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| Happy New Year...
As we begin 2010, the nation looks toward implementing reform in health care. For us, certainly, health reform was the story of the year: The "audacity" of President Obama to say it will happen against nearly all odds, even within his own party was remarkable. Yes, there were seemingly endless compromises. Purists will feel they lost more than they gained. Opponents will feel the entire effort was misspent energy. For us working in the safety net, facing mounting pressure from increased uninsured and underinsured people, however we can increase access the better. And there will be increased access in health care reform.
With increased access, we must renew our efforts to expand the safety net. The Health Authority, acting on a recommendation from the Primary Care Network Council, published a report that calls for increasing health centers by at least 10, and creating other initiatives such as infusing Federally Qualified Health Centers with Medicaid patients so they can treat more of the truly uninsured. We must establish a community delivery model which provides medical homes for everyone; diminish the inappropriate use of emergency departments for primary care and chronic care management. We need to eliminate health disparities based on race, culture, and geography. And we need to improve the quality of care for the uninsured and underinsured, while reducing the cost to society.
This is a tall order, but we have the talent and the resources in our community to make this happen. It will take the will, the collaboration, and the energy of all of us to make health reform work for the uninsured and underinsured. Best wishes for a prosperous year in your professional and personal endeavors.
Chris Allen
Executive Director and CEO
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Primary care organizations begin using HelpEngen for enrollment
The efficiency and effectiveness of enrollment for Medicaid and other means-tested benefits will be improved once the Health Authority's HelpEngen is introduced to primary care organizations. A presentation and discussion on the use of HelpEngen by local primary care safety net providers at the next meeting of the Primary Care Network Council. HelpEngen representatives and Health Authority staff will address questions or concerns about the product. All interested providers (Federally Qualified Health Centers, look-a-likes, and free clinics qualify) are encouraged to attend this meeting, scheduled for Jan. 13, 2010, at 10 a.m. at the Health Authority's office. For more information, contact Joslyn Pettway at 313-871-3751 or jpettway@dwcha.org. |
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NFL fights childhood obesity with physical fitness promotion
Even if you are not a football fan, it is hard to ignore the fact that our Detroit Lions haven't had much success. Off the field, however, the Lions, and the National Football League, want to win big in fighting childhood obesity and promoting fitness among young people.
"What Moves U" and "Play 60" are components of a campaign that encourages kids to get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. "Many children and teens are experiencing adult health problems such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, stroke, type 2 diabetes and depression" according to Alicia Hodges, marketing director for the American Heart Association for southeast Michigan. Last September, the Detroit Lions hosted a youth forum to talk about the importance of being healthy and share ideas about how to help each other get and stay healthy. Youths and their parents were invited to attend this event and had the chance to meet and greet Detroit Lions and enjoy healthy snacks, participate in fitness drills and just have fun.
The Health Authority is committed to fighting childhood obesity and cosponsored with Pro Care a healthy living event for youths in Dearborn last year. The Health Authority plans to work with the Detroit Lions and other sports teams to teach our children and future leaders in the community that healthy habits begin early and should be practiced often. This will be part of ongoing community outreach activities focused on providing sports and school physicals, as well as health education in the region. |
How many people are uninsured in America? A National Health Interview Survey offers insight
The CDC has issued a report on insurance coverage information, based data collected for the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) during the first six months of 2009. The key highlights from this release are as follows:
· 45.5 million people (15.1 percent) of all ages were uninsured at the time of interview.
· 8.2 percent of children under the age of 18 were uninsured at the time of interview.
· 60.6 percent of unemployed adults under age 65 experienced a period without insurance during the past year, and 32.9 percent of them had been uninsured for more than a year.
· 21.8 percent of working adults under age 65 experienced a period without insurance during the past year, and 13.3 percent had been uninsured for more than a year.
· Of those under 65 who did have insurance, 22.7 percent were insured under a high deductible health plan.
Insurance coverage was higher in the Midwest than in the South and West regions. However, the correlation between insurance status and race, income, and employment support the idea that Detroiters are more likely to lack insurance that people in other Midwestern communities. People most likely to be uninsured are unemployed adults under the age of 65. As health reform progresses at the federal level, it should be kept in mind that reform that doesn't address this segment of the population will miss the mark in Detroit and other economically distressed communities.
The full report, "Health Insurance Coverage: Early Release of Estimates from the National Health Interview Survey, January - June 2009," is available on the CDC website at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhis/earlyrelease/insur200912.htm#table7 |
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Backgrounder
Michigan Unemployed Face Cold Reality of Health Insurance Costs
For Michigan's unemployed, coping with finding new employment has been difficult enough. Now they will begin to feel the cold reality of health insurance costs with the expiration of federal subsidies for COBRA insurance. Families USA noted that the average family premium for COBRA insurance will jump from $389 per month to $1,111. It's expected that health insurance costs will amount to about 83.4 percent of the average unemployment check, according to a report published by Families USA this month. When you add health insurance costs to mortgage/rent payment, utilities, food, and other living expenses, it will be tough for families of unemployed workers to maintain their health coverage.
The federal stimulus package included a provision to help laid-off workers pay for their health insurance through COBRA, which allows ex-workers to remain enrolled in their former employer's play by paying the full insurance cost themselves. The federal subsidy paid 65 percent of monthly insurance costs. Proposed legislation to extend the subsidies remains stalled in Washington.
"Unless Congress acts to provide this subsidy for longer than nine months, each month from now on, another group of people will confront a painful choice: find a way to pay significantly higher premiums or drop their family coverage," according to the Families USA report.
"While an immediate extension of the COBRA subsidy is needed to help families who are already unemployed and those who will lose their jobs in the coming months, this is only a temporary fix. Health reform, once it is fully implemented, will offer anew, permanent source of help. The health reform bills now pending in Congress would enable laid-off workers to obtain health coverage through a newly created marketplace, called an 'exchange,' and families with low incomes would receive tax credit subsidies to help pay the premiums." |
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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