Friday Notes January 14, 2011

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Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health
Friday Notes

Friday Notes is intended to share current information, resources and notices.
If you have information or announcements that you would like to have included in the next issue forward them to info@mcmch.org.

January 14, 2011

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In this issue

95th Legislature Begins

House Committee Assignments Announced

Affordable Care Act Repeal Vote Coming

Order 2011-12 Watch Me Grow Calendars Today!

Kaiser Commission Report Examines 2010 Medicaid Practices

95th Legislature Begins

On Wednesday, the House and Senate held their first session of the new Legislature. As is typical, the day was largely ceremonial with official swearing-ins and procedural resolutions. Both chambers met Thusrday as well which is an abnormally early start to "regular" business, a clear sign that legislators recognize the state's dire situation and the need to get to work quickly.

Many proposals have already been announced, including House Republicans desire to repeal the state Earned Income Tax Credit. They cite fiscal estimates that such a move will save the state $338 million - a good piece of the needed $1.8 billion in cuts needed to balance the budget. For sure, the mood in Lansing has been bi-partisan and inclusive among many newly-elected legislators, but it is these types of very difficult debates which are likely to strain those budding relationships.

The January revenue estimating conference happens today and will provide much-needed information for Governor Snyder's team as they put the finishing touches on his State of the State presentation for next Wednesday, January 19. The address is scheduled earlier than many expected but will be held at 7 pm and broadcast live as has become the norm.
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House Committee Assignments Announced

House Speaker Jase Bolger released the committee assignments for the 2011-12 term on Wednesday as the Legislature began its first day of session.

A portion of the assignments are listed below. Republicans are in plain text, Democrats in italics. The first Republican listed is chair and the second majority vice chair. The first Democrat listed is the minority vice chair. The partisan split of the committee is in parentheses (Republican/Democrat).

Standing Committees:

APPROPRIATIONS (17/10): Moss, Haveman, Agema, Rogers, Lori, Genetski, Kowall, Goike, Jenkins, Poleski, MacGregor, Pscholka, Bumstead, Potvin, MacMaster, Cotter, Forlini, LeBlanc, Ananich, Bauer, Dillon, Durhal, Jackson, Lindberg, Cogen Lipton, McCann, Tlaib

EDUCATION (12/7): Scott, Hooker, Price, Heise, Hughes, Shaughnessy, McMillin, Crawford, O'Brien, Nesbitt, Yonker, Franz, Brown, Darany, Howze, Hobbs, Rutledge, Stallworth, Geiss

FAMILIES, CHILDREN AND SENIORS (6/3): Kurtz, O'Brien, Haines, Heise, Hooker, Rendon, Slavens, Lane, Stapleton

HEALTH POLICY (11/6): Haines, Callton, Hooker, Huuki, Kurtz, Muxlow, Opsommer, Wayne Schmidt, Scott, Yonker, Shirkey, Liss, Stallworth, Darany, Segal, Womack, Hovey-Wright

Appropriations Subcommittees:

COMMUNITY HEALTH (4/2): Lori, MacGregor, Agema, Bumstead, Tlaib, Bauer

EDUCATION (4/2): Rogers, Poleski, Genetski, Potvin, Bauer, Dillon

HUMAN SERVICES (4/2): Agema, MacMaster, Forlini, Bumstead, Jackson, Tlaib

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Affordable Care Act Repeal Vote May be Wednesday

In response to the tragedy in Arizona the vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act was postponed this week, but the vote has tentatively been rescheduled for January 19.

Families USA is hosting call-in days on January 18 and 19 to send the message to Congress: Vote NO on repeal. Families USA offers a toll-free number to the capital switchboard: 1-866-922-4970. You can find more information and various resources on their website.

A recent article from The Huffington Post details 10 reasons why repealing health care form would harm children.

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Order Your 2011-12 Watch Me Grow Calendars Now

Now is the time to place your orders for the 2011-12 Watch Me Grow Calendars! Please note that quantities can't be guaranteed, so fax, e-mail or mail your order form in as soon as possible.

Created specifically for families in Michigan, the Watch Me Grow: Healthy, Happy and Strong! calendar is a resource that promotes the health and well being of families, and helps build support networks by sharing information about effective programs and resources.

This 24-month calendar highlights a different program each month - offering both program information and contact information. Activities and tips for parents are also offered throughout the calendar providing information on health, safety, nutrition, and parenting. The best part is that these calendars will be available - in English and Spanish - for only $1.00 each.

We hope that you, and the families with whom you interact, will find this calendar both helpful and fun!

Visit the website for more information.

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Kaiser Commission Report Looks at 2010 Medicaid Practices
The annual 50-state survey of Medicaid and CHIP eligibility rules, enrollment and renewal procedures and cost sharing practices, conducted by the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured with the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, found that, in 2010, coverage in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program remained strong with some improvements, particularly for low-income children.

However, eligibility for their parents and other low-income adults continued to lag behind. The survey also found that states are adopting technology to modernize their programs, but still have a significant amount of work ahead as they begin to prepare for health reform.

You can read the report's executive summary and the full report here.

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Contributors to this Issue
AHIP - HI Wire
Associated Press
Gongwer News Service
HealthDay
The Huffington Post
Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured
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Quick Links . . .

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9th Annual Statewide Fatherhood Conference Set for February 18
The 9th Annual Fatherhood Conference will be held in Howell on February 18. For more information and to register, visit the Michigan Fatherhood Coalition website.

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Aging Population Could Send Cancer Costs Soaring

By 2020, the annual cost of cancer care in the United States is expected to reach at least $158 billion -- a 27 percent jump from 2010, according to a report from the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

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Bottle Rockets Can Cause Serious Eye Injuries in Children

Bottle rockets can cause serious eye injuries to children that can lead to permanent vision loss, a new study warns.

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Antibiotics Can Ease Kids' Ear Infections, Studies Show

Amid the ongoing controversy over routine antibiotic use for children with acute ear infections, two new studies support the practice when stringent diagnostic criteria are met.

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Study: Recession Did Not Increase Child Neglect

The recession did not have much impact on rates of child maltreatment in the United States, the results of a new study suggest.

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Survey Finds Much Victimization of Children Goes Unreported

Nearly 60 percent of 10-to-17-year-olds surveyed in a new study say they were victims of violence, abuse or crime in the past year. However, fewer than half said that authorities ever learned about what happened.

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Children's Health Issues in Michigan

The University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital has developed "An Overview of Children's Health Issues in Michigan. These include: Injury Prevention, Access to Care and Childhood Overweight and Obesity. These resources were developed in cooperation with MCMCH and other advocacy groups.

Here are the links for the issue briefs:

1) http://www.med.umich.edu/mott/pdfs/Access_to_Care.pdf

2) http://www.med.umich.edu/mott/pdfs/Obesity.pdf

3) http://www.med.umich.edu/mott/pdfs/InjuryPrevention.pdf

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Become a MCMCH Member at PayPal

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The Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health

is made up of
member organizations who share a commitment to the health of
Michigan's women, children and families.
To learn more go to http://www.mcmch.org or email info@mcmch.org.

Amy Zaagman - Executive Director - azaagman@mcmch.org
Jennifer Gorchow - Communications Manager - jgorchow@mcmch.org

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