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MCMCH LOGO       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 MCMCH.

                         April 1, 2011
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In this issue
Legislature Continues Work on the Budget
FDA Won't Limit Cheaper Production of Makena
Birth Rates Continue Drop

Spring Recess Begins, But Budget Work Continues

The Legislature began its spring recess this week although several committees still met as work continues on the budget. Democrats held a press conference regarding the School Aid Fund and their proposal to limit it to K-12 schools and early childhood education. They contend Governor Snyder's  proposal using almost $1 billion from the School Aid Fund to provide money to community colleges and public universities that historically has come from the general fund compromises K-12 education.

The legislative subcommittees that handle the DHS budget met several times this week with the bulk of the testimony regarding juvenile justice facilities.  Sen. Bruce Caswell (R-Hillsdale) shared that the Senate subcommittee will put forth its decisions the week of April 11. 

In most cases, the Governor's budget will be the only public proposal before final decisions are made.  We urge MCMCH members and others to make your voices heard now about the executive budget proposals that impact the health and well being of women, children and families:

DCH Budget
Major points of concern
 - $367,000 cut to the pregnancy prevention line in the Healthy Michigan Fund
 - $1.7 million cut to local health department essential services line
 - $67.3 million cut (40%) to graduate medical education program
 - $8.5 million cut to community mental health general non-Medicaid services
 - Maintenance of Medicaid rates (no further cuts are proposed, but this is contingent upon passage of an insurance claims tax)
 - Erosion of prevention in general

Who to contact - House DCH Appropriations Subcommittee
Chair - Rep. Matt Lori (R-Constantine) 59th District  mattlori@house.mi.gov  517-373-0832
Maj. Vice Chair - Rep. Peter MacGregor (R-Rockford) 73rd District PeterMacGregor@house.mi.gov
     517-373-0218
Rep. Dave Agema (R-Grandville) 74th District daveagema@house.mi.gov  517-373-8900           
Rep. Bob Genetski (R-Saugatuck) 88th District  BobGenetski@house.mi.gov  517-373-0836
Min. Vice Chair - Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) 12th District RashidaTlaib@house.mi.gov
      517-373-0823
 Rep. Joan Bauer (D - Lansing)  joanbauer@house.mi.gov  517-373-0826

Who to contact - Senate DCH Appropriations Subcommittee
Chair - Sen. John Moolenar (R-Midland) 36th District senjmoolenaar@senate.michigan.gov
      517-373-7946                    
Maj. Vice Chair - Sen. Bruce Caswell (R-Hillsdale) 16th District   senbcaswell@senate.michigan.gov
      517-373-5932             
Sen. Darwin Booher (R-Evart) 35th District   sendbooher@senate.michigan.gov   517-373-1725     
Min. Vice Chair Sen. Vincent Gregory (D-Southfield) 14th District senvgregory@senate.michigan.gov
      517-373-7888

DHS Budget
Major points of concern
 - Elimination of the 0 to 3 Secondary Prevention program ($3.8 million cut)
 - Additional cuts to other abuse/neglect programs: Families First program to be cut $500,000, Strong Families/Safe Children to be cut by $1.5 million and Child Protection and Permanency by $2.8 million
 - Savings assumed from stricter interpretation of 48-month cap on state assistance

Who to contact - House DHS Appropriations Subcommittee
Chair - Rep. Dave Agema (R-Grandville) 74th District daveagema@house.mi.gov  517-373-8900
Maj. Vice Chair - Rep. Greg MacMaster (R-Kewadin) 105th District  GregMacMaster@house.mi.gov
    517-373-0829
Rep. Jon Bumstead (R-Newaygo) 100th District   JonBumstead@house.mi.gov 517-373-7317
Rep. Anthony Forlini (R-Harrison Twp.) 24th District  AnthonyForlini@house.mi.gov   517-373-0113
Min. Vice Chair - Rep. Shanelle Jackson (D-Detroit)  9th District  shanellejackson@house.mi.gov
    517-373-1705
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) 12th District   RashidaTlaib@house.mi.gov  517-373-0823

