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Health Authority hosts community form on maximizing health reform opportunities
Don't forget to RSVP for the May 11th, 2010, gathering of community leaders and health stakeholders to discuss securing federal funds to expand health care access in metro Detroit. The forum is an opportunity to collectively discuss strategies to attract new funding to the area. Please call the Detroit Wayne County Health Authority office at 313.871.3751 or go to www.dwcha.org and register on line. Pre registration is required.
The event will be held at the UAW-GM Center for Human Resources from 9 a.m. to 12 Noon. There will be separate parking available to those attendees who drive a foreign vehicle. If you have any questions, please call Marcia or Andy at the Health Authority. |
Community advocate wins Molina 'Community Champion' Award
Selma Goode, longtime member of the Health Authority's Community Advisory Committee and founder of Westside Mothers, which supports women on welfare, has received the Molina Healthcare of Michigan Community Champion Award. In addition to her work with Westside Mothers, Goode is on the Community Advisory Committee for the Legal Aid and Defenders Association and is on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Universal Health Care Access Network.
"We are very pleased that Selma should receive this well-deserved recognition for her contributions to our community," said Chris Allen, Executive Director and CEO of the Health Authority. "Selma's critical contributions to the Health Authority's mission have been on point and very helpful as we have pursued our mission in the community." |
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Fund development expert joins Health Authority administrative team
Elizabeth Longley, and experienced fundraiser and non-profit administrator, has been appointed Director of Strategic Development. She will be responsible for developing a fundraising program for the Health Authority and creating a primary care development corporation.
Longley has received the Spirit of Detroit award from the Detroit City Council, the Recognition Award from Hospice of Michigan, and an award for "Outstanding Contributions to Education in Wayne County" just to name a few of a very long list of distinguished honors.
Her prior experience has been as President and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association - Michigan Great Lakes Chapter, Director of Development for Hospice of Michigan, and President of Resource Connections. She received a Bachelor degree in Urban Studies/Political Science from Marygrove College and a Masters in Communication from Eastern Michigan University.
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Community Outreach staff demonstrate 'Spirit of the Day' at Wayne County Health Expo
Michele Adams Calloway, Outreach Manager, doesn't wait for people to come to the Health Authority's community outreach exhibits. She actively promotes the Health Authority's capabilities, especially the efficiency of the HelpEngen online enrollment program. She demonstrated this capability to a great degree at the Wayne County Health Expo, April 23, by engaging participants, many of whom could qualify for Medicaid. As a result, the Health Authority's booth was busy throughout the health expo. Others who helped on the event were Cheryl Porter The event was a huge success but the time, patience and passion of Cheryl Porter and Faith Polk who sat at the computers all day working with several people in dire need of medication and for some, homes all in an effort to secure Medicaid coverage. We are very proud of our team and wanted to share it with you. As Michele stated, "In an effort to promote the HelpEngen for Medicaid enrollment, I verbally invited participants at the event". |
Primary care fellowship introduces future health administrator to primary care
Administrative fellowships are a common practice in health systems throughout the county. These programs seek to provide entry-level experience to graduates of master degree programs in health care administration and other clearly related degree programs. While this practice is common in many areas of the health care system; the safety net arena has often been lacking in this field. The Health Authority believes that safety net administration requires innovative and talented individuals with a strong commitment to the people they serve. To that end, the Health Authority has created the Richard Bohrer Safety Net Administrative Fellowship Program to recruit post-graduate administrators into the safety net field.
Srijanani Pillai has agreed to be the first fellow to serve in this capacity during the pilot phase of the program. She will work with Paul Propson and Covenant Community Care over the next two years. According to Srijanani "my interest in being a part of the Safety Net evolved from prior experience in working with uninsured and underinsured patients, which raised my awareness on the key pressing issues that our communities and health care providers face." Ms. Pillai is a graduate of Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology and a Master degree in Health Services Administration from the University of Detroit Mercy. The Health Authority looks forward to expanding this program in the near future.
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Henry Ford Health System Fellows find Health Authority mission appealing
A group of graduate students serving their health administration fellowships at Henry Ford Health System was introduced to the Health Authority's mission and the health care safety net at a presentation last month. The four fellows were impressed by Chris Allen's hospital administration career, his transition to an entrepreneur, and his return to a different role of health administration as the Health Authority's CEO. Mr. Allen advised the fellows that there will be considerable opportunity to administer health programs and services at the community health center level in the future. |
Backgrounder
Representatives Sander Levin and Stark Statements on CMS Analysis of Health Insurance Reform
Sander Levin, Chair of the Ways and Means Committee (D-MI) and Pete Stark (D-CA) Subcommittee Chairman, released the following statements on April 23, 2010, regarding the release of a report by the Chief Actuary of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS):
Chairman Levin:
"This report illustrates the value of the investment we are making with health reform. Any increase provided in spending pays tremendous dividends, expanding coverage to an additional ten percent of Americans - millions who currently are without basic insurance -- with less than a one percent increase in national health expenditures. This report does not look at all aspects of reform. The comprehensive analyses from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) show that health insurance reform will reduce the Federal deficit and help put our nation back on track toward fiscal responsibility.
"According to the CMS Actuary, 93 percent (95 by CBO's estimate) of Americans would be covered under health care reform. This is an historic step forward for our nation. Absent the critical reforms signed into law more than 30 million people - hardworking families and businesses -- would continue to fall victim to skyrocketing health care costs, and be unable to gain the coverage they need and deserve. Contrary to Republican talking points, this is not a 'government takeover' of health care, in fact, this reform empowers Americans to take control of their health care and offers them more, affordable choices to meet their needs."
Health Subcommittee Chairman Stark:
"The Chief Actuary confirms what we've been saying - those on Medicare benefit from health reform. Annual premiums will be reduced by nearly $200, and cost sharing for the average beneficiary will be more than $200 lower. The legislation also eliminates the 'donut' hole and ensures that many preventive services are free under Medicare. Health reform strengthens Medicare by extending the life of the Medicare Trust Fund by 12 years to 2029.
"Republicans point to the Actuary's cost analysis, but they're forgetting their own history. In 2003, when we were debating a Republican Medicare proposal, they first tried to deep six the CMS Actuary's analysis when they didn't like what it said, and then dismissed it when it eventually was released because it was much higher than the CBO analysis. In the end, it turns out that the OACT estimate overstated the bill's cost by 37 percent."
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=11151 |
Is the Massachusetts model for Health Care Reform the 'GPS system' for the country getting on the right road to Health Care Reform?
In the April 21, 2010, edition of the New York Times, the Editorial staff penned the following article, Reform and Massachusetts", discussing the first state to advance health care reform before it became law across the land. Opponents argue this could drive states into further recession while in Massachusetts; health reform increased the number of poor people eligible for Medicaid, hence increasing federal aid.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/21/opinion/21wed1.html?ref=opinion
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