National Health Care for the Homeless Council

           IN THIS ISSUE

· PCIs at the
  National HCH Conference

· New Policy Briefs

· NCAB News 

· and more!

Letter from the Executive Director
John Lozier
John Lozier, MSSW 
 
In 2013, the National Health Care for the Homeless Council and our allies are taking big steps toward our advocacy goals of health care and housing for everyone.
 

As part of the constant struggle for human rights, the National HCH Council is helping to build a health care system that is inclusive, fair, and effective.

 
Stay Connected with the Council:

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follow us on Twitter @NatlHCHCouncil 

 

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UPCOMING TRAINING EVENTS
PRE-CONFERENCE INSTITUTES  
AT NATIONAL HCH CONFERENCE

Along with three days full of exceptional workshops and networking opportunities, the 2013 National Health Care for the Homeless Conference will feature four exclusive pre-conference institutes on March 13.

  • Behavioral Health Integration: Best Practices and Challenges from Theory to Practice
  • Building a Comprehensive Care Model for LGBT Homeless Youth and Adults
  • Leadership for Changing Times: Beyond Healthcare Reform
  • Opportunity Knocks: Opening Doorways to Medical Respite Care 

A special luncheon with past, present, and future National HCH Council presidents will also be held on March 14. 

  • Council Presidents' Luncheon: Succession Planning for Your Organization and Your Future

Space is limited for these events, so register today!

 
This event is jointly sponsored by the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council. 


NEW TRAINING OPPORTUNITY BEFORE THE NATIONAL HCH CONFERENCE

A new pilot training will be offered at no cost the day before the National HCH Conference. Implementing an Enabling Services Data Collection Model to Improve Quality and Eliminate Disparities will pilot modules to increase health center capacity to implement an enabling services data collection model. This training program is currently being developed by AAPCHO in collaboration with Health Outreach Partners and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council. As such, the presenters will ask participants to evaluate the modules to help improve the training.

 

The pilot training is provided at no cost and does not require registration for the 2013 National HCH Conference. Please contact Molly Meinbresse to RSVP for the training as participation is limited to 30 individuals.

 


WEBINARS

There is something for everybody in the February webinars presented by the National HCH Council:

  • Employment Support in the HCH Setting | Feb. 20, 12 p.m. East. |  REGISTER NOW!
  • Medicaid Eligibility, Enrollment, and Outreach: Changes Coming to the HCH Community | Feb. 27, 3:30 p.m. East. | REGISTER NOW!
  • PCMH Updates for Safety Net Providers | Feb. 28, 1 p.m. East. | REGISTER NOW! 
 
 
RESEARCH UPDATE

IN FOCUS: TYPOLOGIES OF HOMELESSNESS

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The January 2013 issue of In Focus provides a synthesis of recent literature on the typologies of homelessness. Great variety exists across existing typologies, including the purposes for producing typologies, approaches for creating typological classifications, and intended utility of these typologies for improving theoretical understanding, clinical decision-making, and policy creation. Such distinctions are all addressed in this review of literature.

READ THE LATEST ISSUE.

 

 

MORTALITY AND HOMELESSNESS

The January 2013 JAMA Medicine report on the epidemic of overdose deaths among clients of the Boston Health Care for the Homeless program points to critical issues of homelessness, health, and public policy. Lead author Travis Baggett, MD, MPH, states in the Massachusetts General Press Release of the new study, "Overall, young homeless people died at a nine times higher rate and middle-aged homeless people at a four-and-a-half times higher rate than comparably aged adults in Massachusetts... Our results highlight the dire need to expand addiction and mental health services and to better integrate them into primary care systems serving homeless people."

READ THE ABSTRACT.

 

 

ORGANIZATION SPOTLIGHT

Health Care for the Homeless-Houston is one of 10 HCH projects partnering with the National Health Care for the Homeless Council on the project, "Community Health Workers and HCH: A Partnership to Promote Primary Care".

READ ABOUT THE PROJECT'S EFFORTS.

 

 

POLICY & ADVOCACY
LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS
DURING THE NATIONAL HCH CONFERENCE

This year's National Health Care for the Homeless Conference and Policy Symposium in Washington, D.C., is an important opportunity to communicate with your elected officials. Many key health care and housing issues will be decided this spring, so please contact Dan Rabbitt to participate or assist in being a team lead. NHCHC staff will help coordinate, provide materials, and make things easy.

READ MORE ABOUT HCH HILL VISITS.

 

NEW POLICY BRIEFS AVAILABLE

Published in December, Improving Care Transitions for People Experiencing Homelessness outlines a number of new approaches to coordinating care across venues. A second brief, published in January, focuses on Medicaid Expansion & Criminal Justice Populations: Opportunities for the HCH Community. These briefs can inform your clinical practice and enhance your readiness for health reform implementation. Additional policy briefs related to Outreach and Enrollment and other aspects of the Affordable Care Act are planned for coming months.



PROPOSED MEDICAID & EXCHANGE REGULATIONS

HHS released draft regulations related to implementation of state-based exchanges, Medicaid, and CHIP. Comments are due to HHS on February 13, 2013. Issues that may be of interest include rules for premiums and cost-sharing for those newly eligible for Medicaid and provisions for establishing presumptive eligibility.

READ THE DRAFT REGULATIONS.

 

 

HCH CLINICIANS' NETWORK NEWS
CONTRIBUTE TO HEALING HANDS
The Clinicians' Network Communications Committee is seeking your input on topics for upcoming issues. Take the one-minute survey to let us know which topics will be most beneficial to your work.


NATIONAL CONSUMER ADVISORY BOARD NEWS
MEMBER TALKS ABOUT POVERTY IN CHICAGO
Rodney Dawkins When the Chicago Sun-Times wanted a first-hand account of an individual living in poverty, they looked to Chicago HCH project Heartland Health Alliance, and Heartland looked to Rodney Dawkins. A Member-at-Large of the National Consumer Advisory Board and a participant in Heartland's Community Advisory Board, Dawkins had survived homelessness and agreed to tell his story to a Sun-Times reporter.


DETROIT OBSERVES HOMELESS PERSONS' MEMORIAL DAY

NCAB member Reginald Hamilton and Advantage Health Centers/Detroit Health Care for the Homeless observed the city's 23rd Homeless Persons' Memorial Day at Waller Health Center on Cathedral Green on December 21, 2012. Hamilton served on the Planning Committee and helped successfully market the event, which saw several community groups provided food, blankets, clothes, and hygiene kits.

READ MORE.

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This publication was made possible by grant number U30CS09746 from the Health Resources & Services Administration, Bureau of Primary Health Care. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Health Resources & Services Administration.