Who to contact - Senate DHS Appropriations Subcommittee
Chair - Sen. Bruce Caswell (R-Hillsdale) 16th District   senbcaswell@senate.michigan.gov
      517-373-5932 
Maj. Vice Chair - Sen. Mark Jansen (R-Grand Rapids) 28th District senmjansen@senate.michigan.gov
      517-373-0797           
Sen. John Proos (R-St. Joseph) 21st District   senjproos@senate.michigan.gov   517-373-6960     
Min. Vice Chair Sen. Vincent Gregory (D-Southfield) 14th District senvgregory@senate.michigan.gov
      517-373-7888

Education Budget
Major point of concern
 - Continuation of funding for Child and Adolescent Health Centers (no cuts proposed)

Who to contact - House K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee
Chair - Rep. Bill Rogers (R-Brighton) 66th District   BillRogers@house.mi.gov  517-373-1784
Maj. Vice Chair - Rep. Earl Poleski (R-Jackson)  64th District   EarlPoleski@house.mi.gov   517-373-1795
Rep. Jon Bumstead (R-Newaygo)  100th District  JonBumstead@house.mi.gov   517-373-7317
Rep. Phil Potvin (R-Cadillac)  102nd District     PhilPotvin@house.mi.gov     517-373-1747
Min. Vice Chair Rep. Ellen Cogen Lipton (D-Huntington Woods) 27th District  EllenLipton@house.mi.gov  
     517-373-0478
Rep. Jim Ananich (D-Flint) 49th District   JimAnanich@house.mi.gov   517-373-7515

Who to contact - Senate K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee
Chair - Sen. Howard Walker (R-Traverse City)  37th District  senhwalker@senate.michigan.gov
      517-373-2413 
Maj. Vice Chair - Sen. Bruce Caswell (R-Hillsdale) 16th District   senbcaswell@senate.michigan.gov
      517-373-5932           
Sen. John Pappageorge (R-Troy) 13th District   senjpappageorge@senate.michigan.gov  517-373-2523    
Min. Vice Chair Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D-Taylor) 8th District senhhopgood@senate.michigan.gov
      517-373-7800

Want to learn more about the current issues and funding trends that impact children in Michigan?  Read the new Budget Basics document from our advocacy partner Michigan's Children entitled Investments in Early Childhood in Michigan.
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FDA Won't Prevent Production of Cheaper Preterm Birth Drug 

Associated Press   

 

Pregnant women will still be able to get a drastically cheaper version of a new expensive drug that prevents premature birth, federal health officials said Wednesday.

 

Since the drug was approved, it's been unclear whether women would have to pay $1,500 per dose for the licensed version or could continue to have it made by specialty pharmacies for $10 to $20.

 

The price increase caused an outcry, and the Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday took the unusual step of declaring that pharmacies can still make the cheap version of the once-a-week shot on an individual basis, as they have for years. The agency said it wouldn't step in unless there was a problem with the safety of the specially made version.

 

Last month the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, along with the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, urged the drug's manufacturer, Ther-Rx Corporation, to reconsider its pricing of Makena, arguing that the extremely high cost of Makena will hinder access to the treatment for both insured and uninsured patients. 

 

Doctors and others welcomed the new drug because it would be easier to get and mean more consistent quality, but were stunned when the $1,500 per dose price was announced. Total cost during a pregnancy could be as much as $30,000.

 

The FDA does not control pharmaceutical pricing. The company said the price was justified because very premature infants need months of intensive care and often suffer disabilities, and because it spent millions bringing the drug to market.

 

Last month, the company sent a letter to special pharmacies across the country, warning them to stop making the cheaper version or they would face FDA enforcement. An FDA spokeswoman initially said the company's letter was accurate. But on Wednesday, the FDA stated that wasn't right.

 

The FDA has become increasingly aware of public worry and anger over whether women would still be able to get the drug, and whether state Medicaid programs that serve the poor would still be able to pay for it, federal officials said.

 

"In order to support access to this important drug, at this time and under this unique situation, FDA does not intend to take enforcement action against pharmacies" that compound the drug, also known as 17P, the statement said.

 

The FDA's action was applauded by the March of Dimes. The announcement "lays to rest any ambiguities about whether specialty pharmacies can continue to compound 17P. It would be a tragedy to interrupt access to this important drug," a statement from the group said.

