stipulation that no caps will be placed on the number of grants to geographic areas; and (4) that Jim Macrae, associate administrator, BPHC, or a representative, attend the July or September Primary Care Network Council meeting.
Some highlights of the discussions include:
- Jim Macrae said Health Authority's presentation came at a good time, given the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars and potentially, a new NAP policy should be released in July or August. The revised policy will include points for need, with a priority given to the number of patients under 100 percent of the federal poverty level.
- The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) will increase the quantity of available scholarships and loan debtors and increase the caps on number of assignees to individual facilities. Assignments will be made on rolling cycles. Don Weaver, BPHC deputy associate administrator, strongly urged that sites submit their applications quickly. He also said that a part-time option will assist physicians interested in faculty appointments and shared-time arrangements. Health centers, he believes, will have the option to become "Teaching Health Centers" in two to three years and the faculty practice model will assist in the transition.
- Marcia Brand, PhD, Deputy Administrator of HRSA talked about the need for advocates to inform President Obama's health reform process relative to relationships, efficiencies, and benefits, especially cross-government relations that work. She urged that presentations be brief and in bulleted form. The Michigan constituents also addressed the termination of adult dental services in the state's Medicaid program and the need to make oral health a mandatory, as opposed to an optional service. Dr. Brand was strongly supportive, as she is a hygienist by training.
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Health Authority affirms relationship
with the Interfaith Health and Hope Coalition
On May 28, the Health Authority strengthened its relationship with Wayne County's faith community through formalizing its partnership with the Interfaith Health and Hope Coalition (IHHC). The language of the agreement, signed by Health Authority CEO Chris Allen and Pastor John Duckworth, IHHC President, is broad, allowing the parties to work together in numerous ways. They may collaborate on several initiatives, including improving access to health insurance, wellness promotion, chronic disease awareness, health screenings, and referrals to appropriate free or reduced-cost care, among others.
Although the IHHC was born out of a grant received by the Health Authority through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the IHHC became its own non-profit entity in 2007. However, both organizations feel that the region has much to gain through their collaboration. The Health Authority will receive several additional access points to reach a greater number of uninsured individuals through leaders of faith-based communities. The partnership will also provide the IHHC with a consistent link to health care resources. Both are still free to forge relationships with other organizations.
The collaboration will be announced in mid June at the IHHC's next board meeting.
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Project RevUp enhances efficiency, effectiveness in health centers
At bustling health centers, it is easy to become absorbed in the day-to-day work of caring for patients, and leave the issue of process improvement for later.
Project RevUp was created by the Midwest Clinicians' Network to assist health centers in achieving efficiency and effectiveness via system redesign. It couples expert consultation regarding leadership and team training with development and testing of process improvement models. Teams include both administrators and front-line workers collaborating to create viable solutions. The primary goals of the program are to reduce patient cycle times, increase productivity and revenue, and improve patient and staff satisfaction.
While most Project RevUp teams, whose work is facilitated by the Michigan Primary Care Association, are in their nascence, health centers around the state have begun to implement the program. Covenant Community Care, located in Southwest Detroit, has experienced success so far. According to Paul Propson, Executive Director, the health center's collections from all services and self-pay patients increased nearly six fold between the third quarter of 2008 before the program was rolled out, and the first quarter of 2009. They managed to do this by maintaining the size of the clinical staff and adding just two support staff positions.
"As always, some other positive factors were at work," Propson said. "But we attribute a significant part of this improvement to the Plan, Do, Study, Act method of Project Rev Up, the investment their consultants made in us and the investment we made in the Project Rev Up concept."
Successful applicants to Project RevUp must be prepared and willing to institute significant changes, be open to sharing information, and have the support of team members as well as the organization's board of directors.
For more information on applying, visit www.mpca.net.
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Metro Healthcare Solutions becomes Metro Solutions
On May 5, Metro Healthcare Solutions changed its name to Metro Solutions. The rebranding effort was prompted by the organization's expansion into institutions outside the health care arena, including universities, local municipalities, and social services agencies. Metro Solutions serves as a fiscal intermediary to its clients, and focuses on obtaining funds and optimizing resource use.
