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June 23, 2008

Backgrounders

Bush Administration Medicaid Regulations Could Hurt State

The Bush Administration has proposed sweeping new Medicaid regulations that will shift costs for this federal state program on to Michigan. The proposed regulations will cost the Michigan Medicaid program $3.9 billion. A cut of this magnitude would severely cripple Medicaid and would balloon a budget deficit already predicted to be $472 million.

The Administration’s seven proposed regulations reduce funding for safety net providers by placing cost limits on government providers, eliminating Medicaid’s graduate medical education (GME) payments, restricting provider taxes. Four of the proposed changes in Medicaid would reduce the scope of services available to Medicaid recipients (restriction of rehabilitation services, elimination of transportation services for school-based services, restriction of hospital based outpatient services, and restriction of case management services)

The House of Representatives, with Michigan’s Congressman John Dingell in the lead, has passed legislation to postpone these onerous regulations. The Senate needs to take action to follow the house lead to block these regulations from talking effect. The Health Authority Board supports efforts to block the proposed regulations.

Community health advocates are urging Nancy Pelosi, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker, to keep the regulatory moratorium on seven Medicaid regulations in the supplemental spending bill soon to be debated in the House. Last week, House leaders reached a tentative deal with Senate leaders under which three of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Medicaid regulations – targeted case management, provider taxes, and outpatient clinics – would be removed from the Medicaid moratorium package in the supplemental appropriations bill. Four other Medicaid rule moratoria would remain in the supplemental bill.

Please call your congressman or Speaker Pelosi to register your opinion. You can email Pelosi at AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov or call the Capitol switchboard toll free at 866-240-9281.

April 30, 2008

Safety Net Resource Center

Safety Net Resource Center Builds Assets to Improve Capacity to Deliver Health Care for Uninsured

Maintaining a current assessment of the health status and health services for the uninsured in Detroit and Wayne County has been complicated due to the absence of current, comprehensive information and other support services for safety net providers, announced Chris Allen, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Detroit Wayne County Health Authority.

“The Health Authority has been a catalyst in bringing together a collaboration of local and state health care providers and health officials to create our Safety Net Resource Center,” he said.

Among its services, the Center will compile an annual report on the state of care for the uninsured. The report will be created through collaboration between several state and local organizations that collect information on the uninsured and underinsured. It will also be a tool for attracting financial resources to support safety net providers.

The Center will not only have resources to prepare reports and conduct research that weren’t there before, it will also serve as a consultant to safety net providers. It will eliminate duplication, while strengthening the quality of the information through collaborative input. Special attention will be given to project areas such as the East Side Initiative.

Other objectives of the Center include:

· Foster collaboration between federally qualified health centers and Medicaid qualified health plans to expand access to primary care for Medicaid recipients.

· Provide a data resource on Medicaid and uninsured people in Wayne County that can be used for safety net planning and advocacy.

· Conduct demonstration projects on care of Medicaid and uninsured people that show the value of safety net health services.

· Develop mechanisms that attract financial resources for safety net providers that will ensure long term sustainability.

The strength of the Center is in the collaboration of its partners — something that hasn’t occurred often in Detroit health care delivery. Consensus building is a very important initial step toward achieving an effective partnership on information sharing.

Collaborating organizations include Voices of Detroit Initiative, United Way of Southeastern Michigan, Michigan Primary Care Association, Southeast Michigan Health Association, Greater Detroit Area Health Council, Michigan Department of Community Health, Wayne County and City of Detroit Health Department, and the Wayne County Patient Management System.

April 3, 2008

Press Releases

Collaboration Introduces Discount Prescription Drug Service through 2-1-1 Help Line

Uninsured and underinsured people in Detroit and Wayne County are now able to take advantage of the World Medical Relief Prescription Assistance Program as part of a collaboration between World Medical Relief, the Detroit Wayne County Health Authority and United Way of Southeastern Michigan’s 2-1-1- help line.

Those who need discount prescription drug service, as well as medical equipment, need only call 2-1-1 and ask for a referral to the World Medical Relief. The Health Authority has begun to promote this capability through public service announcements and its outreach services and to community health organizations.

“Through 2-1-1 we are able to realize a single-entry point to the health care system for the uninsured and underinsured,” explained Chris Allen, executive director of the Detroit Wayne County Health Authority.”Now people of all ages will be able to provide prescription relief for those who need it the most. The demand is great. A lot of people are doing without.”

This initiative is part an expansion of United Way’s 2-1-1 service capabilities. Until now, the service hasn’t promoted health service information. Now, 2-1-1 operators will ask callers if they are insured or underinsured.

“We’re beginning to attack the problem of access to health services,” explained Bill Sullivan, Director of 2-1-1. Currently, 2-1-1 receives about 20,000 calls monthly. Given the needs of the uninsured and underinsured, he expects health-related calls to double to 2-1-1.

“Increasingly, people in Detroit and Wayne County, as well as throughout Southeast Michigan, have fewer options when it comes to their pharmaceutical needs,” said Rita Montgomery Grezlik, President and CEO of World Medical Relief. “People may not think to call us or alight with one of our programs.” World Medical Relief provides prescription drugs at $8.30 per prescription, and provides mail delivery.

“We are pleased to work collaboratively with the United Way’s 2-1-1 Call Center and the Detroit Wayne County Health Authority to implement strategies for increasing public awareness of our program, attract new clients, and increase sample drug donations.”

World Medical Relief offers a prescription program for people 18 years and older, with income criteria. It’s expected that 1,000 to 5,000 may take advantage of the program.