 

Makena is a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone. An earlier version first came on the market more than 50 years ago to treat other problems; it was withdrawn in the 1990s, though not for safety reasons.

 

The drug got a new life in 2003, when a study showed it helps prevent premature birth in women who previously delivered early. Doctors started prescribing it, and pharmacies mixed it.

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Birth Rates Continue Decline Nationally, Michigan Drops 3 Percent 

HealthDay News  

 

The number of births in the United States has declined since reaching an all-time high in 2007, according to a new federal government report.

 

Data from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, show that births fell by 4 percent between 2007 and 2009 -- from 4,316,233 to 4,131,019. The researchers noted that a preliminary count of births through June 2010 indicates continuing declines. Michigan had a 3 percent decline between 2007 and 2009, going from a fertility rate of 61.4 to 59.8. Fertility rates are live births per 1,000 women aged 15-44 estimated in each area.

 

The drop in the birth rate was described in the report as "notable, but not truly of historic proportions" compared with the declines in the early 20th century and in the 1960s and early 1970s. However, the report found that births declined among all women younger than 40, among all major racial and ethnic groups, and in most states, although to varying degrees.

 

"Some researchers have linked the recent fertility decline to the economic recession, but it is not possible with birth data alone to identify the factors shaping the fertility rate decline," the researchers wrote in their report, released Thursday.

 

The analysis of birth data found that the decline in the U.S. fertility rate -- based on births among women in their childbearing years, ages 15 to 44 -- between 2007 and 2009 was the largest for any two-year period in more than 30 years. From 2007 to 2009, the rate fell 4 percent, from 69.5 to 66.7 births per 1,000 women.

 

Birth rates declined for all women younger than 40, but the rate fell 9 percent, to 96.3 births per 1,000 women, among those 20 to 24 years old -- the lowest rate ever recorded for this age group, according to the report. The birth rate fell 6 percent among women 25 to 29 years old and 2 percent among women in their 30s.

 

The birth rate among teens 15 to 19 years old declined 8 percent to 39.1 births per 1,000 women, the lowest rate ever recorded for this age group as well, the report noted.

 

The only increase in birth rates occurred among women in their 40s, rising 6 percent among women 40 to 44 years old. Births in this age group, however, accounted for just 3 percent of all U.S. births in 2009.

 

Among racial and ethnic groups, the birth rate decline was greatest among Hispanic women, falling 9 percent, to 93.3 per 1,000 women. The rate fell 3 percent among whites, American Indians and Alaska Natives and 4 percent among blacks, Asians and Pacific Islanders.

 

The study also found that fertility rates decreased or were unchanged in every state and the District of Columbia, with declines ranging from 1 percent in New York and Oklahoma to 10 percent or more in Arizona and Nevada. The largest declines in fertility rates were in western and southwestern states.

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Contributors to this Issue
AHIP HI-Wire
Associated Press
Gongwer News Service
HealthDay
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Quick Links . . .

FDA Panel Examines Possible Links Between Food Dyes, ADHD
An expert panel convened by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is meeting this week to see if there's a link between commonly used food dyes and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and if so, what should be done.
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Outgrowing Milk Allergy May Take Some Babies Longer Than Expected
Children may not be outgrowing their allergy to milk as quickly as experts previously have believed. In a study of 244 children with confirmed milk allergy, just over a third outgrew it within 30 months.
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Folk Remedies For Colic Do Not Work, Review Says
That nonstop crying of a baby with colic has some parents turning to popular folk remedies. Unfortunately, there's no good evidence they work, according to a review of 15 studies. 

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For Young Kids With Pneumonia, Timing of Antibiotic Critical: Study
Correct and rapid antibiotic treatment is crucial for critically ill young children with bacterial pneumonia, says a new study.
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Childhood Mental Health Woes Could Hurt Adult Romance, Finances
Adults who experienced psychological problems during childhood tend to earn less money and are less likely to establish long-lasting relationships, a new study indicates. 

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Order your 2011-12 Watch Me Grow Calendars!  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 are $1 each.  Visit the website for complete information and order form.

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The Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Healthblur image MCMCH 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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