"Metro Solutions intends to grow into an organization that not only sets the pace in fiduciary responsibility - but also identifies and captures additional streams of revenue to further the progress of people in the community that our clients serve," Executive Director Rose Khalifa said.
Metro Solutions' relationship with the Health Authority will continue uninterrupted. In the past, the two have collaborated to seek out viable options and capitalize on funding to support programs providing health care to the uninsured and underinsured around Wayne County. Metro Solutions will also maintain partnerships with area health systems, including St. John Health, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit Medical Center, and Oakwood Healthcare System. Khalifa, who is a member of the Health Authority's Community Outreach Committee and co-chair of the 2009 Walk for the Uninsured, will remain at its helm.
For more information, visit http://www.metrosolutions.us.
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Welcome
New Outreach Coordinator, summer interns, join staff
Erin Barthel has been appointed Community Outreach Coordinator, announced Faith Polk, Medicaid Program Administrator. Ms. Barthel, who holds a Master's degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Michigan, has served as unit director and public policy coordinator for United Way Community Services, Detroit. She has also been regional representative for U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, district legislative liaison for State Sen. John Kelly, and a legislative aide for the U.S. Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control in Washington D.C.
Megan Kolodgy joined the Health Authority as a summer intern, and will work primarily in Public Affairs. Ms. Kolodgy has Master's degrees in Health Administration and Public Health from the University of Michigan, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and English from the U of M. She has completed internships at Deloitte Consulting, working in its Life Sciences and Health Care practice, and at HealthMedia, Inc., where she developed content for a Web-based health promotion and disease management programs.
Nicole LaBrie has also signed on as a summer intern, working in the area of administration and integrated health care. Ms. LaBrie has a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan and expects to earn a Master of Health Service Administration degree from the U of M next year. She has been a graduate instructor in Psychology at the U of M, and has served as a psychiatric emergency services professional at the Washtenaw Community Health Organization/University of Michigan Health System.
Shuchi Jain, an Americorps member, has joined the Health Authority this summer to help develop and certify the Health Authority's diabetes self management program. She is a U of M student, majoring in Medical Sociology and Spanish, with a goal of pursuing a Master's degree in Public Health and eventually medical school. Americorps is a national service program that allows people to serve their community and country in terms of a year or less. Americorps members commit to "make our people safer, smarter, and healthier," "bring Americans together to strengthen our communities," "take action," "seek common ground," and "persevere."
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Backgrounder
More women than men forgo health care
Cost-related problems with accessing health care disproportionately affect women, according to a May 11 report published by The Commonwealth Fund. Researchers found that 52 percent of women reported problems obtaining necessary care because of financial issues, as compared to 39 percent of men. Additionally, 45 percent of women struggled with paying medical bills, compared with 36 percent of men. Rates of insurance did not significantly differ between men and women, but women were significantly more likely to have public coverage, and more likely to depend on a spouse for employer-based coverage. The authors suggest that the women's health care price tag is particularly high because they tend to require more medical services, and their average income is lower than men's.
Other findings include that the percentage of women spending a large portion of their income on out-of-pocket health care costs had increased since 2005. More than one-third of women under age 65 dedicated more than 10 percent of their annual income to health care-related expenses.
Because this report is based on data collected in 2007 through the Commonwealth Fund's Biennial Health Insurance Survey, its authors believe that the current recession - which has resulted in higher rates of unemployment and increased cost sharing in employer-based plans - may exacerbate the situation.
For the full report, please visit http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/Files/Publications/Issue%20Brief/2009/May/Women%20at%20Risk/PDF_1262_Rustgi_women_at_risk_issue_brief_Final.pdf.
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The Detroit Wayne County Health Authority's mission is to coordinate efforts to meet the health needs of the uninsured and underinsured residents in Detroit and Wayne County by assuring access and improving the health status of all people.
"It's about access...for all."
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